Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

Inside the Jade Purity Hall.

Dao Xuan sat at the head of the table, Pu Hong sat to his left below him, and on either side sat several of Qingyun's chief members: Tian Buyi, Shui Yue, Cang Song, Zeng Shuchang, Tian Yun, and Shang Zhengliang.

Lu Xueqi stood half a step behind Shuiyue, her moon-white Taoist robe hanging down without a single wrinkle.

Behind Puhong stood only Faxiang and two other old monks, their eyes lowered and their hands holding prayer beads.

The hall was quiet, with only the faint sound of the wind outside, whistling through the high eaves.

Pu Hong spoke first, his voice low, gentle and calm. He spoke for a long time, from the year Pu Zhi went down the mountain to Qingyun, to that night in Caomiao Village, how Pu Zhi was corrupted by the evil power of the Bloodthirsty Bead, how he went mad, and the rain, the blood, and the screams that night.

The Qingyun members listened without much expression on their faces. Tian Buyi's chubby face was tense, and his small eyes were narrowed into slits. Shuiyue lowered her eyelids and looked only at the ground three feet in front of her. Cangsong put his hands behind his back, his fingers unconsciously twisting in his sleeves. Zeng Shuchang stroked his short beard and frowned.

Lu Xueqi stood quietly, her gaze fixed on the armrest of Dao Xuan's chair in front of her. Cloud patterns were carved on it, and after looking at it for a while, the patterns became somewhat blurry. However, they were exceptionally clear in her mind. Every word Pu Hong said turned into images, one after another, crashing into her brain.

Her fingertips curled up inside her sleeve, then relaxed.

Pu Hong finished speaking. As the last word fell, the hall became even quieter, and even the sound of the wind seemed to stop.

"Amitabha." Pu Hong chanted a Buddhist prayer. "This matter is indeed the fault of Tianyin Temple. Brother Puzhi made a grave mistake in a moment of weakness, implicating the innocent. His sins are heavy. On behalf of Tianyin Temple, I apologize to Qingyun and to the villagers of Caomiao Village who died unjustly."

As he spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to Dao Xuan and the Qingyun group. Fa Xiang and the two old monks behind him also bowed.

Dao Xuan didn't move, but only raised his hand: "Please rise, Venerable Monk. This matter... is not the fault of Tianyin Temple. Venerable Monk, there is no need for this."

Pu Hong straightened up, sighed, and said, "There's something else. I've heard that your sect's junior brother Tian from Dazhu Peak has a disciple named... Zhang Xiaofan?"

Tian Buyi grunted, took half a step forward, and said in a gruff voice, "That's right, Zhang Xiaofan is my disciple. Why is the divine monk asking him?"

Pu Hong looked at Tian Buyi with a complicated expression: "Junior Brother Tian, ​​that benefactor Zhang Xiaofan, besides your sect's Taiji Xuanqing Dao, does he... practice any other martial arts?"

Tian Buyi's face darkened, and he didn't answer immediately, but just stared at Pu Hong.

Dao Xuan slowly spoke, "Junior Brother Tian, ​​please speak freely."

Tian Buyi took a breath, his voice muffled: "Yes, that kid carries the 'Great Brahma Prajna' of Tianyin Temple."

Upon hearing this, the previously somber atmosphere in the hall was stirred up like a stone thrown into water. Zeng Shuchang, Tianyun, Shang Zhengliang and the others all showed surprise, their eyes turning to Tian Buyi and then to Pu Hong.

Cangsong's brows twitched, but he didn't speak. Shuiyue kept her eyes downcast.

Pu Hong nodded, his face showing no surprise, only a deeper sense of shame: "Indeed, back then, Junior Brother Pu Zhi was obsessed with the idea of ​​'dual cultivation of Buddhism and Taoism.' Before his death, he passed on the Great Brahma Prajna Technique to the young Benefactor Zhang Xiaofan. This act... was also his selfishness, his mistake. Benefactor Zhang Xiaofan was completely unaware of this. All the blame lies with Pu Zhi and with Tianyin Temple."

He paused, then looked at Dao Xuan: "Sect Leader Dao Xuan, regarding this matter... Tianyin Temple has absolutely no intention of interfering in the affairs of Qingyun Sect. I am speaking frankly today, firstly to reveal everything and show my honesty, and secondly..."

His gaze swept over the Qingyun group.

"Zhang Xiaofan is the head of both families, which is both an opportunity and a hidden danger. If your sect has any plans for dealing with him, Tianyin Temple will have no objections."

