The Sect Leader's Seat (3)

After displaying the full mission details, the character favorability interface flashed briefly before her eyes and vanished. Light and shadow filtered through the trembling leaves of swaying branches, dappled across Xiao Lanle’s fair, delicate face. Her pupils, refracted by the light, shimmered a soft brown hue. Her gaze mirrored still waters, as though reflecting hidden recesses of her heart.

Lin Qianshuang had just emerged from Xiao Lanle’s sealed memories. She knew the Glazed Temple Gem had suppressed and altered those recollections to shield Xiao. Perhaps ignorance was the best protection for her.

Lin studied Xiao Lanle—so fragile and pitiable—and felt a pang of sympathy. Now, their proximity felt unnervingly intimate, even though they’d shared such closeness before. Yet today, an unfamiliar awkwardness prickled her skin, sharpened by the knowledge that Xiao harbored feelings for her.

Lin Qianshuang instinctively tilted her neck back, awkwardly rubbing her head after the back of it bumped into a tree. She addressed Xiao Lanle, “Junior sister, I followed the City Lord’s method and used the melody of the Cold Cicada Zither to lull you into a dream. It seems your inner demon has dissolved. Try circulating your energy again—see if your body feels any better.”

“My heart demon is indeed gone,” Xiao Lanle replied, her voice tinged with quiet certainty. “So this was your doing, Senior Sister.”

Her bright eyes sparkled as a sudden grin spread across her face. Before Lin could react, she pressed a kiss to Lin’s left cheek and nestled into her lap, all soft curves and delicate fragrance.

When Lin stiffened, uncomfortable and half-pushing her away, Xiao Lanle coiled her arms around her, laughing as she embraced her tightly. The sweet scent of youth and the tender brush of her presence hovered near Lin’s lips. Her body froze, cheeks flushing crimson. Yet Xiao’s gesture held no overt intimacy—merely the familiar warmth of a devoted junior sister. To reject it now would make her seem overly prudish.

“Senior Sister, you’re so kind,” Xiao murmured, her voice honeyed with affection. “You’re the best in all the world. Lanle adores you.”

Xiao Lanle kissed Lin Qianshuang’s right cheek as she spoke, seeing no resistance, she pressed another kiss to the corner of her lips. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and she coquettishly nestled into a comfortable position, leaning all her weight onto Lin until it seemed she’d topple her into the tree.

Lin Qianshuang stiffened. The woman in her arms clung like a giant hound, nuzzling her neck and jawline while inhaling her scent. Her body was pinned tightly against the trunk, the swaying tree sending showers of dry yellow leaves spiraling to the ground.

“Stop it—it’s so ticklish! Why are you doing this, hahahaha!”

Xiao Lanle plucked a dogtail grass stalk, flicking it across Lin’s collarbone. Seeing her laugh until tears streamed down her cheeks, she trailed a hand lazily along Lin’s spine, smirking. “Senior Sister, you’re too sensitive. I barely touched you, and now you’re all… damp.”

The innuendo struck Lin like a splash of cold water. Her face burned as she snatched the grass from Xiao’s hand, jabbing it at her cheek. “Try being teased by dogtail grass then! Who’s ‘damp,’ hmm?”

Xiao Lanle’s playful grin faded. She stared up with an abrupt seriousness, her earlier mischief erased, eyes locked unwavering on Lin’s flustered face.

Lin Qianshuang calmed herself, suddenly realizing how childish her actions had been. She awkwardly lowered her hand, tossed aside the dogtail grass, and stood up after brushing off her clothes.

“Senior Sister, don’t be angry.”

Xiao Lanle watched Lin glance at her before turning to leave—and immediately sprang forward, clinging to Lin’s back like a barnacle. Looping her arms around Lin’s waist, she murmured into her ear, “I adore you no matter how you behave—even when you’re flustered and flushed like this. Qianshuang… if shyness gnaws at you, take what you need from me. Let me be yours tonight. What say you?”

Lin Qianshuang froze, as though hearing phantoms. Her face stiffened. “You… what nonsense are you spouting?”

Xiao Lanle cursed inwardly for overstepping. Panicked, she feared alarming Lin—the woman might seem emotionally numb, but her wits were sharp. If her true intentions were exposed, Lin would shut her out entirely.

After several encounters with Lin Qianshuang, Xiao Lanle had come to deeply understand that Senior Sister Lin was shy and conflicted. Even if she harbored feelings, she would never voice them openly—and seemed to deliberately avoid letting Xiao know. If Xiao didn’t take the initiative, she’d end up empty-handed, not even able to share a bowl of soup.

What’s more, she yearned for that night when she and her senior sister had been entwined. Though Xiao had been the sole instigator, the intoxicating freedom of exploring Senior Sister’s body left an indelible imprint on her soul.

Her senior’s form was all alabaster skin and yielding softness—smooth as silk to the touch, faintly scented with delicate perfume. Even when pain flared, Lin had slept on, yet still murmured sweet sounds in her slumber, her slender neck glistening with dewy sweat that tasted like honeyed nectar.

Xiao Lanle traced the snow-white curve of Lin’s nape with her gaze, lips parting faintly as memories surged. But her voice emerged hollow and bitter: “Senior Sister… just now I relived that night again. It hurt so fiercely—but knowing it was your touch upon me, I bore it.”

Silence.

Lin Qianshuang’s composure shattered. Pale-faced, she stared ahead. Hearing Xiao confess this herself struck deeper than any cold, detached system message ever could.

“Senior Sister, you’re hurting me so much, yet you just keep enjoying yourself alone.”

