Chapter 3 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

"Sister Jianli, weren't you out dealing with the demonic cult? How come you're back now..." Bai Lian's lips twitched as she forced a stiff smile. Mu Jianli, the second-seat disciple of the sixty-fourth generation of the Taihua Sword Sect, was born with a sword constitution and had a sword heart as clear as day. The Taihua Sword Sect hosts a Sword Resonance Conference every five years to recruit disciples with the potential for cultivation. Apart from this event, the elders of the sect also travel far and wide to find talented individuals worthy of personal tutelage. Those chosen by the elders are often termed as their personal apprentices. Mu Jianli's case is exceptionally unique. She is the only disciple ever taken in by Ling Ningshuang, the sect master, during her travels. Yes, Mu Jianli is the true protagonist of the game "Die Without Dual Cultivation," and the second character Bai Lian pursued after Gu Qingqing. By the way, Bai Lian wasn’t a recruit through the Sword Resonance Conference either. After all, just reincarnated, she viewed the Taihua Sword Sect as a daunting beast to flee from, not willingly join. Yet, just like in the game’s storyline, Gu Qingqing, roaming the world, stumbled upon her in a desolate village, recognizing her as a fine cultivation prospect, and brought her back to the sect for personal training. Since Gu Qingqing found her during the sixty-fourth Sword Resonance Conference, it was only natural she became the de facto senior sister to all disciples of the sixty-fourth generation. As for the title of Senior Sister, it was an honorific awarded after she became the first-seat disciple. In the game, Gu Qingqing discovered her in a relatively remote town, but to avoid repeating mistakes, Bai Lian specifically went to an even more remote village, only to be found by Gu Qingqing regardless. Initially, seeing Gu Qingqing displaying no peculiar behavior, and with the village surrounded by dangerous beasts, she didn’t overthink it and obediently followed Gu Qingqing to the Taihua Sword Sect. Looking back now, things might not have been so straightforward after all. The heavenly guidance only mentioned that the heroines had all been reincarnated but never specified exactly when. Given the stark contrast between Gu Qingqing's current behavior and her game character, Bai Lian suspected she might have reincarnated earlier. If that’s the case, no matter where Bai Lian hid, Gu Qingqing would have inevitably found her. In this light, Bai Lian felt a hint of gratitude. Thank goodness this world is just a game. Although she was indeed the villainous master brother Bai Lian, her actual personality diverged significantly from the in-game character’s. After all, everyone has two sides; even online, some show incredibly different personas. How much more so in an entirely virtual game? This allowed her to successfully conceal her true identity as Bai Lian for three years amidst this information asymmetry. Back to the point, though Mu Jianli was a latecomer as a disciple, she was the sect master’s personal apprentice and born with a sword body, enabling her to train faster than even Bai Lian, the game’s protagonist with cheats. In fact, in the game, Mu Jianli is a formidable contender Bai Lian must defeat by the end of the first chapter to claim the title of first-seat disciple. It was by defeating Mu Jianli during the sect tournament that Bai Lian not only earned the first-seat title, granting Gu Qingqing a moment of triumph among the elders, conquering the heart of this gentle yet proud master for good. As her opponent, Bai Lian also left a deep impression on Mu Jianli, who had always been unmatched among peers, allowing her to accompany Mu Jianli in resolving a demonic lair incident, gradually winning over this cool, indifferent girl. In a game, only a storyline with engaging twists and thrilling highs can sustain player interest. But the key issue is, according to the game’s timeline, at this point, Mu Jianli should be in some town within the sect’s jurisdiction, purging demonic forces until a year later for the sect tournament. Given Mu Jianli’s meticulous nature, even if she suddenly regained memories, she'd surely finish her current tasks before returning for any personal vendetta, rather than abandon them halfway. Moreover, the sudden appearance of a demonic lair in a mortal town under the Taihua Sword Sect’s protection is indeed a severe matter concerning human lives, one Bai Lian believed Mu Jianli would not desert for personal reasons. However, the game disclosed scant information, indicating that a year later, Mu Jianli not only returned for the tournament but also for aid—the emerging demonic lair wasn’t something a novice disciple like her could handle alone, and she was injured as a result. What precisely happened during that time, the game never explained, leaving Bai Lian in the dark. As Bai Lian pondered, Gu Qingqing spoke up. “Bai Lian, I heard you and Jianli have been close since your entry into the sect, even addressing each other as sisters. Initially, I had some doubts. But now, seeing Jianli returning directly to Yaoyi Peak without visiting the sect master, I somewhat believe it.” “With the sect master in closed cultivation, disturbing her over trivial matters would be inappropriate. Why not host Jianli and let her stay on Yaoyi Peak for a few days, allowing her to experience the ethos of our line here?” Her tone, gentle and amiable like the game’s soft-spoken mentor, nevertheless sent a chill up Bai Lian’s spine. She was thoroughly against hosting Mu Jianli—in what world were they close? The entire Taihua Sword Sect knew Bai Lian and Mu Jianli didn’t get along at all! The sun would have to rise in the west for them to be called sisters! When Mu Jianli first joined the sect, Bai Lian, wanting to leave an impression of a tyrannical senior sister on the girl who had made her life hell in her dreams, caused her trouble at every turn, setting nearly impossible standards, even attempting to wrestle away Mu Jianli’s fate-bound flying sword, "Autumn Water." In everyone’s eyes, her relationship with Mu Jianli was like fire and water. Darn it, wretched master! She must be using Jianli to test Bai Lian’s true identity! Having figured this out, Bai Lian naturally refused. But just as she was about to cite their dismal relationship as a reason to decline, Mu Jianli unexpectedly accepted. “Thank you, Shishu, for allowing this. I have always admired my sister but seldom had the chance to meet her due to my travels.” Her icy voice echoed in the hall as she fixed her gaze intently on Bai Lian’s slightly lowered eyelids: “Now that I’m finally back, I’d like to catch up with Sister Bai Lian.” As Mu Jianli uttered those words, a subtle shiver ran down Bai Lian’s spine. Outwardly calm, Bai Lian’s inner self was clamoring with despair. Catch up? More like she wants to devour me! She felt like a helpless lamb, watched intently by a hungry wolf, soft and tender, on the precipice of being toppled over and utterly consumed. And Mu Jianli was that ravenous, green-eyed wolf!