This is How Our Tragic Novel's Heroine Is

The Heavenly Profound Sect Master summoned a disciple and ordered, "Fetch the Vice Sect Master."

The disciple acknowledged with a "Yes, sir" and withdrew.

A moment later, the Vice Sect Master arrived. He bowed respectfully before taking a seat opposite the Sect Master.

"Luo Qingdie is on her way to Qingyun City. Your plan has taken effect," the Heavenly Profound Sect Master said with a smile.

"Is that so?" the Vice Sect Master replied calmly.

"You're not surprised?"

"After Luo Qingdie's personality changed drastically, she became extremely petty. She couldn't even tolerate slander from her own sect members, let alone ordinary mortals. When she steps into a mortal city and sees the stories we've fabricated, the books we've written, sees 'Fried Luo,' sees the wooden effigy being beaten, she'll naturally fly into a rage, seek out the true culprit, and be led to Qingyun City, where we've deliberately arranged for her."

The Vice Sect Master continued, "We arranged it, and she's following our arrangement. Everything is proceeding according to plan, as expected. What is there to be surprised about?"

"Indeed, indeed," the Heavenly Profound Sect Master nodded. But then he added, "However, luring her to Qingyun City is just the beginning. Whether the plan succeeds ultimately depends on whether we can lure her into the trap in Qingyun City and whether that trap is sufficiently effective."

"The trap we've set in Qingyun City is the Ten Directions Imperfect Immortal Locking God Destroying Great Array. This array was left behind by an ancestor who ascended. Since our ancestor said it was sufficient to deal with a Mahayana Stage cultivator, it will definitely be able to deal with one," the Vice Sect Master stated with conviction.

Luo Qingdie was the only Mahayana Stage cultivator in the world, but that didn't mean she was the only one in history.

Before her, there had been one or two others.

As such, the Heavenly Profound Sect, the leading righteous sect with extremely profound foundations, naturally possessed one or two means to deal with a Mahayana Stage cultivator.

"As for how to lure her into the trap... we have found Luo Qingdie's parents and family. We informed them of the entire situation, and they've agreed to help us," the Vice Sect Master said. "It's said that Luo Qingdie has a very good relationship with them and would often leave the sect to visit them. No matter how much Luo Qingdie's personality has changed, familial bonds can't be broken. She certainly won't suspect them."

"Good, very good," the Heavenly Profound Sect Master nodded. "You're right. Even according to the rumors, Luo Qingdie only acts after being wronged, she's not a reckless lunatic. But how could the parents who gave birth to her and raised her wrong her? Even if they did wrong her, would she dare to act against them? What about filial piety and righteousness? Even if she's a Mahayana Stage cultivator, can she strip herself of her identity as a child?"

"Precisely. The principles of filial piety and righteousness are the natural order of heaven and earth. Following this path is the foundation of being human, it is as it should be, and cannot be defied."

"However, what if a slip-up occurs... and she can't escape?" the Heavenly Profound Sect Master asked with a hint of worry. "Are the people you sent reliable?"

"Although Yang Ruying is not old, he is experienced and adept at handling matters. He is trustworthy."

"That's good. Then I'll await his good news!"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Chu Lu was rushing towards Qingyun City on horseback, eager to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

Although Luo Qingdie hadn't said much along the way, he had a feeling that she was exuding an aura of gloom.

However, halfway there, he suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Luo Qingdie asked.

"I just thought of something," Chu Lu said. "This mastermind seems quite despicable. They'll surely stop at nothing to deal with us. While their strength is definitely no match for ours, that doesn't mean we won't stumble."

In that instant, Chu Lu recalled numerous frustrating scenarios from various literary works. The protagonist's side clearly had the advantage in strength, but because the villain took hostages or something similar, they were forced to surrender.

Chu Lu didn't want such a thing to happen to him.

So he asked, "Is there anything or anyone you particularly care about?"

"Someone I care about..." Luo Qingdie's tone suddenly became subtle. She sighed, "Chu Lu, you don't need to worry about that. I don't have anyone like that."

"Really? Not a single person?" Chu Lu asked, somewhat surprised.

"I used to think I did, but later I realized I didn't," Luo Qingdie's tone was exceptionally desolate. "Chu Lu, do you remember the story of my past life that I described in the Chat Group before you transmigrated?"

Chu Lu nodded.

