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

Tian Ling'er stopped moving.

She stood there, the sunlight streaming in from the window, shining brightly on her face, like a silent knife cutting away the last trace of color from her skin.

Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were wide open, empty like two holes that reflected nothing. Her lips were slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Only a muffled breath rolled through her throat, as if something was blocking it.

Zhang Xiaofan looked at her, his heart aching. He reached out to help her, his voice hoarse, "Senior Sister..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tian Ling'er suddenly slapped his hand away with great force, and with a crisp "smack," Zhang Xiaofan's hand immediately turned red.

She took a step back, her back hitting the doorframe with a dull thud. The entire doorframe shook. She felt no pain, didn't even hear the sound, and just stared intently at Zhang Xiaofan, her eyes reddening, asking, word by word:

Say it again.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like ice, each word chilling to the bone.

Zhang Xiaofan closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again. He dared not look into her eyes, his gaze fixed on the embroidered cloud pattern on her shoulder. His voice was dry and stilted:

"Senior Brother Jiang and Senior Sister Lu got married three years ago. Senior Sister Lu married Senior Brother Jiang, and now their children are over two years old, twins, a boy and a girl, named Jiang Yunzhou and Jiang Yueyao. Master was very angry at the time, but he's better now. However, he still won't let Senior Brother Jiang return to Dazhu Peak. Master's wife often visits them and comes back saying that the children are very cute and that Senior Brother Jiang has lost some weight, but his spirits are still good. Senior Sister Lu treats him extremely well, extremely well..."

With each additional word he spoke, Tian Ling'er's face paled a little more. When he mentioned "twins," her eyelashes trembled violently as if pricked by needles. When he said "excellent," her face had lost all color, turning as white as an empty field after a heavy snowfall in winter, clean and devoid of anything.

Her lips trembled, her upper and lower teeth chattered, making a very faint "clucking" sound, but her eyes remained fixed on Zhang Xiaofan, as if trying to stare a hole through his face and into his heart to see if he was lying to her, or if he was colluding with someone to put on a show.

"Impossible..." she murmured, her voice as soft as a dream, shaking her head, first gently, then faster and faster, as if trying to shake something out of her head. "Impossible... This is impossible..."

Before she could finish speaking, her body swayed, and like a felled tree, she fell straight backward.

Zhang Xiaofan caught her, feeling that her body was unbelievably light, both light and cold, like holding a handful of snow. He called out urgently, "Senior Sister! Senior Sister!"

Tian Ling'er leaned against him, her eyes still open, but unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling. After a while, Tian Ling'er suddenly pushed him away with surprising force, and Zhang Xiaofan staggered two steps before regaining his balance.

She straightened up, her movements a little stiff. She straightened her clothes, patted off non-existent dust from her sleeves, and then raised her hand to gather her loose hair. After doing all this, she looked up at Zhang Xiaofan. The bewilderment on her face had completely faded, replaced by an almost ferocious calmness.

"Didn't the sect leader summon you?" she said, her voice flat and without any inflection. "Let's go."

Zhang Xiaofan froze, sensing something was amiss, a vague sense of panic rising within him: "Senior Sister, you're acting like this..."

"I'm fine," Tian Ling'er interrupted him, her voice still flat, frighteningly flat.

"Aren't we going to the Jade Purity Hall? Let's go, don't keep the sect leader waiting. It's never good to be impolite in front of our elders."

As she spoke, she turned and walked out, her steps steady, almost unreal, as if each step had been measured precisely before landing. Her back was ramrod straight, her shoulder blades protruding like two knives from beneath her thin clothing. Reaching the door, she stopped, not turning back, but simply asking:

"Where are they? At Xiaozhufeng?"

"...Yes," Zhang Xiaofan said in a low voice.

Tian Ling'er nodded, said nothing more, and stepped out.

The sunlight shone on her, making her fiery red dress look like a burning fire, but that fire was cold and had no warmth, like a painted flame, no matter how intense, it was fake.

