On the day before the Grand Competition for new Disciples at the sect, outside the Lin Muxue Cave Abode on Sword Heaven Peak, Su Lingling and Su Qianqian stood facing each other with swords drawn, just as they always did.
At this moment, pure Lingqi wrapped around their blades, faintly emanating a sharpness that seemed to slice through the air.
This was Su Lingling’s request. Over the past few days, whenever Lin Muxue had time to supervise, she insisted that Su Qianqian and herself fight with Lingqi at full power!
“Lingling, are you ready?”
Su Lingling took a deep breath, assumed her stance, and nodded at her elder sister.
When Su Qianqian raised her sword in response, Su Lingling immediately stomped hard and charged at Su Qianqian!
The sound of clashing blades echoed nonstop, with Su Lingling playing the aggressor this time, each strike fierce and cunning.
As someone who was a Divine Palace Realm powerhouse in her previous life, Su Qianqian naturally had no trouble with tactics, but she had to admit—her little sister was definitely a genius in battle!
These past few days, Su Lingling had been defeated easily by Su Qianqian as usual, yet Su Qianqian could sense how rapidly Su Lingling’s swordsmanship and combat skills were improving.
Of course, this was in part due to the full guidance from both Su Qianqian and Lin Muxue, but Lingling’s own talent was undeniable.
For example, now—Su Qianqian stepped back, dodging Su Lingling’s slash.
Taking this chance, she looked at her sister’s face.
By now, Su Lingling’s eyes no longer showed the panic of the beginning, nor the anxious focus on offense or defense.
Now, in Su Qianqian’s eyes, there was only the opponent before her, the sword in her hand, and the present battle.
She was incredibly calm—even though the person before her was her dearest elder sister, Su Lingling could swing her sword without hesitation.
Of course, that was because Su Qianqian was strong enough, and had an even more powerful Master watching nearby. Su Lingling truly didn’t need to worry too much.
Regardless, Su Qianqian was deeply satisfied with her sister’s progress. At the same time, with a flick of her blade, she blocked Su Lingling’s thrust.
“Tomorrow is the Grand Competition. Should I let Su Lingling win a round? Otherwise, if her confidence is shaken, that wouldn’t be good…” Su Qianqian hesitated inwardly.
But just as Su Qianqian was considering this, Su Lingling seized the opening, suddenly quickening her attacks and throwing off Su Qianqian’s rhythm for a moment.
In that instant—a large water ball splashed right into her face!
“Pleh—pleh—pleh—”
Su Qianqian wiped her face, then saw Su Lingling standing before her, grinning in victory.
“Hehe, Elder Sister, don’t space out during battle! This is called ‘using the other’s own method against them’~”
Seeing her smug little sister, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but smile wryly. She hadn’t expected Lingling to hold such a grudge.
With the fight over, Lin Muxue also walked over and took out a Towel from her Storage Ring, helping Su Qianqian wipe her hair.
As Su Qianqian was being wiped, she couldn’t help but sniff—the Towel carried Lin Muxue’s scent.
“Is this Lin Muxue’s own Towel? But does she still need to use something like this herself these days?”
Once Su Qianqian was dried off, she glanced at the Towel that had just wiped her head and felt a strange sense of familiarity…
“This Towel is…”
“Does it feel familiar to you?”
Su Qianqian was about to say it did out of habit, but right before speaking, her heart skipped a beat—she recognized this Towel!
Bamboo forest, by the creek, a beauty after a bath, a Towel…
“No, it just looks nice, haha…” Su Qianqian rubbed the back of her head, trying to play it off.
Lin Muxue looked deeply at Su Qianqian, then put the nearly pure white, barely patterned Towel back into her Storage Ring…
Seeing this, Su Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a bit sentimental and puzzled:
She was moved that Lin Muxue still kept this thing, but wondered why she took out this Towel at this moment—was it just coincidence, or a test?
As Su Qianqian was still pondering, Su Lingling hesitantly asked Lin Muxue, “Master, I’d like to go back and see my Parents, let them encourage me a bit.”
“Of course. Good luck in the Grand Competition—there’s a surprise waiting for you.”
Su Qianqian stared at Lin Muxue’s face. She felt that, when Lin Muxue mentioned the “surprise,” a rare gentle smile flashed across her face.
The next day…
“Jiahao, do your best! Mom is watching!”
“Xinxin, don’t be nervous!”
“Where is my Zihao? Why don’t I see him?”
Su Lingling looked around at the surrounding Disciple families with deep confusion, and also saw her own Parents sitting in a prominent spot, cheering her on.
“Lingling, do your best! You’re the best!” Even her usually calm father was joining her mother in shouting encouragement, leaving Su Lingling’s mind in chaos.
“Wait, nobody told me it would be like this before?”
Meanwhile, the one responsible for all this was sitting in a corner, watching the scene unfold with delight. Su Qianqian looked at her Master in astonishment.
“Do you think Lingling will like this surprise? Letting her family see the results of her cultivation must make her happy, right?”
“Um… I think Lingling is probably even more nervous now. And if a Disciple is matched against someone much stronger and loses badly in front of their family, wouldn’t they feel even worse under those eyes…”
Lin Muxue shot a sideways glance at her Disciple—who, no matter how she changed, always remained so thoughtful and considerate of others—and couldn’t help pinching her cheek.
“Don’t worry. This isn’t random matching. I asked the responsible Elders to do their best to pair Disciples of similar strength, and the Elders’ Disciples will directly advance to later rounds, so that won’t happen.”
“Besides… all the families who came along are mortals. After giving their all, none of them will disappoint their families with their displays of cultivation, and those who lose will be comforted by their loved ones…”
Su Qianqian stared dazedly at Lin Muxue, murmuring, “You really have changed a lot…”
Lin Muxue, of course, heard Su Qianqian’s whisper easily—there were many clues to her true identity in that line, but Lin Muxue pretended not to hear, quietly basking in the praise in her heart.
“Qianqian, can you come sit over here?” Lin Muxue suddenly asked.
“Hm? Okay.” Su Qianqian scooted a little closer to Lin Muxue, but Lin Muxue shook her head:
“I mean sit here.” Lin Muxue patted her own lap.
When Su Qianqian realized what she meant, her face showed genuine shock. “Master, isn’t that a bit much?”
“Qianqian is so small and cute. I’ve seen Lingling hug you from time to time, and I’ve always wanted to try—just to see what it’s like. Is that okay…?”
Su Qianqian looked into Lin Muxue’s eyes. Her gaze was as clear as ever, as if she really just wanted to satisfy her curiosity.
It wasn’t really unreasonable—her younger sister, and even their mother, had made such requests from time to time. Even though saying it so directly wasn’t really Lin Muxue’s style, but…
“All right, if Master wants to. I do feel like I’d be pretty comfortable to hold; maybe that’s the one upside to being stuck at this size.”
Su Qianqian slowly moved over and sat lightly on Lin Muxue’s lap, then Lin Muxue wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged her close.
Once she was being hugged, Su Qianqian instinctively relaxed, and actually found herself feeling rather comfortable…
Lin Muxue, holding Su Qianqian, nuzzled against her neck and enjoyed the sensation of her soft, warm, relaxed body, sighing, “Senior Martial Sister wasn’t wrong—you really are like an adorable little kitten right now.”
“Is that so…”
That’s lovely.
Indeed, brother, it is lovely.