Invitation to Live Together
“Senior Sister Lin has lost her memory?”
Zheng Yan looked at Lin Qianshuang with suspicion.
Lin Qianshuang’s gaze towards her was indeed distant, unlike the gentle smile her senior sister usually gave her.
Zheng Yan’s nervous expression vanished, and she approached Lin Qianshuang with her sword. Turning her head, she said enthusiastically, “My name is Zheng Yan, and I used to live with you in the Mozhu Courtyard. You might not remember. Senior Sister, follow me, and I’ll take you to the Luoyun Pavilion.”
Lin Qianshuang’s slightly darkened eyes lingered on Zheng Yan’s face for a moment. Her smile froze briefly before curving into a polite smile. “Thank you very much, Junior Sister. Please lead the way.”
The higher one’s cultivation level, the stronger their senses, enabling them to perceive even the subtlest movements around them.
The conversation between Zheng Mingcai and Zheng Yan, though seemingly light, reached Lin Qianshuang’s ears without her noticing.
The moment Zheng Yan saw her, she was terrified, her gaze fixed on Lin Qianshuang as if she had seen a ghost.
Lin Qianshuang followed Zheng Yan thoughtfully, her sword trailing behind her.
From Zheng Mingxia’s words, Lin Qianshuang understood that Zheng Yan and she had been close friends since childhood, growing up together in the Penglai Immortal Sect.
But when Zheng Yan saw her good sister return, her first reaction wasn’t surprise, but fear and guilt. This clearly suggested that she had done something wrong. Perhaps, Zheng Yan was even partly responsible for the events that led to Lin Qianshuang’s death in the original timeline.
The cold wind on the peak of the immortal mountain stung Lin Qianshuang’s temples, making her rub her dust-filled eyes. She couldn’t help but think, this was completely different from the fiery sky she was used to. Without the protection of demonic energy, she would surely be freezing.
The scenery of the mountains and forests she flew over was breathtaking.
Lin Qianshuang gazed at the snowy peaks beneath the sea of clouds and the vast bamboo forest on the mountainside, a pang of emotion stirring within her. If the sect leader had a bit of business sense, she mused, he could develop this area into a tourist attraction. With the reputation of the top cultivation sect in the human world, it would surely become a popular destination.
The only downside to enjoying the scenery was the high altitude, even for a cultivator like her, it made breathing difficult.
Luoyun Pavilion stood on one of the nine peaks of Tianshu, perched precariously on the cliffs. Cold plum blossoms braved the snow, withered trees resembled ink strokes, and occasionally, a black magpie would rest on the golden bells hanging from the eaves, their presence marked by the creaking sound of decaying wood.
Xiao Lanle sat on a thick, dead branch jutting out from the cliff, her sword resting in her lap as she gazed upwards.
The fine snow fell like salt, and with a gentle upward flick of her sword, she could pluck fallen blossoms from the branches.
She idly used her true qi to mend the broken flowers in her palm. Since forming her Golden Core, her Fire Spiritual Root had become overly active, leaving her feeling constantly hot. Master Tianshu had instructed her to sit here, using the cold snow on the cliff edge to alleviate the heat.
“Senior Sister Lin, did you receive your waist token?”
“I got it, but I can’t unlock the restriction on it.”
“Senior Sister, give it to me, I’ll take a look.”
A familiar voice, amidst a chorus of female voices, caught Xiao Lanle’s attention. Glancing down, she saw two women walking closely on the cliffside plank corridor. One was an unfamiliar inner disciple, quiet and demure. The other, however, was unforgettable – Lin Qianshuang, the very person Xiao Lanle had been searching for.
Xiao Lanle watched intently as the quiet disciple borrowed Lin Qianshuang’s waist token. With a subtle movement, she secretly played tricks and infused the token with energy. Yet Lin Qianshuang seemed oblivious, continuing to chat and laugh with her companion.
To be tricked and still laugh so happily.
“How foolish,” Xiao Lanle muttered, wiping the snow from her sword. Her Golden Core, now fully stabilized, pulsed with power. As the two figures disappeared from view, Xiao Lanle silently followed, her sword humming softly beneath her.
