My Senior Sister Says She Will Marry No One But Me - Chapter 31

The efficiency of the Emei Sect was truly remarkable. By the time Xue Shuyan and Du Yunge had settled into their guest quarters, an inner disciple of Emei had already arrived to deliver a message: the man had already descended the mountain. “We sisters personally watched him leave,” she assured them. “Even if he had the greatest skills in the world, he wouldn’t be able to stir up any trouble. Please rest assured and stay here peacefully, Sect Leader.”

Du Yunge felt considerably more at ease upon hearing this. After all, she had never experienced being pursued so relentlessly before. She sincerely thanked the inner disciple:
“Thank you for your hard work. I never imagined I would cause your esteemed sect such trouble. I feel truly apologetic.”

Du Yunge was exceptionally beautiful her skin as fair as ice, her lips red and teeth pearly white, evoking the legendary description of “one glance toppling a city, a second glance toppling a kingdom.” Having been raised in luxury since childhood, what was even more remarkable was that she had not grown spoiled. Every gesture of hers carried an elegance entirely distinct from that of the martial world. When such a beautiful and highly esteemed sect leader expressed her gratitude so sincerely, it was impossible for anyone to dislike her.

The Emei inner disciple had come with the intention of catching a glimpse of the renowned beauty of the Central Plains martial world. Not only had she fulfilled her wish, but she had also received such heartfelt thanks. In that moment, she felt as if she were intoxicated, her spirit soaring beyond the clouds. Her words stumbled, clearly revealing her flustered state, her thoughts no longer anchored to reality:
“N-No need to thank me. It’s our duty. Please don’t stand on ceremony, Sect Leader. If there’s anything we can assist with in the future, you must let us know.”

Du Yunge thought for a moment and smiled:
“Actually, there is something I’d like to ask of you. Could you bring me some paper, ink, brush, and inkstone?”

The disciple eagerly agreed and hurried off, returning shortly with a complete set of scholar’s treasures. The brush was a fine purple hare’s hair brush, the ink was pine-soot ink, the paper was snow-wave paper, and there was even a Duan inkstone carved with a magpie perched on a plum branch.

Although these items were of above-average quality treasured possessions in ordinary households they were nothing extraordinary in the eyes of Du Yunge, who was accustomed to luxury. After all, the Miaoyin Sect was immensely wealthy; even an ordinary drinking bowl was a priceless treasure. Yet she understood that, given the Emei Sect’s resources, this was likely the best they could offer to honor her.

Du Yunge was not the type to be ungrateful or overly critical. She expressed her thanks with genuine sincerity. The Emei disciple had been secretly worried along the way that the well-traveled and discerning leader of the Miaoyin Sect might feel slighted. However, Du Yunge’s approachable and gracious attitude put her at ease. She spoke again:
“Our sect leader personally ordered these items to be brought to you. She also asked me to convey this message: ‘I am occupied with numerous affairs and cannot accompany you throughout the day to fulfill my duties as host. However, please do not worry. Treat this place as your own home. If you need anything, just inform these young disciples. Although our Emei Sect may not be as grand as the Miaoyin Sect, we would never treat a guest from afar with anything less than the utmost respect.’”

After delivering this message in one breath, the inner disciple stole another glance at Du Yunge.

“If Sect Master wishes to linger longer on Mount Emei, I can guide you. I know every plant, every stream and peak of our sect intimately. Should you have any need of me, you need only say the word.”

This could already be considered an open and unabashed attempt to curry favor.

Du Yunge was truly at a loss when faced with such behavior where intentions weren’t clearly stated yet the other party persistently flirted with words. Her first instinct was to cast a pleading glance toward Xue Shuyan, who, as expected, did not disappoint her and promptly took over the conversation:

“If our sect master wishes to visit any place, I will accompany her. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”

If this were an ordinary person, upon hearing Xue Shuyan’s words, they would likely have wilted in disappointment, knowing there was no hope especially since Xue Shuyan was staring coldly at her with a gaze fierce enough to silence a crying child at night. It was a double blow. Even if one’s heart had already stirred with the budding warmth of spring, such flickering emotions would be frozen solid under that icy glare, snuffed out in the depths of the heart without any chance of revival.

