The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 41

Is her rebellious phase starting today?

After watching the last two people enter the secret realm, Chi Li felt a figure appear beside her. The faint, bitter scent of medicinal herbs clinging to the person let her know who it was, and she allowed herself to relax.

Seeing that Chi Li wasn’t acknowledging her, Yun Xi followed her gaze, noting that only a few people from various sects remained outside the entrance.

“They’re long gone, and you’re still staring? If you’re this reluctant to let her go, why did you let Junior Sister Mu go in at all?”

Yun Xi turned to look at Chi Li. Her tone was teasing, but it carried a genuine sense of confusion.

She didn’t understand. Chi Li had seen this secret realm many times and had even entered it herself. Why was she so tense this time, specifically because Mu Zhi was going in?

Yun Xi didn’t claim to be the person who knew Chi Li best, but even she could feel that behind this tension lay a strange, underlying fear.

Fear…

Thinking of this, Yun Xi tried to dismiss the impractical thought. But standing next to Chi Li, that sensation only grew stronger.

From the corner of her eye, Chi Li glanced at Yun Xi. Her gaze dropped, the shadow of her lashes masking the emotions in her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was cold, yet it harbored a trace of helpless uncertainty.

“I had no way to stop her from going in.”

Yun Xi had never seen Chi Li like this. This loneliness and aimlessness, though it only appeared for a fleeting moment before she returned to her usual self was a side of Chi Li that Yun Xi had truly never witnessed before.

In Yun Xi’s memory, Chi Li was always as cold and clear as the moon, as proud as a green pine. Seeing her this dejected was like seeing someone who had lost their most precious treasure and was powerless to recover it.

This thought made Yun Xi wonder for a moment if Chi Li had been possessed. She frowned, shaking off her shocked expression, and spoke to Chi Li in a half-joking manner.

“Are you really alright? Let me see if you’ve developed a fever behind my back.”

Yun Xi reached out to check the other’s pulse, but Chi Li subtly avoided her hand and shot her a glance.

Yun Xi immediately understood. She dropped her playful demeanor, her brow furrowing as she looked thoughtfully at the entrance of the secret realm. She asked hesitantly:

“Is everything really okay?”

“It’s fine,” Chi Li replied. Beneath the indifference in her eyes was a look of serious certainty.

“Have you decided?” Yun Xi asked, her tone turning solemn.

Chi Li nodded, her expression cold as she replied, “I have thought about it for a long time.”

“No regrets?” Yun Xi asked again, hoping to persuade her one last time.

“None.”

Chi Li’s final answer was a single word, delivered with an undeniable conviction.

They walked until they reached a secluded spot where a formation suddenly manifested beneath their feet. Complex runes glowed with a piercing light, surrounding them and emitting an invisible, powerful pressure.

Yun Xi scanned the formation. Once confirmed, she spoke to Chi Li.

“The array is ready for you. I will protect your body until you return.”

“Thank you. Sorry for the trouble,” Chi Li said, her voice tinged with apology.

As the two sat cross-legged, Yun Xi began forming hand seals. Her next words broke the heavy silence.

“Why take such a risk?”

“She cannot be allowed to come to harm,” Chi Li gave her non-negotiable reason, her voice filled with persistence.

Hearing this, a flash of mischief crossed Yun Xi’s eyes. Interested, she pressed further.

“And why can’t she be allowed to come to harm?”

It was as if she were asking the question on behalf of someone else, seeking an answer for them.

Chi Li’s brow furrowed at the question. She didn’t answer for a long time.

“Why?” Yun Xi persisted, refusing to let her off the hook.

Chi Li’s frown deepened. Whether she was contemplating the answer or evading the question was unclear. Finally, she spoke coldly:

“Focus on the task.”

Seeing that she wouldn’t get an answer for Mu Zhi just yet, Yun Xi sighed helplessly and muttered under her breath:

“Calling you a blockhead is an overestimation.”

Since they were the only two there, Chi Li heard her perfectly.

“What do you mean, ‘us’?”

Yun Xi laughed but intentionally said nothing more.

The light from the formation began to shimmer with golden hues, it was both powerful and extremely dangerous.

Chi Li didn’t bother further with Yun Xi’s words. As she closed her eyes and circulated her spiritual energy, a translucent, ethereal figure appeared beside her.

“Take care,” Yun Xi said, looking at the phantom figure.

“Mm.”

The response was ethereal, sounding as if it came from far away.

When Yun Xi looked again, the phantom figure had already walked off. The figure was tall and slender, it was Chi Li.

The secret realm only allowed cultivators below the Golden Core stage. Chi Li’s cultivation was too high, if she went in with her physical body, the realm’s master would surely detect her and block her entry.

