Ji Xingshu’s old face flushed red.
She tidied her hair, pretending to be calm.
Too hasty…
She thought.
“Oh, you mean that fake? A mere Nascent Soul Demonic Cultivator isn’t worth my attention.”
To the old mother Ji, such a trivial matter was clearly less important than matchmaking—she didn’t care at all.
Her external avatar, separated from the Palace of the Heavenly Pivot Star, could only last less than three hours in the East Pole Province, with limited power.
But dealing with a minor Flagmaster of the Demon Sect was nothing to her.
“Let’s hope so, but I always feel that tonight in the East Pole Province… there’s more than just two strands of Qi Luck.”
Ao Tian sniffed, the scent of conspiracy thick in the air, making it uneasy.
Besides Yun Liu and Shiyu, could there be other bearers of Qi Luck at the Shengyu Festival causing trouble?
***
Ji Shiyu stood on the street, looking left and right.
She hadn’t expected her mother to leave so quickly, coming and going in a hurry.
“Why does your mother appear and disappear like a ghost?”
“Of course! Mother’s cultivation is powerful, far beyond even Great Baldy!”
Ji Shiyu’s face was full of pride.
Ji Xingshu was her role model, at least for now.
Though, after finding a stepfather, that might change.
Great Baldy…
Did that refer to the Grand Elder?
Then Ji’s mother’s cultivation was above the Nascent Soul Stage!
Xiao Xinran exclaimed in shock.
“Then why come to the Shenhua Sect at all? Wouldn’t training under your mother be better?”
“No choice, she doesn’t understand the Sword way. My goal is to become the Sword Dao Leader who dominates all nine provinces!”
The future Ao Tian Sword Maiden shrugged, a bit helpless—if she couldn’t master the sword, she’d have to obediently go home and inherit the Gaotian family estate.
“Then go practice your sword properly. What’s the point in stalking someone else’s fiancé all day?!”
Xiao Xinran gnashed her teeth, irritated.
Some people said they’d come to the East Pole to study, yet the moment they arrived in the village, they started coveting someone else’s husband and breaking up families.
Ji Shiyu laughed, wagging her finger in correction.
“As an apprentice, what’s wrong with closely observing the teacher’s every move to learn? This is called thirst for knowledge and respect for teachers. Besides, you stopped being my Shi Niang ages ago!”
From the very beginning, she’d tried to hide it, but now she didn’t even bother.
Once a green tea homewrecker starts, there’s no stopping.
“Hmph, we’ll see in two years!”
Xiao Xinran clenched her fists.
***
The three of them followed a dancing dragon lantern along the Golden Crow Avenue, wandering the lantern festival aimlessly.
Amidst the sea of people, finding the white-robed youth who had gone astray would be too difficult.
“Eh!”
Ji Shiyu, at the front, her twin tails swinging, would suddenly shout.
Xiao Xinran thought she’d spotted the Young Master and hurried over, only to see the yellow-haired girl transfixed by the shadow play on stage.
She rolled her eyes.
Lin Mei was silent, still preoccupied with the unfathomable golden-haired woman.
Suddenly, a stranger in crane robes approached.
Disciples of the Radiant Light Sect were present as well.
Zhuang Heng and Zhou Yan had also noticed the conspicuous golden-haired girl in the crowd.
Bai Yu was blocked by a tall woman wearing a Golden Crow mask.
A murderous aura radiated from her, clearly a seasoned fighter.
He stepped back two paces, unconcerned, still smiling as he clasped his hands in greeting.
“Xiao Miss, Miss Ji, we meet again. Truly, fate brings us together.”
Xiao Xinran showed no kindness to this sickly fellow.
She waved her hand, annoyed.
“Spare me. Senior Brother Bai, you’d best keep your distance, or Elder Pu will come after us again.”
Zhuang Heng’s expression was awkward.
Among juniors, there was little scheming, but sect elders valued the struggle for the righteous path, often using things as pretexts.
At that moment, Zhou Yan reminded him.
“Senior Brother, it’s almost time. We should head back.”
Bai Yu nodded.
“The auspicious hour approaches. Her Highness the Princess Royal is holding the Emperor’s Banquet at the Sundial Immortal Mansion, awaiting the sacred arrival. Let’s go.”
The Radiant Light Sect group, parading for the Yu Deng Jie, prepared to head to the immortal mansion for the Guarding the Sun Pilgrimage.
No doubt the Shenhua Sect was doing the same.
That fake?
Xiao Xinran frowned in thought.
