Chapter 122 - The Harem Rescue Project

Mu Weiyin seemed indifferent to Lin Qianshuang’s flattering remarks, responding with a weary "mm." A wisp of soul had just flown in through the window. The situation with the Penglai Immortal Sect was still unsettled, and it was apparent that the City Lord had been assisting Xiao Lanle with sect affairs upon her return. No one knew how Junior Sister Xiao was faring. Lin Qianshuang was somewhat worried. She intended to speak but wisely kept her mouth shut. Every time she inquired about Xiao Lanle's whereabouts, Mu Weiyin would sternly rebuke her for meddling. Asking the City Lord would have been less effective than gathering the information herself. She tried to throw off the covers and get out of bed, only to find her hands had shrunk into a circle of furry little beast paws, rendering her unable to keep her balance as they slid back and forth on the quilt, accidentally snagging its exquisite embroidery. Ah, when did she revert to her original form again? Lin Qianshuang was utterly bewildered and raised a paw. Suddenly, a "crack" sound echoed as countless threads of silver silk snapped under the tension. The door creaked open, and Du Shuang entered with a cheery smile, carrying a fruit platter. As soon as he saw Lin Qianshuang's atrocious act of pawing and tearing up the quilt, his complexion changed, and he exclaimed in despair, rushing to grab her tail. "My little ancestor! This is genuine Spirit Silk from Ice Silkworm, purchased for a steep forty thousand spiritual stones! Must you be so ruthless?" In a daze, Lin Qianshuang was dangled by her tail, swaying left and right. Already somewhat groggy upon waking, she found herself feeling faint from hypoglycemia. Mu Weiyin felt a slight headache, uneasily supporting herself with the round table in the room. This was the second time she felt weak after Lin Qianshuang’s spirit returned. Since forming their life-and-death bond, any peril faced by Lin Qianshuang would indirectly affect her state. "Stop swinging me. Another shake, and I might just throw up." Dangling in the air, Lin Qianshuang flailed her furry limbs, rolled her eyes, and said, “I’ll compensate you, okay?” Du Shuang snorted, crossing his arms. “For one month, you ought to serve tea and handle odd jobs for the distinguished guests of this establishment, not missing a single day.” Lin Qianshuang took it as a joke, listlessly agreeing, “Alright, let me down, or I'll faint.” “It’s inappropriate for Deputy Lord Du to order Miss Lin around when she will soon succeed as the new Head of the Tianshu Intelligence Tower. Whatever she owes, I will cover on her behalf,” said the City Lord abruptly, startling Lin Qianshuang back into a clearer state. She sprang into Du Shuang's arms, her watery eyes fixed on Mu Weiyin as if she were gazing at a monster. The two of them shared an unusual relationship. Du Shuang looked a bit terrified, reprimanding himself for thoughtlessly bantering with Lin Qianshuang in Mu Weiyin's presence. The Tianshu City Intelligence Tower was always personally managed by the City Lord, the heart and soul of this entire rogue cultivator city. The fact that this position was being entrusted to Lin Qianshuang demonstrated the City's Lord trust and emphasis on her. Du Shuang tugged at Lin Qianshuang's ear and whispered, “Did you, perhaps, sign a life-long servitude contract with the City Lord?” Lin Qianshuang pondered and then admitted, “It’s not a servitude contract, but a life-and-death marriage bond.” Du Shuang had just asked casually, but upon hearing the words "life-and-death marriage bond," Lin Qianshuang found herself being stuffed into his arm without warning. "Xiaoshuang, why didn’t you say so earlier? You trying to get me killed? Did you and she become...?” With a hint of awkwardness etched on his teasing face, Du Shuang seemed to have inadvertently provoked the wrath of the City Lord, leaving him utterly nervous. Lin Qianshuang wanted to clarify but realized it would take too long and didn’t bother to say more. Quickly, Du Shuang waved it off, extracting Lin Qianshuang from his embrace, and, like presenting a gem, gently placed her beside Mu Weiyin's table with an apologetic grin, “It’s just a joke among friends, just a joke. Haha...City Lord, don’t take it seriously.” With a nonchalant swipe, Mu Weiyin imitated Du Shuang’s manner of carrying Lin Qianshuang, wrapping her pudgy little fur ball body into her arms from the table. Caught off guard, Lin Qianshuang stuck out her tongue in alarm. Her body pressed against Mu Weiyin's chest, soft and warm against her face, she shifted awkwardly. Her cheeks