Training the Villain to Become a Big Sister Obsessed - Chapter 132

Currently, the protagonist, Xie Qingshuang, was on the brink of death before her eyes. Regardless of whether the person in her dream was trustworthy, Lan Shanjun could not simply stand by.

The Seed of Life flew out from Lan Shanjun’s hand and slowly sank into Xie Qingshuang’s body. In an instant, the surrounding spiritual energy solidified, then surged wildly, pouring into Xie Qingshuang’s meridians. Her meridians, which had already been pushed to their limit, instantly healed and widened. The woman’s complexion improved, and her body floated in the air, maintaining a meditative posture.

After approximately fifteen minutes (the time it takes for an incense stick to burn) for the spiritual power to integrate, Xie Qingshuang opened her eyes.

Lan Shanjun asked, “Senior Sister Xie, do you feel better?”

Xie Qingshuang nodded slightly. Previously, she had been in agonizing pain from the spiritual power clashing inside her, but she retained some awareness. She knew who had been looking after her and protecting her all this time, who had painstakingly found the Seed of Life only to have it stolen, and who, despite being severely injured herself, still went out to find an opportunity to save her.

She withdrew her gaze from Ming Yu and raised a hand, solemnly bowing to Lan Shanjun. “Lan Shan, thank you for this time.”

Lan Shanjun lifted her hand. “Senior Sister Xie, there is no need for such courtesy. We are fundamentally… fellow disciples.”

The words slipped out, and realizing her mistake, she quickly amended, “Regardless of anything, Senior Sister Xie will always be my Senior Sister.”

A hint of a smile appeared on Xie Qingshuang’s face. Looking at the person before her, her demeanor softened a little, losing some of its former sharpness. She sighed wistfully, “Lan Shan, I once entertained the thought of attacking you. Hearing your words now makes me feel ashamed. Master… no, the Valley Master taught that the deep affection between fellow disciples should never be forgotten, yet I forgot it completely. I am truly unworthy to be her apprentice.”

“And also unworthy… to cultivate the Dao of Emotionlessness.”

Lan Shanjun was alarmed, wondering why Xie Qingshuang’s Dao Heart was unstable right after her breakthrough.

“Lan Shan, the Ruins Realm is not bound by the Heavenly Dao. Do you think it is feasible for me to directly switch to cultivating a different Dao?” Xie Qingshuang inquired, seeking advice.

“No, absolutely not.” Lan Shanjun waved her hands and shook her head vehemently. She took hold of Xie Qingshuang’s hand and looked at her seriously. “Senior Sister Xie, changing one’s Dao must be taken seriously. You have cultivated diligently for many years to reach this level; how can you just change it? If the Valley Master were to know, she would likely be even angrier.”

How could she change? She mustn’t change! If she changed, where would Lan Shanjun find the person designated by the Heavenly Dao?

“You are right. Changing one’s Dao truly cannot be taken lightly.” Xie Qingshuang nodded and sighed. “I will give it more thought.”

Seeing the expression on Xie Qingshuang’s face, Lan Shanjun already guessed a few things. When a person asks those around them for advice, they must have already contemplated the matter hundreds of times in their heart. In their indecision, they lean towards one answer, which is why they ask others to confirm if their preferred answer is appropriate.

Xie Qingshuang was not an indecisive person. For her to ask this question, one could imagine how long she had been wrestling with the dilemma.

Xie Qingshuang helped Ming Yu sit up and began treating her injuries. The initially severely injured and unconscious person resisted slightly upon sensing spiritual energy entering her body, but upon perceiving a familiar aura, she slowly relaxed and allowed the icy cold energy to repair her wounds.

After examining Ming Yu’s injuries, Xie Qingshuang fed her a few more medicinal pills.

“What are your plans now, Senior Sister Xie?” Lan Shanjun asked.

Xie Qingshuang was still deep in thought.

Lan Shanjun then suggested, “If Senior Sister Xie hasn’t decided yet, why not join us to search for the Vermilion Bird Saber?”

“The Vermilion Bird Saber?” Xie Qingshuang’s eyes showed confusion. “Why would the Vermilion Bird Saber be in the Ruins Realm?”

