When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 84

Volume Four: Those Years When I Was a Master

[Rough and not set in stone: Foundation Establishment → Enlightenment → Integration → Temptation → Golden Core → Nascent Soul → Soul Division → Body Integration → Void Glimpse → Mahayana → Void Shattering → Tribulation Transcendence → Supreme Immortal]

Love at first sight

【Blackening Value has decreased. Current Blackening Value: 5.7!】

【Blackening Value has increased. Current Blackening Value: 6.8!】

【Blackening Value has decreased. Current Blackening Value: 6.3!】

【Blackening Value has increased. Current Blackening Value: 7.2!】

…

Wen Nuan listened to the System’s notifications all morning until her head ached. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, exasperated. “Did you get a virus?”

When she woke up that morning, Wen Nuan had just started to ask about Yu Wan Zhao’s condition when Yu Wan Zhao shoved her forcefully, nearly sending her tumbling off the bed, before disappearing without a trace.

Wen Nuan glanced at Quexie; she figured Yu Wan Zhao hadn’t run far. She probably woke up, found herself in Wen Nuan’s arms, and got a bit of a shock. Wen Nuan didn’t go looking for her, deciding to give her a quiet space to calm down.

Yu Wan Zhao had been gone all morning, and the System had been in chaos the entire time, as if it had a virus. The Blackening Value fluctuated wildly. When it first started rising, Wen Nuan was quite anxious and wanted to see what was wrong with the female lead. But in the next second, the value would drop, only to rise and fall again, back and forth, until Wen Nuan couldn’t be bothered anymore.

【I don’t have a virus. The female lead’s emotions are in turmoil right now, which is causing my data to be chaotic and fluctuate,】 the System lamented. 【It’s a good thing I cleared my memory cache earlier. Otherwise, such frequent data changes would have crashed my database.】

“Oh.” Wen Nuan exhaled a puff of smoke.

【Aren’t you puzzled?】 the System asked, seeing Wen Nuan’s calm and composed expression. 【The female lead’s Blackening Value is changing too frequently. Don’t you find it strange?】

Wen Nuan raised an eyebrow. “She’s caught in her own emotional trap and is terribly conflicted. It’s normal for her fluctuating emotions to cause the Blackening Value to rise and fall.”

【A trap?】 the System asked in confusion. 【What kind of trap?】

Wen Nuan narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on Quexie on her ring finger. She nonchalantly blew out a ring of smoke. “A trap of the heart.”

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Yu Wan Zhao sat slumped on a peach tree, lazily gazing at the distant mountains. From there, she could observe her surroundings while also keeping a constant watch on the situation in the wooden cabin.

That person had stayed in her room since morning. She hadn’t come out to eat, nor had she come out for a breath of fresh air. What on earth was she doing in there?

Thinking of the morning’s scene, Yu Wan Zhao felt her heart race in a panicked flutter.

She had been held in Wen Nuan’s arms, nestled together, relying on each other completely.

She could hear the fervent beat of Wen Nuan’s heart, she could smell the faint, clean fragrance emanating from her body, she could feel her softness and delicacy.

She found herself cherishing the memory of these things like a madwoman, to the point of… obsession.

What is wrong with me?

I hate her so much, so why can’t I bring myself to harm her?

For the past five years, I’ve wished I could tear her limb from limb, yet upon seeing her again, why do I feel such a sense of nostalgia?

She had endured five years in an abyss of suffering, carrying endless hatred and resentment. She had ignored the backlash from her demonic spirit and braved the risk of her body exploding, crazily elevating her cultivation to the Mahayana Realm just so she could fight Wen Nuan to the death. Even if it meant dying at Wen Nuan’s hands again, she would have died without regret.

And yet, she now found that simply perishing together with Wen Nuan felt like a great pity.

She hadn’t seen enough of Wen Nuan’s face. She hadn’t smelled enough of Wen Nuan’s sweet scent. She hadn’t heard Wen Nuan softly call her name enough.

She was even unsatisfied with just a simple embrace from Wen Nuan.

She wanted more, so much more…

But… more of what?

