Chapter 81 - The Harem Rescue Project

"This request is not acceptable." After a moment of silence, a clear, child-like voice said, "From the moment you accepted the Jiao Pearl, you were deemed willing to become my Daoist partner. I, the lord of this city, agree you can keep this woman as a long-term furnace, but you are not allowed to entertain such thoughts." Xiao Lanle was slightly taken aback and let the expression on her face fade away, saying, "It is my honor that the city lord wishes to become my Daoist partner." The assistance of the Lord of Tianshu City was crucial to her, and she couldn’t afford to offend her at this time. The room fell silent, with no response, as the shadow on the wall vanished. The divine sense formed by the true energy of the Lord of Tianshu City dissipated, having left. The Jiao Pearl slowly returned to Xiao Lanle’s hand. She lowered her head, and Lin Qianshuang's hypnosis was lifted; her eyelids closed, plunging her into a deep sleep. "Senior sister, I will never let you leave me. You can only remain by my side." Xiao Lanle curled up insecurely within Lin Qianshuang's embrace, her head resting on her chest to listen to her heartbeat. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she murmured, and after making sure several times about the person in her arms, she also closed her eyes. In her sleep, Lin Qianshuang vaguely sensed someone warm, nestling against her like a spoiled child, causing a slight discomfort. The warmth was likely due to a conflict between their spirit roots: Xiao Lanle's fire and her own water system, like an encircling fire. The person beside her used a touch of true energy, gently guiding her hand from its resting position to their face, and then downwards. Lin Qianshuang's sleep was not at all peaceful, subconsciously resisting the unknown sensation of unfamiliar control. Sensing her fright, the person intertwined their fingers with hers, as if trying to convey safety through the touch. Lowering her gaze, Xiao Lanle looked at Lin Qianshuang's serene sleeping face, filled with strong emotions. Burying her head in the crook of Lin Qianshuang's neck, she whispered: "Senior sister, I still remember, albeit in fragments, how you looked when the demon domain master treated you this way, just as enchanting and beautiful as you are now. Yet I hated her so much I almost crushed her." "But, I firmly believe you will ultimately choose to be with me, right?" Lin Qianshuang vaguely felt the breath at her ear was tantalizing, with both a gentle tease and an ambiguous final cadence in the voice. Warm breath swept across her neck, followed by a tender, fragrant kiss meant to smooth the crease on her brow… Lin Qianshuang, trying to approach consciousness, attempted to pull up the blanket to no avail, which only brought her closer to her companion. Her affectionate approach led the person next to her to smile contently, lightly enclosing her slender hand within theirs, seeming delighted. "If only you were awake now, but alas, you know nothing." The voice gradually fell into a soft sadness, but then, as if confirming something, it brightened in excitement in the darkness. "Senior sister, why would you... deceive me? So you’re still... untouched." Someone lay beside her and gave her cheek a cherished peck. All movement ceased, as if just silently watching. Someone was speaking to her, the voice so familiar. Her brain recognized something was wrong when trying to open her eyes, but they felt as if weighted down, unable to see, like enduring sleep paralysis. After a long torment in darkness, Lin Qianshuang finally managed to open her eyes, sitting up and startling the person resting on her arm. Ashamed and humiliated, Xiao Lanle tightened the blanket around her, the faint traces of last night’s intimacy still visible on her body. "Senior sister, didn’t you say you only saw me as an ordinary junior sister? Then why did you..." Xiao Lanle looked up at her, embarrassed and aggrieved, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her body, wrapped in the blanket, trembled slightly. "Have you forgotten what you did to me?" Lin Qianshuang, seeing the disarray on the bed, instinctively checked herself. Apart from a slight feverish feeling, she seemed unscathed. Xiao Lanle, however, appeared quite distressed, her eyes tearful and pitiable. Her mind snapped, her thoughts slow as if stuck. She remembered seeing the Jiao Pearl flying toward her, and then... nothing. "System?" Lin Qianshuang thought immediately of the system; it should know what happened last night. [Host, upon hearing this recording, I regret to inform you that due to an irresistible urge, System-kun watched your nighttime activities with the target character. The video has been uploaded to an ancient platform as a benefit. Because of this and the damage to your interests, System-kun is being reformed under orders. During the audit phase for video removal, the system's voice dialogue function will be unavailable. However, the favorability task interface remains operational. While System-kun is away, please take care of yourself, Host~ Mua~] Lin Qianshuang captured the key points of the system’s frantic message. "A large-scale, nighttime activity with the target character." Her face filled with shock as she looked at Xiao Lanle. Could it be that she glanced at the Jiao Pearl and was enchanted, lost herself, and did such shameful things to her junior sister? The cursed system couldn't even offer a complete explanation. "Junior Sister Xiao." Facing Xiao Lanle’s shyly indignant expression, her cheeks flushed as she avoided eye contact, "Are you still... a virgin? I...I..." Unable to continue, Lin Qianshuang bowed her head, "I'm sorry." "Is