Chapter 246: Junior Sister, Do You Need Help?
* * *
*Dong dong—dong—*
“Hey! What are you doing?! This jade couch is chipped! You lot will be sent to dig mines by Immortal Aunt Pei if you’re not careful.”
“…Sorry, Senior Brother Zhang… We’ll be careful…”
In the large courtyard, dozens of Qi Refining Stage Sword Sect disciples, under Zhang Yihe’s command, were systematically moving furniture from the courtyard into the house, setting up the new residence.
Beneath a pavilion in the courtyard, Pei Lianxue, with a blank, expressionless face, lay prone on a stone table, boredly twirling an empty teacup with her index finger.
Her dark brown hair cascaded down her back. A golden feather belt on her shoulder swayed gently in the breeze. Paired with a silk immortal robe in a predominantly golden-white hue, she seemed to glow under the dawn light, as if radiating brilliance.
In terms of seniority within the Sword Sect, Pei Lianxue even surpassed the sect’s elders. According to sect rules, her standing was second only to Yun Tianchong. However, due to her young age and relatively low cultivation, the elders had not granted her extensive authority.
Despite not holding significant power, her status was undeniable. Disciples at Xi Ri Peak now greeted her with clasped hands, calling her “Martial Uncle Pei.”
This grand mansion, along with the jade couch that the Sword Sect disciples had just carried inside, were all gifts from the Sword Sect elders. Furthermore, the elders had even allocated a spirit-rich mountain peak within the Sword Sect for her, to establish her own sect, recruit disciples, and create her own cave dwelling in the future.
It was akin to a destitute girl, who had lived for over a decade in poverty, suddenly being told she was heir to a wealthy family, and that she would never have to worry about food or clothing again. It was an enormous stroke of luck.
Pei Lianxue understood that this was a colossal windfall. Yet, it did not bring her joy.
The windfall lacked a certain flavor.
When she was five years old, Ye Anping had taken her to a marketplace in the Hundred Lotus Sect for a fair. There was a game similar to fortune-telling. Ye Anping and she each bought a fortune. She happened to draw a necklace worth several thousand spirit stones, while Ye Anping lost all his money.
Pei Lianxue still remembered the astonished expression on her Senior Brother’s face then. It was the first time she had seen “surprise” on his face, and the first time she had ever bested him in anything. She had been so happy that she couldn’t sleep for days, and had even sold the necklace to grandly treat her Senior Brother to a day of candied hawthorns and preserves at the Hundred Lotus Marketplace. Of course, they both suffered from toothaches for half a month afterward…
Both were instances of good fortune falling from the sky, but a mountain peak and a grand mansion were undeniably different from mere spirit stones. The latter had kept her awake with joy for days; the former only elicited a simple, “Oh… I see.”
Pei Lianxue could tell this fortune was specially prepared for her by her Senior Brother. However, to her, it felt like a meal – whether she ate it or not made no difference, as she wouldn’t starve if she missed one.
Rather than a powerful spirit sword, or this priceless mansion and mountain peak, she wished her Senior Brother would give her more responsibilities, instead of placing her in the safest position to reap the rewards.
Pei Lianxue knew exactly what she wanted.
She wanted to help her Senior Brother!
However, her Senior Brother always prepared everything for her, leaving no room for her own initiative or to prove herself. She even worried that acting on her own might inadvertently cause trouble for him.
Yet, she also wanted her Senior Brother to look at her with new eyes. She wanted his approval. She wanted him to know that she was no longer the naive young girl he once knew.
She had grown up! She had reached her coming of age! She was independent!
She could protect her Senior Brother!
Senior Brother! Rely on me!
Hurry! Rely on me!
Thinking this, Pei Lianxue felt inexplicably displeased. She mimicked the motion of flicking someone’s forehead and, as if venting, flicked the teacup on the table.
*Bang—*
With a crisp sound, the porcelain teacup arced through the air and flew into the courtyard. Coincidentally, a Sword Sect disciple carrying a box stepped on the teacup. His foot slipped, and he sent the box flying, its contents of kitchen knives scattering wildly.
At the same time, Yun Xi’s shout came from the courtyard gate.
“Ouch!!”
The teacup, after being stepped on by the Sword Sect disciple, rolled to the courtyard entrance. Yun Xi, stepping over the threshold, stepped on it as well. She fell backward, landing squarely on her rear.
As if accustomed to such mishaps, Yun Xi attempted to get up, only to see dozens of small knives flying towards her. She gasped and quickly summoned a giant turtle shell from her storage bag, erecting it in front of her to block the knives.
*Hoo—* Yun Xi sighed in relief, then took a deep breath and yelled, “ZHANG—YI—HE!!!”
“…Huh?”
…
Witnessing the entire chain of events, Pei Lianxue blinked dazedly. Yun Xi, like Xiao Yunluo, was someone she considered a good girl who didn’t covet her Senior Brother. Thus, she felt a pang of guilt. She quietly whispered, “I’m sorry,” and took out a small notebook from her sleeve, quickly scribbling:
“Yun Xi entered the courtyard, stepped on a teacup, and was almost stabbed by falling kitchen knives. The teacup was thrown by someone unknown.”
She finished writing just as Yun Xi finished yelling at Zhang Yihe. As Pei Lianxue stood up, preparing to offer Yun Xi a handkerchief, a flying sword descended from the sky, landing at the entrance of the courtyard.
Yun Xi turned her head. Seeing Yun Yiyi arrive, her brow furrowed. She thought her sister’s sudden appearance meant no good.
So, as Yun Yiyi’s right foot crossed the threshold, Yun Xi rushed forward, blocking the open courtyard gate and keeping Yun Yiyi outside. Yun Xi glared up at Yun Yiyi with a look of disdain.