Yu Wan Zhao stared blankly into the distance. There were only high mountains and flowing water, white clouds drifting and scattering in the wind. The warm sunlight slanted down, landing in her ink-black eyes like a single candle lit in a vast, dark room. All it took was a tiny spark of light to illuminate everything.

The words Liu Qingsui once said to her flashed through her mind.

“If not for a love so deep it turned to bitter hatred, why would you be so obsessed with your Master?”

“Do you truly hate your Master? Or is it that you don’t hate her, but merely resent her?”

“Do you hate her for that one sword strike? Or do you resent her for never having believed in you?”

“You threatened your Master with the lives of everyone in the world, forcing her hand. Did you truly want to kill her to avenge what happened five years ago? Or did you harbor other… designs on her?”

An indecipherable light flickered in Yu Wan Zhao’s eyes. She looked up, watching the peach blossoms on the branches scatter with the wind.

She thought she could hear the sound of her own heart falling in love.

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Since Yu Wan Zhao hadn’t returned, Wen Nuan took a look around the small cabin. In the backyard, she discovered a dry well hidden among weeds that were half a person’s height.

Peeking inside, she was surprised to find fluctuations of demonic energy.

Wen Nuan released her spiritual sense to investigate the bottom of the well and was shocked to discover that this dry well was actually the exit to this Void Barrier!

As for where the exit led, she had no idea. She could only take it one step at a time.

【Are we leaving?】 the System asked. 【If we stay in this barrier, the female lead’s Blackening Value will be eliminated very quickly.】

After all, there were only the two of them here. As long as they could clear up some misunderstandings, zeroing out the Blackening Value would surely be a swift process.

Wen Nuan lowered her gaze. “Let her be the one to make that decision.”

If she wanted to stay, she would stay with her. If she wanted to leave, she would accompany her as well.

When Yu Wan Zhao returned to the cabin, the room was empty. Using Quexie to check, she found that Wen Nuan had gone to the backyard.

She walked into the backyard and saw Wen Nuan standing by the well.

Although with Wen Nuan’s strength, she would never play a boring trick like jumping into a well to commit suicide, Yu Wan Zhao’s heart still skipped a beat the moment she saw her standing there.

“What are you doing over there?”

Wen Nuan crooked her ring finger. “Come here,” she said softly.

Feeling the pull on her finger, Yu Wan Zhao glanced at Quexie and walked to Wen Nuan’s side. Sensing the surge of demonic energy from below the dry well, her expression changed. “This is…?”

“Perhaps an exit,” Wen Nuan said, looking at her. “We should be able to leave this barrier.”

“Why didn’t we find it yesterday?”

They had searched the entire barrier yesterday and found no exit. This well seemed to have appeared out of thin air.

Wen Nuan gave a faint smile. “Maybe the master of this barrier doesn’t welcome us?”

“…” Yu Wan Zhao looked at the bottom of the well. It was unfathomably deep, with a continuous stream of demonic energy pouring out, enough to make one’s heart tremble with fear. “Where does the bottom of this well lead?”

“I don’t know.”

Yu Wan Zhao glanced at Wen Nuan and said with deliberate sarcasm, “So there are things in this world that even Master doesn’t know?”

But the moment the words left her mouth, she felt a pang of regret and frustration.

“The world is vast. There are many things for which the cause and effect are unknown, the reasons unclear,” Wen Nuan said.

“In Master’s opinion, what in this world is most beyond cause and effect, most impossible to reason out?”

Wen Nuan looked at her, her thin lips parting slightly. “Feelings.”

Yu Wan Zhao paused. “…I never thought Master could be sentimental.”

“To be human is to be unable to escape the seven emotions and six desires¹. I am no exception,” Wen Nuan said, her gaze soft. “And neither are you.”

Yu Wan Zhao’s heart trembled. Not daring to meet Wen Nuan’s clear eyes, she stared into the well. “Does Master wish to leave?”

“Either is fine.”

“What do you mean?”

“We can go or we can stay. Either is fine.”

Yu Wan Zhao’s expression was teasing, but her heart was pounding. “What? Is Master planning to grow old with me in this place, isolated from the rest of the world?”

Wen Nuan broke into a gentle smile. “That wouldn’t be impossible.”