Lin Qianshuang was escorted by Zheng Yan to the Mozhu Courtyard, the original owner’s residence. The furnishings were simple but cozy: two single beds flanking the room, a charm against evil spirits hanging in the half-moon shaped window, swaying gently.
Zheng Yan pushed open the door and smiled at Lin Qianshuang. “Since you disappeared, Senior Sister, I’ve been living here alone. The bed on the right, by the window, is yours.”
Lin Qianshuang settled on the edge of the bed. The drawer beside the table showed signs of being opened, the surface slightly askew.
Could this be something left by the original Senior Sister Bai Yueguang?
Lin Qianshuang opened the drawer. Inside lay a half-finished silk handkerchief, embroidered with delicate pink and purple hibiscus flowers. The stitches were dense and meticulous, revealing the owner’s patience and careful nature. In one corner, a single “Qing” character was woven in gold thread.
Zheng Yan’s face contorted as she saw the drawer open and Lin Qianshuang holding the silk handkerchief she had kept hidden for so long, unable to bear to finish.
“Senior Sister Lin, what are you doing with my handkerchief?” Zheng Yan demanded, snatching it from Lin Qianshuang’s hand. “The left drawer is mine, the right is yours.”
Lin Qianshuang, her hand empty, replied sincerely, “I’ve forgotten so much. I apologize if I’ve violated your privacy.”
Seeing Lin Qianshuang’s bewildered expression, Zheng Yan softened her tone, placing the handkerchief back in the drawer. “Senior Sister, we’ve been training together since we entered the sect, growing up side by side. There’s no need to be so formal. Just call me by my name.”
Before removing her shoes, Lin Qianshuang dove into the bedding, sprawled lazily on her stomach. Without turning her head, she said to Zheng Yan, “Then I’ll call you Yanyan. It’s easier to remember with the repeating sound. I have a terrible memory, you know.”
Zheng Yan took a wooden ladle and watered the mimosa plant on the cabinet.
“Yanyan, we grew up together, are childhood friends, and live together. We should have a good relationship, but why do I always feel that when you see me, you’re not happy at all, and even a little scared?”
The female voice from the bed behind her caused Zheng Yan’s arms to tense up involuntarily, and she spilled some water on the cabinet.
Zheng Yan set down the ladle and turned to face Lin Qianshuang, her expression panicked. The moment their eyes met, she lost control and walked stiffly towards Lin Qianshuang.
A circle of blue and purple magical light appeared in Lin Qianshuang’s eyes. This was the first time she had used a demon cultivator’s magic skill on a human cultivator.
For someone with a weak consciousness like Zheng Yan, this technique usually wouldn’t fail.
Zheng Yan walked towards Lin Qianshuang with dull eyes and sat on the edge of the bed.
Lin Qianshuang’s sword was infused with demonic energy, and she was exhausted from her journey back. Too tired to move, she simply sat up cross-legged on the bed, staring at Zheng Yan’s bewildered eyes. She asked in a low voice, “Zheng Yan, please tell me the truth. Did my death have anything to do with you? You can’t hide your true emotions. The person who planned my death is definitely not you. There must be someone behind you manipulating you. Who is that person?”
Zheng Yan stared blankly at Lin Qianshuang, her body moving stiffly as she sat beside her. She leaned close to Lin Qianshuang’s ear, about to speak, but was startled by a loud noise. Both of them turned their heads to look at the door.
The door burst open with a forceful push.
Xiao Lanle entered the room with a grim expression, pulling Zheng Yan away from the bed. She tapped a bit of true energy onto Zheng Yan’s forehead.
Zheng Yan’s eyes regained their luster, and she came to her senses. Confused, she looked at Xiao Lanle who had suddenly appeared in the room and said, “Junior Sister Xiao, why are you here at the Moyan Courtyard? This is where Sister Qianshuang and I sleep.”
Xiao Lanle ignored Zheng Yan and walked directly towards Lin Qianshuang, grabbing her arm and pulling her off the bed.