“I met Chong Yan earlier, and Ming Yu was also present. If Chong Yan is in the Ruins Realm, it’s highly likely Jiang Li is too, but I don’t know why the Vermilion Bird Saber is currently in the hands of a person named Shen Hui,” Lan Shanjun said with a serious expression. “Moreover, a Golden Qilin Beast is sealed within the Vermilion Bird Saber, which absorbs the primordial spirits of humans and demons to enhance its own cultivation.”

“No wonder…” Xie Qingshuang murmured. “The Vermilion Bird Saber wasn’t this malevolent when Ming Yu had it. Now the seal is probably about to break, which is why that fierce beast is using the Saber to absorb the primordial spirits of so many people—the Feng family, Mount Galan, and the Tingxue Tower.”

“Where is Shen Hui now?”

Lan Shanjun shook her head. “I separated from Cang Wu, Ling Guang, and two Seniors to search for her in Hidden Cloud Mountain, but we haven’t found her yet.”

“What does that person look like? I will help search too.”

This was the very sentence Lan Shanjun was waiting for.

After discussing it, the two decided to first take Ming Yu to Bai Chuan’s cave for recuperation.

Halfway there, Nine Tails used Moon Glow Grass to transmit a message, saying she had found Shen Hui, but the person was dead.

The two sped up and rushed over. When they arrived at the cave entrance, Ling Guang and Cang Wu also returned.

Cang Wu glanced briefly at Xie Qingshuang and Ming Yu, then walked over to stay by her Senior Sister’s side.

Ling Guang looked slightly surprised, then smiled and greeted them. “Senior Sister Xie, what happened to Ming Yu?”

“She was injured.”

Lan Shanjun looked around. “Let’s go inside first.”

Inside the cave, Nine Tails was already there. She had brought Shen Hui’s body back.

“We shouldn’t have found the wrong person; her primordial spirit is also gone.”

“We finally had a clue, and now it’s gone again,” Ling Guang mumbled.

“Not yet.” Lan Shanjun bent down and pinched a petal from the front of the corpse’s garment. “Long Life Flower… Shen Hui must have seen Hua Yuan before she died.”

Nine Tails pondered for a moment. “Hua Yuan? That Long Life Flower who never leaves her home and stays below Flying Cloud Ravine all day?”

The description was highly accurate.

Lan Shanjun affirmed, “Yes! That’s her!”

“There are many Great Demons in Hidden Cloud Mountain. The Golden Qilin Beast probably wants to absorb a few Great Demons’ essence to break the seal and escape.” Nine Tails instinctively let out a low growl from her throat, only collecting herself after realizing she was in human form.

“Can we gather all the Great Demons in Hidden Cloud Mountain and wait for the Golden Qilin Beast to deliver itself to our doorstep?” Lan Shanjun frowned slightly. “However, Hidden Cloud Mountain is so vast, and with the three-day suspension, it’ll probably be difficult.”

“Difficult?” Nine Tails lightly scoffed and raised her head. “I am the Mountain God of Hidden Cloud Mountain; what’s so difficult about it?”

“I have a certain ‘connection’ with those demons, and I can lure them to the Celestial Pool…”

Lan Shanjun suddenly stood up, cutting off the rest of Nine Tails’ sentence.

“What’s wrong?” Cang Wu stood up with her.

“I might know where she is.”

Lan Shanjun raised her hand. A small spirit deer was biting her sleeve and gesturing in one direction, seemingly trying to lead her somewhere. Seeing that it couldn’t pull her, the small spirit deer frantically stamped its front hooves before her.

“What is this?” Ling Guang approached out of curiosity.

“The Celestial Spirit of the Bai Ze.” Nine Tails looked at Lan Shanjun. “It’s asking you for help.”

“Lin Shen and Hua Yuan are together, and the Golden Qilin Beast is still chasing them!”

As Lan Shanjun finished speaking, the small-deer-like Celestial Spirit actually nodded vividly, then started pulling on her sleeve again.

“It seems so.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

Several streaks of light flashed across the sky. The bustling cave suddenly grew quiet. Zhao Chen’s eyes reflected the firelight, but what she saw was an endless darkness.

She sighed softly, lowered her head, and raised a hand to gently touch her eyes.

If only she could see.

“Sister Zhao Chen.”

A tender voice sounded by her ear.

