Chapter 2: Endurance
1556 Words
“Ice and fire dual spirit roots; it seems there's no hope for Nascent Soul.”
As Xie Yuqing was lost in thought, a sharp female voice cut through her reverie. She looked up to see a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in high-grade robes and holding a sword, approaching. When the girl saw Xie Yuqing looking at her, she sneered, her disdain apparent in her eyes.
Xie Yuqing lowered her gaze and turned to avoid the girl.
She couldn’t afford to offend her and had to avoid confrontation. The girl was Fu Lingjin’s paternal cousin, Fu Xiang. Both of them shared the same grandfather and were among the only two daughters of the prominent Fu family’s main branch, both highly valued by the family. Xie Yuqing, coming from a minor southern family, was naturally inferior to the Fu family’s direct descendants.
Though both were direct descendants, the difference in their backgrounds was enormous.
In the original novel, Fu Xiang was not one to stay quiet. Desiring to be the most valued girl in the Fu family, she set her sights on Fu Lingjin, competing with her in everything. They would often exchange insults or even physical blows whenever they met. But due to the age and cultivation level difference, Fu Xiang could only rely on verbal taunts for now, unable to act out physically.
Since Fu Lingjin valued Xie Yuqing, the latter inevitably got caught in the crossfire.
In Fu Xiang’s eyes, Xie Yuqing was not only a penniless beggar who came to beg for things throughout the year but also a pretentious and ungrateful person. Xie Yuqing had lost count of the countless derogatory remarks Fu Xiang had made.
Xie Yuqing had once retorted, only to be punished severely by the elders of the Xie family, receiving dozens of lashes and being forcibly taken to the Fu family to apologize to Fu Xiang. The pain from those lashes was something she would never forget.
At that time, she had just turned four. The family servants of the Xie family had held her down on a bench while the elders, with stern faces, whipped her with energy-laden lashes. The pain from those lashes spread through her body instantly. Each subsequent lash came faster and harder, with the pain stimulating her brain, causing her to scream in agony.
Her weak parents stood by, restrained and unable to do anything, crying helplessly.
When her vision began to blur, Fu Lingjin had invited Fu Mu (Fu's mother) over to stop the Xie family elder, otherwise, she would have certainly died under the lashes. Even with Fu Mu’s intervention, the Xie family elder remained uneasy and insisted on taking her to the Fu family to apologize.
Had it not been for the pills sent by Fu Mu, she would have undoubtedly died. To survive and avoid punishment from the Xie family, Xie Yuqing endured all the harsh words and humiliation.
She was not Fu Lingjin and lacked the Fu family’s background and the protagonist’s luck. As long as she could avoid Fu Lingjin in the future, she would live freely and avoid troubles like Fu Xiang’s.
There would be a day when she wouldn't have to endure, and a day when she could emerge from her suffering.
Fu Lingjin usually endured as well and would complain to the elders when she couldn’t take it anymore. But today, for some unknown reason, she rare stood up to Fu Xiang.
“What does it have to do with you? Just take care of yourself. We don’t need your concern for our Qing’er,” Fu Lingjin replied, her delicate face filled with anger.
When these words were spoken, the once noisy hall fell eerily silent.
At present, the Floating World was experiencing a century-long prosperity. With many Golden Core cultivators and Nascent Soul practitioners, as long as one wasn’t born with five spirit roots or had a constitution unfavorable to cultivation, even a regular cultivator could reach Nascent Soul. Living to a thousand years was quite common for cultivators in the Floating World, even for outer disciples of minor sects. It was rare to not reach a thousand years.
Fu Xiang’s words clearly indicated that Xie Yuqing was a short-lived person who wouldn’t live past a thousand years, akin to a curse predicting a child’s early death.
Fu Lingjin was especially sensitive to matters of Xie Yuqing’s life. Fu Xiang’s actions were clearly stepping on Fu Lingjin’s nerves. The latter’s failure to take immediate action was due to her current cultivation level of just the Qi Refining stage, unable to face Fu Xiang, who was at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Xie Yuqing was unaware of these nuances and looked at Fu Lingjin in surprise, feeling a cold chill inside.
