Jinshui Lake Competition (6)

As the head of the Penglai Immortal Sect, Sect Master Xiao Shen was a leading figure in the righteous path of the cultivation world. Yet, his daughter had defied the natural order of yin and yang, attempting to “polish the mirror”¹ with a fellow sect sister. And Xiao Shen’s soon-to-be son-in-law, even before marriage, was involved in a scandalous affair with another sect sister under the Matchmaking Tree.

Witnessing such scandalous gossip firsthand in the world of cultivation felt particularly fresh and exciting.

Lin Qianshuang saw that Xiao Shen was about to strike Xiao Lanle with a palm to the chest. Gritting her teeth, she pushed away Chen Shangqing, who was supporting her from behind, and scrambled to her feet.

With a swift movement, she threw herself in front of Xiao Lanle, shielding her with a layer of demonic energy to lessen the impact of any potential injury.

Xiao Shen’s palm slammed into Lin Qianshuang’s back. Her eyelashes fluttered as she pulled Xiao Lanle under her body, both of them being knocked to the ground by the force of the blow.

Xiao Lanle had been waiting with her eyes closed for Xiao Shen’s strike, but she was caught in someone’s embrace. Opening her eyes, she saw Lin Qianshuang’s pale face before her, her hair cascading over her cheeks. Lin Qianshuang’s left hand was supporting the ground, protecting Xiao Lanle, while her right arm lay crooked at her side, likely broken.

Lin Qianshuang narrowed her eyes and glared at Xiao Shen. “This old man really cares about face,” she thought, “He’s so ruthless he’d even attack his own daughter. What a cruel person.”

“Master, I confess, this matter has nothing to do with Junior Sister Xiao. I have harbored feelings for her for a long time, and my actions were driven by my foolish infatuation. I confessed my feelings, but Junior Sister resisted vehemently. In desperation, I cast a spell to make her comply. All the things she said were a result of the spell’s influence, and she is innocent of any wrongdoing.”

Lin Qianshuang spoke each word with weight, taking full responsibility. She understood that this scandal would damage Xiao Lanle’s reputation. While keeping lovers for personal gain was common in the cultivation world, for righteous cultivators, dual cultivation was the only acceptable path to forming a couple. Any other form of intimacy was considered a violation of the natural order and condemned by the Heavenly Dao.

By taking the blame, Lin Qianshuang provided a way for Xiao Shen to save face and made Xiao Lanle the victim. As a temporary resident of the Penglai Immortal Sect, Lin Qianshuang knew she would eventually leave, and her reputation, even if tarnished, mattered little to her.

Xiao Shen’s expression softened slightly as he listened to Lin Qianshuang’s words.

Lin Qianshuang feigned guilt as she looked at the disciples of Penglai Immortal Sect. From the corner of her eye, she saw Liang Jingxuan, his clothes disheveled and clinging to Chen Shangyun. His gaze flickered with hatred towards Chen Shangqing and Xiao Shen, then landed on Lin Qianshuang with a worried, affectionate expression. He seemed to believe that Chen Shangqing had tricked Lin Qianshuang into protecting Xiao Lanle’s reputation.

Lin Qianshuang couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. If Liang Jingxuan knew she had inadvertently stolen a member of his harem, she wondered how he would react.

A clean silk handkerchief, fragrant with orchid, wiped the blood from her lips.

Lin Qianshuang turned back to Xiao Lanle, who was gently wiping her lips with the handkerchief. Her dark, clear eyes were filled with tears, and a misty haze clouded her vision.

Xiao Lanle, her voice trembling, grabbed Lin Qianshuang’s shoulders and said, “Lin Qianshuang, what do you mean by this? You’ve taken everything upon yourself? What do you think of me? We should face this together.”

Lin Qianshuang remained silent, lowering her head and ignoring her.

Xiao Lanle suddenly thought of something, her eyes sparkling like bright stars. She hugged Lin Qianshuang’s neck and whispered in her ear, “Senior Sister, I’ll break off the engagement this time. I’ll tell the Lin family that I’ll marry you. If Father doesn’t want to, how about we leave the Penglai Immortal Sect? The world is vast, there’s always a place for us. I heard that your master, Fairy Jinghua, and her senior sister, Du Shuang, are Daoist couples. They found a place to live in the Tianshu Scattered Cultivation City. Shall we go there too?”

“Junior Sister, please stop being naive,” Lin Qianshuang pulled Xiao Lanle’s hand away from her neck and said coldly in a voice transmission. “You are the daughter of the head of a major Righteous Path sect. Even if you escape to the Scattered Cultivation City, with your status, there will be a wave of people who want you dead. Besides, you are too weak now. You can’t even control your own engagement, and your cultivation is barely at the Golden Core stage. Without the protection of the Penglai Immortal Sect, who will protect you? Xiao Lanle, you are being too reckless. Have you considered my feelings?”

The hurt that flashed in Xiao Lanle’s eyes fell into Lin Qianshuang’s eyes, and her heart ached a little, like a needle prick.

But she knew she had to say it. This was to wake Xiao Lanle from her comfortable dream and ignite her fighting spirit.

Lin Qianshuang couldn’t imagine that one day she would use her zither to erase Xiao Lanle’s protective personality. If she were still so fragile and sensitive at that time, how could she bear the death of the sect leader in the plot’s development, and how could she take on the role of the Penglai Immortal Sect’s leader?

Lin Qianshuang took a deep breath and continued calmly, “You want to take me away, but have you asked if I want to? Doing so would not only harm you, but also implicate me. Do you think we could escape from Xiao Shen’s grasp with the power of the Penglai Immortal Sect? Besides, Xiao Lanle, you know very well that I said these things to protect you. But I am the eldest daughter of the Lin family head. Now that this scandal has happened, the family head will be implicated, the family will be ashamed of me, the entire Lin family will be ashamed of me, and I will even be criticized behind my back. Fortunately, I already have a marriage contract with the Chen family’s second son. Once the Chen family places the offer of marriage, the rumors will be silenced.”

She coughed up blood, holding Xiao Lanle’s hand and urging, “Junior sister, you grew up under the protection of the sect, and I also had the family’s support to be able to seek immortality in the Penglai Immortal Sect. How can we do something unkind and unrighteous? Usually, you are the one who rebukes me, but why are you so stubborn this time around, still thinking of things that are incomprehensible?”

Xiao Lanle’s eyes filled with tears, her teeth biting her lower lip as she stared at Lin Qianshuang without moving. Her hand, hidden beneath her sleeve, pulled away from Lin Qianshuang’s grasp on the corner of her coat, veins protruding. In a low, lost voice, she said, “Senior Sister Lin, it’s because I’m too naive and overthinking.”

Lin Qianshuang handed Xiao Lanle the orchid-embroidered silk handkerchief she had retrieved from her storage jade. “Junior sister,” she said softly, “this is the handkerchief you gave me in the Demon Realm. I’ve washed it countless times, it should be clean. If you still think its dirty, I can wash it again. If I don’t give it back to you, I’ll always feel bad.”

Xiao Lanle took the clean handkerchief from Lin Qianshuang’s hand, but without another glance, she walked to Xiao Shen’s side.

She stood as if nothing had happened, as if waking from a dream. Taking Xiao Shen’s arm, she said petulantly, “Father, Senior Sister Lin acted on impulse. She didn’t hurt me, so let’s just forget about it.”

Xiao Shen sighed in relief. His daughter truly was bewitched, but thankfully, she had come to her senses. He looked at the crowd and pointed at Lin Qianshuang. “You all saw it. She cast the bewitching spell. Those words were not what Le’er truly said.”

He then turned to Lin Qianshuang, his eyes stern. “Le’er pleaded for you, and you were entrusted by Master Tianshu to take care of her. This sect master will let go of the blame and punish you to face the wall for three days upon your return to the sect. If you do this kind of thing again, this sect master will definitely expel you from the sect. Do you hear me clearly?”

“Disciple obeys the Sect Master’s teachings and is willing to be punished.”

Lin Qianshuang lowered her head, avoiding Xiao Lanle’s gaze. Standing there, she felt drained, not physically, but emotionally.

The shift from voluntary to forced action left everyone deflated. They’d thought the Sect Leader’s daughter had a real fascination with the same sex, but it was all a performance.

Xu Zheng emerged from the Lingxiao Sword Sect crowd and whispered something in Xiao Shen’s ear.

Xiao Shen listened, then glanced towards Lin Qianshuang, his expression softening. Xiao Lanle stood beside him, distracted, her eyes constantly drawn to Lin Qianshuang, her emotions conflicted.

Xu Zheng quickly took Lin Qianshuang’s arm, walking with the people from the Penglai Immortal Sect, and whispered, “If it weren’t for that scene, I would have thought you were truly smitten. Xiao Lanle, you see, is the city lord’s target.”

Lin Qianshuang covered Xu Zheng’s hand on her arm, ignoring the disapproving stares from the Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned closer to Xu Zheng, whispering, “How could I disobey the city lord’s orders? If you know he wants Xiao Lanle, then you should also know the assassination list I received was his way of enlisting your help.”

Xu Zheng scoffed, covering both their faces with a hand, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint. “I’ve loathed that old man from the Chen family for ages, wanting nothing more than to kill him. I was trying to figure out how to use Lin Qianshuang to find you. It turns out, Elder Six, you are ‘Lin Qianshuang’.”

Lin Qianshuang noticed several disciples from the Lingxiao Sword Sect leaning in to listen to their conversation. Her expression shifted from indifferent to bashful, and she said to Xu Zhengjiao in a coy and awkward tone, “Chen Shangying, do you really want to marry me? You can’t afford the dowry I want.”

Xu Zheng’s face paused for a moment, then he adopted an ambiguous expression and said, “I’m also hosting a banquet at the Lingxiao Sword Sect. I’ll invite your leader to grace the occasion. This matter is settled, you have to marry, even if you don’t want to. As for the dowry, I originally planned to give you three times what an ordinary family receives, so you could use it to seduce the Chen’s daughter behind his back. But this time, I’m only giving you double, no more.”

Lin Qianshuang smiled and, out of spite, took Xu Zheng’s extended single finger and made it two.

Xu Zheng touched the top of Lin Qianshuang’s head and smiled doting at her.

Several disciples of the Lingxiao Sword Sect who had leaned in for some juicy gossip but were forced to watch the couple’s display of affection, had no choice but to sullenly withdraw their heads.

Xiao Lanle watched Lin Qianshuang and Xu Zheng interact. A delicate peony, blooming beside her, was suddenly snapped off, branches and leaves included, and tossed to the ground. Its petals were crushed, scattered across the earth.

After settling Xiao Lanle’s matter, Xiao Shen turned to Liang Jingxuan and Chen Shangyun. He said, “Senior Nephew Liang, since you have fallen in love with Miss Chen, the engagement between you and my daughter shall be annulled. I will personally inform the head of the Liang family of the reasons for this decision.”

Liang Jingxuan’s face blanched instantly. He pushed Chen Shangyun away from him, who had been clinging to his body, and rushed towards Xiao Shen, saying, “Uncle Xiao, this is all a misunderstanding. Someone is framing me. There was nothing between Miss Chen and me.”

Chen Shangyun’s small face clouded over. The next second, tears streamed down her face like rain, and she grabbed Liang Jingxuan, crying, “Senior Brother Liang, we’ve been honest with each other. You promised to marry me, but now you don’t want me anymore?”

Liang Jingxuan abruptly pulled his hand away from Chen Shangyun’s grasp. Seeing that Xiao Lanle wouldn’t even meet his gaze, his heart sank with panic. He blurted out, “Xiao Lanle, you have to believe me. I’ve never done anything to hurt you!”

Xiao Lanle, already upset, raised her eyebrows and said to Liang Jingxuan, “Everyone saw you and Junior Sister Chen together, disheveled. Senior Brother Liang, since you and Junior Sister Chen have already… gone that far, you should be responsible for marrying her. Why are you saying this to me?”

Liang Jingxuan’s confident demeanor crumbled. He felt as if he’d been struck a heavy blow, unable to recover. For years, he had endured humiliation, bowing to the Xiao family father and daughter every day, all for the sake of marrying Xiao Lanle and securing the position of deputy sect leader. He had hoped to earn Xiao Shen’s respect, but all his efforts were now in vain.

Isn’t he the protagonist? Isn’t he the Favoured One, the savior?

Why! Heaven’s will isn’t cooperating. Chen Shangqing, that little wretch, is actually getting ahead of him!

As Liang Jingxuan pondered this, a familiar red ornament caught his eye.

He looked closer and saw a red string bracelet tied around Xiao Lanle’s waist.

“A Chinese knot! This shouldn’t be an ornament that appears here, how could it be on Xiao Lanle’s body?”

Liang Jingxuan was stunned. He couldn’t be mistaken, Xiao Lanle was definitely from this world. Could it be that a traveler like him had appeared beside him, and it was he or she who had given Xiao Lanle this ornament?