Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 282 280: Sister Lin Came to See Ah Han Again?

"Liyuan, are you going out today?"

"Mhm, I'm going to Dan Yun Pavilion to visit Senior Sister Lu~ And I'll ask her to help me refine my Jade Maiden White Ginseng into an Elixir."

Ye Liyuan said this while tidying her dress and combing her hair in front of the mirror, looking as if she couldn't wait to leave.

"Going to see Senior Sister Lu?"

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang's tone faltered slightly, and his fingers subconsciously tightened around his sleeve.

"What's wrong?"

Ye Liyuan tilted her head to look at him, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and playfulness. "Senior Sister Lu and I are very close. Are you unhappy that I'm going to see her?"

"Of course not. Why would I be unhappy?" Pei Yuhang turned his head slightly, avoiding Liyuan's gaze, and spoke in a deliberately casual tone.

"It's just that as an Elder of Dan Yun Pavilion, Senior Sister Lu is very busy with her duties."

As Pei Yuhang spoke, his gaze flickered for a moment before he forced himself to look at Liyuan calmly, a strained smile barely touching his lips. "How about... I go with you another day?"

He paused, then added, "Or if you need to ask Senior Sister for help with something, just tell me. I can go in your place."

Pei Yuhang's voice was gentle, but it held a hint of imperceptible urgency, as if he was desperate to stop something.

The tips of his ears were slightly red. The moment Senior Sister Lu's name was mentioned, Pei Yuhang was reminded of the absurd events that had taken place at Dan Yun Pavilion a few days ago.

'I've made too many mistakes with Senior Sister now... Our relationship as fellow sect members is no longer pure.'

An indescribable sense of guilt and unease made him instinctively not want Liyuan to go see her alone.

'And then there are those gossips at Dan Yun Pavilion. Even though I punished some of the ringleaders and suppressed that nasty trend, I can't guarantee Liyuan won't hear some nonsense...'

However, despite all that Pei Yuhang said, he couldn't dampen Ye Liyuan's enthusiasm to see Lu Ruoxi.

"Ah Han, I've already arranged it with Senior Sister. We agreed to meet today~!"

"Besides... what would you do tagging along? Don't you know your presence would make Senior Sister feel constrained? Some topics can only be discussed between us fragrant Fairies~!"

Ye Liyuan winked at Pei Yuhang, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang complained internally, 'Clearly, Senior Sister Lu is most uninhibited when you're not around, Liyuan. So uninhibited we've seen each other in the nude!'

He wanted to say more, but his Dao Companion didn't want to hear "Mother Pei's" nagging anymore. She covered her ears and scampered out the door, leaving Pei Yuhang to sigh to himself.

'Why would Senior Sister want to see Liyuan?'

'She probably won't say too much, right...?'

...

Ye Liyuan walked out the door in high spirits. Just as she was about to leave the mansion via Sword Control, she saw a fairy in white flying toward her from a distance. Her posture was graceful, like the Nine Heavens Profound Lady descending to the mortal world.

"Ah, it's Sister Lin~"

Ye Liyuan's eyes curved into crescents as she waved with a beaming smile, her voice filled with affection and surprise. "Are you here to see Ah Han again?"

Lin Qianyan landed lightly, her simple white robes fluttering gently in the wind, making her look even more elegant and otherworldly.

She lowered her head slightly, a gentle smile on her lips, her voice as soft as water. "Mhm, I've come to find Brother Pei again... Is that okay, Sister Ye~?"

Lin Qianyan's gaze was clear and sincere, and when Ye Liyuan saw it, her smile widened, her eyes filling with fondness and relief:

"Of course it is! I'm so happy that Ah Han has such a close sister like you!"

As she spoke, she even gave a playful wink, her tone teasing. "You two siblings are so close, I'm getting envious just watching~"

Hearing this, Lin Qianyan demurely pressed her pink lips together, as if a great weight had finally been lifted from her heart.

She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice as soft as water. "That's good. After all, I was worried that coming to find Brother Pei so often would be a bother to you, Sister Ye~"

Ye Liyuan's smile grew wider at her words, her eyes filled with sincerity and warmth.

She waved her hand, her tone light and cheerful. "How could it be? I couldn't be happier that you've come to see Ah Han~"

As she spoke, a hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes. "Ah Han's personality is too withdrawn. Other than me and his two disciples, he rarely interacts with anyone.

"Having Sister Lin come over often to chat with Ah Han about old times will surely liven him up a lot!"

"Of course, as long as it doesn't keep you from handling your duties for the Jade Pool Sacred Land. As the Jade Pool Saintess visiting the Dao Sect, you must be quite busy."

Lin Qianyan gently shook her head.

"Not busy, not busy at all~ For specific duties, I can just send an avatar to handle them.

"Now that I've heard you say that, Sister Ye, Qianqian can finally rest easy. I was always worried that if I came over unannounced so often, you would think I was being too forward."

Hearing this, Ye Liyuan couldn't help but laugh. Her laughter was crisp and pleasant, and her eyes were full of fondness:

"Hahaha, what does that matter? You and Ah Han are closer than actual siblings. Why would I think you're being forward?"

Seeing this, the smile on Lin Qianyan's face deepened. 'Sister Ye is truly an open-minded and generous woman,' she thought. 'She's completely unguarded around Brother Pei. Doesn't she realize what a potent poison Brother Pei's charm is to women?'

'Still, it's a good thing Sister Ye is so optimistic. At least I won't have to scheme and plot against her for Brother Pei's sake.'

'If Brother Pei's Dao Companion were some possessive psycho, that would be a real headache.'