Ji Shiyu perked up her ears, curiosity blazing.
Yun Liu and Qin Cha had repeatedly warned them not to approach the two princesses tonight, whether real or fake.
“Let’s go see what she’s up to now!”
“If you want to go, go yourself. Lin Mei and I are searching for the Young Master. If you stir up trouble, I’m not taking responsibility.”
?
The two weighed their options.
Ji Shiyu almost spat blood.
Who was it that night who lost their temper and insisted on slapping Jing Rui’s face for revenge?
“Really not going? What if your Young Master is there, watching the drama, waiting to expose the imposter publicly?”
“Ugh!”
Xiao Xinran stomped her foot.
Not this trick again.
Last time, she’d been lured the same way.
Ji Shiyu didn’t dare to sneak around alone without Yun Liu’s permission, but with two unlucky companions to share the blame, it felt less risky.
She immediately coaxed.
“Fine, then I’ll enjoy the teacher’s company alone. Next time you barge in and see us bathing together, don’t say I never invited you to a threesome.”
“Wait!”
Xiao Xinran grabbed the golden ponytail, half laughing, half angry.
Letting the yellow-haired one cause chaos alone felt too dangerous.
“Threesome my foot! You can go, but you have to promise me not to cause trouble. No matter what happens, don’t interfere with the Young Master’s plans!”
“Relax. This is my lucky ground. Nothing unexpected will happen.”
Xiao Xinran eyed her suspiciously.
“You know Feng Shui and divination too?”
“Think about it. Ji Shiyu celebrating the Shengyu Festival and touring the lantern fair in Yu Capital—it’s like a theme park made just for me!”
The little yellow hair was full of confidence.
As long as she stayed near the teacher, she was invincible!
“@#¥%”
Xiao Xinran mouthed curses, following behind Bai Yu and the others.
Every extra word exchanged with the yellow-haired menace felt like it drained her intelligence.
Yet, there was logic to it.
Ao Tian had chosen the East Pole Province as a starting point precisely because the Vermilion Bird watched over it.
But instead of enjoying the holy beast’s protection, she got swept into the Nation-Stealing Calamity, with the Golden Crow’s light hanging by a thread.
***
Zhou Yan followed two steps behind, curiously eyeing the two sword cultivator girls, both seemingly at odds.
All three were recent Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Ji Shiyu and Xiao Xinran had a reputation in the Radiant Light Sect as formidable rivals among the Five Peaks—often compared as leading figures of the younger generation.
“Why don’t I see Senior Sister Qin?”
“She’s busy. No time to bother with brats.”
Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, humming lightly, then said offhandedly.
“True. She’s probably with Mr. Yun.”
She spoke thoughtlessly, but Ji and Xiao instantly became alert.
“How do you know?”
“Uh… isn’t Yun Liu Qin Cha’s Dao partner?”
Zhou Yan asked in confusion.
Her words were shocking—meant as a question, but it made Ji Shiyu shriek and leap as if she’d been stabbed.
“Wh-what!?”
“Little Yun and Senior Sister Qin… why don’t I know about this!?”
Xiao Xinran’s face turned pale.
Zhou Yan paused, seeing their strange reactions.
Had she guessed wrong?
“Ah? I don’t know. Last time I saw them, it was at Canglang Gorge exorcising demons, fighting side by side through life and death. That’s why I guessed.”
Bai Yu and Zhuang Heng exchanged glances, smiling knowingly.
They thought the same.
Qin Xing, as Chief of Qingxia Peak, was beautiful, kind, and powerful—a Golden Core Middle Stage sword cultivator, also skilled in the Path of Alchemy and medicine.
Who wouldn’t be moved by her?
Being favored by the East Extreme Pavilion Master was only natural.
“Ahahaha, must be a misunderstanding. Senior Sister treats everyone with kindness. No exceptions!”
Ji Shiyu gestured frantically at the Radiant Light Sect trio, earnestly stressing her point.
She didn’t know whether she was convincing the crowd or herself.
Xiao Xinran managed a strained smile, biting her finger.
“False alarm, yes… Senior Sister Qin is so outstanding, she has many admirers. How could she possibly be interested in little Yun?”
“Exactly! A toad eating swan meat. Absolutely impossible between those two!”
The two clowns echoed each other, but inside, panic grew with every word.
Damn it, was this the darkness beneath the lantern?
How did they never notice the most dangerous enemy was right beside them!?
Zhou Yan thought for a moment, then mumbled softly.
“Really? A third-grade Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master isn’t bad. I actually think they’re a good match…”
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