Chapter 80 - The Harem Rescue Project

Lin Qianshuang tilted her head slightly. Xiao Lanle rest her head on Lin Qianshuang's neck, making her face invisible while a muffled and suppressed voice echoed in her ear. "I broke off my engagement with Brother Liang, and my father arranged for me to marry Brother Chen. I am weak-willed, unable even to conquer my inner demons. I have no say in my own marriage, and I even ruined Senior Sister's reputation. Thinking about it now, I'm so feeble and useless. How could I have ever thought of taking Senior Sister away with me? I was too naive." Xiao Lanle's self-reproach made Lin Qianshuang feel like there was a tangled mess in her heart, full of frustration and anxiety. "Senior Sister, when I declared my feelings for you at the Marriage Tree, were you secretly looking down on me...?" The fabric on her shoulder dampened, sending a chill down her spine as the night wind blew. Xiao Lanle, lost in her own thoughts again. Facing Xiao Lanle, Lin Qianshuang lifted her only movable left hand to cradle Xiao Lanle's cheek, gazing intently into her eyes. "Sister, I won't allow you to belittle yourself like this. To me, you're important, like a blood sister. Hearing you speak this way hurts me too. Just because a precious gem is covered in dust does not mean it loses its brilliance; a sword may be dulled but not its sharpness. Believe in yourself. If there are things beyond your reach, it's only because you're still unaware and haven't paid enough attention. It doesn't mean you cannot achieve them." So, I'm just like a sister to her after all? Have I misunderstood everything? That time at the library, who was Senior Sister Lin really thinking of while she played ‘Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix’? Tears streamed down Xiao Lanle's elegant face under the moonlight. Her dark, beautiful eyes stared blankly at Lin Qianshuang. Her gaze deepened slightly, a fleeting, unfathomable shadow crossing her face. After a moment, her lips moved slightly as she said, "Senior Sister, I understand now." "It's late, we should sleep early." Lin Qianshuang yawned as she sidestepped Xiao Lanle and settled on the mat laid on the ground. She touched her fractured right arm. Normally, it would take two hours in a spiritual spring for others to heal, but for her, consuming a demon core was enough. With only a few demon cores left in her storage pouch, Lin Qianshuang worriedly consumed one, lying flat on the ground with utter relaxation. The flow of demonic energy warmed her entire body. Her daily consumption of demon cores kept her dantian filled with sufficient qi but did little to advance her cultivation. Lin Qianshuang thought about Buddha’s Glazed Light. Absorbing divine power from such a sacred artifact would surely solidify her cultivation and help her ascend another level. However, the sacred artifact only appeared in Xiao Lanle's memories and the original male protagonist obtained it only after marrying Xiao Lanle and becoming the sect master. Eventually, Buddha’s Glazed Light would certainly find its way to Xiao Lanle, the pure-blooded descendant of the Xiao family. Thinking about this made Lin Qianshuang feel rather pleased. Considering her good relationship with Xiao Lanle at the moment, borrowing the precious treasure from Penglai Immortal Sect for a short while should be fine. Suddenly, her vision blurred as an outer robe fell onto her face. Then piece after piece of clothing was thrown from the bed, landing all over her with a flurry of plops. What on earth? What's happening? Pulling the garment from her face, Lin Qianshuang looked up to see Xiao Lanle lying nude at the bed's edge, her eyebrows resembling willow leaves, her eyes like reflecting autumn waters, gazing at her with gleaming light, her bare back seemingly dusted with a thin layer of frost under the moonlight. She took a quick glance and immediately thought, dear heavens, sparking unseemly images in her mind—images she had been desperately avoiding—of intimate caresses, stopped just shy of what the final step would entail. And every one of those images had been of her and Xiao Lanle. As blood rushed to Lin Qianshuang's nose, she pinched it in embarrassment, face flushing as she stammered, "What... why did you take off all your clothes?" Seeing Lin Qianshuang's flushed cheeks, Xiao Lanle realized she was embarrassed. Her eyes twinkled as she coyly extended her hand, "Senior Sister, my ointment is on the windowsill. Fetch it for me. Also, I can’t reach the bruises on my back; you'll need to help me." The moonlight filtered mysteriously through the paper window, her extended wrist akin to warm jade, slender fingers reminiscent of demure bamboo shoots. With a stiff expression, Lin Qianshuang handed over the box of ointment. For some inexplicable