70 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Rebirth as the Malicious Senior Sister - Chapter 70 (Part 1/2) Eighteen years old already, yet with an expression of helplessness akin to a child's whenever she misses someone. Jiang Bei Qing and Lin Yu Miao exchanged a troubled glance, both unsure of what to do. Fu Ling lifted her head to see a tall wall before her. She only needed to climb over it to leave the Si Family. Her gaze extended to the sky beyond—clear blue, adorned with countless white clouds stretching to the horizon, with no end in sight. The air felt inexplicably heavy, and the trio fell silent. It wasn't until a disciple from the Lingjian Sect arrived, stating that the sect master had matters to discuss with Lin Yu Miao, that she reacted. "Brother Lin, don’t worry about me. I’ll stay with Miss Jiang." Seeing Lin Yu Miao hesitate to leave due to concern for her, Fu Ling took the initiative to assure him that she wouldn't wander off. Her call of "Brother Lin" was soft and sweet, combined with her youthful, charming appearance, making her seem like an understanding younger sister. Hearing these words melted Lin Yu Miao's heart, making her appear even more pure and adorable. He nodded, not forgetting to leave a reminder full of concern before leaving, "I'll be back soon." Jiang Bei Qing, observing from the side, was taken aback. She had known Lin Yu Miao since childhood; although they weren't disciples of the same sect, they were among the most outstanding of their respective generations. Thus, they frequently sparred and were well acquainted with each other's temperament. In her memory, this was the first time she had seen Lin Yu Miao act so gently towards a woman. Perhaps something came to her mind, as she turned to closely examine Fu Ling, mischief gleaming in her eyes. The girl beside her had a complexion pale as snow, her face delicate and pretty, her features exuding pure innocence. When silent, she appeared obedient and innocent, and when smiling, she was lively and charming; when sad, she elicits sympathy. Simply in terms of looks and demeanor, she was indeed capable of attracting goodwill. In the blink of an eye, there were only the two of them left in the secluded corner. Seeing that Lin Yu Miao had left, Jiang Bei Qing couldn’t help but tease, "Brother Lin? You seem quite familiar with Lin Yu Miao? Well, if not, he wouldn’t agree to your senior sister's request and treat you so well." Fu Ling was simple-minded, but after realizing that Jiu Ying liked her, she became more sensitive to matters of affection. She quickly detected the gossip implied in the words. She pursed her lips, her expression turning somewhat serious, and her tone was earnest when she spoke. "Don’t make assumptions. I call him Brother Lin because he helped me once. As for his kindness, it’s because of that Lingxu Sword in his hand, which I traded to him." The Lingxu Sword's fame was known throughout the cultivation world. Jiang Bei Qing hadn’t anticipated there being such a backstory between them. Even though she wasn't a sword cultivator, she knew what acquiring such a sword would mean to Lin Yu Miao. No wonder he was so attentive to Fu Ling. "You’re really generous, willing to part with such an immortal artifact." "The Lingxu Sword was a keepsake from Brother Lin's father; although it ended in my hands, it was never truly mine. I couldn’t just take and not return it. Besides, I’m not a sword cultivator, and in my possession, it wouldn't reach its true potential. It’s better off with someone who needs it." Her words were neither humble nor arrogant and easily reminded Jiang Bei Qing of when Fu Ling refused the jade tortoise upon leaving the Jiang family. In that moment, Jiang Bei Qing's opinion of Fu Ling improved significantly. Realizing this, she laughed lightly before responding, "I see." Perhaps worried that Jiang Bei Qing still had misconceptions about her relationship with Lin Yu Miao, Fu Ling lowered her voice to emphasize, "Don’t speculate about me and Brother Lin. I call him brother, and I truly see him as just that." Jiang Bei Qing's eyes twinkled with laughter upon hearing this, silently noting that Fu Ling was still so innocent. While she might see him as a brother, that didn’t necessarily mean Lin Yu Miao saw her as a sister. But ultimately, this was a private matter for others, and saying more would only be presumptuous. Having stayed behind the artificial rock for half an hour, Jiang Bei Qing decided that since Fu Ling’s mood had improved, they should leave. The wedding banquet was still ongoing, and the attendees were all in the main hall; thus, the rear yard was almost deserted. Both being lively personalities and with