flushed, she shot Du Shuang a glare. Maintaining a respectful distance from Lin Qianshuang, Du Shuang worried that crowding her would displease the City Lord. She had secured the Deputy Head position with much effort, and the City Lord still needed to approve the auspicious date to formalize her status as Jinghua’s Dao companion. If anything went awry, Jinghua would definitely have her head. With an expression of innocence, Du Shuang silently signaled to Lin Qianshuang to stay out of trouble, that the City Lord's embrace wasn’t his idea. He faulted himself internally, having warned Lin about the City Lord’s ill-famed nature, yet she still engaged with her, so he couldn’t claim no warning was given. Pale blue mirage mist passed through the window with the blue irises, spilling in and expanding within the room like a cloud, then coiling gently around Mu Weiyin’s fingertips. As Mu Weiyin reached out, the mist transformed into scattered ice crystals in her palm, conveying its message to her divine consciousness. “Deputy Head, guide Miss Lin to the medicinal pool for transformation; she shall take over as the new head of Tianshu Tower tomorrow,” Mu Weiyin said nonchalantly, laying the heavy, fluffy little creature back into Du Shuang's arms before vanishing from sight with a wave of her sleeve. Du Shuang lifted Lin Qianshuang and asked, “City Lord, are you heading to the Penglai Immortal Sect?” Mu Weiyin acknowledged with a nod and disappeared from the spot. Du Shuang was about to ask where to settle Lin Qianshuang's accommodations, but the question was stifled inside her throat, unable to voice it. Mu Weiyin’s urgency towards the Penglai Immortal Sect indicated something must have come up with Junior Sister Xiao. Then there was no need for her to search for anyone else; better to wash up and get some rest. Lin Qianshuang yawned and said, “Why do you look so troubled? I'm not heavy in this form.” "Xiaoshuang, you're so calm about it. I was nearly scared to death. The City Lord despises anyone tampering with what's hers, even if it’s a person." Du Shuang patted Lin Qianshuang's furry back, still shaken. “Luckily, the City Lord was in a good mood today; otherwise, my wedding with Jinghua might have been postponed.” Lin Qianshuang jumped onto Du Shuang's shoulder, her half-lidded blue eyes gleaming softly. “You didn’t even tell me about your union. That's not very fair, is it?” Du Shuang raised an eyebrow and playfully pinched Lin Qianshuang's ear. “Well, now you know, Xiaoshuang.” Lin Qianshuang huffed, leaping onto Du Shuang's head, and gently tugged on his hair to express her annoyance. A wooden sign inscribed with 'Shaohua' hung in the serene courtyard. Two carved pearwood lanterns cast dim yellow light on the verdant grass and the stone path. A white jade bath exuding steam shimmered under the cool moonlight, resembling swirling mists of immortals, and the perfect bloom of white lotuses sparkled amid the azure ripples. A small, furry creature paddled its limbs, its soft, silvery-white fur clinging to its round body. It lazily scrubbed itself with medicinal flowers floating in the bath. Lin Qianshuang gazed at the exquisite wooden ladle by the poolside, leaning back against the smooth warm jade, marveling at the City Lord's wealth. Indeed, wherever you are, the rich know how to indulge. As the medicinal power seeped in, the demonic mark between Lin Qianshuang's brows glimmered briefly. Her short limbs gradually lengthened and balanced, transforming back into her human form. Light footsteps sounded on the stone path. Someone stopped at the misty poolside, rustling to remove their clothing, and then slowly waded in. This Shaohua garden was only accessible to the City Lord; could Mu Weiyin have returned? Lin Qianshuang quickly shifted to one side, giving room for the newcomer. Through the veil-like mist, she could vaguely see the person washing their body. They slowly unwrapped the bandage from their arm. A faint trace of blood spread in the water, mingling with a metallic scent—her injuries seemed severe. Moonlight pierced through the scattered clouds, casting white beams on the newcomer's alabaster skin. Her ebony hair was tied up with a silver hairpin, her exquisite face pale as snow from blood loss. Up close, the dark outer garment left on the bank was a bloodstained golden silk robe. Amid the bright moonlight, the two figures in the bath saw each other through the misty vapors. Xiao Lanle paused as she washed her hair. Her gaze drifted from Lin Qianshuang's bare shoulder down to her submerged waist and chest before she quickly turned her back, leaning against