Chapter 88 - The Harem Rescue Project

Lin Qianshuang was observing the setup above the pill furnace, searching for a suitable path. As she hesitated over how to carry Xiao Lanle up with her, she suddenly choked at the mention of dual cultivation, nearly suffocating on her own surprise. Even though she usually maintained a calm demeanor, this time her expression faltered, her face unable to hold its peace. Lin Qianshuang glanced at Xiao Lanle, who looked perfectly composed and unhurried, then pointed to the slowly rising black water below. She earnestly warned, "Junior Sister Xiao, don't joke around. The corrosive liquid below is nearly upon us. I may owe you... something, but dying together because of dual cultivation is just too absurd." Xiao Lanle furrowed her delicate brows, placing her left hand on her abdomen. A red glow seeped from between her fingers as she looked at Lin Qianshuang with a calm gaze. "The Buddha's Glass barely holds my life in this body, but it's ultimately a treasure not meant for the human body. The aura it releases is too dense and repels my constitution. I need someone to help me. If you wish for my death, you can stand aside and leave now." Lin Qianshuang's mouth twitched. Before she could say anything, Xiao Lanle's expression turned unpleasant, as if her face was marked with "I disdain you." Her eyes held a dismissive look, making it seem like a favor she was reluctant to ask for. She released a wisp of aura to hover over Xiao Lanle's abdomen for a moment. The spirit energy of the treasure was extremely domineering, repelling the aura she tried to send as soon as it approached. Just as Xiao Lanle had said, the aura from the Buddha's Glass continuously clashed with her meridians. It filled her damaged body but also tore at her soul, making movement nearly impossible. This artifact seemed to have long fused with her bloodlines, and dual cultivation was indeed one feasible and effective solution at this moment. The mouth of the pill furnace above them shone brightly, and Lin Qianshuang dismissed the idea of healing Xiao Lanle outside. Not to mention Xiao Lanle’s injuries, Liang Jingxuan could awaken at any moment. If Qingyun Zhenren and Chen Shangqing happened to arrive and saw their situation, she'd have a hard time explaining, and her engagement with the Chen family could end due to such a "scandal." The black water beneath crept silently upwards. Lin Qianshuang bit her lip, closing her eyes to avoid looking at Xiao Lanle. She unbuckled her belt, took off her outer garment, and threw it aside. Seeing Xiao Lanle remain still, she reluctantly helped her remove her clothes as well, urging with urgency, "If we're going to do this, let's hurry and finish quickly." Just as Lin Qianshuang reached towards Xiao Lanle’s waist to undo the belt, her wrist was grabbed. Xiao Lanle’s voice, suppressed and slightly flustered, said, "What are you doing?" Lin Qianshuang, slightly dumbfounded, replied, "Dual cultivation." She remembered clearly that when the master forced her into dual cultivation, it was always... involving undressing and intimacy. Wasn't that how it was supposed to be? "Incredibly ignorant; even with your devilish cultivation, you don't understand? Dual cultivation isn't solely about... that. Put your clothes back on." Xiao Lanle stopped Lin Qianshuang's actions, her eyes catching Lin Qianshuang's bare shoulders and the exposed chest. Her face turned a shade of crimson, spreading from her neck to her ears, and she felt something cool and metallic trickling from her nose. When Xiao Lanle touched her nose, small red stains appeared on her fingers; she was embarrassingly having a nosebleed. For the first time in hundreds of years, no one had ever stirred such an emotional upheaval in her. This peculiar mix of irritancy and heated flush was entirely new to her. Xiao Lanle's deep eyes blinked, capturing Lin Qianshuang's figure with a slightly newfound curiosity. Lin Qianshuang was stunned by Xiao Lanle's nosebleed. How naive and innocent had her junior sister become? Clearly... they had already shared a bed and been intimate several times. Hadn't everything already been seen? What was there to be surprised about? Xiao Lanle awkwardly turned her back, seemingly unwilling to face Lin Qianshuang, and spoke