Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 354 341: Shang Miaoyan Warns Fairy Ye, Beware of the "Wild Sister" by Pei Yuhang's Side

Snowflakes drifted down gracefully, like silver flecks scattered from the heavens. They landed on Ye Liyuan's shoulders and the tips of her hair, then quietly melted away.

The longsword in her hand sliced a chilling arc through the morning light, its tip quivering faintly as if dancing with the falling snowflakes.

As she concluded the final sequence of her Sword Techniques, Ye Liyuan slowly exhaled a white plume of breath. It was steady and drawn-out, its sound even louder than the whistling, frigid winds of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.

Compared to when Pei Yuhang had left, her Essence, Qi, and Spirit seemed to have improved.

Perhaps because her husband had journeyed to the distant Northern Desert while she was unable to help due to her inadequate cultivation, a thread of frustration and self-blame constantly lingered in Ye Liyuan's heart.

It was this frustration that drove her to train even more diligently after Pei Yuhang's departure.

Ye Liyuan no longer shied away from the illusion of the Celestial Tribulation within the Illusion-Breaking Mirror. Instead, she chose to face the heart-stopping thunder and lightning head-on.

She continuously confronted the terror of the Celestial Tribulation in the Illusion-Breaking Mirror. At first, the mere sound of thunder would cause her body to tremble and convulse. But over time, she grew numb to it, and her mind became increasingly serene.

Throughout the many days and nights without Pei Yuhang by her side, Ye Liyuan remained highly self-disciplined and persistent.

She no longer indulged in carnal pleasures or gave free rein to her desires, instead pouring all her energy into her cultivation.

This nearly ascetic self-discipline finally allowed Ye Liyuan to completely shed the subtle air of listlessness that had clung to her ever since she was severely wounded by the Thunder Tribulation.

Like a withered branch scoured clean by wind and snow, she had shed her worldly weariness. In its place was the sharp, inviolable edge of her Sword Dao.

In this moment, it was as if Ye Liyuan had once again become the confident, soaring spirit who had been praised as the Sword Dao Fairy.

"If Ah Han could see me now, I bet he would feel the same passion we had when we first fell in love."

A faint smile touched Ye Liyuan's lips as her heart filled with anticipation.

She had made all the necessary preparations to advance to the Golden Core Stage; now, she was just waiting for Pei Yuhang to come back.

After all, Ah Han had made her promise. He insisted on personally standing guard while she faced her Celestial Tribulation; only then would his mind be at ease.

"So, Ah Han, please hurry back...

While you've been gone, even Xiaoxiao has broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage. And I, her master's wife, have now become the one with the lowest cultivation in the entire Cold Palace Sword Mansion. It's quite embarrassing, really."

Ye Liyuan gazed toward the Northern Desert and sighed in resignation.

BUZZ—

Just then, the Transmission Token at her waist suddenly began to vibrate.

A voice, so coquettish and alluring it could make even a woman swoon, laughed from the token. "Sister Liyuan, has your Dao Companion returned yet?"

It was, of course, Ye Liyuan's best friend, Shang Miaoyan.

Ye Liyuan hadn't been lonely after Pei Yuhang left. Her best friend, Shang Miaoyan, was always dropping by for a visit, and her kind senior sister, Lu Ruoxi, also checked in on her from time to time.

'Is it just my imagination?' she wondered. It seemed that ever since she'd mentioned "Sister Lin went with Ah Han" the other day, Shang Miaoyan had been contacting her far more frequently.

'It must be my imagination... After all, why would Shang Miaoyan be so concerned about Sister Lin? There's no connection between them.'

"Sister Miaoyan, Ah Han hasn't come back yet."

"He hasn't returned? Goodness, how could your Ah Han bear to leave his wonderful Dao Companion at home while he goes gallivanting around the Northern Desert with that unruly sister of his?"

On the other end of the Transmission Token, in the Saintess's outrageously lavish boudoir.

