Jiang Miao had no idea she had approached the wrong person. During the time she remained indoors, the true female lead, Ling Gu, passed by the area but did not receive the necessary treatment, forcing her to seek help elsewhere. Unaware that she had missed her destined romantic trial, fate’s gears shifted in another direction through this twist of circumstances.
Meanwhile, Jiang Miao continued her efforts to bond with this difficult, taciturn little kitten.
Of course, the “kitten” was merely her own misconception. The real Ling Gu was a solitary star of misfortune, whose original fate was to die in this very place. Unexpectedly, she survived due to Jiang Miao’s intervention—her initial desire to end her life stemmed from a sense of meaninglessness, a feeling that persisted even now, though her plans had been temporarily postponed.
Ending one’s life required certain conditions, after all.
Her current physical state could hardly support much activity, and Jiang Miao seemed to be the idlest person in the world, staying by her side around the clock. Under such close surveillance, finding an opportunity to commit suicide proved exceedingly difficult.
More importantly, she had lost the courage to take her own life.
Perhaps it was because her current life was relatively comfortable, or perhaps because there were no sources of pressure around her, allowing her soul a moment of respite. This hard-won sliver of ease was enough to let her catch her breath amidst a cruel fate.
Sometimes, the line between acceptance and despair was just a single thought.
But as a result, her world now revolved entirely around Jiang Miao.
Her attention inevitably turned to the other woman. Though she couldn’t see, many other senses helped her understand this meddlesome person—the peculiar, unique fragrance that clung to her, the dragging sound of her footsteps when she walked, and the warm fingertips that accidentally brushed against her waist while changing her bandages.
Ling Gu was accustomed to being attended to, so she didn’t feel particularly shy. Yet when the warmth of those fingertips reached her, she couldn’t help but straighten up. A strange warmth flowed through her heart, back and forth, seeping into her bones with a tingling sensation.
What kind of sorcery was this?
Ling Gu wanted to curse, but she feared that speaking up would only invite ridicule. So she stubbornly endured, battling against this non-existent magical force. Though her mind swirled with countless thoughts, her expression remained calm and composed. By the time the bandage change was over, she felt a sense of accomplishment, as if she had emerged victorious.
Unaware of her inner turmoil, Jiang Miao simply watched as the wounds healed better and better, feeling immensely proud.
Yet amid her joy, she couldn’t help but marvel secretly. The other woman’s body seemed far more resilient than that of an ordinary person. Wounds like these would take at least a month to improve on anyone else, but on Ling Gu, they healed with astonishing speed. Was this the effect of the protagonist’s halo?
But then again, she had never seen anyone with so many scars.
Crisscrossing, gruesome marks covered her limbs in varying shades, clearly inflicted at different times. Some scars even lay over joints—areas where injuries could easily lead to lifelong disabilities. Who would inflict such severe harm? Wasn’t the female lead supposed to have had a happy childhood?
Lost in thought, Jiang Miao’s fingers unconsciously traced over the scars. The slight roughness felt strangely fascinating, like raised patterns of some kind.
Ling Gu barely managed to endure until the bandage change was over. To her surprise, the woman didn’t leave after finishing but instead absentmindedly stroked her back, lost in thought. Her breath brushed against Ling Gu’s waist, warm and ticklish, provoking Ling Gu to snap angrily, “What are you touching?”
Jiang Miao snapped back to reality and quickly withdrew her hand. “Sorry.”
Ling Gu frowned. In the past, anyone who dared to be so presumptuous would have been strangled on the spot. But lately, she was in need of someone to attend to her, and this person’s cooking was barely passable. Suppressing her murderous intent, she said impatiently, “Aren’t you leaving yet?”
Jiang Miao wasn’t afraid of her. After all, someone with both legs broken and blind, no matter how fiercely they postured, seemed like an empty threat, incapable of doing her any real harm. Moreover, the scars gave her the impression that the other had endured a tragic past. Anyone would feel a measure of sympathy for such a person.
So she didn’t leave. Instead, she asked, “How did you get so many scars?”
Ling Gu hadn’t expected this person to be so bold—not only not hurrying away but also prying. Infuriated, she laughed coldly. “What, are you going to avenge me?”
Jiang Miao was taken aback by the question, thinking to herself, Well, yes, actually. The female lead was chosen by fate—who would dare treat her like this? As the female lead’s destined partner, even though no feelings had developed between them yet, her stance was clear and firm. Having come this far, she couldn’t just say she was asking casually. So she declared resolutely, “Of course. No matter who bullied you, I’ll help you get back at them.”
She spoke without the slightest hesitation, leaving Ling Gu speechless. In her years in the Five Poisons Sect, she had seen every kind of sinister trick. Friends turning on each other and siblings killing one another were commonplace. Even those who had shared life-and-death bonds had stabbed her in the back for the sake of profit. Human relationships were as fragile as paper, and she had long since stopped trusting anyone.
