Jinshui Lake Competition (5)

Those words emerged from Xiao Lanle’s lips.

But they echoed the distant voice in her extra memory…

Four intertwined threads of fate, entangled and condensed into a single red thread, emerged from the Tablet of Fate tied to the tree branch and bound her middle finger. At this moment, the Matchmaking Tree became sentient, connecting her to Lin Qianshuang’s sea of consciousness.

The four individuals destined for her in the marriage book appeared before her eyes, a fleeting procession of faces. Before Lin Qianshuang could discern them clearly, they coalesced and transformed into Xiao Lanle’s face, her eyes closed as she kissed.

Did the Matchmaking Tree show her the four peach blossoms on Senior Sister Bai Yueguang’s body, as mentioned in the original text?

But Senior Sister was already cannon fodder in the original text.

That meant it was referring to herself.

Lin Qianshuang’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t what she thought. There happened to be four people in her favorability interface, and among the faces she passed by in a flash, three were blurry, but she saw Xiao Lanle’s face clearly.

Xiao Lanle was one of the targets she needed to save in order to leave the game, “Conquest of the Four Realms.”

Could this be a sign that her favorability was too high, causing the four people she wanted to save to fall in love with her?

Lin Qianshuang panicked and quickly entered her consciousness to check the favorability interface. She immediately understood why the system had prompted her.

Xiao Lanle’s avatar frame, like the current Demon Realm Domain Lord Han Shengyao’s, had turned golden. Her favorability far exceeded that of a life-and-death friend, the entire bar was filled to the brim, with an extra one percent.

Lin Qianshuang couldn’t comprehend it. Xiao Lanle clearly disliked her, once even reaching a negative 90% favorability. She had desperately tried to gain her favor, enduring ridicule and suppressing her temper, hoping to reach the level of a life-and-death friend. Yet, she had done nothing to earn this sudden surge in favorability, and it had even exceeded the required level, making Xiao Lanle completely enamored with her.

Lin Qianshuang stared blankly at Xiao Lanle’s face, so close to hers. Her own face felt like it was burning, incredibly hot.

Xiao Lanle’s feelings were genuine and heartfelt. Her gaze towards Lin Qianshuang was pure and transparent, the affection hidden within her eyes impossible to conceal. The innocent and unreserved love she offered could not be expressed by cold data bars. Lin Qianshuang couldn’t deceive herself and treat this feeling as just a string of numbers to be manipulated.

However, she was destined to betray those feelings. The person Xiao Lanle should marry should be someone who would greatly assist her in becoming the leader of the Immortal Alliance. That person could be Chen Shangqing, the city lord, or even the male protagonist Liang Jingxuan.

That person should never be Lin Qianshuang.

“I’m sorry, Xiao Lanle,” she thought. “I will make you understand what you truly need.”

Lin Qianshuang, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, met Xiao Lanle’s gaze. Her black eyes shimmered with a blue light as she lowered her resisting hand, gently resting it on Xiao Lanle’s shoulder. The moment Xiao Lanle parted her lips, Lin Qianshuang decisively met her in a kiss, shifting from passive to active.

Their breaths mingled in a passionate embrace, lips lingering in a desperate dance, as if seeking to transfer every ounce of their affection. Lin Qianshuang could sense Xiao Lanle’s ecstatic response, her eyes devoid of any other emotion, as she coldly surveyed the onlookers from the Penglai Immortal Sect and the Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Pretending to be bold, Lin Qianshuang untied Xiao Lanle’s collar and pulled down her garment, revealing a portion of her shoulder. She then moved her lips from Xiao Lanle’s face, and as Xiao Lanle shyly lowered her head, her kiss trailed down her cheek, pure and devoid of any impropriety.

Lin Qianshuang shielded Xiao Lanle from the curious gazes of the crowd with her hand. Xiao Lanle’s body trembled slightly, her dark eyes deepening with a newfound intensity. She gently and gratefully kissed Lin Qianshuang’s cheek, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist.

Despite the accusatory stares of the Penglai Immortal Sect, they kissed again, as if oblivious to the world around them.

Lin Qianshuang pushed Xiao Lanle away, who was still lost in the afterglow of their kiss and overwhelming joy. The tree vine, which had loosened from her waist when the Matchmaking Tree communicated with her, had already released its hold. It was easy for her to break free from Xiao Lanle’s grasp.

She untied her veil and draped it over Xiao Lanle’s shoulders, leaving a tender kiss on her forehead.

With clear eyes, Lin Qianshuang walked towards Sect Leader Xiao Shen and knelt before him. Her posture was neither humble nor arrogant. Lowering her head, she said, “As a senior sister, I have violated the sect’s rules and led a fellow disciple astray. I intended to commit a transgression. I know my mistake and I ask for your punishment, Sect Leader.”

A cold snort, laced with suppressed anger, escaped from Xiao Shen’s nostrils. With a flick of his sleeve, he struck Lin Qianshuang, sending her crashing to the ground.

She had deliberately forgone her demonic energy, knowing that any resistance to his attack would raise suspicions. Lin Qianshuang’s fragile mortal body was unprepared for the blow. She rolled to the side, her heart and lungs aching, and blood trickled from her lips.

