Chapter 102 - The Harem Rescue Project

"Sister, it's my birthday." Xiao Lanle lowered her head slightly, their noses almost touching. Her starry eyes reflected her face as she stubbornly said, "So, where we go is for me to decide." Lin Qianshuang saw the determination and strange feelings in her eyes, which made her slightly uneasy. She pried Xiao Lanle's hand off and quickly said, "There have been too many misunderstandings between us. I want to make things clear. I don't like you in that way, nor do I have such preferences. I'm about to marry into the Chen family, and I hope you'll find your own happiness." Xiao Lanle was a bit annoyed by Lin Qianshuang's rejection and attempts to draw boundaries. She disdained her engagement, feeling it was just an excuse to push her away and refuse closeness. The second young master of the Chen family was famously unfaithful in the cultivation world, and Lin Qianshuang only agreed to the engagement to cover for her. There was no real affection between them; even if they married, it would be a mere formality, bound to be uninteresting. Would her senior sister really choose such an unreliable person? She didn't believe it. Xiao Lanle pressed her forehead against hers, her elegant face close, gazing into her eyes. Her voice carried a girlish crispness and shyness, pleading softly, "Sister, please, don't reject me. Let me hold you, just for a little while." Lin Qianshuang was a bit helpless but considering they wouldn't spend much time together in the future, she relented, "Alright, alright, I won't move. Just make sure you don't take me to crowded places." Xiao Lanle's lips curled into a smile as she tightly embraced Lin Qianshuang, soaring on her sword through the clouds. A flock of wild geese flew beneath them, lanterns released from the tall Tianshu Tower shone like stars in the daylight, some ascending beside them, disappearing into the white glow. "Sister Qianshuang, look at the wishes on these lanterns. Mortals are truly banal, all wishing with the same words." Xiao Lanle pulled a nearby floating lantern over, clicking her tongue before releasing it again. She turned back, her eyes bright as she declared, "I wouldn't be so foolish. Those words, I keep them in my heart. An unwritten lantern carries more than a thousand words, my heart's weight isn't something this common object could bear." Lin Qianshuang, standing on the sword, let out a dry laugh, finding it surprising how articulate this seemingly simple girl had become, even more pleasing to listen to than Liang Jingxuan. Xiao Lanle blew a whistle, summoning a white crane that spread its wings and descended beside them. Lin Qianshuang was pulled onto its back, as they circled around the Tianshu Tower. Xiao Lanle released into the sky a lotus lantern fueled with shark oil, its light unwavering. Lin Qianshuang slightly turned her head, seeing Xiao Lanle's sincere and devout expression as she clasped her hands in prayer, the tranquility of which lightened her own mood. She too released her lantern into the sky. In the mortal cultivation world, Xiao Lanle pulled Lin Qianshuang into the crowd to watch street performances, munching on rice cakes as they wandered, fiddling with wooden trinkets at a stall. Lin Qianshuang wore a smile, though her heart was devoid of joy. Liang Jingxuan's signal had been sent, and the Penglai Sect was in chaos by now. The courtyard gate was tightly locked. With a gentle push, Lin Qianshuang felt the lock fall open, guiding the blindfolded Xiao Lanle inside. "Can I open my eyes now? Sister, where have you brought me that's so mysterious?" As Xiao Lanle removed the blindfold, she was suddenly struck by the sight before her. The complete and pristine courtyard of the Xiao family mansion stood before her, as if in a dream. On the round table in the inner hall was a steaming bowl of longevity noodles, along with twelve small bowls of dumpling soup—just as the Xiao family used to have during festivals. Xiao Lanle's hands trembled as she held the bowl, taking a bite. Lin Qianshuang sat opposite, silently placing a pair of blood jade bracelets on the table. "The Xiao family estate, which had become a ghost house, didn't get destroyed. I bought the deed and had it rebuilt. These bracelets were found in the estate, inscribed with the words 'Su Wen'. They might be a relic from your mother." Xiao Lanle picked up the blood jade