Rebirth of the Female Antagonist: XUANRONG

"Stop!"

XuanRong shouted when she saw that one of the men who was harassing the poor child raised his hand, planning to slap the little girl. The hand successfully touched the child's cheeks, producing a crisp sound of 'Pa!'. The poor child was thrown on the ground, but she neither cried nor begged for mercy. Her eyes contained stubbornness, refusing to yield.

XuanRong stopped her tracks and decided to watch. At first, she decided to help the little girl but she changed her mind when she saw the resolve in her eyes. She wanted to see what the girl would do next without relying on other people's help.

"How dare you resist? Before your father died, he already sold you to us. Now that he's gone, we naturally have to sell you inorder to gain back our money!"

The man who slapped the child pulled a small piece of paper. It was clearly written that the child was sold by her father in exchange for money. Even the government would not be able to interfere.

"This one is written by your father stating that he sold you! If you don't want to be sold in a brothel, pay us money! How dare you perform a funeral without paying us?!"

The child slowly stood up, anger was reflected inside her eyes as she stared at the trio who was forcing her.

"The debt of my father, I will pay for it! But I refuse to sell my soul and body!! I will work like a cow, day and night, but I will never do things that is against my moral!"

XuanRong was startled. She did not expect that a young child like this girl would utter such words.

"An Wei."

An Wei immediately stood beside her.

"Buy her."

An Wei nodded and signaled the other guard behind him. The young guard immediately understood his young miss' intention and pulled a small satchel containing money.

"Our Young Miss likes this child over here. She wants to buy her."

The young guard threw the satchel to the man who was holding the written debt. Immediately, the man's attitude turned a hundred and eighty degrees.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! No problem esteemed gentleman! Tell your young miss that she's all hers!"

The man turned his head towards the child who was glaring at him.

"Be thankful that someone bought you! Humph. Let's go!"

The man and his two companions immediately left without looking back.

Since the commotion had ended, the people who was looking at the drama slowly left, leaving only the girl and XuanRong's group.

The girl warily looked at XuanRong which amused the later. It had been a long time since someone stared at her with hostility in their eyes.

"I bought you which means you now belong to me. When I say left, you will have to follow my order and never turn right. Understood?"

The young girl bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself. She took a deep breath and exhaled before opening her eyes once again.

The girl bent her knees and curtsied.

"This servant greets Young Miss."

"En. What's your name?"

"This servant is called Mei Qin."

"From now on you will throw away your previous identity and will now live on as one of my servants. You will be called YuMi."

"This servant understands."

"Mmm. Follow me."

XuanRong turned to walk away when YuMi spoke.

"H-How about my father?"

Not looking back at YuMi, XuanRong replied, "I will send someone to bury him. A father like him who sold his child for the sake of money is not worthy to receive any filial piety."

Not waiting for the child's reply, XuanRong walked away.

'XuanLi ah, this dead man over here would have been a good drinking buddy for you since you are both similar with each other. It would be bad to keep him waiting. I will personally send you to hell later to accompany him.'

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In a blink of an eye, three years passed by. XuanRong was now akin to a beautiful small bud that had started blooming. Few months later, she would celebrate her coming of age ceremony. The start of her dreadful years. In her previous lifetime, she met Xu Ji An during her coming of age ceremony.

'Xu Ji An ah.. I can't wait to see you again.'

Thinking of the things that would happen few months from now, XuanRong could not help but be merry.

'Maternal Grandfather, just wait a little more. Rong'er will come home soon.'

XuanRong was reminiscing the past when YuYing walked inside the room and curtsied.

"Greetings, XiaoJie."

"En. What is it?"

"Master said that the time has come for XiaoJie to receive it."

XuanRong fell silent.

It was too early for her to receive the female Gu since she had not reach fifteen yet.

'Why would master rush the succession?'

Since she would find out the reason later, XuanRong did not think deeply. XuanRong suddenly thought of something. She stared at YuYing and asked, "How was it?"

YuYing immediately realized what XuanRong was asking for.

"Shu[1] Yi, Er and San are with Master An Wei while Si, Wu and Liu are already done with the task in the capital."

"Mmm.. Tell Shu Liu that he must finish the Golden Phoenix head ornament a month before the Royal banquet starts. The Empress is currently competing with Imperial Concubine Jin for the Emperor's favor. In order to outshine her, the Empress would definitely wear the most beautiful ornament that would emphasize her beauty and status as the only master of the Imperial harem. This is a great opportunity for us to spread our name in the capital."

