Chapter 17
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 17: Fully Exchanged Views
Xiao Jinse was in no rush to meet Bai Lian.
She didn’t enjoy being in crowded places.
Only after the onlookers dispersed did she walk toward Bai Lian with cheerful steps.
Su Youwei, ever observant, noticed Xiao Jinse’s delighted expression immediately. The lively and graceful demeanor made her narrow her eyes.
DANGER!
A slight sense of rejection stirred in her heart toward this unfamiliar woman.
“Elder Martial Sister!”
The intimate cry confirmed Xiao Jinse’s identity for Su Youwei.
Sure enough, Xiao Jinse pointed at her and asked, “Elder Martial Sister, is this our new Martial Sister?”
Bai Lian nodded. “That’s right.”
She began introducing the two younger Martial Sisters to each other.
“This is your Second Martial Sister, Xiao Jinse. She joined Qiongming Peak two months ago.
“And this is the new Martial Sister, Su Youwei.”
“Hello, Younger Martial Sister,” Xiao Jinse greeted warmly, her face adorned with a kind smile.
She wasn’t sure how to interact with someone new, but a friendly smile was always a safe bet!
Su Youwei wasn’t particularly inclined to speak with Xiao Jinse, but with Bai Lian standing nearby, refusing would seem rude. She couldn’t bring herself to reject Martial Sister Bai Lian’s kindness so soon after arriving.
She reluctantly said, “Hello, Second Martial Sister.”
Her tone wasn’t particularly cheerful, but Su Youwei didn’t bother trying to improve it.
After all, Martial Sister Bai Lian said she’s autistic!
Xiao Jinse observed her thin Third Martial Sister carefully. The only thing that puzzled her was how mature Su Youwei’s voice sounded—far more so than she had expected. Was she overthinking it?
With Bai Lian leading them, Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei made their way to Qiongming Peak.
The two younger Martial Sisters didn’t seem close. Each held one of Bai Lian’s hands, walking silently with their heads slightly bowed.
Yet, in Bai Lian’s eyes, this scene was delightful.
She had worried that the two might instantly dislike each other and exchange harsh words.
Her concerns weren’t unfounded!
In the game’s storyline, only a few happy endings depicted the four Martial Sisters growing close. In most scenarios, they were mere strangers—or worse, bitter rivals due to their differing views on Bai Lian.
Their protagonist auras clashed, canceling each other out whenever they interacted!
In some endings, the Martial Sisters even turned murderous toward one another.
But now, it seemed the two were getting along reasonably well. Their silence was likely due to unfamiliarity rather than animosity.
“To help them bond faster, I’ll have to create some opportunities for them!”
Bai Lian smiled as she opened the door to her room.
“Come in.”
Inside, three people and a rabbit sat quietly around a table laden with freshly brewed green tea.
Bai Lian’s Tea Ceremony skills were modest at best, with only 4 points, but they were sufficient to impress her inexperienced Martial Sisters.
Su Youwei stepped into Bai Lian’s room for the first time. She took a gentle sniff, and the elegant fragrance of Bai Lian filled her senses. It felt as though something warm enveloped her, making her consciousness waver.
It wasn’t until Bai Lian called her name several times that she snapped out of her daze.
“Elder Martial Sister, what is it?” she asked, her tone tinged with confusion.
Bai Lian stood and said, “I’m going to check if our Master is in the forbidden array. If you two have nothing else to do, just chat. You’re about the same age, so you should have plenty in common.”
Su Youwei merely responded with, “Oh.”
Xiao Jinse, on the other hand, was stunned.
The same age?
Did she hear that correctly?
As Bai Lian left the room, Xiao Jinse swallowed nervously. She placed her fists on the table and leaned forward, asking cautiously, “Younger Martial Sister, how old are you this year?”
Su Youwei replied calmly, “Twe… I’ll be seventeen in three months.”
In her previous life, she had been twenty-five years old.