Zhao Chen managed a slight smile towards the arrival. “Ah Li, why have you come over?”

“I slept too long and wanted to move around. Bai Chuan was tired from taking care of me, so I let her sleep.”

The girl’s words were very considerate, which made Zhao Chen’s voice even softer. “Are you feeling better?”

“Much better. Sister Zhao Chen, are you unhappy?”

Zhao Chen forced a smile. “No—”

A hand suddenly landed between her eyebrows. Zhao Chen was momentarily stunned, but knowing it was Bai Li, she did not dodge.

“But Sister Zhao Chen is unhappy. Why won’t you admit it?”

“I… am just a little sad, only a little.”

The two people’s conversation drifted vaguely to another person’s ears. Ming Yu slowly opened her eyes, her vision shifting from blurry to clear.

Not far away, Zhao Chen sat upright, with a frail young boy standing before her. The boy’s hand rested on her eyes, but those eyes held a greed that did not belong to her. Although she hid it extremely well, Ming Yu was especially sensitive to people’s good and evil.

“Zhao Chen,” Ming Yu called out.

Almost the moment she spoke, a strong sense of suffocation swept over her, and Ming Yu fainted again.

Following the guidance of the Bai Ze Celestial Spirit, the group left Hidden Cloud Mountain and arrived at the Vine Forest.

Lan Shanjun and Cang Wu had first woken up in the Vine Forest upon arriving in the Ruins Realm. At that time, the Vine Forest was lush with life, but now it had become a sea of fire.

“It’s the Golden Qilin Beast!” Wu Luo asserted.

Nine Tails shielded her, preventing the flames below from burning her.

“Everyone be careful; the Golden Qilin Beast is extremely fierce.”

“Go!”

They trod above the sea of fire, and before long, they found the last patch of green shade, which was separated from the blaze by a barrier protecting the demons and vegetation within.

Outside the barrier, a person holding a saber laughed arrogantly.

“Good! A thousand-year-old Long Life Flower, the auspicious beast Bai Ze, and these demon vines! Absorbing your primordial spirits will surely help me break this seal!”

With that, she turned her head slightly and saw the crowd rushing up behind her. The corner of her lips curved up. “More people coming to die.”

The saber edge twisted, and a scorching hot wave surged forward, sweeping across the ground, causing the fire sea of the Vine Forest to churn as well.

“Quickly, dodge!” Nine Tails shouted a warning, and with a few leaps, she led Wu Luo out of the path of the strike.

Xie Qingshuang’s mind stirred. Her Night Flowering Cactus Sword immediately slashed out. The power of ice and frost collided with the heat wave, and the resulting spiritual energy fluctuation blew across the surrounding area, agitating the fire sea below.

“Lan Shan! Cang Wu! Dodge!” Ling Guang scoffed coldly and forcefully tossed out a delicate sphere.

“Collect!”

Half of the surging heat wave was dispersed by the frosty sword energy, and the other half was all collected into the delicate sphere.

Only after the fire sea below was completely extinguished, with no trace of a spark, did Ling Guang retrieve the delicate sphere, tossing it playfully in her hand. She raised her chin, looking at the person with great pride. “How about that? This delicate sphere nourishes the Vermilion Bird Fire. No matter how much you burn, I can collect it all.”

Wang Zhao narrowed her eyes dangerously at Ling Guang. “Four-tailed Vermilion Bird.”

The curve of her lips widened even further.

“Lan Shanjun! Cang Wu! Lan Shanjun!”

A cry came from inside the barrier—it was Lin Shen.

Lin Shen’s voice was heavy with sobs. Just looking from a distance, one could see her red eyes.

Lan Shanjun looked intently and finally saw Hua Yuan, frail and dying, held in her arms. Hua Yuan had a palm-length penetrating wound on her shoulder, which appeared to have been directly pierced by a saber.

This time, the Vermilion Bird Saber was in the hands of Wang Zhao, a cultivator of the Supreme Void Realm who had just achieved a breakthrough with the Seed of Life, yet she could control it with such ease.

If she broke the seal, it would truly be a huge problem.

Lan Shanjun felt as if she were facing another Spirit King. This prompted a thought: Who was stronger, Wang Zhao or the Spirit King?

“I am.”

Lan Shanjun: “…Tch.”

There it came again.