Lin Qianshuang, surprised to see Xiao Lanle, was about to step down from the bed when she was rudely pulled down, causing her to fall unsteadily to the ground.
She looked at Xiao Lanle with a puzzled expression.
Xiao Lanle was a disciple of Master Tianshu and should be staying in her cave at Tianshu Peak. What was she doing at Tianlu Peak, which was under Fairy Jinghua’s jurisdiction?
The Moyan Courtyard was just a small courtyard where cultivators from Tianlu Peak lived. How did Xiao Lanle, who had never been to Tianlu Peak, find this place?
Lin Qianshuang looked at Xiao Lanle in confusion, saying, “Junior Sister Xiao, what are you doing? You suddenly came to Tianlu Peak. Are you here to ask me about Senior Brother Liang’s whereabouts?”
Her wrist was grabbed and pulled to a corner of the wall.
Lin Qianshuang felt a cold sensation on her back as she was pressed against the wall. Xiao Lanle pressed her hand against the wall, using a lot of force to hold her shoulders down, as if trying to intimidate her.
Lin Qianshuang was dumbfounded by this strange posture. She was sure that Xiao Lanle had misunderstood something again and said, “Don’t get me wrong, even if I am a lesbian, I wouldn’t do anything to my childhood friend, my fellow junior. Rabbits don’t eat grass near their nests, and I don’t have that hobby.”
Xiao Lanle said sarcastically in Lin Qianshuang’s ears in a voice that the two of them could hear, “If I hadn’t come to you to ask about Senior Brother Liang’s whereabouts, I wouldn’t have discovered that you, as the eldest sister of the sect, dared to use this low-level trick of a demon cultivator on a fellow junior apprentice. Lin Qianshuang, you are such a despicable person, how could I have thought that you are quite pleasing to the eye?”
Lin Qianshuang pushed Xiao Lanle away with an impatient look and said, “So what if I am such a despicable person? So what if I use the low-level tricks of demon cultivators? Senior Brother Liang still likes me, and you don’t. My god, why do you care so much? If you want to tell the boss, just go and tell them, otherwise you’re just wasting your time.”
Her eyes followed Zheng Yan’s whereabouts. When Zheng Yan saw that she and Xiao Lanle were arguing, she closed the door and left.
Lin Qianshuang was fuming. The first time she used the magic technique, Zheng Yan wouldn’t have been prepared, but the second time was unlikely. Zheng Yan couldn’t possibly miss the strange change in her, and would definitely be wary from now on.
Lin Qianshuang frowned, deciding to leave the room and see where Zheng Yan had gone. She had a feeling that once Zheng Yan realized something was wrong, she might go looking for the person behind the scenes.
“You’re not allowed to leave, Lin Qianshuang. I haven’t finished speaking yet!”
Seeing Lin Qianshuang about to leave as if nothing had happened after making such a serious mistake and ignoring her words, Xiao Lanle stopped her again, a touch of anger in her voice.
Lin Qianshuang frowned, looking at the person blocking her path. “Junior Sister Xiao, please let me pass. I have something urgent. We can talk about this when I get back.”
“You’re in such a hurry to chase after her, and you still say you’re not interested in her.”
Xiao Lanle held her sword, her voice laced with anger. “Lin Qianshuang, don’t think that Master Jinghua will protect you, allowing you to act recklessly in the Penglai Immortal Sect and corrupt your fellow disciples. From now on, you will move to my cave. With Master Tianshu and me here, we’ll see how arrogant you can still be.”
“Junior Sister Xiao, stop talking, I don’t want to hear it….”
Lin Qianshuang was a bit anxious being stopped, and was about to pull her away when she suddenly realized what Xiao Lanle said, and her face turned pale with shock.
“Huh? Wait, what did you say?”
“You know I’m gay, and not above coming on to a fellow disciple. But you’re asking me to come and live with you in your cave? What kind of crazy logic is that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll do something to you?”
Lin Qianshuang felt her mind reeling, struggling to grasp the situation. Sometimes, when facing Xiao Lanle, logic seemed to abandon her.
The eldest daughter of a prestigious family – her confidence and audacity were truly inexplicable.