The Cold And Aloof Senior Sister Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 9

The silver sword was sliced cleanly in two by the golden thread, landing with a crisp crack among the dry leaves on the ground.

Yan Jue froze.

The golden threads fluttered softly through the air before winding back around her neck, forming once again a choker with three tiny golden bells dangling from it.

Where the sword had been suspended, a faint wisp of pale blue spiritual energy floated.

Yan Jue could hardly believe her eyes the so called Demon Suppressing Collar she’d bought for a handful of coins had just severed a celestial sword.

She stared at that wisp of blue energy for a long while before realization dawned on her. Quickly, she stood and raised her hand.

The light-blue spiritual energy gathered together slowly, condensing into a faintly colored crystal of ice.

In this novel’s setting, every immortal artifact had a core the essential material used in its forging.

Judging from the energy, the sword belonging to that Zhenhuo Sect disciple must have been forged with this icy crystal as its core.

Yan Jue’s principle was simple: she didn’t steal or rob but if someone crossed her first, they could hardly blame her for taking what was left behind.

With no guilt whatsoever, she tucked the crystal into her storage pouch.

Next, she picked up the two broken halves of the sword. The metal shimmered like translucent fish-scale silver smooth to the touch, yet lethally sharp at the edges.

Obviously valuable.

It would make fine material for refining or fetch a good price at the barter hall.

She slipped the two shards into her pouch as well.

When all was done, she suddenly froze a strange sensation was surging through her body.

It was the dead of winter, the air cold and biting.

Yet a torrent of heat rampaged within her chest.

Her pupils shrank. A flash of understanding crossed her mind.

Without hesitation, she sat cross legged and began to meditate on the spot.

The spiritual power in her chest circulated faster and faster, spreading through her limbs.

Moments later, her eyes flew open she had broken through! After struggling at the early Foundation stage for so long, this battle had propelled her to the next level.

Her body felt lighter, her movements freer. Rising to her feet, she reached up to remove the golden collar from her neck.

Frowning slightly, she murmured a spell of communication the collar vibrated sharply, slipped from her hands, and darted through the forest like a golden ribbon, weaving joyfully among the trees before fluttering back into her palms.

In the sunlight, it gleamed with a gentle luster, the three bells chiming sweetly in the wind.

Yan Jue couldn’t help smiling.

This Demon Locking Collar forged from Northern Sea Black Iron was no ordinary trinket. Could this be her first true stroke of fortune in this world?

As if sensing her thoughts, the collar gave a proud little tremor, as though agreeing.

She looked around at the silent woods and finally felt the chill cut through her again. With a sigh, she muttered:

“This world is full of unreasonable bullies… If I’m going to survive here, I’ll have to grow stronger.”

When Yan Jue returned to the Drunken Spring House, the two troublemakers from earlier were already gone likely off to search for their missing sword.

She exhaled in relief and went to speak with the madam.

The old woman was teary eyed with gratitude. “Immortal, I don’t know how to thank you!”

Yan Jue smiled. “It’s fine. Just light a lamp at the temple for the girls who died. That’s thanks enough.”

As they spoke in the main hall, Yan Jue caught many curious faces peeking down from the railings upstairs the girls whispering and staring in awe.

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

The madam nodded earnestly. “I’ll go to the Bodhisattva temple right away.”

Yan Jue gave a polite bow. “Then I’ll take my leave.”

She was just turning to go when someone called out behind her.

“Heroine!”

It was Rouyi the courtesan who, days ago, had quarreled with her bitterly over who got to stay in the “Morning Glow Pavilion.”

Rouyi stepped forward and bowed her head. “I must thank you for saving me. I was rude before. Please forgive me.”

Her attire today was simple and elegant, her long hair pinned neatly with a plain hairpin making her look even more delicate and charming.

Yan Jue smiled faintly. “No need.”

Rouyi hesitated, then blurted, “I don’t know how else to repay you… please, allow me to follow you.”

Yan Jue: “!?”

She coughed. “That… won’t be necessary.”

Given that this world was based on a harem novel, she wasn’t surprised that even the female characters had… skewed ideas.

