Drinking Together at the Grave
At the same time, a new task appeared under Xiao Lanle’s profile picture.
[Host, your Immortal Alliance leader’s rescue strategy route has been updated based on your route selection. The road is long and arduous. To cultivate high-quality leaders, start with the Sect Leader!]
[Target character rescue mission: Assist Xiao Lanle to become the head of the Penglai Immortal Sect and explore the truth of her past (20% progress) has been unlocked!]
Lin Qianshuang stared blankly at the unlocks that materialized on the favorability interface. This was the first time she had seen two missions unlock simultaneously.
Mu Weiyin, perched high above, her face round and her lips pursed, seemed dissatisfied with Lin Qianshuang’s stunned silence.
Noticing Mu Weiyin’s displeasure, Lin Qianshuang quickly tucked away the note in her hand. She bowed her head and said respectfully to Mu Weiyin, “City Lord, since I have accepted this list, I will definitely do my best to complete the task.”
Mu Weiyin’s expression softened. She twirled the ring on her thumb with her short hand and glanced at a servant girl in Tianshu Palace. The servant girl hurried forward, presenting Lin Qianshuang with a pill that had been prepared beforehand.
A mature and friendly smile graced Mu Weiyin’s round face. “Jieyu, I don’t doubt your loyalty, but this is the rule of Tianshu City. The Chilling Pill isn’t poison, it’s just a charm to prevent you from revealing secrets.”
Lin Qianshuang took the pill without hesitation and swallowed it. Having decided to gain Mu Weiyin’s trust, excessive hesitation would only raise suspicion.
However, she couldn’t understand why “Lin Qianshuang,” a mere nobody in the Penglai Immortal Sect, had become a thorn in the side of the Tianshu City Lord.
Confused, Lin Qianshuang cautiously asked, “City Lord, I’m still a little unclear. I’ve never heard of this Lin family cultivator on the list. They must be a nobody, so how could they be ranked alongside the Penglai Sect Leader and the Chen family head? Did you make a mistake?”
“The fate of destiny never miscalculates. This Lin family cultivator is the great calamity of my cultivation path. But they are very cunning. I’ve planted many people, but they escaped them all. If they’re lurking in the Penglai Immortal Sect, don’t worry about getting rid of them right away. Just befriend them. After all, they’re a descendant of the Lin family, so keeping them alive might be useful.”
Mu Weiyin spoke slowly from behind the curtain, extending her round, short hand to throw a bamboo token at Lin Qianshuang’s feet. “Take this jade bamboo order. It allows you to mobilize the experts of Yixiang Tower. If you need more manpower, just ask your deputy Tower Lord to come see me.”
“City Lord, superstition kills people! This little girl is truly innocent. I haven’t even had enough time to help you, how could I possibly harm you,” she lamented.
Deep within her heart, Lin Qianshuang felt as if she were kneeling on all fours, swaying in the wind and rain. She conjured an image of Mu Weiyin’s small body in front of her, pulling her close, stretching the other’s seemingly smiling face into various strange shapes in frustration.
She roared inwardly, “You look so cute, why are you so restless!”
This little loli had tasked her with a mission while simultaneously sending assassins after her. She was playing both the good cop and the bad cop, and Lin Qianshuang couldn’t stand it.
In reality, Lin Qianshuang held the bamboo token in her hand and said respectfully to Mu Weiyin, “I understand, thank you for your trust, City Lord.”
Mu Weiyin sat on the City Lord’s throne, watching Lin Qianshuang’s submissive demeanor. She was disappointed. She had imagined the renowned Jieyu Gongzi to be a figure of great charisma, someone she might even want to befriend. But the person before her was ordinary, vain, and seemed a bit dull.
Bored, she had no desire to speak further. She gestured to a maid to escort them out.
The maid, understanding immediately, approached Lin Qianshuang with a palace lantern, saying, “Sir, the maidservant is ordered by the City Lord to escort you away.”
Lin Qianshuang rubbed her sore legs from kneeling, picked up the unconscious Xiao Lanle from the ground, smiled at the maidservant and said, “Then I’ll be grateful to this girl.”
