Chapter 60 - Is It Funny That the Reincarnated Senior Sister Is Also Being Pursued?

The entrance to the Hehuan Underground Palace was quite inconspicuous, appearing on the surface as nothing more than a simple escape tunnel. Yet, beneath it lay a world of intrigue. As one passed through the narrow tunnel, they were greeted by rows upon rows of stone statues. The faces of these sculptures exuded gentleness and sanctity, much like the compassionate Bodhisattvas seen in Buddhist temples. However, only when one diverted their gaze from these benevolent faces would they notice the statues' poses, which were undeniably suggestive, seemingly enticing every passerby. The stark contrast between holiness and allure was powerful enough to unsettle the average cultivator's resolve, leading them to be bewitched by the statues and eventually become one with them. It was evident that enchanting spells were cast upon these statues. Although each spell was not individually powerful, the sheer number of them made their collective might formidable. But Bai Lian and Mu Jianli were utterly unfazed. Armed with Bai Lian's "White Lotus Heart Sword" and Mu Jianli's "Sword Heart Clarity," they were both adept at counteracting such spells. For Bai Lian, it felt almost like a homecoming. After all, she had thoroughly explored the Hehuan map in the game, knowing every detail, down to the number of blades of grass. Thus, rather than following the map step by step as she did in the game, Bai Lian led Mu Jianli through a shortcut she previously discovered while researching strategies, heading directly to their destination. This approach allowed them to bypass numerous traps and minor foes along the way, avoiding unnecessary battles. Soon, they arrived at a grand door intricately carved with erotic imagery. Had they been in the game, a notification of the "Hehuan Treasury" would have popped up by now. Unfortunately, this was not a game, but reality. "Senior Sister, it seems we don’t have the key to this place," Mu Jianli remarked, puzzled as she gazed at the erotic carvings. In a previous life, she and Bai Lian had come here first, but by then, they had thoroughly investigated Huanxi Temple, even securing the Hehuan Treasury key from Yuan Fa. But this time, they visited the Taixu Manor first, so they hadn't had the chance to defeat Yuan Fa and obtain his key. "Indeed," Bai Lian nodded in agreement. "Then why are we here?" "Just because we don't have a key doesn't mean we necessarily need one to open it," Bai Lian replied to Mu Jianli's confusion with a mischievous wink. In the game "Die Without Dual Cultivation," many scenarios were designed to foster intimate interactions between players and female leads, and the Hehuan Palace was no exception. Players could either obtain the key by defeating Yuan Fa or assume a specific pose to activate the formation on the door, prompting it to open automatically. The necessary pose was illustrated right on the door—in that very erotic artwork. This method was something Bai Lian found in a player guide, though it was never realized due to its embarrassing nature and her original route requiring Yuan Fa's defeat to enter Hehuan Palace in the first place. Yet faced with this rare opportunity, she wasn't about to pass it up. Ever since Jianli's reincarnation, she had been thoroughly overshadowed by this pesky girl, unable to turn the tables. Now that she finally had a chance to turn the tide, she wouldn't squander it. It was time to reclaim her senior sister's dominance! Except she swiftly regretted it. She found herself in an utterly embarrassing position, sitting on Mu Jianli's lap, struggling to tilt her head back to look at her, with a face blushing fiercely. "Uh, Jianli, the pose isn’t quite like this…" she murmured, overcome with bashfulness. Mu Jianli, eyebrow raised, looked down at the bashful Bai Lian in her arms. "Senior Sister, I'm following the pose on the door exactly. What's wrong?" "I think… I think it'd be more fitting if I were the male…" Bai Lian started to say, but before she could finish, the Hehuan Treasury door slowly creaked open, revealing the treasures within. "Look, Senior Sister, the door's open," Mu Jianli remarked, a smile dancing in her eyes. "You litt… Why, you stupid door!" Bai Lian erupted in indignation, flushed with embarrassment. "It's infuriating!" She scrambled out of Mu Jianli's arms, unable to resist stomping her foot in frustration. Despite them both being women now, why was it that when she assumed the male stance, the door stayed shut, but it eagerly opened for Mu Jianli? Could the formation somehow discern who was on top? More vexing was the fact that, as a guy turned girl midway, she was somehow inferior to someone like Jianli, who was born a girl?! So what was she even doing? Digging a pit to jump into? Having failed to reestablish her senior sister dominance―and inadvertently confirming their familial hierarchy―Bai Lian could only lament the missed opportunity. Even the treasures inside the treasury couldn't energize her spirits, and she waved a hand listlessly. "Gather up whatever's useful inside. The rest we can hand over to Mr. Tang." The Hehuan Treasury contained the wealth accumulated from the extortion and plundering by Huanxi Temple and Taixu Manor over the years. While of moderate value, it had been useful to her early in the game, making the initial stages easier. However, since this was now real life, the items within held little benefit for her, and it seemed more prudent to hand them to Tang Chuhuan to aid in the reconstruction of the ravaged Suzhou City. Suddenly, she remembered something. "Oh right, leave that sky-blue necklace for me." Mu Jianli found the necklace Bai Lian mentioned in the most prominent display, handing it to her. "Is this the one you gave to Tang Chuhuan back then?" she asked. "Yes." Bai Lian nodded, infusing the necklace with spiritual energy. Soon, the once-dull necklace glimmered with a faint blue glow. "This necklace has reached the level of a mid-tier magical artifact, though it requires spiritual energy to charge." "It can ward off curses and common spells. Since the remnants of the cult are hard to eradicate and we cannot remain in Suzhou City indefinitely, it might be best to leave this with Mr. Tang for his protection." Mu Jianli was not particularly surprised by Bai Lian's decision; instead, she sighed inwardly. Her brother still unknowingly had a way of captivating others, oblivious to Tang Chuhuan's true gender, yet still willing to part with such a precious artifact. In danger-laden situations where one stands alone, which girl wouldn't be moved if someone they admired casually gifted them such a valuable treasure? Sadly, the divide between humans and immortals meant Tang Chuhuan was fated not to follow in her brother's footsteps, leaving an unrequited affection. However, with her brother now transformed into a girl in this life, perhaps Tang Chuhuan might not develop feelings for her brother again. After all, same-sex affection was quite taboo, and surely in this world, there couldn't be too many women who liked other women... right? "Alright, let's go to the Palace of Bliss," Bai Lian announced, tucking away the now charged necklace, her tone relaxed. Infiltrating the Hehuan Palace had been remarkably straightforward, fulfilling half of their mission with ease. After all, she was quite the adept player in this game—although it was just a dating sim... Mu Jianli narrowed her eyes. The Palace of Bliss was the setting for the Bliss Festival. It was also where she had once lost herself to Bai Lian. Now, with their roles still reversed, the outcome would depend on Bai Lian’s decisions.