Chapter 6 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

Mu Jianli stood at the doorway, quietly observing Bai Lian, who was lying on the bed. The moonlight was bright, its gentle glow filtering through the window and illuminating Bai Lian's face. Her already delicate features appeared all the more ethereal and pure, almost like a celestial being who had mistakenly descended to the mortal world. In this scene, Mu Jianli felt a keen sense of inadequacy, as if compared to Bai Lian, she was nothing more than earthbound dust beneath the luminous moon in the sky. Even the mere thought of approaching Bai Lian felt like an unforgivable audacity. Yet, throughout history, the moon has been the object of human longing, admired for its purity, its aloofness, its sanctity—something to be revered from afar and never to be defiled. This was something her senior brother had taught her. In her past life, her senior brother often spoke to her about such nonsense. And she, foolishly, regarded his words as the truth. Mu Jianli tiptoed forward, fearful of waking the exquisite figure before her. However, she knew very well the potency of the Mind-Muddling Incense, capable of sedating even a cultivator of great prowess, leaving them in a deep sleep, unaware of being devoured whole. This incense was a specialty of the Demonic Cavern and was particularly effective against the Taihua Sword Sect cultivators. Due to its complex production process and the rarity of its ingredients, it was not abundantly available. Originally, this incense had another purpose, but upon her rebirth, she intercepted and appropriated it all for herself. And now, it served Bai Lian. She sat beside Bai Lian, lifting her hand. Her slender fingers, like white jade in the moonlight, appeared exquisitely beautiful. She pressed her thumb against Bai Lian's lips, immediately feeling an unusual softness and warmth. Unlike Bai Lian, her lips were thinner, less supple, and not as pleasant to touch. But Bai Lian liked to press her lips like this, disliking her typical expression of tightly pursed lips that made her appear embittered and angry, which was far from attractive. She was intended to be a carefree and unrestrained peerless sword immortal, not one burdened with worries. Yet he had ultimately tethered this imagined sword immortal to his side, like keeping his beloved dog close by. As she thought of this, a flash of hatred passed through Mu Jianli's eyes, even intensifying the force with which she was kneading Bai Lian’s lips. She inadvertently pried open her teeth, clutching her jelly-like soft tongue. Suddenly, she regained her senses, hurriedly withdrawing her fingers from Bai Lian's mouth, and wiped the saliva on her clothes, before looking at Bai Lian with a complex expression. She had ventured into the Demonic Cavern alone, encountering many beguiling items. Beyond the enchanting incense able to trap one in illusions, she had even dealt with mazes formed by 'Fleshbody Bodhisattvas', attempting to drag her into a hedonistic abyss. But those things, to her with a crystalline sword heart, were nothing more than a pile of revolting flesh to be cleaved through and dispatched with a single stroke. Yet when faced with Bai Lian, she couldn't help but be beguiled, committing such unforgivable acts of lechery. Were it not for her clear sword heart prevailing at the last moment, she might have stripped Bai Lian bare under the influence of her hatred. Though she could clearly perceive that Bai Lian's aura radiated an incredibly pure esoteric method of the Xuanzong, devoid of impurities, entirely unlike her past life's senior brother who controlled others through dual cultivation techniques. Why then did she lose self-control? Was it because memories of her past life swayed her emotions, or did the dual cultivation techniques affect her spirit even in this life? "Senior brother, when I say I thank you, it’s not insincere," she whispered by Bai Lian’s ear. "In both past life and present, I am grateful to you." "The Demonic Cavern is no simple place, seemingly designed to target us from the Taihua Sword Sect. If it weren't for my clear sword heart, anyone else would surely fall into their clutches and be turned into a mindless vessel." "Yet my journey in cultivation remains unencumbered, which disturbed my heart, leading me to recklessly charge through the Demonic Cavern, ultimately resulting in a grave injury by their hidden machinations." "But I wasn't satisfied, planning to return for rest and recover before completely eradicating them." "If not for you in my past life, I might not have escaped the fate of becoming their vessel." "And in this life, though you seem to oppose and challenge me at every turn, you sincerely help me refine my cultivation and stabilize my mind, enabling me to quickly recover my footing once my memories returned and seek assistance." "Senior brother, you know, I don't...hate you..." After speaking, she silently watched Bai Lian’s profile, who remained motionless, still resembling a goddess in slumber beneath the moonlight. She couldn't help but sigh softly, "What am I thinking? You cultivate the most orthodox Xuanzong mind method and have no resistance against the Mind-Muddling Incense." "You hear nothing now, and will remember none of this." "And yet... everything I said is true." — Senior brother, I speak straightforwardly and never beat around the bush, so I hope you won't deceive me either. — Rest assured, junior sister, I would never deceive you under any circumstances. "Bai Lian..." she gently grasped Bai Lian's sleeve, her gaze downcast, looking like a lost puppy, "Are you really my senior brother?" After Mu Jianli left, Bai Lian finally opened her eyes much later. She gazed silently at the ceiling, heaving a gentle sigh. Jianli was still mistaken. She indeed cultivated the most orthodox Xuanzong method handed down from the Taihua Sword Sect, theoretically incapable of resisting the Mind-Muddling Incense engineered precisely against the Taihua Sword Sect. Yet, she was indeed Bai Lian, who had studied dual cultivation techniques. Thus, this incense stemming from the same source had no effect on her. She remained awake throughout, allowing Mu Jianli free rein and heard everything she said. But she dared not respond to Mu Jianli. What a sin... Bai Lian raised her arm to cover her eyes. A once-fictitious game had become reality, and the emotions invested therein met with sincere response. This should have been a source of happiness, yet now all that remained for her was uncertainty. She knew not how to face Mu Jianli as Bai Lian, to face this girl who had once devoted all her thoughts to her, treating her like a cherished treasure. While she had done so many excessive things to this girl. What is a conquest? Willingness is the key to conquest. She had once conquered this girl's heart; now it’s this girl's turn to conquer her. The cost of being conquered is becoming vulnerable. She still had many tasks to accomplish, many sins to atone for, so she absolutely couldn't succumb so easily. At least... not until she apologized to all the heroines she had wronged... Her mind in disarray, achieving a meditative state was impossible; in her current state, attempting to cultivate would only invite disaster. Yet sleep eluded her, for once she closed her eyes, the faces of in-game heroines would appear, transforming into menacing blades. She was left to toss and turn in bed, not knowing how long had passed before she finally succumbed to exhausted slumber. "Jianli... senior brother didn’t lie to you..." In her dreams, she muttered, her elegant brows knitted tightly.