She hated those stories where the male lead collected wives like trophies she’d be damned if she allowed that dynamic around her.

Seeing Yan Jue’s nervous refusal, Rouyi bit her lip. “Still, I cannot rest easy unless I repay you somehow.”

Yan Jue thought for a moment. “Then could you teach me a skill for self-defense?”

Rouyi blinked, surprised. “I have little to teach… though once, the Lady of Spring Blossom Cave taught me a little charm arts. I was not talented, so I only learned a bit but you, Heroine Yan, have natural allure. I could introduce you to her.”

Yan Jue: “Charm arts?!”

She forced a polite smile. “Thank you. If I ever have need, I’ll come find you.”

Rouyi looked at her sunlight brushing across Yan Jue’s fair face, her green skirts swaying lightly, her smile dazzling and alive.

A bell somewhere chimed softly ding-ding-ding crisp and clear.

Rouyi parted her lips to speak again… but couldn’t find the words.

Yan Jue wasted no time returning to the mountain, submitting her task token at the Mission Hall.

Though she had technically missed her deadline, she had already explained the situation via spirit pigeon, and the hall had granted her an extension even retracting the reposted task.

So she still got her reward.

Foundation disciples needed to complete three beginner missions before earning free travel privileges this marked her first.

One step closer to freedom.

The “reward,” though, was meager ten low grade spirit stones.

She then handed the elder three red pills looted from the black robed men. After inspecting them, the elder rewarded her with five more stones.

Afterward, Yan Jue went to the Refining Hall.

A disciple examined her pale crystal, frowning. “This is rare Xian Ice, from the Northern Peaks. Said to be ice from a sacred lake that never melts, even after a thousand years.”

Yan Jue, unfamiliar with such materials, asked honestly, “What should I do with it?”

The man considered. “It’s perfect for forging. You could sell it at the Five Dragon Market, but that would be a waste.”

Yan Jue turned the crystal over thoughtfully, then held out something else. “Then could you fuse it into this?”

The disciple blinked she was holding out a strange golden iron ring.

It was unconventional, but possible.

“That’s doable,” he said finally. “But the refining fee is five hundred mid-grade spirit stones.”

A fortune once. But not anymore.

Yan Jue simply nodded, producing the two broken sword pieces. “Then, can I sell these?”

The disciple studied them carefully. “Northern Stepping Stone Ore extremely hard. Perfect for throwing knives or daggers. But too small and cracked for a sword. We’ll buy them for 1,500 mid grade stones.”

Yan Jue waved casually. “Deal.”

Money was what she needed most right now.

Five Dragon Market
A bustling bazaar halfway up Bu zhou Peak, open to sect disciples selling artifacts, materials, scrolls, talismans, even custom weapons.

As soon as Yan Jue entered, she could feel eyes on her.

“Isn’t that the Water Cloud Sect girl flirting with Brother Chu?”

“Lucky bastard! A dual cultivation partner already at his age!”

“Bah! Brother Chu belongs to Senior Sister Qi! He’d never betray her!”

Yan Jue twitched her lips.

Brother Chu, the golden boy of Five Dragon Sect handsome, talented, with a wind spiritual root and a harem protagonist through and through.

The original novel had painted him as loyal and pure, devoted only to Qi Xianqing.

Yeah, right.

At the general store, the shopkeeper greeted her cheerfully. “What do you need, young miss?”

Yan Jue scanned the shelves. “Those jeweled hairpins, please.”

Heads turned immediately.

Hairpins cheap mortal trinkets, useless to cultivators.

She could almost hear the whispers:

“Buying hairpins again? She must be planning to seduce Brother Chu tonight.”

“So vulgar! Senior Brother would never fall for her.”

Yan Jue ignored them, paying ten low-grade stones for a dozen pins and a copy of Five Dragon Gazette, then left.

“Such a tasteless woman,” someone muttered behind her.

Deep within a cloud shrouded courtyard, Qi Xianqing entered gracefully, parting pale blue curtains to reveal a crimson bed.

A languidly reclining woman looked up her robes loose, her expression drowsy.

“Master,” Qi Xianqing knelt, her white robes immaculate, her beauty ethereal as moonlight.

