After Cutting Off Love And Emotions, I Was Pestered By The Demon Sect’s Enchantress - Chapter 24

The Xie Family (III)

Zhu Shengxi noticed the change in her expression. Before she could speak to explain, the hand she was holding struggled slightly, as if trying to pull away.

She secretly applied a bit of strength, gripping the other person’s hand tightly. At the same time, she looked at Jiang Lixu with a calm expression: “Eldest Senior Sister, she is my… sweetheart.”

She had originally wanted to say “Daoist companion,” but remembering A-Xu’s avoidant manner, she settled for the next best thing and simply called her her sweetheart.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lixu sized A-Xu up coldly for a few moments, her brow still tightly furrowed. She only asked, “You have been away from the sect for three months; has the curse been lifted?”

Zhu Shengxi lowered her gaze and answered truthfully, “Not yet.”

A flash of surprise appeared in Jiang Lixu’s eyes, but she did not press further. She said indifferently, “Return to the Guiyun Sect with me first. Your Second Senior Sister and I will find a way to break the curse for you.”

“Furthermore,” her expression turned solemn, her eyes like knives as she stared intently at A-Xu, though she was speaking to Zhu Shengxi, “this young woman beside you has clearly practiced evil arts for a long time; she is not a good person.”

Jiang Lixu’s words were blunt, carrying undisguised loathing and hostility.

A-Xu’s eyelashes trembled. Then, her face turned cold, and she silently broke free from Zhu Shengxi’s hand, letting out a cold laugh: “Sect Leader Jiang has quite the sharp eye.”

Jiang Lixu was not surprised to have her identity recognized. Seeing that the two were no longer holding hands, her expression softened slightly. She walked to Zhu Shengxi’s side and asked with concern, “I received your previous transmission. Has the Cold Poison flared up again recently?”

Zhu Shengxi shook her head and replied, “No.”

A-Xu stood to the side, watching them with cold eyes. As the sisters caught up on old times, her presence here felt like an eyesore.

The more she thought about it, the more unpleasant it felt. A-Xu silently turned and walked away.

Seeing her sudden departure, a moment of blankness appeared on Zhu Shengxi’s face. Then, she lifted her foot, preparing to chase after her.

“Junior Sister.” The voice behind her was deep, carrying obvious dissatisfaction. Zhu Shengxi paused, a trace of inner conflict appearing on her face. Ultimately, she stopped her pace and responded, “What is it, Eldest Senior Sister?”

Jiang Lixu raised her hand to cast a sound-isolating spell and asked in a heavy voice, “What exactly is going on between you and that woman?”

Zhu Shengxi was brief and concise, skipping over certain details, merely stating that she and A-Xu were mutually in love.

After hearing her out, Jiang Lixu’s expression remained indifferent. She asked back, “Since you are mutually in love, do you intend to become Daoist companions with her?”

When forming a bond, both parties must swear an oath to Heaven and Earth. If the feelings of the two are sincere, a curse seal will appear on their wrists, symbolizing a long-lasting union. Conversely, if even one party is not genuine, the seal will shatter immediately.

The image of A-Xu’s deliberate avoidance flashed through Zhu Shengxi’s mind. She remained silent for a few seconds before answering, “We will bond.”

Jiang Lixu saw through her cover-up at a glance. Her tone was neither fast nor slow. “Not long after I arrived, I quickly discovered that the woman beside you has practiced evil arts for a long time. It is impossible for you to have noticed nothing.”

“Article 131 of the Sect Rules: No disciple of the Guiyun Sect shall be entangled with those who practice evil arts or members of demonic cults. Junior Sister, did you truly not notice, or are you knowingly breaking the rules?”

Her tone was solemn. Zhu Shengxi was already used to her citing the sect rules; not only was she unafraid, but she even countered: “A-Xu is not like those who commit many evils.”

After this conversation, Jiang Lixu had grasped her junior sister’s attitude toward that woman and could not help but fall silent.

Seeing Jiang Lixu frowning in silence, Zhu Shengxi softened her tone. “Eldest Senior Sister, rest assured, A-Xu will not harm me.”