Dao Xuan remained silent for a moment before saying, "Xiao Fan is a simple and honest child. This matter is indeed not his fault. Now that he has joined Qingyun, he is a disciple of Qingyun. I will take care of the matter of cultivation techniques. You need not worry about it, Venerable Monk."

Pu Hong clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha! Sect Leader Dao Xuan is so magnanimous. On behalf of Junior Brother Pu Zhi, I thank you."

The hall fell silent again, and the ripples seemed to slowly subside, but something was still moving slowly beneath the air.

Pu Hong glanced at Dao Xuan, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "There is one more thing... concerning another disciple of your sect, Benefactor Jiang Xiaochuan."

Lu Xueqi's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly as she lifted her gaze from Yunwen and placed it on Pu Hong's face.

Tian Buyi also suddenly looked at Pu Hong, his chubby face twitching.

Dao Xuan said "Oh," his voice steady: "Please speak, Venerable Monk."

Pu Hong slowly said, "That night, Junior Brother Pu Zhi was controlled by the evil power of the Bloodthirsty Bead and went mad. Benefactor Jiang Xiaochuan stepped forward to protect the people of Caomiao Village and, with his Jade Purity Realm cultivation, fought against Junior Brother Pu Zhi, who had already fallen into demonic possession..." His voice lowered.

"According to the surviving villagers, Benefactor Jiang... was severely injured, and his heart meridian was ruptured by the evil power of the Blood-Devouring Bead. I thought... I thought Benefactor Jiang had already perished. Later, I heard that Benefactor Jiang had returned safely to Qingyun. I was both puzzled and... extremely gratified and infinitely respectful. Such selflessness and fearlessness are truly a model for our righteous path."

He paused, then looked at Tian Buyi: "Junior Brother Tian, ​​how is Benefactor Jiang...? His heart meridian was damaged back then, I wonder how..."

Tian Buyi did not answer immediately, but looked at Dao Xuan.

Dao Xuan slowly twirled the jade handle of his whisk, remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Pu Hong. His voice was calm, yet each word was clear: "That child Xiao Chuan did indeed have his heart meridian ruptured, but by chance, that Blood-Devouring Bead... is now inside his body, replacing his original heart."

"!"

The composure that Puhong had maintained on his face shattered instantly. His pupils contracted sharply, and the fingers that were holding the prayer beads stopped abruptly. The Dharma image and the two old monks behind him also looked up abruptly, their faces filled with disbelief and horror.

Lu Xueqi's mind went blank for a moment, as if something had exploded.

She stood there, her hands and feet icy cold, and her vision blurred.

The Bloodthirsty Bead...became his heart?

That extremely malevolent and evil bead, located on his chest, beat in place of his heart.

So... so the intense throbbing in her left chest when he got close wasn't because of her, but because the Bloodthirsty Bead sensed Tianya's aura?

So that's how it is...

Her heart ached with a bittersweet feeling, tinged with a sharp pain. She had always thought that the pounding heart was because of her, but now…

She bit her lower lip hard until she tasted a hint of blood and sweetness, then forced herself to steady her breathing, stand up straight, and lower her gaze back down to stare at the cracks in the gold bricks on the ground, motionless. Only her hand in her sleeve showed her nails digging deeply into her palm, leaving crescent-shaped red marks.

Pu Hong took a long time to catch his breath before slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, his voice hoarse: "The Blood-Devouring Bead... for the heart? This... how is this possible? That bead is extremely ferocious, its evil aura soaring to the heavens. Ordinary cultivators who get close might have their minds corrupted. How could it... be placed inside the body, replacing the heart meridian? Benefactor Jiang, he... he is now..."

"His life is not in danger, but there is no longer a normal heartbeat in his heart. As for what will happen in the future... let's see what fate has in store for him."

Pu Hong remained silent for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh, clasping his hands together and saying, "Amitabha... Benefactor Jiang has profound blessings, which is also a fortune for our righteous path, but..."

He raised his head, looked at Dao Xuan with a solemn expression, and said, "The Bloodthirsty Bead is no ordinary object; its ferocity is difficult to tame. Even if it doesn't cause immediate harm, having it in your body for a long time could seriously harm your future cultivation and temperament. Our Tianyin Temple has a formation called the 'Diamond Ring' formation, which is formed by several highly skilled disciples. It can draw upon the purest and most righteous power of Buddhism to suppress the evil and ferocious energy. I wonder... if Sect Leader Dao Xuan would allow you to return to Tianyin Temple with me? Our temple is willing to do everything in its power to help you suppress the ferocity of the Bloodthirsty Bead with the Diamond Ring formation, which may reduce future potential problems."