67 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Being Reborn as the Malevolent Senior Sister Every Day GL - Chapter Sixty-Seven (1/2) The gift lay right before her, leaving Fu Ling at a loss. To accept or to refuse? Either choice felt equally daunting. She retreated two steps, raising her head to glance across at Jiu Ying, then down at the small dagger by her hand. Only after a lengthy hesitation did she extend her hand to receive the object. After all, she was a young girl unacquainted with the intricacies of romance. Confronted with such an unexpected gesture, it was natural for her to feel flustered. More so because the woman gifting her was her most trusted and relied-upon senior sister. The atmosphere suddenly grew silent. Fu Ling felt a vague panic rising, overshadowing any appreciation she might have had for the beautiful dagger in her hand. She turned her head away, silent, her usual lively demeanor now replaced with a somber quietude. Jiu Ying, noticing Fu Ling's unease, furrowed her delicate brows slightly, mistakenly thinking she might disfavor the dagger. "This dagger is merely a temporary safeguard for you. When your skills improve, I will find you a weapon more suited to your abilities." Ordinarily, such words would have seemed entirely commonplace, yet now they easily brought a flush to Fu Ling’s cheeks. Remembering the scene by the lotus pond from the other day, she became increasingly convinced that Jiu Ying’s attentiveness toward her was more than mere camaraderie. As for matters of the heart, she knew not what feelings they entailed, let alone how one would go about liking someone. Biting her lip, she still dared not meet Jiu Ying's gaze, and after a prolonged silence, she responded quietly. "As for weapons, Uncle Xuan Xiu and Auntie will have plans for me." Compared to before, her words now carried a tinge of unfamiliarity. Jiu Ying noticed this change, a subtle shift crossing her expression, nearly imperceptible. "By then, I will discuss it with them myself." Upon hearing this, Fu Ling displayed a flicker of surprise in her eyes, though she quickly resumed her composure. She cast a fleeting glance upwards but said nothing. The air grew thoroughly still in that moment. Jiu Ying lowered her gaze, observing the clarity of Fu Ling’s disquiet. Though unaware of the cause, she guessed the young girl harbored some personal concerns. It's only natural for a girl to sulk occasionally. Not dwelling on it, Fu Ling turned her back, clutching the book on the table, her voice a soft dismissal. “Sister, I need to study.” This was perhaps the first time Fu Ling had ever urged her to leave since they'd known each other. Jiu Ying pressed her lips together, her slender brows tightening further. She wished to say something, but as her gaze landed on the girl's back, every word faded away with her breaths. A moment later, she began to walk away, stepping silently from the room. By the time Fu Ling turned back, there was no one left behind her. After that day, it was as if a rift had grown between the two, the once warm connection suddenly growing tepid. Neither made the move to seek the other out, and with Fu Ling deliberately avoiding Jiu Ying, their encounters became rare indeed. As autumn deepened, and with nightly rains and the mountain air growing chillier, Fu Yue prepared winter clothing for the sect disciples, entrusting Chun Zhan to deliver them sequentially. Due to Fu Ling's close relationship with Jiu Ying, Chun Zhan handed Jiu Ying's clothing to Fu Ling as well. “Jiu Ying seems to be busy with something lately. Apart from morning practices, she's been staying in her room. Why not bring this coat to her?” Hearing this, Fu Ling’s face showed signs of distress. It was pouring rain outside, wind mingling with it to beat against the pines in front of the house, creating a melody of rainfall as it hit the ground. She extended her hand but did not take the white, padded coat, instead grasping Chun Zhan’s arm to pull her inside. Only when the door closed behind them did she shake her head, directly declining the request. “I— I don’t want to go, Second Sister, you can take it to her.” Chun Zhan was puzzled, unsure why Fu Ling was unwilling. “You’ve always been so close with Senior Sister. Why refuse to deliver a coat now?” At this, a faint blush involuntarily crept onto Fu Ling's cheeks. Turning away for fear of being discovered in her embarrassment, she still couldn’t control her chest's warmth from spreading to her face. Being liked by her most trusted and dear senior sister was something she found too embarrassing to admit, yet avoidance wasn’t a solution. Could she truly keep evading her endlessly? The more she thought, the more troubled she became, tightly biting her soft lips but unable to voice anything. Chun Zhan, noticing her demeanor, couldn’t help but worry, thinking perhaps they had quarreled again. “Did you have a falling out with Senior Sister? Senior Sister has always cared for you the most. Even if you’ve fought, you have to talk it out.” Fu Ling turned her head at these words, her expression growing increasingly vexed. Outside, the rain intensified, the half-shut windows creaking with