Female Protagonist Assistance System

Chapter 89 : . Awakening from a Fleeting Dream

Often, people experience a peculiar sensation. Despite having no recollection or relevant experience, when faced with certain situations or hearing others mention something, they inexplicably resonate with it.

Xiao Han's gaze momentarily became unfocused, as if there truly was a girl who made her deeply concerned and longed for intensely.

Who was it...

A vague figure appeared in her mind, a delicate voice faintly echoing in her ears.

"Senior Sister..."

Xiao Han frowned slightly, raising her hand to rub her brow, appearing quite troubled.

Seeing her apparent discomfort, Xiao Zi Ran considerately said, "Eldest Senior Sister, you should rest well too. We can handle A San's Covenant Ceremony. Even though you're already a form-transformation cultivator, you still need to take care of your health."

The Sect Leader was unreliable, and the burden of the sect had fallen on Xiao Han, the Eldest Senior Sister, long ago. Xiao Han was indeed very capable, managing Qishan affairs meticulously while never neglecting her own cultivation, earning the admiration of her fellow disciples.

Xiao Han nodded, lowering her hand, and said calmly, "It's nothing."

After a pause, she continued, "A San's Dao companion... I remember it's Junior Sister Ye Qing'er from Penglai?"

Xiao Zi Ran said, "Yes, it's her, the senior disciple of Penglai's Wuchen Immortal. I've met that Junior Sister Ye; she's an incredibly gentle girl, just like her master. A San is quite fortunate."

"I see," Xiao Han said. "I will handle A San's Covenant Ceremony properly. As for the specific procedures... I'll write a list and give it to you tomorrow. Junior Sister Ye is the senior disciple of Senior Wuchen; we cannot allow any mistakes in the Covenant Ceremony a month from now that would embarrass our Qishan."

Xiao Zi Ran's expression became somewhat solemn as she cupped her hands and agreed.

After chatting for a few more moments, Xiao Zi Ran took her leave.

Xiao Han looked up at the azure sky, pursed her lips, and after a long while, finally let out a soft sigh, her faint voice dissipating in the gentle breeze.

"Never mind..."

The days that followed were as ordinary as ever. Besides the daily affairs that needed handling, Xiao Han focused all her attention on the Covenant Ceremony a month later. As the ceremony approached, the entire Qishan became festive. Red lanterns were hung in front of all houses, and disciples encountered along the way wore smiles, excitedly discussing the upcoming ceremony, seeming almost impatient.

The little girl Xiao Zi Shan was also incredibly excited, running to Xiao Han's office every day, tugging at her sleeve and chattering away in her childish voice, essentially expressing her immense anticipation for A San's Covenant Ceremony. After all, both A San and Xiao Zi Shan were disciples under Xiao Yun Jin, and A San doted on this mischievous little girl the most.

Xiao Han patiently listened to her prattle on for half the day while handling affairs, not wasting any time.

Soon, a month passed, and A San's Covenant Ceremony arrived as scheduled.

On this day, Xiao Han sent out invitations far and wide, inviting almost all the sects and factions in the cultivation world. Although Qishan maintained a low profile, its formidable strength was undeniable. Thus, those who could attend the Qishan invitation sent representatives bearing gifts.

Xiao Han assigned most of the disciples to receive guests and asked the various Master-Aunts and Master-Uncles to preside, issuing a series of orderly instructions to maintain order at the venue.

"The Young Sect Master of Fengqing Gate brings three Life and Death Pills and one Chaotic Wind Sword as congratulatory gifts."

"The Left Guardian of Tianyi Pavilion brings one Celestial Beast cub as a congratulatory gift."

"The Medicine King Valley brings three supreme-grade pills and one Hanling Sealing Spirit Cauldron as congratulatory gifts."

"..."

Rubbing her chin, Xiao Zi Ran, who was helping nearby, said to Xiao Han, "These people are really generous, giving away supreme-grade spiritual tools and heaven-grade spirit beasts as if they cost nothing."

Xiao Han glanced at the list before her, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

After all, it was the Covenant Ceremony of direct disciples from Qishan and Penglai. How could they bring low-grade items and embarrass themselves?

Before long, all the expected guests had arrived, and the Covenant Ceremony officially began.

Xiao Han watched the two beautiful women on the stage, her lips curving slightly, complex emotions welling up in her heart.

She slowly exhaled and gently closed her eyes.

"Senior Sister, thank you for your hard work these past days," A San, who came to offer a toast, said with a slightly flushed face, looking quite excited, her eyes faintly glistening with tears. Ye Qing'er stood by her side, her face also slightly reddened.

Xiao Han raised her cup to clink with hers, her gaze softening somewhat, "Take good care of her."

A San grinned, showing her white teeth, "Of course. A San also wishes Senior Sister can find her other half soon."

Xiao Han nodded, "I will."

A San wanted to say more to this Eldest Senior Sister who had always taken such good care of her, but with so many guests waiting, she had to give up, thinking there would be plenty of time in the future.

After drinking a few more cups, Xiao Han found an excuse to leave the Covenant Ceremony venue and went to the summit of the back mountain.

She sat on the ground, slightly raising her head as the breeze blew her robes, making them flutter.

Not long after, a faint sound of footsteps came from behind. Soon, Xiao Han felt someone sit down beside her.

She turned her head to look and found it was her master, "Master?"

Xiao Yun Xi put down two jars of wine she was holding, raised her hand to break the clay seals, and handed one jar to her, "Here."

