Chapter 4: 【004】Past Events

Qumu Sect

Three women and a group of servants stood in the main hall. After the struggle that had just taken place, Qumu Ningbi’s reputation had already spread throughout the Qumu Sect. Having been taught a lesson, Qumu Siqi had reined in her usual arrogance and was now weeping, demanding that Qumu Qingshan—the biological father of this body—make the decision for her. To call him a "biological father" was already giving him too much credit; what kind of father would leave his own daughter in a dilapidated courtyard, ignoring her for seventeen years? Just a moment ago, the ring on her finger had suddenly flashed with a spiritual light, shooting straight into Qumu Ningbi’s brain, which was how she obtained all the information regarding this body.

In this otherworldly realm, there were four continents: the Dongling Continent, the Nanqi Continent, the Xichu Continent, and the Beizhao Continent. These were only what the world knew; of course, if Qumu Ningbi were to mention that there was also an Underworld, it would surely scare them to death.

This body shared the same name as her original one: Qumu Ningbi. She was known throughout the nation as the world’s number one "double waste"—ugly and a nymphomaniac. She had harassed almost every man of decent appearance on the Dongling Continent. Arrogant, willful, and overbearing—these words were perfectly suited to the former Qumu Ningbi. Since she was a child, it had been detected that she possessed zero spiritual energy, a feat truly unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated. It was no wonder her father didn't love her and others bullied her. Yet, she was a legitimate daughter, though for Qumu Ningbi, it was hard to say whether this status was a blessing or a curse.

Ningbi had been betrothed to the Ninth Prince since birth. However, the Ninth Prince had suffered a severe illness since the age of twelve, never without medicine, and was truly a sickly weakling. From then on, he was granted special permission to skip court sessions, and no one had seen the Ninth Prince since. Even when he entered the palace to see the Emperor, he wore a mask and walked cautiously with the support of others, so this sickly prince was eventually ignored by everyone.

Her two older sisters made things difficult for her in every way possible. The first reason was that her status as a legitimate daughter was a genuine threat to them. It was rumored that Ningbi’s mother was a peerless beauty of celestial level, untainted by the world, named Yun Xi. For reasons unknown, she met Qumu Qingshan and married him. Yet, for some reason, after giving birth to Ningbi, Yun Xi vanished without a trace. This was a sensational mystery that had rocked the Dongling Continent at the time. They say love is as deep as hate is profound; whenever Qumu Qingshan saw Ningbi, he couldn't help but think of Yun Xi’s departure. Coupled with the fact that Ningbi was incredibly ugly at the time—hardly looking like a child born to Yun Xi—Qumu Qingshan’s disgust for her grew day by day. After Yun Xi’s departure, the then-Second Madam took over all the household affairs and became the First Madam, while the Third Madam became the current Second Madam. The second reason was that she had been betrothed to the royal family since birth. Why should this piece of trash be allowed to marry the Ninth Prince when they couldn't? Although the Ninth Prince was a sickly weakling, any connection to the royal family was a great honor. From then on, Qumu Ningbi’s two sisters made her life miserable. Everyone thought Qumu Ningbi was mentally disabled; who else would fall down stairs, tumble off hillsides, and drown in rivers since childhood? The number of needle marks on her body was countless—a normal person would have been driven insane by such torture. All of this was thanks to her two "good" sisters and their mother. Whenever they encountered something unpleasant, they would vent it on Qumu Ningbi. Did they think she was a punching bag?

When Qumu Ningbi’s brain processed this information, her gaze turned a few degrees colder. She regretted not severing Qumu Siqi’s tendons just now, but it wasn't too late for all of that.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged man with a few strands of white hair walked into the hall. His features were decent enough, and though the traces of time lingered on his face, one could still see the majesty and aura of his earlier years. The sharp glint in his eyes suggested he was constantly calculating something. "This must be Qumu Qingshan," Ningbi muttered to herself.

Qumu Qingshan flicked his sleeves, clasped his hands behind his back, and sat on the main seat of the hall. Had it not been for this incident, he would have forgotten about his third daughter entirely. Wasn't she a fool and a waste? His second daughter was at the third stage of spiritual energy; how could she have lost to her? With this doubt in his heart, he couldn't help but carefully size up the daughter before him. Her appearance was still as plain as ever, but her entire being exuded a sharp, ruthless aura, as if she had been reborn.