the pool's edge with a cold detachment. The blood-stained clothing on the bank drew Lin Qianshuang's eyes for a few seconds. The wounds on Xiao Lanle’s back were appallingly deep, crisscrossing her skin in a jarring display. These scars varied from old to new ones, with flesh raised in a tangled mess. “Are these scars from the Sect Master's trial?” Lin Qianshuang felt a pang of guilt, remembering that Xiao Lanle was the first to come to her rescue after her soul was summoned. Even though Xiao Lanle's face showed little emotion, her body bore many scars that must have been painful. Xiao Lanle ignored Lin Qianshuang, submerging her head into the medicinal bath, her body falling eerily still as if she had lost consciousness. Worried, Lin Qianshuang swam closer, only to be swiftly pulled into an embrace. She was pressed underwater, trapped between Xiao Lanle and the pool wall, feeling an intense, burning sensation from the warm jade against her back. "Sis, are you stupid? You’re so gullible." With her elbow propped near Lin Qianshuang's head, Xiao Lanle whispered into her ear, gently brushing stray hairs from Lin’s forehead behind her ear. Despite her haggard appearance, her face was adorned with a faint, weary smile, her eyes veined with fatigue. “Where’s the City Lord? The message she received at Penglai was from you, wasn’t it? Aren’t you two together?” Fending off the oppressive feeling, Lin Qianshuang pushed Xiao Lanle against the pool wall. Unease gnawed at her; if the City Lord was with Xiao Lanle, wouldn’t they both be in trouble given the severity of Lanle's injuries? “City Lord, Sis, why do you always speak of her?" Xiao Lanle spoke with displeasure. “A life-and-death bond, so what? As long as Mu Weiyin isn’t dead, you can’t leave her.” Xiao Lanle suddenly bit down hard on Lin Qianshuang’s neck, leaving a striking bite mark. She caressed Lin’s startled face, her gaze piercing yet gentle, “Tianshu City will change hands eventually, and I am the rightful heir to everything. Thanks to you, Mu Weiyin is weakened, and even when injured, she didn’t suspect my machinations. Slowly, her cultivation and spiritual power will become mine.” "Ten years, I’ve waited over a decade for vengeance, Sis. You understand me, don't you? You don’t love the City Lord; I know you’re just enduring like me. Soon, we’ll be together." “No one can stop us." Witnessing Xiao Lanle's manic expression and the flickering Buddhist glass in her Dantian, Lin Qianshuang touched the wound on her neck, instinctively reaching for a stringed instrument. “Lanle, has your heart demon surfaced again?” “No, this isn’t a heart demon.” Xiao Lanle pulled Lin Qianshuang’s hand to her chest, a twisted grin playing on her lips. “This is the real Xiao Lanle. I’ve lost everything, and inside, it’s hollow, except for you. It’s empty and painful.” Xiao Lanle's voice carried a chilling iciness that made one's skin crawl as she said, "I finally understand now. To get what you want, you must fight for it; otherwise, I'll end up like you, Sis, constantly running away until you vanish." She reached out to touch the bluish demonic glow emanating from Lin Qianshuang's eyes due to her heightened alertness, smiling gracefully. "Sis, would you accompany me into hell? The ways of humans and demons diverge, and joining forces would put us at odds with the heavens. Yet, even if I were to fall into the six realms of reincarnation, I want to bind you tightly to my side." A fiery sting ensued as a silver needle quietly pierced through her clavicle, leaving a lifelike tattoo of a red spider lily. Lin Qianshuang instinctively withdrew her hand to attempt wiping it off, only to find it was futile. "This is truly beautiful." Xiao Lanle whispered as her lashes brushed against the newly formed tattoo on Lin Qianshuang's collarbone, her fingers firmly gripping the nape of her neck. A trace of tenderness adorned her smile, "Sis, this is our pact. This gu worm will remind you constantly of the promise we made long ago beneath the marriage tree. Do not betray me." A loud "clang" resonated as a heavy wooden ladle landed between Xiao Lanle and Lin Qianshuang, sending splashes of water into the air. Simultaneously, a girl fell into the water, desperately reaching out to grab hold of them. "Mu Xiaochi, how did you end up here?" Seeing Mu Xiaochi bobbing helplessly up and down, apparently unable to swim, Lin Qianshuang hurried to her rescue. "Pretty sister, that's a bad person; you need to stay away from her." Mu Xiaochi's eyes sparkled brightly as she wrapped herself around Lin Qianshuang's neck, her gaze showing fear towards Xiao Lanle.