Forcing the Aloof Master to Madness - Chapter 30

“They want to use me to kill you.” Shen Lezhi did not hide anything. Under Wang Xi’s gaze, she sat up, leaning against the headboard.

“The Sect Master, and another woman—one of the female cultivators you and I ran into in the dark cave before.”

Shen Lezhi then raised a finger and pointed to herself. “The Sect Master controlled me and placed some kind of spell on me. I was in a confused state at the time and struggled to stay conscious. They didn’t avoid me when discussing how to kill you, likely because they didn’t think I would wake up or believed that even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Shen Lezhi still remembered the Sect Master and the others saying the original female protagonist had already chosen them, which made her feel a pang of sorrow.

“Please believe me.” Shen Lezhi told Wang Xi everything in detail.

The long period of sleep had left her hair messy. Some strands pricked her skin, causing a slight itch whenever she moved.

As she spoke, she unconsciously tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear. She was only wearing an undergarment, and when she raised her hand, a patch of exposed, snow-white skin beneath the inner garment was revealed.

Shen Lezhi herself didn’t notice, and glancing at Wang Xi’s lowered eyes, she didn’t give it much thought, continuing to recount the situation at the time.

“What about the Sect Master and the others? Did they discover that I’ve told you the truth?”

“They did not,” Wang Xi answered slowly. “Rest and recover. I will investigate the rest.”

Shen Lezhi nodded upon hearing this. She wasn’t aware of the specific details and lacked the ability to investigate. Handing these matters over to Wang Xi was naturally the most suitable course of action.

Only then did she realize that she had been so focused on asking questions that she hadn’t noticed her inner garment was open to her chest, revealing a hint of snow-white, slightly raised skin.

Wang Xi’s eyes paused slightly, her attention momentarily stolen by Shen Lezhi’s subtle, natural movements as she spoke.

Shen Lezhi continued to talk, perhaps feeling a bit stiff from lying down for so long, so her body kept moving slightly, adjusting her sitting posture to ease the stiffness.

But the fragile fabric had already opened up considerably, and with her continuous, unconscious movements, it opened a little more.

Wang Xi continued to listen to Shen Lezhi’s words, but she was somewhat distracted by the snow-white scene before her. Her fingers twitched a few times, and finally, she stretched out a finger. Under Shen Lezhi’s puzzled gaze, she gently took hold of the collar of Shen Lezhi’s inner garment and tidied up her open clothes.

Shen Lezhi finally realized her current appearance and what Wang Xi’s lowered gaze had been fixed upon.

“…” Shen Lezhi’s face instantly flushed crimson. She suddenly clutched her clothes tightly and widened her eyes in disbelief at Wang Xi.

She was fine when she didn’t notice, but now that she had, and thought about being stared at by Wang Xi in this manner…

The little crybaby had said earlier that Wang Xi had been taking care of her for the past two months, and the clothes she was wearing were not her own…

Shen Lezhi’s body reacted faster than her mind. The thin inner garment couldn’t conceal her body’s instinctive reaction, and the slight, noticeable protrusion on her chest made Shen Lezhi want to sink into the floor.

Her face was so red it looked as if blood might seep out. Wang Xi also noticed this subtle change in her body. Her gaze swept over her but she said nothing, merely withdrawing her hands with an expressionless face.

Then, while Shen Lezhi was too embarrassed to raise her head, Wang Xi asked seriously: “Why did you tell me? Are you not afraid of death?”

Wang Xi had already guessed that Shen Lezhi must have known her life would be in danger after speaking the truth.

Wang Xi didn’t want to pursue how the girl managed to stay conscious, but she learned from Shen Lezhi that the girl had gone straight to Exquisite Peak as soon as she was out of danger.

Wang Xi still found it hard to believe that Shen Lezhi would do such a thing for her. Even if the story of this life had changed, even if Shen Lezhi had changed, or perhaps the Shen Lezhi of the previous life was controlled by the Sect Master.

But Wang Xi had seen Shen Lezhi after she became a demon in the previous life. The girl had stared directly at her and told her, almost cruelly, that she had never regretted the betrayal, blaming only Wang Xi for possessing the Exquisite Heart and blaming only the ruthlessness of the Great Dao.

Wang Xi looked down at the Shen Lezhi before her without blinking. The girl raised her head slightly upon hearing her words. On her flushed face were a pair of clear and sincere eyes.

“I don’t want to be controlled by others,” Shen Lezhi’s gaze was completely exposed, unguarded, as she gently and with naked emotion told Wang Xi the answer. “And I don’t want to hurt you.”