a mere apology enough to dismiss your actions so easily?" Xiao Lanle gripped the blanket tighter, tendons showing on her hand. A calculating gleam passed through her eyes as she tossed a handkerchief marked with conspicuous bloodstains at Lin Qianshuang. With a bitter smile on her elegant face, she said, "Senior Sister, I thought you were someone who would take responsibility. Even if you don't, I expected at least a promise. But I was wrong about you." Lin Qianshuang’s eyes trembled at the sight of the stained handkerchief, feeling as if thrown into the depths of the ocean, suffocated and helpless to struggle. Her mind, overwhelmed like water seeping in, was sluggish. Her once eloquent tongue was now silent. She made a grave mistake, a deadly one. She ruined a girl's chastity, in an era that prized it above all else. Now, she found herself utterly unprepared for this unexpected situation, unable to find a solution. Knock, knock, knock. There was a knock at the door. "Senior Sister Lin, Junior Sister Xiao, have you finished dressing? The sect master asked me to bring you to breakfast." Lin Qianshuang tensed, quickly wrapping Xiao Lanle in the blanket, worried that the Penglai sect member might suddenly enter, exposing the marks on Xiao Lanle's body. "Junior sister, we went to bed late and might need a while before coming down. No need to wait for us; we’ll find our way there." "Why isn't Junior Sister Xiao speaking? Is she in the room?" Outside, the female disciple sounded intrigued, taking a step closer, seemingly wanting a peek inside. Just as Lin Qianshuang was about to set up a barrier, Xiao Lanle pulled the blanket off her head, capturing Lin Qianshuang’s hand midair, speaking in a displeased tone to the person outside, "Junior Sister Qiao, I just woke up. Why disturb dreams so early? Didn’t you hear Senior Sister Lin? Must I reiterate?" Hearing Xiao Lanle, the female disciple outside turned to leave; everyone knew Xiao Lanle's morning temper was notorious in the Penglai Sect, best not to provoke her. After the female disciple left, Lin Qianshuang's hand was still held by Xiao Lanle. Gazing directly at her with clear, dark eyes, Lin Qianshuang felt exposed under Xiao Lanle’s stare, compelled to return it. "Junior Sister, what I owe you, I will repay." With her face flushed from embarrassment, Lin Qianshuang spoke firmly through clenched teeth, "If worse comes to worst, you can... do the same to me." Xiao Lanle’s expression froze, her anger melting away as a smile broke out. Leaning in, she whispered in Lin Qianshuang’s ear, "Senior Sister, remember your promise. I'll reclaim what you owe me, but before then, your body belongs to me and no one else can touch it." Goosebumps spread from Lin Qianshuang’s neck. Xiao Lanle’s words left her with an indescribably odd feeling, her gaze suggestive of knowing her inside out, even a bit mischievous. Xiao Lanle donned her clothes, got off the bed, looking exuberant and refreshed. Conversely, the supposed perpetrator Lin Qianshuang was sore and her bones felt disjointed, nearly collapsing against a pillar while getting off the bed when a wave of dizziness darkened her vision. During breakfast, Lin Qianshuang sipped hot tea with a stiff expression, deliberately keeping two tables away from Xiao Lanle to avoid further awkward encounters. Her mind felt like a jumble, needing clarity to sort her thoughts and plan ahead. The dark circles under Lin Qianshuang's eyes were noticed by many of the senior and junior sisters sitting at the same table. Coupled with the fact that she deliberately avoided the table where Xiao Lanle sat, they assumed that it was Xiao Lanle's fastidiousness that caused the senior sister of the sect to have a sleepless night, each gaze cast toward Lin Qianshuang filled with sympathy. The sky was a wash of clear gray, an expanse of blue with a gentle breeze rustling the willows along the lakeside. Carps swam through the crystal-clear waters as young women sat on the stone steps by the lake, washing silk fabric in the water. The bridge was crowded with people, mortals gathering in groups to admire the scenic view of the lake. Two pleasure boats carrying disciples of the sect glided slowly through circles of ripples on the azure water, docking beside the martial arts arena that floated in the middle of Jinshui Lake. The prized Zhaixing Sword from the Penglai Immortal Sect and the superior-grade Lingshao Sword from the Lingxiao Sword Sect were displayed on the contest stage as rewards. Standing on the second, more secluded level of the pleasure boat, Lin Qianshuang gazed at the Zhaixing Sword on the contest stage for some time, then started looking for the head of the Chen family, Chen Xi. "Chen Xi is not present today due to illness, and my elder brother has met with the sect leader on his behalf." A voice unexpectedly transmitted to her thoughts. The Chen family head's absence—was it because word got out in advance, or was it due to his cautious nature disliking public appearances? Lin Qianshuang turned these thoughts over in her mind and had already recognized Xu Zheng's voice. As she glanced to her side, Xu Zheng was approaching, followed closely by Chen Shangqing and Xiao Lanle, who were speaking to each other with cold demeanor from a certain distance apart. "Miss Lin, what are you doing here alone? Miss Xiao was worried you hadn't boarded the boat and has been looking for you." Xu Zheng playfully fanned himself as he came to stand close beside Lin Qianshuang. Following her gaze toward the contest stage on Jinshui Lake, he commented with some praise, "This is indeed a good spot—fewer people and a clear view of the stage. Miss Lin, you have quite a knack for finding such places."