softly, "Once you’re dressed, tap my shoulder. I’ll tell you what to do." Her posture was prim and proper, her face stiff with an intrinsic coldness that seemed out of place. Watching Xiao Lanle turn away, Lin Qianshuang's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she fiddled with the turning spirit stone on her chest. With Xiao Lanle's Golden Core cultivation, she should not see through her devil cultivation. Could this not be her junior sister? Pondering a moment, Lin Qianshuang considered Xiao Lanle's behavior inconsistent with the personality of a heart demon. If it were a heart demon, it wouldn’t converse with her like this. So who was this, and why did they occupy her junior sister's body? This person occupying her junior sister's body seemed rigid and serious. Was it possible they'd possessed a man or someone who also liked women? As she contemplated, Lin Qianshuang finished dressing, tapping Xiao Lanle on the shoulder, her expression neutral, saying, "I'm ready. Let's begin." "I can't control my body. You need to come closer, right in front of me." Xiao Lanle turned to face Lin Qianshuang, watching her stand and gesturing for her to sit down, closer. Once Lin Qianshuang was near, she suddenly grasped Xiao Lanle's pulse. Leaning over, her familiar, graceful face scrutinized closely, as she attempted to peer into her seven souls and six spirits, her voice firm with suspicion, "You’re not Xiao Lanle. Who are you? What have you done to my junior sister? It would be wise to tell me the truth, otherwise, I will force your true self out!" Lin Qianshuang was taken aback by the unexpected vulnerability of "Xiao Lanle," who leaned weakly against her legs, her lashes tiredly veiling her eyes. "Lanle will be fine. She is the destined partner indicated by the Tianming Instrument for this city's master. I won't let her come to harm. Jieyu, is it possible you don't recognize your own city's master?" "The Tianming Instrument?" Lin Qianshuang echoed, stunned, asking, "And you're saying you're...?" "I know you've been impersonating Lin Qianshuang." "The city's master?" Lin Qianshuang released her grip in shock, half-believing, half-doubting as she asked, "Then where has my junior sister gone?" Mu Weiyin, inhabiting Xiao Lanle's form, pressed her hand against the abdomen where the artifact's glow shimmered faintly, a trace of pain tugging at her otherwise cold expression. "She fell into the pill furnace, and her soul was nearly lost. I sealed her soul within the Buddha's Glass. A sliver of my consciousness is supporting her body, just enough to keep her from dying immediately, but it's not enough for complete recovery or for leaving this place." Lin Qianshuang considered the explanation, her trust wavering as she checked the affection interface, seeing Mu Weiyin's icon brightly active, indicating her presence. Now convinced, Lin Qianshuang watched as Mu Weiyin, dragging Xiao Lanle's heavy and numb body, surveyed the rising black water with a composed gaze. "Now follow my instructions. She won't hold on much longer. The pill furnace is already past the point of no return, and time is short. Come over here, let me embrace you." Without further ado, Mu Weiyin found herself surprisingly light in Lin Qianshuang's arms, before she could even make a move. Her body stiffened, not expecting Lin Qianshuang to act so swiftly. Her hand inadvertently brushed against something soft, drawing back nervously as liquid trickled down her nose again. "City Master, your nose... is bleeding again." Lin Qianshuang pointed at her own nose towards Mu Weiyin. "Xiao Lanle" helplessly covered her nose, looking at her with confusion. Lin Qianshuang, feeling a bit guilty as if bullying a child, offered a handkerchief. Mu Weiyin accepted it with numb fingers. Her training with the Celestial Pivot Art had forced her to forsake attachments at the fourth stage of her emotionless path. Having reached its sixteenth stage, resulting in incredible power, her body had shrunk to that of a child and her cultivation was stuck at the bottleneck of the Nascent Soul stage, unable to advance to the Integration stage. Heeding the Tianming Instrument’s guidance, which claimed that the one chosen by the merman pearl would be able to ascend with her as a dual cultivation partner, she