Chapter 19
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Chapter 19: Only I Can Bully My Martial Sister!
The next day.
Bai Lian opened her eyes, her mind clear and refreshed.
As she lifted the barrier surrounding her room, the first light of morning spilled in, bringing with it a rush of fresh aura. The gray haze that had lingered was replaced by a vibrant, colorful world.
She walked to the window, her gaze falling on the jade rabbit sprawled on the ground, still clutching the Dirt Free Sword in its tiny paws. A smile tugged at her lips.
In just half a day, she could fully refine the Dirt Free Sword.
While she couldn’t yet unleash the sword’s full potential, the enhancement it provided was more than enough to stand against Gong Juren. That thought gave her a sense of security she hadn’t felt in a long time.
What’s more, the looming internal conflict she had dreaded between her two Martial Sisters seemed to have resolved itself.
“What a surprise!”
Bai Lian placed a hand on her chest, exhaling a deep breath of relief.
Perhaps my chaotic life as a game protagonist is finally on the right path.
With Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei by her side, who in the Duxian Sect would dare to provoke her now?
Curiosity tugged at her. She extended her divine sense, allowing it to slip through the thin walls into the adjacent room.
The wooden window was half open, and a stream of golden sunlight painted the messy bed in warm hues.
But the bed was empty.
Bai Lian frowned. “Where are they?”
Her divine sense swept further and found Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei seated on the floor, deep in meditation as they cultivated earnestly.
Are they working too hard?
Despite their remarkable talents, they were pushing themselves far beyond the norm.
A pang of guilt crept into Bai Lian’s heart.
I’ve been so focused on my own concerns that I haven’t considered their well-being.
She worried silently.
Aren’t they cold sitting on the floor like that? Cultivating on an empty stomach—won’t it affect their focus? Overworking could even harm their progress!
Bai Lian resolved to take better care of them.
They need balance. Work and rest must go hand in hand.
The crisp morning air and clear skies gave her an idea.
A quarter of an hour later, Bai Lian knocked on Xiao Jinse’s door.
“Elder Martial Sister?”
Xiao Jinse opened the door, her eyes lighting up with surprise at the sight before her.
Bai Lian stood there with a wooden tray, two bowls of steaming porridge balanced neatly atop it.
Two? Xiao Jinse’s heart skipped a beat.
Her smile widened as she took the tray. “Elder Martial Sister, you’re so thoughtful! You even brought me two bowls of porridge because you know I have a big appetite!”
“?”
Bai Lian blinked, momentarily stunned.
Her gaze shifted past Xiao Jinse to the figure standing quietly in the background.
Su Youwei stood there, her petite frame motionless, her expression unreadable. Yet, her silent demeanor carried a hint of loneliness.
Bai Lian’s heart softened instantly.
She reached for the two futons draped over the jade rabbit’s ears. “Here, take these. Use them next time when you cultivate. It’ll keep you warm.”
She added gently, “Or better yet, change into a proper practice suit.”
Then, turning her attention to Su Youwei, she said, “Youwei, I’ll bring your porridge right away.”
Without giving either of them a chance to protest, she continued, “No cultivating this morning. Go outside and enjoy the day. I’ll call the construction team later to renovate the house—this place needs a bit more comfort.”
Her tone softened further. “As disciples of Qiongming Peak, you must maintain your momentum, whether here or outside. Help each other, just as you did last night. That was very good.”
Her rambling caught Xiao Jinse off guard.
This side of Bai Lian—caring, slightly overbearing, and endlessly wordy—was completely different from the aloof, untouchable image Xiao Jinse had built in her mind.
But… she liked it.
The fairy-like elder Martial Sister Bai Lian was stunning, yes, but far too distant. This version of Bai Lian, so warm and familiar, felt like family.
After seeing Xiao Jinse and Su Youwei off down the mountain, Bai Lian returned to her room.
Her immediate priority was clear: refining the Dirt Free Sword.
Meanwhile, Su Youwei trudged down the mountain path, her mood heavy.
Her frustration wasn’t about Xiao Jinse snatching her bowl of porridge—it ran deeper.
While running her cultivation method earlier, she had realized that breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage wouldn’t be as simple as she had hoped.
Her rapid progress in recent weeks had pushed her body to its limits, and now it was catching up with her. She would need at least ten days of careful preparation before she could attempt another breakthrough.
It’s too hard.
She sighed, shaking her head in defeat.
For now, there was little choice but to focus on steady progress—and on keeping an eye on her Second Martial Sister, Xiao Jinse.
Last night, after a tense discussion with the Second Elder Martial Sister, Su Youwei finally devised a plan.
Her solution was simple: quickly improve her cultivation base and force the Second Martial Sister to leave Qiongming Peak.
