Chapter 19 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

Mu Jianli was taken aback as she observed the faintly bewildered expression on Bai Lian's face. No matter how she thought about it, she hadn't anticipated that Bai Lian wouldn't know Tang Chuhuan. Could it be that she truly wasn't her senior brother reborn? Or was she merely putting on a facade to dispel Mu Jianli's suspicions? Mu Jianli's gaze was deep and probing, yet she couldn't discern any flaw in Bai Lian's demeanor. This left her feeling somewhat disheartened. Whether Bai Lian truly wasn't her senior brother reborn or was just so adeptly hiding it that Mu Jianli couldn't perceive it, neither scenario was good news for her. The more uncertain she was of Bai Lian's true identity, the more hesitant her plans became as she put them into action. Currently, her master was silent, and Uncle Gou seemed indifferent to the whole situation. It was the perfect opportunity to keep her senior brother under her control. If she waited too long and someone else made a move on him first, she'd have to snatch him back from those cunning women. What a bother! If only she could lock him up in a basement! Then he would only need to please her alone. Although in this life her senior brother had become her senior sister... Mu Jianli glanced at Bai Lian beside her. She was tidying the strands of hair tousled by the lake breeze, using her delicate, pale fingers to tuck stray locks behind her ear. In the sunlight, her soft profile seemed almost sacred. Such a senior brother had a unique charm of her own... As for Tang Chuhuan... Mu Jianli's almond-shaped eyes slightly narrowed as she spoke nonchalantly, "Since senior sister doesn't recognize him, it's nothing to worry about. He's just a trivial person, after all." In a past life, when she and Bai Lian went to Gusu City to investigate a demon lair, they had stayed at the Tang family residence, where they were welcomed by Tang Chuhuan, the Tang family's heir. Though biologically female, Tang Chuhuan insisted on using tricks to masquerade as a man—a move Mu Jianli found ridiculous. Even illusionary magic couldn't hide from the clarity of sword consciousness, let alone such inferior earthly tricks. She had seen through Tang Chuhuan's true gender instantly. But Tang Chuhuan remained oblivious, pretending to be heroic and friendly with her senior brother. Did she really think I couldn't see that almost clingy gaze she had fixed on him? Little fox spirit! She wondered if that woman might have been reborn as well. Mu Jianli's gaze towards Tang Chuhuan carried a hint of wariness. Initially, both she and Bai Lian hadn't paid attention to this delicate mortal, given the great divide between immortals and mortals. Mortals lived but for a century, while a Qinxin cultivator, with just their innate lifespan, lived for three hundred years. The higher their cultivation, the longer their life. Cultivating friendships with mortals inevitably led to the sorrow of parting. Thus, after resolving the demon lair incident, she and Bai Lian left Gusu and never concerned themselves with it again. Even when Bai Lian's true promiscuous nature was exposed later, Mu Jianli didn't spot Tang Chuhuan among those women. Perhaps she was being overly paranoid. Mu Jianli shook her head, amused by her own thoughts. The concept of reincarnation and rebirth was far too fantastical—something even true immortals couldn't achieve, let alone an untrained mortal like Tang Chuhuan. Bai Lian didn't intend to dwell too much on the matter of Tang Chuhuan. She was no longer the Bai Lian who only thought about pursuing the female lead and now aimed to quickly resolve that damned cult matter and return to the sect to immerse herself in cultivation. Ideally, she'd achieve immortality without ever encountering female leads beyond Gu Qingqing and Mu Jianli again. "I hadn't expected Young Master Tang to be our escort, saving my junior sister and me the trouble of searching," Bai Lian commented. "Indeed, my father has been greatly troubled by the cult recently, and in his exasperation, he had no choice but to request aid from your esteemed sect," Tang Chuhuan explained, a note of regret in his voice. "Alas, I lack the essence to cultivate, incapable of warding off those wicked sect demons, thus failing to assist my father, something I deeply regret." "This sort of thing can't be forced. When the opportune moment arrives, perhaps Young Master Tang will find the path to cultivation," Bai Lian replied with the