Chapter Forty-One: Shen Ruru Wants to Kill Ning Qingqing

She saw that Bai Shengyun’s eyes were bloodshot, his once golden irises now turned a deep red—a true, terrifying crimson. Ning Qingqing trembled all over, but Bai Shengyun had no desire to exchange more words with her and made to leave. Wanting to remain in his presence a while longer, she followed after him. Bai Shengyun was aware she trailed behind but made no sign of acknowledgment.

At a corner, they came face to face with Shen Ruru, who appeared to have been standing there for quite some time. Upon seeing her, memories surged in Ning Qingqing’s mind—Shen Ruru, so decisive as she drove her sword through that fox clan disciple. Panic rose within her; she feared Shen Ruru had overheard her conversation with Bai Shengyun.

Bai Shengyun intended to pass her by, a notion Shen Ruru clearly welcomed. As soon as Bai Shengyun had taken a few steps, Shen Ruru blocked Ning Qingqing’s way, her gaze cold and predatory, fixed unerringly on the other woman.

Ning Qingqing shrank under that icy stare, swallowing hard. She knew she’d been caught speaking ill of Shen Ruru. Her cultivation was nowhere near Shen Ruru’s; if it came to a fight, all she could do was flee—she could never win head-on.

“You…” Her forced smile looked ghastly, “Do you need something?”

Before she finished speaking, a suffocating grip closed around her throat. She struggled frantically, trying to pry free the hand Shen Ruru had clamped around her neck. But the more she struggled, the tighter Shen Ruru squeezed, her strong, warm fingers pressing inexorably against Ning Qingqing’s skin.

“Se—Senior…” Ning Qingqing’s voice was a mere gasp, her eyes brimming with helpless tears, “What have I done to deserve this from you?”

Bai Shengyun turned back to watch them, arching an eyebrow with faint interest, but he had no intention of lingering. Such scenes no longer held any allure for him, and he resumed his stride.

“What do you think?” Shen Ruru smiled, her lips curved with malice and mockery. “You really don’t know what you’ve done?”

“I truly don’t!” Ning Qingqing pleaded, unable to bear it.

“Still feigning ignorance at this point?” Shen Ruru’s expression turned vicious. “You’ve got quite the nerve!” With that, she tightened her grip until spots danced before Ning Qingqing’s eyes.

“You’d do well to remember your place. Don’t gossip about others behind their backs, and don’t covet what was never yours to begin with. Do you understand? Do this again, and I’ll rip your tongue out and let you die that way!” She sneered, her teeth clenched with contempt. “Who do you think you are? With cultivation like yours, you’re not even fit to carry my shoes!”

“You—” Ning Qingqing, once the distant flower on the high peak of the immortal sect, now found herself humiliated and wronged beyond measure. Flames of anger flickered in her heart, fueled by Shen Ruru’s past treatment of her. “At the very least, I’m better than you, Shen Ruru. Don’t forget how you killed that disciple—so ruthless and cold-blooded!”

A surge of hatred and murderous intent flared in Shen Ruru’s eyes. Her beautiful, crimson gaze was terrifying, like that of a vengeful spirit. She squeezed harder still, and Ning Qingqing’s face turned a deep, mottled purple, her throat creaking ominously under the pressure.

At the sight, Shen Ruru was reminded of another—weak, pitiable Xie Yingying. Yet that girl, inferior to her in both cultivation and reputation, had somehow drawn Bai Shengyun’s favor.

Desperate to survive, Ning Qingqing recalled Bai Shengyun’s reaction whenever Xie Yingying’s name was mentioned. She forced a scornful look onto her face, and with effort, rasped out to Shen Ruru, “You hate Xie Yingying… but there’s nothing you can do to her, is there?”

She probed with her spiritual sense and saw, as she’d hoped, that Bai Shengyun had stopped not far away.

“Oh, and…” Ning Qingqing’s eyes flashed cunningly, and her voice dripped with sly malice. “Why did you burn those mimosa blossoms, hmm? Was it because you hate her? Ha! All you can do is vent your anger on those flowers—on the last few things Xie Yingying left behind in Gu Feng Mountain! You must long to kill her, don’t you? But you can’t!”

At these words, Shen Ruru’s spiritual power surged, ready to snap Ning Qingqing’s neck in an instant. The hatred on her face was so fierce it twisted her features into something monstrous.

Yet Ning Qingqing, far from cowering, mustered what spiritual power she had to shield her throat. But to Shen Ruru, this was laughable—like an egg thrown at a stone. With Ning Qingqing’s meager cultivation, she could shatter that pitiful shield with ease.

But then, Ning Qingqing smiled brazenly at her—a smile of mockery, contempt, and pity that burned in Shen Ruru’s eyes like a brand.

“Lunatic!” Shen Ruru spat coldly.

Just as the word left her lips, a tall figure entered her vision, hands behind his back, approaching with slow, deliberate steps. His face was cold as frost, tinged with killing intent and anger.

But Shen Ruru's murderous rage had risen to the point of madness; rather than loosen her grip, she only tightened it. Ning Qingqing’s protective shield was shattered. She stared at Shen Ruru in disbelief, never imagining Bai Shengyun would truly stand by and watch her die.

Bai Shengyun watched without a flicker of emotion, but his robe sleeves billowed suddenly in a windless air. The breeze was soft, but as it reached Shen Ruru, both women could sense the concentrated killing intent within it. The wind’s edge slashed Shen Ruru’s flesh, leaving bloody gashes, until chunks of flesh fell to the ground with a sickening sound.

Cringing in pain, Shen Ruru instinctively withdrew her hand to clutch her wounds. Seizing her chance, Ning Qingqing darted behind Bai Shengyun, seeking refuge.

Shen Ruru’s eyes blazed an even deeper red as she poured spiritual power into her wounds, trying to heal them. Yet Bai Shengyun’s potent energy gnawed at her flesh, widening the injuries and sending blood spurting out, impossible to staunch.

“Shengyun…” Shen Ruru gazed at him with a look of grief and disbelief as he slowly approached. “Why do you stop me? Do you care for Ning Qingqing?”

Bai Shengyun gave no reply, only regarding her with an icy indifference. As he drew nearer, Shen Ruru felt her body grow heavier and heavier, until even breathing became a struggle.

“To kill is but a whim—if I wish to kill someone, what of it? Why do you stop me?!” Shen Ruru’s face twisted in unwilling rage. She shot a furious glare at Ning Qingqing, cowering behind Bai Shengyun, and spat, “What’s more, Ning Qingqing is nothing but a gossip! What does it matter if I kill her?!”

With that, she unleashed her domain, its crushing pressure bearing down solely on Ning Qingqing.

A chill swept through Ning Qingqing; she trembled uncontrollably, her legs as if frozen. She heard the wailing of ghosts in her ears—how many had perished within Shen Ruru’s domain?

With a flick of his sleeve, Bai Shengyun shattered Shen Ruru’s domain in an instant, then struck her with a palm that sent her flying.

“Do not meddle further in my affairs. Matters concerning Xie Yingying—or anything she left behind—are none of your concern. If your bloodlust persists, I will kill you first.” Bai Shengyun strode away, his cold voice ringing with warning.