Hesitantly accepting the wine, Xiao Han lowered her head to smell it and found it wasn't wine brewed by Xiao Yun Jin.

"Don't worry, this is peach blossom wine bought from Quanjiu Pavilion, not stolen from your Master-Aunt Yun Jin," Xiao Yun Xi took a big gulp and smacked her lips, "Not bad, want to try?"

Hearing this, Xiao Han finally took a sip.

The wine entered her mouth with a spicy yet mellow flavor. Xiao Han licked her lips, inwardly marveling that as expected of the Quanjiu Pavilion, known for its wine enthusiasts, the wine they brewed was indeed a rare delicacy.

The master and disciple sat together drinking wine. Soon, the two jars of peach blossom wine, not small in quantity, were emptied.

Xiao Yun Xi let out a wine-induced burp, looking satisfied, "Pity there are no snacks to go with the wine, otherwise... tsk tsk."

Xiao Han put the empty wine jar aside and said, "If Master wishes, this disciple can go to the small kitchen to fetch some."

Xiao Yun Xi shook her head, "The wine is all gone, forget it, forget it, too much trouble now."

After a pause, Xiao Yun Xi narrowed her eyes, "Drink today's wine today... Well, it's good to drink happily, with or without snacks."

Drink today's wine today...

Xiao Han stared at the empty wine jars beside her, silent.

"Little Han, you have something on your mind?" Xiao Yun Xi tossed the wine jar aside and suddenly asked. Though it was a question, she spoke with a tone of certainty.

Xiao Han pursed her lips, looking as if she wanted to speak but hesitated.

Xiao Yun Xi didn't rush her, instead taking out two more jars of wine from her spatial storage, breaking the seals and handing one to her, "This one is actually stolen from your Master-Aunt."

Xiao Han held the wine with complex emotions, unsure whether to drink or not.

Xiao Yun Xi didn't care about her disciple's complex and conflicted inner thoughts. She hugged the wine jar and took a couple of big gulps, letting out a sigh, "Your Master-Aunt's daughter red wine is still the best!"

Looking at the wine jar in her arms, Xiao Han hesitated for a moment before finally taking a sip.

"Master, I seem to... have had a very long dream."

Xiao Han took several gulps of wine in succession, took a slight breath, and then hesitantly spoke.

"What did you dream about?" Xiao Yun Xi put down the wine jar and asked.

"I dreamed that... you died," Xiao Han fixed her gaze on the wine jar, looking as if she was studying the patterns on it, but Xiao Yun Xi could see at a glance that her disciple was lost in thought, her gaze wandering.

"I died too," Xiao Han continued. "I had promised A San that I would definitely attend her Covenant Ceremony, but... I..."

Xiao Han looked unusually uneasy, her fingers intertwined and constantly moving.

"Afterward, I... I seemed to go to another world, met many people, but I... I..."

"So that's why you're so concerned about A San's marriage," Xiao Yun Xi said leisurely.

"If it weren't for me, Master could have married the person you loved and spent a lifetime together, but..." Xiao Han looked deeply troubled. She pursed her lips, seeming to want to say more, but she swallowed the words that had come to her lips. She lowered her head and said no more.

Xiao Yun Xi beside her also didn't speak. The master and disciple just sat there on the summit of the back mountain, silent.

After a while, she suddenly heard Xiao Yun Xi's voice beside her, "You child, always overthinking, only knowing how to get stuck in your own head."

Then she felt a pain on her forehead and looked up to see Xiao Yun Xi's hand still raised.

"Master...?" Xiao Han asked, confused.

Xiao Yun Xi stood up, her smile as carefree and unrestrained as ever, but with a gentleness that Xiao Han rarely saw.

"If you already know, why be bound by an unreal illusion?" The sky had darkened without notice, a bright moon hanging in the air. Xiao Yun Xi stood tall, her robes fluttering in the wind, with the huge full moon in the sky behind her, making her appear like an immortal.

Xiao Han's pupils contracted slightly.

Xiao Yun Xi smiled faintly, "Little Han, I've told you before, cultivation is about striving for a chance at life against heaven. That you could enter another world and continue living after your death is your chance at life."

Xiao Han pursed her lips, "I just..."

"Just feel guilty towards me, is that it?" Xiao Yun Xi shifted her gaze and said.

Xiao Han lowered her head, not speaking.

"Little Han, I'll say it again," Xiao Yun Xi said with a faint smile. "I am your master; it's my duty to protect you."

This simple sentence made Xiao Han's nose suddenly sting and her eyes redden, "Master..."

Xiao Yun Xi raised her hand, her index finger gently touching Xiao Han's forehead, her gaze soft, as if filled with starlight, "It's time to go back. Don't keep people waiting."

As her words fell, the scenery behind her began to crack and crumble, falling away piece by piece, revealing the originally pitch-black space.

"Master... Master!"

Sensing something, Xiao Han suddenly widened her eyes and reached out to grab Xiao Yun Xi, but her slender fingers passed through Xiao Yun Xi's robes. She instinctively clenched her hand but grasped nothing.

"Master!!" Xiao Han cried out hoarsely, veins bulging on her arms.

Xiao Yun Xi's figure shattered along with the scenery. At the very end, what Xiao Han saw was that familiar face with its familiar smile.

The surrounding scenery collapsed with a boom. Xiao Han suddenly felt a sense of weightlessness, and in the next moment, she lost consciousness.