Spirit King: “I can tell you the Achilles’ heel of this thing.”

Lan Shanjun became interested. “What is it?”

Spirit King: “If I just tell you, wouldn’t I suffer a loss?”

Lan Shanjun: “What do you want?”

Spirit King: “The next time I call you Senior Sister, don’t get so angry.”

Lan Shanjun: “…”

“An Achilles’ heel in exchange for a title, and you won’t even agree to that?”

Lan Shanjun didn’t have time to dwell on her words, because Wang Zhao had already made her move. She suddenly launched an attack towards Ling Guang’s direction, with speed that was both quick and fierce.

The blade was blocked mid-way by the Night Flowering Cactus Sword and the Bu Jin (Endless) chain. Xie Qingshuang deflected the Vermilion Bird Saber with a single thrust, the sword humming with an invigorating sound.

“The seal requires the power of the Four Directions to be reinforced. We’ll hold her down; the two of you seize the opportunity.” Nine Tails made her move.

Only two of the Four Directions had arrived, but that was enough to subdue Wang Zhao for a while.

Xie Qingshuang bore the brunt of the attack, her sword energy awe-inspiring. Unlike the swift sword skills taught by Dong Jun, she inherited the swordsmanship of Xie You, the Valley Master of Sun Valley. Her sword moves were like flowing water, continuous and seamless, with every move transitioning naturally. Coupled with her Ice Spirit Root aptitude, her sword energy naturally carried an icy coldness, causing her opponent’s movements to slow down imperceptibly during the exchange, thus falling into her sword trap.

Nine Tails transformed into her original form, burying Wu Luo in the fur on her chest. Her nine large tails flicked, and the soft white fur scattered like silver needles.

In addition, the constantly shifting chain whip—sometimes it swung out as a chain, its sharp tip stabbing; other times, it scattered around, becoming countless blades carrying wind blades, making it impossible to dodge.

In less than fifteen minutes, Wang Zhao was firmly restrained, and the Vermilion Bird Saber in her hand was also locked down by the chain whip and the long sword.

Nine Tails spotted her chance and shouted loudly, “Quickly!”

Cang Wu and Ling Guang moved in unison. One infused Dragon’s Breath to forcefully suppress the Saber, and the other released the Vermilion Bird Fire, forcing the Vermilion Bird Saber to reveal its original form.

Wang Zhao struggled hatefully, her eyes fixed intently on Ling Guang, but the curve of her lips was upturned. “You wait. I won’t let you off.”

Ling Guang scoffed coldly and pressed down hard, causing Wang Zhao to grunt in pain.

The pitch-black Vermilion Bird Saber slowly shed its malevolence, revealing its original fiery red blade. The person who had been controlled by Wang Zhao and hadn’t had their primordial spirit fully absorbed went limp and immediately fell.

Lan Shanjun was quick-witted, using the chain whip to scoop the person up and then gently setting her down on the ground.

“The Vermilion Bird Saber, finally found it,” Ling Guang said happily, grasping the Vermilion Bird Saber. “I’ve done a great deed this time. When I return, I must ask Cheng He and Mother for a reward.”

“Even without the Achilles’ heel you mentioned, didn’t we suppress her anyway?” Lan Shanjun retracted the Bu Jin chain, twisting it around her finger joints.

“Is that so?”

The Spirit King let out a meaningful chuckle, and then said nothing more.

Lan Shanjun was left with a doubt in her heart, but it was not a good time to ask more questions.

Having dealt with Wang Zhao, the group landed on the scorched earth. The Vine Forest was almost entirely burnt to ashes; only the area protected by the barrier still retained its greenery.

As the barrier opened, Lan Shanjun found a person clinging to her waist, not letting go, and bawling loudly.

“Lan Shanjun, Lan Shanjun, Sister Hua Yuan is going to die.”

Lan Shanjun looked at Hua Yuan with a complicated expression and patted Lin Shen’s shoulder. “Let go a little first. I see it.”

Lin Shen loosened her grip, unable to wipe away her tears, and continued to sob relentlessly.

Lan Shanjun went up to Hua Yuan and found that her soul and body were not overlapping.

She asked Lin Shen in surprise, “What happened to her?”