Thinking this, Lin Qianyan nodded to Ye Liyuan and said:

"Mhm~ Then this little sister won't disturb Sister Ye any longer. I'll go find Brother Pei now."

"Alright, go on!"

Ye Liyuan watched with a smile as this demure and elegant Sister Lin flew off in the direction of her and Ah Han's love nest. Her gaze was gentle and loving, as if she were looking at a cherished little sister.

'This Sister Lin is really close with Ah Han. They just reunited yesterday, and today she couldn't wait to see him again.'

'It's so nice to have such a close sister~'

Ye Liyuan sighed with emotion, a flash of envy in her eyes. 'It would be wonderful if I also had a good sister as demure and elegant as Sister Lin~!'

...

In the courtyard, Qing Yueqiu held the Glazed Sword. Its light flowed like water, dancing in the morning sun to create arcs of brilliant Moonlight.

After days of special training, she could now barely withstand the intense pain the curse inflicted on her body. Only now did she dare to step out of her dark room and stand in the sunlight once more.

Although she knew that completely overcoming Ji Shenyun's curse would not be simple, she still refused to yield to that suppressed old woman.

Qing Yueqiu would prove to Ji Shenyun that she would never walk toward the lonely, silent future she had described!

'Besides... I still have a way out.'

Qing Yueqiu thought of the Hall Master mentioned in Bei Lingyin's letter. Her eyes lowered, her translucent, delicate pink eyelashes casting a butterfly-wing shadow.

'I don't know what methods that Hall Master of Yama Hall used to learn about my situation with Ji Shenyun, or why he's using it as a bargaining chip to make me stir up conflict between the Jade Pool Sacred Land and the Yin Yang Sacred Land.'

'But since that Hall Master knows of an old monster like Ji Shenyun, perhaps his method for resolving the curse isn't a lie after all.'

However, Qing Yueqiu wasn't foolish enough to let herself be used as someone else's pawn right from the start.

She would only try the path offered by Yama Hall when she had no other choice.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

Just then, a series of crisp knocks echoed through the courtyard of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, shattering the morning tranquility.

Qing Yueqiu, the senior disciple, heard the knock, pausing her stray thoughts. A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes, as she couldn't imagine who would be visiting at this hour.

With a light flick of her sleeve, the Glazed Sword turned into a streak of light and disappeared into it. She then walked toward the main gate.

CREAK—the main gate slowly swung open.

Qing Yueqiu looked up and saw Lin Qianyan standing outside in her simple white robes, watching her with a beaming smile, her eyes full of gentleness and warmth.

"Hello, Miss Qing. We meet again~"

Lin Qianyan waved lightly, her voice as pleasant as a clear spring, and she acted particularly friendly toward Qing Yueqiu.

"Saintess... Saintess Lin?"

Qing Yueqiu's crimson eyes widened slightly, a look of surprise on her face.

She clearly hadn't expected the esteemed Jade Pool Saintess to visit a remote place like the Cold Palace Sword Mansion again.

"Don't call me Saintess, that's too distant. Just call me Sister Lin~"

"Mm~ Xiaopei is still sleeping in, so she can't come play with you. I'm so sorry...

"Sigh, if only she were half as diligent as you, Miss Qing, then I could rest easy."

Lin Qianyan's gaze fell on Qing Yueqiu, filled with a mix of admiration and intimacy.

'After all, this girl is Brother Pei's True Disciple, and in the Cultivation Realm, the bond between a True Disciple and their master can sometimes be even closer than that of blood relatives.'

Lin Qianyan knew that if she were to build a family with Brother Pei in the future, she would inevitably have to interact with Qing Yueqiu a lot.

'For now, I don't know how Pei Yuhang's disciples feel about their master's wife, Ye Liyuan, but I have to prepare for the worst.'

'After all, based on my observations so far, Ye Liyuan is a good woman who very easily earns the favor of others. Even I can't bring myself to feel any ill will toward her.'

'So, it's highly likely that both of Pei Yuhang's disciples are very fond of their master's wife!'

'If I want to join Brother Pei's family, his disciples might develop a strong aversion to me.'

'Brother Pei is already unwilling to accept me because of his sense of responsibility toward Ye Liyuan. If his disciples aren't on my side either, it will be even more difficult for me to be with him!'

Thinking of this, Lin Qianyan's gaze on Qing Yueqiu softened even more. She instinctively wanted to show her best side, adopting the attitude of a stepmother seeking her "daughter's" approval, hoping to get on good terms with Qing Yueqiu.

Unexpectedly, however, in the face of Lin Qianyan's increasingly gentle demeanor, Qing Yueqiu's crimson eyes showed clear resistance and vigilance.

"Did you come here specifically to find my master this time?"

Lin Qianyan found Qing Yueqiu's tone a little strange, but she didn't think much of it.

"Mhm, I did come to find your master for a few things... Didn't Brother Pei tell you?"

"Brother Pei?"

Qing Yueqiu's gaze toward Lin Qianyan grew more dangerous, and a flash of blood-red light crossed her eyes.

Seeing that something was wrong with Qing Yueqiu, Lin Qianyan's heart sank. 'Did that girl Pei Xiaohan tell Qing Yueqiu something she shouldn't have yesterday?'

'Damn it, I clearly told her not to tell any outsiders about the "husband" thing! Especially not here at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion...'

Lin Qianyan pressed her lips together, showing a rare hint of panic. But right now, she could only hope that silly girl Pei Xiaohan hadn't told Qing Yueqiu the truth. She quickly composed herself and explained:

"Yueqiu... actually, I am your master's long-lost sister."

"This time I came to the Dao Sect not only for a Sect mission, but also specifically to find my family."