Chapter 33 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

Bai Lian and Mu Jianli ultimately followed Xie Cai to the base of the Tai Xu Mountain Villa. The villa was not located in the city of Suzhou, but in a riverside town nearby. This town had a simple name, Riverside Town. Riverside Town was one of the gateways for trade routes to and from Suzhou, resulting in many merchant ships stopping here. Though it did not rival the prosperity of Suzhou city, it was far more bustling than the surrounding villages. However, to Bai Lian, the town's bustling nature was tinged with an eerie atmosphere. This world of cultivation was unlike her previous life in ancient times; there were no rules forbidding young women from showing themselves in public. After all, the way of the heavens does not favor a cultivator's gender, and throughout the vast history of cultivation, countless extraordinary female cultivators have emerged. These women meant that the status of ordinary women wasn't particularly low. It's not even unusual for women to have several husbands if they possessed the strength, and no one would bat an eye. Yet, following the Tai Xu Mountain Villa's carriage all the way here, she noticed a conspicuous absence of young women. Even when she occasionally lifted the carriage curtain to peek outside, those who noticed her mostly showed expressions of pity. Why were they looking at her with such expressions? Where had all the young women of this town gone? Bai Lian furrowed her brows slightly. Might this Riverside Town be deeper and darker than she imagined? "Who would've thought there would be such a flourishing town beyond Suzhou city? It's truly eye-opening," she suddenly remarked. Xie Cai forced a smile and replied, "This place was originally just a small fishing village. The founder of our Tai Xu Mountain Villa saw the excellent feng shui here and chose to settle, cultivating the area for over two hundred years." "It could be said that the prosperity of Riverside Town is inseparable from our Tai Xu Mountain Villa," he said with a tone full of pride. Then, with a touch of disdain, he continued, "If we're talking about family lineages, the Tang family of Suzhou, with its mere hundred years, is but a newborn compared to our Tai Xu Mountain Villa." "If not for their backing by the imperial court..." "Young Master Xie, I didn't realize your Tai Xu Mountain Villa was so impressive!" Bai Lian suddenly exclaimed, eyes filled with admiration. "This town is so bustling. Seeing it from the carriage is just not enough. It would be wonderful to walk around and take it all in." Bai Lian's words pulled Xie Cai out of his envious thoughts. He squinted slightly, reluctant to let Bai Lian create any complications. But refusing her request might cause suspicion, which would spoil the fun. Anyway, he had wielded significant influence in Riverside Town for a long time. Those lowly commoners wouldn't dare oppose him, so letting her wander a bit wouldn't hurt. Just a little foreplay, he thought. Thus, he said, "Very well, since my brother and his wife seldom visit Riverside Town, why not experience the local culture here? It would truly highlight the hospitality of Tai Xu Mountain Villa." "Heehee, thank you, Young Master Xie," Bai Lian replied cheerfully, pulling Mu Jianli off the carriage. Xie Cai and the housekeeper followed behind them. Bai Lian seemed genuinely curious about Riverside Town, strolling and pausing along the way, looking here and there, much like a woman captivated by the joys of shopping. The more Xie Cai watched her doe-like innocence, the more infatuated he became, feeling his blood rushing within him. Mu Jianli beside Bai Lian only annoyed him more. He wished he could eliminate him and enjoy Bai Lian's company alone. Mu Jianli sensed the malicious intent behind her, and her fingers twitched, almost drawing the Qiu Shui sword. Luckily, she restrained the urge to kill. Her senior brother was clearly investigating something, and she didn't want to complicate matters for him. Just endure a little longer and let this scoundrel coveting her senior brother's attention live a few more days, until everything was uncovered... "Ah! These accessories are so pretty!" Bai Lian exclaimed as something caught her eye. She ran over to a jewelry stall, picking up a hairpin with a butterfly resting at the end. She placed the hairpin in her hair, turned, and asked Mu Jianli, "Does it look good, dear?" Mu Jianli nodded earnestly. "Beautiful." It wasn't a perfunctory response to Bai Lian's question; it was a sincere compliment. Bai Lian usually kept a plain appearance with her hair casually draped down her back. Her natural beauty made her unadorned face captivating rather than dull. Now, with a butterfly hairpin, her natural beauty was enhanced with a touch of brilliance, making her even more beguiling. Of course, being a sword cultivator, she couldn't find a more sophisticated compliment beyond "good looking." So Bai Lian pouted, "I knew you'd say that, how boring..." In truth, she merely found the craftsmanship of the jewelry exquisite and abnormal for a shop with no customers, prompting her to investigate under the guise of interest. As for whether the hairpins were truly beautiful... Unfortunately, she was the type who couldn't differentiate lipstick shades and wasn't familiar with typical female aesthetics. If someone pressed her for an opinion, she'd likely mirror Mu Jianli's response: nod and say it looked nice. Next, she picked up a silk ribbon. It was sky blue, soft to the touch, and very comforting. Bai Lian felt a bit tempted. "Honey!" "What is it?" Mu Jianli asked, puzzled. "Here, try this!" Bai Lian said, standing on tiptoe to untie Mu Jianli's hair, then fashioned it into a single ponytail using the silk ribbon, finishing with a bow. After completing her masterpiece, she stepped back to admire Mu Jianli, rubbing her chin, and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, looks good!" Mu Jianli allowed herself to be fussed over, commented wryly, "But dear, I'm a man..." Off to the side, Xie Cai couldn’t help but feel nauseated by their display. Such a sickening couple! Wait and see, he thought viciously. Soon, I'll steal this lover away, and binding that sassy little minx in ribbons with a big bow will surely be even more fetching. He kept his thoughts hidden behind a composed exterior and said, "If madam finds these accessories appealing, you may purchase them at no cost. Consider it part of my hospitality." To end up working in his family's library as a scribe, this so-called brother clearly was not wealthy. In fact, he probably couldn't afford the accessories. In such dire straits, how could he deserve such a beauty? After fulfilling this small vanity, Bai Lian pondered Xie Cai. Since they arrived in Riverside Town, she had been observing the townsfolk's reactions to Xie Cai. Usually, villains who bullied and oppressed generated fear. Common people should only dread him. Yet, her observations found a complex mixture of emotions in the townsfolk toward Xie Cai. Fear, to be sure—their heads seemed permanently bowed in his presence, fear etched into their bones. But alongside fear, there was also respect, sadness, pity... and hatred. These conflicted emotions left her puzzled. Why was it so? Was there some crucial detail she was missing?