The Sect Leader's Seat (6)

Xiao Lanle pretended to be asleep, lying on the bed with one eye secretly peeping open. She watched as Lin Qianshuang turned her back to her, frantically closing the forbidden dual cultivation manual and stuffing it into another mental technique textbook before shoving both back onto the bookshelf. She stifled a giggle behind her hand.

Once the scattered books on the floor were tidied, Lin Qianshuang turned to the “sleeping” figure on the bed. Though Xiao Lanle seemed harmless, Lin still harbored caution—she couldn’t risk the girl discovering her true identity as a demon cultivator tied to Tianshu City. That would only invite unnecessary complications.

Approaching the bed, Lin placed a sleeping spell on Xiao Lanle’s forehead, ensuring she’d stay unconscious. Satisfied, she lifted up the Tianshu Order.

“Understood. I’ll depart for Tianshu City at once.”

The artifact flared crimson, surging from the window like a comet. It arced across Xiaoyao Cave’s starlit sky before dissolving into nothingness.

Lin secured the Cold Cicada Zither in her storage jade slip, then retrieved the silver mask symbolizing Jieyu Gongzi, masking her features beneath its gleam.

Although the Demon Realm had long withdrawn the bounty for clues about her, everyone in Tianshu City knew she was a demon cultivator. If the Penglai Immortal Sect discovered her other identity, she’d be forced to leave the sect—unable to stay by Xiao Lanle’s side or clear the obstacles blocking her path. That wouldn’t just hinder her system tasks; it could ruin everything.

Come on, the second mission objective is almost complete.

Lin Qianshuang took a deep breath to steady herself.

The Chinese knot adorning her Tianshu City identity jade caught her eye.

Holding the jade pendant, she suddenly recalled how Liang Jingxuan had inexplicably known she was also a time traveler. Maybe it was linked to this knot? She couldn’t remember what else might’ve given her away.

She smacked her forehead. How could she forget—the original male protagonist had also come from the Celestial Dynasty¹! What an idiot.

The wooden window shuddered, and the figure inside dissolved into a swirling mass of dark purple mist before vanishing. Outside, the trunk of the white magnolia tree trembled violently, its branches thrashing as blossoms rained down to the ground.

Xiao Lanle stirred awake on the bed, the Oceanic Shark Pearl hovering above her, casting an ethereal blue glow. Her crystalline eyes, usually bright as mountain springs, now held a shadow of unease.

How had Senior Sister received a secret order from Tianshu City? Had she secretly struck a deal with the City Lord too?

Mu Weiyin never made unprofitable deals—the price Senior Sister must’ve paid was unthinkable. But why ally with the City Lord? What goal could justify such a bargain…?

Xiao Lanle’s mind raced, doubt coiling tighter with each thought until panic spurred her into action. She leapt from the bed, dressed hastily, adjusted her appearance, summoned her Plain Inquiry Sword, and took flight—following them silently toward Tianshu City by swordlight.

~ ~ ~

A swirling mist enshrouded the lake pavilion, where a jade-like figure sat astride the railing. Her short legs, as pale and plump as lotus roots, swung idly above the shimmering water. Clutching a star-divination compass in her tiny hand, she gazed transfixed at the night sky’s dense tapestry of stars. Under the force of her formidable spiritual meditation, the lake surface churned into swirling vortices. Eight Kan-positioned ripples pulsed with surging qi, coalescing into ethereal illusions of all creation.

Lin Qianshuang had just reached the lakeside with a maid when she witnessed Mu Weiyin probing the heavens’ secrets. The Tianshu City Lord’s cultivation was immeasurable—only a breath away from ascending to the upper realms. The aura radiating from Mu Weiyin’s frame silenced the world; even a thrush perching on the pavilion’s eave scattered, wings flapping in alarm.

Lin halted nearby, waiting silently as Mu Weiyin emerged from her trance. The spiritual seal on her brow dimmed, and her eyes fluttered open. Wincing, she clutched her chest and coughed weakly.

