These two were definitely not ordinary fellow disciples!
Fellow disciples wouldn't sit this close to each other, nor would they share such a tacit understanding. And they certainly wouldn't have the other female sword cultivator looking like she wanted to slice her to pieces the moment she mentioned a Clam Girl.
【They are Dao companions!】
The female steward wished she could slap herself a few times.
【What terrible eyesight I have!】
Why hadn't she noticed earlier? She had even eagerly rushed over to pitch a Clam Girl. Wasn't that basically offering a bed-warmer right in front of someone's Dao companion?
She had even asked if they wanted to switch to another one just now.
Switch to another? Even ten wouldn't help. If she kept asking, Fairy Chi would probably actually draw her sword.
The female steward reacted extremely quickly, plastering a smile back on her face, even more attentive than before. “It is this humble one's lack of foresight. I have disturbed you two fairies. I shall take her away immediately. Please enjoy your stay, and do let me know if you require anything else...”
Standing behind the female steward, Bizhu saw everything clearly.
Having worked on the merchant alliance's flying vessels for years, she had met countless people and could easily read the situation.
This Fairy Shen's earlier nod was either because she didn't understand the true meaning of a travel companion, or because she had a little spat with the one beside her and wanted to use a Clam Girl to make her jealous.
Now that her Dao companion was sitting right beside her, whatever little spat they had had already completely vanished, so she naturally had no use for her.
Bizhu lowered her eyes, a wave of regret washing over her heart.
It wasn't that she was sorry she couldn't stay by Fairy Shen's side, but rather that she couldn't stay a moment longer to gaze at this perfect couple.
In her twenty-odd years of life, she had never seen such striking figures sitting side by side. The tacit understanding and warmth flowing between them were more touching than anything written in storybooks.
But regret was just regret; she wasn't stupid.
Bizhu glanced at Chi Yuan a couple more times. Although Fairy Chi's gaze had moved away from the female steward, the murderous aura around her had not dissipated.
Her right hand rested casually on her sword hilt, her long, slender, powerful fingers looking as though they could draw the sword from its scabbard at any moment.
Bizhu had an intuitive feeling that if she stood there for even a moment longer, Fairy Chi would truly strike down a demon!
She immediately bowed, her voice much more formal than before, stripped of that soft, flirtatious tone. “This humble one shall take her leave. I wish you both a smooth journey, fairies.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the female steward grabbed Bizhu's sleeve, and the two of them bolted like the wind, disappearing down the end of the corridor in the blink of an eye. Their steps were ridiculously fast, as if a female god of death were chasing them from behind.
My Frostchill Sword! (๑•ૅω•´๑)∝╬▅▆▇◤
Seeing the female steward leave with the Clam Girl, Chi Yuan's expression finally softened. She withdrew her hand from the sword hilt, though her fingers still tapped the scabbard one after another, her lingering anger yet to fade.
“Junior Sister~”
“I'm here,” Shen Qingci said, sitting up straight.
“You are still young and have only recently left your family. You aren't familiar with the ways of the world outside, so I don't blame you. However, I must make things clear to you regarding today's matter.”
Shen Qingci nodded obediently, looking completely ready to listen and learn.
“The path of cultivation is long and arduous. The greatest taboo is to have a divided mind.”
“Those wild flowers and fleeting beauties outside might seem fresh and exciting, but in truth, they are nothing but stumbling blocks. You have excellent talent and a good temperament, so do not trip over such matters.”
“Whether it is Clam Girls or anyone else, as long as they approach you under the guise of 'serving' or 'accompanying,' they almost certainly have ulterior motives.”
She paused for a moment before warning, “You are still inexperienced in the ways of the world. Do not let yourself be sweet-talked and led astray by a few nice words.”
Shen Qingci nodded rapidly. “Senior Sister is absolutely right. I will keep that in mind.”
“It is good that you remember.” Chi Yuan averted her gaze, her fingers subconsciously toying with her sword tassel.
“The Great Dao is difficult, and very few can accompany you to the very end. Rather than wasting your thoughts on irrelevant people, you would do better to practice a few more sword styles.”
