“No, no,” Shen Qingci quickly shook her head. “Qingci was just a bit curious, that's all.”
“Is that so?”
Liu Ruyin's gaze lingered on her face for a brief moment, but she didn't press further.
Disciples grew up, and they would always have their own little secrets. As the future master's wife, she could understand...
Shen Qingci couldn't quite remember how she took her leave of Martial Aunt Liu.
She walked down the cloud steps toward Sword-Falling Terrace, her arms and legs moving in stiff unison. The moment she entered her quiet room, she closed the restriction behind her and threw herself onto the couch, collapsing into a heap.
She buried her face in a soft pillow, not lifting it for a long time.
She was doomed! How was she supposed to strike up a conversation with Master when she saw her next?
Previously, she had sent Shadow One to investigate Qin Shisan, compiling a list of suspects in her mind.
The most suspicious one was Senior Sister Qin. That person loved to join in on the fun of romance novels, and back then, Senior Sister Qin had been the first to leak the news of her and her senior sister to the entire sect.
Next were Wancui and Qinghe.
Wancui gossiped in private, and though she wouldn't normally go this far, there was always a chance. Qinghe was on duty in the main room every day and saw every detail, so she couldn't be completely ruled out either.
The only person she had never suspected was Master.
Even when Master chased her around the hall with a bamboo strip, calling her a “mischievous brat,” she had never thought in that direction.
The term “mischievous brat” was a bit of private flirting between her and her senior sister. Back then, she had guessed that Master was secretly watching her and her senior sister date. This personality of hers was simply the definition of a closet romantic!
“Aaaaah...” Shen Qingci rolled around on the bed.
Thinking back now, who else on the entire Wanjian Peak could have bypassed Shadow One's divine sense on the crane's back besides Master?
Shen Qingci pulled the pillow out from under her face and stared up at the ceiling. She began to mentally prepare herself.
Sword cultivators were all poor. Although Master was a Soul Transformation sword cultivator, there were so many disciples on Wanjian Peak.
Maintaining the Sword Tomb required spirit stones, nourishing a natal sword required spirit stones, and even rebuilding the collapsed Yunqi Cave required asking Peak Master Shi of Liedi Peak for help.
Master writing romance novels was definitely to save up a dowry for Senior Sister.
The novels sold so well that every printing sold out instantly, so the writing fees must be substantial. Such devotion was quite touching.
Touching, my foot!
Shen Qingci felt like she was completely falling apart. Most importantly, the one being pinned down and teased in the novel looked like her no matter how she read it.
...
Sword-Falling Terrace, side hall.
Jinglian finished reviewing the last stack of jade slips and set down her jade brush.
Since Fu Mingyuan's death, the sect's affairs had fallen entirely onto her shoulders. The request jade slips submitted by each peak were piled as high as a small mountain. She had been reviewing them from afternoon until dark, and her fingers felt a bit stiff.
A miscellaneous disciple outside reported that her little disciple had returned and was currently in the quiet room of the west wing.
Jinglian picked up her teacup, but the tea had already gone cold. She took a sip and suddenly felt something was off.
A-Ci had returned, but instead of coming to the side hall to report to her first, she had gone straight into her quiet room?
Given that little mischievous brat's personality, after being out for several days, the first thing she should have done upon returning was run over to tease her and discuss the succession ceremony. Why was she so quiet today?
“Is Junior Sister still at Yunqi Cave?” she asked the miscellaneous disciple.
“Yes, Sect Master.”
“Peak Master Liu is sitting at Yunqi Cave acting as a supervisor. She is wearing a silver mask and calls herself Liu Shisi.”
Jinglian's brow twitched slightly. What kind of act was her junior sister putting on now?
Wearing a mask, using the alias Liu Shisi, and sitting at her little disciple's cave dwelling to supervise?
She recalled the last time she met her junior sister, when Junior Sister Liu had declared harshly that they wouldn't meet again for a hundred years. So now she was wearing a mask to cover her face, pretending she wasn't Liu Ruyin?
