Stupid.
That word struck Lin Qiyou’s mind like a sharp sword descending from the heavens, piercing through her brain.
She clutched her head in agony, inwardly berating herself as a ridiculous fool.
Why hadn’t she noticed it back then?
During the first Spirit Vein transplantation, she was recuperating, and Qingmu had also been injured.
Since then, every time the Spirit Vein transplantation took place, Qingmu would find all sorts of reasons to go out, whether voluntarily or reluctantly.
Sometimes he would be entrusted with tasks, other times it was other affairs.
In short, those days were spent avoiding her.
And after each Spirit Vein transplantation, she would grow stronger, but Qingmu would become weaker in comparison.
Yet Qingmu had not neglected his training; she was the one steadily catching up to him. The reason was—
“My… my Spirit Vein, the Spirit Vein inside me… the original owner of this surging power was Qingmu?”
Lin Qiyou questioned her father, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.
Seeing his daughter like this, the head of the Lin family sighed quietly. Even though Qingmu had been dead for over ten days, the strange connection still remained.
“No, Qingmu was just a tool. From the day he came to the Lin family, he was meant to be used on you… like medicinal ingredients. Don’t panic. You did nothing wrong.
If there is blame, blame your father.
In any case… your father did it for your own good, and the feelings between you and him are only because of the Spirit Vein connection.
In a little while, these false affections will dissipate like the wind, and your feelings for him will be just like mine.”
Such consolation was not accepted by Lin Qiyou.
She suddenly drew her longsword and ground her teeth, snarling, “Lin! You made me look like a ridiculous puppet in front of him!”
Thinking back on how she had flaunted herself before Qingmu, and the promise of freedom she had given him, Lin Qiyou felt unbearably ridiculous. She wished she could just kill herself with one strike.
Utterly ashamed! Utterly ashamed! Utterly ashamed!
Why must it be like this!
The smile in her mind transformed into mockery, stretching so wide it nearly reached her ears.
Leaning close to her ear, it whispered one sentence after another:
“You promised me freedom.”
“Ahhhhh!!! Don’t do this! Don’t do this! I don’t want the Spirit Vein! Why did you lie to me? Why hide it from me? Why didn’t you ask my opinion? I even told him I would grant him freedom, save him from misery! But in the end, I was the oppressor and exploiter!”
Lin Qiyou swung her sword toward her father, but every strike missed.
However, this was only a reckless outburst of frustration.
Her sword stabbed empty air; her footing slipped, and she knelt on the ground, as if drained of all strength.
Her face was deathly pale as she stared at her father in disbelief.
She felt as if ants were crawling all over her body—ants that seemed to come from an icefield, sending chills down her spine.
The Ice Lake… it was the empathic connection to Qingmu, sharing in his near-death agony.
Suddenly, she recalled those words spoken in her dazed state…
Qingmu—was he suffering even greater pain than she was?
“He’s no longer breathing…”
The words slipped out from Lin Qiyou’s mouth unexpectedly.
She pressed her hand against her chest, trembling as she asked her father, “Then… where is Qingmu now?”
“Dead.”
The head of the Lin family said so calmly.
At hearing this, Lin Qiyou’s ears rang; the world seemed to flip upside down.
She felt unable to think, sitting there silently, unmoving.
No matter how much the family head called her, she didn’t respond.
“Father knows you’re hurting, but it’s all false.”
The family head crouched down, looking at his daughter.
“Ah…”
Lin Qiyou opened her mouth, emitting a gasping sound.
Tears kept flowing, her shoulders shaking, and her right hand reached out to grab her sword.
But she couldn’t lift it. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t.
This power didn’t belong to her.
This power belonged to Qingmu.
She had no strength of her own.
What genius was there?
It was all a lie. The progress she took pride in was only devouring the flesh and blood of those around her.
Lin Qiyou recalled her arrogant behavior toward Qingmu, and the pain that felt like slow torture swept over her.
Frowning, she felt utterly repulsive at this moment.
“Ah…”
She wanted to speak, but couldn’t open her mouth.
She wanted to stab her father with her sword, but couldn’t lift it.
All she could do was cry and feel afraid.
If only… if only the Death Servants were still here, if only Qingmu were still alive… he would definitely shake his little bell to let her know he was here…
Did she devour him?
“Qiyou, kindness is a good thing. Father won’t stop you from grieving.”
The head of the Lin family noticed his daughter’s intention to grab the sword and smiled.
He continued, “I raised him for over ten years. Soon, I will send his younger brothers and sisters away from here so they can live a lifetime free from want. All of this was Qingmu’s own doing, traded with the Spirit Vein.
We owe him nothing, and we have not oppressed him. This was his agreement, his promise.
Did he ever plead with you for help or refuse willingly?”
“Eh?”
Lin Qiyou’s pupils constricted.
Indeed, no matter how much she pressured Qingmu, he never spoke.
His pain, his will to live…
“And besides, it’s all fake. All of it.
This is just the remnant connection from his Spirit Vein inside you.
After a little while, just a short while… these false affections will completely vanish.
When has your father ever lied to you?
Would your father ever harm you?
Are you in pain? Do you intend to rebel against your father for a dead man, someone insignificant? To stab your father with a sword?
Don’t be foolish. In this world, who loves you more than your father?”
The head of the Lin family stood up and walked away, saying, “I won’t force you. Take your time and think it through… don’t disappoint me.”
Watching her father’s back, Lin Qiyou struggled to rise from the ground.
But she felt as if all her strength had been drained away—like a cripple, unable to stand.
Her Spirit Vein was fully restored, and unknowingly, she had devoured Qingmu…
Then why couldn’t she stand?
Qingmu? Are you dead in some forgotten corner?
No… Father is right…
This must be fake!
Once time passes, she would never think of Qingmu again.
She refused, refused to feel such pain.
She refused to have her mind consumed by those thoughts… thoughts of killing her father, thoughts of suicide to wash away shame and ridicule.
“This, this is all fake, all fake… I don’t want it, don’t want to feel this pain…
I don’t like Qingmu. Not at all. It’s just false affection.
I… after some time, it will be fine.
I don’t want this pain!”
Lin Qiyou tried many times before she finally managed to prop herself up with her sword.
Her white dress was stained with dust, which she tried to brush off as she walked, but it wouldn’t come clean.
Beside her, the invisible spirit form of Qingmu sighed softly and muttered, “This… is quite good. It’s all fake. Your father is right.”