Her tone was indifferent as she said this, as if she were speaking of the most ordinary thing.
Yet, the moment the words left her mouth, she herself froze slightly.
Were these words spoken out of care for her junior sister, or was it something else?
She was never one to meddle in others' business. Whether disciples from other peaks took the wrong path or tripped up, she wouldn't even bat an eye. Yet, when that female steward had approached her junior sister just now, a flame of anger had instantly flared up in her heart.
Before she could even realize it, her hand had already pressed down on her sword hilt.
Chi Yuan lowered her eyes, her fingertips wrapping around the threads of her sword tassel, winding them round and round, tightening and then releasing them.
The Frostchill sword lay quietly across her knees, the icy patterns on its scabbard gleaming with a faint, cold light in the twilight.
Ever since she met this junior sister of hers, her emotions had been constantly thrown into disarray, easily stirred by the slightest thing.
Her usual cold and self-controlled demeanor would always crack after just a few exchanges in front of Shen Qingci.
She really was her darling nemesis!
When those two words surfaced from the depths of her heart, Chi Yuan's fingers tightened, almost tearing the sword tassel off.
Shen Qingci sat beside her, looking perfectly upright on the outside, but her mind had already drifted off to the clouds.
What did her senior sister say just now?
Wild flowers, fleeting beauties, don't let yourself be sweet-talked.
Yes, she was absolutely right.
But not a single word actually went into her heart.
Her entire attention was focused on her senior sister's lips.
When Chi Yuan spoke, those thin lips parted and closed, their color a pale pink. They pursed slightly when she said the words “fleeting beauties,” and relaxed just a bit when she met her obedient gaze.
Her lower lip was slightly thicker than her upper lip, carrying a trace of the tartness from the tea she had just drunk, glistening with a faint, moist sheen.
It clearly had the soft, tender texture of jelly.
Shen Qingci gave this thought a perfect score in her heart.
It reminded her of the peach-flavored jelly she used to buy at convenience stores in her past life. Once she peeled back the plastic seal and gave it a gentle squeeze, it would slide right into her mouth—cool, refreshing, and sweet.
Her senior sister's lips looked even more delicious than that.
【I want to kiss her.】
The moment this thought popped up, the alarms in Shen Qingci's mind began to blare wildly.
【Stop, stop, stop...】
You came here to snatch the male lead's opportunities, not to flirt with your senior sister.
【Wake up, Shen Qingci!】
She blinked hard, trying to tear her gaze away from Chi Yuan's lips. But her eyes had a mind of their own and stubbornly refused to budge.
【Oh no, my mind is getting dirty.】
She labeled herself as such in her heart, but then felt a bit indignant. Could she really be blamed for this? Her senior sister looked like this, yet she insisted on sitting so properly right in front of her, lecturing her with moving lips.
Anyone in her shoes would lose their self-control.
“Junior Sister?”
Chi Yuan's voice suddenly cut in.
Shen Qingci snapped back to reality. “Ah?”
“Why are you dazed?” Chi Yuan turned her head to look at her, her gaze filled with a hint of scrutiny. “Did you take in everything I just said?”
“I did, I did!” Shen Qingci nodded like a woodpecker. “Focus single-mindedly on the Great Dao, don't be misled by wild flowers, practice diligently, and never fail the sect's nurturing!”
Chi Yuan stared at her for a brief moment.
These words flowed far too smoothly, sounding exactly like a recited text.
Looking at her junior sister's bright, glittering eyes, she couldn't quite read the thoughts swirling inside them, but they certainly weren't something that could be summarized by the words “diligent practice.”
“You had better be,” she said, withdrawing her gaze. She tapped the scabbard twice, her eyes still filled with suspicion.
Rubbing her nose guiltily, Shen Qingci quickly changed the subject. “Senior Sister, the flying vessel will arrive in Qinghe County tomorrow morning. My clan uncle runs an artifact-refining workshop in the county city's East Market called Nanxing Artifact-Refining Workshop, and my aunt is also there. I will introduce you to them when the time comes.”
Rate on N.U.
