Chapter 51: Junior Sister’s Rollercoaster Mood
As the two entered the physiotherapy center, Bai Yuexin was just seeing a Senior Brother Xuan Xing Sect Disciple out of a side room.
“Senior Brother Zhou, that will be sixty Spirit Stones.”
“Junior Sister Bai, I’ve seen you here these past few days. What’s going on? Are you and your Cultivation Partner planning to operate together from now on?” Senior Brother Zhou asked, taking out sixty Spirit Stones from his Storage Bag and handing them to her.
“What Cultivation Partner? I’ve told you countless times. I’m just here to help. He was too busy by himself, so he hired me to help him collect payments.”
“Alright. I must say, after receiving physiotherapy, I’ve felt considerably more relaxed during my Sword Practice these past few days. I’ll come back when I have time.”
“Mm.”
After seeing Senior Brother Zhou off, Bai Yuexin prepared to greet Pei Lianxue and Xiao Yunluo. She hadn’t noticed them at all while talking to Senior Brother Zhou. It was only when she saw their faces that she reacted and froze in place.
The moment Bai Yuexin saw Pei Lianxue’s face, she felt as if she had returned to the stage of the sword trial that day, once again experiencing the fear of being dominated by Pei Lianxue.
At this moment, Pei Lianxue also recognized her as the Senior Sister who had helped her during the sword trial. She paused slightly and quickly bowed with cupped fists. “Greetings, Senior!”
Startled by her spirited shout, Bai Yuexin took a step back. Seeing her reaction, Pei Lianxue, thinking she hadn’t been recognized, said, “During the sword trial, you were my examiner. Do you remember, Senior?”
“Ah… I remember.” Bai Yuexin felt a little self-conscious. How could she forget? Even if she became a ghost, she would never forget Pei Lianxue’s face.
At this moment, Xiao Yunluo, standing beside her, surveyed the shop and asked, “I heard from Senior Brother Zhou earlier that this shop was opened by you and your Cultivation Partner, Senior Sister Bai?”
“Ah… Young Miss, he and I are not Cultivation Partners,” Bai Yuexin chuckled sheepishly. “I’m just here to help. It got twisted around as the Senior Brothers and Sisters passed the story along. Would you two like to try?”
“Mm, how does it work?”
“It’s very simple. Just take off your shoes and sit there. The owner will massage the acupoints on your soles and stimulate your Meridians with Spiritual Energy. You’ll feel exceptionally comfortable afterward, and it’s also beneficial for cultivation.”
“Beneficial for cultivation?” Xiao Yunluo raised an eyebrow and immediately nodded. “Then let’s try.”
“However, it might be a bit painful if you’re not used to it the first time.”
“That’s fine.”
Seeing Xiao Yunluo agree to the physiotherapy, Bai Yuexin called out to the back room, “Anping, two young ladies!”
Hearing the name “Anping,” Pei Lianxue froze in place. Before entering, she had seen the “Ye” on the shop’s plaque and felt a sense of anticipation, wondering if it might be a Senior Brother. She thought it would be a nice surprise for her Senior Brother if she showed up unexpectedly. When she entered and heard someone say that Bai Yuexin and her Cultivation Partner opened the shop, she felt a pang of disappointment, thinking it couldn’t be her Senior Brother.
But now, hearing Bai Yuexin call out “Anping”… In just a few sentences, Pei Lianxue had experienced a complete emotional rollercoaster: “Could it be Senior Brother?” followed by “It’s not Senior Brother,” and finally “It’s Senior Brother, but he’s become someone else’s Cultivation Partner.”
At this moment, Ye Anping’s voice echoed from the back room. “Understood, Senior Bai. Please lead them inside to sit first. I’ll wash my hands and be right there.”
It was Senior Brother’s voice. Had Senior Brother become Cultivation Partners with this Xuan Xing Sect Disciple named Bai Yuexin? Pei Lianxue looked at Bai Yuexin again, unable to accept this reality. After a pause, Pei Lianxue stammered, “Senior… are you two Cultivation Partners?”
“Hm?” Hearing Pei Lianxue ask again, Bai Yuexin was taken aback. Hadn’t she just explained it to Xiao Yunluo? Why was she asking again? She had to explain again, “No, we’re just friends, perhaps more like an older sister and a younger brother. We’re really not Cultivation Partners.”
“…Really?”
“Really not.”
“Really, really not?!”
“…Really.” Bai Yuexin, feeling a bit helpless, raised her hand. “I swear, he and I are not Cultivation Partners.”
