What Should I Do If My Junior Sister Is the Future Demon Emperor? - Chapter 8

When the Lingxiang pendant shattered, Lin Xi stiffened for a fraction of a second; she had not expected it to be triggered so soon.

She turned to Ji Ling, who was currently busy teasing Congxin with a stalk of foxtail grass. “A-Ling, what do you think of Shen Xun’an?”

Ji Ling paused her playing, the grass dangling as she considered the question. “She is a good person, overall. It’s just…”

Congxin seized the moment of her distraction to leap up and chomp down on the seed head, bending the stalk nearly double.

“It’s just that you aren’t sure if she approached you because of me?” Lin Xi finished for her.

Ji Ling nodded. “Senior Sister Shen is very observant. It’s highly likely she realized long ago that your status isn’t ordinary.” She sighed. It was impossible not to feel a shred of wariness; anyone trying to use her as a stepping stone to reach her senior sister usually filled her with disgust.

On the other hand, for people like Shen Xun’an, this was their only path to advancement. There would always be someone willing to try. Ji Ling was human, after all; she had to live in society and couldn’t simply bar the door against everyone.

Suddenly remembering something, she asked, “Why did you bring her up all of a sudden?”

“The Lingxiang shattered,” Lin Xi said plainly.

Congxin, who had been looking quite enchanted with its grass, immediately scrambled up. It began tugging at Ji Ling, urgency clear in its eyes, as if demanding they rush to the Wanning Sect this instant.

Ji Ling picked the creature up and looked at Lin Xi. “They aren’t scheduled for any trials recently. If she’s in trouble, we should go and see.”

Lin Xi’s lips curved into a slight smile as she nodded. Ji Ling was inherently kind; no matter how much she overthought things, she would never sit idly by. In a world governed by the law of the jungle, this trait often led to suffering, but Lin Xi had no intention of changing her sister’s nature.

After all, if anyone dared to make her little sister suffer, Lin Xi would personally pay them a “friendly” visit.

She placed an arm around Ji Ling’s waist. In the blink of an eye, the two women and the demon vanished from the spot.

Back at the house, Cen Shangsu pushed open the study window and looked out into the distance. “Are you coming back for dinner?” she asked the empty air. There was no reply.

******

Shen Ning knelt on the ground without a word, a dirty footprint marring her shoulder. Though her face was pale with pain, her voice remained steady, albeit with a slight tremor. “I did not take the Silver Cloud Grass.”

In front of her stood a lean man with a goatee and squinting eyes. He looked down at her with pure disdain and let out a cold laugh. “You didn’t take it? Then how did a leaf of Silver Cloud Grass end up in your room?”

Shen Ning had no defense. She had no idea how that leaf had found its way into her cabinet. Today, after finishing her work in the herb fields, she had returned to find a crowd gathered outside her residence. Before she could even ask what was happening, the Teaching Elder had kicked her in the shoulder, thrown her storage box at her feet, and begun announcing her crime: the theft of the Silver Cloud Grass.

Silver Cloud Grass was a precious healing herb, and now, she was being branded a thief.

Shen Ning performed a respectful bow, remaining dignified despite her position. “I am responsible for tending to the Silver Cloud Grass. It is only natural that a leaf might have accidentally clung to my clothes. Why would the Elder condemn me based solely on that?”

A young disciple nearby spoke up timidly. “I… I saw Senior Sister Shen acting suspiciously in the herb fields late last night. And today, the news of the theft broke…” The implication hung heavy in the air.

Li Feng, standing beside the Elder, added fuel to the fire. “Shen Ning, what more is there to say? The Elder trusted you to tend the crop, and you repay his kindness with theft? You have utterly disregarded his tutelage.”

A girl named Xiao Tao, who shared a room with Shen Ning, suddenly knelt before the Elder. “Elder, Shen Ning is the most diligent worker. How could she do such a thing? Besides, after she left the fields last night, she was with me the entire time. She had no time to steal anything! I beg the Elder to investigate further.”

Li Feng’s confidence faltered for a second before he barked at Xiao Tao, “You say she was with you, but where is your proof? For all we know, you are just covering for her!”

Xiao Tao was on the verge of tears. She hid behind Shen Ning and retorted, “He says she stole it, but where is his proof? For all we know, he is just framing her!”

Li Feng’s face flushed red with anger.

Shen Ning’s gaze swept over the crowd. Their expressions ranged from concern to cold indifference. The disciple who had accused her looked away, unable to meet her eyes, while Li Feng offered her a provocative smirk. She understood immediately: this was a frame-up. Today’s ordeal was targeted specifically at her.

But she couldn’t understand why. She had always been hardworking and low-key on the Medicine Peak. Who had she offended so deeply? If she didn’t clear her name today, her life in the sect might very well end here.

Shen Ning looked up, her gaze burning as she stared directly at the Goatee Elder. “I request a decision from the Discipline Hall.”

According to sect rules, general matters within a peak were settled internally, but if a disciple disagreed with a ruling, they had the right to appeal to the Discipline Hall.

The Elder snorted. “An outer sect disciple like you thinks she can summon the Discipline Hall? Know your place.”

“Sect Rule Twelve states that regardless of inner or outer sect status, any disciple may—”

“This is the Medicine Peak, and I am the rule!” the Elder interrupted impatiently. “Today, I shall teach you how to behave.”

He turned to Li Feng, a twisted chill in his eyes. “Go and fetch the Soul-Scourge Whip.”

