Chapter 9
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Chapter 9: Fairness, Fairness, and Fucking Fairness!
The night was long.
But Bai Lian, sitting on the roof of the inn, didn’t feel lonely.
The second Martial Sister was downstairs, counting the materials for pill-making. Occasionally, she would touch the Pill Furnace with a mix of seriousness and excitement. Her focused expression, paired with the occasional burst of laughter, made her look both lovely and determined.
The third Martial Sister had fallen asleep at the table, her face resting on one arm while the other dangled off the edge. Bai Lian wondered if her arm would feel numb when she woke up.
The jade rabbit was curled up on the bed, its white fur gleaming under the light of the stars outside.
Just looking at this quiet and warm scene made Bai Lian feel like she could eat ten bowls of rice.
This is happiness.
In her earlier days, she had fantasized about “wielding the sword, defeating enemies, and dominating the world.” But now, she understood that fighting and killing weren’t what she truly wanted.
What she wished for was simple: for everyone to gather together, healthy and happy.
The cultivation world should be peaceful!
Unfortunately, Bai Lian knew such wishes were naive.
Even An Lan, one of the strongest cultivators in the Immortal World, had been defeated and reduced to living in this small world. Strength alone didn’t guarantee safety.
In the cultivation world, doing nothing didn’t mean staying safe—it meant becoming a target.
Without a sword, I wouldn’t be able to protect all of this.
As for hugs and warmth? Those could wait until the battles were over.
—
The Next Day
Xiao Jinse quietly left the inn with the jade rabbit in her arms. She was off to meet her alchemy partner.
Bai Lian, however, didn’t stay idle. She placed a thin blanket over the third Martial Sister and set up an array to protect her. Then, she followed Xiao Jinse to a dilapidated yard near Hening City’s south gate.
The area was sparsely populated, and the rent was cheap.
Bai Lian stopped at a street corner, releasing her Divine Sense to observe the second Martial Sister and the mysterious girl she was working with.
By noon, Bai Lian had only one thought: They are serious.
The two were deeply immersed in their work, discussing the characteristics of materials listed on the ancient elixir’s incomplete prescription. While they sometimes quarreled, they quickly reached a consensus—though most of the time, the mysterious girl persuaded Xiao Jinse.
They cross-referenced other prescriptions repeatedly, eventually drafting a preliminary plan.
Near noon, Xiao Jinse took out the Pill Furnace and began refining their first batch of pills.
The result? A disaster.
The Pill Furnace caught fire, billowing smoke and ash everywhere. When they opened the lid, the materials were reduced to nothing.
“If only I could control the fire better…” Xiao Jinse muttered.
“It’s my fault,” the mysterious girl admitted. “Let me think this through again.”
“Alright then.” Xiao Jinse nodded and parted ways with the girl, heading back to the inn.
—
Bai Lian returned to the inn before Xiao Jinse did. When her younger Martial Sister arrived, she wasn’t discouraged by the failure. Instead, she enthusiastically shared her gains.
“In just half a day, I feel like I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how alchemical materials react to one another,” Xiao Jinse said with excitement.
Bai Lian smiled and nodded approvingly.
Su Youwei, seated nearby, couldn’t help but comment, “How studious. Looks like you still have plenty of room to improve.”
Xiao Jinse froze. Was that… a compliment?
In the afternoon, Xiao Jinse returned to the yard to continue her work.
This time, Bai Lian didn’t follow immediately. Instead, she sought out Gu Quan to gather information about the mysterious girl.
“I know her,” Gu Quan said when asked.
“What kind of person is she?” Bai Lian asked quietly.
Gu Quan scratched his cheek. “She’s well-known here. Most alchemists have heard of her.”
Bai Lian raised an eyebrow. “Because of her skills?”
“Not exactly. She often talks about alchemy theory, but she hasn’t refined a pill in years. She’s not even at the Foundation Establishment stage.”
Bai Lian frowned. “Is she a liar?”
Gu Quan shook his head. “No, she’s just… broke. She used all her Spirit Stones to buy materials for life-prolonging pills. She can’t afford a Pill Furnace. I think she really has potential—she just hasn’t had the chance to prove it.”
Relieved, Bai Lian realized that Xiao Jinse hadn’t been tricked.
Good. This is the challenge I chose for her, after all.
It wouldn’t be right for Bai Lian to intervene. Her role was to support her Martial Sisters, not control them.
Still, she couldn’t help but enjoy watching Xiao Jinse—the serious expressions, the laughter, the moments of worry, and even the sweat on her brow.
For the first time, the second Martial Sister felt truly “alive.” She wasn’t a static character from a game or someone else’s shadow.
She was chasing her own dreams.
This is good, Bai Lian thought.
Growth came at a price, and Xiao Jinse would learn through her own efforts. Bai Lian decided to cancel her previous plans to seek help from others. Xiao Jinse would develop the ancient prescription on her own—even if it brought tears along the way.
—
That evening, as the sky turned red with the setting sun, Bai Lian concealed her face with a spell and raised her Dirt Free Sword.
Her destination? Taoist Lingye’s residence.
A system task appeared before her:
[Task 1: Stand up for the second Martial Sister (Reward: Tianshu Sword Array)]
[Task 2: Turn around and leave (Reward: Alchemy +1)]
The Tianshu Sword Array was an invaluable treasure, indicating Taoist Lingye’s immense strength.
But Bai Lian didn’t hesitate.
Choose Task 1!
Inside the residence, Taoist Lingye was cultivating. The sudden crash of shattering glass interrupted him as Bai Lian stormed in, her sword gleaming.
“You weren’t invited. What do you want?” he asked coldly.
Bai Lian raised her sword. “Fairness, fairness, and fucking fairness! I don’t care about your past or your skills, but I will never tolerate anyone suppressing my Martial Sister through deceit!”
Taoist Lingye’s expression darkened. “You dare challenge me? Do you think my strength is lacking?”
Anger flashed between them.
Bai Lian’s eyes turned sharp. She charged forward, her sword slicing through the air like frost and snow.
“Take my sword!”