Lately, both she and Xiao Lanle had attempted dual cultivation, but whenever they exchanged qi, her spiritual channels clogged like blocked springs. Xiao Lanle alone profited, siphoning her essence and lifespan. Worse, her body refused to heal properly—its growth stubbornly stunted, defying all expectations.

Mu Weiyin harbored doubts about Xiao Lanle being her destined soulmate, so she retreated into meditation today to trace their karmic bond and seek answers from the Heavenly Dao. The star chart revealed no marital fate between them, but the divination board suddenly manifested a luminous mirror—reflecting her own form instead.

This was the first time she’d encountered such an eerie omen. The so-called “Heaven’s Mandate Mirror” merely showed her own empty silhouette.

She recalled the day she’d possessed Xiao Lanle’s body—the young woman’s flesh had fit seamlessly with her soul, as though… they were always meant to be one.

Could that be the root of their fated connection?

A slender figure stood by the willow-shaded lakeshore nearby, gazing this way through the slow-rolling mist.

Mu Weiyin spotted Lin Qianshuang instantly. Her ring-clad thumb tapped the crimson jade table sharply. At the signal, the guard beside her discreetly motioned to the maid waiting outside the pavilion.

The maid hurried over to Lin Qianshuang, who stood waiting nearby, and gestured for her to approach the city lord.

Lin Qianshuang entered the pavilion, noting how lightly Mu Weiyin was dressed. Daring not to stare too long out of respect, she bowed with clasped fists and said, “Deputy Tower Lord Du Shuang of Yixiang Tower has dispatched me to Tianshu City for orders. May I ask what the city lord requires?”

Mu Weiyin studied Lin, her posture regal as she stood with hands behind her back, then said with a touch of surprise, “Du Shuang mentioned an urgent matter. I’d wondered who’d replace her for the Demon Realm envoy. Turns out it’s you.”

“A mission to the Demon Realm?”

Lin’s unease settled like cold iron. Could they send her to meet its Lord? That would mean facing her master…

She recalled their chance encounter at Yixiang Tower, when Han Shengyao had wished to forget her entirely.

If she reappeared before Han Shengyao and she remembered again, then all her master’s efforts would have been in vain.

Lin Qianshuang feared Mu Weiyin might notice the change in her expression and quickly adjusted her features.

Mu Weiyin flicked her sleeves, producing a bamboo tube holding Lin Qianshuang’s Jieyu persona files. Her gaze lingered on it before lifting eyes like deep springs to meet Lin’s. “Jieyu,” she said, “as a demon cultivator who trained in the Demon Realm for half a year, you’re familiar with its terrain. I’m sending you there now to invite the Demon Emperor to join us in inspecting progress on the Beast-Subduing Tower. Recently, a demon called Black Mountain Old Demon has emerged in the mortal realm, rallying escaped beasts from the Beast-Sealing Tower to wreak havoc. The Five Cultivation Sects have suffered massive casualties. Acting alone won’t suffice to seal these fiends—but if the Demon Emperor and I unite, we might recapture them.”

Black Mountain Old Demon? Is this the world of Liaozhai²?

Lin stifled a smirk at the absurd moniker before sobering. The Five Cultivation Sects’ disciples were the elite of the human realm. This upstart old demon dared to force the Tianshu City Lord into direct intervention—and demand summoning the Demon Emperor from her domain?

This character doesn’t appear in the original novel. Maybe she missed that chapter. After all, she had only skimmed it. She only remembered the emotional parts which she liked, the plot… not so much.

Lin Qianshuang considered this, then addressed Mu Weiyin: “At your command. When must I depart?”

Mu Weiyin stepped closer, suddenly tiptoeing to raise her hand. Her fingertips lightly brushed Lin’s forehead, leaving a fleeting magic seal. In a placid tone, she said, “Jieyu, I’ve sent the Chen family’s two brothers to accompany you. A carriage will come for both of you. Before that, though—I wish to try dual cultivation with you. The stars shine brightly now, and the spiritual energy is thick. How is your body? Can you endure it?”