Chapter 71

“Foolish A Yiduo, which one of these flames were the Heavenly Fire that you lost?”

A Yiduo looked at the white flames flickering in Qu Panyan’s palm. She could touch them without being burnt by their scorching heat. They were obedient and well-behaved, like tamed beasts, forever obedient to her.

A Yiduo’s face showed a look of resentment, “You thief! You stole my things!”

She then turned to Ba Tu and Wu Yi, sternly saying, “What are you still standing around for? Get the Heavenly Fire back! Are you just going to watch an outsider take Heavenly Fire away like this?”

Wu Yi’s voice remained calm and unwavering, “From the beginning till now, we have been the protectors of the Saintess, forever loyal to the Saintess, not to the Skyfire Tribe.”

To A Yiduo, this response seemed heartless, but actions spoke louder than words.

Although the guardians of the Heavenly Fire were from the Skyfire Tribe, they only pledged allegiance to the Saintess. Whether the Saintess was an internal member of the tribe or not, they had no right to inquire or interfere. Everything was destined, and they only needed to follow the will of the heavens.

So, if A Yiduo was not the Saintess or the chosen inheritor of the Heavenly Fire, they wouldn’t spare a glance at this absurd and disrespectful girl.

Qu Panyan smiled, extinguishing the flames in her palm. She then firmly held A Yiduo’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze, and softly reminded her, “A Yiduo, let this Saintess remind you that the Heavenly Fire was willingly handed to me by you.”

Everyone was urging her to merge, reminding her not to waste time. However, she was naturally foolish and arrogant. A few disturbances from Qu Panyan and she couldn’t discern the severity of the situation, believing that her identity as the Fire Ancestor made her invincible and able to act as she pleased. It was utterly laughable and infuriating to the Heavenly Fire.

However, she still refused to believe that Heavenly Fire had abandoned her. She had grown up in devout worship, holding the most prestigious position, living a smooth life where no one dared to defy her—She firmly believed she could become the esteemed Ancestor of Fire, and no one could change that!

“I am the Saintess! I am!!!” A Yiduo appeared almost insane, her eyes bloodshot, shouting at Qu Panyan, “You are just a dishwashing girl, a mere dishwashing maid!!! Lowly people can never become the Saintess!!!”

Su Lingyu and the other three stood behind and listened, their brows involuntarily furrowed.

Qu Changye instinctively wanted to step forward to defend Qu Panyan, but seeing his sister’s composed demeanor, he suppressed the thought. Qu Muqiu also knew Qu Panyan could handle it herself, so she didn’t intervene either, though a cold smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She whispered to Su Lingyu, “Now I understand why you dislike her.”

Arrogant, haughty, and excessively disrespectful.

They were both curious, though, as to why this former inheritor of the Saintess title called their sister a dishwashing girl.

When did Third Miss Qu of the Qu family, the pearl they held in their hands, become a dishwashing girl?

Why were they, the heads of the family, unaware of it?

Qu Muqiu asked, “But why did she say that Yan’er is just a mere dishwashing girl?”

Su Lingyu calmly explained, “Yan’er was afraid of being troubled by her, so she lied to her.”

Qu Panyan gestured to Ba Tu and Wu Yi not to act; she could handle it herself. She faced A Yiduo, smiling faintly, and firmly held her chin, unyielding. “A dishwashing girl is lowly? Then tell me, if such lowly people can become the Saintess, what does that make you?”

A Yiduo instinctively wanted to use her magic to attack, but her whole body was bound and she couldn’t move at all. Moreover, she knew that once she cast her fire spells, it would be immediately absorbed by the Heavenly Fire. Not to mention attacking, even touching Qu Panyan would be impossible. A Yiduo was so angry that she wanted to bite Qu Panyan’s hand, but her attempt was thwarted as Qu Panyan held her chin up.

Qu Panyan taunted, “What’s wrong? Still want to bite? Are you a dog?” After a moment of silence, she added, “No, that would be an insult to dogs.”

“You, A Yiduo, are even inferior to a dog.”

A Yiduo glared at her with eyes full of resentment. If looks could kill, Qu Panyan would have been dismembered by A Yiduo’s gaze long ago. A Yiduo gritted her teeth and persisted, “Give the Heavenly Fire back to me!”

Qu Panyan raised an eyebrow, released her grip on A Yiduo’s chin, and casually said, “Sure, here you go.”

She flipped her palm, and pure white snow-like flames instantly gathered in her hand, complementing the silver flame mark on her forehead, making her appear even more enchanting and alluring. She curved her lips into a captivating smile and said in a seductive tone, “You better be ready to catch it.”

She threw it out of her palm, and the white flames drew a beautiful arc in the air before gently landing on A Yiduo’s body.

A Yiduo’s eyes widened, screaming in shock and despair, “No—!!!”

Immediately, the white flames soared and emitted scorching heat, accompanied by wailing cries. It resembled an unending inferno of hellfire, making people afraid to get close.

Qu Panyan clicked her tongue twice, mocking, “You asked for it yourself, I gave it to you, and now you say no. You are so hard to please”

Then, she fearlessly stood up, completely unaffected by the raging flames. She watched as the person tightly enveloped by the Heavenly Fire screamed in agony, yet her mood was surprisingly calm.

Arrogance borned from possessing the Heavenly Fire should also end with the Heavenly Fire.

This was the will of heaven.

Suddenly, her wrist was forcefully pulled backward, and she collided with a sturdy chest. Qu Changye’s slightly anxious voice sounded near her ear, “Stay back a bit.”

Having witnessed Qu Panyan’s agonizing state as she was consumed by the white flames earlier and experienced the perilous moment of almost losing his sister, the fear in his heart was hard to dispel.