Yet who would have thought there could be such a fool in this world?
Her heart suddenly felt unsettled, but her words remained sharp. “With just you?”
Jiang Miao knew full well she wasn’t capable now, but the protagonist was. Since revenge was inevitable sooner or later, why not earn a little more goodwill? “I may be weak now, but once I’ve cultivated my skills, I’ll avenge you!”
Seeing Ling Gu remain silent, Jiang Miao pressed further, “Tell me, who was it?”
After a long pause, Ling Gu finally said, “Dead.”
Jiang Miao felt a mix of disappointment and relief. Truth be told, with her current combat abilities, she could barely manage to kill a chicken, let alone seek revenge for someone else. This way, she saved face and avoided conflict—a perfect outcome.
“Lucky for him he died early, or I’d definitely have made him pay!” Jiang Miao cursed, then added, “What do you want to eat tonight?”
“Whatever.”
“How about pork ribs?”
“Fine.”
Jiang Miao hadn’t expected the other to actually agree and immediately skipped out happily to prepare. The room was left with only Ling Gu.
After a long while, she sighed.
Dead. They were truly dead.
Those who had left scars on her body were either killed by others or by her. To be precise, most had died killing one another. The only one she had killed herself was her master.
She was the victor of that year’s Five Poisons Competition, and to graduate, she had to kill her master. Only by severing all emotional ties could one truly graduate. Heartlessness was the first step to mastery.
This incredibly brutal selection mechanism has been inherited for decades, during which countless people have died.
At first, they were all orphans from various places, each with a tragic background. They lived together from childhood, practiced cultivation together, and shared daily routines. In the early years, some made their first friends, while others experienced their first taste of warmth in life. They relied on each other for survival, taking care of one another. Although their master was strict—failing to train properly meant going hungry—they had no idea that such a cruel future awaited them.
Then, one day, their master suddenly announced the start of the competition.
When they learned that it would be a life-or-death hunt, many were terrified and hesitated, unable to bring themselves to harm their friends. Those who hesitated all became victims under others’ swords.
In the end, only the most ruthless desperadoes remained—among them, Ling Gu.
Back then, she even slept with her eyes open. Duels could happen at any moment, and the slightest lapse in vigilance would mean death. Everyone was like a lurking hunter, yet at the same time, prey in the eyes of others.
The hunt lasted only a month and a half, but the experience it gave her surpassed anything she had learned in the past ten years.
Only after all her fellow disciples, including the master, had died did she escape that nightmare.
She thought it was over, but such events continued for another five years. During those five years, she participated in the next Five Poisons Tournament as the sect leader. Because no one could defeat her, she remained the sect leader for five years.
Later, she was ambushed, her meridians exploded, and she was thrown into a river, drifting with the current until she arrived here.
This place was good—no hunts, no ambushes, enough to eat, and the ability to sleep soundly. The exhaustion accumulated over the years finally caught up with her. She was so tired, as if she had never been this exhausted before.
She closed her eyes, and the faint scent of fireworks drifting in from outside the window lulled her into a drowsy sleep. This time, she didn’t dream of the past.
Jiang Miao hummed a tune as she cooked, tending to the firewood and stir-frying, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Over the past few days, she had grown accustomed to Ling Gu’s stubbornness and had given up hope that she would accept the pork ribs. But today, when she casually asked, Ling Gu actually agreed. In Jiang Miao’s eyes, this was a huge step forward—not being picky about food was the foundation for good health. As long as she could replenish her calcium, her legs would recover sooner!
Speaking of legs, it was time to start working on the wheelchair.
For the past few days, Ling Gu had stayed in bed. Although she never explicitly said she wanted to go outside, Jiang Miao noticed that she often gazed at the light outside and was drawn to the birdsong beyond the window. The reason she didn’t say anything was probably because she didn’t want to trouble Jiang Miao.
Jiang Miao felt it was her duty to respond to Ling Gu’s expectations.
With the fifteenth-day market approaching, she decided to go down the mountain to buy some supplies.
On that day, Jiang Miao woke up early and headed down the mountain to the market.
Before leaving, she prepared breakfast and placed it by Ling Gu’s bedside. Seeing that Ling Gu was still asleep, she didn’t disturb her, thinking she would be back by noon anyway. She considered leaving a note, but since Ling Gu couldn’t see, she decided against it.
Shortly after she left, Ling Gu woke up. Finding the house empty, she closed her eyes to rest for a while. After waiting for some time without seeing Jiang Miao return, she called out, but there was no response.
She irritably tapped the bedboard a few times, propped herself up, and began climbing down from the bed.
Reaching the doorway, she called out loudly several times, but still, no one answered.
Ling Gu’s hand gripping the threshold gradually tightened, her face turning ashen and extremely grim.
All that talk of care and stability—it was all lies.
Just like everyone else who had ever gotten close to her, that woman had run away, abandoning her.