Zhang Xiaofan watched her retreating figure, his heart sinking as if weighed down by lead. He quickly followed her, passed through the corridor, and met Song Daren in the courtyard.

Song Daren was squatting in the courtyard teasing a stray cat that had appeared out of nowhere. When he saw Tian Ling'er emerge from seclusion, his face lit up with joy. He opened his mouth to call out "Junior Sister," but when he saw her expression, the word "Junior" got stuck in his throat. He couldn't get it out, and he coughed.

"Senior Brother," Tian Ling'er spoke first, her voice still flat, "The Sect Leader has summoned us. Let's go."

Song Daren looked at her, then at Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head almost imperceptibly, his brows furrowing into a knot. Song Daren's heart skipped a beat, as if something had suddenly fallen and sunk to the bottom with a dull thud.

He showed no emotion on his face, only nodded, and said in a normal tone, "Okay, let's go."

The three summoned their magical treasures, and Tian Ling'er's Amber Crimson Silk transformed into a streak of red light, soaring into the sky at an extremely fast speed, as if she were fleeing.

Song Daren's Ten Tigers Sword and Zhang Xiaofan's Abyss Thunder Sword followed closely behind, the three streaks of light sweeping towards Tongtian Peak, leaving three long trails in the sea of ​​clouds of Qingyun Mountain.

No one knew what Tian Ling'er was thinking.

Her face was expressionless, she just stared straight ahead, her eyes unblinking. The wind was strong, making her clothes flutter wildly, and her long hair flew behind her like a black flag.

The red light of the amber silk shone on her face, flickering between light and shadow, making it impossible for anyone to discern the true expression in her eyes.

Watching from behind, Song Daren felt uneasy and whispered to Zhang Xiaofan, "She knows?"

Zhang Xiaofan nodded.

Song Daren remained silent for a long time before asking, "Did you tell them everything?"

Zhang Xiaofan nodded again.

Song Daren stopped asking.

Song Daren sighed silently, activated the Ten Tiger Sword, and followed the red light ahead.

……

Fox Ridge Mountain, Ghost King Sect.

Inside the main hall, Ghost King Wanren stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the enormous Fulong Cauldron in front of him.

The cauldron was ancient and simple, engraved with intricate patterns, with a faint glow of blood flowing through it. Youji and Qinglong stood behind him, while Biyao stood a little further away, leaning against a pillar, her gaze fixed on a certain spot in the void, lost in thought.

"When the golden light appears, the yellow bird will surely emerge." The Ghost King spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the hall.

"The inscription on the Fulong Cauldron refers to the Western Great Swamp. The Yellow Bird is an ancient mythical beast and the key to the Four Spirits Blood Array. We must obtain it on this trip."

Youji and Qinglong bowed in unison: "Yes."

The Ghost King turned to Biyao and said, "Yao'er, you go too."

Biyao looked up at her father, her face expressionless: "What are you going to do?"

"The Yellow Bird is no ordinary bird; one more person means one more force," the Ghost King said, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment.

"Besides, the Qingyun Sect will probably send someone there as well. If you go, you might be able to see the person you want to see."

Biyao's eyes flickered, but she didn't speak.

The Ghost King said no more and waved his hand: "Make preparations, we're leaving immediately."

Youji and Qinglong withdrew, but Biyao remained leaning against a pillar, motionless. The Ghost King glanced at her, then turned and walked towards the back hall. He stopped at the door, but without turning back, he simply said:

"Ten years have passed. Some things need to be put to rest."

Biyao trembled almost imperceptibly. She watched her father's figure disappear behind the palace gate before slowly straightening up and walking to the window.

Youji appeared silently behind her and whispered, "Yao'er."

Biyao didn't turn around, but asked, "Aunt You, will we see him this time?"

After a moment of silence, You Ji said, "Perhaps."

Biyao gazed at the mist outside the window for a long time before speaking very softly, almost to herself:

"Ten years... How are you?"

A gust of wind blew by, lifting a strand of hair from her temple. She raised her hand and tucked the hair behind her ear, her fingertips icy cold.

For some reason, my heart is beating a little fast.