“What are you here for?”
Yun Yiyi’s brow was also furrowed, but her tone was more measured.
“…To talk with you.”
“If you have something to say, say it here. I’m not in the mood to serve you tea.”
“…It’s not convenient here. We’re sisters, aren’t we? Even if you don’t serve tea, can’t I at least speak with you?”
Yun Xi rolled her eyes and said with annoyance, “Who was it that tried to kill me with all her schemes when we were kids? You must be surprised I’ve lived for over twenty years, right?”
Yun Yiyi looked somewhat helpless. After a moment of silence, she defended herself, “I was a bit harsh towards you in the past, but I’ve said it many times that those attempts on your life were orchestrated by my mother. I never participated.”
“You’re not on the same boat as your mother?”
Yun Yiyi pouted. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Then what do you want? Should I kneel and kowtow to you?”
“Then do it.”
“… …”
The two sisters stared at each other. Even Zhang Yihe, standing nearby, felt the sparks flying between them. He quickly retreated a few steps, hesitant to intervene.
Pei Lianxue, from within the pavilion, observed this and frowned, pondering. Her Senior Brother’s task was to stay by Yun Xi’s side, protect her, and record her movements. However, while at the Hundred Lotus Sect, she had secretly browsed through the plan her Senior Brother had written. Because it was messy and disjointed, she couldn’t grasp the full details, but she understood that her Senior Brother’s fundamental goal was to improve the relationship between Yun Xi, Yun Yiyi, and Yun Jiujiu. Perhaps he thought she was incapable of this task, as he hadn’t instructed her to change Yun Xi’s perception of Yun Yiyi and the others.
But… Pei Lianxue hesitated slightly. She worried that deviating from her Senior Brother’s instructions might disrupt his original plan. However, if she could help him, or even alleviate a little of his burden, her Senior Brother would surely praise her maturity.
Pei Lianxue bit her lip lightly and finally resolved to do something outside of her Senior Brother’s instructions. But how? How could she get these two to reconcile?
Recalling her Senior Brother’s past actions, Pei Lianxue had an idea. She quickly retrieved the Snow Jade Celestial Spirit Sword from her storage bag. Because the sword had previously absorbed the spiritual energy of Qiong Peak’s spiritual脉, the moment it landed in Pei Lianxue’s hands, a chilling aura enveloped the entire courtyard.
The Sword Sect disciples carrying furniture began to shiver, and the two confrontational figures at the gate, sensing the cold, looked towards Pei Lianxue with alarm.
The next moment, Pei Lianxue was beside them. She plunged the sword into the stone doorstep.
*Swish—*
Both Yun Xi and Yun Yiyi shivered involuntarily from the cold air, wondering why Pei Lianxue seemed angry. Then, they heard her meekly say, “Don’t fight.”
“… …” “…”
Seeing they remained silent, Pei Lianxue pursed her lips and added, “If you fight again, I… I’ll spank you.”
“?” “?”
Pei Lianxue frowned and clarified, “Until you’re bruised!”
Yun Xi and Yun Yiyi were utterly bewildered. However, Pei Lianxue’s expressionless face seemed serious. They dared not cause further trouble.
Zhang Yihe, who had retreated to the side, quickly stepped forward as a peacekeeper, rubbing his hands together. “Eldest Miss, Third Miss, Master Pei has spoken. Why don’t you sit and chat? Shall I bring you tea?”
Hearing this, Yun Xi and Yun Yiyi both glared at him. Yun Xi yelled, “Zhang Yihe, this is none of your business! Scram!” Zhang Yihe quickly spread his hands towards Pei Lianxue and winked at them, performing a public display of “borrowing power,” redirecting their attention back to Pei Lianxue.
Although Yun Xi didn’t understand why Pei Lianxue had suddenly become angry, seeing the situation, she relented and moved aside. “For Pei Junior Sister’s sake, you may come in.”
“…Thank you.”
Yun Yiyi glanced at the Xuanbing Spirit Sword planted in the ground, then at Pei Lianxue’s face. With something on her mind, she walked past Pei Lianxue, crossed the threshold, and entered with Yun Xi.
However, Yun Xi, perhaps preoccupied with Pei Lianxue’s strange behavior, didn’t notice that she had stepped on the porcelain cup she had just tripped over earlier.
*Bang—*
She stumbled backward, her head hitting Yun Yiyi’s face directly. Both landed on the ground.
Yun Yiyi immediately exclaimed, “Are you blind when you walk?!”
“Who told you to stand so close… Hiss—”
As the two stood up…
*Slap slap—*
Two crisp sounds, like ripe peaches splitting open, echoed throughout the courtyard. Pei Lianxue, holding a tree branch picked up from the ground, frowned and forcefully swatted each of them on the backside. Her speed was such that Yun Yiyi and Yun Xi, after a moment of stunned silence, felt the sting. They yelped, clutching their rear ends and hopping slightly.
*Pei Junior Sister, you’re actually hitting us?* Yun Xi turned her head incredulously to look at Pei Lianxue behind her. Yun Yiyi felt even more that Pei Lianxue might be taking advantage of the situation, perhaps seeking revenge for stealing her Senior Brother, hence the powerful blows. But she dared not say more.
Pei Lianxue reminded them again, “No fighting.”
The two pouted. Glancing at the Sword Sect disciples who had stopped their work, they suppressed the pain and, taking small steps, walked towards the inner room. Zhang Yihe, seeing that Pei Lianxue had indeed hit them, quickly approached and gave her a thumbs-up.
“Martial Uncle Pei, you are truly something. I’ll follow your lead from now on!”
“…”
