Chapter 82 - The Harem Rescue Project

Lin Qianshuang shifted her gaze away from the arena and looked bemusedly at Xiao Lanle, who was gradually approaching her. Since breakfast, when they had sat at different tables, they hadn't exchanged a single word. Even when boarding the painting boat with the disciples of the Penglai Sect, she felt Xiao Lanle intentionally or unintentionally avoided her, maintaining a distance. Given yesterday's series of events, both she and Junior Sister Xiao must have felt a little awkward. Lin Qianshuang leaned on the railing and looked toward the glittering surface of the lake where the arena was set. For some reason, she felt a pang in her heart. If that's the case, why did Xiao Lanle come to find her? Xiao Lanle wedged herself between Lin Qianshuang and Xu Zheng, pressing close to Lin Qianshuang and leaning against the railing, effectively pushing Xu Zheng to the side. Xu Zheng had planned to speak with Lin Qianshuang privately, but found himself mysteriously edged out. The daughter of the Penglai Sect leader, who was very likely the future wife of the city lord, even glared at him. She laid a hand threateningly on Lin Qianshuang's lower back, arching her eyebrows like a cat whose territory had been invaded, leaving him too intimidated to approach. Chen Shangqing stood a bit further from Xiao Lanle, his gaze flickered over them several times, then said to Xu Zheng, "Shang Ying, let's move to the front." Feeling out of place with the two women, and unable to insert himself into the conversation, Xu Zheng quickly followed when he heard Chen Shangqing calling him. Lin Qianshuang didn't pay much attention to the goings-on around her. After a brief glance at Xiao Lanle beside her, she focused entirely on the competing stage on Jinshui Lake. The matches on the arena had already begun. The teams from the Penglai Sect and the Lingxiao Sword Sect were evenly matched, with the disciples combatting each other on equal footing. Wins and losses alternated until Liang Jingxuan appeared, brandishing an oddly pink sword amidst the jeers of the disciples. True to the original narrative, a Lingxiao Sword Sect disciple was defeated by Liang Jingxuan. Afterward, each subsequent challenger fell one after another. Despite possessing the seemingly powerless Zixiao Sword, Liang Jingxuan fought with exceptional valor. None of his opponents, after trading even a few blows, could maintain their composure, rapidly falling to the ground. In her heart, Lin Qianshuang scoffed. He wasn't using his true strength—he must have used the "Aura of the Overlord." Otherwise, those disciples wouldn't be performing so poorly. "Sister, you're staring at the Zhaixing Sword on the stage. Do you wish to claim it?" Xiao Lanle, clad in pristine white, leaned elegantly on the guardrail, her chin resting on her hand. Her clear, dark eyes watched Lin Qianshuang intently, as if she had been observing her for some time. A blush crept up Lin Qianshuang's ears. Still watching the contest, she replied, "The Zhaixing Sword is an excellent blade; naturally, I wish to obtain it." "But even Brother Chen was defeated by Brother Liang." Gazing at the stage where Chen Shangqing, after being tricked by Liang Jingxuan, was forced off the platform, Xiao Lanle turned to Lin Qianshuang, her expression regretful, "Sister, are you sure you can defeat Brother Liang?" "Liang is a prodigy of our sect; I'm not his equal. But regardless of the outcome, I must try." Lin Qianshuang modestly replied, yet confidence welled up within her. A basic spiritual sword appeared in her hand. Though she possessed the cultivation of a demon infant, she couldn't show off too much. Her understanding of the Penglai Sect's sword techniques was rudimentary, so she had to make do. Currently, on the stage, Liang Jingxuan basked in his "Aura of the Overlord," and none from either the Lingxiao Sword Sect or Penglai Sect dared challenge him. If she didn't step up, the Zhaixing Sword would become Liang Jingxuan’s prize. As Lin Qianshuang prepared to make her move, her basic spiritual sword was suddenly taken from her hand, and in its place, Xiao Lanle set a glowingly luminous Suwen Sword in her palm. Xiao Lanle, holding her hand with a tender expression, said, "Sister, your basic spiritual sword isn't enough to face Brother Liang. Use my sword instead." Testing the Suwen Sword, Lin Qianshuang found it to be an exceptional weapon, almost comparable to Liang Jingxuan's divine sword. Though lighter, it was sharp enough to cut through iron effortlessly. "Thank you, Junior Sister." Lin Qianshuang expressed her gratitude to Xiao Lanle. She leaped gracefully, boarding her sword, and in the blink of an eye, she was standing firmly on the competitive stage. Liang Jingxuan, exuding confidence, stood tall with the pink-sheathed Zixiao Sword planted on the ground. He glanced at the disciples on the painting boat, none of whom dared step forward, striking a charming and dignified pose to bask in their admiration. Hmph, these ignorant fools dare to compare with my master. Zixiao Sword Spirit, proud and self-declared as a divine sword of ancient times, though housed in a broken body, swelled with pride as Liang Jingxuan won respect for it. It gleamed with a gold-purple light revealing its elation. Thinking that soon the Zhaixing Sword would be its refining material, its original form restored, the Zixiao Sword radiated even more brilliance. A familiar demonic energy seeped into the Zixiao Sword Spirit’s awareness. A graceful young lady, exuding killing intent, landed steadily before Liang Jingxuan. Lin Qianshuang, her sleeves fluttering like butterfly wings, her ink-black hair floating elegantly, held her sword at her side. She