A Place in a Fragrant Hell

The forest path was lush and green. Ning Yuer followed by Li Ziyu’s side, the two of them currently heading back to Hongxiu Sect.

Unlike when she was with Su Wanqing, Ning Yuer maintained a respectful distance from Li Ziyu.

Their current distance was such that, let alone holding hands like Su Wanqing did with Ning Yuer, even whispering would be inaudible.

“Um, Elder Sister Li… may I ask why you’re helping me?”

“And even giving me what Immortal Sister gave you.”

Ning Yuer held the ring that belonged to Su Wanqing in her hand.

Her address for Li Ziyu wasn’t “Master” as a disciple would call a teacher, but “Elder Sister,” like a junior addressing an elder.

Although their current goals were aligned, and Li Ziyu also intended to teach her cultivation.

Their relationship wasn’t the master-disciple one Su Wanqing had hoped for; instead, it was more like friends who called each other sisters.

Because Li Ziyu’s actions were too abnormal, Ning Yuer couldn’t understand why she was doing this.

After all, if she took her as a disciple, she could not only gain Su Wanqing’s favor but also keep the items Su Wanqing gave her.

But if she were to help her without taking her as a disciple, she would not only teach her cultivation without any formal title.

She also gave Ning Yuer all the cultivation resources Su Wanqing had given her, just to give her more opportunities.

Furthermore, if Immortal Sister knew, this might not be a favor, but rather an offense.

No matter how you looked at it, wouldn’t this be a losing proposition?

Ning Yuer didn’t believe Li Ziyu was the type to be a good Samaritan; there had to be a reason for her help.

“Where’s your resolve from earlier?”

“If your personality stays this soft, getting into the top three won’t be easy.”

“I will change.”

“Mm, I believe you.”

Seeing Ning Yuer’s eyes regain their resolve, Li Ziyu nodded with satisfaction.

She suddenly felt that changing this girl’s personality wouldn’t be difficult.

And thus, she also knew that Su Wanqing must be even more important in Ning Yuer’s heart than she had imagined…

One month. What kind of person would she become?

Elder Su—Elder Su, you don’t need to thank me.

In a month, I will return a different Ning Yuer to you.

Even if you are as aloof as you are, you will have to take her in.

After all, she truly didn’t want to see such a tragedy happen again, especially when she had the ability to prevent it.

Although Ning Yuer might not necessarily develop in that way, there was still a high probability, and what she needed to do was reduce that probability to zero.

“So, Elder Sister Li, can you tell me why?”

“It doesn’t matter if you want to know; it’s not really a secret.”

Li Ziyu’s steps slowed considerably. She lowered her head slightly, as if recalling something, and the pity in her words became more apparent.

“I once encountered a similar situation.”

“Because of a moment of good karma, I saved a young girl about your age then, and the situation was similar to yours and Elder Su’s.”

“My choice at the time was the same as Elder Su’s; I found a better place for her than mine, and the girl also agreed.”

“I thought my choice was correct, but years later, I heard news of her falling into the Demonic Path and betraying the sect due to inner demons.”

“Not only did she become a menace to one region as a demonic cultivator in a short time, but she even became deranged, losing her mind.”

“Guess what happened next?”

“Here’s a hint: the sect sent me and cultivators from other sects to encircle and annihilate her.”

“……”

Hearing Li Ziyu’s description, Ning Yuer fell into thought.

She deeply understood Li Ziyu’s feelings now.

Perhaps if not for Elder Sister Li, she might have gone down the same path.

Thinking from Li Ziyu’s perspective, Ning Yuer immediately found herself in a difficult position.

Now, it seemed that any choice would be equally painful.

The young girl secretly decided that if it truly came to that, to prevent Immortal Sister from being in a dilemma, she would commit suicide without hesitation.

“Elder Sister Li personally dealt with her?”

“No, on the contrary, I wanted to save her.”

“But…”

Li Ziyu’s sudden pause made Ning Yuer guess that there must have been a tragedy, and not what she had imagined.

“Before I tell you the outcome, let me ask you, if you were that girl, what would you do?”

“Although I am thinking clearly now, not in a state of qi deviation, I would choose suicide no matter what.”

“……”

Upon receiving this answer, Li Ziyu fell silent.

After a brief moment of speechlessness, she finally sighed helplessly.

“Alas—is that really how it was?”

“That child made the same choice as you. She hadn’t fallen into qi deviation; she spread the rumor just to see me one last time.”

“Then she took her own life right in front of me.”

Perhaps seeing Ning Yuer now was like seeing her past self, Li Ziyu began to preach.

But more than teaching Ning Yuer, it was like speaking to her past regrets.

“So-called inner demons are all born from desires—greed, anger, ignorance, and various other desires. But the most tormenting is love…”

“Because by then, it torments not only oneself but also leads to tragedies for the person one cares about.”

“If you don’t want to end up like that girl, you’d best work even harder.”