She then asked, “Did you leave the sect specifically just to urge me to return?”

Jiang Lixu replied, “That is one reason. I was also entrusted by Sect Leader Tan of the Kunchen Sect to see what exactly is happening with the Xie family.”

Hearing this, Zhu Shengxi was somewhat surprised. Her original guess was that the Kunchen Sect would send someone themselves; she hadn’t expected them to entrust the matter to Jiang Lixu.

Jiang Lixu glanced at her and added, “Your Second Senior Sister is handling the sect affairs, so nothing will go wrong. The reason Sect Leader Tan asked me to come is, first, because the Xie family matter is quite strange, and second, to avoid attracting attention and alerting the enemy with a large group.”

Zhu Shengxi nodded slightly, looking at her as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Jiang Lixu saw what was on her mind and followed up by saying, “There is nothing else.”

Zhu Shengxi gave a hum of affirmation and walked away. Following the direction she remembered A-Xu leaving in, her gaze searched around. After fifteen minutes, she still hadn’t seen the familiar figure.

A sense of panic unlike any she had felt before gripped her. Zhu Shengxi’s steps became slightly frantic. Only now did she realize that if A-Xu were to leave quietly, she would have no way of finding her.

Having spent over a month together, they hadn’t even exchanged transmission talismans.

Gazing blankly at the empty street, Zhu Shengxi bit her lip. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she flew directly toward the small cottage on her sword.

The wooden door was easily pushed open. The howling cold wind from outside rushed in, causing the person on the bed to shrink further into the blankets.

When Zhu Shengxi saw the familiar figure on the bed, her racing heart finally settled. She closed the wooden door and sat down by the bedside.

A-Xu’s dark hair was scattered as she lay with her back to her, looking as if she were asleep, completely unaware of anyone approaching.

But Zhu Shengxi knew this person wasn’t asleep at all. After a moment of silence, she touched the cool strands of hair of the person before her and called out softly, “A-Xu?”

“What is it?” Still facing away from her, Zhu Shengxi felt a sting from the coldness in her tone and felt at a loss.

“I just remembered that we haven’t exchanged transmission talismans yet.”

A-Xu finally turned around, saying with a half-smile, “Your Senior Sister says I’m not a good person and hopes you won’t have any more contact with me. Is there any need to exchange transmission talismans?”

Her tone was slightly cold, her eyes devoid of any mirth. Zhu Shengxi explained warmly, “She has misunderstood. I have already clarified things with her; you are not the kind of cultivator who commits many evils.”

Hearing this, A-Xu lowered her eyes, hiding all her emotions.

Zhu Shengxi watched her without blinking. Seeing that she didn’t say a word, she spoke again: “Is it because I didn’t chase after you that you’re angry?”

“Yes, I’m angry. How do you plan to coax me?”

The word “coax” was spoken so bluntly that Zhu Shengxi froze for a moment, then fell into deep thought.

She had never coaxed anyone, nor did she know how. Zhu Shengxi silently recalled that whenever A-Xu had made her angry in the past, she would always lean in and say sweet words with puppy-dog eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to say such frivolous things.

A-Xu watched her with interest, wanting to see how Zhu Shengxi would respond.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Shengxi stepped forward and hugged her, apologizing softly, “I’m sorry, don’t be angry anymore.”

She didn’t know any sweet talk; she only knew how to apologize dryly like this. Or perhaps, as A-Xu had said, she was simply an utterly boring person.

Thinking this, for the first time, Zhu Shengxi wished her personality could be more lively and interesting. Suddenly, she felt the hands of the person in her arms push lightly against her shoulders, as if resisting her embrace.

Zhu Shengxi’s body stiffened. She silently and slowly pulled back, only to hear A-Xu say softly, “What are you apologizing for? I don’t need your apology.”

Then what should she do? Zhu Shengxi looked at A-Xu, only to see A-Xu lightly tapping the corner of her own lips, giving a semi-command: “Kiss me.”

The two were very close at this moment. Zhu Shengxi’s gaze fell upon the other’s lips. She gave an almost imperceptible “mm” and slowly leaned in.