Seeing Lin Qianshuang’s smile, the maidservant hurriedly lowered her head and carried the palace lamp forward to lead the way.
Mu Weiyin observed everything, and seeing the servant girl’s bashful expression, couldn’t help but mutter, “Superficial.”
Upon returning to the Penglai Immortal Sect, Lin Qianshuang entered the Xiaoyao Cave, closed the door, and transformed the dream interpretation technique taught by Mu Weiyin into a zither melody. She then channeled her magical energy to delve into Xiao Lanle’s sea of consciousness.
It wasn’t long before Xiao Lanle awoke, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She looked around, walked off the bed, and put on her shoes.
“Senior Sister Lin, we’ve already returned from Tianshu City?”
Lin Qianshuang’s hand, which had been playing the zither, stopped. She put away the Cold Cicada Zither into a storage jade slip and said, “Well, Junior Sister Xiao, after you fainted in the library, I took you to Tianshu City according to Senior Uncle Tianshu’s instructions. I already have a solution for your heart demon.”
Raindrops pattered against the begonia flowers by the window, their green leaves still bearing buds that mingled with the blown petals, leaving a trail of water stains on the floor. The waterfall’s roar was drowned out by the thunder, and a blinding purple flash of lightning illuminated the cave, momentarily banishing the darkness.
The candles flickered and died, plunging the room into darkness. The wooden windows creaked shut as the wind pushed against them.
Another bolt of lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the room.
Xiao Lanle stared out at the rain, her eyes wide with fear. In a daze, she saw a pair of blood-red eyes staring back at her.
She screamed, throwing herself at Lin Qianshuang, who was sitting by the bed. Her face was pale and trembling as she clung to Lin Qianshuang’s warm body.
“Senior Sister, I’m scared. I just saw a pair of eyes… they were blinking at me.”
Lin Qianshuang glanced around, seeing nothing but empty space. Junior Sister Xiao must be having a hallucination.
The candles had been blown out, leaving the room dark and filled with shadows. It was no wonder that Xiao Lanle, already plagued by nightmares, was so frightened.
She stood up to light a candle, but another bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the room.
“Senior Sister, don’t leave, I’m afraid.”
Xiao Lanle clung to Lin Qianshuang’s sleeve, her lips pale and trembling. “Don’t leave me, I’m afraid,” she whispered.
Lin Qianshuang, with Xiao Lanle clinging to her, couldn’t move. She could only hug her back, gently patting her shivering back and offering comfort. “Junior Sister Xiao, you’re having hallucinations. Don’t be afraid, I’m here, no one will hurt you.”
Xiao Lanle nestled quietly in Lin Qianshuang’s arms, her cheek pressed against the warmth of her neck. The unknown fear lurking in the closed darkness made her tremble from head to toe. Only by hiding in her senior sister’s arms did she feel a sense of security.
The storm came quickly and left just as fast. The dark clouds receded, revealing a clear, bright sky.
A beam of light shone through the window crack, casting shadows on the floor.
“Junior Sister, are you feeling better now?”
Lin Qianshuang gently patted Xiao Lanle’s back, standing awkwardly stiff. The rain had stopped long ago, but Junior Sister Xiao still leaned silently in her arms, with no intention of leaving.
“Senior Sister,” she whispered, her voice soft and hesitant. The hand placed at her side was suddenly pulled, drawing Lin Qianshuang closer.
Lin Qianshuang looked at Xiao Lanle. Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed, as if she had been crying. The elegant beauty of her face was marred by the traces of tears.
Xiao Lanle tugged at her sleeve and said in a slightly hoarse voice, “Today is my mother’s anniversary. The wind in the valley is strong and gloomy, and I feel scared being alone. Senior Sister, would you accompany me?”
Is today the anniversary of the leader’s wife’s death?
Lin Qianshuang had met Xiao Lanle’s mother in the realm of inner demons. At least the girl was also a disciple of the Penglai Immortal Sect, and her cultivation was not weak. She had not died in the Xiao family’s extermination and clearly escaped with Xiao Lanle.