Lin Shen stammered through her words, “That person stabbed Sister Hua Yuan’s body with the saber and then tried to absorb Sister Hua Yuan’s primordial spirit. Grandmother Vine finally managed to snatch Sister Hua Yuan back, but she herself…”

She couldn’t continue, and started sniffling and weeping.

Grandmother Vine had ultimately exhausted her energy to create a barrier for them to withstand the flames and Wang Zhao’s attacks.

“Let’s take her back first.” Nine Tails looked at Lan Shanjun. “Hua Yuan’s soul is unstable right now. You can use the Chaos Map to take her in. Since you don’t possess Devouring power, you won’t harm her.”

“Alright.”

Lan Shanjun activated the Chaos Map. Hua Yuan still retained some consciousness, and upon hearing their words, she struggled a little, but Nine Tails held her down, forcing her to revert to her original form and merge into the Chaos Map.

Lin Shen, sobbing beside her, tugged at Lan Shanjun’s sleeve, clearly afraid they would abandon her.

Seeing her crying like this, Lan Shanjun sighed and took her hand. “Let’s go.”

Cang Wu watched from the side, a little displeased, but she also knew the time and place. Furthermore, Lin Shen was obviously a child; why should she be upset with a child?

Streaks of light flashed across the sky. Hidden Cloud Mountain seemed much quieter, with the sounds of insects and birds chirping, like a clear, bright night.

Back in the cave, Bai Chuan was lying on the bed. Bai Li was squatting beside Zhao Chen, watching her refine pills. The two were chatting and seemed very happy. Ming Yu was still unconscious.

As soon as Xie Qingshuang entered, she walked straight towards Ming Yu, reaching out to check her wrist and forehead. Her brows furrowed.

Why was she still so weak?

“Sister Lan Shan, you’re back.” Bai Li smiled to greet them. When she saw Lin Shen, the smile in her eyes deepened.

Lin Shen hid slightly behind Lan Shanjun, looking a little frightened.

Lan Shanjun noticed her action, raised her hand, and stroked the back of her head, saying softly, “It’s alright.”

Zhao Chen also walked over and asked, “Was everything smooth?”

Ling Guang ran over with a grin, grabbing her hand and guiding it towards the saber hilt. “Come on, touch it, what is this?”

Zhao Chen listened to her triumphant tone and smiled faintly. “Could it be the Vermilion Bird Saber?”

“Ah, you got it!” Ling Guang casually spun her wrist, showing off.

“May I look at it?” Zhao Chen suddenly asked.

Ling Guang, not suspecting anything, immediately handed it over. “Of course, here you go.”

The moment Zhao Chen received the saber, most of the others’ attention was focused on other people or things. Only one pair of eyes stared unblinkingly.

Holding the saber, Zhao Chen lowered her head, seemingly “looking” at the blade.

Ling Guang only realized after the fact. She tilted her head, hesitant. “Zhao Chen, can you… see again?”

A sightless Zhao Chen and a seeing Zhao Chen were definitely not the same person. Ling Guang felt uneasy as she asked. If a seeing Zhao Chen were to take the Vermilion Bird Saber, and with Xiao Jiu and Mo Huaisheng not here, how could Lan Shan alone suppress her? They would all be doomed.

Zhao Chen raised her head, a smile on her lips, her eyes the normal, clear blue. “No, when my hand touches it, I can imagine what it looks like.”

Seeing Zhao Chen’s hand resting on the hilt of the Saber, indeed carefully tracing the patterns, Ling Guang immediately let out a huge sigh of relief. “Go ahead and feel it, but be careful of your hands. The blade is quite sharp.”

She had scared herself half to death.

Zhao Chen nodded, her palm smoothing over the hilt of the Vermilion Bird Saber and reaching the blade. A flash of silver light briefly appeared on the surface, which ultimately reflected the eyes of another person.

“Ling Guang, here.” Zhao Chen handed the Saber over.

Ling Guang turned her head and nearly ran into the tip of the blade. Her breathing stopped abruptly, and she pushed herself back. Lan Shanjun quickly supported her from behind.

“What’s the matter?”

Lan Shanjun looked up and saw Zhao Chen holding the Vermilion Bird Saber pointing at them. Her face held her usual smile, but something felt distinctly wrong.

“Zhao Chen, are you alright?” Lan Shanjun asked softly.