She involuntarily held her breath as she lightly kissed the corner of this person’s lips. The sweet scent was like berries ripened in late autumn.

A-Xu kept her eyes half-closed, feeling the unfamiliar warmth at the corner of her lips. After waiting for a moment, she realized this person made no further movement, truly just pressing lightly against the side of her mouth.

It was a kiss of both treasure and restraint. A-Xu slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the face inches away.

Jiang Lixu was not wrong. She was unscrupulous and her thoughts were base; she truly could not be considered a good person.

Their paths were different and they could not walk together. A-Xu knew very well that she and Zhu Shengxi could not be together. Someone like her was not worthy of the person before her, who was as pure as the moon and the wind.

A-Xu placed her hand on Zhu Shengxi’s cheek, tilted her head slightly, and kissed her lips. Their noses brushed, their breaths intertwining.

Unable to control her emotions, A-Xu couldn’t help but deepen the kiss, her palm pressing firmly against the other’s jaw.

Let me be greedy just one last time, A-Xu thought.

The next morning, the early sun pierced through the thin mist, scattering spots of light by the window. With a “creak” of the wooden door, Zhu Shengxi and A-Xu stepped out of the cottage together.

Not far away, the person who had been waiting for a long time turned around. Seeing the two actually coming out of the room together, her expression shook.

Zhu Shengxi also saw her and was very surprised. “Eldest Senior Sister, how long have you been waiting here?”

Jiang Lixu ignored the question, saying in disbelief, “You… slept with her?”

Zhu Shengxi nodded. Seeing her admit it, Jiang Lixu was speechless for a moment. After a long while, she stated her purpose: “Junior Sister, I heard you say yesterday that you went to that deep forest. Did you discover any abnormalities?”

“One cannot use spiritual power there, and wounds do not heal easily.”

Hearing this, Jiang Lixu mused, “Perhaps some kind of restriction was placed there. Based on your description yesterday, this matter is definitely being manipulated by someone in the shadows.”

Jiang Lixu wanted to continue, but she caught a glimpse of A-Xu nearby. The words at the tip of her tongue changed: “Junior Sister, a word in private.”

Seeing her face full of suspicion and defensiveness, A-Xu silently rolled her eyes in her heart and took the initiative to say to Zhu Shengxi, “I’m going back inside.” With that, she turned and returned to the room.

Jiang Lixu waited for a moment, then once again cast a sound-isolating spell. She asked in a heavy voice, “When she went to that deep forest with you, did she show any abnormal behavior?”

Her words were packed with suspicion. Zhu Shengxi frowned slightly, speaking with a hint of protectiveness: “Not only did she not, but A-Xu also risked her life to save me.”

Hearing her obvious partiality, Jiang Lixu sighed softly, her face darkening. “This concerns the Golden Cores of cultivators. Do not let your subjective thoughts cloud your judgment. Speak the truth.”

Righteous cultivators held deep-seated hatred for those who practiced evil arts. It was within expectations that Jiang Lixu would suspect A-Xu, but she didn’t understand why Jiang Lixu was pressing so hard, as if she were determined to find evidence to prove A-Xu was problematic.

Zhu Shengxi replied calmly, “What I have said is the truth. On the contrary, Senior Sister, do not convict A-Xu in your heart without any basis.”

Jiang Lixu looked at her in astonishment. Zhu Shengxi had never spoken to her like this before. Now, for the sake of a woman of unknown origin, she was countering her every word.

Jiang Lixu took a deep breath and couldn’t help but scold, “I see your soul has truly been bewitched by her. Her origin is unknown, and her purpose for being by your side is also unknown, yet you foolishly trust her blindly.”

Zhu Shengxi’s face was calm, but her tone was extremely certain: “Eldest Senior Sister, A-Xu will not harm me.”

Looking at her like this, Jiang Lixu felt it was utterly absurd. She let out a cold snort and flicked her sleeves as she walked away.

Zhu Shengxi stood in place, her gaze somewhat vacant. She had wanted to know A-Xu’s purpose for approaching her before, and she still wanted to know now.

What exactly was the thing A-Xu wanted to take from her?