Chapter 9 : Trembling with Fear

The night was deep.

Hua Yuliu stepped on the bluestone stairs.

Step by step toward Bai Jingxian’s courtyard.

Along the way, she encountered many disciples wandering at night or meeting secretly.

Their gazes were filled with awe toward Hua Yuliu.

She did not care how others viewed her.

She only minded herself…

Not entirely.

Occasionally, sect disciples mustered courage to greet her.

She lightly nodded.

Never paying more attention.

New disciples often did not understand why she was so indifferent.

Senior brothers and sisters tirelessly explained the reason.

After all, they had received much care from Hua Yuliu.

Though she cultivated the Heartless Dao.

She was still the eldest senior sister of Moonlit Grace Sect.

She always remembered her identity and duties.

Without complaint or regret.

Inevitably, some grew dissatisfied with her attitude.

Thus issuing challenges.

In the end, without exception, they were beaten black and blue.

Willingly submitting.

The position of Moonlit Grace Sect’s eldest senior sister remained firmly hers to this day.

Except for that shameless junior brother of hers who often jumped out to tease her.

Her mood could not be called very good.

Call him frivolous?

Not exactly.

At least on major matters of right and wrong, he was clear-headed.

Call him pure and clean?

Not quite.

Almost all female disciples in the sect had some entanglement with him.

No intention of taking a dao companion.

Yet always stringing people along.

If not for his glib tongue.

She felt one day she would see his corpse.

The spirit swords sent this morning.

She had exchanged with her own contribution points.

Though reshaped into human form.

The memories of the Azure Luan Emperor still lingered in her mind.

She knew clearly what she needed.

Contribution points left unused were just left.

Better to equip her worrisome junior brother with weapons and armor.

She greatly disliked Bai Jingxian.

But he was her junior brother.

Between senior sister and junior brother, it should be thus.

Just as she reached the door.

She stopped in her tracks.

Her eyes slightly narrowed.

She smelled an unusual scent.

The scent of a woman.

And especially familiar.

As if… Ji Chanxi.

She slowly pushed open the door.

But saw no Ji Chanxi.

Only Bai Jingxian dozing in the pavilion.

Hua Yuliu looked around.

She tapped the stone table.

Bai Jingxian opened his eyes groggily.

Seeing Hua Yuliu.

He immediately perked up.

“Why is Senior Sister here?”

His tone carried a trace of delight.

Then realizing the timing of Hua Yuliu’s arrival seemed off.

His eyes flickered with evasion.

“To check on you.”

“Not welcome?”

“No.”

“Please.”

“I’ll brew tea for you.”

Bai Jingxian picked up the teapot.

Poured a cup for Hua Yuliu.

Hua Yuliu lightly sipped.

The spirit tea was indeed effective.

Hua Yuliu’s expression softened a bit.

Just as Bai Jingxian was hesitating.

A graceful figure came with small quick steps toward him.

Upon seeing what seemed another figure beside Bai Jingxian.

Her body stiffened slightly.

She slowly retreated back to the bath.

“Why.”

“Why is Senior Sister Hua here?”

Ji Chanxi muttered softly.

At this moment, she only had a bath towel draped over her.

It was truly inconvenient to go out now.

She pursed her lips.

Simply soaked her body in the bath again.

Only exposing her head.

She blew bubbles from her mouth.

Her little feet kicked randomly in the bath.

As if venting her dissatisfaction.

“There is a woman’s scent in your courtyard.”

Hua Yuliu said indifferently.

Bai Jingxian gave an awkward laugh.

“Senior Sister, aren’t you a woman?”

“Do not jest with me here, Bai Jingxian.”

Hua Yuliu placed the teacup on the table.

If one had sharp eyes.

They would notice a fine crack quietly appearing on the teacup.

Bai Jingxian nodded obediently for a while.

In the end, he confessed.

She said nothing.

Her eyes slowly lowered.

She softly said.

“Are you interested in her?”

“No.”

“Really no?”

