Chapter 91: Falling

Liu Qiu is gone.
She lay quietly in Liu Huang’s arms and lost her breath.

A faint smile still lingered at the corner of her lips, as if she had merely fallen into a peaceful sleep.

But some people knew that she would never wake again.

Bai Qingqing’s jet-black hair began turning white from the roots.
In no more than a few breaths, her entire head had become snow-white.

Though her face was still youthful, she carried the aura of someone on the brink of old age.

Bai Qingqing rose to her feet and lifted her hand one last time to touch Liu Qiu’s cheek.
She whispered softly, “Qiuqiu, I lied to you.”

Without you, I cannot go on living.

She did not take Liu Qiu’s body with her.
Instead, she disappeared alone into the night.

Liu Huang held the body that was gradually turning cold.
Her heart hurt so much it had gone numb, and overwhelming grief drowned her whole being.

Tears fell without warning.
Then they poured down like a violent storm, soaking her clothes in large, heavy drops.

Liu Huang’s lips trembled.
Her suppressed sobbing eventually broke into loud, heart-wrenching wails.

The sound of despair pierced through the room and reached Liu Feng’s ears.

Liu Feng was not far away.
In the pitch-black night, someone knelt before her.

That person lifted her head.
It was a face identical to Liu Qiu’s.

“My lord, I have confirmed that Su Li has completely lost her memory.”

Liu Feng gave a soft hum and waved her hand.
“Continue staying by her side.”

“Yes.”

After replying, the woman vanished into the darkness.

Left alone in the night, Liu Feng lifted her head and looked at the moon concealed by thick clouds.
A faint smile curved her lips.

In this world, aside from twins, the only way two people can look exactly alike is through disguise.

The imposter was her tool to mislead Su Li.

She had investigated Su Li.
It was as if Su Li had appeared out of thin air.

There were no traces of her past actions.

Her so-called parents had brought her back from elsewhere.
That household indeed had a daughter, but she was plain-looking with dark skin—nothing like the Su Li of now.

Beyond that, Liu Feng could uncover nothing more.

The fake ‘Liu Qiu’ was merely a precaution in case Su Li came searching.

She had given the imposter a script—saying that on the way to the capital, bandits had attacked, killing everyone, and only she had managed to escape.

But that excuse had proven unnecessary.
After so many days without any abnormality, it seemed Su Li’s amnesia was genuine.

Suddenly, another voice sounded.

“My lord, the new batch of death-row prisoners have been brought into the cellar. The medicine has been administered.”

“In three days, my lord may inspect the results.”

Liu Feng’s gaze shifted.
Under the night sky, dressed in a pale moon-white robe, her posture tall and slender, her temperament refined, paired with her delicate features, she resembled a gentle crescent moon.

She parted her lips, her tone soft.
“Keep watch at the prison.”

She had been reborn seven times.
Surely she would not do nothing.

The largest medicinal estate in the Nine Provinces was hers.
Countless rare and precious medicines were stored there.

But none of those medicines had any real effect on Liu Qiu’s body.
They could only prolong her life.

In the past, she might have wanted Liu Qiu to live longer because she herself did not wish to die.

But now, it was no longer necessary.
Even if this latecomer died, she would become a ghost and remain by her side.

If this was the reward for seven cycles of reincarnation, then it was enough.

Liu Feng stepped toward the direction from which the crying came.

She did not understand.
Huang’er had clearly seen Liu Qiu turn into a ghost trapped inside a wooden puppet before.

Why was she still so heartbroken?

They would meet again, wouldn’t they?

“Creaaak—”

The half-closed wooden door was gently pushed open.

Liu Huang pressed her cheek tightly against the top of Liu Qiu’s head, wanting to savor her final traces of warmth.

“Huang’er.”

The soft and gentle voice sounded.

Liu Huang slowly opened her swollen red eyes and looked at the person before her.
Her voice was hoarse to the extreme.

“Liu Feng.”

She had not called her “sister” in a long time.

Liu Feng did not mind.
She stepped closer and looked down at Liu Qiu’s peaceful face.

“Huang’er, we will meet Sister Qiu again.”

Liu Huang shook her head.
Despair covered her face.

“It’s gone. Everything is gone.”

They would never see Liu Qiu again.

Liu Feng did not argue.
She placed a hand on Liu Huang’s shoulder.

“Huang’er, Sister Qiu has passed. Let her lie down first.”

“We must handle the funeral arrangements.”

Liu Huang’s gaze turned unfocused.
She hugged Liu Qiu tightly.

“No… she’ll be lonely alone.”

Seeing her like this, Liu Feng sighed.
“Very well. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

She needed to welcome Liu Qiu’s ghost.

The wooden puppet had been cleaned thoroughly.
It had been dressed in new clothes and adorned beautifully and delicately.

Liu Qiu would surely be happy.

Liu Huang sat there the entire night, holding the body that had long turned cold, until dawn.

---

“Daoist, why has all your hair turned white?” Xiao Chan stared in shock at Bai Qingqing’s long white hair.

Bai Qingqing smiled faintly.
“If it wishes to turn white, then it turns white.”

“Xiao Chan, will you help me with something?”

“Daoist, just say the word.”

Bai Qingqing sliced her fingertip and drew a talisman upon Xiao Chan.

After finishing, she said, “Xiao Chan, take this talisman and return to my clan.”

Xiao Chan nodded.
The Daoist had already explained; she needed no further questions.

“Yes, Daoist. I will return quickly.”

