Chapter 87: Helping You Clear Your Head — Is There a Problem?
"Demon?"
Liu Ruyi's expression turned sorrowful, her long lashes trembling as a single tear hung delicately on their tips, threatening to fall.
She truly was a demon, but who would believe it?
Her sister had become disobedient, but that only made her like her more.
Once her sister fell into her hands, she would train her into the perfect little doll she wanted.
"Ruyan, how can you slander your sister like that? Do you know how hard she's been searching for you all these years? Apologize to your sister right now!"
Jiang Qiuyue's face was filled with anger, her usual noble and graceful demeanor twisted into sharp bitterness.
At first, seeing the daughter she had lost for so many years, she had felt joy—after all, she was her own flesh and blood.
But the moment she heard Liu Ruyan accuse Liu Ruyi of being a demon, fury flared within her, and hatred soon followed.
Liu Ruyi was her treasure—obedient, kind, pure-hearted, and exceptionally talented.
She had always been proud to have Liu Ruyi as her daughter.
Liu Yuanzhong's face also darkened, his gaze filled with cruelty and rage, the veins on his forehead bulging.
He had never imagined that the one humiliating him before all would be his own daughter.
So the demoness truly was a demoness—vicious and wicked by nature.
Now that she had gained some strength, she couldn't wait to return and take revenge.
The civil and military officials of the Great Qing Empire looked on anxiously, their eyes shifting back and forth between the two sisters.
Many of them had once submitted memorials condemning Liu Ruyan; now they wondered if she would seek retribution.
"I'm sorry, sister. It's all my fault for being useless and causing you suffering."
Liu Ruyi lowered her head, her clear and bright eyes shimmering with tears. Her fragile expression was heartbreaking, stirring pity in every onlooker.
Yet deep within her gaze lay a trace of malice—mocking and sinister—as she looked at Liu Ruyan, as though ridiculing her helplessness.
It was like a predator lurking in the shadows, watching its prey struggle in vain before the end.
Liu Ruyan felt a chill run through her body, her small face turning pale as she instinctively took a step back.
This demon was surely already thinking of new ways to torture her.
Every time she saw that expression, it was followed by torment so unbearable it broke her spirit.
"Enough, Liu Ruyan! Don't think that just because your sister is kind, you can bully her. I should have had you executed long ago!"
Seeing Liu Ruyi's sorrowful face, Jiang Qiuyue's fury boiled over, and she shouted in rage.
Again… Liu Ruyan shook her head in despair.
Every time she was tortured to the brink of death and sought help, she was never met with comfort—only anger, only accusations.
They always believed she was lying, that she was cruel and jealous, that she wanted to harm Liu Ruyi.
Back then, she had been too young to argue, but were they both blind and deaf?
Why couldn't they believe her, even once?
Why didn't they ever investigate the truth?
Was it just because she was born a demonic maiden?
Or was it simply because they never cared for her at all?
"Sister…" Seeing Liu Ruyan's fear and despair, Liu Ruyi felt a rush of excitement, her eyes flashing with strange, feverish light.
Yes—this was it. This feeling. Her sister was still as adorable as ever.
Every time she saw her sister in despair, helpless and terrified, her heart overflowed with pleasure—her very soul felt elevated.
"Ruyan…"
Gu Qing stepped forward and lightly patted her fragrant shoulder, his gaze turning cold as it fell upon Jiang Qiuyue.
Liu Ruyi certainly deserved death, but parents like these—blind, cruel, and unjust—were even less worthy of being called human.
"I'm fine." Liu Ruyan took a deep breath and steadied herself. Feeling Gu Qing's presence and concern, a wave of courage surged within her, and her eyes grew firm.
Even if the entire world maligned and bullied her, she still had Gu Qing, her master, and Liu Family Village behind her.
"Daoist Gu, please don't be deceived by this wicked child. She's been deceitful and malicious since birth!"
"The only reason we extracted her demonic origin was because she tricked her sister into going to the Great Qing Mountain Secret Realm to seek the Purifying Sacred Lotus…"
Jiang Qiuyue's body trembled under Gu Qing's cold gaze. The Great Qing Empire could not afford to offend the Star Temple. She hurriedly explained herself, shifting all blame onto Liu Ruyan.
