Chapter 9
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Chapter 9: Yan Yue’s Diary
On the way back to Qiongming Peak, the Jade Rabbit carried the flower demon on its head, making it look like a blossoming crown. The flower demon squirmed uneasily at first, but after the Jade Rabbit adjusted its position with its ears, it finally settled down.
At the gate of the courtyard, Bai Lian spotted Xiao Jinse, who was just closing the door.
“Elder Martial Sister,” Xiao Jinse greeted nervously, her demeanor suddenly evasive.
Bai Lian’s gaze shifted to the Jade Rabbit.
“What’s with the flower?”
“Haw!”
The Jade Rabbit swayed its ears like seaweed, clearly excited.
Bai Lian smiled. “The Jade Rabbit says it’s a friend.”
The rabbit nodded enthusiastically, confirming Bai Lian’s words.
“Eh?” Xiao Jinse blinked in surprise.
When did Martial Sister Bai Lian learn to understand the rabbit’s language?
“Have you started cultivating today?” Bai Lian asked.
“I’m just about to start, Martial Sister,” Xiao Jinse replied quickly. “I’ll go now.”
“Take care.”
“Yes!” Xiao Jinse hurried off, glancing back once before disappearing from view.
Normally, Bai Lian might have invited Xiao Jinse into her room. It was spacious and filled with interesting things. But today was different.
The fewer people who knew about Master Yan Yue’s diary, the better. If its contents ever leaked, Yan Yue’s wrath would be unbearable. Both Bai Lian and the Blood Tree Patriarch would be in grave danger.
This wasn’t a guess; it was a certainty, as confirmed by the task options that had popped up earlier. Inviting Xiao Jinse to “observe and learn” offered a reward of a top-grade magic tool, while reading the diary alone provided a simpler reward: Alchemy +1.
As Bai Lian entered her room, the Jade Rabbit bounded away, taking the flower demon to play elsewhere.
—
The moment Bai Lian shut the door, a mischievous smile spread across her face.
She pulled out the “evil book” from her chest—Yan Yue’s diary.
A forbidden treasure! A black temptation!
With the giddiness of uncovering a secret, she hurried to her dressing table, closed the window, and checked her surroundings.
Good. This was a safe place.
Slowly, Bai Lian lifted the diary before her, excitement coursing through her veins.
—
The diary opened with a soft rustle, and suddenly Bai Lian felt as though she had traveled through time, back over 400 years.
—
[January 29]
Father brought home a girl my age today. Finally, I’m not the youngest Martial Sister anymore!
She’s so cute. Maybe I’ll speak to her?
—
[February 1st]
I can’t beat the new Martial Sister… I’m the youngest again!!!
—
“…”
Bai Lian blinked. Was Yan Yue’s rank really determined by physical fights?
Reading further, she learned that Yan Yue had a lonely childhood. Her mother had passed away early, and her father, the former sect leader, was preoccupied with reviving the Duxian Sect. The older disciples were too distant, leaving Yan Yue to play alone.
When An Lan arrived, Yan Yue clung to her for companionship, but An Lan, having just been exiled from the Immortal World, had no interest in forming bonds.
—
[July 18, sunny]
Elder Martial Sister An Lan has started spouting nonsense lately. She claims she’s invincible, even though her strength isn’t much better than mine. She also says if I don’t talk to her anymore, she’ll make me in charge of the Immortal World someday.
—
[September 3rd]
Elder Martial Sister An Lan said, “Since you’re bored, I’ll find you a friend.” That evening, she brought back a red tree, dirty and annoyed. We planted it together. The tree wasn’t obedient, so she beat it up.
—
Bai Lian chuckled.
The “red tree” clearly referred to the Blood Tree Patriarch. She hadn’t expected it to be planted by An Lan! From then on, the diary often mentioned the tree.
—
[November 19, heavy snow]
It’s so cold. I wish I could sleep with Elder Martial Sister An Lan!
[November 20, heavy snow]
I secretly climbed into her bed. She was so warm that I fell asleep instantly.
But when I woke up, I was tied to the ceiling beam with a rope.
—
“…”
Apparently, An Lan wasn’t completely heartless. The diary noted that she returned later to wrap Yan Yue in a quilt to prevent her from catching a cold.
—
[June 1st, sunny]
I’m nervous about tomorrow’s competition against a Biluo Sect disciple who laughed at me.
[June 2nd, sunny]
The disciple broke his leg before the match, so I advanced automatically. Good!
—
Bai Lian smirked. An additional note revealed that An Lan had secretly broken the disciple’s leg.
—
Page after page, Bai Lian uncovered snippets of Yan Yue’s life. There were moments of anger, mischief, and even tenderness.
Yet beneath it all, Yan Yue’s desperation to befriend An Lan was heartbreakingly clear. Meanwhile, An Lan’s cold exterior hid conflicted emotions she couldn’t fully suppress.
The Blood Tree Patriarch often bore the brunt of their clashes.
—
[May 5th, heavy rain]
Elder Martial Sister An Lan tore up the paper crane I folded for her, saying true strength doesn’t need such meaningless wishes.
(Remark: After Yan Yue left crying, An Lan secretly pieced the crane back together.)
—
By the end of the diary, Bai Lian felt a pang of regret. Yan Yue had eventually stopped writing altogether, her loneliness unresolved.
The Blood Tree Patriarch had likely shared this diary to seek Bai Lian’s help in mending their relationship.
“But that’s easier said than done,” Bai Lian murmured, tapping her desk.
An Lan was her master, and she couldn’t confront her directly. If she tried anything reckless, she might be the one hanging from a beam!
She sighed and slipped the diary back into her chest, her gaze falling on the paintings in her room.
Wait.
Hadn’t her portrait been moved again?
Now it hung between An Lan’s and Xiao Jinse’s paintings.
“…”
Was this An Lan’s doing?
Bai Lian narrowed her eyes. Her master’s personality was more twisted than she’d imagined.
Zhu Xian
Oh, the two sisters dared to enter the room without permission!