Shang Miaoyan lay languidly on her bed, draped in a vibrant red dress. She kicked her small, jade-white feet, which were adorned with golden anklets. As the red dress fell, the Golden Rings on her ankles clacked together with a crisp sound.

"Sister Liyuan, you really should contact your Ah Han more often. A man as handsome as him is bound to attract the attention of wicked women."

"Especially the women around him, like that so-called sister of his who popped out of nowhere... She may look all poised and innocent, but who knows what wicked thoughts she's hiding behind that prim and proper facade, hmm?"

Ever since she'd learned that Pei Yuhang had actually taken that woman, Lin Qianyan, with him to the Northern Desert, Shang Miaoyan had made it a daily habit to poison Ye Liyuan's mind against her.

Yet, in the face of Shang Miaoyan's constant, opportunistic attempts to stir up anxiety that "Lin Qianyan will put a little red hat on you," Ye Liyuan always remained completely unconcerned, as if she were simply too dense to understand.

"It's alright, Sister Miaoyan. You've got the wrong idea about Saintess Lin Qianyan. She's a truly good person. The bond she and Brother Pei share as siblings is so genuine it even moved me.

There's no way she's a wicked woman. I've always been an excellent judge of character. You have to trust me, Sister Miaoyan."

Ye Liyuan's light laugh echoed from the Transmission Token, causing Shang Miaoyan to roll her eyes, her expression a mask of exasperation.

'An excellent judge of character? If you were really such a good judge of character, you wouldn't have ended up friends with me and that vixen of a senior sister of yours...'

'Honestly, Sister Liyuan, you must have been born with the Innate Little Red Riding Hood Saint Body!'

Just as Shang Miaoyan was idly admiring her glossy, manicured nails, scheming about how she could use Ye Liyuan to drive that irritating woman, Lin Qianyan, away from Xiaohan's side...

The candle beside her bed suddenly flickered. After a moment of darkness, the flame steadied, re-illuminating the boudoir. A masked woman now knelt before Shang Miaoyan.

"Holy Daughter, according to a report from our informant, the Jade Pool Saintess is returning to the Dao Sect today. She should arrive in about an hour..."

Before Jiu could finish, Shang Miaoyan suddenly shot up from the bed, her beautiful eyes gleaming.

"You mean Xiaohan is arriving today?!"

"...Yes, Holy Daughter."

After receiving confirmation, Shang Miaoyan's breath grew ragged, and her heart began to race beneath her firm, shapely Dao Fruit.

'Finally, I can see Xiaohan again and have some real fun with him.'

'I haven't seen Xiaohan in almost two months. The loneliness is killing me!'

'Hmph. That Xiaohan only said he was going to the Northern Desert to search for treasure. He never said he was taking that woman, Lin Qianyan, with him!'

'And ever since he left the Dao Sect, he's dared to ignore every single one of my calls on the Transmission Token! The nerve! He gets all rebellious the second I'm not around. It's making me absolutely furious!'

'When he gets back, I'm going to have to discipline him properly. I'll make him understand the consequences of deceiving and neglecting me.'

A mix of joy and anger swirled within Shang Miaoyan, and she began to plot what sort of "interesting games" she would play to punish Xiaohan when she saw him.

After Pei Yuhang had left, she had dug out the Yin Yang Sacred Land's "Compendium of Delights" and learned many interesting "little games."

'She'd make sure Xiaohan becomes so addicted he'll never be able to leave her side!'

"Sister Miaoyan? Sister Miaoyan? What did you just say? I couldn't hear you."

Ye Liyuan's confused voice came through the token. Shang Miaoyan cleared her throat and said with a straight face, "It's nothing, Sister Liyuan. How about I come over to your mansion in a bit? We could have some afternoon tea."

"Of course! You're always welcome to visit the Cold Palace Sword Mansion."

"Then thank you ever so much, Sister Liyuan!"

Shang Miaoyan ended the call with a beaming smile. She had, of course, chosen not to mention the news of Pei Yuhang's imminent return to the Dao Sect.

After all, she wanted to give Xiaohan a surprise of her own.