When a Yandere Cannon Fodder Meets a Dark, Twisted Villain - Chapter 21.2

In a verbal debate, the time for each response was limited. Those who exceeded the time limit lost.

When faced with a choice between the sect’s orders and the love in her heart, Shu Mo remained silent for a long time and did not answer.

She actually had an answer in her heart, but she could not say it out loud… because she knew that her mother, far away at the Yuehua Sect, was also watching the discourse.

Shi Yining won the verbal debate.

Though she had won, her heart was filled with utter surprise.

The verbal debate of the Discourse was primarily a contest of Daoist law. Strictly speaking, the question Shi Yining had just asked fell outside that scope. Had Shu Mo raised an objection, the question could have been skipped entirely. Yining’s inquiry had been a slip of the tongue—a moment of impulse rather than calculation.

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. But in a verbal debate, once spoken, words cannot be retracted. She could only wait for Shu Mo to either rebut her or provide the expected answer. She never anticipated this outcome: Shu Mo’s silence.

As it stood, her victory felt unearned.

Shi Yining’s willow-leaf brows furrowed. She wanted to speak up and restart the debate, but Shu Mo had already summoned her natal treasure, signaling the start of the physical trial.

At that moment, Yining finally let go of the urge to break the rules. With a wave of her sleeve, the Celestial Star Sword manifested before her.

The physical battle began instantly.

On the stage, the two evenly matched figures turned into blurs of light. Within a heartbeat, they had exchanged over a dozen blows.

Shi Yining understood Shu Mo’s strength perfectly. She knew that continuing like this would yield a low chance of victory. Driven by the memories of her past life and a burning desire for the top spot, she decided to take a desperate risk: a strategy of trading injury for triumph.

After another round of clashing, she abandoned all defense. A glow of spiritual light ignited at her fingertips, and the Celestial Star Sword instantly divided into thousands of blades, completely dominating the arena.

The rules were simple: the first to be forced off the stage loses.

As the myriad sword-lights appeared, Shu Mo had already flown beyond the stage’s boundaries. However, her natal treasure—the Longevity Sword—broke through the layers of light and surged toward Yining.

The secret technique had drained too much of Yining’s spiritual energy. Unable to dodge in time, she closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable impact of a heavy injury.

A few moments passed. The expected pain never came.

Instead, her waist suddenly tightened, as if something had coiled around it.

Confused, Shi Yining opened her eyes. She found that the Longevity Sword, which should have pierced her, had transformed into a perfectly smooth black silk ribbon wrapped around her waist.

Under her gaze, the black silk gradually took on a faint rosy hue. Though it was a treasure, it somehow projected a sense of shyness.

Shi Yining: “……”

She remembered now. The original book mentioned that Shu Mo’s natal treasure was unique—inherently sentient and capable of transforming into any shape at will. In her past life, she had never fought Shu Mo and had never seen the Longevity Sword become anything else, so she had overlooked this detail.

The ribbon around her waist seemed dissatisfied with the woman’s lack of reaction. Like a clever serpent, it poked its head out and affectionately rubbed against the back of her hand.

Being treated this way by Shu Mo’s natal treasure made Shi Yining freeze in place.

With the sword-light technique retracted, Shu Mo flew back onto the stage. Upon closer inspection, her expression was quite unnatural.

The Longevity Sword’s behavior had not been her command… She had simply intended to recall the sword, but the sentient treasure, sensing her true feelings, had acted on its own.

Shu Mo walked slowly toward the ethereal woman and cast a spell to snatch the restless treasure back.

“Fellow Daoist Shi, I apologize for what just happened.”

The voice, as clear as pearls hitting jade, reached Yining’s ears. She snapped back to her senses. “Just now…”

“The treasure is sentient. It was merely being playful.”

“…Daoist Mo’s natal treasure is… very special.”

“If you like it, Daoist Shi, you may take it to play with for a while.”

“No, no.” Shi Yining waved her hands repeatedly, her fair face flushing a traitorous red. “How can a natal treasure be lent out? I must thank you for showing mercy, Daoist Mo, otherwise I would be severely injured right now.”

That unhesitating refusal reminded Shu Mo of the wooden figurine Shi Yining had accepted not long ago. The smile on her lips faded instantly.

If she could accept a gift from someone else, why not from her?

“Fellow Daoist Shi, it likes you very much. I have already lost and will not need my natal treasure for the time being. It might as well stay with you.”

“But…”

Shi Yining looked troubled. A natal treasure is incredibly precious to a cultivator; even between Daoist companions, they aren’t given away lightly. Shu Mo knew her past reputation—wasn’t she afraid that Yining would cast a curse on the treasure to harm her?

Before she could speak further, Shu Mo released her bond’s restriction on the treasure and flew off the stage.

In the next instant, the black ribbon joyfully flew back to Yining’s waist, coiling around her in layers.

Shi Yining stood frozen, unsure of how to respond.

The discourse had to continue, and the information for the next opponent already appeared on the stage. For a moment, Yining suspected Shu Mo was doing this on purpose to unsettle her so she would lose the next round.

Yet she also knew that a person as noble as Shu Mo would never stoop to such tactics… She could feel that during their fight, Shu Mo hadn’t used her full strength.

A new opponent flew onto the stage. Shi Yining suppressed the chaos in her mind, forced herself to ignore the object wrapped around her waist, and poured her focus back into the competition.

In the Yuehua Sect seating area, the injured Kong Qing glared at Shu Mo.

“Senior Sister Mo, you lost so quickly. Our sect might end up in last place. I wonder how you will explain this to the Master when we return?”

Shu Mo did not respond. Her eyes remained fixed on the stage, clearly unbothered by the remark.

Ignored, Kong Qing grew even more furious. “Leaving your natal treasure with Daoist Shi… isn’t that just openly telling Master that you have feelings for her? I’m curious to see Master’s reaction. She might not punish you too harshly, but as for Daoist Shi…”

She stopped mid-sentence.

Kong Qing’s eyes widened. A Silence Spell had been cast upon her. No matter how many more words she had, she could no longer speak.

Shu Mo glanced coldly at her junior sister but remained silent. She already had a plan for her mother, but she couldn’t reveal it now.

She had guessed Kong Qing’s intentions—trying to goad her into revealing her reasons so their mother would find out and force her away from Shi Yining again. This junior sister’s hostility had become increasingly obvious lately. Once the discourse ended and they returned to the sect, Shu Mo would find a reason to lock her in the Forbidden Grounds for some peace.

On the stage, Shi Yining won two consecutive matches, successfully claiming the title of Champion of the Three Sects Discourse.

The crowd of cultivators watching the event was full of praise. The rankings of the three sects dictated the distribution of cultivation resources for the next century. With the Xuanqing Sect taking first place, it would gain the support of even more powers in the coming years.

Shi Yining flew down from the stage. Looking down at the treasure still wrapped around her waist, she bit her lip, her face flushing again.

Looking up, she happened to catch Shu Mo’s gaze from across the crowd—a gaze as deep as the sea. At that same moment, the ribbon at her waist slithered up her arm to her shoulder, swaying in the wind as if waving goodbye to its master.

Shi Yining intended to return the treasure, but as soon as she moved, she saw Shu Mo stand up and fly toward the Yuehua Sect’s spirit boat, making her hesitate. If she followed now, people might misunderstand and say she was pestering her again… Fine, she would keep it for now. A natal treasure could be recalled by its master whenever they wished.

Returning to the Xuanqing Sect seats, a unified cheer reached her ears.

“Congratulations, Eldest Senior Sister, for winning the championship!”

Looking at the admiring gazes of her junior sisters, Shi Yining felt for a moment as if she were back in her past life. Everything was different now.

After a brief daze, she regained her composure and led her sisters onto their sect’s spirit boat.

Two incense sticks of time later, at Qinghe Peak of the Xuanqing Sect.

Qin Wu looked at her disciple, who had returned victorious, with a smile in her eyes.

“Our sect has taken first place in this discourse, and you have played the greatest part, Ning’er. I have already spoken to Junior Sister Rong at the Treasure Pavilion. If there is any treasure you like, feel free to take it.”

Shi Yining immediately bowed in thanks, but her face didn’t show much joy. Qin Wu, being perceptive, quickly noticed something was wrong.

