Unstoppable (3)

The two stood at nearly the same height.

Lin Qianshuang embraced Xiao Lanle gently, her frame now slender from her trials, and drew her into a snug hold. Her gaze lingered on Liang Jingxuan’s restrained form as the magic formation beneath her sleeves coalesced imperceptibly.

She felt Xiao Lanle’s hands tighten around her waist, the hot breath at her ear urgent and unsteady.

The intimate, fiery press of their lips left Xiao Lanle’s flawless jade-like features tinged with a flush of crimson. Her eyes, close-set and intense, misted over with a hazy veil, their ink-black depths unfocused and dazed.

A pang of guilt and regret pierced Lin Qianshuang’s heart. She shouldn’t have kissed her back—to distract Xiao Lanle, to lower her guard. To initiate such a tender gesture so boldly would only fuel misunderstanding.

Even if that night had been an accident, their bond now bore the weight of intimacy. She had crossed a point of no return, and she loathed deceiving Xiao Lanle further—letting the girl cling to a love that could never be.

She wondered how she could ever atone enough for Xiao Lanle to forget her completely—or whether she should instead try to make the girl hate her again.

Lin Qianshuang’s mind churned with turmoil, but her gaze remained fixed with vigilance on Liang Jingxuan. Her sleeve-concealed hand shifted a spell, and the array’s seal spread like a winding dragon from the rough stone beneath her feet to the iron cage, reinforcing the sealing spell layered over it. Ordinary Golden Core cultivators would never escape such a formation so easily.

She returned Xiao Lanle’s kiss, clearly signaling Liang Jingxuan that everything was as Junior Sister Xiao had said—their relationship was no ordinary one.

A spiritual sword materialized slowly in Lin Qianshuang’s palm. A creeping unease prickled her heart. Given Liang Jingxuan’s temperament, even if he wasn’t raging, he shouldn’t be so unnervingly calm.

A gentle twist tightened her hand, leaving a red mark on her skin.

Lin Qianshuang winced at the sting, pulling her hands away from Xiao Lanle’s waist. Her right thumb brushed her lips kept moist by kisses, and she frowned at Xiao Lanle. “Junior sister, why are you pinching me?”

“Senior sister, who told you to be inattentive? Why are you always staring at Senior Brother Liang?”

Xiao Lanle spoke with a hint of jealousy, her arms soft and boneless as they slipped around Lin Qianshuang’s waist from behind. Her hands rested on Lin’s shoulders, her chest pressed against her back, as if claiming dominance—trapping her within the embrace’s suffocating warmth.

Though a mere push could have dislodged Xiao Lanle, Lin Qianshuang hesitated. She wanted to reject the hug, yet feared Xiao might misinterpret her lingering glances at Liang Jingxuan as residual affection. After a fraught pause, she chose stillness, her posture rigid as she waited for the storm to pass.

Xiao Lanle twirled a strand of Lin’s loose hair, her body draped playfully across her back. With a cheerful tone, she addressed Liang Jingxuan: “I’ve already informed Senior Brother Chen. Master Qingyun will arrive shortly. Senior Brother Liang, you trespassed into the forbidden area, sought to slay the guardian horned dragon, and steal the divine fire. These crimes stacked together mean your expulsion from the Penglai Immortal Sect is inevitable.”

“Our sect does not tolerate those of corrupt character, lustful desires, selfishness, or greed.”

Emphasizing each word with deliberate scorn, Xiao Lanle’s mocking gaze lingered on Liang. She withdrew her hand from Lin’s shoulder, tilted her head, and intertwined their fingers, her voice sweet yet edged with malice. “Senior sister, do you agree my words fit him perfectly?”

Lin Qianshuang turned to Liang Jingxuan, feigning a wounded expression before her face hardened. “Junior sister, you speak wisely. A man whose heart is divided, fixated only on power and status, is unworthy of our affection. He swore undying loyalty to you here, yet already pledged his future to me. Secretly, he consorts with several women within the Penglai Immortal Sect. If he truly cared for either of us, how could he stoop to such filth?”

Liang Jingxuan in the iron cage locked eyes with Lin Qianshuang, his lips trembling as he struggled to speak—but no words escaped.

Xiao Lanle released Lin Qianshuang and approached the cage. Her gaze burned with revulsion as a mocking smile curled her lips. “Senior Brother Liang, you claimed to save me countless times. I once cherished your supposed devotion, believing your love drove you to risk your life. But during my travels, I revisited the town where you ‘rescued’ me. The villagers revealed it was all a farce—your own staged drama. I even traced your lies to Panshi Village and Hanshan Temple… Hmph. I’ve never heard of a villain who harms others yet pretends to be a hero.”

Liang Jingxuan gripped the iron bars, his face crimson with fury. “Xiao Lanle, you’re nothing but a waste of breath. If you weren’t the sect leader’s daughter, I’d have discarded you after a fleeting tryst. Why bother pretending to please you or that stinking old man? I’ve tolerated you long enough—there are plenty of beauties here. If not for my future with Senior Sister Lin, I’d never flatter you! Do you think your charm compels me to worship you like an ancestor?”

He kicked the cell wall, his polished demeanor shattered. Eyes blazing with malice, he spat, “Don’t gloat. Once I’m free, I’ll make you regret this. Touch my woman again, and I’ll kill you. You sick freak—disgusting!”

Xiao Lanle’s dark eyes flickered with pain. Her face betrayed fleeting hurt before hardening into a cold smile. “Senior Brother Liang, I only wanted your explanation. Once, I truly loved you. When you were hurt, my heart ached as if pierced by needles. Your joy was my joy. After every exhausting sword practice, I’d hide behind trees to watch you, just to find excuses to give you snacks I’d prepared myself…”

Liang Jingxuan listened to Xiao Lanle’s words, as if recalling their shared past. The twisted expression on his face softened somewhat. He seemed to regret the harsh words he’d hurled at her, his gaze flickering with fleeting remorse. But the moment he spotted Lin Qianshuang, his stare toward Xiao Lanle shifted, darkening with a glint of murderous intent.

“Liang Jingxuan, I thought you at least cherished me once. It seems I was the fool. From start to finish, all you ever wanted was the Penglai Immortal Sect’s leadership.”

Xiao Lanle cast him a self-derisive glance, her sleeve sweeping upward as she opened her palm. There lay the jade pendant from their Lovers’ Festival—their token of love. With a sharp squeeze, it crumbled to powder between her fingers, swirling down like ash to vanish into the earth.

“Dust to dust, earth to earth. No cause, no end—only oblivion.”

Lin Qianshuang stood behind Xiao Lanle, hearing her quiet words. She couldn’t see her face, only the resolute grace of her movements.

She knew Xiao Lanle’s heart must be shattered. No matter how much Liang Jingxuan repulsed her now, those memories of love had been searingly real. She’d loved him, given everything for this unworthy man.

Xiao Lanle’s sincere efforts had finally yielded an answer today—one that shattered her. The man had never sought her heart, only profit. She’d mistaken her savior for a manipulator who’d risked her life to seize power.

Lin Qianshuang took her hand, her calm gaze a steadying anchor. Turning to Liang Jingxuan, she spoke flatly, “Junior Liang, you’re a soulless opportunist. I was blind to see good in you.”

Liang’s face paled as he gripped the iron bars, shaking them violently. “Senior Sister, stay! What you heard isn’t true! Xiao Lanle isn’t as innocent as you think!”

Xiao Lanle’s lips curled. Her bright eyes locked onto Lin’s, then she seized the chance to pull her close, pressing a swift kiss to Lin’s lips before she could resist. Stepping back, she declared to Liang with unbridled mockery, “Senior Sister Lin is mine. She’s chosen me. There’s no going back. Master Qingyun approaches—your fate is sealed.”

Liang Jingxuan’s gaze clung to Lin Qianshuang, his voice fraying with desperation. “Senior Sister… I won’t believe it. Did Xiao Lanle brainwash you with some… inclination¹?”

“No influence. None at all.”

Lin Qianshuang cast a glance at Xiao Lanle beside her and spoke in a calm tone, “As you can see, I’ve always cared for Junior Sister Xiao. You were deceived by me. It is Junior Sister Xiao I pursued, and we are the true rivals in love. Besides, what’s wrong with loving a woman? Love is about mutual affection between two people, regardless of gender. It’s you, who cling to love every day yet harass other girls—you are the truly repulsive one.”

After unloading her pent-up frustration, Lin Qianshuang felt a surge of relief.

“Senior Sister, I betrayed you. Even if you call me repulsive, I’ll accept it.”

Liang Jingxuan’s figure flickered, appearing outside the iron cage. He stepped forward, his gaze locked on her. “But my heart has always been yours.”

Before they could react, a hurricane erupted beneath their feet. A spiritual lock instantly chained Lin Qianshuang’s ankle, dragging her toward the Nine Cauldrons.

She turned to see Xiao Lanle ensnared by the spiritual lock, hurled into the giant pill furnace within the Nine Cauldrons and swallowed whole. A ball of Superior Purple Lightning Fire erupted from within the Cauldrons, flames swiftly consuming the furnace.

Lin Qianshuang was about to chase after Xiao Lanle in anxious haste when she suddenly felt her body jolt. Two forces surged through the chains clamped around her ankles, yanking her to a halt midair. The iron chains stretched taut between the Nine Cauldrons and Liang Jingxuan.

Liang Jingxuan had already exited the iron cage. He plunged the pink-hued Purple Heavenly Sword deep into the ground, gripping it with one arm while his right hand strained against the chain. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Lin Qianshuang, suspended helplessly in the air. With gritted teeth, he barked, “Senior Sister, don’t let go! I’ll pull you back!”

Lin Qianshuang watched as Liang Jingxuan swiftly ensnared the horned dragon in a bottle-shaped magical artifact. With the formation shattered, the souls sealed within the Nine Cauldrons flickered into view, swirling in the flames above the mausoleum’s halls.

“You activated the Nine Cauldrons and ignited the pill furnace with Purple Lightning Fire. If you wanted to silence someone, Junior Brother Liang, you needn’t have gone to such lengths.”

Glancing at the souls, Lin Qianshuang suddenly recalled the faint glow that seemed to flare from Xiao Lanle’s body as she was dragged into the furnace.

Liang Jingxuan clenched his jaw, bracing against the wind. “Senior Sister, hold on! I never thought the Nine Cauldrons would turn on you too. It won’t heed my commands—it’s spiraling out of control!”

“I’m sorry, I’m afraid I must disappoint you.”

Lin Qianshuang looked down at Liang Jingxuan from above, severing the iron chain he gripped with a single sword strike.

“Senior Sister!”

Amid Liang Jingxuan’s shock and pained outcry, Lin Qianshuang was slowly drawn toward the Nine Cauldrons.

Just then, Lin Qianshuang flashed a sweet smile, a sapphire glow flickering in her eyes. Liang Jingxuan’s focus wavered—a moment of distraction that left him defenseless. The demonic charm technique struck instantly, ensnaring him in a nightmare-like paralysis.

Interlacing strands of demonic energy sliced through the chains. Amid the howling gales, Lin Qianshuang’s green-white robes billowed as she hovered steadily aloft. She descended, using the severed Mystic Iron Chain to bind Liang Jingxuan to one leg of the Nine Cauldrons. Then, she turned her gaze toward the blazing pill furnace.