Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 193 - 192: The Business Saintess Visits the Cold Palace Sword Mansion Again

After Shang Miaoyan walked out of the Dan Yun Pavilion, her eyes narrowed. She glanced back at the Dao Sect's vital alchemy grounds, the red lotus petal imprints swirling in her pupils revealing a chilling killing intent.

'Some Lu Fairy she is. She's clearly more shameless than a Female Cultivator of the Yin Yang Dao!'

'To actually have improper designs on her own junior brother... Utterly shameless!'

If it weren't for Lu Ruoxi's high status in the Dan Yun Pavilion and the great importance the Pavilion Master placed on her, Shang Miaoyan might have seriously considered finding a chance to assassinate her and eliminate this menace who was covetously eyeing Xiaohan!

However, on second thought, Shang Miaoyan wondered if she was making a mountain out of a molehill. This Lu Ruoxi had improper designs on Xiaohan, yet her own junior sister had been the one to pluck the fruit. She was likely just a paper tiger, all bark and no bite.

But no matter what... the thought of a woman like that being by Xiaohan's side, and even having his deep trust, was utterly nauseating to Shang Miaoyan.

Compared to Lu Ruoxi, Shang Miaoyan suddenly felt that the pure and innocent Ye Liyuan, like a little white rabbit, didn't seem so bad after all.

Considering Pei Yuhang's sincere affection for Ye Liyuan, getting him to give her up was practically impossible. Shang Miaoyan even thought that if Ye Liyuan were to die one day, that stubborn fool Pei Yuhang might just follow her in death.

Faced with this intractable situation, Shang Miaoyan had actually considered whether she should just accept Ye Liyuan's existence.

'She's clueless anyway. She'll never discover my and Xiaohan's illicit affair... Bah, I mean, our romance.'

Besides, keeping her by Xiaohan's side would serve as a leash, preventing a Pei Yuhang with no worries from running off and hiding somewhere even she couldn't find him.

'Although sharing a man with Ye Liyuan and not having all of Xiaohan's love is still incredibly frustrating, compared to losing him forever, it doesn't seem entirely unacceptable.'

But—Shang Miaoyan could, at most, only tolerate Ye Liyuan by Pei Yuhang's side.

Any more women... especially a meticulous and ambitious one like Lu Ruoxi, was something Shang Miaoyan would absolutely never tolerate!

'It seems I'll have to make Xiaohan more vigilant against the wicked women around him, lest he suddenly brings another one home for me.'

Shang Miaoyan flicked her red sleeve, and Fan Ya, who was waiting nearby, quickly walked over.

"Holy Daughter, do you have any orders?"

"Make preparations. I'm going to pay a visit to the Cold Palace Sword Mansion."

"Will you be going under your alias, Shui'Er?"

Fan Ya thought Shang Miaoyan was going to use her alternate persona again to tease Ye Liyuan.

When she had first learned that the Holy Daughter used the identity of "Shui'Er" to befriend Ye Liyuan and often chatted with her in private, she had been utterly astounded. 'As expected of the Holy Daughter,' she thought, 'so full of tricks!'

But Shang Miaoyan shook her head. "There's no need to disguise myself this time. I'm going to see Xiaohan openly~ I'm sure Xiaohan will be very pleasantly surprised when he sees me."

...

...

"Ah Han, the Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land is coming to visit our mansion."

Ye Liyuan stared at the message on the Transmission Token, exceptionally surprised.

She didn't notice the awkward expression on her Dao Companion's face, merely saying with some concern, "Why would the Business Saintess come to visit our mansion? Back on the battlefield, the two of us fought plenty of Cultivators from the Yin Yang Sacred Land... She isn't here to call us to account, is she?"

"But our two sects are in the middle of a friendly honeymoon period for our alliance. The Business Saintess shouldn't go so far as to settle old scores with us... but it still feels so awkward."

Ye Liyuan's little face fell, and she had no idea how to welcome Shang Miaoyan's arrival.

Pei Yuhang's voice rang out at just the right moment.

"Liyuan, why don't you use the excuse of being in seclusion to leave for a while? I'll entertain the Saintess. I dealt with her a couple of days ago, so I should be able to handle things quickly."

