Chapter 23
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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 23: Sword Dance!
The jade rabbit glared fiercely at Su Youwei.
Hey, hey, hey!
Let go of those feet! You’re humiliating the Tao Halo!
Its long ears twitched slowly like trembling leaves. After a moment of hesitation, it reluctantly decided against intervening. After all, it was just a young rabbit, and Su Youwei was still one of Bai Lian’s Martial Sisters.
Xiao Jinse, however, reacted far more dramatically.
Her entire body trembled—not with anger, but something far more chaotic. She resembled an overheated automaton, her thoughts spinning wildly out of control.
How dare Third Martial Sister touch Elder Martial Sister Bai Lian’s feet so casually?
It was a dream Xiao Jinse had entertained countless times herself, but she had never dared to act on it!
Let go!
Wait… How does it feel? Smooth like silk?
No! This can’t happen!
Kick her out immediately!
Dozens of conflicting emotions tangled together, leaving Xiao Jinse paralyzed. Her mind raced so furiously that she was sure smoke would soon stream out of her ears.
Outside the window, An Lan’s reaction wasn’t much better.
Her face shifted, flickering between subtle confusion and disbelief.
Do disciples secretly… do such things in their rooms?
The ancient tree outside her window cracked in two with a loud ka as her Spirit Qi surged unintentionally.
Seeing the tree about to topple, An Lan hurriedly stabilized the trunk with her Spirit Qi and reconnected it.
Ridiculous!
Even she hadn’t dared to study the Tao Halo this up close and personal!
An Lan paced back and forth outside the window. After taking a long, calming breath, she finally turned and walked back toward her cave.
Inside the room, Bai Lian had been distracted momentarily by the sudden appearance of a system task:
[Task 1: Put your toes into the Third Martial Sister’s mouth in front of the Second Martial Sister. (Reward: Top-grade magic tool: Six Gods Bone Scraper)]
[Task 2: Quietly withdraw your feet. (Reward: Soft Skill +1)]
The temptation of Task 1 was undeniable. The fleeting, vivid images that appeared in Bai Lian’s mind nearly bewitched her.
But the words “in front of the Second Martial Sister” were like an alarm bell. Clearly, Task 1 was a disaster waiting to happen.
If I choose that, the two younger Martial Sisters might fight on the spot. Worse yet, Third Martial Sister might hold a grudge and cut off my foot with a knife someday!
The thought alone was terrifying.
Bai Lian opted for the safer choice, quickly withdrawing her foot.
Su Youwei’s hands, small and trembling, fumbled in surprise. It took her a moment to realize she was still holding on. When she finally let go, she retreated as quickly as a frightened rabbit.
The room fell silent.
Bai Lian stood up, her expression calm and unbothered.
The strength of her Innocent Heart shone in moments like these. Even if caught in a compromising position, she could exude an aura of I didn’t do anything wrong.
She surveyed the room with a neutral gaze.
It was clear that today’s lecture had taken a detour. But if she ended it abruptly, her efforts to cultivate harmony on Qiongming Peak might suffer a severe setback.
With a subtle wave of her right hand, the Dirt Free Sword emerged in a shimmer of light, flowing like water.
Su Youwei shivered.
Oh no. Elder Martial Sister must be furious! She’s going to punish me with her sword!
Xiao Jinse, finally snapping out of her daze, stepped forward anxiously. “Elder Martial Sister—”
While the Third Martial Sister had been impulsive, her mistake wasn’t worth a harsh punishment! Xiao Jinse felt it was her duty to take responsibility for disciplining Su Youwei herself.
But Bai Lian had no such intentions. Instead, she gently stabbed the Dirt Free Sword into the empty air beside her.
“You can’t always learn by watching. Let me perform a sword dance. Perhaps you’ll gain some insight from it,” she said lightly.
“?”
Xiao Jinse, Su Youwei, and even the jade rabbit froze in confusion.
Bai Lian didn’t wait for a response. She began moving fluidly, her steps light as she wielded the Dirt Free Sword.
Though she had never learned sword dancing formally, Bai Lian had often watched her fellow Martial Sisters perform it. By imitating their movements, she captured some of the elegance and essence of the art.
The room grew still, mesmerized by her performance.