Bai Jingxian dared not look at her.

Hua Yuliu fell silent.

Her fingers rubbed the rim of the teacup.

She raised her head.

“At your age.”

“It is indeed time to choose a marriage partner.”

“Senior Sister, that’s a mortal saying.”

“We are both cultivators.”

“Long lives.”

“Marrying or wedding can be anytime.”

“You don’t want to?”

“What does Senior Sister mean?”

Hua Yuliu gave him a meaningful glance.

She said.

“If you find a dao companion.”

“You wouldn’t flirt everywhere.”

“Avoid incurring a body full of romantic debts.”

“Ending up despised by all.”

Who said finding a dao companion means you can’t flirt elsewhere?

Bai Jingxian grumbled inwardly.

Such words he dared not say aloud.

If said.

The next day the sect would spread tales of ghosts haunting.

“Senior Sister wants to play matchmaker for me?”

“No interest.”

“You handle it yourself.”

Hua Yuliu said indifferently.

Her voice colder than before.

Do you truly care and want to tie me down?

Or do you not care at all, Hua Yuliu?

Bai Jingxian felt a bit depressed.

Anyway, her attitude of wanting both wasn’t the first or second time.

Let her be.

“In the assessment, do not strike too heavily.”

“Injuring fellow disciples.”

“Your name as Moonlit Grace Sect’s eldest senior brother would be ruined.”

“I know my limits, Senior Sister.”

“Master agreeing to your proposal is simply absurd.”

“Compared to Master’s previous standards.”

“Mine is already simple.”

Bai Jingxian smiled bitterly.

Yan Zhuyue’s past assessments were far more absurd.

Canglan Realm is divided into five regions: North Pole, West Desolate, Central Continent, East Domain, South Pole.

She once required disciples to go to the North Pole for a single Tianshan Snow Lotus.

No limit on quality.

But such precious herb as Tianshan Snow Lotus naturally had spirit beasts guarding.

Moreover, the North Pole was too cold.

Even Seventh Realm cultivators needed treasures to protect them for free movement.

Whether they could return alive was questionable.

She also required disciples to obtain a strand of fur from the West Desolate Qingqiu Fox Clan.

To accept them as direct disciple.

But the Qingqiu Fox Clan was deep in the West Desolate.

The periphery alone had countless spirit beasts.

Clearly deliberate difficulty.

Yan Zhuyue also felt it too bullying.

But she disliked thinking.

So let her quirky disciple Bai Jingxian handle it.

Hua Yuliu felt Bai Jingxian’s words had some reason.

She said.

“Indeed… true.”

“If Senior Sister thinks I’m bullying.”

“How about you think of one instead?”

Bai Jingxian’s voice carried a trace of teasing.

Hua Yuliu gave him a cold glance.

Bai Jingxian obediently closed his mouth.

After two more pots of tea.

Hua Yuliu stood to leave.

“Senior Sister, take care.”

Hua Yuliu had just stepped out the door.

Her hand on the doorframe.

She turned back for a glance.

Her eyes carried an indescribable meaning.

“For the assessment, I will be there.”

Bai Jingxian felt joy in his heart.

After all, Hua Yuliu usually disliked lively scenes.

Yet now willing to watch the assessment.

Was it because of him?

“I am only attending on behalf of Master to supervise.”

“Do not overthink.”

“Oh.”

“And.”

Hua Yuliu paused.

A trace of playfulness in her pitch-black eyes.

“Remember to fish your junior sister out.”

“Otherwise, she might faint from soaking.”

She especially emphasized “junior sister.”

Only then did Bai Jingxian remember Ji Chanxi was still soaking in the bath.

He hurriedly ran toward the back of the courtyard.

Hua Yuliu left without looking back.

But her mood was much more pleasant than when she arrived.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

*

Bai Jingxian was still too late.

Ji Chanxi leaned against the edge of the bath.

Her eyes lightly closed.

A peaceful expression on her face.

She had already fainted for a while.