Someone reached out to support her as she came to a stop.

Lin Qianshuang wiped the blood from her lips and looked up. Chen Shangqing was watching her with a detached expression. With a touch of kindness, he pulled her to her feet.

“Junior Brother Chen, I thought you were going to confront me, but it seems I was mistaken.”

Lin Qianshuang brushed the petals and mud from her clothes, her gaze wary as she looked at Chen Shangqing.

Chen Shangqing didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, he glanced towards a spot beside the Matchmaking Tree, saying, “Chen witnessed your relationship firsthand at the tomb. Public displays are fine, but there’s no need for them with you.”

“What do you mean?”

Lin Qianshuang was taken aback, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes, but her expression remained calm as she lowered her voice, “Did you orchestrate this entire spectacle of the Penglai Immortal Sect’s daughter making a fool of herself?”

Chen Shangqing’s hand pressed on Lin Qianshuang’s shoulder, guiding her to look in a specific direction. Her eyes widened in shock. Beside the Matchmaking Tree, a pair of figures were tangled together in a chaotic embrace, their clothes askew. It was Liang Jingxuan and a strange female disciple from the Penglai Immortal Sect.

Lin Qianshuang’s mind snapped into place. Swallowing the blood that had pooled in her throat, she offered a humorless smile and whispered, “A clever plan, killing two birds with one stone. You’ve not only found a reason for Xiao Lanle to break off her engagement, but you’ve also conveniently dealt with me, a supposed ’threat’. Junior Brother Chen, you’re quite the strategist. But tell me, where did you find this woman? She seems willing to do your bidding.”

Chen Shangqing responded calmly, “My younger sister, Shang Yun, has admired Junior Brother Liang for a long time, and now they are a perfect match. This marriage is a happy event for both the Chen family in Nanling and the Liang family in Beiling.”

Lin Qianshuang stared at Chen Shangqing in disbelief. She knew Liang Jingxuan’s character well, yet Chen Shangqing was allowing his sister to be blind to his true nature. He was even willing to ruin his sister’s reputation to indulge him.

Chen Shangqing was aware of her feelings for Xiao Lanle, even suspecting their relationship might be more than just friendship, yet he was still pushing his second brother, Chen Shangying, towards her.

This incident with Xiao Lanle would inevitably become public knowledge. To protect Xiao Lanle’s reputation and prove the rumors false, the best course of action would be to enter into another engagement.

Chen Shangqing must have known that the Chen family in Nanling and the Lin family in the Dongling Realm had a unique relationship. Lin Qianshuang had already been rejected once, making her a difficult prospect for marriage. However, she and Chen Shangying had a childhood betrothal agreement.

Lin Qianshuang sneered inwardly. This situation was indeed a stain on her reputation, but it also provided her with an excuse to marry into the Chen family. She could then eliminate the head of the Chen family from her assassination list.

The feeling of being manipulated was deeply unsettling.

Lin Qianshuang realized that the seemingly insignificant character in the original story, Chen Shangqing, was far more dangerous than she had initially perceived. He was a man who prioritized his family’s interests above all else.

Even his admiration for Xiao Lanle might not be pure, laced with too many factors of self-interest.

Lin Qianshuang slapped her head, her face contorted with regret. She had actually considered letting Xiao Lanle marry someone like this. She was truly insane.

The cool night breeze sent a shiver down Xiao Lanle’s spine. The more she listened to Lin Qianshuang, the more she felt something was terribly wrong. Then she heard the sound of her father, the Sect Master, and the clatter of something falling.

She spun around, her eyes landing on a group of Penglai Immortal Sect disciples. Lin Qianshuang lay on the ground, looking defeated, supported by Chen Shangqing. Xiao Shen, her father, stood over her with a dark, menacing expression.

Xiao Lanle was stunned, her heart in turmoil. She had planned to break off her engagement with Liang Jingxuan and then try to convince her father to accept her relationship with Lin Qianshuang. But the current situation was utterly bewildering. Everyone in the Penglai Immortal Sect had witnessed this scene, and there were also many Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples present, watching with disdain.

“Father, this is all my fault. It has nothing to do with Senior Sister Lin…”

Slap

Xiao Shen delivered a harsh blow to Xiao Lanle’s cheek, sending her stumbling back. His voice was laced with fury. “You still dare to claim innocence? Le’er, as the daughter of our sect leader, how can you be so reckless? To be entangled with a fellow disciple from the same sect! Do you realize that you have brought shame upon the Penglai Immortal Sect?”

Xiao Lanle knelt on the ground, silent. After a long moment, she found the courage to speak. “Father, Senior Sister Lin and I truly love each other. You don’t understand—the Matchmaking Tree…”

Slap

Another merciless blow sent her sprawling. She clutched her swollen cheek, lifting her head to meet her father’s gaze. Her eyes were red with defiance. “Father,” she said, “no wonder Mother left you. You don’t understand true love. You’re not worthy of her love.”

Xiao Shen trembled with rage. He raised his hand, ready to strike again. This slap would carry seven times the fury of the last, leaving her in agony for days. He seemed determined to beat her into submission.

The Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples watched, their faces twisted with mockery. The Penglai Immortal Sect disciples, however, looked on with disgust.