The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 12

Today, if she says she is afraid of the heat, then she is afraid of the heat.

The Sword Pavilion was not an actual pavilion, the swords inside were not neatly arranged for one to pick and choose from.

As Chi Li and Mu Zhi had discussed previously, the Sword Pavilion was more akin to a smelting furnace. It did not take the form of a building but was hidden within a cavern where blazing molten fire burned year round. Without spiritual power to protect one’s body, one would likely have their soul scorched upon entry, eventually turning into a desiccated corpse.

Even if one successfully found a sword, the blade they set their sights on might not necessarily follow them. It required a mutual agreement between the seeker and the sword to successfully claim it.

By the time Chi Li brought Mu Zhi to the Sword Pavilion, Immortal Venerable Yilin had already arrived with Mo Fan and was waiting for them in front of the entrance.

Chi Li led Mu Zhi forward, bowing respectfully and speaking in a cool voice.

“Master.”

“Immortal Venerable Yilin,” Mu Zhi added immediately, bowing after she realized the situation.

Immortal Venerable Yilin nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Mu Zhi for a moment. His eyes narrowed as he spoke.

“This garment…”

Chi Li naturally knew she couldn’t hide the fact that she had taken the ice-silkworm silk to make a dress. After all, Mu Zhi was wearing it; even if the style was simple, any discerning eye could tell the dress was extraordinary.

An unreadable glint flashed deep in her eyes as she took another step forward, shielding Mu Zhi behind her and spinning a lie without a hint of hesitation.

“Master, Mu Zhi is somewhat sensitive to heat, so I made this garment for her.”

Chi Li’s tone was matter of fact, as if she were simply concerned for Mu Zhi’s well-being.

Hearing Chi Li’s words, Mu Zhi’s brow furrowed imperceptibly in confusion. However, catching the sideways glance Chi Li sent her, she immediately nodded with a smile.

“Yes, it’s true. Immortal Venerable Yilin, I really am very sensitive to heat. Back home in the summer, my mother always had to prepare plenty of ice or take us to a mountain villa to escape the heat for a while.”

Upon hearing Mu Zhi’s explanation, much of the doubt in Immortal Venerable Yilin’s heart dissipated. He shifted his gaze to Chi Li but said nothing further.

Mo Fan, standing to the side, instinctively lowered his head when the two arrived, not daring to look at them. However, the scorching heat outside the cave entrance was becoming unbearable. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up.

“Master, why is it so hot here? Aren’t we going to the Sword Pavilion?”

A disciple guarding the pavilion stepped forward after bowing to answer Mo Fan’s question.

“This junior brother might not know, but this Sword Pavilion is unlike others. Because the spirits of masterless swords are restless, molten fire is required to suppress them. That is why the pavilion was built here.”

Standing near the entrance, Mo Fan felt as though he was being baked dry. He could hardly stand it even while still outside, and his brow furrowed with growing worry.

Then, the disciple spoke again.

“If one’s spiritual root is of poor quality, it is highly likely they will perish inside the Sword Pavilion.”

The quality of his spiritual root was like a thorn in Mo Fan’s heart. At the disciple’s intentional or unintentional mention of it, Mo Fan’s expression shifted repeatedly, looking quite grim.

Mo Fan looked at the dark red glow deep within the cave with lingering fear, then asked hesitantly, “Is it… mandatory to go?”

Chi Li glanced at the guard disciple. Taking the hint, the disciple replied half-jokingly.

“Does this new junior brother not know? For a sword cultivator, not having one’s own sword is a supreme disgrace.”

In this early stage, Mo Fan possessed little strength. Though he was favored by the Heavens, he wasn’t favored by everyone or perhaps, to give him the motivation to “slap the faces” of everyone later on, he was currently disliked by many disciples in the sect.

Chi Li let out a cold laugh. Her voice was clear and indifferent, yet her words were a relentless, step by step interrogation.

“You can choose not to take a sword. But being a pill refiner requires talent beyond controlling spiritual fire; a musical cultivator must master the five rhythms, a talisman cultivator needs absolute control over spiritual energy and as for an artifact refiner…”

Chi Li paused, her icy gaze sweeping over him with a chilling scrutiny.

“If you were an artifact refiner, do you really think your frame could swing a giant sledgehammer?”

To put it simply: she was calling him an utter waste.

Mo Fan’s face turned deathly pale, and he cast a pleading look toward Immortal Venerable Yilin.

However, Immortal Venerable Yilin merely stared at the aggressive Chi Li for a moment before speaking.

“Chi Li is correct. You must work harder.”

The Immortal Venerable’s tone remained gentle, which brought some color back to Mo Fan’s face.

Mo Fan nodded, still not daring to meet Chi Li’s eyes. “Eldest Senior Sister is right to lecture me.”

Cowardly, insecure, arrogant…

Before meeting Mo Fan, Chi Li could not have imagined these traits coexisting in one person. A faint, mocking smile touched her lips.

As a transmigrator, Chi Li knew perfectly well that everything she had just mentioned would be easily mastered by Mo Fan later with the help of the Heavens, though it would also cost many spiritual artifacts and treasures.

But it was undeniable that the current Mo Fan was indeed a waste with the lowest possible aptitude.

The reason the Heavens insisted on Mo Fan walking the path of the sword was that one day in the future, he would obtain the Ancestral Master’s personal sword. It was as if the Heavens were forcing a powerful weapon into his hands just so he could go back and humiliate those who had looked down on him.

Thinking of this, Chi Li’s gaze deepened, reflecting the cavern ahead like a bottomless abyss.

Mo Fan’s sword was not here. His journey today would be in vain; any sword he pulled out would be nothing but useless scrap metal.

But she didn’t say a word, nor did she have any intention of warning him. In her heart, she still hoped he would simply die.

Immortal Venerable Yilin rubbed his aching temples and then produced an outer robe from somewhere.

“This is made of Ice Crystal Silk. It is exceptionally effective at warding off intense heat.”

Mo Fan was overjoyed and immediately took it. “Thank you, Master!”

Chi Li merely spared it a glance before looking away.

Compared to the dress she had made for Mu Zhi, this Ice Crystal Silk robe could indeed resist fire, but the flames inside the Sword Pavilion were no ordinary flames. What Mu Zhi wore was a unique, one of a kind treasure, what Mo Fan had was merely a common magical tool. The two could not be compared.

Mo Fan stroked the robe, feeling its coolness against his fingertips. He put it on immediately and was delighted to find the heat indeed stayed at bay.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Mo Fan spotted Mu Zhi standing next to Chi Li. After a moment of hidden thought, he spoke up hesitantly.

“Master, although Senior Sister Mu is not under your tutelage, she is entering with me. The molten fire in the pavilion is so fierce, it would be bad if she were injured. Therefore, I embolden myself to ask Master for another robe for her.”

As he spoke, he pulled his own robe tighter around himself.

Hearing this, the guard disciple couldn’t help but laugh as if he’d heard a joke. He quickly fell silent after a sharp look from Chi Li.

Mu Zhi’s pinky finger secretly hooked onto Chi Li’s hand, an intimate but not excessive gesture.

Chi Li spoke in a low voice that only the two of them could hear.

“Ignore him. The one you’re wearing is unique, and it’s the best.”

At this, a smile spread across Mu Zhi’s eyes, bright as peach blossoms and impossible to look away from. She replied in an equally small voice, unable to hide her joy.

“Senior Sister is the best.”

Mo Fan looked over and seemed captivated by Mu Zhi’s smile, his gaze lingering for a long time.

“She…”

Immortal Venerable Yilin frowned slightly. Seeing this, Mo Fan misunderstood and immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry, Master. Senior Sister Mu is, after all, the disciple of Immortal Venerable Shangling. You have no obligation to help her.”

His words seemed well-considered, but because he didn’t understand the relationship between Yilin and Shangling, his comment sounded like an accusation that Shangling neglected his disciple, or that the two masters were rivals.

Immortal Venerable Yilin’s frown deepened. Though his expression remained gentle, a hint of displeasure flickered in his eyes.

“Her things do not require my preparation.”

Mo Fan thought the Immortal Venerable was hinting that he was meddling. His voice became even more tentative as he addressed Mu Zhi.

“I’m sorry, Senior Sister Mu. I couldn’t help you.”

Mu Zhi already had a poor impression of him from earlier events. Having listened to his posturing for so long, she simply waved her hand.

“As Immortal Venerable Yilin said, I don’t need your concern.”

“But…”

Mo Fan didn’t want to give up. Before he could continue, the guard disciple, who had watched the whole scene, interrupted.

“Junior Brother, your eyesight must be poor. Anyone can see that Senior Sister Mu’s dress is worth a fortune.”

The disciple spoke subtly, trying to save some face for Mo Fan, but Mo Fan didn’t catch the hint. He scrutinized Mu Zhi’s clothes for a moment, his tone carrying a trace of suppressed pride.

“No matter how expensive a dress is, it’s useless here.”

His words were framed as worry, but they nearly made the guard disciple burst out laughing. Only the presence of Immortal Venerable Yilin kept him in check.

“She chose a simple style for beauty, but that doesn’t hinder the power of the artifact.”

Chi Li had no intention of sparing Mo Fan’s feelings and spoke coldly.

“Her clothes are more effective than yours. She doesn’t need your worry, she has me to care for her.”

Chi Li’s words were blunt. Mo Fan could only lower his head awkwardly and mutter, “Eldest Senior Sister is so good to Senior Sister Mu.”

As he spoke, an unreadable glint flashed deep in his lowered eyes.

Mu Zhi was the first to stand before the cave entrance. Her silhouette looked tiny against the bottomless darkness, yet she showed no fear in her movements. She smiled at Chi Li, her voice full of confidence.

“I won’t let Senior Sister down.”

At that moment, a wave of scorching heat surged from the cave, carrying a sound like a thousand wails, making it hard to withstand.

Chi Li’s eyes narrowed. As she stepped forward, the turbulent aura from the cave seemed to retreat. She stood beside Mu Zhi and said seriously:

“Mu Zhi, prioritize yourself in all things. Your safety comes first; no one else matters. If you feel yourself being compelled to help others against your will, crush the pearl immediately. You can also use the jade talisman to transmit your voice to me. No matter the time or place, I will surely appear at your side.”

It was a solemn and precious promise that made one’s heart tremble.

Mu Zhi clenched her hands hidden within her wide sleeves, suppressing a strange flutter in her heart. she turned and gave Chi Li a sweet smile.

“I know! Don’t forget, Senior Sister, my spiritual root is also highly gifted.”

Mo Fan waited until Chi Li stepped away before dawdling over to Mu Zhi. He said hesitantly, “Senior Sister Mu, let’s go in together.”

Mu Zhi didn’t even look at him. Her expression was full of pride as she spoke.

“No. I don’t like waiting for people, and I won’t wait for you.”

Without waiting for his reaction, she walked straight inside. She moved quickly, as if something foul and terrifying were chasing her. The heat rushing out made her dress flutter like sunlight reflecting off a rippling water surface.

Mo Fan stared blankly at her back until the darkness swallowed her.

Chi Li’s gaze was sharp. She glanced at Mo Fan and almost stepped forward to kick him into the cave, but Immortal Venerable Yilin raised a hand to stop her.

“Chi Li, you are being impulsive.”

Chi Li suppressed her emotions, lowered her eyes, and said indifferently, “Yes. I admit my fault.”