Zhao Chen tilted her head, still smiling. “I’m fine. What’s wrong?”

Ling Guang managed to take the saber from her hand sideways, then patted her chest. “Don’t give me swords or sabers next time. That was too scary. I almost got stabbed by you.”

After Ling Guang spoke, Zhao Chen didn’t react much. Only when Lan Shanjun called out did she quietly utter an “Oh.”

This time, Ling Guang also felt that something was amiss. She turned and exchanged glances with Lan Shanjun. The two walked aside simultaneously and spoke via telepathic communication.

Ling Guang: “Lan Shan, why do I feel like Zhao Chen is acting strange?”

Lan Shanjun nodded: “She is indeed not quite right.”

Even though Zhao Chen was sightless, she was extremely proper and courteous. She would never hand over a weapon with the tip pointing at the recipient, nor would she simply say “Oh” after realizing she might have hurt someone.

“Could this be a fake?” Ling Guang asked again.

Lan Shanjun looked at her strangely.

Ling Guang’s expression was confused. What was wrong?

“Don’t you know if she’s fake? Aren’t you both of the Four Directions’ bloodline? You can tell with one test.”

Ling Guang cleared her throat, then looked up and around as if nothing had happened.

Lan Shanjun suppressed a smile and continued the telepathic conversation. “I’m leaving this matter to you.”

Ling Guang nodded and immediately walked over to Zhao Chen, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Zhao Chen.”

Zhao Chen tilted her head. “What is it?”

Lan Shanjun was watching them when her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of someone else who seemed to be watching Ling Guang and the others just like her.

Bai Li?

She blinked. That previous glance must have been mistaken. Bai Li was guarding Bai Chuan by the bed, and she only revealed a smile when she saw Lan Shanjun looking at her.

Lan Shanjun smiled back at her, naturally missing the conversation between Ling Guang and Zhao Chen.

When Ling Guang returned, Lan Shanjun didn’t even have to ask.

“She’s not a fake. The aura of the Four Directions cannot be faked,” Ling Guang sighed. “Zhao Chen said she’s not in a very good mood and feels exhausted, and she only just told me after I held her hand.”

“Is that so?” Lan Shanjun was still somewhat suspicious.

“Don’t worry about it. Even if something is really wrong with Zhao Chen, we’re here, and nothing too serious can happen,” Ling Guang said, yawning. “I’m going to take a nap, too. With this three-day suspension, there hasn’t even been a night.”

After saying that, she found a place against the stone wall with the Vermilion Bird Saber in her arms and closed her eyes.

Lan Shanjun frowned in thought when a voice reached her ear.

“Lan Shan.”

She looked up. Xie Qingshuang had walked up to her.

“I’ve made up my mind about changing my Dao. I’ve decided to still… Mmh!”

Xie Qingshuang’s eyes widened slightly, looking at the person in front of her.

Lan Shanjun couldn’t help but raise her hand and cover Xie Qingshuang’s mouth, preventing her from speaking the rest of her sentence.

She blurted out, “Senior Sister Xie, think thrice, think again and again! Please consider it a little longer, even if it’s for my sake!”

If you change your Dao, where will I find the person?

Crack—

The sharp stone wall was crushed into powder.

Lan Shanjun’s heart thumped. Over Xie Qingshuang’s shoulder, she saw Cang Wu, who had been watching the entire time.

She quickly let go and distanced herself. “Please excuse my lack of propriety.”

Xie Qingshuang was surprised, but a faint smile appeared on her face. This allowed her to see the Lan Shanjun from their days at Sun Valley—less burdened by thoughts, a little clumsy.

“It’s nothing. You don’t need to be so alarmed. I wanted to say that I have decided not to change my Dao.” Xie Qingshuang expressed a touch of melancholy. “If I were to change my Dao, I might not even have the ability to protect her.”

Lan Shanjun slightly raised her hand in a salute. “It’s good that Senior Sister has made her decision.”

Xie Qingshuang nodded, then turned and returned to Ming Yu’s side to wipe her face and neck.

Lan Shanjun walked over to Cang Wu, looking at the pulverized stone dust at her feet and the obvious corner missing from the stone wall. She wanted to reach out and take Cang Wu’s hand, but it was pulled away.

“This hand of yours touched her.”