standard flattery cultivators used on mortals. Tang Chuhuan had heard such phrases so often it was wearisome, and upon hearing it again, he merely smiled lightly, not taking it to heart. "Since Bai and Mu Immortals are here regarding the cult, it falls to me to extend hospitality." "Please, follow me to the Tang family residence." "Then I thank Young Master Tang in advance," Bai Lian nodded in acknowledgment. She looked around, the boundless lake shimmering under the sun, surrounded by lush greenery—it all seemed so remote and wild. "Young Master Tang, I have a question." "Please, Bai Immortal." "This place is quite secluded. How is it that you and your servants are here?" she inquired. Their encounter had been so unexpected that she had overlooked these details, but now as she thought back, she couldn't help but feel cautious. Reality, after all, was not like a game. In the game, she could respawn, restart, but now she had only one life, requiring her to be more prudent. Tang Chuhuan replied gently, "Bai Immortal, you've misunderstood. This isn't a wilderness. It's actually the back garden of my family's estate, where outsiders are strictly forbidden, which is why it's so secluded." "Oh?" "Indeed, the place where you descended was quite peculiar. A hundred miles further and you'd be in Gusu City," Tang Chuhuan chuckled. This was the backyard, and another hundred miles led to Gusu City? Bai Lian's lips parted slightly as she was reminded of the disparity between people. Clearly, she was the cultivator, and Tang Chuhuan was just an unarmed mortal. Yet compared to the Tang family, her residence on Yaoji Peak was not even as large as their lavatory... Tch, it doesn’t matter! I am a cultivator, after all. Plain living and simple desires are to be expected! "Senior sister, what are you thinking about?" "I was lamenting the backwardness of the feudal system!" Mu Jianli: ? Indeed, whether as a senior brother or a senior sister, that habit of occasionally saying bizarre things never changed. Since they had arrived in mortal territory, Bai Lian naturally chose to adapt to local customs rather than flying on her sword directly to Gusu City. Families like Tang's presumably traveled by sedan chair, right? She wondered what it felt like to ride in one, since, after being reborn, she'd first hidden in a remote village for a time before being found by Gu Qingqing and brought to the world of cultivation, getting used to using spells for travel. She'd never had a chance to experience this highest-class mode of transport among ancient mortals. However, upon following Tang Chuhuan to the departure area with anticipation, she found no sedan chair in sight. On the lush grass, several well-groomed horses were tethered. They stopped grazing at the group's approach, snorting a few times. Bai Lian was dumbfounded. How naive she was. She had assumed noble families always traveled by sedan chair, forgetting this wasn't a traditional ancient setting but a world infused with martial prowess. Even scholarly families imbued with cultural heritage taught basic skills in earthly martial arts. And compared to sedan chairs, these warriors evidently preferred riding horses across the world. Tang Chuhuan skillfully mounted a horse, addressing her, "Bai and Mu Immortals, today's meeting wasn't anticipated, so I must request the two of you join me on horseback for our journey." His four attendants said nothing, pairing off to free up two horses for Bai Lian and Mu Jianli. Although Mu Jianli was an orphan, she was no stranger to horseback riding due to traveling around in her early years. She said nothing further, lightly stepping onto a horse with the grace of a feather. Only Bai Lian stood alone, bewildered in the breeze. Holding the reins, Mu Jianli glanced at Bai Lian, who seemed somewhat nervous, with a teasing glint in her eyes. "Senior sister, could it be that... you don’t know how to ride a horse?" she asked, intrigued. "If needed, Jianli is more than willing to ride with you." That was a given. She had only been in this world for three years, and before that, she was a modern woman who relied on subways for transport—how could she possibly know how to ride a horse? Of course, these were thoughts Bai Lian would never voice aloud. Damn, she hadn't expected karma for teasing the nonchalant Mu Jianli to come back so quickly! Meeting Mu Jianli's amused gaze, she felt a pang of embarrassment as she spread her arms a little, saying, "Then... I'll have to trouble you, junior sister Jianli..."