She said it so lightly, yet the words carried such weight.

Wang Xi’s eyes nearly trembled with these words. Her heart vibrated because of them.

The memory of the previous life, where Shen Lezhi ruthlessly plunged a long sword into her body, constantly interwove with the image of the girl before her, blushing but with clear eyes.

Wang Xi breathed heavily, displaying such a loss of composure in front of Shen Lezhi. Her body trembled, and her fingers gripped the edge of the bed, as if struggling to support her fragile body.

But how could Wang Xi be fragile?

Shen Lezhi looked at her confusedly, cautiously asking the strangely behaving Wang Xi: “Master?”

She watched Wang Xi’s trembling eyelashes as she lowered her head, noticing the sudden surge of sorrow in her eyes.

She had never seen Wang Xi like this. It was as if a deity from the heavens had suddenly experienced a negative emotion.

It looked like fear, like dread, and even more so, pain.

She saw Wang Xi suddenly look up again, gazing at her with complex eyes. That cold finger lifted and touched her cheek.

Shen Lezhi hesitated for a moment, then closed her eyes, obediently tilting her head to rest against the finger.

She was somewhat greedy for that temperature.

It was the temperature she had felt several times when she was on the brink of death.

“It’s too late.” But then she suddenly heard Wang Xi say these words.

Too late for what?

Shen Lezhi did not understand.

What confused her even more was that when Wang Xi spoke these two words, the ending tone was strange, not her usual manner of speaking.

Just as Shen Lezhi was about to open her eyes and ask Wang Xi, the Master had already pushed her away, rising to her feet before she could. She stood by the bed, looking down at Shen Lezhi.

Wang Xi blocked the sunlight from the window. Her lowered eyes were concealed in shadow. Shen Lezhi looked up and felt that the Master’s expression had turned cold again. The previous complex emotions had vanished from her face.

“Rest,” Wang Xi said.

Shen Lezhi heard the cold voice she was familiar with, just like always, and her previous confusion was instantly cast aside.

She was indeed a bit weak. Having just woken up, her body still felt weak, so she obediently lay back down.

She watched Wang Xi turn and leave. The door and window were both closed this time, blocking the warm light. Shen Lezhi stared at the retreating glimpse of the pale clothes and finally closed her eyes, exhausted once more.

Meanwhile, as Wang Xi walked out of the room, strange red markings crawled onto her stern face. She walked forward without saying a word.

Until a voice told her: [Shen Lezhi cannot change. You should not think of letting her go!]

Wang Xi suddenly stopped, pursing her lips. She remained silent, and after a moment, she replied chillingly: “She has changed. She said she doesn’t want to hurt me.”

[You are truly naive. Those are nothing but her lies, her traps. She is deceiving you with new rhetoric!]

The demonic markings on Wang Xi’s face increased, rapidly spreading toward her pale neck. Ice gathered at her fingertips, and the surrounding grass and trees quickly frosted over.

The voice grew louder, as if trying to drill into her heart.

[Have you forgotten when she let the Flame Demon scorch your body beyond recognition? Have you forgotten when she said she never regretted betraying you?]

[How dare you let your guard down? How dare you?]

[You should lock her up and torment her day and night.]

[You want her to experience the pain you suffered. Look at her smile, she smiles so happily. You want to make her cry until her voice is hoarse, begging for your forgiveness like a filthy ant.]

[Wang Xi, you’ve always wanted to do this to her, haven’t you?]

The dark red demonic markings on Wang Xi’s skin showed a blood-like color. A trace of madness was concealed in her icy eyes.

Everything within ten feet was frozen into ice sculptures. Wang Xi closed her eyes and finally refuted the voice.

“Shut up.”

Her tone was cold, carrying an unnatural lilt at the end. This was not her usual manner of speaking, but it appeared on her now.

“Shut up.”

Wang Xi said it again. The voice finally quieted down. She stood in place, waiting for the demonic markings on her body to fade.

But all around her, from beginning to end, there was no one present.

Shen Lezhi was finally able to get out of bed. It only took her two months. Her meridians were successfully reshaped, and her body recovered very well. Even the Medical Fairy thought it was too fast. If it were anyone else, it would take at least three to five years of recovery.

But the Medical Fairy checked several times and couldn’t find the reason, only attributing it to the immense power of the Exquisite Heart.

The Medical Fairy was disappointed to learn that Shen Lezhi was only Wang Xi’s disciple. Cutting out half of the Exquisite Heart, and she wasn’t even a secret lover?

Did the cultivation world not have any secret juicy stories?!

She said this in front of both Shen Lezhi and Wang Xi. Wang Xi didn’t even look at her, but Shen Lezhi lowered her head guiltily.

Well, the Medical Fairy had actually guessed correctly. They were in that kind of relationship before, and they even enjoyed pain-themed literature in private.

Shen Lezhi and Wang Xi stayed at the Wandering Scholar Academy for two months. Feng Nianzhen had already come up with a reason for them. Feng Nianzhen had guessed that there must be something wrong with Wang Xi’s insistence on not seeking True Person Hundred Herbs or the Sect Master.

After all, Wang Xi was so worried about Shen Lezhi that she refused to hand the girl over to them for rescue, even when her life was on the line.

After Shen Lezhi and Wang Xi arrived at the Wandering Scholar Academy, Feng Nianzhen sent a voice transmission to the Sect Master, saying Wang Xi had taken Shen Lezhi to a small secret realm that had recently opened at the Wandering Scholar Academy for practical experience.

She also took the opportunity to send her two disciples, Yun Sha and Hua Man, along.

On one hand, this made the news more believable, preventing suspicion. On the other hand, the Grand Sect Competition was approaching, and Feng Nianzhen also wanted her two disciples to gain some experience, especially since she had a deep friendship with Dean Zhuxin of the Wandering Scholar Academy.

Shen Lezhi learned about this when Senior Sister Yun Sha and Hua Man came to visit her. The two had actually arrived at the Wandering Scholar Academy a while ago, but Shen Lezhi had been unconscious.

Only a few of them knew about Shen Lezhi’s injuries. As soon as the two heard she had awakened, they immediately came to visit.

The first thing Shen Lezhi did was beg Senior Sister Yun Sha to send a voice transmission to Herb Peak. Her spiritual plants had been left unattended for two months! When she remembered this, she was utterly distraught, and she immediately wanted to send a message to Senior Sister Qi to ask her to check on her fields.

Speaking of this, Senior Sister Yun Sha smiled. “Don’t worry. Senior Sister Qi Lian already asked me to relay a message to you. After several days of not seeing you fetch the Spiritual Spring Water, she went looking for you, then heard you were out gaining experience at the Wandering Scholar Academy. She couldn’t reach you by voice transmission, so she asked me to bring the message that she will take care of your spiritual plants until you return.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Lezhi felt as if she had seen a saint. Senior Sister Qi was truly a good person!

“But you’ve reached Foundation Establishment. How do you still not know the Voice Transmission Spell?” Senior Sister Yun Sha smiled helplessly, her tone quite doting, making Shen Lezhi blush.

However, Shen Lezhi was only embarrassed because she didn’t know the Voice Transmission Spell. Basic spells in the Jade Profound Sect could generally be learned in the main lecture halls. Different peaks and factions had different main lecture halls. Spells like the Voice Transmission Spell had to be learned in the regular main lecture hall.

Unfortunately, Shen Lezhi was obsessed with practicing her sword and the knowledge from Herb Peak. She had never attended a single regular basic spell lecture, which meant she didn’t know many basic spells.

When has a straight-A student ever been mocked for her studies? Shen Lezhi felt too ashamed to face anyone.

However, Senior Sister Yun Sha had a gentle nature and good judgment. Seeing Shen Lezhi’s reaction, she didn’t press further. She simply pointed out a way for Shen Lezhi: “You could ask Immortal Jiyue to teach you privately.”

Shen Lezhi thought, Wang Xi might not be interested in teaching her. She hasn’t even taught her the Sword Flight technique yet.

Yun Sha also informed her that they were free to wander around many areas of the Wandering Scholar Academy, and they could also observe some of the spell classes.

“There is also a specialized spiritual plant cultivation department here. It’s completely different from what we have in our sect. When your body recovers a bit more, you can go and take a look.”

These words piqued Shen Lezhi’s interest. She rested for another three or four days, remembering Senior Sister Yun Sha’s words, and asked for directions to the spiritual plant cultivation area.

The path twisted until it led into overgrown weeds. Just as Shen Lezhi was beginning to doubt if she was on the right path, she walked through a rusty iron channel, and a vast expanse of spiritual plants suddenly opened up before her eyes.

Some Shen Lezhi had seen in the Spiritual Plant Cultivation Manual, and others she couldn’t even name.

Shen Lezhi paused. Looking back at the path she had just taken, the weeds and the rusty path seemed intentionally designed.

Shen Lezhi walked cautiously inside. At the foot of the mountain, she saw several houses with turquoise-tiled roofs, all with open doors. They were too far to see anyone, so she chose the nearest one and walked in.

