The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 13

“Did you get the sword today?”

A warm breeze brushed through the treetops, adding a touch of sweltering heat to the air.

Inside the Sword Pavilion, ever since Mu Zhi and Mo Fan entered, blood-like flames and molten fire, accompanied by sharp, clamoring spiritual energy, had swallowed them whole. The sudden, vibrating hum of swords rang in their ears, only to be forcibly suppressed and returned to silence by a heavy pressure emanating from a certain someone.

Standing outside the pavilion was a figure of elegant and noble poise. The curve of her fluttering robes was exquisite, making her appear as unreachable as a celestial being from the heavens, her slightly lowered eyes carrying a sense of compassion for all living things.

“Immortal Yilin, this disciple shall take his leave now.”

Pressured by the overwhelming aura, the guard disciple had no choice but to bow respectfully.

Immortal Yilin nodded slightly in response, and the disciple departed.

At this moment, only two people remained standing outside.

Immortal Yilin sensed a faint abnormality beside her. She glanced at Chi Li, who stood next to her. Chi Li remained as cool and proud as usual, but deep within her eyes, there was a trace of exhaustion and world-weariness that Yilin found difficult to understand, as if she had experienced something that caused her already cold heart to close off even further.

Noticing Yilin’s gaze, Chi Li’s expression remained unchanged. She looked back without a hint of fear, though her expression held respect, it was extremely distant.

Immortal Yilin pondered for a moment before breaking the silence.

“Chi Li, why is there a scent of spirit herbs on you? I recall that no spirit herbs are planted at your residence.”

Chi Li had not expected to hide everything from Yilin, but after a moment of thought, she offered a reasonable excuse.

“This disciple was worried that Junior Sister Mu wouldn’t sleep well since she just arrived, so I went to Pill Peak to get some sleep-inducing pills from Yun Xi.”

Hearing this, Yilin did not harbor much suspicion. She nodded and spoke.

“You certainly know how to look after her.”

Mentioning Mu Zhi caused Chi Li’s expression to soften slightly. She didn’t deny Yilin’s words, simply replying:

“Mm.”

Yilin watched the change in Chi Li’s expression; it was as if the person mentioned was someone she took great pride in.

A single leaf fell onto Chi Li’s hair, its splash of green looking like a decorative hairpin.

After a moment’s thought, Yilin reached out her hand, intending to brush the leaf away. However, as she drew near, Chi Li moved away imperceptibly, avoiding the touch.

Yilin frowned as she looked at the Chi Li who had dodged her. It wasn’t that she felt her dignity had been slighted, but rather that she saw a flicker of wariness deep in Chi Li’s eyes, which left her confused.

Chi Li had been under Yilin’s tutelage since she was very young. To Yilin and Shang Ling, this highly gifted disciple was like a daughter they had raised with their own hands.

She thought she knew Chi Li well enough, yet recently, she felt the girl had become a stranger.

Yilin felt no anger toward Chi Li’s sudden change, only a deep-seated heartache. No matter how she searched her memories, she couldn’t figure out why the child she had raised herself had changed so much.

The green leaf finally drifted down due to the movement, but the atmosphere between them grew even more stagnant.

Coming back to herself, Chi Li explained her actions.

“Master, I have been by your side for over three hundred years. I am no longer a child.”

Yilin looked deeply at Chi Li before speaking.

“Chi Li, I know you have your reasons for everything you do. If there is ever a time where I am in the wrong, you need not worry about the fact that I am your Master.”

Hearing this, Chi Li’s heart was stirred. Her hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, tightened slightly.

When not under the heavy influence of Mo Fan and the “Heavenly Way,” her Master was always this magnanimous even to the point of sacrificing her own life, even to the point of thinking her disciple’s coldness was due to her own mistakes.

Having been together for over three hundred years, Chi Li was one of only two people, the other being Immortal Shang Ling who knew Yilin intimately.

“Master.”

Chi Li spoke. Her tone was still cold, but a deeper layer of strange emotion bled through.

“Yes?”

Yilin smiled tenderly, waiting quietly for Chi Li’s next words. Her gaze was like that of an elder looking at a junior who needed comfort.

Chi Li opened her mouth, wanting to reveal the things Mo Fan would do in the future. However, she suddenly felt as if her throat were being pricked by needles. No matter how she tried, she could not expose Mo Fan or the Heavenly Way.

In the end, Chi Li was forced to give up, attempting only a very veiled warning.

“Master, you have done nothing wrong. But perhaps you need to distance yourself from certain people who might… influence you.”

Hearing this, Yilin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she quickly returned to her usual expression and joked half-seriously:

“If such a day truly comes, then your Master really will be finished.”

She paused, then added with a touch of gravity:

“I’ll say it again: if that time comes, do not show mercy.”

The two fell into silence once more. Knowing Chi Li was naturally laconic, Yilin could only sigh helplessly. She turned her gaze toward the Sword Pavilion and asked:

“What rank of spiritual sword do you think they will obtain?”

Chi Li’s eyes softened for a second, her voice carrying certainty and an unconscious pride.

“I believe in Mu Zhi. She deserves the best.”

Every word was an affirmation of Mu Zhi, she didn’t even mention Mo Fan.

Yilin said nothing more, but noticing the purple jade talisman hanging at her waist glowing, she said:

“I shall head back first.”

“I will wait here for Junior Sister Mu,” Chi Li replied.

Inside the Sword Pavilion, several longswords wailed, the ringing causing a splitting headache.

Mu Zhi frowned, taking a moment to adjust before slowly opening her eyes amidst the roasting heat of the molten fire.

The specially made dress she wore blocked the flames for her, ensuring she didn’t feel the surrounding heat. Instead, the scorching gusts felt like a cool breeze.

In contrast, Mo Fan, who followed behind her, looked pained and found it difficult to take even a single step.

Watching Mu Zhi move without any hindrance, a dark, unreadable look flashed in Mo Fan’s eyes. Enduring the pain, he called out to her.

“The dress the First Senior Sister prepared for you is truly wonderful.”

Mu Zhi caught the strange tone in his voice. She nonchalantly flicked a bead hanging from her hairpin and spoke indifferently.

“Why? Do you want a set of women’s clothing too?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Mu Zhi’s head throbbed with a sharp pain. She felt an instinctive urge to give the clothes to him.

Realizing what was happening, Mu Zhi took several deep breaths to steady herself. She felt more than ever that Mo Fan was a source of calamity that influenced her. Without waiting for him to speak, she hurried forward.

On the surrounding rock walls, countless swords were embedded halfway into the stone. Every blade still gleamed with a cold light that sent shivers down one’s spine.

Rather than a Sword Pavilion, this place was more like a Sword Grave.

Chi Li had infused a wisp of her primordial spirit into the bead on Mu Zhi’s hairpin, partly to protect her, and partly to know if Mo Fan would try anything in her absence.

Therefore, when Mo Fan said those words, Chi Li outside had heard them clearly.

Chi Li crossed her arms, her expression icy. The living creatures in her vicinity could not withstand her pressure and fled into the distance.

Mu Zhi could have traversed the Sword Pavilion freely even without the dress, but Mo Fan could not.

So, at this moment, Mo Fan likely felt that the clothes Mu Zhi was wearing should have belonged to him.

Thinking of this, Chi Li’s expression darkened. This had to be settled quickly.

Chi Li spoke slowly, alerting Mu Zhi.

“Mu Zhi, there is a sword not far to your front-left. That is your sword.”

The moment Chi Li’s voice came through the transmission talisman, Mu Zhi didn’t question how Chi Li knew which sword was hers. She immediately looked in the direction indicated. Indeed, there was a sword.

Unlike the other dull blades, its body emitted a soft luster, making it look as though it were wreathed in fierce flames.

For some reason, a voice echoed in Mu Zhi’s heart, that was her sword. It was a blade that belonged to her.

By the time Mu Zhi reacted, she was already standing in front of it.

As she approached, the halo on the sword grew stronger, as if it were excitedly responding to her.

Mu Zhi leaned down slightly, carefully examining the blade and the hilt, before whispering a name.

“Is your name Zhao Yuan?”

The moment the words left her mouth, the sword gave a resounding hum and appeared in Mu Zhi’s hand, nuzzling her like a pet seeking its master’s comfort.

Looking at the sword in her hand, Mu Zhi felt a flicker of joy.

Seeing this from a distance, Mo Fan frowned, then spoke with a hint of disappointment.

“Congratulations, Senior Sister Mu. I just wonder where my sword is?”

As he spoke, Mo Fan sighed, his expression becoming even more dejected.

Mu Zhi, who was about to leave, suddenly froze. She felt a strange urge to walk toward Mo Fan and help him.

“Mu Zhi.”

Chi Li’s voice, cold and sudden, snapped Mu Zhi back to her senses.

Mu Zhi looked at Mo Fan with a complex expression, then turned and headed deeper into the pavilion.

The further in one went, the harder it became to walk due to the molten fire. Mu Zhi moved faster, desperate to get away from Mo Fan.

She was now absolutely certain: being near Mo Fan would lead to misfortune and a loss of self-control.

Her hand instinctively gripped the jade talisman Chi Li had personally hung on her waist. Her fingertips traced the carved name, which finally allowed her heart to settle.

“Senior Sister, I… I feel like something is very wrong. I don’t want to help him, but it’s like I almost can’t control myself…”

When communicating with Chi Li through the talisman, Mu Zhi felt as though she had found her pillar of support. She poured out her grievances and fears while quickening her pace.

Then, Mu Zhi remembered something. She suppressed her emotions and looked back. The person behind her was following with a pained, distorted expression.

“Can I just…” Kill him.

Mu Zhi didn’t finish her sentence, it was as if she were being forcibly silenced by an invisible force, compelling her to abandon that thought.

Even though she didn’t hear the second half of the sentence, Chi Li guessed it.

Chi Li wanted to kill him too, but Mu Zhi’s sudden hesitation showed that she was being strongly interfered with. She couldn’t let Mu Zhi take the risk.

Chi Li’s eyes narrowed, her probing gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the dark red cave to see what lay within. Finally, she spoke soothingly.

“Mu Zhi, stay calm. You must keep going inward. Mo Fan won’t be able to keep up with you. He will likely stay near the entrance to influence you and prevent you from leaving.”

Hearing Chi Li tell her to go deeper, Mu Zhi didn’t hesitate. She headed straight in and asked Chi Li:

“Is there another exit further inside?”

Chi Li was silent for a moment before answering.

“No.”

Mu Zhi’s footsteps faltered. She looked up in surprise, the heat of the flames reflected in her pupils like a giant dragon coiling within. The moment it saw her, it lunged.

The roar of powerful spiritual pressure caused a buzzing in Mu Zhi’s ears. She could no longer hear Chi Li’s voice.