The Cold And Aloof Senior Sister Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 18

Night had fallen deep over Magistrate Chen’s residence.

Madam Chen was leaning against her couch, reading a book.

The curtain suddenly lifted, and someone stepped inside.

Madam Chen jumped, startled and when she looked carefully, she saw that the man who entered was fair and handsome, his face like polished jade, a beauty mark on his left cheek. A warm smile played on his lips as he walked toward her.

When he reached the side of the couch, he suddenly grabbed Madam Chen’s shoulder and pushed her down.

Madam Chen gasped, “Who are you?! Help! Someone help!”

The man’s expression turned fierce. He struck her hard across the face. Madam Chen’s pupils shrank in horror before her eyes, the handsome man’s face twisted into something hideous, covered in yellowish fur.

The servants standing watch outside heard the commotion and rushed in. “Madam! Madam, are you all right?”

But when Madam Chen turned toward the door in terror, she saw that the two servants who had entered also had faces covered with that same sickly yellow fur. In the dim light, their thin fanged mouths stretched into ghastly grins.

“Madam, don’t be afraid,” they said. “We’re right here.”

The quiet night was broken by a woman’s scream that echoed through the house.

“Ahhh!!!”

After a night of ritual treatment, Madam Huang’s condition had improved greatly by morning.

When Yan Jue went to see her, Madam Huang was still lying in bed. She managed a faint smile at Yan Jue, though her face was pale.

Duan Luxi made sure to give Yan Jue credit. “It was this Lady Yan who rescued you last night.”

Madam Huang blinked, then propped herself up with difficulty and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Lady Yan, for saving me.”

Yan Jue and Duan Luxi exchanged a smile. “No need for thanks it was everyone’s effort.”

Qi Xianqing lifted her brow slightly but said nothing.

According to Duan Luxi, Madam Huang was now in a state called “soul return” after summoning a person’s lost soul back, the body would be extremely weak for a time.

Madam Huang was lucky. She managed to talk with them briefly before exhaustion overtook her again.

Throughout the visit, she never once looked at Chu Fu. When her gaze did accidentally fall upon him, it was filled with disgust.

Chu Fu stood behind them all, face calm and proud, as if nothing from last night’s illusion had happened.

He had already apologized to his senior sister for what had occurred, and she had offered him guidance.

As long as his senior sister forgave him, that was enough.

Yan Jue looked at Madam Huang, her thoughts churning.

If Madam Huang, in her soulless trance last night, had been defiled by Chu Fu, her fate would have been sealed forever.

A person’s life should be their own to control not something to be ignored just because the ending was already known.

It was thanks to Qi Xianqing that she had realized that.

That morning, when Yan Jue woke up, she felt a dull ache in her chest again.

She knew why the love story between the male and female leads had gone completely off course because of her interference.

There seemed to be an unseen force in this world, a rule that bound her to the original plot.

Thinking of this, she quietly took out a small jar of mosquito-sprite ointment she had bought the day before, and when Qi Xianqing wasn’t looking, she placed it beside her.

Chu Fu was standing behind them, as were she and Duan Luxi.

Qi Xianqing’s attention was all on Madam Huang she likely wouldn’t notice.

Which meant there was a chance Chu Fu might also have placed the ointment there.

If Qi Xianqing didn’t know who had done it, she might think it was from him.

Wouldn’t that help nudge their relationship back onto the proper romantic track?

When Yan Jue thought this through and set the ointment down, the pain in her chest eased noticeably.

“…”

It actually worked? What a ridiculous rule.

And truth be told, her own mosquito bites from last night were barely noticeable using medicine for them was a waste.

Still, even though Qi Xianqing looked gentle on the surface and was really a snake underneath and had scared her last night it would be a shame to waste the ointment.

Having placed it down, Yan Jue followed Duan Luxi out. Qi Xianqing was kneeling by the bed, checking Madam Huang’s pulse.

Once she confirmed the pulse was steady and the evil presence gone, she stood up.

Something rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a soft thud. Qi Xianqing blinked.

A small green bottle rolled a few inches away it must have been placed beside her and accidentally knocked down.

To make sure she knew what it was for, someone had even written the words “To repel mosquito sprites” on the label.

Since it had been placed by her side, it was clearly meant for her.

She hadn’t noticed who did it; her focus had been on Madam Huang.

The group consisted mostly of new disciples shy and soft spoken.

Who else would do a good deed without leaving a name? There weren’t that many of them, after all.

Qi Xianqing turned her head. Behind her stood Chu Fu, head high, expression proud.