Three years ago, XuanRong brought six slaves from the slave market excluding YuMi. The first three where taught qinggong[2] by An Wei personally. Shu Yi was good in medicine while Shu Er and Shu San were both good with poison. The three of them were also personally taught by her since Yue Xiao Xiao's identity was sensitive. The the only ones who knew who she really was were only An Wei and her three personal maidservants. The rest of the people thought that XuanRong pitied her and brought her back to the manor.The other three, Shu Si, Shu Wu and Shu Liu were trained to gather information and manage businesses outside Lu Shan.

After sending YuYing away, XuanRong stood up and went to Yue Xiao Xiao's room.

"Master?"

*cough* *cough* *cough*

XuanRong heard a series of coughing inside the room, she hurriedly entered and saw that Yue Xiao Xiao was sitting on the bed, coughing.

When Yue Xiao Xiao heard XuanRong's voice, she tried to stop coughing, trying to show that she was okay.

"Come.. *cough* Let master see you one last time."

XuanRong docilely made way to Yue Xiao Xiao's bed and sat beside her.

Yue Xiao Xiao raised her hand, wanting to touch XuanRong's face. Recalling that XuanRong hated physical contact, Yue Xiao Xiao stopped midway and slowly pulled back her hand. XuanRong grabbed her master's hand and placed it on her face. Although she hated being touched by a stranger, Yue Xiao Xiao was different. She trusted Yue Xiao Xiao with her life.

"Master, what---- *gasps*"

XuanRong's eyes widened when she saw that her master no longer had her eyesight. There were five more days before full moon.

Why would her master lose her eyesight?

Unless..

Tears started pouring down on XuanRong eyes as she stared at the woman who treated her more than a disciple. Yue Xiao Xiao treated her dearly, like a daughter. She hoped that one day, her master would be able to survive…but she was naive. XuanRong could not stop her tears from falling. It had been a long long time since the last time she cried. After rebirth, this was the first time XuanRong shed tears for someone else. She thought that her heart no longer felt any emotion but when she saw her master's pitiful appearance, she could not help but feel a deep pain inside her heart, like someone was crushing it.

"Why are you crying?"

"Master… your eyes…"

Yue Xiao Xiao smiled as she tenderly stroked XuanRong's face.

"Master can still see a little bit. Rong'er, you have become beautiful. *cough* Master was happy to meet you. *cough* Master knows that my time is up and *cough* could no longer accompany you. *cough* Master hopes that you will never forget to value your own life *cough* and will not act recklessly."

XuanRong nodded fervently while trying to suppress the urge to cry louder.

"Mmm! Rong'er understands. Rong'er will stop being reckless. Rong'er will always obey master."

Yue Xiao Xiao smiled as she patted XuanRong's cheeks.

"Come, *cough* give me your wrist."

XuanRong obeyed and placed Yue Xiao Xiao's hand on her wrist.

"Master will now pass the female Gu to you. Master hopes that you will be able to find the male Gu and won't become like master."

*slash*

Yue Xiao Xiao slashed XuanRong's wrist without any second thought.

*drip*

*drip*

*drip*

Blood gushed out of the wound and fell on the bed, dyeing it red.

"Rong'er, spending five years with you, *cough* master never felt lonely. You made master happy. Remember, *cough* you may not came from master's belly but you will always be master's daughter. You are not just my, Yue Xiao Xiao's, *cough* disciple but you are also my dearest child."

After speaking, Yue Xiao Xiao stabbed her chest.

"Master!!!!"

XuanRong screamed when she saw Yue Xiao Xiao fell backwards.

Not caring that her wrist was slashed open, XuanRong immediately brought Yue Xiao Xiao to her embrace.

"Master---"

"Quick, *cough* place your wrist at the wound on my chest. *cough* Receive the female Gu."

XuanRong quickly followed her instruction and placed her wrist on Yue Xiao Xiao's chest. There, she saw a golden bug as big as a fingernail crawled out from Yue Xiao Xiao's wound and entered the small cut on her wrist.

XuanRong felt the female Gu crawled from her wrist towards her heart. It was very painful but XuanRong did not care, after securing her wound, she pressed both her hands on Yue Xiao Xiao's chest, trying to stop the bleeding.

"Rong'er… It's useless. Master is already tired. Just--- *cough* P-promise me one thing, f-find my child.. *cough* *cough* H-His name is F-Fei----*cough* *cough* Fei….. Y-Yi.."

Yue Xiao Xiao gasped deeply while clutching XuanRong's hand.

"Yes! Yes! Rong'er will find master's son and Rong'er will take good care of him."

Yue Xiao Xiao smiled before closing her eyes.

"M-master… MASTER!!!!"

XuanRong screamed mournfully.

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[1]. Means 'Number', thus, Shu Yi means 'Number One' while Er means Two.

[2]. Chinese martial arts

[Unedited Chapter]