bracelets, her eyes flickering with complex emotions as she looked at Lin Qianshuang. "All of this... was done by Lord Mu for your birthday, She asked me to arrange it." Lin Qianshuang quickly added, nudging the steaming longevity noodles towards Xiao Lanle, saying with a smile, "Little sister, make sure to finish these noodles; otherwise, all my effort will be wasted." Xiao Lanle stirred the noodle soup with her chopsticks, her lively eyes narrowing slightly, "So salty, so sour, the noodles have gone bad." "Gone bad? That's impossible." Lin Qianshuang was taken aback, picking up the chopsticks to taste the noodles herself. They were clearly savory and delicious, with no problem at all. Her right cheek was suddenly kissed, the warm and soft touch lingering. Xiao Lanle had taken the chopsticks and licked her lips. Cradling the bowl to warm her hands, Xiao Lanle said with a smile at the corners of her mouth, "Now the aroma's improved, and the flavor has become wonderful." Lin Qianshuang felt a bit embarrassed, knowing full well Xiao Lanle was teasing her, but pretended otherwise, blinking innocently. Meanwhile, Xiao Lanle continued to eat the noodles with a dignified demeanor, as if she hadn't just stolen a kiss. The white crane flapped its wings outside the intricately carved window, and seeing no reaction from the two inside, scratched its claws against the courtyard gate, producing a faint, sharp sound. Xiao Lanle sensed the disturbance keenly. She set down her bowl and chopsticks, opened the door, and saw the white crane flapping its wings impatiently, a small message tied to its crimson claw. Her eyes widened for a moment. This was the white crane raised by her father, the sect master, recognizable by its wings not being purely black but tinged with gray. She recognized it immediately. Lin Qianshuang sat in a wicker chair. Upon seeing Xiao Lanle's face turn ghastly after reading the note, she quickly stood and feigned concern, asking, "Sister, why do you look so pale?" She saw the note too and felt a twinge of panic. Deliberately, she said to Xiao Lanle, "The sect master's soul lamp is about to extinguish! Something has happened to the Penglai Sect!" "Sister, don't come to the sect yet. I'll go and see what's happened." Xiao Lanle hurriedly pushed open the door, casting a worried glance at Lin Qianshuang, and calmed the anxious white crane. She climbed onto its back, and with a flap of its wings, it soared into the sky, disappearing without a trace. Lin Qianshuang gently unfolded the paper hidden in her left hand for some time. An audio talisman appeared in her palm, carrying Liang Jingxuan's exhilarated and crazed voice. "Sister, thanks to you, the barrier's opened and the formations are halted. The demon troops and I have successfully infiltrated. Those stubborn old men and women of the Penglai Sect are completely subdued. I executed those who refused to obey on the spot. That old bag of bones, Xiao Shen, is tough, but even after all my questioning, he wouldn't reveal the whereabouts of the Glazed Buddha Sect — not that I'm letting him off easy. I’ll repay him tenfold for the humiliations! I’ll make everyone in the Penglai Sect pay, one by one!" "Shuang'er, come quickly. I’m in the main hall, waiting to share this triumph with you. From now on, I’ll be the head of the righteous Penglai Sect, and you’ll be my chief consort!" The way he called her "Shuang'er" made Lin Qianshuang's skin crawl. It was disgustingly sweet. She retrieved five demonic pills from a storage jade, consuming them. Her cultivation rapidly advanced, halting at a brief step before a full breakthrough. In a blink, her power was almost on par with that of an Out-of-Body-stage demon cultivator. Lin Qianshuang habitually touched the transformation spirit stone over her heart, ensuring no demonic energy leaked, before taking out the bamboo Tianshu token given by Mu Weiyin. It was already flashing — the Lord of Tianshu City had received the message. Soon, rogue cultivators would arrive to completely surround and seize the Penglai Sect. In the Penglai Sect’s main hall, Liang Jingxuan sat in the sect master’s chair, the unsheathed Xiao Sword stood at his feet. Beside him, a voluptuous female demon cultivator stood serving, occasionally leaning in with sweet words and whispers. The sect master, Xiao Shen, was hung inside the hall, bloodied, with the elders stripped of their powers, seated shackled on either side, each guarded by hideous demons that threatened them into silence. Below the platform, disciples seethed with anger at the devil occupying their sect master's seat. Some wanted to curse him, but their comrades restrained them; the heads of previously slain disciples lined the steps, gruesomely glaring at those below. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed into the hall. Xiao Lanle descended from the white crane and quickly crossed the threshold of the hall. Seeing the scene before her, she slashed the ropes with her sword and dashed to support Xiao Shen. Seeing his core dug out, sustained by only a thread of divine energy, she glared fiercely at Liang Jingxuan. Her grip on the sword hilt tightened, nearly crushing it, as she restrained her fury, shouting, "Liang Jingxuan! You vile devil, slaughtering your own sect and persecuting the master! Do you even comprehend the crime you’ve committed?!" Liang Jingxuan, flirting with the lady next to him, turned arrogantly toward Xiao Lanle, his demeanor that of a superior. He cleared his throat, saying, "Sister Xiao, I am now the master of the Penglai Sect. Do not be mistaken. I, Liang Jingxuan, am a legitimate disciple, not a demon. Mastering the sect's heretics is not questionable." Xiao Lanle laughed coldly, supporting Xiao Shen as they rose. "Liang Jingxuan, do you think I can’t see the demonic aura in you? A demon dreaming to lead a righteous sect? Ridiculous! I advise you, now, immediately, get off the sect master's chair! Otherwise, don't blame me for setting aside our past fraternity and personally killing you!" Liang Jingxuan scoffed at Xiao Lanle's threats, his gaze lingering on her captivating face, once a source of his infatuation. Though a beauty with thorns, the pleasure was in taming her; a decade without seeing her brought to his side bothered him greatly. To have the proud daughter of the Penglai Sect's master reduced to a warm bed servant, his furnace, submitting meekly to be his concubine, seemed amusing. Ideally, showing her degradation to Senior Sister Lin would make it even more intriguing. Thinking this, Liang Jingxuan flicked his sleeve, signaling the female demon to step back. He beckoned Xiao Lanle with a mischievous smile, "Sister Xiao, come here, sit on my lap. Then I'll release everyone, sparing old Xiao Shen’s life too." Infuriated, Xiao Lanle almost drew her Sword of Inquiry, but was stopped by Lin Qianshuang’s grip upon her sudden entrance into the hall. "No." Lin Qianshuang glanced at Liang Jingxuan with disdain before turning to face Xiao Lanle. Her face was sneering, mocking him internally as a dying man still trying to flirt with Sister Xiao. Just wait until I deal with you later, she thought. But for now, the urgent matter at hand took precedence. As she held back Xiao Lanle, Lin Qianshuang discreetly and methodically retrieved a poison needle, slyly inserting it into Xiao Shen's scalp. The toxin was potent enough that if it did not kill him, it would leave him a fool. Turning with feigned concern towards Xiao Lanle, she said, "Liang Jingxuan wields the Purple Xiao Sword. Even a single high-grade Violet Thunder Fire can obliterate everything here, not to mention he has a dragon to defend him. Sister, if you attack head-on, you'll definitely be no match for him." Xiao Lanle turned to Lin Qianshuang, removing her hand only to place it back over hers. Her eyes were deep and cold as she said, "Shuangshuang, don’t worry about me. I will make Liang Jingxuan pay!" Xiao Shen, unable to speak due to the pressure point being hit and suffering from the crippling toxin, trembled as he reached out with a shaky hand towards Xiao Lanle, his eyes furious and desperate as he gazed upon the hidden Buddha Lapis within her dantian. Only the Buddha Lapis could save him now! "The sect master seems to have been poisoned! Sister, what should we do?" Lin Qianshuang looked anxiously towards Xiao Lanle, and when her gaze returned to Xiao Shen, her eyes darkened with a subtle coldness. She then expressed her concern to Xiao Lanle, saying, "You stay here and take care of Sect Master Shibo. I once saved Brother Liang's life; he's not inherently malicious. Perhaps I can persuade him to give us the antidote." With a facade of determination, she stated, "Trust me, I'll handle this. Stay strong. I’ll return with the antidote."