“…”
Seeing Bai Yuexin swear, Pei Lianxue’s anxious heart finally settled a little.
“Lianxue, what’s wrong? Why are you asking so many times?” Xiao Yunluo asked.
“It’s nothing.”
Afterward, Bai Yuexin led the two women to the room designated for female cultivators to wait.
…
After washing his hands, Ye Anping came out from the back with two clean basins filled with hot water. The moment he pulled back the curtain and saw the two people inside, he was stunned. The two customers were his Junior Sister and Xiao Yunluo?
Today marked the end of the Xuan Xing Sect’s physical trials. He had planned to have Bai Yuexin ask his Junior Sister to come over tomorrow to give him her tuition and accommodation fees. Her arriving early saved him the trouble of sending Bai Yuexin. However, his Junior Sister coming wasn’t the issue. Why was Xiao Yunluo with her? And why did Xiao Yunluo seem to be on such good terms with his Junior Sister?
In the Game, Xiao Yunluo’s initial personality was extremely aloof and fiery, a solitary Eldest Miss. She didn’t proactively make friends with anyone and disliked others getting close to her. Even Feng Yu Die’s silver tongue took a full month of persistent effort to melt her icy exterior.
But that wasn’t the main point. The problem was that Xiao Yunluo was the key to unlocking the main storyline. In the game “Heaven Sword Wonder Tale,” the beginning of the main plot was due to Feng Yu Die and Xiao Yunluo meeting. Feng Yu Die then met Xiao Yunluo’s mother—Dan Yue Shang Xian, Si Xuanji, whom players referred to as the “Loli Old Woman.”
Ye Anping was now worried that the Protagonist’s role might be snatched away from Feng Yu Die by his Junior Sister. After all, his Junior Sister didn’t possess Feng Yu Die’s “Saint Emperor Bloodline.” If his Junior Sister were to follow the Protagonist’s path, even with him, an omniscient Senior Brother, guiding her, she would absolutely be unable to avoid a “BAD END.” Of course, all of this was just his current worry. Just because his Junior Sister held the key didn’t necessarily mean she would be the one to open the door to the main storyline.
Xiao Yunluo looked at him as he brought in the basins. Recalling Bai Yuexin’s earlier explanation about massaging the soles of their feet, she frowned and asked, “Senior Sister Bai, is he going to massage our feet?”
“Ah…” Bai Yuexin quickly explained beside her, “Yes, Young Miss. Please don’t overthink it; it’s really not a big deal…”
“How can this be? A man touching a woman’s feet… this is too…” Xiao Yunluo’s cheeks flushed red as she questioned, “How did this shop get approved? How could Xuan Xing Sect allow such an establishment in the marketplace? It’s a disgrace to public morals!”
“Ah, this…” Bai Yuexin quickly said, “Young Miss, the Elder in charge of the marketplace came personally and said there were no issues. Also, he will wear gloves when he massages your feet.”
“That still won’t do! Lianxue and I aren’t doing it anymore!” With that, Xiao Yunluo stood up and dragged Pei Lianxue towards the exit. Bai Yuexin didn’t know how to stop them. Before Ye Anping could even put down the foot basin, the two of them had already left the room.
Being pulled along, Pei Lianxue looked back at her Senior Brother. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Ji jiji~~ Ji ji~~ Ji ji~~” Ye Anping heard her and couldn’t help but smile. His Junior Sister was saying: I’ll be back later, wait for me.
“Hm? Lianxue, what are you doing?” Xiao Yunluo asked, looking confused.
“Nothing.”
“Come on, I’ll take you to the restaurant across the street to eat.” Saying this, the two of them ran out of the physiotherapy center and onto the street.
Ye Anping, who followed them out, watched the two girls run hand-in-hand down the street, feeling a warmth spread through him. Although he was worried about his Junior Sister taking on the Protagonist’s role, seeing her make such a good friend made him genuinely happy for her from the bottom of his heart.
At this moment, Bai Yuexin also stepped out, sighing, “Anping, can’t you think of a solution? Many people still can’t accept you touching their feet?”
Ye Anping shrugged and smiled, “It’s something new; people will gradually accept it. No need to rush. If too many people come, I won’t be able to handle it.”
“Hm? What are you smiling about? You lost such a big customer, and you can still smile?”
Ye Anping paused, quickly suppressing his smile. “I wasn’t smiling. Let’s close early today. I’m going to rest.”
“Ah? It’s only afternoon! Why so early today?”
“Isn’t it good to rest early? Your wages won’t be docked.”