A ghost could travel far faster than horses or human legs.
Within seven days, she could make the round trip.

After speaking, Xiao Chan vanished.

Bai Qingqing lowered her gaze and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Calmly, she drove the copper coin sword in her hand into her own heart.

“I’m sorry, Qiuqiu. I didn’t listen to you again.”

“But I cannot go on living—”

Her life force ebbed away.
Her eyes gradually dimmed until her hand slipped from the sword hilt, her body falling to the side, breath gone.

📚 Also on NHV NovelsThe Vampire Who Conquered Every WorldRead Now →

At the same moment, Su Li’s mind exploded in pain.
Memories of Liu Qiu flooded back like a tidal wave.

Su Li clutched her head in agony, curling up on the ground, roaring hoarsely.

“Liu Qiu—! Liu Qiu—!”

The fake ‘Liu Qiu’ had just stepped inside when she saw this scene.
A trace of dark calculation flashed in her eyes before disappearing, replaced by concern.

She hurried forward and crouched, reaching to help Su Li up.
But the moment she touched her, Su Li slapped her hand away.

Su Li lifted her head and glared viciously.
The disgust she could not suppress spilled from her bloodshot eyes.

“Take me… to your master.”

The imposter’s expression remained unchanged.
Her concern only deepened.

“Li’er, what are you saying? What master?”

“Are you unwell? I’ll take you to the clinic.”

Su Li’s human features twisted, then receded.
White fur sprouted, and her black pupils turned golden, radiating ferocious cold light.

The imposter’s eyes widened in terror.
Before she could scream, an invisible force gripped her throat.

Su Li stood up slowly.
The imposter was lifted into the air by the neck.

All of Su Li’s memories had returned.
Including the frail, emaciated figure she had seen.

That was her wife.

“It was you. Why did you lie to me?”

She had forgotten everything.
She had mistaken someone else.

If not for this imposter, she would have found Liu Qiu.
She would never have mistaken her.

Tears streamed from Su Li’s eyes.
Her heart felt rotten and ruined.

“Why did you lie to me? I only wanted to find her.”

Her emotions spiraled out of control.
Her nails lengthened into claws and slashed toward the imposter’s chest.

The fabric tore.
Skin split.

But when she saw the fear and pain on that identical face, she froze.

She could not do it.
That face was the same as Liu Qiu’s.

If Liu Qiu saw her with someone else, would she feel hurt?
Would she feel pain?

Su Li did not dare think further.

She wiped her tears away and forced a breath.
Her fox features receded, leaving behind that beautiful human face.

She released the imposter and fixed her golden gaze upon her.

“Take me to your master.”

---

There was no grand funeral.
Only Liu Feng, Liu Huang, and a few servants knew of Liu Qiu’s existence.

Liu Huang watched blankly as Liu Qiu was covered with a white cloth.
It was the second time.

No white banners were raised in the courtyard.
It seemed like any ordinary day—except that the sickly girl would never wake again.

Liu Huang stepped into the courtyard and knelt.
She pressed her palms together and kowtowed again and again toward the sky.

She had never believed in gods or Buddhas.
If gods truly existed, the people would not suffer famine unto despair.

But now she had no choice but to believe.

“Heavens, don’t take her away.”

Anyone—please, save Liu Qiu.

Her forehead split open, blood seeping out.
Yet she did not stop.

Liu Feng stepped out, holding a wooden puppet identical to Liu Qiu.

“In two more days, Sister Qiu will appear. Huang’er, you need not do this.”

Liu Huang’s eyes were lifeless.
It was as if she had not heard.

A cold wind suddenly swept through.
A figure fell from the sky and landed before Liu Feng.

It was her person.

So it had been exposed.

Liu Feng lifted her gaze and looked at the approaching figure.
A gentle smile curved her lips.

“Sister-in-law, long time no see.”

Su Li tilted her head.

“Why… are white curtains hanging at the gate?”

“Why… is she kowtowing?”

“Why… is Liu Qiu not here?”

Liu Feng lowered her eyes slightly.

“Sister-in-law, my elder sister passed away last night.”

Su Li’s breathing stopped.
Her eyes widened.

They were lying again.

She rushed inside like a madwoman.

Her trembling hand lifted the white cloth.

The familiar yet unfamiliar face lay beneath.

She cupped that pale, bluish cheek.

“Why are you so thin?”

“Liu Qiu, I know you’re just asleep. Wait for me.”

“I’ll wake you.”

She suddenly lifted Liu Qiu and ran outside.

She had to find her sisters.
They would help her.

She would not let her rot.
She poured her dwindling demonic power into preserving the body.

“Don’t be afraid,” she whispered over and over.

Until at last, when she overheard the truth—that the spell she had used would only damage the soul until it scattered completely—her world collapsed.

Soul scattered.

So it was her fault.

Under the crushing blow, blood seeped from her seven orifices.

She carried Liu Qiu deep into the mountains.

Without demonic power, the body began to decay.

At the pool’s edge, she laid Liu Qiu down gently and transformed into her fox form.
She curled around her neck, whimpering softly.

She had once been the most talented fox, destined for immortality.

Now she only hoped that in the next life, she might be reborn human.
Then she would find her again.

Her fluffy tail swayed slowly.
Then it stopped.

---

[Host vital signs have ceased. All plotlines completed. Memory sealing will commence. Please proceed to the next world immediately.]

[Extracting soul fragments—]

[Extraction complete. Soul will be split once more. Prepare yourself.]