reason, she felt as though Xiao Lanle were luring her, and oddly enough, found that Xiao Lanle's beauty seemed perfect, enticing. Seeing another girl naked should be no different from bathing together, right? Then why did being close to her make Lin Qianshuang feel her breath become erratic? Could she really be bending that way? Lin Qianshuang's thoughts were in a jumble, yet she never experienced such feelings with Du Shuang. Despite the countless ethereal beauties she had met at the Yi Xiang Tower, thoughts of intimacy never crossed her mind. Could it be that this feeling is exclusive to Xiao Lanle? Her hand moved along the smooth skin, applying ointment along Xiao Lanle’s back. In her nervousness, Lin Qianshuang’s nail accidentally scratched a wound on Xiao Lanle’s back. Holding the box, Xiao Lanle pretended to gasp in pain and gently caught Lin Qianshuang’s hand, pouting, “Senior Sister, do you not even know how to apply ointment properly? Do I need to teach you?” Embarrassed, Lin Qianshuang withdrew her hand, the intimate voice making her flush even more. Stammering, she said, “Sister, I—I’m sorry.” So wooden, yet so... adorable. Xiao Lanle couldn't help but smile inwardly, raising her eyebrow and patting the vacant spot beside her on the bed, “Lin Qianshuang, come up here. How can you apply ointment from so far away? Aren’t I your sister? Does a sister stay that distant?” “But we've only just clarified our relationship. Any more intimate actions could stir gossip.” Lin Qianshuang hastily refused. Just looking at Xiao Lanle’s bare figure made her awkward enough; close-up application of ointment was simply too awkward to contemplate. Xiao Lanle chuckled lightly, pulling the thin quilt over her and moving closer to Lin Qianshuang, whispering, “If there’s nothing improper, what is there to fear from rumors? Besides, it’s just the two of us here. My father set a protective barrier; no one can hear anything.” Lin Qianshuang forced a couple of awkward laughs, “Is that so? That’s why I couldn’t even hear the wind outside.” With agility, Xiao Lanle pulled Lin Qianshuang onto the bed, swiftly untying her robe and discarding it onto the floor. Lin Qianshuang found herself momentarily stunned, a chill running down her back as her clothing vanished, leaving only a bodice. Xiao Lanle’s hand, coated with ointment, roamed over her exposed back. “This doesn’t feel right, Sister. I should apply the ointment myself.” Xiao Lanle saw Lin Qianshuang shifting away, pulling her back with a hint of impatience, “Senior Sister, can’t you stop with the ‘this isn’t right’ or ‘that isn’t right’? If you don’t know how to, let me teach you. What's the trouble?” Lin Qianshuang felt Xiao Lanle's fingertips trace down her spine, awkwardly grabbing her arm, “Sister, no... there’s no injury there.” “Where's uninjured? It’s too dark to see clearly.” Xiao Lanle mischievously prodded her sensitive waist, noting her lashes quiver as she traced the shadowed line of her hip, whispering into Lin Qianshuang’s ear, “Here or there—your skin turns red so easily. Was it shyness or sensitivity?” If she couldn’t detect the teasing now, she’d be a fool. “Xiao Lanle! Is teasing others amusing?” Shame-faced and angry, Lin Qianshuang pushed Xiao Lanle, but her arms caught her, bringing her to fall onto the soft quilt on the bed. Before she could register, a pale blue pearl floated above. Lin Qianshuang’s pupils dilated slightly—Shark Pearl... The pearl's ethereal glow wove a dream, pulling her consciousness into it. Xiao Lanle asked softly, “Is she under hypnosis now?” The Shark Pearl hovered before returning to Xiao Lanle’s hand, “You need not worry, my master. This girl won't regain consciousness anytime soon, and every word she speaks will be a genuine response from deep within her heart.” Xiao Lanle gazed at Lin Qianshuang’s peaceful face. Her eyes appeared gentle and warm, just as when she was awake. “Do you like me? How much do you like me? Do you still have feelings for Brother Liang? Senior Sister... have you ever lied to me?” The Shark Pearl bounced lightly in her palm, saying, "Master, you shouldn't ask so many questions at once. One at a time would be better." Xiao Lanle ignored the pearl, focusing intently on Lin Qianshuang's slightly moving lips. “I like you. Why wouldn't I?” Lin Qianshuang's eyes fell upon Xiao Lanle, dimples forming sweetly as she smiled, “I remember you. You’re Xiao Lanle, daughter of the Penglai Immortal Sect’s leader, the number one female character on the Flower ranking. When I read the book, nothing bothered me more than seeing you bullied. My first comment was all about you. You’re exactly my type: your looks are the most pleasing and attractive to me. I thought I didn’t like girls, but when I saw you earlier, my heart raced.” Lin Qianshuang's speech was rapid, filled with strange, unfamiliar sounds that Xiao Lanle had never heard before. Yet, hearing Senior Sister Lin admit that she liked her filled Xiao Lanle with joy. A warm smile played on Xiao Lanle's lips, her eyes shining as she looked at Lin Qianshuang. Lin Qianshuang tutted, continuing with her outburst: “What? Do I have feelings for him? Impossible. I have half a mind to kill him. Liang Jingxuan is the person I despise the most. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been dragged into this world, forced to complete these cumbersome tasks to stay alive.” “As for whether I've lied to you, I myself am the biggest lie in this world. I will leave here, but not right now.” Hearing Lin Qianshuang say that Liang Jingxuan was the person she hated the most made Xiao Lanle feel like a weight had lifted from her heart, leaving her refreshed and at ease. Regarding the last part of Lin Qianshuang’s reply, Xiao Lanle felt somewhat indifferent. She gently leaned down to kiss Lin Qianshuang’s lips, noticing how bashfully she gazed back, causing Xiao Lanle to chuckle. She couldn't pretend any longer, deciding against putting on a sorrowful act and instead gently poked Lin Qianshuang’s cheek, “Leave here? I won't let you go. Now I know our feelings are mutual. Since you're so insistent on not saying anything, it's likely you believe, as I do, that the timing isn’t right yet. I won’t let you marry the second son of the Chen family. Did it surprise you that Chen Shangqing is one of my informants beside father? When the time comes, the one you'll marry is definitely me. Senior Sister, isn't it amusing how you were left in the dark?” Ever since she obtained the Shark Pearl from Tian Shu City, Chen Shangqing had been sent by the city lord to protect her. His infiltration into the Penglai Immortal Sect had been long underway. During moments when her inner demons resurfaced, rendering her amnesiac, he relayed information via sound transmission. Of their private moments together, though he spied with spirit stones, he never mentioned a word. Xiao Lanle was aware of Chen Shangqing’s feelings for her, yet she only saw him as a useful tool. Should he ever show disrespect or betray her, she had plenty of ways to deal with him. In the past, Xiao Lanle had liked Liang Jingxuan, going to great lengths to earn her father’s favor and secretly securing alliances to support his rise as deputy sect master. The depth of her past affection mirrored her current depth of hatred. Her lips tightened, eyes dangerously flickering. This foolish man had dared to have her yet still pursue other women. Witnessing his betrayal in the rock garden meant she could no longer trust him. How foolish she had been to once love such a person. Now, Liang Jingxuan still tries to feign affection, seeking the Buddha’s Jade Ruyi, wanting to have beauties left and right, and feigning deep feelings for Senior Sister Lin. If not for Senior Sister Lin, she intended to use her inner demon's influence to kill Liang Jingxuan back in the library. A soft blue light dimmed slightly as a petite shadow cast onto the wall. A delicate, otherworldly voice drifted from afar. "It seems you’ve decided clearly on your desire. This city lord promised a complete reward to whoever obtained the Shark Pearl. You once said your wish was revenge. Have you truly decided? Speak now." Xiao Lanle gazed tenderly at Lin Qianshuang’s serene face, her eyes turbulent with unspoken thoughts. Tomorrow brought the duel between Penglai Immortal Sect and Lingxiao Sword Sect. The Star Plucking Sword, a relic from the first sect master, could unlock the sanctuary of Penglai Immortal Sect. Her father might be unaware, but with the Shark Pearl, containing insights on extraordinary tales and the origin of all registered artifacts, she knew. Such divine artifacts rightfully belonged to the Penglai Immortal Sect. She’d never let it fall into the hands of any other sect. “Do you genuinely promise to grant what I desire?” Xiao Lanle spoke to the shadow of the Tian Shu City Lord imprinted on the wall. The city lord’s youthful voice responded with authority, “Whatever you wish, I can give you. That is my promise.” Xiao Lanle's lips curled into an enigmatic smile, "I once thought Liang Jingxuan capable of great deeds, foolishly trusting in oaths of love and depending on him to help achieve greatness. But my intentions have changed, although avenging my mother against the five sects of the human realm remains my purpose. My mother can't have died in vain." “And beyond that, I want her.” Xiao Lanle gently touched Lin Qianshuang's hair, seeing her gazing at her with an affectionate, silly smile. Her voice softened as she spoke: “I wish for everyone in the human realm to recognize our relationship and bless our union as Dao companions.”