But this inner disciple of the Emei Sect was no ordinary person. She actually managed to withstand Xue Shuyan’s frigid stare and, without batting an eye, retorted right in front of Du Yunge:

“Even so, when it comes to sightseeing, wouldn’t it be more enjoyable to have someone familiar with the area as a guide?”

Her argument was so reasonable that even Xue Shuyan, who was never skilled with words, found herself momentarily at a loss for a stronger rebuttal. Seizing the opportunity, the Emei inner disciple even performed a respectful bow to Du Yunge, earnestly pledging her loyalty:

“If Sect Master Du wishes it, you need only call upon me. Though I have no talent for martial arts, I can certainly serve well as your guide. To be of service to a beauty like you, what a joy that would be!”

After saying this, she winked at Du Yunge. The way she spoke so flatteringly yet without any hidden meaning, coupled with her playful antics, made Du Yunge laugh outright. Moreover, hearing her admit she “had no talent for martial arts” made Du Yunge feel a sense of kinship toward her. She asked:

“In that case, what is your name? If I ever need to trouble you in the future, it would be good to know how to address you.”

“Reporting to Sect Master Du.” The Emei inner disciple, dressed in blue robes, bowed deeply. From Du Yunge’s perspective, all she could see was the woman’s neatly and impeccably styled hair bun. Her raven-black hair was thick, glossy, and smooth, without a single white strand or dry split end even more beautiful than Du Yunge’s own hair, to the point of seeming almost unreal:

“My name is Qin Shanshan.”

Du Yunge felt there was something off about this person, but no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t recall any past acquaintance with someone surnamed Qin. It probably wasn’t an old acquaintance just her overthinking things. So she said:

“Very well, Shanshan. Today I have matters to attend to and I am afraid I cannot tour Mount Emei with you. If I have free time in the future, I will certainly invite you.”

Qin Shanshan smiled and said, “Then I shall await your orders, Sect Master. If you need me, just call out the window. My room is very close to yours. The moment I hear your voice, I will rush over immediately, without making you wait even a breath longer.”

She glanced at Xue Shuyan, who was already looking as dark as storm clouds, and added with a laugh:

“Since that’s the case, I have no more private words for the Sect Master. Please continue with your affairs. I shall take my leave now.”

As she left, she thoughtfully closed the door behind her, showing meticulous care even in the smallest details.

After Qin Shanshan had departed, Du Yunge tidied up her writing tools and picked up a stick of pine-soot ink to begin grinding it.

Her wrists were as fair as frost and snow, unadorned with jewelry, yet her slender, delicate fingers and the soft pink hue of her nails, reminiscent of early spring peach blossoms, exuded an irresistible charm. Even without embellishments, they evoked a sense of worldly allure. As her hands gracefully ground the ink, the stark contrast between the deep black ink and her pale skin brought to mind romantic imagery, such as “a maiden adding fragrance to the night as one studies” or “heaven envying such rare and exquisite fortune.”

Xue Shuyan watched from the side, inexplicably feeling a sudden dryness in her throat. To ease this strange sensation, she cleared her throat and asked:

“What are you doing, Yunge?”

Du Yunge selected a wolf-hair brush, moistened the tip, and dipped it in ink before explaining to Xue Shuyan:

“I want to transcribe the qin manual.”

She carefully opened the gilded rosewood box and retrieved the manual, only to realize that the manual itself was not heavy, it was the box that had weight. But considering it was made of rosewood, that made sense:

“This is one of the few remaining artifacts left by the founding Sect Master, so it must be cherished. If I study the original manual to practice the Heavenly Demon’s Enchanting Melody, it might be inconvenient. Once I’ve transcribed it, I’ll store the original away and use the copy for practice. If there are any omissions or nuances missing in the transcription, I can always refer back to the precious original.”

Xue Shuyan’s gaze remained fixed on Du Yunge’s hands, her mind entirely captivated by the stark, elegant whiteness. She likely didn’t even register what Du Yunge had said, merely responding out of habit:

“You’re always so thoughtful, Yunge.”

By the time Du Yunge finished meticulously transcribing the entire qin manual, dusk had already fallen. Without her noticing, an Emei maid had delivered an oil lamp. With a slight sniff, Du Yunge recognized it as high-quality lamp oil reserved for Buddhist altars, which would emit a faint sandalwood fragrance when lit. After a moment’s thought, she turned to Xue Shuyan with a smile:

“Since when does the Emei Sect use such things? Aren’t these usually reserved for offerings before the Buddha? It must have been specially prepared for us. If you have time, Shijie, you should thank the person who delivered this lamp someday.”

Xue Shuyan stared intently at the lamp, as if it were a sworn enemy. After a long pause, she managed to maintain a calm facade and asked in a low voice:

“Do you like this?”

“I’m still more accustomed to using my own things.” Du Yunge set down the brush in her hand, rubbed her wrist, and explained to Xue Shuyan, “But it’s the thought that counts, so I should still go and thank her.”

Noticing Xue Shuyan’s increasingly displeased expression, she carefully added:

“Then maybe I’ll go thank her in person another day?”

Xue Shuyan’s response was swift this time: “No need.”

Seeing that Du Yunge seemed startled by her unusual reaction, Xue Shuyan added:

“This was sent by that Qin Shanshan. I’ll go.”

The head disciple of Miaoyin Sect was never one to bother with explanations. Even though her intention was “There’s no need for the sect leader to get further involved with this person,” the authoritative tone she used made it sound like something only an absolute dictator would say. However, having known Xue Shuyan for what felt like two lifetimes, Du Yunge was well aware that her bluntness wasn’t intentional. She smiled and said:

“Then I’ll trouble you, Senior Sister.”

The Emei Sect had always valued frugality and simplicity. Even when hosting the esteemed leader of the closely allied Miaoyin Sect, they wouldn’t deviate much from their usual practices. Lavish banquets with extravagant dishes and flowing wine were out of the question at most, they might add a few extra dishes to the meal.

After dinner, it was time to light the lamps. Back on Wangyou Mountain, Du Yunge could still read at this hour. Dozens of priceless mermaid oil lamps would be lit, each base inlaid with a full circle of luminous pearls, illuminating the room as brightly as day without straining the eyes. The air would be thick with fragrance, making late-night reading a true pleasure. Even though Qin Shanshan had provided high-quality lamp oil, it couldn’t compare to that standard,no wonder Du Yunge had said she was “more accustomed to her own things.”

Since reading wasn’t an option, and the Emei Sect didn’t indulge in pastimes like pitch-pot or throwing dice, Du Yunge and Xue Shuyan found themselves at a loss after taking three leisurely walks outside. Returning indoors, the silence was so profound that one could hear a pin drop. After a long pause, Du Yunge tentatively suggested:

“Senior Sister, should we turn in early tonight?”

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【Mini Theater: The Self-Cultivation of a Qualified Devotee】

Xue Shuyan: The sect leader only needs my protection.

Qin Shanshan: Hah, I’ll guide the sect leader. Do you even know the way?

Sparks flew where their gazes met, each trying to intimidate the other with their presence.

Du Yunge: Something feels off. It’s giving me chills.

【Another Mini Theater】

Xue Shuyan’s inner thoughts: This Qin Shanshan is like a lingering ghost. There’s something off about her, and she’s incredibly annoying. I need to find a way to keep her away from Yunge. Under no circumstances can I let Yunge be led astray by her.

Outwardly: I’ll go.

Du Yunge: Senior Sister, just how much of an essay did you omit? Confess the truth.

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