The room was filled with various spiritual plant seedlings. Shen Lezhi felt a wave of familiarity. The scene was exactly like when she was in the research institute in the modern world.

She looked at them one by one. Just as she was wondering why there was no one here, she suddenly heard a voice from behind her: “Who are you?”

Shen Lezhi stopped, turning to look toward the source of the voice.

She saw a beautiful woman with a white headscarf and plain clothing. Although her attire was simple, it was embroidered with the symbol of the Wandering Scholar Academy.

Shen Lezhi knew that only Academy students wore clothes inscribed with the Academy’s symbol, and wearing them was mandatory.

The woman took a few steps closer, scrutinizing Shen Lezhi. She didn’t see the Academy’s symbol on Shen Lezhi, frowned, and asked again: “You’re not an Academy student?”

Shen Lezhi, of course, was not. Seeing the woman approach, conjuring a long whip out of thin air, Shen Lezhi felt a sense of dread.

Indeed, before she could even explain, the woman’s long whip lashed out.

Shen Lezhi hadn’t brought her small wooden sword and had no weapons on her, so she could only dodge the incoming whip.

Fortunately, she was already familiar with the Shu Footwork that Wang Xi had taught her. The moment the whip was about to strike her, Shen Lezhi’s figure blurred, and she strangely vanished from her spot.

“Huh?” The woman hadn’t expected Shen Lezhi’s evasive movement to be so strange, like the person had suddenly disappeared. She had never seen this kind of footwork in the Academy and immediately focused her eyes to become wary.

Shen Lezhi thought, Why does this person attack first without clarifying anything? She is so unreasonable.

But this was someone else’s territory, and Shen Lezhi was weaponless. She could only quickly retreat several steps, far enough to avoid the woman’s whip and then reveal herself.

“Sister, I’m not a suspicious person. This is my first time here. Is this the Spiritual Herb Garden?” Shen Lezhi raised both hands, indicating she truly had no intention of fighting.

“Hmph, what new trick are you trying to pull now?!” Unfortunately, the woman didn’t listen at all. The long whip was raised in her hand and lashed toward Shen Lezhi.

Shen Lezhi noticed that there were spiritual plant seedlings everywhere, carefully stored, but the woman, even in this confined space, could still swing the long whip and strike accurately at Shen Lezhi without touching a single plant nearby.

The woman’s control of the whip was extremely skillful, and she clearly cherished the spiritual plants in the room.

Shen Lezhi found this troublesome. She glanced at the room full of spiritual plants and feared that she might knock one or two over while dodging. Even though she knew the whip would have a greater advantage in an open area outside, she quickly leaped out of the room.

The long whip pursued her. As Shen Lezhi expected, once in the open, the flexible and long-range weapon became even fiercer. Shen Lezhi was forced to retreat repeatedly.

The main problem was that she had no weapon to counter with. The whip seemed to cut the air with a sharp, whistling sound when swung. Shen Lezhi decisively gave up on trying to take the blow and could only keep dodging.

But the woman’s attacks became more and more aggressive. No matter how good Shen Lezhi’s footwork was, without any means of counterattack, she was completely suppressed by the other party.

Shen Lezhi thought about simply leaving. Although the woman’s whip work was good, her footwork was not as good as hers. If she wanted to leave, it wouldn’t take much effort.

But just as she was hesitating, a hidden weapon suddenly flew toward her at high speed. Shen Lezhi, who was constantly sensing the Water Spirit in the air, suddenly noticed something amiss from a tiny vibration in the Water Spirit.

“Little crybaby!” she immediately shouted. The Storage Ring on her finger was activated by her spiritual power, and a magical artifact appeared out of thin air in her hand.

At the same time, the Crying Soul Strand, which Shen Lezhi had shouted at, let out a sharp cry. Fine lines lit up on its green petals, and three slender vines suddenly stretched out from the petals, instantly intercepting the hidden weapon that was attacking Shen Lezhi.

The woman with the long whip was distracted by Shen Lezhi’s shout. Just as she was about to look, a strange crying sound suddenly rang in her ears. The cry startled her, even disrupting her spiritual energy. Then, a large basin of water was poured over her face.

Her first reaction was that it was some kind of bad liquid. She shouted: “My face! My face!”

Then, realizing there was no pain on her face, she immediately understood what the water was.

As spiritual plant cultivators, how could they not recognize Spiritual Spring Water? She wondered, Is the enemy attacking with a basin of Spiritual Spring Water? And she also thought, Who carries Spiritual Spring Water around?

