Transmigrated as The Cannon Fodder Bride of The Villainess

The woman shook her head gently. “But over the years, hasn’t everyone who climbed this mountain done so for someone they love?”

Luo Jinxiao, having just experienced immense grief and now frozen for so long, suddenly felt dizzy. She stumbled forward, and the woman reached out to steady her.

She studied Luo Jinxiao for a moment, then suddenly said, “What if it’s a life for a life? Would you be willing?”

Luo Jinxiao, staggering, grabbed the woman’s arm and looked up, but she couldn’t make out her features. Finally, she gave up, lowered her head, and remained silent.

“If you’re not willing, then go back down. I require payment for saving lives,” the woman said, attempting to stand up, but Luo Jinxiao held her back.

Her lips trembled, and her fingertips were numb.

She had never felt so many emotions for a single person. If it were her lying there, would Qu Weiyin desperately try to save her?

Surely, she would.

“I’m willing,” Luo Jinxiao said, taking a deep breath and nodding firmly. “Take whatever you want, anything at all.”

The woman’s eyelashes fluttered, and an unreadable emotion flickered in her eyes, a mixture of sadness and serenity.

“Where is this person?” she asked.

“Wuhui Mountain, Hanyun Cliff,” Luo Jinxiao said through gritted teeth.

“The physical body is dead? Is the soul still intact?”

“The physical body is dead, but the soul remains,” Luo Jinxiao said, fighting the urge to faint. She reached into the pouch and pulled out a crystal-clear green stone, placing it in the woman’s hand. “This… might be of some use?”

The woman’s pale hand took the stone and examined it carefully. “The withered wood encounters spring, the spirit of heaven and earth.”

“Wait here. I’ll go take a look.” The woman held the stone in her hand and turned to leave. Luo Jinxiao, without support, finally collapsed onto the snow.

The woman paused, turned back, and crouched down again. With a wave of her sleeve, Luo Jinxiao disappeared.

Luo Jinxiao was awakened by a feeling of warmth. She opened her eyes groggily and found herself in a vast ice chamber. Though surrounded by biting cold, her body felt warm, as if a fire burned within her.

She sat up and looked around. The woman was sleeping on a transparent block of ice, her silver hair spread out like water.

This time, she could finally see the Sect Leader’s face clearly. Apart from her silver hair, she didn’t look like someone who had lived for centuries. Her skin was delicate and smooth, like a young girl’s, and her lips were a pale, rosy pink, reflecting the light of the lamps.

Even her eyelashes were silvery-white. Even with her eyes closed, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Luo Jinxiao thought to herself that the only beauties she had seen in both her lives who could compare were Qu Weiyin and this woman.

The woman seemed extremely tired, her brows furrowed and her expression troubled. As if sensing Luo Jinxiao’s movement, she suddenly opened her eyes, revealing bottomless, glassy pupils.

“You’re awake,” she said, slowly sitting up. Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders. If Qu Weiyin had made this movement, it would have been enchanting, but with her, it was noble and aloof. Even sleeping on ice, she exuded a bearing of an empress.

Luo Jinxiao quickly averted her gaze and nodded. “Sect Leader, Junior Shishu, she…”

“She will be fine. However, the demonic energy has damaged her internal organs, and her body will be weaker from now on.” The woman stood up, but her steps were unsteady. Luo Jinxiao quickly moved forward to support her.

The woman’s thin lips curved into a faint smile, and her gaze lingered on Luo Jinxiao’s fingertips. “I’m about to take your life, and you’re not even concerned?”

Seeing the woman’s current exhausted state, Luo Jinxiao knew that reviving Qu Weiyin was no simple task. She lowered her head, closing her eyes then opening them, carefully asking, “May I see her one last time?”

“No,” the woman shook her head. ” Those who have seen me can never leave Southern Peak for all eternity.”

Luo Jinxiao simply said “Oh,” and closed her eyes. “Thank you for saving her, Sect Leader. Please, take my life.”

The woman looked at her, slowly approaching. Her pale, thin hand covered Luo Jinxiao’s neck, but her eyes continued to study Luo Jinxiao’s features, never leaving them.

Luo Jinxiao was prepared to die. Her heart was at peace. After all, she had died once before, and she wasn’t afraid of death.

The woman’s cold hand lingered on her throat, but she didn’t make any further movements.

“So similar,” the woman suddenly sighed.

Luo Jinxiao opened her eyes in surprise. “Similar to what?”

The woman abruptly withdrew her hand and glided past her, the cool, silky fabric of her robe brushing against Luo Jinxiao’s cheek.

“Come with me. There’s someone you should meet.”

The ice chamber was connected to a stone cave, even colder than the outside. Luo Jinxiao had to use her spiritual energy to prevent herself from freezing. Despite the cold, the cave was meticulously clean, clearly swept daily. Even in the corners, there were winter plum blossoms emitting a faint fragrance.

In the center of the cave lay a coffin, a simple wooden coffin, but decorated like a cozy bed, with several strings of candied hawthorns placed beside it.

Though the scene was chilling, but it also held a tragic beauty.

Luo Jinxiao suddenly remembered the story Lu Fanzhi had told her. So this was the woman the Sect Leader had loved.

Gathering her courage, Luo Jinxiao peered inside. The woman lay peacefully in the coffin, as if asleep, her skin still smooth and delicate. She had a somewhat childish appearance, and her features did bear a resemblance to Luo Jinxiao’s.

The Sect Leader’s eyes softened as she gazed at the woman. She knelt beside the coffin, studying her face.

“I’ve saved thousands of lives, but I couldn’t save hers.”

“That day, she shielded me from an attack and endured the heavenly tribulation. Her soul was scattered, and I couldn’t find it, no matter how hard I searched.”

Though the woman’s voice was calm, Luo Jinxiao felt an indescribable heartache listening to her words.

“Is that woman called Qu Weiyin?” the woman suddenly asked.

Luo Jinxiao was taken aback, then nodded quickly.

“You like her.”

Like? Luo Jinxiao was about to nod again, but she sensed that the woman didn’t mean it in that way. She was unsure how to respond.

The woman looked up, surprised, a smile appearing on her lips. She said helplessly, “Could it be that you don’t understand your own feelings, yet you’re willing to exchange your life for hers?”

“Do you desire to hold her, kiss her, hold her hand, and spend your entire life with her As the woman spoke, her eyes curved in a smile, suddenly filled with a touch of worldly warmth.

Luo Jinxiao pondered confusedly, her face suddenly reddening. She shyly touched her head, imagining herself embracing Qu Weiyin’s waist.

The woman chuckled, shaking her head. “What a silly child. She thinks of you far more than you realize. When I first restored her pulse, your name was all she called out.”

“Luo Jinxiao?”

Luo Jinxiao nodded repeatedly, her heart suddenly filled with a bittersweet ache. Even if she dared to love Qu Weiyin, what good would it do? She would never see her again. She only hoped that after Qu Weiyin came back to life, she would be happier than before.

Seeing Luo Jinxiao’s resolute yet sorrowful expression, the woman shook her head: “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. But you must stay here and watch over Zhao Zhao for me, as if you were already dead.”

“You must stay here for the rest of your life,” she added.

Luo Jinxiao felt no resistance to this. Let Qu Weiyin believe she was dead. After ten, a hundred years, she would eventually forget her.

“Yes, Sect Leader,” she whispered, her voice low and resigned, her eyes filled with defeat and resignation.