"Didn't I mention it back then? After I was expelled from the Inquiry Sword Sect, I suffered betrayal several more times," Luo Qingdie explained. "It was those betrayals that made me see the true faces of many people."

"Can you elaborate?"

"...Alright. After I was kicked out, I first went to my parents for refuge."

"Huh? Your parents are still alive!?"

"Yes, why?"

"No, it's nothing..." Chu Lu thought for a moment, wondering if Luo Qingdie had provided her parents with many resources after she became successful.

"Actually, my relationship with my parents wasn't very good," Luo Qingdie said. "They preferred my younger brother. From childhood, anything delicious or fun would go to my brother first, and what was left over would be given to me. When Master came to our house to take disciples, they desperately pushed my brother forward and hid me, afraid Master would choose me. They even lied to me, saying they thought Master was a bad person and that they were just looking out for me by hiding me."

"Later, Master saw through their deception and found me, wanting to take me as a disciple. They adamantly refused, saying they couldn't bear to have their daughter alone outside, unless her brother was also taken along. If my brother hadn't had absolutely no spiritual root, they might have succeeded. When I left, they were grinding their teeth in anger, their eyes red, shedding tears of hatred."

"Later, when I achieved success in cultivation, they found out and actually came to the Inquiry Sword Sect to see me. I was so angry I cried. I thought I'd never have to see them again in this lifetime. Then they wanted me to come home and support their descendants, like their grandsons. I refused, so they cursed me, calling me unfilial. The Masters and senior brothers in the sect were also unhappy. I had no choice but to visit every few days. But while they called it visiting, they actually only wanted the spiritual pills, magic treasures, and secret manuals I had. As for me, it didn't matter how I was."

"They said on the surface that they were happy their daughter had become successful, but in private, they said their daughter was an outsider, unreliable, and they should extract more from her to support their own people. They thought I couldn't hear them."

Chu Lu: "..."

He inwardly grumbled: This is a Xianxia world, right? This is really a Xianxia world, isn't it?

"So, when I first went to my parents, I didn't hold out much hope. But unexpectedly, when my parents saw that I had no cultivation, they were first very surprised, then very heartbroken, and asked me to stay home and rest. I was moved to tears back then."

"Huh? Isn't that good then?" Chu Lu asked, looking confused.

"Yes, it was good at first. Until later, when I woke up and found myself tied to an altar, with my parents about to sacrifice me to a demon god, things weren't so good anymore," Luo Qingdie sighed. "Especially since they were cursing me while sacrificing me, saying I was useless and had the nerve to come back and burden them. If I had any daughterly sense, I would have obediently let them sacrifice me for longevity."

Chu Lu: "..."

"I barely managed to escape and then went to seek refuge with my close friend, Mo Yushang. I've known her for many years. We first met during an exploration of a secret realm, and after a fight that led to friendship, we teamed up to break through the secret realm and became friends. When she first learned of my situation, she was first very surprised, then very heartbroken, and asked me to stay at her place and rest. I was moved to tears back then."

Chu Lu: "Wait, this feels familiar."

"That's right. A few days later, I woke up to find myself tied to a sickbed, with her holding a knife to take my heart's blood. Turns out she'd teamed up with some demonic cultivator who needed heart's blood to practice his skills, so she targeted me." Luo Qingdie sighed again. "Especially since she was sharpening the knife and saying she had no choice, that her husband wouldn't stay with her otherwise. If I had any sense of being a good friend, I would have just let her take my heart's blood obediently."

Chu Lu: "..."

"I managed to escape again, and this time I was scared. I didn't seek refuge with anyone. I found a small place to hide and started a small business. Then one day, a little beggar collapsed in front of my door, looking like he was on his last breath. I took pity on him and brought him in to care for him. After saving him, I kept him and raised him as my own son. He was very well-behaved, and I felt a warmth I hadn't felt in a long time. I was moved to tears back then."

Hearing the last sentence, Chu Lu was instantly stunned. "?? Wait? No? This too?"

"Mm. I woke up to find myself thrown into a pill furnace. Turns out he discovered my body once belonged to a Mahayana Stage cultivator. Although my cultivation was crippled and my spiritual root and Phoenix Bone were dug out, there was still some residual power. So he intended to refine me into a pill." Luo Qingdie sighed for the third time. "He was stoking the fire and saying he had no choice, that his talent was limited and he had to find a way to improve his spiritual root. If I had any sense of being a good adoptive mother, I would have let him refine me into a pill obediently."