It was like burying one's head in the sand—utter self-deception.
Her thoughts shifted. A-Ci must have bumped into her junior sister at Yunqi Cave, which was why she had hidden in her quiet room upon returning.
She knew her junior sister's personality well. She was cold to outsiders, but once she accepted someone as family, her warmth could be overwhelming. Could A-Ci have been frightened by her? Though the likelihood of that was minuscule.
Jinglian could no longer sit still.
She swept her sleeve, and the space in front of her tore open. Reaching her fair hand inside, she grabbed Liu Ruyin, who was still sitting as a supervisor in front of Yunqi Cave, and dragged her over.
Liu Ruyin was holding her glazed cup and drinking spiritual dew when her surroundings suddenly spun violently.
By the time she stood firm, the ground covered in Nine-Mystic Spirit Sand had turned into the side hall's writing desk and walls lined with sword manuals.
Before the familiar fluctuations of spiritual energy could dissipate, she already knew who had done it.
The corners of her lips under the mask pressed into a straight line, and the bitterness in her heart welled up. It had only been a year, yet Senior Sister couldn't wait any longer and missed her!!!
She didn't struggle, letting Jinglian pull her.
Jinglian released her grip, turned around, and let her divine sense linger on the silver mask on Liu Ruyin's face for a moment. She didn't ask about the mask.
“Junior Sister,” Jinglian stared into her eyes, “what did you say to A-Ci?”
“What did I say?” Liu Ruyin replied defensively. “It was merely an elder showing concern for a junior. I care about A-Ci, is that not allowed?”
“She traveled far right after establishing her foundation, and she returned looking thinner and pale. If you, her master, don't care, are others not allowed to care either?”
“Sect Master Jing is occupied with a myriad of affairs daily. Do I need to submit a formal petition just to show concern for your disciple on your behalf?”
“Junior Sister.” Jinglian stepped half a pace closer.
Liu Ruyin shuffled back slightly, refusing to yield an inch. “Also, please address me as Liu Shisi, Sect Master.”
“Liu Ruyin is currently in seclusion and will not receive guests for a hundred years. The one standing here is merely an insignificant illusion cultivator from Biluo Peak, running errands on behalf of her Peak Master.”
Jinglian gazed at her. The mask covered most of her face, but her eyes couldn't lie.
She was clearly feeling guilty, yet she was still stubborn. She suddenly didn't want to beat around the bush anymore.
“A-Yin,” Jinglian's tone softened, “you know my Dao foundation can be repaired?”
Liu Ruyin's hand holding the glazed cup stiffened.
The glazed cup wobbled, spilling a few drops of spiritual dew onto her jade-green robe, forming several dark stains.
She averted her gaze and reached down to wipe the stains on her hem, her movements frantic as a faint blush spread across her ears.
Jinglian watched her flustered movements, and the answer instantly became clear in her heart. It was her little disciple who had told her.
A-Ci had gone to the Gu family's banquet and let this slip to her junior sister. No wonder her little disciple didn't dare see her upon returning. Having acted as an accomplice, she naturally wanted to hide.
The last time her and A-Yuan's secret was exposed, that little mischievous brat didn't dare step foot in the side hall for half a year. This time, who knew how long she would hide?
Jinglian took another step forward.
The distance between them was barely half a step... Close enough to see the trembling of each other's eyelashes, close enough for their breaths to entwine...
It was impossible to tell whose warm breath was heating whose eyes.
Liu Ruyin wanted to retreat. But her legs felt weak and refused to obey.
“Hiding from me for a year,” Jinglian reached out, her fingertip pressing against the mask, “and you wear this cheap thing to see me?”
Liu Ruyin: “!!!”
Her mind went completely blank, leaving only shock and disbelief.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
Senior Sister was completely different today compared to the past.
The Sword Venerable Jinglian of the past was cold, self-contained, and distant. Even when they were alone, she always maintained proper boundaries, her personality as cold as mountain snow.
She would never press closer step by step like this, taking the initiative to draw near.
Could she be having a beautiful dream?
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