trusted this divine instrument implicitly, believing it could not make an error. Unversed in affairs of love, Mu Weiyin had taken advice from others, attempting to foster some semblance of emotional connection with her future partner. During the period when Xiao Lanle traveled, Mu Weiyin met her daily in a tavern in Tianzhu City. Their relationship was less of lovers and more akin to a dedicated student seeking knowledge from a patient teacher. Xiao Lanle remained detached towards her, yet absorbed everything she taught rapidly. Occasionally, they would plan excursions by the lake, but Xiao Lanle seemed often distracted, occasionally smiling, though their pleasant conversations always revolved around her senior sister Lin. Mu Weiyin lifted her gaze to Lin Qianshuang, those pure black eyes trying to penetrate beneath her skin to gauge her true emotions. Tianzhu City was an intelligence hub. Jieyu had once been listed by the deputy master of Yixiang Pavilion. Mu Weiyin had investigated Lin Qianshuang’s background too, having heard whispers from the demon domain. This person, so frivolous and with a deceptively delicate appearance, was rumored to have slain numerous cultivators and spoke with a forked tongue. How could she possibly match the affectionate words Xiao Lanle had spoken of her? Could she have used some method to bewitch Xiao Lanle? Mu Weiyin harbored doubts. Devils were notoriously crafty; this person surely exemplified that trait. Yet, using her as a furnace to have Jieyu aid her, Mu Weiyin felt assured, given half of Yixiang Pavilion's red-ranked tasks were under Lin Qianshuang's belt. However, the relationship between Jieyu and Xiao Lanle needed to be thoroughly severed. "Clasp my fingers with yours." Lin Qianshuang nodded, her fingers aligning with Mu Weiyin's. Strangely, the system's affection interface prompted a notice, showing Mu Weiyin's previous ten percent affection dropping back to zero. She wondered if she had unwittingly offended Mu Weiyin somehow. Lost in thought, Lin Qianshuang was jolted back to the present as her cheek was gently tapped. "Focus, follow my recitation." The eyes of "Xiao Lanle," cold and steady, held Lin Qianshuang's gaze. Lin Qianshuang forced a sheepish smile and promptly concentrated on circulating her inner demonic energy. "Comprehend the permutations, and discern the intricacies. By mastering their changes, one understands the patterns of the world; by grasping their measures, one establishes the images under Heaven." (I Ching) A faint spiritual imprint appeared in Mu Weiyin's left palm, which she placed gently on Lin Qianshuang's upper abdomen. A wisp of true energy flowed between them, ethereal light rippling in both of their eyes. "One breath divides into three apertures, halting in the central palace." Warm energy rose from the meridians in the spleen and stomach, circulating in her chest. "Return the breath to the Li Palace, loop around the pivot, and the nine cycles return to the dantian." Her heart suddenly pounded rapidly, as though ready to leap from her chest, a refreshing coolness burst from her soles to the top of her head. Lin Qianshuang, as if a cat stroked along its fur, felt slightly airy. Xiao Lanle’s voice, always clear and sweet, gained a steadier undertone when coming from Mu Weiyin, yet remained equally enchanting. Two distinct spiritual energies exchanged through their palms, Lin Qianshuang's demonic imprint on her forehead became fully visible, her eyes reverted to their blue hue, with a pale golden light wrapping around her nonexistent dantian, gradually healing it. "It seems the Buddha's Glass is quite fond of your aura." Mu Weiyin forcibly extracted a dark red jade ruyi from within the glow of her body, her gaze on Lin Qianshuang cold and penetrating. "The Buddha's Glass within Xiao Lanle can only be removed by consumation with her beloved. Meanwhile, the evil aura it emits will merge with the heart demon that divided her, which is why Xiao Shen keeps Xiao Lanle alive despite her being a blemish. What he desires is the purified Buddha's Glass from within her. Initially, I intended for you to use musical harmony to pacify and suppress her heart demon. Did you touch her?" Lin Qianshuang’s face froze, momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond.