The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 45

Today, she would begin her revenge.

As evening approached, perhaps due to the unique nature of the secret realm, the distant horizon turned a dark crimson, as if splashed with fresh blood. It exuded an eerie, bone-chilling cold, while the occasional low growls of fierce beasts sent birds and animals scattering in terror.

In the treetops, two figures remained seated. The people below had not moved, and neither had they.

“After this secret realm closes, you’re going out, aren’t you?” Chi Li’s question broke the heavy silence.

By now, Xi Yu was no longer surprised by Chi Li’s ability to guess her next move. She sighed, her expression filled with impatience as she spoke.

“It wants me to go out, but it didn’t say what it wants me to do.”

There were no instructions, no mention of a return date, it simply didn’t intend for her to come back. Chi Li understood clearly, the Heavenly Way intended for Xi Yu to become an asset by Mo Fan’s side.

For Xi Yu, the secret realm only opened once every fifty years. Usually, she only had to stay out for a few symbolic days before returning to her long hibernation. The Heavenly Way’s command for her to leave now left her extremely irritable.

Chi Li’s eyes lowered slightly, an unreadable glint passing through them. After a moment of thought, she spoke to Xi Yu.

“After you go out, I can find someone to arrange a place for you.”

Chi Li calculated that it was nearly midwinter outside. Xi Yu would naturally need to enter hibernation. Xi Yu was startled that Chi Li would proactively offer help. After a moment of surprise, she asked cautiously:

“No work required?”

“None.”

Hearing Chi Li’s guarantee, Xi Yu relaxed slightly and replied casually, “Fine.”

To Xi Yu, any place to hibernate would suffice, especially since ordinary cultivators couldn’t possibly harm her. Noticing that Chi Li hadn’t proposed a trade or asked for a divine artifact, Xi Yu grew curious and asked:

“Aren’t you going to ask for some kind of payment?”

Chi Li remained indifferent, her voice calm. “If you want to give it to me, you will.”

Just as Xi Yu was about to laugh at Chi Li’s misplaced trust, she was suddenly struck by a splitting headache. With her level of cultivation, Xi Yu knew she wouldn’t fall ill so abruptly, she immediately suspected an ambush.

But only Chi Li was beside her, and she didn’t believe Chi Li would do such a thing. Chi Li’s expression turned cold. Xi Yu couldn’t make out what she was muttering.

“What?” Xi Yu asked, her face contorting in pain.

However, whatever Chi Li said next was unintelligible. It felt as though Chi Li, who was right beside her, was suddenly a world away, ethereal and blurring.

“How are you…” Before Xi Yu could finish, her voice cut off.

“Xi Yu!”

Before Chi Li could reach out to stop her, Xi Yu had already leapt from the treetop, walking toward the group resting below.

In an instant, a chilling wind swept through. The campfire the group sat around was extinguished, and a crushing pressure like the abyss collapsing, descended upon them. The overwhelming power made them tremble, unable to look directly at the newcomer.

At that moment, one person looked up. A massive shadow loomed over him, a creature with a human torso and a snake’s tail. Her face was cold and detached, her emerald slit pupils filled with a pitying gaze, like a deity looking down upon the world.

As her gaze met his, the disdain in Xi Yu’s eyes was replaced by a look of “admiration” as if the person from moments ago wasn’t her at all.

“Who is it?” Mo Fan’s voice trembled, yet he couldn’t hide his excitement.

Xi Yu did not answer. Her pressure grew stronger, forcing those below to shake uncontrollably. After a long silence, Xi Yu reached out, and an object appeared in her hand, faintly glowing with a golden aura.

With a single glance, everyone recognized it, the divine artifact they had been searching for. Everyone held their breath, wondering and hoping to see who Xi Yu would gift it to.

But this was a pre-arranged script. Xi Yu’s target was only one person.

Her gaze landed on Mo Fan. Her voice was deep and ethereal. “You and I share a destiny. I shall grant this to you.”

They had only met once, in fact, Mo Fan hadn’t even known her for more than fifteen minutes. Yet Mo Fan didn’t question this “destiny.” He suppressed the thrill in his eyes and bowed.

“I thank the Immortal for the gift of the divine artifact.”

While others had doubts, none dared to speak up. Just as Mo Fan reached out, the sound of a snapping branch rang out, followed by something whistling through the air. It was sharp and unstoppable.

Sensing a familiar aura approaching, Xi Yu raised her hand to block it, but her movement faltered, as if she had given up resisting.

The snapped branch wasn’t sharp, but in the next heartbeat, it sliced through a palm. As the scent of blood filled the air, the branch, which had been aimed at someone’s forehead, swerved and pinned a tattered hem of a robe deep into the ground.

Mo Fan stared at the branch piercing his clothes. His face turned deathly pale, and he bowed his head in terror. “Did I… did I offend you?”

As he spoke, he caught the schadenfreude in the eyes of those around him, and his expression darkened. When no answer came, Mo Fan fought his tremors and looked up cautiously, only to see Xi Yu staring down at her own hand.

The wound on her palm healed instantly. A drop of blood fell beside Mo Fan, and the dead grass beneath it instantly sprouted green shoots. Seeing this, a strange light flickered in Mo Fan’s eyes, quickly replaced by feigned fear.

“Immortal, the artifact…” Mo Fan’s voice was shaky, yet it carried an underlying tone of urgency, as if the item rightfully belonged to him.

Before he could finish, the sound of silver bells rang out, clear and enchanting. Mo Fan felt the shadow over him vanish. When he looked up, stunned, the space was empty.

Confusion filled everyone’s eyes, they didn’t seem to understand why they were all kneeling. Mo Fan tried to stand with the others but was tripped up, falling clumsily. He looked back at the branch pinning his robe. It was a bare branch, leaf-less and sharp as an arrow, driven deep into the earth.

Then, someone seemed to remember something and frowned. “Little Brother Mo, you still haven’t released our fellow disciples.”

At this reminder, the group seemed to recall the trapped disciples. They immediately surrounded Mo Fan, their accusations piling up. Mo Fan, thin and overwhelmed, frantically pulled out his chessboard. But he fumbled, and the board hit the ground. The pieces scattered, the formation vanished, but no one emerged.

Hidden in the treetops, Chi Li’s expression was indifferent. She tilted her head toward the scene below, tucked away her silver bells, and asked softly:

“How was it?”

Xi Yu was still shaken, but hearing Chi Li’s voice, she regained her composure and glanced warily at the group below. Chi Li chuckled.

“Was delivering the gift not enjoyable?”

Xi Yu could tell Chi Li wasn’t mocking her, so she didn’t take offense. She looked down at the flute in her hand that she hadn’t managed to give away.

“Do you still want it?” Xi Yu asked.

Chi Li didn’t speak, just looked at her with a smile. “Aren’t you afraid of its punishment?”

Xi Yu glanced inconspicuously at a certain point in space and sneered. “It told me to deliver the item, but it didn’t say who I had to give it to.”

Though what just happened proved the Heavenly Way intended for it to go to Mo Fan, Xi Yu had a temper. She could accept delivering a gift, but being forcibly controlled just because she chatted too much made her skin crawl.

The divine artifact in her hand now felt like a hot potato. Since it had to be given away, she refused to let that person below benefit from it.

Chi Li’s eyes darkened. She didn’t speak again but reached out her hand as she had before. This time, Xi Yu didn’t hesitate. She handed the item to Chi Li and felt an immediate sense of relief.

But before she could truly breathe, a crushing pressure descended upon her, a silent interrogation of her actions. However, the artifact was already gone. As she said, the Heavenly Way hadn’t specified the recipient. Giving it to anyone was still “giving.”

Xi Yu’s eyes flashed with disdain. She did not fear the pressure and made no move to take the item back. Chi Li looked down at the jade flute, her fingers tracing its carved patterns as her thoughts drifted to her past life.

In her previous life, Mo Fan had obtained this jade flute. Though he was unskilled in music and his playing was harsh and jarring, the artifact was powerful. Its sound could cause cultivators to lose their spiritual power entirely. The effect only worked on those with lower cultivation than the user, and the duration depended on the user’s strength.

“If you use it, the effect won’t wear off for at least ten days to half a month,” Xi Yu remarked.

As soon as she spoke, she saw Chi Li lift the flute to her lips, her eyes cold as ice.

“Wait!” Xi Yu tried to stop her, but it was too late.

The sound of the flute didn’t reach Xi Yu’s ears. Instead, she watched as the music seemed to target the miserable figure surrounded below. The melody was elegant but carried a sharp, crushing intent.

Mo Fan was bewildered. The pressure from the group around him left him no time to wonder where the sound came from. When he finally scrambled to pick up his chessboard and attempted to inject spiritual energy into it, he realized his meridians were empty. He couldn’t use a shred of spiritual power. He was no different from a commoner.

“My spiritual power… where is it?” he stammered, looking at his hands in horror.

The people around him overheard. One frowned and said, “Did you mess up the formation and suffer a backlash?”

Mo Fan panicked, trying repeatedly to circulate his energy, but it was futile. The crowd’s mockery grew bolder. Their words stung Mo Fan’s ears, forcing him to lower his head in shame.

Watching this from above, Xi Yu’s cold face twisted into a smirk. “He probably never intended to let those people out anyway.”

Then, remembering something, she turned to Chi Li in confusion. “You just used spiritual power? Why are you unaffected by the realm’s restrictions?”

Chi Li remained silent. She tucked the flute away, her face a mask of indifference, hiding the slight tremor in her hands. Suddenly, Xi Yu frowned, a flash of anger crossing her face, though she suppressed it due to Chi Li’s presence.

After a moment of thought, Xi Yu turned to Chi Li. “It probably fears he’ll die, so it’s making me follow him for the next few days.”

Chi Li thought Xi Yu was going to ask for her company, but Xi Yu’s next words were calm yet chilling.

“Is there anyone you dislike? I can deal with them for you while I’m at it.”

Chi Li was taken aback, then a smile played on her lips. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll make you kill the innocent?”

“I trust you,” Xi Yu replied. “You aren’t that kind of person.”