She sipped her tea, savoring the taste. It carried a hint of Martial Sister Bai Lian’s presence—a comforting flavor.
Xiao Jinse’s smile gradually faded.
Sixteen?
Wasn’t that the same age as her?!
You told me this was a child?!
Xiao Jinse recalled her previous conversation with Martial Sister Bai Lian.
[“I like children best.”]
[“She is like a child.”]
“I…” Xiao Jinse clenched her fists but quickly suppressed the urge to toss her Third Martial Sister off the peak of Qiongming Peak.
No, she couldn’t! Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian had explicitly asked them to get along. If she threw the Third Martial Sister out the moment Bai Lian left, how could she face her Elder Martial Sister again?
She quickly took a sip of tea to steady herself before asking, “Does Elder Martial Sister know your age?”
Su Youwei’s voice was emotionless. “Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian didn’t ask me.”
Xiao Jinse exhaled in relief. At least Martial Sister Bai Lian wasn’t hiding it from her.
But her gaze sharpened.
She had already dismissed any thought of helping the Third Martial Sister integrate into Qiongming Peak. This woman wasn’t simple.
How could someone with such a scheming nature infiltrate the pure and serene Qiongming Peak?
Xiao Jinse resolved to expose Su Youwei’s true colors to both Bai Lian and their Master. Once they saw her for who she truly was, they’d surely drive her out of the sect!
Meanwhile, Su Youwei, quietly sipping her tea, felt unsettled.
She had low expectations of this Second Martial Sister before meeting her. Now, after their brief exchange, her opinion solidified.
This Second Martial Sister clearly disliked her.
She kept asking intrusive questions Su Youwei didn’t want to answer.
Coincidentally, Su Youwei didn’t like her either.
This Elder Martial Sister is useless, weaker than me despite her position!
I don’t want such an Elder Martial Sister.
Su Youwei began contemplating how to make Xiao Jinse leave Qiongming Peak.
Being too direct wouldn’t work. It’d be best to create circumstances where Xiao Jinse would leave on her own.
But the problem wasn’t simple.
Lost in thought, she took another sip of tea.
Crack.
The teacup broke in her hand, spilling tea onto the table. Su Youwei stared at the mess, momentarily speechless.
Nearby, the jade rabbit frantically drank its tea, desperate to leave the tense atmosphere and rejoin Bai Lian.
Bai Lian had swept Qiongming Peak with her divine sense before heading to the forbidden array cave, but she hadn’t detected Master An Lan’s presence.
Even after entering the cave, An Lan was nowhere to be found.
“Has she gone out again?” Bai Lian sighed.
This wasn’t unusual for An Lan, but it was still disappointing. An Lan had promised to give her a top-grade magic tool upon her return. Now, Bai Lian would have to wait.
Wandering around the cave in mild frustration, her eyes eventually fell on An Lan’s stone bed.
Against the wall rested a translucent sword.
A top-grade magic tool!
Bai Lian’s eyes widened.
The sword’s shape was identical to her Dirt Free Sword, but its grade had been elevated by two levels.
“So Master didn’t forget me!”
Her heart warmed slightly.
Beside the sword lay a letter. In it, An Lan instructed Bai Lian to take the sword and reminded her to guide the Third Martial Sister before her return.
Taking the new Dirt Free Sword, Bai Lian left the cave in high spirits.
As she returned to her room, Bai Lian immediately sensed a strange heaviness in the air.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
Xiao Jinse replied, “Elder Martial Sister, I had an in-depth exchange of views with my younger Martial Sister. We fully discussed our perspectives.”
Su Youwei nodded seriously, her expression neutral.
It seemed harmonious enough on the surface.
Bai Lian smiled approvingly. “Good. From now on, we’re family. It’s great to exchange views often!”
Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei exchanged glances, their mutual dislike apparent.
“Family?” Each thought bitterly to herself. “Not with her.”