Yun Zhen smiled lazily. “Your trip down the mountain smooth, I hope?”

“Yes. All went well,” Qi Xianqing replied, omitting the incident in Qingye Town.

“Good. The demonic sects stir again I’ve reported this to the elders.” Yun Zhen stretched. “And you? Any new insights?”

Qi Xianqing nodded solemnly. “I saw the devastation in the north. It was… enlightening.”

“Excellent. Go, then close yourself in meditation.”

Qi Xianqing bowed deeply. “I will give it my utmost.”

But Yun Zhen’s gaze suddenly caught on the faint bite mark on her neck.

“Xianqing,” she said sweetly, “I know training is stressful, but don’t overindulge in Hehuan Techniques. Don’t let anyone drain you dry.”

Qi Xianqing: “???”

Yun Zhen waved a hand several precious herbs floated off a shelf, landing at Qi Xianqing’s feet. “Take these tonics. Don’t be shy my best disciple deserves the best.”

Qi Xianqing left wordlessly, lips pressed tight.

Outside, her junior Zhou Leng perked up. “Senior Sister! So… which lucky guy did you, uh, cultivate with? Was he handsome?”

Qi Xianqing: “…”

Meanwhile, Yan Jue finished her errands and restocked on medicine her shoulder wound from the celestial sword still throbbed fiercely.

To a fox demon like her, immortal steel burned like poison.

Worse demon blood carried a potent scent. Anyone nearby with decent cultivation could detect it.

She had to treat it quickly.

Cutting through the women’s dormitory on Bu zhou Peak, she found the building strangely modern eight floors, rows of doors, and a long hallway on each level.

Here lived the outer disciples the ones too ordinary to be favored, yet still serving the sect in menial ways.

Yan Jue strolled along, skimming through her new Five Dragon Gazette. The paper featured sect news, gossip, and cultivation trivia.

Her eyes caught a small headline:

Dream Immortal Qi Xianqing Returns from Mission!

Mysterious bite mark on her neck rumored to have found a Dao partner?!

Yan Jue: “…”

Oh. My. God.

That bite mark was hers.

Heart pounding, she stared at the words when suddenly, movement at the end of the hall caught her eye.

Someone approached tall, graceful, dressed in white. A black sword strapped to her back.

Qi Xianqing.

Yan Jue froze.

No escape. In a panic, she darted into the nearest dorm room.

“Ahhh! Who are you?! Pervert!”

“Get out, you lecher!”

Yan Jue barely got out a flustered “Sorry!” before someone shoved her hard right on her wounded shoulder. Pain exploded through her body. She stumbled back straight into someone’s chest.

The air turned icy. Yan Jue stiffened. She didn’t need to look to know who it was Qi Xianqing.

For the third time. Her knees gave out. She dropped to the floor.

Qi Xianqing crouched before her, studying her face eyes like cold spring water, dark and fathomless, yet with a faint glimmer of amusement.

Yan Jue pressed her hands to the ground, inching backward.

The distance between them shrank until she could see the flawless pores of Qi Xianqing’s skin smooth as porcelain.

She must have sensed her demonic aura, Yan Jue thought, terrified.

Qi Xianqing tilted her head slightly, expression unreadable. Why did this girl look so frightened? She’d never been cruel to anyone and yet, this same girl who’d once challenged her so brazenly now trembled like a cornered rabbit.

Was she pretending? Probably. Most things about Yan Jue were.

Still… why pretend now?

Qi Xianqing narrowed her eyes, mind turning perhaps it had something to do with that Water Cloud Sect boy again.

She sighed inwardly. Such nonsense.

The faint scent of plum blossoms wafted from her, crisp and cold brushing against Yan Jue’s senses, making her heart race faster.

Yan Jue tried to hold her breath, but heat surged in her face.

Something warm trickled from her nose.

She touched it blood and tears. Qi Xianqing blinked then click a strange sound.

Yan Jue looked up.

Click. Click. Click…

Qi Xianqing held up a colorful wooden box a Shadow Capturing Device snapping picture after picture of Yan Jue’s terrified, tear-streaked face.