Chapter 15 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

After Gu Qingqing finished speaking, she left. Bai Lian leaned back on the bed, allowing her long, dark hair to splay out, starkly contrasting with the pristine white bed, akin to ink splashing onto rice paper. She stared blankly at the ceiling, her gaze somewhat vacant. Despite her efforts to avoid repeating the past, it seemed everything had returned to its original path. Once again, she was bound to venture into the demon lair with Mu Jianli to investigate the cult. However, this time, things were different. The current Mu Jianli wasn’t the reckless young woman with hidden injuries, and she wasn’t the senior brother with all his thoughts focused solely on pursuing women. She was uncertain about Mu Jianli's reasons for specifically choosing her and unsure of what would happen afterward. Regardless, she would agree, for she couldn't bear to entrust Mu Jianli's safety to someone else. Perhaps Mu Jianli understood this and therefore didn't hesitate to choose her, without even considering what might happen if she refused. "Sly girl... daring to trick me..." She muttered as she gradually fell asleep, her body instinctively curling into a ball, appearing both delicate and pitiful. So soundly did she sleep that she was oblivious to the faint, illicit fragrance lingering in the air. At Mount Condensation, Mu Jianli sat cross-legged on her bed, meticulously polishing her life-bound flying sword, "Autumn Water." Her gaze, however, was somewhat unfocused, as if her mind was elsewhere, pondering other matters. Tomorrow, she was to leave the sect with Bai Lian to visit the cult’s hideout in a small town. A place she would never forget, tied to a person she could never leave behind. It was as if everything was returning to the original starting point. But this time, she wouldn’t be led by the nose. Testing Bai Lian was only the first step; next, she intended to lead Bai Lian gradually toward depravity, to make her experience that insatiable lust, the torment of wanting to live yet being unable to die. She closed her eyes, and the darkness immediately conjured the image of Bai Lian in front of her, the high and mighty senior sister now disheveled, with a flushed face, begging her to take her. Her bright eyes would be veiled with a thin mist, hinting at an undeniable allure, devoid of her usual aloof pride, consumed only by desire. She would tear her clothes, revealing her lush body, then slither up like a water snake, writhing gently in her embrace, unrestrainedly releasing the fire in her heart. These were things she had endured in the past, and she simply wished to return the favor. Only in this way could she hold Bai Lian firmly in her grasp. "Senior sister..." She lowered her head, gently stroking the sword's blade. Polished to a perfect mirror finish, the blade reflected her eyes. In those tranquil sword-like eyes lay a struggle even Mu Jianli herself hadn't noticed. ... Early the next morning, Bai Lian stood yawning at the foot of Mount Condensation. Ordinary cultivators reaching the Qinxin Realm could meditate instead of sleeping, requiring no rest. However, with her restless thoughts chaotic last night, achieving a serene state was impossible, so she resorted to a deep sleep. Yet her slumber was uneasy, haunted by dreams of being cut down by the leading ladies, and a new nightmare became her unwelcome guest. In the dream, she became Mu Jianli’s cauldron, imprisoned in a dark basement, naked and bound by heavy iron chains, her daily duty being to relieve Mu Jianli's stress. If it had only been these dreams, she could’ve shrugged it off as her own fault. The crux, however, lay in Mu Jianli's unrealistic stamina in the dream! At least three times a day, more regular than meals, each time with endless vigor. For someone unaware, you'd think Mu Jianli was practicing essence extraction! So, she had switched to a water-based cultivation technique. Not for anything else, simply to replenish fluid. The nightmare was truly terrifying. Upon waking, she felt utterly drained, parched, and the bed noticeably dampened by some unknown liquid. It seemed sleep only made things worse... "Senior sister." Mu Jianli’s icy voice startled Bai Lian from her reverie. Turning, she saw the well-dressed Mu Jianli and instinctively patted her ample chest, causing ripples to dance across. "Jianli, why do you always appear so silently? Anyone would think you're a disciple of the Hidden Kill Sect..." Mu Jianli tilted her head at the remark, "I haven't intentionally concealed my presence. However, investigating the cult over the past half-year required stealth, and I've grown accustomed to it." "Besides, senior sister seems distracted. Is something troubling you?" "It's nothing much, just a nightmare last night. Didn't sleep well, a bit tired." Bai Lian forced a smile. "I see, it's rare for a cultivator to dream. Was I perhaps in your dream?" Bai Lian’s heart skipped a beat. Is this the legendary woman's intuition? How could she guess that? Seeing the surprise on Bai Lian's face, something clicked in Mu Jianli's mind, and a slight smirk formed on her lips. Clearly, it wasn’t any mystical intuition. "Ahem, let's not dwell on that. We should get going," Bai Lian deflected, "The mundane town you mentioned lies on the sect's border. It's far; even flying will take the day." "We should arrive by evening, find a place to stay, rather than camping outside." "Yes, I’ll follow your lead, senior sister." Mu Jianli nodded in agreement. With Mu Jianli so cooperative, Bai Lian found herself momentarily speechless, resigning to her flying sword. It wasn’t like Mu Jianli's "Autumn Water," but a standard issue for Tai Hua Sword Sect disciples, crafted in the year 3199 of the Sword Fairy Calendar, Batch No. 1. There wasn’t a facade behind her choice. She had spent the past three years cultivating within the sect boundaries, rarely venturing out, thus never needing a finer weapon. Moreover, the Tai Hua Sword Sect, being a sword sect, excelled in smithing. Even their standard issue swords surpassed the sharpness of many used by itinerant cultivators elsewhere. Hence, changing it seemed unnecessary. With a casual toss, the sword expanded, forming a flat surface sufficient for standing. Only the Tai Hua Sword Sect afforded their disciples such dual-purpose flying artifacts—a lavish practice originating from the sect’s very foundation, decreed by the ancestral leader. It's said a disciple had once opposed this practice for its extravagance, and the ancestor responded by giving him a beating. According to records, the ancestor stood atop the mountain, voice cutting through the air like a divine sword, proclaiming, “What kind of sword cultivator can’t fly? We might not be the strongest, but we will always look cool!” “This decision is final. Any dissenters will be dealt with ruthlessly!” The story isn’t mere fiction—recorded in the "Tai Hua Divine Sword Chronicles," author unknown. Bai Lian couldn’t help but often find humor in the sect’s peculiar tendencies. She lightly stepped onto the sword, gracefully ascending as the breeze caught her garments, creating a sight that left passing disciples dazed in awe. Turning, she found Mu Jianli still stationary, gazing up at her. “Jianli, why aren’t you flying?” she inquired. “Did you forget, senior sister? I’m only in the early Qinxin stage; I lack the spiritual power to sustain flight.” Mu Jianli said this without expression and spread her arms wide. Her intent was unmistakable.