Evolution Of A White Lotus

A ray of light lit up around her and the servant, forming a hexagon on the ground. 'This is it,' she thought solemnly. After entering the array, it really was too late for her to attempt an escape.

"To think you would walk to your death so willingly." The crown prince entered the array. There was no way Bai Lian would not realize something was up as she followed the servant. He had thought she would make a futile attempt of running away, only to be captured by his servant who was a spirit master. 'Does she even want that life of her's,' pondered the crown prince to himself.

Bai Lian remained silent. Her neutral face exuded a sense of tranquility, as though she had already accepted her death and was calming preparing to sleep.

"Since you are being so cooperative, I will let you know why I'm killing you. That way you will be able to die at peace."

'Do I not already look at peace?' Bai Lian did not voice her sarcastic thought even though her death was already assured and there was no need to avoid offending the crown prince. She truly was curious on why the crown prince would resort to killing her. With her meager strength, could she ever pose a threat to him? Did he really need to go through the troubles of killing her and possibly upsetting the Bai Clan?

"Bai Lian, you always appeared so innocent on the outside, never feeling hate even when you were mocked. When looking at you, one can't help but think you received a truly fitting name. Despite being a waste, people just can't help but pity you and want to protect you. You really have fooled everyone, even your loving family. You appear so pure on the outside, but on the inside, is there anyone more wicked than you? There's nothing wrong with your body. Nothing ever suggested you should be incapable of cultivating. You are not truly a waste, yet you pretended you were for all these years. With such peerless acting skills, your motive and heart could not be anything but sinister."

"Stop speaking nonsense. I really can't cultivate. Otherwise, why would I allow myself to suffer for so long?" Bai Lian was dumbfounded. What was this fool spouting out? For the first time since the year she learned she could not cultivate, she felt anger. Her inability to cultivate caused her so much trouble and now she had to die because she unknowingly could cultivate?

"Don't interrupt me. I really did not believe you could cultivate, when I was first told. I could not believe you were capable of fooling everyone for so long. However, when I realized you perfectly hid your presence from all the great spirit masters present at the banquet, I was convinced and all the dot connected. At that time, I hardened my heart and decided you must perish."

'When he was told? Who could be going at such lengths to harm her?' Bai Lian slightly knitted her eyebrows. She stayed in the Bai Residence for so many years, refusing to leave. Yet, somehow she still managed to offend someone.

"There has been numerous attempts at harming Qing'er. After, long, careful investigation, these attempts could be linked to you. I was skeptical at first. How could a waste who has not stepped out of her family branch residence for so many years undertake so many attempts at harming a spirit master? Before confirming your abilities today, I had realized you would indeed have the motive. Who doesn't know the place Qing'er holds in my heart? Your jealousy drove you to viciously attempt to bring ruin to her!"

'Who in the would was Qing'er?!?! What careful investigation?!?!?!?!?!!' With every sentence, Bai Lian's anger grew like a raging fire burning down her forest of tranquility. Like fuel, anger quickened her heart rate. Although, she tensed her muscles and clenched her jaw, her facial expression appeared surprisingly calm as though she did not know how to express the anger pulsing through her.

"You should remember this for your next life's sake. There are certain people who will never be yours. Do not be delusional and love so deeply with that vicious heart of yours. I was planning on breaking off the engagement peacefully. However, after uncovering your malicious heart, I realized Qing'er will never be at peace with a poisonous women like you around. I'm done now."

'That narcissist! Who is the delusional one here? I didn't know you had such a deep place in this heart of mine!' Before Bai Lian could voice words of protest, her body was ignited.

She furrowed her brows in pain and bit down on her lips with all her strength. If her mouth were to open, shrieks and screams were guaranteed to be heard. With the array up, no one would be able to hear her screams and come to help. All screaming would do is give that narcissist the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of hearing her misery. She had never before felt such pain and agony. Never before had she felt such anger and hatred. Regret poured through her as thoughts of her mourning family came to her mind. She worried their heartbreak would push them to act recklessly, endangering themselves. The regret and worry swiftly morphed into hatred towards the one who had harmed her, towards herself for being so powerless, only capable of silently walking to her death. Countless memories, thoughts and emotions flashed through her, making every second seem like eternities. With each passing second, everything became darker and the surroundings grew quieter. The turbulent thoughts coursing through her mind gradually came to a stop, welcoming pure nothingness as her final thought manifested, "In the next life, I will be a true villain…"

Bai Lian was a logical, but cautious lady. If one were to offer her either an inch or a mile, she would take the inch with a gentle smile. Both were improvements, which were naturally welcomed. However, with the mile, troubles were more likely to be attracted. A risk someone as weak as her was not willing to take when she had such a loving family wishing for her wellbeing. Gaining a mere inch will likely go unnoticed, so she wished to rise inch by inch, never rising too high. If only she knew the shock the effects of her medicines would cause everyone, drawing attention towards herself. She truly did get too comfortable, relaxingly spending her days at the Bai Residence, forgetting the need to protect herself against those outside the residence.

With such a mentality, Bai Lian only hoped for her next life being a small improvement from her last. She did not mind suffering the same death again. She only hoped to actually commit the crimes she was accused of and more, inflicting enough harm to her enemies so she could die at peace. At peace that her death was caused by her courting it. At peace that her weak self was able to be a real inconvenience to her enemies. Next time, she did not want to be questioning whether she died of physical harm or anger.

The crown prince stare at the ashes that laid where the gentle looking lady had once stood. Embed into his mind was her tranquil face enveloped in the fire. If not for the intense hate and grief manifested in those eyes of her's, staring listlessly at him, he would have thought she was dying a painless death, drifting peacefully into a deep sleep. After the fires had burned her pain receptors and Bai Lian was lost in her chaotic mind, her body had eased up, making her appear as the relaxed, gentle lady she always appeared to be. The crown prince was put into a trance by her face. He did not witness her flawless beauty being ravaged by the flames like he had intended to. The stark contrast between the tranquility of her face and the chaotic emotions reflected in her eyes caused him to break out in a cold sweat. He felt very unsettled, but could not quite figure out why. The vicious woman who wanted to harm his beloved had perished, but he could not bring himself to feel any joy.

With a solemn voice he ignored the unrest in his heart and ordered his servant to prepare their return to the banquet. The secluded area, after the crown prince had departed, was left appearing as though no one had been in the area in quite some time, leaving nothing to suggest a brutal death had taken place.

Upon his rushed return, with red-rimmed eyes, he told everyone Bai Lian had been kidnapped on her way to meet with him and he had tried to save her, but the assailants were too strong. He had already prepared external injuries on his body in order to make his story more believable. Regardless of whether the Bai Clan believed him, they will not ever find a trace of evidence to use against him. A mere branch of the clan could not ignite the whole clan to fight against the crown without any evidence.