Lin Yu Miao not around, their courage gradually grew. Fu Ling was constantly reminded by her sect's elders, so she didn’t dare to act too recklessly. However, Jiang Bei Qing was unaware of the danger surrounding Fu Ling, so her actions were more bold and high-profile. As they wandered around the Si Family’s backyard, they heard the sound of a child crying from a run-down courtyard. Fu Ling felt apprehensive and hesitated to approach. Inside, the child seemed aware of their presence, and the crying grew increasingly shrill and pitiful. However, upon closer listening, the sound wasn’t like that of a human child—sharp and hoarse. Hearing such a mournful, eerie cry in the desolate courtyard made even Jiang Bei Qing feel slightly unnerved. Being far from the main hall, aside from the eerie crying, no other sounds could be heard nearby. Feeling scared, Fu Ling was about to pull Jiang Bei Qing away when a series of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from the dilapidated courtyard. It seemed a group was approaching. As the footsteps drew nearer, the two had nowhere to retreat, forcing them to hide in a secluded corner. The crying from the courtyard grew louder, resonating all around. After a moment's listening, Jiang Bei Qing realized something was amiss. She immediately leaned over to the girl beside her, uttering a low, urgent, "Don’t listen!" Squatting in the corner, Fu Ling didn’t even dare breathe loudly. Before she could react, a piercing sound rang out. Her mind buzzed, and before her eyes, a white fog appeared—she had been lured into an illusion by the sound. Thankfully, Fu Ling regularly recited the Meditation Sutra. Before the sound dissipated, she groggily regained some consciousness. Jiang Bei Qing, fearing Fu Ling might be further beguiled, quickly instructed her to cover her ears. After a short while, the crying ceased completely, and both finally exhaled in relief. Fu Ling was puzzled by the nature of such a powerful sound. As she was about to inquire, the courtyard door suddenly swung open, and out came a group of youths around sixteen or seventeen, led by the Si Family's third young master, surrounded by other young nobles from the Eight Great Clans. Unable to make a sound, they watched silently as the group departed before daring to emerge from the shadows. The broken courtyard was now quiet, the previous cries no longer audible. Fu Ling hesitated, uncertain whether to venture further. Jiang Bei Qing shook her head, intending to lead her away. "The Si Family's private matters are better left alone." Just the business of the Si Family? That group just now clearly included sons from other noble families. Fu Ling didn’t move, still fixated in the direction of the gate. She wanted to see for herself whether a child was truly hidden inside and to understand what had just transpired. Jiang Bei Qing wore a conflicted expression, indicating she knew more than she was letting on. "Stop looking. It's merely a seducing serpent. Let's go." A seducing serpent? Fu Ling was surprised, momentarily unable to recall what a seducing serpent was. Just as she was in thought, a breeze swept through the courtyard, blowing the gate open slightly. Raising her head, Fu Ling peered through the gap, catching sight of two tiny green eyes glowing faintly, staring directly at her. Those eyes belonged to a small girl, about seven or eight years old. Before Fu Ling could retract her gaze, a thin, long snake tail flickered before her eyes, slamming the door shut with a thud. At that moment, she finally recalled— The seducing serpent is a high-level mythical beast with the body of a human and the tail of a snake. Regardless of gender, they possess unparalleled beauty, and their voices can enchant beings, with their cries particularly capable of luring one into illusions of blissful pleasure. Seducing serpents were forever cursed to be captured and exploited. To protect themselves, their entire bodies are coated in deadly poison, and an ordinary person would probably die instantly if touched. For several centuries, after celestial cultivators banished mythical creatures to the Valley of No Return, seducing serpents had not been seen in the mortal world. Recalling those eyes, Fu Ling felt rooted to the spot, unable to take a step. "But she's so young." So young, yet forced by those so-called noble disciples of great sects—to satisfy their desires with her voice. Jiang Bei Qing’s rare stern expression matched her solemn tone, as she responded after a pause, "The seal of the Valley of No Return is weakening. The creatures within are trying to escape, and outsiders are devising ways to enter. As for the seducing serpent, its power is too weak to