Xiao Qingxuan arrived at the Xuanxiao Supreme Sect quite late.
The entire Heavenly Sword Peak was bustling with activity, all busy preparing to welcome Sect Leader Feng Linyi out of seclusion.
Even elders and peak masters from other peaks had set out to join the occasion.
But for some reason, her Master had waved her away and sent her directly to Biluo Peak, leaving her in an awkward position—neither coming up the mountain nor staying down felt right.
Still, since she was already here, she planned to first go and check on Ah Qing’s condition.
During the two days she had been away, she had no idea how Ah Qing was doing.
Nervously, she made her way toward Biluo Peak.
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping everything from the peak to the mountain’s base, as if it intended to swallow her whole.
In the palm of Xiao Qingxuan’s hand bloomed a faint violet glow.
Even though her true qi was sealed, a subtle fragrance tickled her nose.
She hadn’t yet decided how to use the Dreamforging Lotus to recreate Ye Luqing.
Or rather, she still couldn’t bring herself to let Ye Luqing relive those unbearable moments from when they first met.
Was there any way to avoid those painful memories while still bringing Ye Luqing back to the original Ah Qing she once was…
Lost in thought, she soon arrived at Ye Luqing’s residence.
Taking a deep breath, the soothing scent of Qingmuhua filled her nostrils, quickly calming her heart.
The next moment, Xiao Qingxuan furrowed her brow slightly.
“Hm?”
“Why is there the scent of another woman?”
Though Ye Luqing’s residence was supposed to be hers alone, there were clearly two different auras present.
Moreover, these two auras didn’t just coexist separately; they were intertwined, closely bound together.
She had only been gone two days, and someone had already sneaked into her home?
“Ah Qing!”
Before she could use spirit probing, her body reacted first, teleporting her instantly into Ye Luqing’s room.
There, on the familiar small bed, lay an unfamiliar pink-haired girl, soundly asleep, while Ah Qing herself was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Qingxuan’s heart skipped a beat.
Judging by the aura, it wasn’t hard to conclude that this girl was the one entwined with Ye Luqing’s aura.
Who was she?
And where had Ah Qing gone?
Xiao Qingxuan reached out, just about to drag this homewrecker off the bed to demand answers, when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind.
“…Senior Sister Xiao?”
Xiao Qingxuan instinctively turned around, just in time to see Ye Luqing wearing a simple sleeping robe.
The girl’s plain robe shimmered softly under the moonlight, her cyan hair flickering like flowing jade.
The sleeves were slightly loose, revealing a section of her fair, tender forearm, like a lotus stem.
The neckline was open just enough to reveal a delicate collarbone and a patch of snowy skin.
Her expression was gentle, with a hint of youthful innocence still lingering.
A surprised yet warm smile played on her lips.
Xiao Qingxuan almost thought the original Ye Luqing had returned.
Even with her resolute will, she found herself momentarily dazed.
The words she wanted to say turned into a soft murmur:
“Ah Qing, who is she?”
“Ah… she’s my Junior Sister, Ying Qianqian.”
Ye Luqing rubbed her eyes as if she had just woken up, then lowered her voice, “Let’s go talk outside. Don’t disturb her rest.”
Xiao Qingxuan bit her lip slightly, feeling a twinge of displeasure that someone else was sleeping in Ye Luqing’s bed.
She glanced at Ying Qianqian on the bed, a flash of sharp resolve in her eyes.
If Ah Qing had come just a few seconds later, she would have already dragged this homewrecker up for questioning.
Sensing Xiao Qingxuan’s mood, Ye Luqing stepped forward and took hold of her cold jade-like hand.
“Come with me.”
Xiao Qingxuan stared blankly but followed Ye Luqing.
The moment she felt Ye Luqing’s body heat, all her displeasure seemed to vanish like smoke.
She instinctively clasped Ye Luqing’s hand back, feeling the slight softness and warmth, which swept away the confusion in her heart.
Seeing Xiao Qingxuan’s faint trembling, her attempt to grip tightly but hesitation, Ye Luqing’s heart warmed.
It was the first time she found this destined female lead… cute.
Yet at the next moment, a voice sounded in her mind from the system.
[Ding, special scenario detected, limited-time mission activated]
[Limited-Time Mission: For the rest of tonight, reject all requests from Destined Female Lead Xiao Qingxuan and strive to increase her Blackening Value and Corruption Value]
[Mission Reward: Condensing Primordial Spirit Technique; Failure Penalty: Cultivation level drops by one realm]
At those words, Ye Luqing froze.
Reject all of Xiao Qingxuan’s requests?
What kind of bizarre mission was this?
She instinctively wanted to cancel it but found she could not shut it down no matter what.
It seemed that any mission related to blackening Xiao Qingxuan’s main storyline was compulsory.
“Ah Qing, what’s wrong?”
Xiao Qingxuan asked, noticing Ye Luqing’s sudden halt.
“Hmm… nothing.”
Ye Luqing forced a smile and replied to the system in her mind.
“Mission accepted.”
[Accepted successfully. Wishing the host success in completing the mission.]
This troublesome system had tricked her more than once or twice; she was used to it by now.
But she wouldn’t take the loss quietly—she’d finish this mission first and then settle accounts with the system.
Ye Luqing led Xiao Qingxuan to a side room, and before Xiao Qingxuan could ask, she spoke.
“Ying Senior Sister and I are representing Biluo Peak as direct disciples in the upcoming grand competition. We were a bit tired from training today at Baiyu Platform inside the peak, so I brought her here to rest.”
“Of course, she’s sleeping in my room, and I’m in the side room.”
She clarified in advance, so Xiao Qingxuan wouldn’t ask her to explain something she’d have to refuse.
She touched the still-warm bed, proving that they were indeed sleeping separately.
“You two Formation Cultivators are participating in the competition?”
Xiao Qingxuan blinked in disbelief.
Ye Luqing scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“I lost my memory, so besides Junior Sister Sakura, I don’t know anyone else…”
At those words, a flicker of guilt crossed Xiao Qingxuan’s eyes.
Ah Qing had lost her memory because of her; she should be responsible.
Yet now, having broken through to the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm, she was unable to compete.
If not for her cultivation level exceeding the limit, Ye Luqing wouldn’t have had to compete alongside others.
[Detected Destined Female Lead Xiao Qingxuan’s Blackening Value rising to 99%]
After obtaining the Dreamforging Lotus, Xiao Qingxuan’s Blackening Value had dropped back to 97%, but now it was climbing again.
“Ah Qing, you really shouldn’t compete with a dual Formation Cultivator. Tomorrow, I’ll have Xu Cheng’an come out of seclusion early to team up with you—it shouldn’t be difficult to win the doubles competition.”
Xu Cheng’an was Heavenly Sword Peak’s eldest senior brother, the personal disciple of the Grand Elder.
Three years ago, he was defeated by Xiao Qingxuan and Ye Luqing in the doubles competition.
Taking it to heart, he went into seclusion to breakthrough to the Spirit Transformation Realm and rarely showed up.
Ye Luqing quickly waved her hand.
“No need, Senior Sister Xiao. Master has already agreed to our participation and personally taught us two sets of arrays.”
Even without the system’s mission, after all the time Ying Qianqian had prepared, she had no intention of accepting Xiao Qingxuan’s suggestion.
“You’ve already obtained Aunt Bai’s approval…”
Xiao Qingxuan was slightly taken aback.
Since the Dao Sovereign of the Array Path had agreed, she couldn’t argue further.
But thinking about not being able to help Ah Qing left her feeling a little down.
Seeing Xiao Qingxuan’s gloom deepen, Ye Luqing decided to quickly change the subject.