Gasps of shock erupted from the crowd. Even those who had been watching the drama with indifference began to plead for mercy. The Soul-Scourge Whip was a torture device that struck the soul itself, causing agonizing pain. It was reserved for those who committed the gravest crimes; it was almost never used for a simple theft.

“Elder, Shen Ning was likely just momentarily confused! Please, show mercy!”

“Indeed, Elder, please reconsider!”

Some even urged Shen Ning, “Just admit your mistake to the Elder!”

“I have done no wrong, so why should I confess?” Shen Ning looked the Elder in the eye. “Is the Elder afraid that if the Discipline Hall intervenes, his riddled lies will be exposed?”

His actions were more than she could bear. Shen Ning chose to fight back. Even while kneeling, her aura did not falter. “Even if the Elder wishes to use private torture, he must first consult the Peak Master. You are merely a Teaching Elder; you have no authority to use the whip.”

The Goatee Elder was beyond furious. He lunged at her with a palm strike. Shen Ning stood up instantly, grabbing Xiao Tao and pulling her out of the way. She didn’t know why he was targeting her, but the bridge between them was burned. Instead of suffering in silence, she would escalate the matter and hope to draw the attention of the Discipline Hall.

Insulting an elder was a violation of the rules, but staying alive was her priority. She hadn’t stolen the grass, and if she took that palm strike, she might never recover, even if she spent her entire life’s savings on medicine.

Li Feng handed the Soul-Scourge Whip to the Elder. The dark red lash looked like congealed blood, radiating a heavy pressure. The Elder laughed and cracked the whip; the sound of it breaking the air was sharp and loud, carrying the spiritual fluctuations of a high-grade artifact.

Shen Ning pushed Xiao Tao into the crowd and stood to face him alone. While she could likely kill the Elder if she truly tried, she knew she could only dodge. If she actually fought back and struck him, it would be a death sentence for “murdering a senior,” and not even the Hall Master of Discipline could save her then.

Just as she prepared to move, someone threw their arms around her, forcibly shielding her from the blow.

A spiritual shield manifested in front of them, colliding with the lash. The Soul-Scourge Whip snapped in two with a sharp crack. Shen Ning gasped and looked at her sister, Shen Xun’an, who had arrived just in time. Finding her unharmed, Shen Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Then she looked at the broken whip on the ground and then at the stunned Elder. Her eyelid twitched; now they had the added crime of destroying sect property.

Shen Xun’an, looking equally relieved that her sister was safe, turned to the Goatee Elder. “The Elder is not the Master of the Medicine Peak. To use private torture in this manner… do you hold no respect for the Peak Master?”

The two sisters were truly related; even their way of arguing was identical. Shen Xun’an knelt down to pick up the shattered pieces of the Lingxiang jade.

The Elder stared at the broken jade in her hand, his expression growing colder. “So it is you.”

The crowd realized the connection immediately. Liu Qin had been the Elder’s nephew. Everyone on the trial team had received some form of punishment, and Liu Qin had been expelled and crippled. Only Shen Xun’an had escaped unscathed, even gaining the favor of “Mingchen” and receiving a high-grade artifact.

The Elder sneered. “A mere outer sect disciple dares to interfere with my discipline? Men, seize them both!”

Shen Xun’an had lost the timidness she showed in front of Lin Xi. “Does the Elder intend to lay hands on a disciple from another peak? Are you not afraid the Discipline Hall will judge you?”

A mocking chuckle escaped the Elder’s throat. “What if I kill you? What will the Discipline Hall do? No one cares about the life of an outer sect disciple. Even if that mad dog Lin Xi shows up, what can she do to me?”

“You certainly think highly of yourself,” a gentle, smiling voice drifted from behind them.

Everyone turned to see Lin Xi, dressed in her signature cyan, watching the scene with an amused expression. Ji Ling, in a blue pleated skirt, stood beside her, staring at the Goatee Elder with a cold face while clutching the “white bun” in her arms.

“I am here,” Lin Xi said mildly. “Would you like to continue?”

Her expression was as gentle as ever; even after being insulted to her face, her demeanor remained unchanged. Congxin hopped down and circled Shen Xun’an and Shen Ning twice before urgently tugging at Shen Xun’an’s skirt. Shen Xun’an leaned down to pick him up. The creature patted Shen Ning’s arm as if to say, No more suffering; your savior has arrived.

Lin Xi’s gaze swept over the group and landed on the broken Soul-Scourge Whip. “You even brought out the whip. Is your Peak Master still playing the shrinking turtle?”

Her words were laced with poison as she launched into direct mockery. “Has someone been murdered? Or was the herb field burned down? Why else would you need the Soul-Scourge Whip?”

Ji Ling stood behind her with her arms crossed. “Exactly.”

The Goatee Elder was now shaking so violently he could barely stand. His arrogant posture had vanished. “Immortal Master…”

Shen Ning stepped toward Lin Xi to speak, but Lin Xi waved her off. “I cannot do anything to him myself. Let us wait for the professionals to arrive before we settle this.”

She pulled out her communication device. Xing Yun’s voice answered, “Immortal Master?”

“Something major has happened here. The Medicine Peak has brought out the Soul-Scourge Whip. Perhaps you should come and see for yourself?”

Xing Yun’s tone turned serious instantly. “Using the whip requires a report to the Discipline Hall. Has that medicine maniac used private torture?”

Lin Xi’s smile deepened as she looked at the ashen faces of the accusers. “Bring plenty of men. I fear there are some here who hold no respect for even you.”

Lin Xi then produced a table and chairs and sat down, watching Congxin acting so familiar with Shen Ning. She tapped her fingers on the armrest, her thoughts unreadable.

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