“On the path of cultivation, everything is for what one seeks in their heart. I can see this, and I presume you already have your answer.”

“Let me help you.”

Li Ziyu gently touched Ning Yuer’s brow with her finger, and instantly, Ning Yuer felt much clearer.

This was a Heart-Calming Charm she had cast, precisely to help the young girl in front of her see clearly.

However, Li Ziyu could probably never imagine that the gratitude she believed Ning Yuer felt towards Su Wanqing was actually an emotion that she, who had detached herself from worldly desires, could never comprehend.

Nor would she have anticipated that her actions would completely lead this good child Ning Yuer down a crooked path, and even personally push Su Wanqing into a deeper, more hopeless abyss!

After all, the tragedy she experienced was never a heartbreak, but rather the guilt of an elder failing to provide proper guidance to a junior.

And she had indeed underestimated Su Wanqing’s charm.

Ning Yuer wasn’t sure before, but until she was touched by the Heart-Calming Charm, the emotions she had been suppressing were instantly released.

This might sound incredible to outsiders, but for someone whose life had been completely dim and lifeless—

When a sudden ray of light bursts in, anyone would go to great lengths to grasp it.

Even if this light quickly fades, and even if one might pay a painful price for it.

But just as an ant tries to shake a tree or a moth flies into a flame, it is the unwillingness in one’s heart, and also a kind of physical instinct.

“……”

Ning Yuer tilted backward. The movement, which was instantaneous in the outside world, felt like several minutes in her perception.

She widened her eyes.

As her body made contact with the ground, she looked at the clear blue sky and seemed to have a hallucination, vaguely seeing the silhouette of the Immortal Sister.

Ning Yuer felt her heart growing clearer, an inexplicable flutter in her chest making her experience this uncomfortable feeling, like a deer caught in headlights, for the first time.

But she didn’t hate it.

What her heart seeks, huh…

She seemed to find it very easily…

“……”

Thus, Ning Yuer lay on the grass, gazing at the sky for a long time.

Then, she slowly stood up. Seeing that the young girl seemed to have found her answer, Li Ziyu smiled.

“Embarking on this path of cultivation, as long as you have a clear goal, everything will be twice as effective. Conversely, if you remain constantly confused, you will never make progress.”

“Many people get stuck at this step of what their heart seeks. Some are confused and at a loss, while others are too greedy and want everything.”

“But as long as you set one goal and strive for it, I believe you can absolutely succeed.”

“Heh~ How do you feel?”

Listening to Li Ziyu’s words, Ning Yuer gently nodded, having completely affirmed what her heart sought, and determined to strive for it all her life.

“Mm.”

“I know what my heart seeks!”

Ning Yuer slowly lifted her head, her gaze firm as she looked at the person in front of her.

She didn’t notice the changes in her body, only feeling an endless power gradually surging within her.

She attributed all of this to the potential unleashed after setting a goal, yet unbeknownst to her, she had already made a complete break from her past self.

“Uh…”

Li Ziyu was already so shocked that her pupils suddenly constricted.

She was not only shocked by the girl’s sudden drastic change in demeanor, but even more so by her eyes.

She knew this little girl had heterochromia, but now…

At this moment, Ning Yuer’s eyes were bright and clear, her golden pupils as noble and precious as jewels, captivating anyone who looked at them.

If Su Wanqing had been present, she would have been even more shocked than Li Ziyu, and would have exclaimed that they truly were the most beautiful eyes in the world, as described in the original novel.

These golden eyes were proof of Ning Yuer’s awakened talent, but this transformation should have occurred a year later.

The sudden change now indicated that Ning Yuer had set a goal that she cared about a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand times more than the “immortality” she sought in the original novel.

“I—will definitely achieve what my heart seeks!”

Ning Yuer’s hands clenched into fists.

Her fervent desire for what she sought materialized in her eyes, which faintly gleamed with fire. She silently vowed:

There will definitely be a place for me by Immortal Sister’s side!

I, Ning Yuer, will absolutely not be inferior to those two women, Chen Xueli and Shen Xianyue!

At this very moment, the completely unaware Su Wanqing suddenly sneezed. She knew nothing of Ning Yuer’s transformation, merely taking it as the female lead’s reluctance to part with her.

“Ah—ah—achoo!”

“Could Ning Yuer be thinking of me?”

“Forget it, forget it. Anyway, that girl has nothing to do with me anymore.”

Su Wanqing wiped her nose, paid no mind, and walked straight towards the best restaurant in Xiangping Town.

“It’s finally over. Time to buy some celebratory wine.”

Of course, the exultant Su Wanqing would soon experience joy turning into sorrow.

She didn’t know that Li Ziyu, with good intentions, had inadvertently led the righteous female lead down a path of no return.

Even less did she know that the “big shot” and “female financial backer” she spoke of had personally pushed her into an even deeper, more fragrant hell—