“Is something on your mind, Ning’er?”

“No…” Shi Yining instinctively shook her head. “Master, I… I’m just a little tired and plan to rest for a while.”

Qin Wu didn’t pry further, simply nodding. “Very well. Now that the discourse is over, there are no urgent matters. You can rest in peace.”

Half a cup of tea’s time later, at Xigui Peak.

Shi Yining returned to her living quarters. The black ribbon hidden in her sleeve immediately flew out, circling her several times and affectionately nuzzling her hand.

In her past life, she would have been ecstatic to be treated this way by Shu Mo’s treasure, but in this life…

Before she could think more, a familiar figure appeared beside her without warning. Seeing the newcomer, a sudden surge of grievance rose in Yining’s heart.

“Jiang Liuyue, so you finally decided to come back!”

The moment the words left her mouth, she was pulled into an embrace.

“Miss Shi, I’m sorry…”

“Jiang Liuyue, I don’t want to hear apologies. I only want to know: where on earth did you go?”

“I… I don’t know either…”

Shi Yining was so angry she laughed. “Jiang Liuyue, we haven’t seen each other for a few days and you can’t even be bothered to make up a proper excuse? If you don’t want to tell me, just say so. I won’t ask again!”

The figure holding her explained anxiously, “Miss Shi, I truly do not know where I went. On the day you fell into a deep sleep, I lost consciousness as well. When I woke up, you had already left the Xuanqing Sect.”

“Swear it. Swear you aren’t lying to me!”

“I swear. If I am lying to you, may my soul be instantly extinguished.”

After a short silence, Shi Yining whispered, “Fine… I believe you.”

Jiang Liuyue suddenly sensed something and leaned in to sniff the crook of Yining’s neck.

“You have the scent of other women on you, Miss Shi… and more than one. You were supposed to be at the discourse; why were you so close to others?”

Her words were full of jealousy, and if one listened closely, a hint of vulnerability. Shi Yining felt strangely guilty, even though it wasn’t her fault.

“Jiang Liuyue, do you know I was almost bullied?”

“Who? I’ll go kill her!”

“Don’t talk about killing people all the time. Although she and I have grievances, it hasn’t reached a life-or-death level. I didn’t know she had those kinds of feelings for me, but now that I do, I will keep my distance.”

“You are protecting her, Miss Shi…”

“If I were protecting her, I would have lied to you just now. If you kill her, you might put yourself in danger too.”

“Are you worried about me?”

Shi Yining said crossly, “Isn’t it obvious? Do you even have to ask?”

Like a cat with its fur rubbed the right way, Jiang Liuyue was quickly soothed and became even more clingy. It was then that she discovered the black ribbon hiding in the woman’s sleeve again.

Jiang Liuyue’s eyes narrowed as she snatched the treasure. Her newly calmed heart became agitated again.

“Miss Shi, what is this now?”

The aura emanating from the treasure felt strangely familiar, yet different from the scent on Shi Yining. After only one day away from the sect, how many “peach blossoms” had Miss Shi attracted?

Jiang Liuyue was full of grievance, her “fur” standing on end again.

“If I’m not mistaken, this is a natal treasure. For someone to give you such a precious gift, they must have feelings for you. Since you didn’t refuse and kept the treasure, does that mean you like them too?”

Shi Yining didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

She had indeed loved Shu Mo; that was an indisputable fact. If she had been asked before meeting Jiang Liuyue, she would have said yes without hesitation. But now, she couldn’t even see through her own heart.

She had decided to stay away from Shu Mo because her reckless pursuit in her past life ended in tragedy. She knew that person couldn’t possibly love her, yet during today’s battle, seeing her closeness, she wasn’t entirely unmoved.

However… she also wanted Jiang Liuyue by her side.

She couldn’t lie to herself.

Shi Yining bit her lip, suddenly hating herself—hating that she couldn’t control her own feelings. She never knew that one day, she would turn into such a fickle, “scummy” woman.

Beside her, Jiang Liuyue received no answer, and the vinegar in her heart grew even more sour.

“Your silence is an admission, Miss Shi… but I won’t allow it! You can only have me… If you are with someone else, I will definitely kill them and steal you back!”

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