Chu Lu: "..."

"I managed to escape again with great difficulty, then found a place to rest, and was killed by people sent by Liu Yan'er." Luo Qingdie said faintly. "So Chu Lu, you don't need to worry. I don't have anyone I care about anymore."

"This, this is truly..." Chu Lu's expression was subtle. "You're too tragic!"

"Yes." Luo Qingdie continued to sigh.

No, I don't think you understand what I mean. You're too tragic! Chu Lu thought to himself. Your Master prefers your deceased junior sister and thinks you're no good. Your senior brother, after knowing you for so many years, drew his sword against you for Liu Yan'er, whom he'd only just met. Your disciple calls you an Old Hag every other word and even dared to attack you with a knife. That's already tragic enough. And then you tell me your own parents wanted to kill you, your loved ones wanted to kill you, and even a beggar you picked up off the street wanted to kill you?!

Does no one in this world like you?

However, Chu Lu hesitated again and again, but ultimately did not say this out loud, fearing he would break Luo Qingdie too severely.

Therefore, he said, "That's good, then I can rest assured."

Then he buried his head and continued on his way, saying nothing more.

Meanwhile, in Qingyun City.

Yang Ruying's expression was as calm as still water. As the overall person in charge of this operation, he knew this was a huge opportunity. Once successful, he would be able to rise rapidly within the Heavenly Profound Sect's Qingyun branch.

But if they failed, the consequences would be equally dire.

Therefore, he could not afford to be careless.

This plan was divided into two parts: first, the deployment of the Ten Directions Imperfect Immortal Locking God Destroying Great Array, and second, how to use Luo Qingdie's parents to lure Luo Qingdie into the array.

Unexpectedly, of these two parts, the former was the relatively simpler one.

Although the Ten Directions Imperfect Immortal Locking God Destroying Great Array was a supreme magic array capable of trapping and killing Mahayana Stage cultivators, the senior who left it behind had clearly considered the passage of time and unforeseen circumstances. Thus, if the difficulty of setting up the array was too high, making it impossible for future generations to use it despite having it, it would be too ridiculous.

So he went to great lengths to significantly lower the threshold.

This was why Yang Ruying was able to easily deploy the great array in Qingyun City.

But the other part was troublesome.

Although the Ten Directions Imperfect Immortal Locking God Destroying Great Array was very hidden, even Mahayana Stage cultivators wouldn't discover it unless they were actively searching for it. Moreover, it activated extremely quickly and had immense power.

As long as Luo Qingdie stepped into it unprepared, she would surely die.

But how could they make her unprepared?

"Summon those two," Yang Ruying ordered his subordinate.

"Yes." The subordinate answered and retreated.

A moment later, an old couple walked in.

From their appearance alone, it was clear these two were from wealthy families.

The old man wore a dark gray round-collared robe woven from silk, with black leather boots. The old woman wore a cloud-patterned, wide-sleeved shirt.

Both of them seemed energetic, but their eyes were filled with fear as they looked at Yang Ruying.

Yang Ruying was also appraising them.

These two were Luo Qingdie's parents. They both had five-element spiritual roots of mixed quality, but their cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul Stage. It was clear they had been forcibly boosted by Luo Qingdie's continuous supply of pills.

When Yang Ruying first approached them, he had worried he wouldn't be able to persuade them to deal with Luo Qingdie. But to his surprise, after explaining the situation and then threatening them, saying that if they didn't agree, they would be dealt with as demonic cultivators alongside her, they agreed without hesitation.

Their answer was so decisive that he couldn't tell if they were honorable and selfless or simply afraid of death.

"Elders, I have received communication from the sect. Luo Qingdie is heading this way," Yang Ruying said. "It's time for us to act as well."

"Good, good," Luo's Father said righteously. "My unfilial daughter has committed such heinous acts that she cannot be tolerated by the world. The Heavenly Profound Sect is a righteous and reputable sect that acts with integrity. If they need my help now, I will naturally not refuse. No matter what you ask of me, I will not have a single complaint!"

"Very good," Yang Ruying nodded. "We've already told you about the plan. The most crucial point is how to lure her into the array without arousing her suspicion. Do you two elders have any ideas?"

Upon hearing this, the old man exchanged glances with his wife, then they both smiled.

"This is too simple!"