Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 364 351: "Senior Sister Lu Is a Good Woman, Qianqian, Don't Doubt Her!

The Immortal Crane slowly descended onto the open ground before the gates of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion.

Lu Ruoxi narrowed her eyes and saw that the Spiritual Ship she had spotted earlier was already waiting there.

As the Immortal Crane landed, the curtain of the Spiritual Ship slowly parted. When Lu Ruoxi saw the white-robed Fairy who appeared on board, her hostile expression froze. The Dao Fruit swayed slightly as she leaned forward.

"Saintess Lin of the Jade Pool? You're here to…?"

"To celebrate the joyous occasion of Sister Liyuan vanquishing her Heart Demon and reforging her Dao Heart."

Lin Qianyan's gaze lingered for a moment on Lu Ruoxi's ample chest before a friendly smile graced her pink lips.

"Saintess Lin, you know my junior sister?"

Sensing the other woman's gaze, Lu Ruoxi subconsciously adjusted the front of her cloud-patterned gossamer robes. But then she saw Lin Qianyan step gracefully down from the Spiritual Ship and walk toward her.

"I met Sister Liyuan through Brother Pei. So, in a way… that makes Sister Liyuan my sister-in-law."

'Brother Pei? Sister-in-law…?'

Lu Ruoxi's delicate fists, hidden beneath her sleeves, tightened slightly. She stared intently at Lin Qianyan, a glint of coldness flashing in her eyes before she forced herself to suppress it.

She looked at Lin Qianyan with a mixture of confusion and inquiry. "I don't think I've ever heard Junior Brother Pei mention… that he had this kind of relationship with you, Saintess Lin."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qianyan's long lashes fluttered as if she were reminiscing. Then, with a soft sigh, her expression took on a hint of sorrow.

"Oh, that's because Brother Pei and I met with an accident in the Mortal World some time ago and were forced apart. For a long time after that, Brother Pei thought I had been killed.

And the Jade Pool Sacred Land was sealed off from the outside world, so I couldn't leave to find him. We were separated for over a century."

"I see."

Lu Ruoxi nodded, her expression softening. The coldness in her eyes dissipated slightly as she found the explanation more believable.

'After all, in her memory, Pei Yuhang had always been withdrawn and aloof when he first arrived at the Dao Sect. It was clear he had been through some kind of trauma…'

"But why do you and Junior Brother Pei have different surnames, Saintess Lin?"

Although it was not a polite topic, Lu Ruoxi was always on high alert around any woman who appeared near her Junior Brother Pei, so she pressed the issue.

And Lin Qianyan's answer made her face stiffen.

"Because Brother Pei and I aren't blood-related, you see~ We grew up together, so that's why I call him Brother Pei."

Lin Qianyan gently tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips.

HUMMM—

Just then, the great gates of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion opened from within.

Dressed in white robes, Pei Yuhang walked out, looking slightly surprised to see Lin Qianyan and Lu Ruoxi.

"Qianqian, Senior Sister, why didn't you come in?"

Lin Qianyan turned back at his words, a smile instantly blooming in her eyes. She lightly tapped her finger to her lips.

"Oh, this is my first time meeting Lu Fairy. I felt we really hit it off, so I wanted to chat with her a bit more."

After speaking, she winked at Pei Yuhang and then walked through the gates quite naturally.

Lu Ruoxi watched Lin Qianyan move through the Cold Palace Sword Mansion with a familiarity that made it clear this was not her first visit.

Her heart sank. Biting her lower lip, she reached out a small hand to tug on Pei Yuhang's arm, forcing a smile onto her pretty face.

"Junior Brother Pei, why didn't you tell me about you and Saintess Lin before?"

"You mean about Qianqian…?"

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Lin Qianyan call out from ahead, "Brother Pei, hurry up! Sister Liyuan is getting impatient."

Hearing Lin Qianyan's voice, Pei Yuhang's fingertips trembled, and he subconsciously pulled his arm from his Senior Sister's soft, warm grasp.

After pulling his arm away, perhaps feeling he had used too much force and hurt her, Pei Yuhang looked down at his Senior Sister and apologized.

"Sorry, Senior Sister, I didn't mean to… As for Qianqian and me, I'll explain everything in detail when I have time.

For now, let's go see Liyuan."

With that, Pei Yuhang quickened his pace, hurrying to catch up with Lin Qianyan.

Lu Ruoxi looked down at her now-empty arms, then at the pair walking side-by-side ahead of her. Her expression darkened.

'She had never felt this awful before.'

'It wasn't because Pei Yuhang hadn't immediately told her about his past with Lin Qianyan.'

'It was because… her most adorable Junior Brother Pei, her most obedient Junior Brother Pei, had actually—*actually*—hurried away from her the moment another woman called out to him!'

'Lin Qianyan…'

'That woman must have called out on purpose just now!'

'She did it deliberately, right in front of me, to show off Junior Brother Pei's obedience to her!'

'This Jade Pool Saintess… Ptooey! She's a despicable bitch! What kind of love potion has she fed Junior Brother Pei? How could he trust her more than me?!'

Lu Ruoxi's expression shifted between anger and gloom. She took a deep breath, slowly calming her heaving chest.

'I have to investigate this woman thoroughly!'

...

Pei Yuhang and Lin Qianyan walked on ahead.

Once Lin Qianyan was sure Lu Ruoxi had fallen far enough behind that she couldn't overhear their conversation, she spoke softly.

"Brother Pei, what do you think of Lu Fairy?"

"Senior Sister? She… treats me very well."

Pei Yuhang's long lashes lowered slightly, hiding the complicated emotions in his eyes as he continued in a low voice,

"Although we've had misunderstandings and made mistakes, I know she never meant any harm… In fact, it was I who caused her to lose her innocence. I feel terribly guilty about it."

Lin Qianyan's brows furrowed at his words.

"Brother Pei."

Her gaze, usually as gentle as spring water, was now as sharp as a sword. "That night you were drunk unconscious, what happened with Lu Fairy… was it really just a coincidence?"

She took half a step closer, grasping Pei Yuhang's hand, her breath as fragrant as an orchid.

"Brother Pei, you know your own tolerance for alcohol better than anyone. That little bit of Spirit Wine shouldn't have been enough to make you lose consciousness and spend a wild night with Lu Fairy."

At her words, Pei Yuhang's pupils constricted.

But a pink, heart-shaped Rune flashed silently through his pupils, and a voice immediately echoed in the depths of Pei Yuhang's heart.

Senior Sister Lu is the best woman for you…

The cloyingly sweet voice echoed in the depths of Pei Yuhang's heart, like clinging spider silk wrapping around his consciousness, bit by bit.

She is the person closest to you… How can you doubt her? She has been so good to you, and she has helped you and Liyuan with so many things.

Pei Yuhang's gaze went vacant for a moment. When he looked up again, his eyes were calm once more.

He gently pulled his hand free from Lin Qianyan's, his voice gentle but firm.

"That's enough, Qianqian. Don't let your imagination run wild."

"Senior Sister would never harm me. She's not like that natural-born villain, Shang Miaoyan. I know you're just looking out for me, Qianqian, but our greatest enemy right now is Shang Miaoyan.

Senior Sister Lu… she is our friend."