Gazing into her eyes, which were filled with a galaxy of tiny smiles, Yu Wan Zhao felt her heart stop for an instant.

“In… in your dreams,” Yu Wan Zhao stammered, her eyes darting away. “Who would want to grow old with you here? If we stayed too long, I might just kill you to vent the hatred in my heart.”

Wen Nuan didn’t speak, merely nodding in acknowledgment of Yu Wan Zhao’s bluff.

Seeing her indifferent attitude, Yu Wan Zhao pouted. “Then let’s go. I can’t be bothered to stay in this blasted place any longer.”

“Alright.”

Seeing Wen Nuan about to go first, Yu Wan Zhao reached out to block her. “I’ll jump first, in case you try to run.”

Wen Nuan pressed her lips together. “Alright.”

“But, if you dare try any funny business behind my back,” Yu Wan Zhao said, crooking her ring finger with a fierce look in her eyes, “I’m sure you know how this Quexie works. If you don’t want to be tortured, then be good and obey me. No funny business, you hear?”

“Okay, I’ll be good.” Wen Nuan’s smile was captivating.

Yu Wan Zhao secretly sucked in a breath at her smile. “What are you smiling at?! Are you plotting something wicked in your head?”

“No.”

“Then what are you smiling for?”

Her smile is so strange, and yet so… beautiful.

Wen Nuan straightened her lips. “Then I won’t smile.”

Yu Wan Zhao: “…”

I shouldn’t have said anything. Now I can’t even see her smile. Yu Wan Zhao, you useless thing.

Filled with regret, Yu Wan Zhao jumped. She found herself suspended in mid-air, completely unable to find a foothold. She was about to shout for Wen Nuan not to jump when she saw a flash of white at the mouth of the well. The woman dove headfirst, so fast that in the blink of an eye, Yu Wan Zhao was swept into her arms.

“Why did you jump down?” Yu Wan Zhao looked up. “I was just about to tell you not to?”

Wen Nuan didn’t speak, simply raising her ring finger.

“…”

Right. If she dies, Wen Nuan can’t live either.

Since her goal from the start was for them to perish together, this was fine. At least now they could die in the same place.

On the verge of death, Yu Wan Zhao couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore. She wrapped her arms around Wen Nuan’s slender waist, buried her face in her embrace, and whispered, “Master?”

Wen Nuan felt her draw closer and responded, “En.”

She bit her lip. “The fact that I… have the blood of the demon race, did it bring you shame?”

“…No.”

Hearing Wen Nuan’s denial, Yu Wan Zhao’s feathery eyelashes trembled. “Then why didn’t you believe me?”

“What?”

“I’m not… the evil spawn of demons they called me. I’m not bloodthirsty and cruel, I haven’t massacred countless people, I’m not crooked at heart. At first… I didn’t even know I was from the demon race.” Her voice trembled, filled with grievance and indignation.

Wen Nuan sighed almost imperceptibly and stroked her hair. “En, Your Master knows you aren’t.”

Yu Wan Zhao’s eyes stung, tears welling up and blurring her vision. She buried her face deeper into Wen Nuan’s embrace. “Master, back then, why… did you want to kill me?”

She still had to ask why.

Even if she already knew the answer, even if she still hoped the answer might be different.

She heard a sigh from above her head, and her tears were gently wiped away by a touch filled with pity and tenderness.

“Don’t cry,” Wen Nuan said, lowering her head to place a light kiss on the crown of her head. The kiss was so light, she didn’t even notice it. “Your Master’s heart aches for you.”

Yu Wan Zhao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Master, you… what did you say?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Wen Nuan caressed her cheek, the pad of her thumb brushing over the corner of her eye. It was wet.

Her bright eyes moved. “Your Master’s heart aches for you.”

Yu Wan Zhao gazed at those red lips. All she had to do was tilt her head up slightly to steal a kiss.

She thought she finally understood what she had truly been seeking.

It turned out she had never hated her. She was deeply in love with her.

From the day they first met, when Wen Nuan stood high upon that platform.

A single hurried glance, and she had entered her heart, was carved into her bones, and seeped into her soul.

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