Fu Xiang was shocked that despite her usual harsh words, Fu Lingjin had always tolerated her. Yet today, in front of many outsiders, Fu Lingjin directly confronted her just because of a single taunt about Xie Yuqing.
Surrounded by aristocratic families, the situation was even more embarrassing. Even if it was just the minor families affiliated with the southern four great families, they would surely be laughing behind her back, seeing the Fu family’s internal discord.
Fueled by this, Fu Xiang’s anger surged.
“What’s the difference between ice and fire dual spirit roots and useless spirit roots? Don’t just say there’s no hope for Nascent Soul; even reaching Golden Core is a problem. Am I not speaking the truth? Is it wrong to speak honestly? Since when did Fu Lingjin become the one in charge of the Fu family? Must I be managed by you, Fu Lingjin?”
Fu Lingjin frowned, about to retort, but noticed that everyone around them was watching.
There’s an unspoken rule among aristocratic families to resolve family matters within the family and not let outsiders see or laugh at family disputes.
She forced a smile at the crowd and then pulled Xie Yuqing away, heading for the exit.
Fu Xiang was already furious that Fu Lingjin had turned against her over Xie Yuqing. Now, seeing Fu Lingjin leave with Xie Yuqing, leaving her behind as a spectacle, her previously pleasant face twisted into an ugly snarl.
You and an outsider cousin stick together, leaving me, your direct cousin, here to be ridiculed?
Fuming, Fu Xiang raised her hand and threw dozens of first-tier explosive talismans towards the duo. Amid the gasps of the crowd, the talismans exploded before they could reach them, with only one second-tier explosive talisman still speeding toward them.
This wasn’t the first time such an incident occurred, and Xie Yuqing had been prepared. The moment Fu Xiang attacked, she ran away without looking back.
She was not the protagonist; she would be injured if she didn’t run. The protagonist always had others to protect her.
Fu Lingjin hadn’t expected Fu Xiang to disregard etiquette and attack in front of everyone. She didn’t react in time and saw the second-tier explosive talisman approaching.
Just as the talisman was about to explode in front of Fu Lingjin, a green aura enveloped it, containing the explosion within the aura.
“Jin, are you alright?” Fu Jun hurried over, his face showing concern.
“I’m fine, thank you, Jun,” Fu Lingjin took a few steps back, distancing herself from Fu Jun.
Fu Jun wasn’t discouraged and stepped forward again, making small talk.
It was him.
Xie Yuqing looked at Fu Jun, her brow slightly furrowed.
In the original novel, Fu Jun was a special pawn of the demon clan, hidden within the Fu family and the Floating Sect. He was from the Fu family’s main branch and was of the same generation as Fu Xiang and Fu Lingjin. However, compared to these two cousins, his talents were mediocre, and he wasn’t valued by the Fu family.
In the talented Floating Sect, he was unimpressive, having spent decades in the sect just to reach Foundation Establishment completion. The only thing notable about him was his Fu family background.
Despite his high birth, he lacked strength and was arrogant, envying those with better talent. Over time, Fu Jun developed a heart demon and eventually fell into the demon path.
According to the timeline, he hadn’t yet fallen to darkness or started working for the demon clan. But Xie Yuqing’s intuition told her that Fu Jun was definitely involved in the earlier incident.
Given his narrow-minded and self-serving nature, his appearance was likely part of a scheme to win favor with Fu Lingjin.
He might have orchestrated the whole situation to offer help and gain a favor from Fu Lingjin, making her remember the time he helped her.
Fu Jun didn’t care about the Fu family or Fu Lingjin’s safety. In the original novel, he was involved in surrounding and attacking Fu Lingjin in the Floating Sect’s secret realm.
So he was also one of the culprits responsible for causing her excruciating death in the previous life.
Xie Yuqing’s gaze turned icy.
And this voice.
Yes, it was one of the people who spoke when she first arrived. The painful memories surged back, making Xie Yuqing feel a void in her chest and her body start to ache again.
She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to seek revenge on Fu Jun.
He truly is despicable.
- Writer