Qu Panyan understood Qu Changye’s feelings and smiled to comfort him, “Second brother, it’s okay. I’ve endured it, and now Heavenly Fire is under my control!”

Qu Changye embraced her, his face looking grim, his thin lips tightly pressed together.

Now that he had calmed down, images of Qu Panyan being burned by the Heavenly Fire, lying on the water’s surface covered in deep red ghastly scars, or the scene of her stubborn refusal to accept defeat and determination to perish together with the Heavenly Fire when the Thousand Frost Sword pierced her chest, kept flashing in his mind.

Almost, just almost, she could have been gone…

He was panic-stricken, his heart could not calm down, and he could not utter a single word. It was no longer as easy as before where he would just keep her at home for physical training when he saw her get hurt, hoping she would become strong enough to protect herself.

This time, she had tried hard to protect both herself and them.

Qu Changye hugged her tightly, his voice trembling, “…Don’t let it happen again.”

He couldn’t bear to lose any of his loved ones, whether it was her or Qu Muqiu.

Qu Panyan leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling Qu Changye’s vulnerability for the first time—her older brother who had always protected her and taught her well, the one who remained calm and composed in any situation, was now showing a sense of powerlessness for the first time.

Her gaze swept over to Su Lingyu and Qu Muqiu. Qu Muqiu’s face, usually gentle, now devoid of its usual warm, while Su Lingyu was staring at her intensely, as if afraid she would be taken away in the next moment.

For them to see her suffer like this, forced to use a sword against her beloved…it was indeed cruel.

Qu Panyan hugged Qu Changye back and earnestly said, “Hmm, there won’t be a next time, I promise.”

Qu Changye still felt a bit shaken, so Qu Panyan changed the subject to divert his attention. “Second brother, our Qu family doesn’t need to be threatened by Heavenly Fire anymore. Aren’t you happy?”

The price was that she had been burned once.

Qu Changye nodded, but then fell into deeper silence. “…”

Qu Panyan extended her hand, revealing the red string of a Dao companion on her wrist. “Second brother…I have a Dao companion now.”

Qu Changye’s body stiffened for a moment, and he finally spoke, “Second brother knows.”

He had known when she was competing with Heavenly Fire for the control of her own body.

Qu Changye thought for a moment, caressed her back, and said, “Second brother respects your choice.”

Indeed, he had some difficulty accepting same-sex relationships; there was always a strange feeling in his heart. However, he also understood that everyone had their own choices, and he didn’t have the right to force them to change.

Why should he dictate other people’s choices, even if they were family?

He would respect every choice Qu Panyan made, as long as she didn’t regret it, and the other person treated her well and made her happy.

He would also try to accept this kind of relationship for the sake of his little sister.

Qu Panyan immediately smiled with joy, then restrained her smile and cautiously looked at Qu Muqiu. Qu Muqiu smiled and nodded at her, the meaning clear without words.

Having gained the approval from her siblings, Qu Panyan was overjoyed, but when she caught a glimpse of Su Lingyu’s somewhat icy gaze, she immediately restrained her excitement.

Her celestial Sister Lingyu must be very unhappy with what she did today…

Qu Panyan felt half of her joy dissipate.

At this moment, Ling’er, who had reverted back to human form, walked over while holding her bleeding horn. She looked at the ashes of A Yiduo with complex emotions, then hesitantly pulled on Qu Panyan’s clothes.

Only then did Qu Changye let go of Qu Panyan. Ling’er pointed at A Yiduo and asked, “What should we do about Ah Shuang?”

Didn’t they say they were going to take A Yiduo back to help Ah Shuang with her illness? Why was she burned to death?

Qu Panyan replied, “Don’t worry, it’s not A Yiduo who can cure Ah Shuang, it’s the Heavenly Fire.”

Ling’er’s eyes lit up, “You have the Heavenly Fire!”

“You can cure Ah Shuang!”

Qu Panyan nodded and then called for Ba Tu and Wu Yi to ask, “How does Heavenly Fire cure illnesses?”

She knew it could cure illness, but she didn’t know how. Surely they couldn’t just set things on fire to cure Kang Congshuang, right?

Ba Tu and Wu Yi were guardians and surely knew more than A Yiduo.

Ba Tu said, “With your blood.”

Qu Panyan: “…?”

Wu Yi added, “The blood of the Saintess, who has merged with Heavenly Fire, is extremely precious. Just a tiny drop can bring spring to withered trees; thus, it’s not a problem to cure Miss Kang’s stubborn illness.”

Qu Panyan: “…”

Heavenly Fire not only effortlessly suppresses all fire-based cultivators in the cultivation world but can also enhance beauty and cure all diseases?

With such an overbearing power, it’s no wonder the Skyfire Tribe devoutly worships it. There’s definitely a reason for that.

Upon hearing this, Ling’er urgently tugged on Qu Panyan’s sleeve, “Then let’s hurry back!”

Then Qu Panyan saw her suddenly crouching down, tightly holding her two little clown horns, trembling uncontrollably.

Qu Panyan didn’t know if her horns were hurting again, but seeing the alarming blood flow from her fingers, she couldn’t help but be surprised and quickly stepped forward to ask, “Are your horns hurting again?”

The little Divine Beast also leaned against Ling’er’s leg, anxiously rubbing against her small leg.

Ling’er shivered, whimpered, then opened her eyes, and slowly let her hands down. In the palms of her hands lay two little clown horns. She unexpectedly… shed her horns.

Ling’er looked at the horns in her hands, stunned for a while before turning her head to look at Qu Panyan, her eyes suddenly brightening.

“I can marry Ah Shuang!”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: iToon

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