During this time, Chi Li had researched countless ancient texts and methods before finding this specific formation. This array allowed her soul to leave her body. If controlled properly, she could bring a portion of her cultivation with her soul.

Chi Li had tested it beforehand to ensure she could suppress her soul’s cultivation below the Golden Core stage before attempting to enter.

However, this was inherently dangerous. While her soul was away, her physical body would be vulnerable. This was why she had asked Yun Xi to guard her.

Mu Zhi did not know of her plan. And Chi Li had never actually promised Mu Zhi that she wouldn’t take any risks.

At the entrance of the secret realm, Immortal Yilin was about to leave when she felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

She glanced at the entrance but saw nothing out of the ordinary. After looking around and failing to find the person she was looking for, she asked the person beside her in a gentle voice:

“Where did Chi Li go?”

Immortal Shangling frowned in thought before answering, “I think I saw her leaving with that girl Yun Xi just now.”

Immortal Yilin suppressed the strange emotion in her heart and said with a frown, “That child is stubborn. Once she decides on something, I can’t change her mind. If she does something at a time like this…”

Immortal Shangling patted her back and comforted her jokingly, “What else can we do? Don’t we both have to give in to her? She’s grown up and has a sense of propriety. Don’t worry so much.”

But Chi Li was raised by Immortal Yilin. Even though she knew Shangling was right, she didn’t want Chi Li doing anything life-threatening.

After a moment of thought, Yilin glared at Shangling.

“It’s because you spoiled her.”

Shangling laughed, not denying it, and countered, “Don’t you spoil her too?”

Yilin pursed her lips and turned away, ignoring him.

Shangling chuckled helplessly, walked to the side she was facing, and patiently coaxed her.

“It will be a few days before they come out. Let’s head back first.”

When she continued to ignore him, Shangling leaned in and coaxed her a few more times. Finally, she let out a cold snort, but instead of leaving alone, she took his hand, and they left together.

The secret realm was filled with abundant spiritual energy, making it an ideal place for cultivation. However, it was also chilling and terrifying. Demon beasts with eerie, glowing eyes lurked in the corners, watching like predators choosing their prey.

Although the sect disciples were prepared, the hidden dangers still made their skin crawl. They remained alert, hardly daring to breathe.

Mu Zhi followed close to He Wen. She tried to inject spiritual energy into her jade talisman, only to find that, as Chi Li had warned, all contact with the outside world was cut off inside the realm.

“It really doesn’t work…” Mu Zhi muttered.

Seeing Mu Zhi’s disappointed expression, He Wen spoke up.

“Junior Sister Mu, you shouldn’t keep trying. Eldest Senior Sister can’t hear you from here.”

Mu Zhi had no choice but to put the talisman away. Just as she was about to ask where they were going, she spotted a figure approaching out of the corner of her eye.

Seeing the person, Mu Zhi’s brow furrowed instantly. She spoke with annoyance:

“That jinx is coming to mess with me again.”

He Wen didn’t ask questions. She glanced at the approaching figure and said to Mu Zhi:

“Eldest Senior Sister told me about a place where no beasts will disturb us. I see you look tired, Junior Sister; I’ll take you there now.”

Mu Zhi knew it was just an excuse, but seeing Mo Fan getting closer, she immediately grabbed He Wen’s hand and urged:

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

With Mu Zhi’s agreement, He Wen’s expression remained unchanged as she led Mu Zhi through a series of rapid turns. The thick brush and countless trees quickly hid their figures, leaving the person following them hesitant to continue for fear of danger.

“Junior Brother Mo, why aren’t you following?” someone asked, noticing Mo Fan’s hesitation.

Mo Fan smiled apologetically and said, “I saw Junior Sister Mu hadn’t caught up, and I was worried she might be in danger.”

The person looked in the direction Mu Zhi and He Wen had gone, thought for a moment, and said:

“Junior Sister Mu is with Senior Sister He. Eldest Senior Sister likely gave her instructions, she’ll be fine.”

A flicker of something unidentifiable passed through Mo Fan’s eyes. He frowned deeply and said:

“That won’t do. There’s safety in numbers. I should go bring Junior Sister Mu back.”

“If Junior Sister Mu knew you cared so much…”

Before the person could finish, a sudden, bone-chilling gust of wind swept past them, catching them off guard like a slap to the face.

The wind came and went in an instant, leaving everything calm again.

The person was stunned for a moment before muttering, “For a second, it felt like Eldest Senior Sister was here…”

As soon as they said it, they shuddered and dismissed the impossible thought.

Under the layers of ancient trees, a figure seemed to be walking in the opposite direction. Everywhere the figure stepped, demon beasts growled, some in warning, some in fear.

A long sword was held in hand, its cold glint flashing. The killing intent within it forced back any hidden dangers waiting to strike.