Pei Yuhang didn't know what medicine Shang Miaoyan was selling from her gourd this time, but he knew it was a case of a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken—her intentions were anything but good.

For this reason, he didn't want his Dao Companion to come into contact with that malicious woman.

No matter what Shang Miaoyan was scheming, the pure and kindhearted Liyuan would definitely be at a disadvantage!

Hearing this, however, Ye Liyuan shook her head with determination in her eyes.

"No! If I hide when the Business Saintess arrives, won't it look like I'm afraid of that Demoness? I can't leave you here alone, Ah Han!"

"Liyuan, don't worry. Shang Miaoyan definitely isn't here for revenge. I just think you're not suited for these kinds of polite, insincere diplomatic occasions. That's why I wanted you to leave..."

Pei Yuhang wanted to try and persuade his Dao Companion further.

But Ye Liyuan just waved her hand, exuding the heroic air of one who would stand at the forefront and pass judgment on all of history.

"Ah Han, since this is a diplomatic occasion, then as the mistress of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, I have even more reason not to back down!"

"..."

Just as Pei Yuhang was trying to figure out how to get Liyuan to obey and leave first, a distinct fluctuation of Spiritual Qi came from the sky above.

Pei Yuhang knew it was too late. Shang Miaoyan had arrived.

...

...

「In a secluded bamboo forest.」

Qing Yueqiu raised her hand and thrust her sword forward. Luminous unleashed its Moonlight Sword Qi, which shot out like a long rainbow.

However, compared to before, this brilliant white Moonlight Sword Qi seemed a little dimmer, and was now mixed with faint wisps of a dark red luster.

"Sister Yueqiu, congratulations on gaining a preliminary grasp of the innate Killing Momentum of our Rakshasa Race. I originally thought that since you grew up in the Xuanyuan Dao Sect, you would be a coddled hothouse flower, incapable of cultivating this Slaughter Qi."

"It seems I underestimated you. You aren't a stranger to the Slaughter Dao; you've merely suppressed it for too long."

"Perhaps your master's excessive protection has actually hindered your potential. The cruel law of the jungle might be a better fit for your growth."

Qing Yueqiu stood her ground. Only after the scarlet glow in her eyes dissipated did she speak, her voice slightly hoarse.

"You're overthinking it, Sister Lingyin. I'm very satisfied with my current life. My master's love and protection have never been a bad thing."

Bei Lingyin didn't comment on this. After these past two days of simple contact, she had learned that the word "master" was Qing Yueqiu's sore spot. Speaking ill of him would earn Qing Yueqiu's enmity, but speaking well of him would make her even more hostile!

'Why do you have such a favorable impression of my master? Are you harboring some kind of ill intentions toward him?!'

In any case, Bei Lingyin now simply decided not to make any comment about her master at all.

"Sister Yueqiu, since you have already gained a preliminary understanding of Killing Momentum, I will now introduce you to another innate talent of the Rakshasa Race."

"You can nourish your Killing Momentum with the fresh blood of living creatures, allowing that Slaughter Qi to gradually grow stronger~"

Upon hearing this, Qing Yueqiu frowned, a look of discomfort on her face.

"Why does that sound like a Demonic Cultivation Technique?"

Bei Lingyin let out a scornful laugh.

"Because most Demonic Cultivation Techniques are just imitations of our Rakshasa Race. When it comes to the Slaughter Dao, we are the progenitors."

"Want to learn? I can teach you~"

Bei Lingyin looked at the young woman who shared her bloodline, and even as the most cold-blooded assassin of Yama Hall, her gaze unconsciously softened.

This fondness wasn't just because the other was a member of her own race.

It was more because, through her Heart Eye, she had discovered that Qing Yueqiu was the purest person she had ever met in her entire life. The silver-haired girl's heart was as pure as a diamond, making Bei Lingyin, who was accustomed to seeing the ugliness within people's hearts, feel an unconscious desire to draw near and protect her.

However, when faced with this powerful path of slaughter, Qing Yueqiu didn't hesitate, shaking her head immediately.

"I'm sorry, Sister Lingyin, but my foundation is ultimately the Sword Dao taught to me by my master. If this power is evil in nature, then I would rather not learn it."