Chapter 10 Part 2
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Chapter 10 Part 2: Rebel, Do You Know Your Mistake?! (2)
She was only applying what she had learned in real-life situations. Despite the praise from the outside world, Bai Lian simply mirrored those same words when addressing her master.
As silence fell, the forest around her seemed to exhale, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as if it had never existed.
Yan Yue was furious.
What was this strange feeling of being trampled by An Lan, who always seemed to come out on top?
Damn it.
Why did An Lan have such good luck?
[She went out and, out of nowhere, ran into Bai Lian.]
Why didn’t such fortune fall upon her?
Yan Yue, now despondent and frustrated, found an excuse to dismiss Bai Lian.
Bai Lian, sensing the unease, hurriedly left. She felt the weight of her guilt, seeing threats in every corner. She retreated to her room to collect herself.
For a quarter of an hour, her turbulent mind finally found some semblance of calm.
But soon, wild thoughts began to stir again.
Her fingers brushed the window frame lightly.
If it weren’t for the serene family portrait still hanging on the wall, she might have believed the past few years had been nothing but a dream.
Upon waking, nothing had changed—Qiongming Peak remained the same, with only her, the master, and the jade rabbit left in her world.
Speaking of the master…
Bai Lian stood up.
As Yan Yue had pointed out, it would be disrespectful to return without visiting her master in the cave.
After much inner conflict, she made a decision.
I need to go.
She opened the door and hurried toward the cave, the jade rabbit trailing closely behind her.
As she approached, her expression shifted. She motioned for the jade rabbit to leave.
The voice from inside the cave called out, “Come in.”
Bai Lian gritted her teeth and entered, the jade rabbit by her side.
Although it was early autumn, the chill inside the cave was still biting.
Her master sat upright at the stone table, her attire neat, her face devoid of makeup. Her hands rested calmly at her sides, exuding an air of unapproachable dignity.
“How was the harvest during your recent journey?” her master asked in a cold, emotionless tone.
Bai Lian froze.
Could it be? Was it possible that An Lan could see into her dreams? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
At a loss for words, she didn’t know how to respond.
Just then, the jade rabbit began to dance and gesticulate enthusiastically.
“Haw haw…”
It relayed the events of the journey, speaking in the rabbit language without hesitation.
An Lan wasn’t puzzled. She reached out, gently patting the jade rabbit’s head, reassuring it not to be sad, and reminding it that only the prepared are granted opportunities.
The rabbit immediately brightened, smiling widely.
Though it often cursed An Lan in secret, at this moment, it affectionately rubbed An Lan’s hand.
Bai Lian, taken aback, could only stare in confusion.
What kind of strange scene was this?
After a brief silence, An Lan spoke again. “Go back and rest. I have something to discuss with Bai Lian.”
“Haw.”
The jade rabbit nodded and left.
And just like that, only An Lan and Bai Lian remained in the cave.
Although the cave seemed spacious enough to accommodate several people, Bai Lian felt suffocated by its close quarters.
The master sat there, but it felt as though she was everywhere, surrounding Bai Lian from all sides.
I’m going to suffocate!
Bai Lian’s heart raced as she sensed the piercing sharpness in her master’s gaze—like the unblinking eyes of a hawk.
An Lan’s expression seemed ready to carve the words “I think you have a problem” into her face.
This was bad.
After a long pause, An Lan finally asked, “Do you know where you went wrong?”
“I…”
Bai Lian’s mind raced as another task option appeared in front of her.
[Task 1: Leniency for confession, severity for resistance. Confess the wrongs done to the jade rabbit. (Reward: The Pill of Flesh and Blood)]
[Task 2: Ask your master, “What’s wrong with me?” (Reward: a middle-grade spirit tool – Green Dragon Bell)]
[Task 3: Show a sorrowful expression, remain silent, and bite your lip. (Reward: Soft Skill +2)]
Do I really need to think about this?
Bai Lian quickly adopted a sorrowful look as prompted by the system.