Xiao Lanle leaned mournfully against Lin Qianshuang’s back, her delicate features twisting in petulant distress. “You were the one reveling earlier, but my hand’s gone numb and sore—it’s not fair! Senior Sister, every night when darkness falls, I feel you beside me. My body seems to recognize you, trembling at your touch. Now when I look at other men, they all reek of filth—I can’t even bear their presence. Am I destined to remain unmarried?”

“Senior Sister, it’s all your fault! You’re so cruel… I can’t bring myself to care for men anymore…”

Lin Qianshuang shuddered violently at Xiao Lanle’s words—“You’ve hurt me so much” and “I don’t think I can love men anymore…” Without pausing to decipher whether her junior sister’s tone was playful taunt or genuine resentment, she yanked free from Xiao’s grip and bolted away, her heart spiraling into chaos.

Oh no… She’d assumed Xiao’s confession of liking her was a fleeting fancy. Now it seemed fate had twisted them both into this path without warning.

A sin… a sin! Why tempt someone who won’t wed?

She couldn’t comprehend how Xiao Lanle had grown fond of her, despite their constant verbal sparring.

Was she now responsible for harming another besides her master?

Lin Qianshuang simmered with frustration—the system was still under repair. Otherwise, she would’ve interrogated it thoroughly: How do you revert a girl who was straight but turned gay back to her original orientation…?

Must she personally crush Xiao Lanle’s hopes completely?

“Senior disciple, where are you dashing off to in such a hurry?”

Her flickering gaze settled ahead, where Fairy Jinghua approached, her flowing robes rippling as she glided effortlessly on her sword.

Fairy Jinghua noticed Lin Qianshuang’s anxious expression and wandering gaze. She raised her hand and lightly tapped the spiritual acupoint on Lin’s forehead, instantly soothing her turmoil.

Lin’s demeanor calmed considerably. She turned to Fairy Jinghua with gratitude and said, “Thank you, Master.”

Observing her disciple’s weary appearance, Fairy Jinghua furrowed her brows. “Your cultivation base is already unstable. You must not exhaust your spiritual energy like this anymore. You should retreat to practice in seclusion. I’ve heard of the demonic path’s cultivation methods—if you refuse to steal others’ cultivation again, you could seek out a demonic cultivator companion to help stabilize your foundation.”

The word “companion” made Lin cringe. Her frailty stemmed from Xiao Lanle, no doubt due to being drained of her essence. She forced a smile. “Master, there’s no need for that.”

Fairy Jinghua placed a porcelain vial into Lin’s palm, closing her fingers around it. “As my eldest disciple, knowing you’re here reassures me. Regarding the second disciple’s transgressions, I bear some responsibility as a master. I must go to Penglai Immortal Palace to apologize to the leader. Though your junior brother gravely erred, you two were once inseparable since childhood, bound by deeper ties than other peers. I entrust him to your care—he has little time left.”

Lin’s mind flickered—earlier, the male protagonist had merely been expelled from the sect, not condemned to death…

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes widened, clutching the porcelain vial as she turned to Fairy Jinghua. “Time is running out? His sins don’t merit death—why speak so gravely, Master?”

Fairy Jinghua sighed. “Your junior brother disgraced the clan’s honor and committed the grave offense of privately releasing forbidden zone demons. Young Xiao Shen also suffered humiliation due to the broken engagement. All under heaven mock the Penglai Immortal Sect’s misfortunes. The sect leader would never swallow this insult. He’s already consulted the Liang family patriarch—they’ll send your junior brother back. Should he return, he’ll have no choice but to atone with his life.”

Lin Qianshuang curled her lips. The male protagonist? He’ll probably charm a few more girls along the way back, surviving with flair and seizing another opportunity.

She nodded demurely. “Rest easy, Master. Leave him to me—I’ll ensure Liang Jingshuang is well cared for.”

Fairy Jinghua nodded in relief. “Then I trust you completely.”

After sending Fairy Jinghua away, Lin Qianshuang soared toward the water prison holding Liang Jingxuan, her spirit sword slicing through the air.

She held up the porcelain vial to her nose. It was a fine healing potion—applying it to Liang Jingxuan would cure all his wounds.

Lin Qianshuang resealed the bottle with its cork, her mind weighed down by calculation. According to the original plot, Liang Jingxuan should’ve been expelled from the Penglai Immortal Sect. If allowed to return to the Liang family estate in the Beiling Realm, his journey home would spawn complications. Perhaps the Favoured One would seize the chance to grow stronger, obtaining a legendary treasure and boosting his power. Returning then would make him even harder to confront. Better to let him escape now.

Firstly, fleeing under such charges would only add to his crimes, making him a pariah in the eyes of all.

Secondly, releasing him under the name of Junior Sister Xiao might make the protagonist grateful to her.

The Favoured One’s potential was limitless. Lin calculated that confronting him directly was beyond her current strength—it’d be wiser to extend this favor.

The Wenze Cave¹ reeked of chill and dampness. Beyond the water prison sprawled a crocodile pool, where wayward disciples corrupted by demonic paths were tossed to be devoured by ferocious scaled beasts year-round.

Lin Qianshuang descended onto the stone pillars above the Blood River within the Wenze Cave, her steps cautious as she traversed the iron chains linking the pillars. Though the river’s surface appeared placid, numerous logs floated atop its crimson waters. A closer glance revealed scaled, serpentine crocodile tails drifting among them, their amber eyes flickering open and shut. They watched her intently, jaws agape, ever ready to seize any prey that faltered into their reach.