Su Youwei could see through Xiao Jinse’s pride. If she managed to outshine her, Xiao Jinse would undoubtedly retreat silently, unable to bear the shame—even without Master intervening.
But now?
What a pity.
This incident had delayed her plans.
“Just wander around for a bit,” Xiao Jinse said after half an hour of walking. “I’m going to the Cultivation Method Pavilion.”
Xiao Jinse was tired. If not for the fear of Su Youwei tattling to Bai Lian, she would have handed over the map and let her find her own way.
Su Youwei nodded quietly. “Okay.”
She preferred being alone anyway. And if she had to be with someone, it certainly wouldn’t be Xiao Jinse.
After splitting up, Xiao Jinse entered the Cultivation Method Pavilion.
Despite her natural talent, she still felt her theoretical knowledge was lacking compared to others. Reading the experiences of predecessors had proven invaluable for her progress.
Recently, Xiao Jinse had developed a strong interest in alchemy. However, her limited spirit stones and her hesitation to visit the medicine garden without Bai Lian’s guidance had kept her from practicing.
As she mulled over potential methods for alchemy, a disciple rushed into the pavilion, panting heavily.
“Where is Martial Sister Xiao of Qiongming Peak?”
“What’s the matter?” Xiao Jinse asked, setting down the book.
The disciple caught his breath, his face serious. “That little girl following you earlier—she’s being bullied!”
“Ah?”
Xiao Jinse’s lips tightened into a thin line.
Though her instinct was to hesitate, Bai Lian’s words rang in her ears: “Don’t lose Qiongming Peak’s momentum.”
No matter how she felt, Su Youwei was now her Martial Sister.
If she turned a blind eye to her junior being bullied, how could she face Bai Lian—or herself?
“Thank you for telling me, Junior Martial Brother,” Xiao Jinse said as she hefted her heavy Blowing Snow Sword and marched toward the door.
The crowd gathering outside made it easy to locate Su Youwei. Xiao Jinse gripped her sword tighter, determined.
Meanwhile, Bai Lian’s expression darkened upon hearing the news.
She immediately excused herself from the deacon overseeing the construction team and hurried to the scene.
This is bad.
Her Third Martial Sister being bullied was no minor issue.
Su Youwei’s “Shura” title was not earned lightly. If she lost control and unleashed her inner demon, the consequences could be devastating—not only for those involved but for Su Youwei herself.
If things escalated, Su Youwei could face expulsion from the sect—or worse, execution.
Bai Lian refused to let that happen. All her efforts to guide her Martial Sisters would be in vain if she didn’t act now.
The crowd at the scene parted instinctively as Bai Lian arrived, her jade rabbit perched on her shoulder.
She spotted Xiao Jinse standing protectively in front of Su Youwei, her body bearing fresh injuries. Despite the pain, Xiao Jinse held her ground, her sword drawn.
Relief flooded Bai Lian, but it was accompanied by a rising anger she struggled to contain.
“What’s going on?” she demanded, her sharp gaze sweeping across Chen Lu and the other disciples from Yunluo Peak.
“Elder Martial Sister!” Xiao Jinse’s tense posture softened at the sight of Bai Lian. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, but she forced herself to recount the events.
The conflict stemmed from a misunderstanding.
While lost in thought, Su Youwei had accidentally bumped into a passerby. Although she apologized immediately, the passerby refused to let it go, teaming up with their companions to blackmail her.
When Xiao Jinse intervened, the situation escalated, eventually drawing the attention of the Yunluo Peak Elder Martial Sister, Chen Lu.
Bai Lian’s face darkened further as she examined the bruises on Su Youwei’s arm.
“Why didn’t you fight back?” she asked softly, her tone laced with frustration.
Su Youwei glanced at the tally marks scrawled on her wrist and muttered, “I didn’t want to cause trouble for you, Martial Sister.”
Bai Lian sighed. “I’m not afraid of trouble.”
Her system presented two choices:
[Task 1: Draw your sword and seek justice for the younger Martial Sister (Reward: Magic – Thunder Abyss)]
[Task 2: Resolve the conflict peacefully (Reward: Secret Skill – Phaseless Fingers)]
The answer was obvious. Bai Lian would never stand by while her Martial Sisters were wronged.
Turning to Chen Lu, she declared coldly, “You should know—only I can bully my Martial Sister. No, to be precise, I haven’t even bullied her myself!”
Chen Lu frowned. “Bai Lian, this is a misunderstanding—”
“Perhaps it was at first. But now? It’s not.”
“What do you want?”
“Draw your sword.”
Bai Lian reached out her hand, and the Dirt Free Sword appeared in her palm, glowing like crystal.
The air around it seemed to ripple, and everything felt still as the sword’s power filled the space.