At the doorway, a figure in pale blue robes disappeared from view.

Yan Jue quickened her pace, almost slipping out the corridor, when a calm voice called behind her:

“Junior Sister Yan.”

She turned. “Ah? What is it?”

Qi Xianqing’s arm was still swollen and itchy beneath her sleeve painful too.

Normally, a mosquito-sprite bite wouldn’t swell like this, but her special constitution made it worse.

She had long been used to it and rarely bothered with ointment.

Qi Xianqing simply said, “Thank you.”

Yan Jue blinked. “Huh? What are you thanking me for? I think that was… Chu Fu who put it there.”

Qi Xianqing’s eyes narrowed slightly. She turned and went back inside.

The mission concluded smoothly.

Qi Xianqing hadn’t interfered much; the others had handled everything well.

Old Master Huang saw them off with deep gratitude. “A pity my wife is still ill and cannot bid you farewell herself. But she was very pleased to hear our daughter is healed. This”he handed over a pouch “is her token of thanks.”

Yan Jue peeked inside gold, glittering bright.

She was unmoved. Five Dragon Gate had strict rules against disciples keeping money earned in the mortal world; all such rewards had to be turned in.

Even gold gifts from clients belonged to the sect.

She glanced toward Qi Xianqing, who was frowning thoughtfully.

Sometimes, Yan Jue felt she could never truly read her.

Qi Xianqing rarely spoke unless necessary or when teasing her.

As they walked out of the city gate, Duan Luxi said cheerfully, “Yan Jue, if you ever need anything at Five Dragon Gate, come find me. I’m from the Wood Yin Sect not far from your Water Cloud Sect.”

“Oh, and I forge swords in my spare time! Too bad I don’t have enough experience to join the Weapon Hall yet. But if you’ve got any magical artifacts that need reforging, bring them to me I promise you’ll be satisfied!”

Yan Jue laughed. “Thanks. I’ll do that.”

“No problem!” Duan Luxi grinned.

They were chatting when the sudden clatter of hooves echoed from afar.

A Taoist priest on a tall black horse raced past them, the wind from his mount whipping at their robes.

A Taoist riding a horse that fast was rare.

They continued walking, but soon another rider thundered past this time an elderly Taoist with white hair, his horse galloping hard.

Duan Luxi nearly got hit. “What the? Watch where you’re going!”

The old priest pulled the reins sharply, his horse rearing and neighing.

Qi Xianqing asked calmly, “Excuse me, Daoist has something happened?”

The man turned, paused briefly at the sight of her face, then smiled ingratiatingly. “A grave case at the Chen residence! Their young lady has suddenly gone mad. They’ve called us from Qianqing Temple for aid!”

The world was full of cultivation sects not just the Six Great Sects, but countless smaller ones as well.

Qianqing Temple was one such sect, located northwest of Five Dragon Mountain, and fairly well known.

Duan Luxi frowned. “Mad? Again?”

Yesterday, they had gone to cure Madam Huang’s supposed madness.

The Taoist nodded briskly. “Yes, yes! She’s lost her mind completely!” He snapped his whip and galloped off again.

Moments later, another Taoist dressed the same rode by.

Qi Xianqing raised a hand to stop him. “Are you heading to Nanxing Town to exorcise spirits?”

The Taoist blinked. “Yes! The lady of the Jiang family in the north of town is possessed by an evil spirit. I was summoned to help!”

Another one?

Duan Luxi asked, “Not Madam Huang? We just exorcised her yesterday.”

The priest shook his head impatiently. “No! Madam Jiang this time she’s gone mad! Bah, I’ve no time to chat. There are too many mad ladies in this city tonight!” He spurred his horse and vanished down the road.

Yan Jue frowned. Madam Chen, Madam Jiang… multiple noblewomen?

So many women suddenly losing their minds right after they’d finished with Madam Huang?

Yan Jue said quietly, “Let’s go see.”

Qi Xianqing said at the same moment, “We’ll go look.”

They both fell silent, turning to each other.

Qi Xianqing already looked grim, hand on her sword, Zhu Ying. Without another word, she strode ahead.

At the Chen residence.

Old Master Chen had chosen Qianqing Temple because it was closer than Five Dragon Gate, but when he heard that cultivators from the latter had also come, he welcomed them in respectfully.

When Yan Jue entered the room, she saw a young lady lying on the bed beautiful as a flower, eyes half-open and hazy, a faint, lovesick smile curving her lips.

From beneath the quilt, her pale hand stretched out, groping at the air just like Madam Huang had done before.

Yan Jue stared.

The gestures were identical.