The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 37

What can they find out today?

Last night, Mu Zhi did not knock on Chi Li’s door requesting to sleep together. Instead, the candlelight in Chi Li’s room flickered all night long. The two of them remained in their respective rooms, seemingly focused on their cultivation.

Early the next morning, both doors opened simultaneously.

Hearing the sound from the other side, Mu Zhi immediately turned her head. Her smile was bright and flamboyant, outshining even the distant morning sunlight.

“Senior Sister.”

Her voice was sweet, carrying the nasal tone of someone who had just woken up, soft, waxy and laced with a hint of coyness.

Perhaps because she had just committed a bit of “mischief,” she looked particularly radiant. Yet, the moment she saw Chi Li, she seemed to recall the “grievances” of the previous night. She ran over and threw herself directly into Chi Li’s arms.

Chi Li did not dodge. She naturally drew the girl into her embrace, her movements so fluid that one might overlook the intimacy of the gesture.

Her long, elegant hand brushed through Mu Zhi’s soft hair. Lowering her eyes to study the girl’s face, Chi Li paused for a moment, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly as she spoke softly.

“Did you not sleep well last night?”

Hearing this, Mu Zhi rubbed her nose guiltily. She didn’t admit it, however, and instead continued to smile.

“No, I slept very well.”

But Chi Li’s frown deepened. She reached out and pinched Mu Zhi’s chin. The gentle action forced the girl to look her in the eye. Chi Li’s gaze scanned Mu Zhi’s face inch by inch, taking in her complexion so thoroughly that the guilty Mu Zhi had to look away.

This small movement did not escape Chi Li. Her lips thinned before she spoke.

“You look even sleepier than usual. You must not have slept well.”

Mu Zhi hadn’t expected Chi Li to observe her so closely. A feeling like warm spring water spread through her heart, rippling with emotion.

Recovering her senses, Mu Zhi laughed and pulled a random excuse.

“I’ve gotten used to sleeping in the same bed as Senior Sister. Without you, I can’t sleep well.”

These words carried an overtone of excessive intimacy, like a hunter exposing themselves to their prey. One wrong move, and the prey would flee.

Only after saying it did Mu Zhi realize her face was burning. Afraid that Chi Li would notice her agitation, she immediately buried her head in the other woman’s shoulder.

Heat radiated through the fabric and Mu Zhi’s subconscious nuzzling created a slight, itchy sensation.

However, Chi Li merely thought it over for a moment, nodded seriously, and spoke with a hint of apology.

“It was my fault last night. Seeing that you didn’t come over, I assumed you had already fallen asleep.”

Mu Zhi’s movements paused. She secretly curled her lips into a smile, but ultimately dropped the subject.

The prey had not noticed the hunter’s bow and arrow, believing instead that flowers were hidden behind their back. Such dullness made the hunter hesitate to press further, choosing instead to stay hidden.

Although Chi Li sensed something slightly off with Mu Zhi’s mood, she simply attributed it to “morning grumpiness” and didn’t think much more of it.

By the time they reached the Sect Master’s Hall, the interior was already a cacophony of noise. It was impossible to tell what was being discussed.

Mu Zhi looked at the commotion and caught sight of two familiar figures. She felt a surge of annoyance.

Yun Xi didn’t seem to want to go inside either, she was sitting at the entrance, looking bored. When she saw the two of them arrive, her eyes lit up and she stood up immediately.

“Senior Sister Yun,” Mu Zhi greeted her with a smile.

Yun Xi brushed off non-existent dust from her clothes and said, “You’ve finally arrived. I’ve been sitting here listening to this for ages.”

Remembering something, Yun Xi pulled Mu Zhi aside and whispered mysteriously:

“Was the thing I gave you useful?”

Mu Zhi recalled how Pang Fei had nearly been scared out of his wits the night before. She lowered her voice in kind.

“It was useful. He’s easily frightened. It’s just…”

Mu Zhi paused, then added with some regret, “It’s just that my cultivation isn’t high enough.”

Yun Xi understood what she meant by “cultivation isn’t high enough.” She was a bit surprised that Mu Zhi, despite her harmless face, possessed a heart that lacked any inclination toward mercy, very much in the style of Chi Li.

Thinking of this, Yun Xi comforted her.

“Ah, that’s my fault. I forgot to give you some pills to boost your spiritual power.”

Mu Zhi’s eyes brightened at the mention of such things. She held out her hand expectantly.

“Give them to me now, Senior Sister Yun. I’ll have the servants bring up more of the things you like.”

Since Yun Xi’s master went into secluded meditation, Yun Xi had been craving certain luxuries. Hearing Mu Zhi’s promise, she agreed without hesitation but added a warning:

“Chi Li said you are approaching the Golden Core stage. Although these pills boost spiritual power, they also intensify the Lightning Tribulation. You should wait until after you successfully form your core to use them.”

Mu Zhi tucked the jade gourd full of pills into her robes. Once they were hidden, she returned to Chi Li’s side.

Chi Li looked at Mu Zhi’s visibly improved mood but didn’t ask what the two had been whispering about.