the wind, further amplifying the chill within the room. After much contemplation, Fu Ling finally resolved to confide her recent troubles to her second sister, who had always cared for her since childhood. “It’s because she’s so kind to me that I don’t want to go!” “Three years ago, my relationship with Senior Sister wasn’t close, and we were always at odds. But since she returned from Mei Lake Island this time, she’s been incredibly nice to me — constantly pushing me to train, often giving me gifts. I’m afraid— I’m afraid she’s behaving this way because she likes me.” With these words, Chun Zhan’s expression changed distinctively. Naturally, she hadn’t forgotten the scene three years ago when Fu Ling publicly confessed to Jiu Ying in front of the sect elders. From her perspective, Fu Ling’s suspicions weren’t misplaced. Jiu Ying indeed cared for Fu Ling deeply, to the extent of not giving up even after Fu Ling had forgotten their shared past. Her insight allowed her to pinpoint what was truly troubling Fu Ling— It wasn’t about whether Jiu Ying liked her, but whether she liked Jiu Ying. Fu Ling, who had once been willing to elope just to be with Jiu Ying, was now uttering the word “afraid” about this love. Chun Zhan sighed softly, her eyes filled with a trace of regret. “You're not afraid of her liking you; you're afraid you don't like her.” A statement cutting right to the heart of the matter. Fu Ling's pupils shrank at her words, surprise washing over her face. She hadn’t expected her inner conflict to be so easily uncovered. Indeed, as Chun Zhan had pointed out, what she truly feared was not liking Jiu Ying—not ever being able to reciprocate her feelings. As a junior sister, she could rightfully enjoy Jiu Ying’s indulgence and caring, but if this kindness stemmed from Jiu Ying’s love, she was unsure how to respond. She didn’t want to leave Jiu Ying behind. Even imagining made her heart quiver with fear. She looked up, her expression a mix of panic and anxiety, even her eyes starting to redden. “I don’t know. Jiu Ying has been so good to me, but I don’t know if I like her. I don’t know what it feels like to like someone or what it means to have your heart moved, as the books say. I only know that if one day I refuse her, she might not want to be my senior sister anymore.” Before she could finish speaking, memories of her initial encounters with Jiu Ying flooded her mind. During that time, Jiu Ying was kind to everyone but distant and cold towards her. Fu Ling didn’t want Jiu Ying’s affection to be motivated by love—because love was too heavy a burden, and she could never give back equally. By this point, Chun Zhan realized, Fu Ling did not harbor feelings for Jiu Ying—at least not yet. If she felt even the slightest attraction, she wouldn’t be as troubled and conflicted as she appeared now. A young girl's thoughts are often simple and beautiful, pure and free from any impurity. The foolish girl was turning red-eyed over her inability to accept her senior sister’s love. Chun Zhan gazed at Fu Ling’s slightly reddened eyes with both sympathy and helplessness. “There's no right or wrong in love. You needn’t feel guilty even if you don’t like her. You’re worried about not being able to respond to Senior Sister Jiu Ying’s feelings, but you’re forgetting something more important. Senior Sister hasn’t expressed ‘liking’ you directly yet. Perhaps by the time she does, you’ll have fallen for her too.” “This avoidance isn’t a solution. Since Jiu Ying hasn’t yet broken the silence, pretend not to notice for now. Besides, Senior Sister isn’t one to see only love—if a day comes when you refuse her, she won't break ties with you completely. As long as she's a disciple of Qingzhu Sect, she'll always be your senior sister. Understand?” Chun Zhan's final words were a soothing balm, instantly calming Fu Ling's restless heart. Fu Ling bit her lip, unsure what she remembered that sparked a fresh wave of anxiety, before finally speaking in a small, aggrieved voice. “I’m afraid Senior Sister won’t acknowledge me anymore, but I'm even more scared of her disliking me. She used to dislike me, saying I was lazy and dull, never keen on training. She despised people like that…” Recalling past events, her face was a picture of grievance. Though Chun Zhan’s heart ached for her, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. She remembered all too well how rocky Fu Ling and Jiu Ying's relationship had been initially. At the time, Jiu Ying had indeed criticized Fu Ling for being lazy and neglecting her training—something Fu Ling still remembered despite the years that had passed. “Senior Sister cares for you, so you should also care a little about her. If one day you reject her love, she won’t bear to hate you. As for your training efforts, that's something you need to handle yourself. You have great potential. With hard work, you might surpass Senior Sister one day. How could she possibly look down on you then?” “It's stormy outside. If Senior Sister receives this coat from you, it'll surely remind her of how much you care.” Before Fu Ling could react, the white coat was thrust into her arms. This time, she did not refuse. It wasn't