Xiao Jinse forgot her earlier frustrations as she watched in awe. The sword’s arc was accompanied by a frosty spray, occasionally crackling with flashes of lightning. It carried the force of “coming like thunder, stopping like a river meeting the sea.”
As Bai Lian moved, the Tao Halos behind her connected seamlessly, forming shapes both fierce and delicate—like flocks of birds in flight or butterflies fluttering for nectar.
Xiao Jinse’s heart stirred.
She realized something profound: Bai Lian looked far better in her fitted Li Yue Taoist Robe than in this loose outer garment.
Should I suggest a wardrobe change…?
After pondering briefly, Xiao Jinse decided against it.
Meanwhile, Su Youwei was too consumed by guilt to appreciate the beauty of the dance.
Su Youwei was overwhelmed with guilt.
The more kind and tolerant Bai Lian was toward her, the heavier Su Youwei’s remorse grew.
The Tao Halo radiating behind Bai Lian was proof enough—her Elder Martial Sister was a true Natural Saint.
The rumors she had heard in her previous life about Bai Lian were lies, or perhaps the person who spread them had been deceived as well.
Her chest tightened as memories of their first encounter resurfaced.
At that time, Bai Lian had shown her the same patience she displayed now. But Su Youwei, poisoned by rumors, had treated her with hostility and suspicion. It had taken Bai Lian’s firm measures to free her from the Su family.
ε= (´ ο｀))) alas.*
Su Youwei sighed deeply, lost in thought.
Her Elder Martial Sister had done so much for her, yet she had the audacity to act so disrespectfully in return.
How can I have the face to remain on Qiongming Peak after this?
The sword dance concluded as Bai Lian sheathed the Dirt Free Sword with a fluid motion.
Bai Lian spoke calmly, “It’s natural to need time to fully grasp what you’ve seen tonight. Let’s end this special lesson for now. Reflect on what you’ve learned when you return to your rooms.”
“Yes, Martial Sister!” Xiao Jinse replied instantly, her voice brimming with resolve.
Su Youwei, catching on, quickly echoed, “Yes, Martial Sister!”
Even the jade rabbit, disinterested in the dance, let out two soft chirps before hopping out after the others.
Bai Lian watched as her younger Martial Sisters exited through the front door. She mulled over her next steps.
The Third Martial Sister can wait for now, Bai Lian thought. But in the coming days, I’ll focus on helping the Second Martial Sister improve her Spiritual Root grade.
“Ten days should suffice,” she murmured.
Relaxing, Bai Lian approached the window. A lingering memory of Su Youwei’s soft, hesitant touch on her foot flitted briefly through her mind.
“Huh?”
Bai Lian frowned.
Something about the ancient tree outside seemed… off. The angle was slightly skewed, as though it had shifted to the left.
Before she could investigate further, a message from her Master, An Lan, interrupted her thoughts:
[Come to the forbidden array.]
Oh, no.
Bai Lian’s expression soured.
Her Master had returned, and no doubt she’d heard about her recent “sparring session” with Chen Lu that left the younger disciple in tears.
There’s no avoiding it.
As she headed toward the forbidden array, Bai Lian mentally prepared herself—and even tightened the defenses around her rear.
“Master.”
Bai Lian entered the chamber, bowing her head respectfully. She deliberately avoided looking directly at An Lan, who lounged on her side atop the stone bed.
To Bai Lian’s surprise, her Master’s tone was unusually casual.
“Have you attuned to the new Dirt Free Sword?” An Lan asked.
Bai Lian blinked, caught off guard. “Yes, Master. Thank you. I’ve attuned to it.”
“Good,” An Lan replied with a nod. “Rest tonight. Tomorrow, bring Su Youwei to see me.”
“Yes!”
Bai Lian bowed deeply and left the room, confusion written across her face.
That’s it?
She’d mentally fortified herself for a lecture—or worse, punishment—and yet her Master let her go without so much as a reprimand.
I even strengthened my defenses, and she’s not going to test them?
Inside the chamber, An Lan exhaled a long sigh of relief.
That was close.
Bai Lian had almost noticed the ancient tree’s misalignment.
Her sharp eyes and the unsettling density of the “death aura” surrounding her tonight had put An Lan on edge.
Narrowing her eyes thoughtfully, An Lan resolved to keep an even closer watch on her eldest disciple.