leave on its own. That young one must have been smuggled out by someone." "Being of a great sect doesn’t mean everything is done with integrity. If you intervene today, you'll stand against not just the Si Family, but other major clans as well. Understand?" Fu Ling paused, sensing underlying meanings in those words. The world teetered on the brink of chaos, yet those who truly suffered were always the lowest tier of cultivators. The Four Sects and Eight Clans, sitting at the top, might gain more than they lost unless— A second demon dragon destined to overturn the heavens emerged. In her simplistic view, right and wrong, righteousness and wicked were clear-cut. Righteousness referred to cultivators, while wickedness was attributed to demons and monsters. However, today’s events made her start questioning such beliefs. What had the little seducing serpent done wrong? The breaking of the seal on the Valley of No Return not only brings disaster to the human world but also unveils the hidden web of unseen interests. Both Fu Ling and Jiang Bei Qing fell silent, not daring to look at the broken courtyard again, and quickly made their escape. Perhaps to display his family's power, Si Yi Guang arranged an unusual performance for the guests after the daytime wedding banquet. Calling it a performance was an understatement; it was more of a one-sided massacre. On the Si Family's rooftop terrace, everyone gathered in the center, their eyes fixed on the arena below. Peering into the cage, Fu Ling saw several beast-like creatures, half-human, half-bear, lying inside. "The Si Family have imprisoned so many beasts." Jiang Bei Qing was astonished, but upon observing the guests' faces, they were filled with excitement, showing no sign of shock. Since the demon dragon eighteen years ago, the world hadn't seen other demons or monsters. The breaking of the Valley's seal undoubtedly ignited their bloodlust. The Qin Family, one of the Eight Great Clans, is known for crafting weapons, and the He Family excels in poison. The combination of their crafts is a deadly weapon. Recently, the Qin Family developed a new bow, designed specifically for capturing demons. To test its power, Si Yi Guang borrowed the most potent poison from the He Family to coat the arrow tips. As Fu Ling watched the beasts inside, an involuntary fear crept over her, prompting her to lean closer to Jiang Bei Qing. Silence enveloped the area until a young man in black holding a wooden bow leapt down from the terrace, landing gracefully before the bear creatures. As he stepped to the center of the arena, he stomped his foot, and massive iron chains as thick as arms rose from the ground, suspending the bears. Bear hide is thick, making it perfect as a target for testing poison and arrows. Fu Ling widened her eyes, beginning to grasp what was about to happen. Just as she suspected, the man in black soared into the air, took an arrow from his quiver, and drew his bow, aiming directly at the bear creature. With just one arrow, the creature was lifeless. Then came the second arrow, the third—continuing until all five bear creatures were dead. The Qin Family's bow and arrows proved effective, and the He Family's poison was sufficiently strong. After a silent pause, thunderous applause erupted from the terrace, celebrating and cheering. Witnessing such brutal carnage for the first time, Fu Ling's face turned pale, her back drenched in cold sweat. What she saw today shattered all her previous understanding— What is right, and what is wrong? Who is righteous, and who is evil? Though no blood stained the arena floor, the air was thick with the scent of slaughter. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her breathing became labored until she heard Jiang Bei Qing's voice, breaking her from her daze. "Fu Ling, look who's here?" She gasped for breath, a cold sweat trickling down her temple, still in a daze. Upon turning around, she noticed a graceful figure clad in white standing at the edge of the crowd. The woman's aura was unparalleled in its icy elegance. Though expressionless, her eyes caught Fu Ling's, a gentle, faint smile emerging in them momentarily. That brief instant was enough to etch itself into one's memory forever. Fu Ling's breath caught, and she stood stunned for a moment before realizing— Her longed-for Senior Sister Jiu Ying had returned ahead of time. Thank you to everyone who supported me during the period from 2020-10-17 21:48:57 to 2020-10-18 23:30:47 with your votes or by nourishing me with nutrient solutions! Thank you to the little angels who nourished me with nutrient solutions: hTiti 2 bottles; I am very grateful for everyone's support. I will continue to work hard!