Perhaps, in front of the leader’s wife’s tombstone, she could glean some useful information from Xiao Lanle.
Lin Qianshuang picked up the plain umbrella placed in the corner and said to Xiao Lanle, “Junior Sister, let’s go together. There might be another downpour on the way, so I’ll bring an umbrella.”
Xiao Lanle’s inky black pupils reflected Lin Qianshuang’s shadow, and a bright light gathered in their center, clear and intense.
“Senior Sister, please wait for me. I still need to prepare something.”
That smile is too sweet, isn’t it? Has Junior Sister Xiao’s mood improved?
Lin Qianshuang saw the sweet smile on Xiao Lanle’s face, and her own mood inexplicably lifted. She smiled back.
Xiao Lanle walked to the table and picked up the basket that the servant had already prepared. She lifted the blue cloth covering it, revealing the sacrificial pastries and a pair of white candles.
She raised an eyebrow. The basket was full of things, but one thing was missing: a jar of her mother’s favorite osmanthus wine. For years, Senior Brother Liang had always prepared it for her. What could have gone wrong this time?
Xiao Lanle suddenly remembered the jars of wine Senior Brother Liang had buried under the large locust tree outside her house. He had said it was the best osmanthus wine he’d ever found and wanted to keep it for a special occasion.
Every year on her birthday, he would ask her to drink with him, saying he would dig up the treasured jar for her. But she didn’t know how to drink, and her father, the headmaster, wouldn’t allow it.
Xiao Lanle smiled to herself as she walked outside. She stood under the locust tree and used her true energy to thrust her sword into the ground. A jar of osmanthus wine, stained with earth, emerged from the soil and floated into her hand.
At the same time, a small wooden brocade box was revealed as the soil turned over.
Was this the box Senior Brother Liang had planned to give her on her birthday?
Xiao Lanle weighed the box in her hand. It was very light, and it didn’t feel like it contained jewelry or anything like that. She saw Lin Qianshuang waiting nearby and quickly tucked the box into her sleeve. Her senior sister was still waiting, and she could look at the box later.
Lin Qianshuang watched as Xiao Lanle dug up the jar of wine. She had spent a lot of time with Du Shuang, a wine enthusiast, and had learned to appreciate fine wine. This particular jar had a refreshingly mellow aroma of osmanthus, with a taste that spoke of years of aging. It was truly a rare and precious brew.
Xiao Lanle and Lin Qianshuang flew together on their swords. Lin Qianshuang’s gaze lingered on the jar of osmanthus wine several times, and Xiao Lanle, with a dignified smile, said, “Senior Sister, is this osmanthus wine so fragrant? You’re practically drooling! When we see my mother, I’ll open it and share a drink with you.”
Lin Qianshuang forced a smile and looked away.
The osmanthus wine was indeed a rare brew, but she felt something was amiss. The intense aroma made her heart feel a little anxious.
How could there be something wrong with the tribute wine Xiao Lanle had brought?
After landing, they walked side by side. Lin Qianshuang took the jar from Xiao Lanle and smelled it again.
Perhaps she was overthinking. It was just an ordinary jar of wine.
The wind in the Howling Valley lived up to its name, cold and piercing. It felt like a knife cutting against their faces. As they approached a half-human-height stone monument, the wind weakened. The dense pine forest blocked the howling wind, shaking the needles. Crows flew among the trees, their hoarse cries echoing through the dense canopy.
The soft, green soil, fragrant with the scent of rain-soaked grass, swayed gently as they walked. The stone monument, though slightly weathered and chipped at the edges, remained free of moss or weeds, a testament to someone’s diligent care.
Lin Qianshuang stood before the tomb, setting down the jar of osmanthus wine. The inscription on the stone was clear: “Lin Suwen’s Tomb.”
“The Sect Master’s wife was surnamed Lin? She was from the Dongling Lin family?” Lin Qianshuang asked, her voice laced with surprise.
