Transmigrated as The Cannon Fodder Bride of The Villainess

A magnified voice echoed from the circular platform. Someone brought a spirit sword onto the stage, and everyone’s attention was focused on the center. Only Luo Jinxiao quietly rose from her seat and slipped away, crouching low.

Tang Lan’er quickly grabbed Luo Jinxiao’s arm, whispering, “Hey, where are you going?”

“Looking for someone,” Luo Jinxiao replied in a hushed tone, then walked towards the back.

Tang Lan’er wanted to follow but was quickly stopped by members of the Baiyue Sect, who urged her to stay. By the time she looked up again, Luo Jinxiao had vanished.

The first few treasures were purchased with silver and didn’t require any competition, so the proceedings moved quickly. Luo Jinxiao walked slowly around the perimeter, constantly searching for Qu Weiyin.

However, the place was too vast, and she couldn’t even spot the blue robes of the Wuhui Sect.

Halfway through her search, several people suddenly rushed towards her, nearly colliding with her. Luo Jinxiao quickly stepped back, pressing herself against the wall to let them pass.

To her surprise, the group stopped beside her. A portly man with a sweaty face approached and grabbed her arm, panting, “Lady Li, why did you run off? We’ve been looking all over for you!”

Luo Jinxiao was bewildered. She pointed at herself and said, “You must have mistaken me for someone else. I’m not…”

Before she could finish, the man dragged her forward, muttering, “Come on, we’ll pay you every silver as promised. So what if Qu Weiyin showed up? She may be fierce, but she won’t hurt you. If she comes to claim the treasure, just surrender!”

Upon hearing Qu Weiyin’s name, Luo Jinxiao stopped talking, wanting to see what they were up to.

The man pulled her into a heavily guarded chamber, then picked up a decent-looking spirit fan and thrust it into her hand. He said hurriedly, “Take this and go up there. Only those who can defeat you are qualified to compete for the treasure. Just do your best and don’t mess anything up.”

Luo Jinxiao glanced around and realized that the guards were all dressed in black with masked faces, while she was only wearing a veil. No wonder they mistook her for Lady Li.

A thought struck her: if Qu Weiyin was here, she would surely recognize Luo Jinxiao once she went up. This could be her chance to find her. So, she didn’t protest as the group ushered her onto the stage.

When Luo Jinxiao appeared in the center of the circular platform holding the fan, Tang Lan’er and Qiongqi, who were seated in the audience, nearly jumped out of their seats. Tang Lan’er nudged Qiongqi and exclaimed, “Look, isn’t that Luo Jinxiao?”

Qiongqi didn’t need to look; she could tell by scent alone. She nodded and tried to rush towards the stage. Tang Lan’er tried to hold her back but was nearly thrown off by Qiongqi’s strength.

“Hey, you look like a little girl, but how are you so strong?” Tang Lan’er clung to Qiongqi with all her limbs, then tightly hugged her seat.

“Don’t be stupid! She’s not in danger. We can’t go up now!” Tang Lan’er panted, struggling to hold Qiongqi back. Qiongqi hadn’t budged an inch and looked at her in confusion.

Unable to see clearly through the dense crowd below, Luo Jinxiao stood still. Someone beside her announced, “This fan is called the Gale Fan. Its frame is made of black jade, and its surface is made of cicada wings. It is a rare and valuable spirit weapon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, numerous people raised their hands and rushed towards Luo Jinxiao on command. Seeing this, Luo Jinxiao quickly dodged.

Below the stage, Qu Weiyin was listlessly examining her fingers. Beside her, Chang Siyu cautiously said, “Junior Shishu Qu, I think this spirit weapon is quite good. Why don’t we let them try it out?”

Qu Weiyin glanced at the black-clad figure on the platform and shook her head. “They can’t defeat her.”

“Junior Shishu Qu, how can you know we can’t defeat her without letting us try!” The square-faced young man behind her protested loudly.

“Ke Tao!” Chang Siyu reprimanded, turning around.

Ke Tao fell silent, sitting back down with a sullen expression. He muttered to the other young disciples around him, “See, I told you she’s incredibly fierce and domineering.”

“Shh, keep your voice down,” Baili Xiao quickly hushed him.

“Is she just naturally like this, without feelings for anyone?” Ke Tao continued.

Qu Weiyin heard him but only paused for a moment, remaining silent. A wave of melancholy washed over her eyes.

She sighed and looked up at the platform. The black-clad woman who had been dodging attacks suddenly stretched out a hand and formed a layer of ice in front of her, blocking the onslaught.

The silvery-white spiritual power… it’s quite similar to mine, Qu Weiyin thought.

In the next instant, her eyes widened, and she abruptly stood up.

The same black hair as she remembered, the same tall and slender figure. Yet, she wasn’t frail; instead, she possessed the graceful curves of a mature woman. Her every movement was fluid and purposeful, yet also carried a hint of playfulness.

Qu Weiyin felt a surge of emotions welling up within her. Her heart pounded as if someone was striking it with a giant hammer, making her legs weak.

She couldn’t help but move forward. Chang Siyu noticed something was amiss and reached out to grab her, asking with concern, “Junior Shishu Qu, what’s wrong?”

“Let go,” Qu Weiyin shook off his hand and walked forward with small steps, as if she had lost her soul, pushing through the crowd.

“Who is that?” someone asked.

“It seems to be Qu Weiyin. Why did she stand up? Could it be that she wants that folding fan?”