Moreover, she was completely exposed now, yet the opponent didn’t press the advantage but retreated even further.

The woman wiped her face, then opened her eyes and looked at Shen Lezhi. The girl was standing far away, holding a pot, with a green flower on her head. The light green vines that extended from the flower had not fully retracted.

The woman was shocked and exclaimed: “The Nine Rivers Pot, the Crying Soul Strand.”

Shen Lezhi saw the woman put away her long whip and stand still without any intention of continuing the attack, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

However, she still retreated, warily watching the spot where the hidden weapon had come from.

The woman noticed her action, hesitated, and then called out: “Little Six, come out. We must have mistaken her for someone else.”

After the woman called out, a small girl in black walked out from the shadows. She looked petite, Shen Lezhi estimated her to be under five feet tall, but the girl named Little Six had eyes as sharp as knives, which Shen Lezhi dared not underestimate.

“Who exactly are you?” the woman with the whip asked again, lowering her eyebrows and staring at Shen Lezhi, no longer making a move.

Shen Lezhi smiled helplessly. Alright, this time she finally gets a chance to explain.

Shen Lezhi was not one to press an advantage. Furthermore, it had been two against one, and she was weaponless. She wasn’t sure she could win.

So, she responded gently: “I am Shen Lezhi, not a student of the Wandering Scholar Academy. I came here with my Master. I meant no offense. I am just very interested in spiritual plant cultivation, so I asked for directions to take a look.”

After she finished speaking, she made the Crying Soul Strand retract all its vines, indicating again that she was not a bad person.

The woman with the whip exchanged a look with the girl named Little Six, then put away her weapon and approached Shen Lezhi. “Is your Master Immortal Jiyue?!”

“That is correct,” Shen Lezhi nodded, thinking, Wang Xi’s name is indeed useful.

The woman with the whip immediately threw her weapon back into her storage ring, completely unlike her aggressive demeanor before. “I heard that Immortal Jiyue brought her disciple to the Wandering Scholar Academy. I didn’t expect it to be true!”

“My name is Xin Lan. I am a student of Wind Seeker of the Spiritual Herb Hall,” Xin Lan introduced herself. Then she pointed to Little Six beside her. “Her name is Little Six. She is from the Shadow Division, and she likes to come here to play.”

Shen Lezhi first greeted “Senior Sister Xin Lan,” then looked at Little Six. She felt it was impolite to call the black-clothed girl by her nickname, and was about to ask for her name.

Xin Lan noticed her hesitation and spoke first to explain: “Those in the Shadow Division only have code names, no names. Junior Sister Shen can just call her Little Six.”

Shen Lezhi nodded in understanding.

“Junior Sister Shen, I apologize. We mistook you for someone else. Lately, people have been trying to contact outside cultivators to cause trouble for our Spiritual Herb Hall. When I saw you weren’t an Academy student, I thought you were one of the people they hired. I apologize for the offense.”

Shen Lezhi listened to Xin Lan’s explanation. Although she was speechless about being attacked for no reason, she wasn’t injured, so she didn’t want to pursue the matter further.

“Did Junior Sister Shen say you are very interested in spiritual plant cultivation?” Xin Lan asked again. However, she sounded a bit hesitant. Although Shen Lezhi had said so, the successor of Immortal Jiyue, the world’s number one sword, is not practicing her sword but running to look at spiritual plants?

And Junior Sister Shen didn’t even have a sword with her just now…

Holding the Nine Rivers Pot, wearing a blooming Crying Soul Strand on her head, and even giving the Crying Soul Strand a cute and affectionate name, “Little Crybaby”…

Xin Lan found the whole situation increasingly strange.

Shen Lezhi’s interest was piqued upon hearing this. Since Xin Lan had given her an opening, she followed up: “That is correct. I also grow spiritual plants in the Jade Profound Sect. I heard that the Wandering Scholar Academy’s methods for spiritual plant cultivation are very unique, so I wanted to come and ask for guidance.”

Xin Lan pursed her lips and remained silent upon hearing this.

She truly welcomed anyone who loved spiritual plants, but Shen Lezhi was the successor of Immortal Jiyue!

The sole disciple of Immortal Jiyue, who is as bright as the clear moon and whose splendor surpasses all spring beauty.

Shouldn’t she be stunningly decisive, upholding the name of Immortal Jiyue’s successor, and establishing a famous reputation throughout the land with a single sword strike, just like the Immortal herself in her youth?

She’s running off to cultivate fields? Is this really appropriate?!

Is this how Immortal Jiyue teaches her disciples?

She’s about to be completely disillusioned, truly.