Xiao Lanle, placing the contents of her basket onto the tomb and lighting incense sticks, explained, “The Xiao and Lin families have been sworn enemies for generations, their rivalry a long-standing feud. The Chen family, however, had a long tradition of marrying into the Lin family. My mother was supposed to marry the head of the Chen family, but she fell in love with my father and eloped. It was a done deal, and the Lin family, deeply ashamed, banished her from their family tree. This tombstone shouldn’t have borne the Lin surname, but I couldn’t bear the thought of my mother being denied her lineage even in death, so I had it engraved.”
A hint of amusement flickered in Lin Qianshuang’s eyes. She sat down cross-legged on the ground and said, “Then we must be distantly related. Should I call you cousin?”
Xiao Lanle, unfastening the rope securing the jar of osmanthus wine, poured a cup for Lin Qianshuang. Her voice, laced with a touch of petulance, held a hint of disapproval. “Lin Qianshuang, how can you be my cousin? No cousin behaves like you. You’re wild, unrestrained, and not at all like the daughter of a noble family.”
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable under Xiao Lanle’s scrutiny, Lin Qianshuang finished the sweet, refreshing wine in one gulp. She then poured herself another cup, and another, seeking solace in the liquor.
Sweet, but not cloying, the wine tasted less like alcohol and more like a delicious fruit juice. It didn’t even burn going down.
Recalling Xiao Lanle’s apparent fear of thunderstorms, Lin Qianshuang asked casually, “Junior Sister, you’re awfully timid. Why are you even afraid of thunderstorms? What do you do when you encounter them?”
Xiao Lanle stared into her cup of wine for a long time. The moment she thought of the memories that kept surfacing in her mind, the wine lost its appeal. She didn’t take a sip. She whispered, “I don’t know why… Every time there’s a thunderstorm, I feel like I’m locked in a very narrow box. Someone covers my eyes and tells me not to look. I can’t see anything… I just smell blood. The smell is very strong and pungent… and I can’t escape.”
Lin Qianshuang listened to Xiao Lanle’s soft voice. The faint feminine tone was like a leaf brushing against her heart, making it itch and gradually heat up.
“It’s so hot.”
She vaguely felt as if a bug had been placed on her skin, constantly sliding around. Everywhere it passed, it burned. Sweat beaded on her skin, seeming to dampen her back, her clothes clinging to the curves of her body.
Lin Qianshuang’s eyes lost focus slightly, and she listened distractedly to Xiao Lanle’s whispers. She peeled off her outer veil. The sweat sliding from her shoulders to her spine made her uncomfortable.
Xiao Lanle snapped out of her memories to see Lin Qianshuang’s usually pure and beautiful face flushed crimson, as if it might bleed. Her eyes were hazy with mist, tinged with a faint blue glow. She was breathing heavily, beads of sweat clinging to her neck and collarbone. Her slender fingers trembled as she pulled at her collar and belt, her clothes loosening and falling away.
The cold wind brushed against her exposed skin, and Lin Qianshuang squinted her eyes in pleasure, enjoying the coolness.
Her hazy blue eyes, obscured by emotion, glanced at Xiao Lanle. The innocent yet seductive gleam seemed to draw her in, making Xiao Lanle unconsciously want to get closer.
Xiao Lanle grabbed Lin Qianshuang’s hand as it fumbled with her clothes, but froze when she felt the heat radiating from her palm. “Senior Sister Lin, why is your body temperature so high?”
The strong scent of osmanthus wine wafted from Lin Qianshuang.
Xiao Lanle’s clear eyes flickered with confusion. She released Lin Qianshuang’s hand and sniffed the jar of osmanthus wine placed before the tombstone. Then she took out the shark pearl and asked, “Is there something in this wine?”
“It’s a love potion, a simple mortal concoction called ‘Spring Breeze Scatter’. Give her an antidote pill and she’ll be fine,” the pearl replied.
Hearing this, Xiao Lanle’s mind raced to the brocade box hidden near the wine. She retrieved it and opened the lock. Inside lay a white, smooth, and sticky substance, emitting a strange fragrance.
Xiao Lanle’s face contorted in a mixture of shame and anger. It was a lubricating ointment, used for sexual intercourse.
Liang Jingxuan had invited her to drink under the locust tree on her birthday more than once. All along, he had harbored these hidden, vile intentions.