Forced to Act out a Strange Script with a Rival - Chapter 118

Three days after the fall of the Hehuan Sect, the Hidden Sword Villa and the Hehuan Sect officially merged, unified under the name “New Hehuan Sect.” The female disciples of both sects began to exchange knowledge and resources, and in an instant, countless people flocked to seek refuge with them.

As a paragon of the new era’s leading woman—the kind of top-tier powerhouse who carved out a path of blood with a female body—”Si Xiaoxiao” did not lack followers.

Naturally, most of those capable of traveling alongside her were women. However, the vast majority of them were people she had encountered while storming the various major sects: unfavored eldest or second senior sisters, pampered female disciples treated as mere “vases,” and low-level servants who had endured endless humiliation.

In this circle, there were no men—only women.

“Si Xiaoxiao” also practiced the Broken Jade Gale of the Waning Moon, an art created by the former Sect Leader of Hehuan. Being a martial arts prodigy, she had performed a drastic overhaul of the original techniques.

However, because her personality was more biased and her sword intent purer yet more extreme, she completely abandoned defense and maneuvering. Every move and every stance was like the brief bloom of an epiphyllum, burning through life itself, designed solely for the ultimate kill. Though her internal power progressed by leaps and bounds, a single lapse in concentration could lead to internal collapse or “deviation into madness.”

“Si Xiaoxiao” could only teach these modified moves to dead-knights willing to follow her at the cost of their lives. Therefore, for her, many internal and external threats remained.

Due to the long-term oppression of the social structure, the power of women was still in its seedling stage. Women were still regarded as objects rather than enemies; thus, men could wantonly bestow “affection,” appearing magnanimous and manly on the surface while actually being utterly condescending.

With one heaven-shaking sword strike, “Si Xiaoxiao” tore away this veil of hypocrisy. She forced the incompetent men to truly look at women and told the world that women were not resources, but predators who could also take a seat at the table.

Consequently, these petty men felt that a “conflict” had arisen between genders.

Si Xiaoxiao herself did not feel that her position as the so-called “Martial Arts Alliance Leader” was secure. Those men would sooner or later make a comeback. She needed to find more allies.

Fortunately, she now had the help of two Li Tings.

The Li Ting inside the mobile phone space was quite busy; she had her own missions over there. As long as she could win against the system in those missions, she could obtain assistance and information. The two of them maintained a frequency of speaking once every two days.

As for the “Second Little Saintess” Li Ting, she was, after all, the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect. Her martial prowess might not be number one in the world, but she was at least a first-class expert. Moreover, she was extremely skilled in using poison and held a formidable reputation in the martial world. After promising to serve Si Xiaoxiao for a month, she was indeed hauled off by Si Xiaoxiao to work as “child labor.”

To raise the prestige of the New Hehuan, Si Xiaoxiao planned to do something a Martial Arts Alliance Leader ought to do: she intended to convene a Martial Arts Assembly.

The previous Alliance Leader was Si Xiaoxiao’s own biological father. After dealing with him, the Alliance Leader’s Command Token fell into her hands. However, the male martial arts masters did not recognize her as the leader. Fine then—she would simply beat everyone who refused to submit all over again.

According to the procedures of previous assemblies, the primary task was to issue “Hero Invitations” to renowned martial heroes. Si Xiaoxiao felt the name “Hero Invitation” (Yingxiong Tie) didn’t sound right, so with a flourish of her brush, she changed it to “Heroine Invitation” (Yingci Tie).

To deliver these challenges—the Heroine Invitations—to other sects, Si Xiaoxiao set out on a journey with Li Ting.

On the mist-shrouded Dongting Lake, the night rain fell drizzly. A small boat drifted with the waves, a lone lantern hanging from the bow, casting a hazy circle of light through the curtain of rain.

Inside the cabin, Si Xiaoxiao was frowning in deep thought over a crude map, cold light flickering in her eyes. Li Ting sat in the corner, clutching her sword with eyes closed in meditation, her entire body radiating a chilling aura that warned others not to approach. The raindrops tapped against the boat’s canopy with a dense, rhythmic sound.

“Do you see that ship ahead?” Si Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke, her clear voice breaking the silence. She raised her hand to point through the rainy window at an exceptionally conspicuous, luxurious vessel: “Is our target for today on that ship?”

“Are you referring to the Sect Leader of the Earth-Shaking Tiger Sect?” Li Ting didn’t even lift her eyelids, merely stating: “That is impossible.”

Hearing this, Si Xiaoxiao wasn’t annoyed. Instead, she propped up her head and looked with great interest at the “ice sculpture” in the corner. The dim yellow light of the lantern cast soft shadows on her profile, giving her eyes a hint of cat-like craftiness. “Oh? And why is the Little Saintess Li so certain?”

Li Ting finally opened her eyes. Her cold gaze was like black jade soaked in freezing water. She looked at Si Xiaoxiao, her tone still icy, though she managed to add a rare explanation: “That is a famous ‘River and Mountain Pleasure Boat.’ The Leader of the Tiger Sect was a close friend of my Sect Leader in his early years. Though he cannot be called a pillar of righteousness, he is known for his sense of shame. He would never seek pleasure in such a place and tarnish his reputation!”

When she mentioned the former Sect Leader, her tone lowered imperceptibly for a moment, and her chilling aura grew heavier.

Watching her defend an old acquaintance with such conviction, Si Xiaoxiao felt a twinge of bitterness. But then, looking at this version of Li Ting—a youth filled with chivalrous spirit she hadn’t seen before—she managed to soothe her own feelings. Her eyes curled into an unconscious smile, and with a rare display of good temper, she even felt like teasing her.

“Want to bet?”

Her voice contained an undetectable trace of a smile, proud and brilliant: “Let’s bet whether that Tiger Sect Leader is on that boat right now.”

“I’ll bet!” A flicker of surprise flashed in Li Ting’s eyes, and she spat out the word with determination.

Li Ting seemed surprised by Si Xiaoxiao’s proposal. She stared at Si Xiaoxiao for two seconds; the certain and crafty light in the other girl’s eyes inexplicably stirred a streak of stubbornness in her. She pursed her lips and repeated firmly: “I’ll bet!”

“Good!” Si Xiaoxiao laughed even more happily, like a little fox whose scheme had succeeded. She beckoned to Li Ting, her tone carrying a natural sense of intimacy. “Come over here, then. Stop standing there like a door god. Come look at this structural diagram of the ship I worked so hard to draw.”

Li Ting hesitated for a moment but followed the command, getting up to sit beside Si Xiaoxiao. Their shoulders almost touched. She could smell a faint, sweet scent from Si Xiaoxiao that was different from ordinary rouge, mixed with the damp moisture of the cabin. It was… somewhat distracting.

Si Xiaoxiao seemed entirely oblivious to the proximity. Her fingertips traced the map with meticulous care, her profile appearing exceptionally focused under the lamplight. “Look, we’ll enter through this underwater secret hatch. First, use your signature knock-out powder to neutralize the guards on the lower deck, then crawl through this ventilation duct to infiltrate the core cabin…”

Li Ting listened intently, her brow furrowing deeper with every word. She hadn’t expected Si Xiaoxiao to be so intimately familiar with the internal structure of this pleasure boat—it was as if she knew it like the back of her hand. She couldn’t help but look up at Si Xiaoxiao, who was mere inches away, and asked with doubt: “…How did you obtain such detailed intelligence?”

This was certainly not something an ordinary sleeper agent could uncover… It seemed she truly possessed god-like means. Fortunately, Li Ting hadn’t acted rashly before.

In reality, Si Xiaoxiao was a “commander without an army” who had simply received precious information from the very person she was currently talking to. Without batting an eye, she bluffed: “I have my own network of moles.”

Li Ting saw the flicker in her eyes and knew she wasn’t telling the truth. However, seeing that Si Xiaoxiao was unwilling to elaborate, she didn’t press the matter.

The teenage Saintess was in the throes of adolescence—an age defined by being awkward yet trying to act cool. She nodded obediently and reached out to take the map from the table.

As she took the map, her fingertips inadvertently brushed against the back of Si Xiaoxiao’s hand. The momentary contact of cool, soft skin caused both of them to pause almost imperceptibly.

“Wait for my signal.” Li Ting quickly withdrew her hand. Leaving behind those words, her figure flickered like a ghost out of the cabin. She stepped lightly across the water, and in a few leaps, silently vanished into the shadows of the large pleasure boat ahead without alerting a soul.

Si Xiaoxiao watched Li Ting’s handsome footwork with utter envy. She had chosen this martial arts world scenario specifically to become a grandmaster and a top-tier expert. Who could have predicted that while she was the “Martial Arts Alliance Leader,” she would be one with zero combat ability? What was the fun in that!

Fortunately, she could still boss Li Ting around.

Feeling bored, Si Xiaoxiao took out some rations and a small flask of fruit wine she had brought along. She began to drink and eat alone. As the rain pitter-pattered and the small boat rocked gently, she watched the pitch-black lake and the distant lights of the pleasure boat, her thoughts drifting.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the cabin curtain moved. Li Ting returned, bringing with her a gust of cold, damp air and a faint scent of blood.

Si Xiaoxiao was currently munching on a piece of osmanthus cake, her mouth dusted with crumbs. Seeing Li Ting enter, her eyes lit up. Not even bothering to wipe her mouth, she asked indistinctly, “Well? Did I win?”

Her tone carried a hint of childlike anticipation and triumph.

Li Ting stood at the entrance of the cabin, rainwater dripping from the strands of hair on her forehead. Her face was terrifyingly grim—three shades colder than when she had left. A few drops of dark red blood had splattered onto her robes like red plum blossoms against snow, startlingly vivid.

Seeing Si Xiaoxiao’s heartless, happy-go-lucky appearance as she stuffed her face, an inexplicable fire mixed with an indescribable feeling of stifled frustration surged in Li Ting’s chest.

This girl certainly knows how to be comfortable!

Recalling the scene she had just witnessed, she still felt disgusted. The Sect Leader of the Earth-Shaking Tiger Sect was in the most decadent cabin, flanked by women on both sides, behaving in the most loathsome manner. Though she had intended to deliver the invitation, she couldn’t restrain herself; with a single strike of her sword, she ensured that the man would never be a “man” again.

“You won.” Even though she had taken her revenge, Li Ting’s expression remained grim.

“YES!” Hearing the words “You won” from Li Ting’s mouth, Si Xiaoxiao was instantly as happy as a child who had snuck a piece of candy. Forgetting her image as the Alliance Leader, she tossed aside the pastry and cheered, jumping so high she nearly hit the roof of the boat.

Looking at that unshielded, dazzlingly bright smile, the young Li Ting actually seemed more composed, like an elder. Her eyes showed disdain, but her face remained focused on business, her mind solely on gathering intelligence: “The information you provided was extremely accurate. How exactly did you obtain it?”

She couldn’t help but wonder: if she were to kill Si Xiaoxiao, how would she ever escape that pervasive, all-seeing intelligence organization?

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