Her daughter Liu Ruyi was pure and virtuous, unparalleled in talent and blessed with boundless potential—she could not allow Liu Ruyan's slander to taint her.
They could not afford to be targeted by the Star Temple.
"I didn't! I never told her to go there!"
Liu Ruyan shouted angrily.
Back then, she was only five years old—how could she have possibly known what a secret realm or a Purifying Sacred Lotus even was?
Moreover, the Great Qing Mountain Secret Realm had been created by a Divine Fire Realm expert. The weakest demonic beasts within were of the 3rd rank.
At that time, Liu Ruyi had only been at the Qi Condensation Realm, yet she entered, found a sacred medicine, and returned alive—something even Void Dao Realm cultivators could not have done. Was no one suspicious of that?
No matter how she explained, no one ever listened. They said Liu Ruyi was simply blessed by heaven and accused Liu Ruyan of being malicious and jealous.
"Wicked child! Still trying to argue? If you didn't tempt her, are you saying your sister slandered you?"
Jiang Qiuyue's fury erupted at Liu Ruyan's rebuttal. Her tone was sharp, her aura oppressive, her gaze filled with viciousness.
Liu Ruyan had been gone for years, and yet she still hadn't changed. Worse, she now dared to talk back to her own mother.
The more Jiang Qiuyue thought about it, the angrier she became, already planning to have the palace matron discipline Liu Ruyan severely.
"Ruyan, when facing people who don't care about you, no matter what you say, you'll always be wrong. And those who falsely accuse you—they often know better than anyone that you're innocent."
Gu Qing's voice was low and steady, filled with cold contempt for these blind and heartless parents. He spoke calmly to Liu Ruyan, urging her to abandon any lingering hope for them.
If Liu Ruyan's heart softened now, if she still clung to familial affection for these people, he would simply walk away.
After all, when paths diverge, there can be no mutual understanding.
"I see…" Liu Ruyan murmured, Gu Qing's words striking her like a flash of awakening light.
The knot of anger and humiliation in her chest suddenly unraveled.
Of course—that was exactly how it was.
After stealing her origin, Liu Ruyi had told her everything.
Liu Ruyi had coveted her Divine-Demonic Path Body's origin, wanting to cripple her and keep her imprisoned for life.
She had even explained how extraordinary the Divine-Demonic Path Body was, assuring her it wasn't a cursed physique, then encouraged her to report it to their parents.
Naively, she had done so—only to be beaten half to death by Jiang Qiuyue's palace matron.
"Daoist Gu, one can speak freely, but words must not be reckless. They are both my daughters! If not for her—"
Jiang Qiuyue no longer cared that Gu Qing was a disciple of the Star Temple. She refused to allow anyone to tarnish Liu Ruyi's name.
After all, if these accusations were true, what kind of person would Liu Ruyi be?
But before she could finish speaking, Gu Qing released his King Realm domain, binding Jiang Qiuyue in place, and slapped her across the face.
Pa! Pa! Pa!
"You—how dare you go so far!"
Seeing Jiang Qiuyue struck repeatedly, her face swelling, Liu Yuanzhong's own face burned with fury.
After all, Jiang Qiuyue was his empress—striking her was no different from slapping his own face.
Murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
Though he feared the Star Temple, this humiliation was unbearable. He couldn't kill Gu Qing, but surely he could "teach him a lesson."
"Her head wasn't clear," Gu Qing said with a cold sneer. "I just helped her clear it. Is there a problem?"
His icy gaze swept the surroundings.
"Look at her now—her face is flushed, her eyes are bright. Doesn't she look much more spirited already?"
"Pfft!"
The suffocating tension suddenly broke as someone let out a stifled laugh.
She hadn't meant to laugh—but Gu Qing's words were simply too absurdly funny.
It was verbal slaughter.
He had beaten her face swollen, yet shamelessly claimed it was for her own good—to help her wake up.
The crowd tried to suppress their laughter, faces twitching, barely holding back.
"What are you laughing at? Stop laughing!"
Jiang Qiuyue, her face red and swollen, glared furiously at Zhou Yueqin and shouted, her expression twisted with rage.
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