until Chun Zhan was about to leave that Fu Ling spoke up once more, calling her back. The pitter-patter of rain brought a chill to the air. When Chun Zhan turned back, she saw Fu Ling standing by the table, clutching the coat, her face flushed with embarrassment as she posed one of life's most challenging questions— "Second Sister, what does it feel like to like someone?" ***** In the end, Fu Ling did take the coat to Jiu Ying. Although it was still light out, the door to Jiu Ying’s room was tightly shut. Quietly approaching, Fu Ling noticed that the window was wide open, and her senior sister, Jiu Ying, was hunched over the desk at the window, fervently writing. The wind outside was so strong, was she really sitting there in its path? Worried, Fu Ling looked down at the winter coat in her hands and slowed her steps, now too timid to move forward. After deliberately avoiding her for the past few days, it had been a long time since they spoke, and she feared Jiu Ying might be angry. With it raining heavily outside and no cover along the corridor, the wind drove the rain against her, soaking her through. Worried, Fu Ling stood outside the window, watching for a long time before Jiu Ying finally noticed her presence. In that instant their eyes met, both their expressions changed slightly. Without waiting for Fu Ling to knock, Jiu Ying rose from the desk, moved to the door, and opened it. Once inside, neither spoke. Jiu Ying's face was somewhat cold, making it hard to discern her emotions. Seeing her demeanor, Fu Ling was certain she was angry, not daring even to breathe loudly. The room was quite chilly, with the wind gusting through the open window, causing Fu Ling to shrink back into the corner involuntarily. Jiu Ying noticed her action, sighing inwardly. While her expression remained cold, she still considerately closed the window. The room dimmed considerably at once. Seeing that Jiu Ying still cared about her, Fu Ling mustered a little courage. After hesitating, she finally gathered the nerve to softly call out. Jiu Ying hadn't heard such a sweet voice in days. "Senior Sister, I came to bring you your winter coat." Fu Ling smiled softly, stepping forward to hand over the clothing in her hands. Having stood in the rain for quite a while, half of her sleeve was drenched, but the coat remained perfectly dry, warm, and soft to the touch. A softness inexplicably filled Jiu Ying’s heart, a touch of helplessness in her eyes, and all her bottled-up frustrations quietly dissipated without her realizing. Her heart had always softened easily when it came to Fu Ling. Seeing Fu Ling's rain-soaked arm, her brain didn’t make a conscious decision—her body reacted on its own. With a release of spiritual energy from her fingertips, the damp sleeve was instantly dry again. This caring gesture made Fu Ling’s lips curl slightly. “Thank you, Senior Sister.” Jiu Ying nodded, offering a gentle "Mm," her expression much softened. The wind by the window had scattered papers across the desk. Seeing this, Fu Ling moved to help gather them, picking up the pile before daring to approach Jiu Ying again. "Senior Sister, what’s written on these papers?" Jiu Ying had no intention of hiding it, and spoke without much thought about the content. “This is the Calm Mind Technique.” Calm Mind Technique? The middle section of the Mysterious Heart Heavenly Scripture? Fu Ling was stunned. She had memorized most of the Clear Mind Technique, the first section of the Mysterious Heart Heavenly Scripture, and planned to move on to the Calm Mind Technique once she was done. She had assumed that her deliberate avoidance these past few days would anger Jiu Ying, yet to her surprise, the latter had spent her days indoors transcribing the Calm Mind Technique for her. If not out of love, she couldn’t fathom what other charm she might possess to prompt her senior sister to do so much for her as a junior. “Perhaps by the time Senior Sister truly confesses her love to you, you’ll have already fallen in love with her —” Chun Zhan’s words echoed inexplicably in her mind, causing Fu Ling’s heart to stir. There might be many excellent people in the world, but none compared to Senior Sister Jiu Ying. If in a lifetime she had to fall in love with someone, why couldn’t it be her senior sister? Even if she didn’t like her now, she could grow to love her over time; after all, there was still so much time left. Momentarily lost in thought, the corners of Fu Ling’s mouth involuntarily lifted. She thought, Chun Zhan was right—there would come a day when she would fall for Senior Sister Jiu Ying. ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Fu Ling’s current mindset: Even though I don’t quite like you just yet, you are my ideal future partner. I’ve pre-booked you; once I truly fall for you, we can talk about love. For now, you can love me first. Senior Sister Jiu Ying: ? Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solution between 2020-10-14 01:21:42 ~ 2020-10-15 23:01:43~ Thanks to the little angel who nourished me with nutrient solution: Frost and Snow 10 bottles; Little Four in Attack Mode 1 bottle; Thank you all for your support. I will continue to work hard!