When Yun Xi walked over, Chi Li glanced at the chaotic hall. She frowned, although she had a rough idea of what was happening, she asked anyway.

“What’s going on in there?”

At this, Yun Xi’s brow furrowed.

“That Eldest Senior Brother from the Jijian Sect was found unconscious in his quarters this morning by his fellow disciples. The disciples from the Medicine Peak checked on him. They said he was just excessively frightened, but…”

Yun Xi bit her lip and said in a heavy tone:

“His face was peeled off.”

As she spoke, Yun Xi glanced thoughtfully at Mu Zhi, only to find that Mu Zhi also appeared shocked and frowned upon hearing the news.

Yun Xi had originally suspected Mu Zhi, but the girl’s reaction suggested otherwise. Furthermore, given Mu Zhi’s cultivation, even with powerful magical tools, it would be impossible for her to skin a man alive and then scare him unconscious.

If it wasn’t Mu Zhi, then…

A realization dawned in Yun Xi’s mind. Her gaze shifted to Chi Li. The latter’s expression was perfectly normal, revealing nothing. However, Yun Xi seemed to have figured something out, as she suddenly burst into laughter.

Hearing the laughter, and before Chi Li could even glance her way, Yun Xi’s gaze darted between the two of them. It was a look that made one’s skin crawl. Then, Yun Xi offered her evaluation:

“The two of you really share the same black heart.”

Chi Li heard the teasing but didn’t fully grasp the underlying meaning. She didn’t argue, turning her gaze toward the hall.

The secret realm had not yet officially opened, so the disciples of the various immortal sects were gathered in the Sect Master’s Hall. Consequently, the weak, supported figure in the center became the focus of everyone’s discussion.

The man hunched over in pain. His face was a gruesome, terrifying mess of bloody flesh where the skin had been removed. It was so horrifying that if he weren’t wearing the robes of the Jijian Sect, no one would have recognized him as the “refined and moon like” Eldest Senior Brother.

Pang Fei was supported by his junior brothers. Under the gaze of the crowd, he clenched his teeth, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.

A disciple from the Jijian Sect stood up. With an indignant expression, he questioned the seated Sect Master Shang Ling.

“May I ask the Sect Master of the Cangqing Sect, your disciples were negligent in their guard duties, allowing a demon-ghost to enter and harm our Eldest Senior Brother. Does Immortal Shang Ling intend to give us an explanation?”

Immortal Shang Ling’s expression was indifferent. Her gaze, which scrutinized the people below, carried a natural majesty. Upon hearing the question, she let out a cold chuckle.

“Oh? A demon-ghost?”

The drawn out ending of her sentence carried a pressure that made hearts tremble.

Pang Fei’s bloodshot eyes hid his malice. He spoke in a raspy voice.

“Yes. A demon-ghost is hiding within the Cangqing Sect.”

As his words fell, a wave of discussion broke out again, filled with unease and complaints about the Cangqing Sect’s lack of security.

These voices reached the ears of those above. Immortal Shang Ling frowned. Then, a hand covered the back of hers, offering a gentle, calming touch.

“Shang Ling, do not be angry.”

Just a few simple words were enough to smooth Shang Ling’s brow.

Qi Er, the Peak Master of the Medicine Peak, whispered something into Shang Ling’s ear with a grave expression. This caused Shang Ling’s gaze toward Pang Fei to grow even colder, and her subsequent words were chilling.

“Are you truly certain it was the work of a demon-ghost?”

Pang Fei struggled to breathe under the pressure radiating from her, but he forced himself to speak.

“I don’t know… but it could also have been the Demon Race…”

The moment he said this, it sparked another massive uproar.

The immortal sects were led by the Cangqing Sect, whose strength was formidable. If what Pang Fei said was true, then perhaps no one in the immortal path could stand against the Demon Race.

Immortal Shang Ling frowned again. Before she could speak, Mo Fan stepped out from among the disciples and bowed.

“Immortal Shang Ling, this disciple implores you to strictly investigate this matter. I am also willing to assist in the investigation.”

Seeing Mo Fan volunteer himself, Shang Ling who already knew how absurd this situation was, initially wanted to refuse. However, for some reason, looking at his figure, a sense of admiration involuntarily appeared in her eyes. Along with the people around them, the topic of discussion quickly shifted to Mo Fan.

Mo Fan enjoyed being the center of praise and attention, a look of triumph growing on his face.

Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out, causing the surroundings to fall silent for a heartbeat.

“Investigate what?”

The voice arrived before the person.

Following the sound, everyone’s eyes turned to the source. They saw a newcomer with features like a painting but an expression as cold as ice. Every movement she made seemed to step on the hearts of others, making them look away in sudden panic.

The girl following beside her was pretty, but her demeanor carried traces of the woman next to her, like a flower in bloom that had grown thorns, warning others not to covet it.

The attention of the crowd was drawn to them, and people gradually forgot the man they had just been discussing.

Seeing them, a flash of gloom appeared in Mo Fan’s eyes, but it was quickly hidden.

They entered the hall, their gazes sweeping over the crowd before finally landing on the man who looked half-dead. Their expressions were identical in their coldness, hiding a sliver of regret that they hadn’t managed to kill him.