Qu Weiyin was oblivious to the surrounding voices. Her pace quickened, and she finally drew closer to the platform. Year after year, she had never forgotten her, not for a single moment.

During those days without her, Qu Weiyin had traveled alone across the land, remembering how she had once said she wanted to see the glaciers of Chang Mu and the vastness of the Sea of Exile.

But as she reached the edge of the platform, her steps slowed. What if, when the veil came off, it wasn’t Luo Jinxiao?

Such disappointments had become all too common in recent days.

Luo Jinxiao suddenly caught a whiff of a faint floral fragrance. She stopped her movements and looked down towards the stage, meeting Qu Weiyin’s gaze. She froze, rooted to the spot.

Hope blossomed in Qu Weiyin’s heart. She leaped onto the platform, landing in front of Luo Jinxiao. She stared at her, her eyes quickly reddening and swelling with unshed tears.

The onlookers were unaware of what was happening and cast curious glances at them from all directions.

“Hey, who are you? Don’t block the way!” One of the individuals fighting Luo Jinxiao reached out to pull Qu Weiyin away, but Luo Jinxiao intercepted him. With a wave of her hand, a surge of energy filled the platform, knocking the man back several steps, nearly sending him tumbling off the edge.

Luo Jinxiao suddenly felt like she was dreaming. For a moment, she forgot to remove her veil. It was Qu Weiyin who slowly reached out and gently grasped the corner of the veil.

As the veil fell away, Luo Jinxiao’s face was finally revealed. Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd from those who recognized her.

The moment Qu Weiyin saw Luo Jinxiao’s face, tears began streaming down her cheeks. She stood motionless, her body rigid, allowing the tears to flow freely.

Seeing this, Luo Jinxiao’s heart ached. She reached out to wipe away the tears, but Qu Weiyin suddenly threw herself at her, arms tightly wrapping around her waist, burying her face in Luo Jinxiao’s embrace.

“Luo Jinxiao,” she repeated, holding on tighter, as if afraid this was all a dream and she would wake up to find the person in front of her gone.

“Where did you go? Why didn’t you come find me?” Qu Weiyin whispered, her fingertips turning white from her grip.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart clenched, and her eyes reddened as well. She returned Qu Weiyin’s embrace, one arm around her shoulders, the other outstretched to stop the furious, sputtering portly man who was rushing towards them to demand answers. “No wonder she insisted on coming in and couldn’t sit still. She was looking for someone,” Tang Lan’er grumbled from below, still holding onto Qiongqi.

Meanwhile, the members of the Wuhui Sect were also completely stunned. Baili Xiao nudged Ke Tao’s head and whispered, “Look, is Junior Shishu Qu crying? She’s actually crying?”

Before Ke Tao could respond, Chang Siyu barked, “Silence!” He turned to look at Luo Jinxiao, clenching his fists.

She’s actually alive!

Having found who she was looking for, Luo Jinxiao didn’t want to linger in public. She silently recited a spell, and they both vanished from the platform.

Outside, it was a beautiful spring day with few people on the streets. Qu Weiyin finally pushed Luo Jinxiao away, her phoenix eyes brimming with tears as she stared intently at her, refusing to look away.

“Tell me,” she said in a low voice, “were you at Southern Peak these past five years?”

Although pushed away, Luo Jinxiao still held onto her sleeve and nodded.

Qu Weiyin released Luo Jinxiao’s hand and wiped away her own tears, belatedly realizing how embarrassing she must look. Her face flushed red.

“Then why didn’t you come find me?”

Seeing her like this, Luo Jinxiao’s heart ached. She answered honestly, “The Sect Leader forbade it.”

“The Sect Leader forbade it? Do you know how I’ve lived these past few years?!” Qu Weiyin’s emotions, suppressed for five years, finally erupted. Her tears wouldn’t stop.

She wanted nothing more than to give Luo Jinxiao a good beating.

“I should have died! Why did you save me? Why did you trade yourself for me? Now I owe you my life, and how am I supposed to repay that?!” Qu Weiyin clenched her fists, glaring at Luo Jinxiao.

In her thousands of years of life, she had never experienced such torment. Every moment felt like an eternity, her heart twisting with pain as she counted the falling leaves.

Luo Jinxiao felt inexplicably guilty after being scolded. She suddenly recalled the rumors she had heard after descending the mountain. Indeed, Qu Weiyin’s temper had become even more volatile.

Yet, looking at her, Luo Jinxiao still felt a deep pang of heartache.

“Do you know how much I’ve missed you?” Qu Weiyin gritted her teeth and said, her voice barely a whisper. If not for Luo Jinxiao’s sharp hearing, the words would have been lost to the wind.

Luo Jinxiao’s heart felt as if it had been struck by a hammer, a dull ache spreading through her chest.

Ignoring Qu Weiyin’s attempts to avoid her, she gently wiped away her tears. Then, she bent down and took Qu Weiyin’s cold hand, which was trembling with emotion, and held it in her own, rubbing it gently.

“I’m sorry, Junior Shishu,” she whispered. “But even if you scold me, I would still save you.”

“Because I’m selfish. If you had died, I would have been consumed by pain and grief. So, to prevent myself from suffering, I had to save you, even if it meant trading my life for yours.”

“You don’t have to repay me. As long as Junior Shishu is safe and sound, I’m content.”

Qu Weiyin looked into Luo Jinxiao’s eyes and suddenly realized, in a daze, that Luo Jinxiao had truly grown up. She was no longer the naive young girl she once knew.

Her heart pounded like a drum, and all her anger dissipated with that single apology.