“…”
“…”
Silence filled the cave. Only the distant sound of water droplets breaking the stillness.
An Lan was clearly enraged.
From the moment Bai Lian entered the Duxian sect, An Lan had been keenly aware of her aura.
She had been eagerly anticipating Bai Lian’s return to greet her.
Instead, Bai Lian had wandered aimlessly in the yard, pacing back and forth before running straight to Zhuyan Peak.
Interesting…
An Lan was furious.
She smashed the stone wall of her cave with a single punch.
Son of a bitch. A shameless rebel.
What makes me inferior to that foolish woman Yan Yue that you could dare ignore me like this?
Fortunately, Bai Lian had later praised her in front of Yan Yue, which helped to calm her slightly.
But An Lan was still dissatisfied.
If you have finally recognized my worth, why seek out Yan Yue?
Humph.
Playing the pity card, huh? It won’t work on me.
“Come here!” An Lan commanded, her voice sharp.
Bai Lian stumbled forward.
An Lan barked again, “Turn around.”
Bai Lian obeyed, knowing that a storm was coming, silently hoping that her master’s wrath would not be too severe.
Her backside, full and round, couldn’t endure the force of the punishment she anticipated.
As expected, the bamboo ruler came down with a loud crack.
An Lan muttered as she struck. “Rebel. If you have doubts, why not come ask me instead of running to Yan Yue? Do you think so little of me?”
Bai Lian, who had originally planned to shout a few times for effect, was struck speechless.
So this is why the master is angry.
Well, if it hadn’t been for the system reminder, she would have confessed just now.
Damn.
If An Lan found out about the incident with the jade rabbit in her dreams, the consequences would be terrifying.
Bai Lian shuddered at the thought.
It was only now that she understood why the task rewards seemed so pointed.
Her master had… a peculiar hobby.
Fear gripped her.
Once the tension left her body, her perspective shifted. The bamboo ruler no longer felt painful but oddly… comforting.
“Master, you’ve misunderstood me!” Bai Lian exclaimed. “I care for you deeply. How could I not value you? The reason I went to see Master Yan Yue first was because I thought of your injuries in the Sand Region and feared disturbing your recovery.”
An Lan paused, her raised arm faltering.
Is that so?
Had she misunderstood Bai Lian?
The anger in An Lan’s heart dissipated as she studied Bai Lian’s response.
Her gaze softened.
Touch…
Should I check?
No, I couldn’t have been wrong.
A brief silence passed.
“Ha,” An Lan chuckled, “Do I need your sympathy? I’m certainly not…”
She cut herself off, closing her mouth before saying something else.
She leaned forward, poking Bai Lian’s back with the wooden ruler.
“Do you know who you are?”
Bai Lian answered, “Please guide me, Master.”
“You are the Elder Martial Sister of Qiongming Peak. You are the face of Qiongming Peak. Do you understand that we have always been in competition with Zhuyan Peak? By doing this, are you admitting that our peak is inferior?”
An Lan sighed, her voice heavy.
Bai Lian felt even more uncertain, her heart pounding.
She shifted her position, lifting her hips slightly as she whispered, “Master, I understand my mistake. Please, punish me.”
Punishment, of course.
An Lan had the urge to mark Bai Lian, to make her understand that putting Yan Yue above her was unacceptable.
But, true to her nature, An Lan refrained from being overly dramatic.
She only applied enough pressure to ensure Bai Lian learned her lesson.
Bai Lian, feeling every bit of the lesson, slowly made her way out of the cave, feeling drained.
Her bottom was sore from the intensity of the punishment, and her mind was clouded with thoughts of the Heavenly Lord’s power.
Is this the strength of an Immortal Heavenly Lord?
The fear lingered.
Had her master opposed her that night, Bai Lian knew she would have been completely exhausted within a few rounds.
Bai Lian’s mood was heavy. This was not a good omen.
But there was no use in dwelling on it.
Unless she could elevate her cultivation to the level of a Heavenly Lord, her only option now was to prepare for her master’s birthday.
Time was running short.