smiled enigmatically at Liang Jingxuan, her eyes shimmering with an almost imperceptible blue light. "Brother Liang, I've come to challenge you. If you're ready, let's begin." "Sister, I'm always ready. Just say when." Liang Jingxuan momentarily appeared mesmerized, instinctively lifting his sword, only to be overwhelmed by an unexpected weight, causing a crack in his spine. He quickly steadied himself, yet his abdominal muscles still strained. Cursing himself for embarrassing mistakes before his crush, he looked at Lin Qianshuang with a burning gaze, unabashedly taking in her graceful and alluring form, entertaining less-than-pure thoughts. The more Liang Jingxuan stared, the more dazzled he became, completely forgetting to release his Aura of the Overlord, thinking he should toy with her before gently escorting her down. What is this impudent girl doing here, and why in a cultivator's attire? The Zixiao Sword Spirit, sensing the familiar demonic aura, immediately felt something was amiss. Once fooled by her deceitful narratives, it realized her prattle about the divine world was all lies, its garish scabbard being proof. Could she be thwarting its attempt to claim the Zhaixing Sword? Yet, as a previous scabbard master, Lin Qianshuang could not be implicated due to the Sword Spirit's code of honor. Agitated, the Zixiao Sword quivered frantically. Liang Jingxuan, understanding the spirit's warnings, scoffed dismissively, "Why warn me of Sister Lin? She's but a delicate woman fit for doting, her foundation nothing to fear. Using the Aura of the Overlord against her would make me look cowardly." "Brother Liang, it's starting." A cold blade edge flashed by Liang Jingxuan’s neck, causing him to dodge instinctively, the sliced hair falling in a tidy stream. Lin Qianshuang, executing her Floating Sword Technique with consummate skill, launched relentless, aggressive attacks that exposed the vulnerabilities in Liang Jingxuan's style. Struggling under the increasing weight of the Zixiao Sword, Liang Jingxuan narrowly avoided collapsing more than once, unable to unsheathe it—drawing blood meant harm to Lin Qianshuang. Observing Liang Jingxuan's sluggish, forceful swings, Lin Qianshuang deftly maneuvered behind him, delivering a swift kick. Unsteady, he fell, sword and all, flat on the ground. To his humiliation, the Zixiao Sword ended up nestled at his groin, cutting open his trousers, scattering fragments, leaving him bare before everyone. The painting boat, filled with disciples from both sects, erupted in uproarious laughter. "Did I see it right? Is Brother Liang truly... an eunuch?" "Then how did he sully that girl from the Chen family under the marriage tree?" "Perhaps the Chen girl tried to seduce him, only to find out he couldn’t perform. Hahaha!" Chen Shangyun, overhearing the ridicule, turned livid. Unable to contain her anger, she shouted, "What are you laughing about? I had no idea Liang's Young Master was the kind to emasculate himself! I was deceived, deceived! Had I known, would I marry an eunuch?" Chen Shangqing, seeing Chen Shangyun reaching to slap a fellow apprentice, restrained her, advising, "Sister, let this engagement be annulled. What's the point of causing more scandal? Imagine what the patriarch would think if this reaches his ears?" Chen Shangyun collapsed into Chen Shangqing's arms, sobbing pitifully, "Brother, you have to stand up for me. Nothing happened under the marriage tree with Liang Jingxuan. I thought he was a paragon among men, a true gentleman, and admired him so much, but I never expected him to be such a broken person. He never did anything to me. If you wish, test my blood with the chastity stone, you'll see I'm pure and innocent." Yesterday, Chen Shangyun had been causing an uproar at Sect Leader Xiao Shen's place, demanding the annulment of Xiao Lanle and Liang Jingxuan’s engagement, swearing she would marry no one but Brother Liang. Now, she claimed she had been deceived. The crowd watched Chen Shangyun's change of heart, casting sympathetic glances toward Liang Jingxuan, who had been publicly rejected twice on the competitive stage and exposed as disabled. He had not only disgraced the Liang family but also tarnished the reputation of Penglai Sect Leader Xiao Shen. His future seemed bleak. As Liang Jingxuan lay on the ground and used the Zixiao Sword to stand himself up, the gravity of the situation slowly dawned on him, punctuated by the murmurs from the painting boat and his torn garments. His gaze turned chilling as he looked toward Chen Shangqing, who was consoling Chen Shangyun. He could distinctly sense the swords’ energy as he fell backward. Given that Sister Lin was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, how could she possibly wield such precise and potent sword energy? It had to be Chen Shangqing! That trash had crossed him one too many times. "Junior Brother, are you alright? Did I use too much force? Are you okay?" The woman crouching before him looked at him with worry, her delicate face tinged with concern for him. Sister Lin, always so gentle, comforting him when his mood turned sour. Touched, Liang Jingxuan grasped Lin Qianshuang’s hand and stood up, gazing at her with affection. "Qianshuang, even now... you don’t despise me like she does?" "Don’t be too upset, Junior Brother..." Lin Qianshuang struggled to suppress her laughter, tears welling in her eyes despite her best efforts to remain composed. Liang Jingxuan mistook Lin Qianshuang’s tearful eyes as empathy for his situation, feeling a stir in his heart. He embraced her tightly, "Sister, if you want the Zhaixing Sword, I can give it to you. Don’t be sad. I won’t let you marry Chen Shangying. I know you’re still upset about that."