“You’d be better off with me.”
The name of the sect “Miaoyin” sounded elegant and otherworldly, and the female cultivator was indeed draped in a black and white Taoist robe. Her styling was simple and clean, with one hand in a flower pinching mudra and a snow white horsetail whisk resting in the crook of her arm, she naturally exuded the air of a celestial transcendent.
However, Ming Yuemian, who held the “original script” of this world in her hands, knew very well that this sect was far from being as upright as it appeared.
The Miaoyin Sect only recruited female cultivators. Aside from standard cultivation techniques, they possessed a specialized secret method of “Dual Cultivation.”
To put it bluntly, their method of cultivation was somewhat… unconventional. They didn’t take the common path of honest leveling; instead, they absorbed the essence of other cultivators, a shortcut that wasn’t exactly high-class.
Well… but who’s to say they aren’t just being serious about their careers?
Ming Yuemian refrained from judging their methods, but regarding the woman’s personality, she knew the truth: this female cultivator was no saint. Although she was one of Feng Cheng’s future “ambiguous interests,” she hadn’t set her sights on him just for shallow reasons like his face or gentle personality.
In the original novel, this woman had even stated that she didn’t mind Feng Cheng having a sweetheart. She was willing to enjoy his company without needing a formal title. She had even “advised” Fu Shuang to loosen up, saying that with a Daoist partner of his background, appearance, and cultivation level, admirers would naturally flock to him and if Fu Shuang tried to be jealous, she’d never find the end of it. She had left the pure and kind female lead utterly speechless.
The female cultivator, however, couldn’t have cared less after all, she only wanted to drain Feng Cheng’s cultivation.
Aside from Ming Yuemian, the childhood friend junior sister, this woman should have been the “Love Rival No. 2.”
But Ming Yuemian clearly remembered that she wasn’t supposed to appear this early. It seemed that because of Ming Yuemian’s arrival, the plot lines of this world had been affected, and many events were changing.
The female cultivator bowed reservedly to the King.
The King nodded, putting on a professional business smile as he asked, “To what do we owe the honor of your visit, Daoist?”
The cultivator replied, “I am Zi Xuan. I heard that the Princess of your noble country has been possessed by an evil entity. My master is deeply concerned and specifically dispatched me to exorcise the demon.”
“Ah…” The King paused, his smile stiffening for a moment. His gaze flickered toward Feng Cheng’s direction. “Many thanks, many thanks. Come, please, take a seat of honor.”
The palace attendants added another long table to the banquet, serving the same wine and dishes as per protocol. Zi Xuan set down her whisk and took her seat.
Ming Yuemian picked up a chicken leg that had fallen onto her table and took a bite. It was still fragrant, so delicious she squinted her eyes in satisfaction.
As she busily munched on her chicken leg, she observed the others at the banquet.
So awkward. She felt like she could dig a hole in the floor with her toes on behalf of the King.
Think about the situation: his daughter is possessed by a demon, and instead of seeking help from the Miaoyin Sect, which is right next door, he went the long way around to invite people from the Tianxuan Pavilion. It was a blatant snub to the Miaoyin Sect. Now, look what happened: the Miaoyin person showed up uninvited and ran straight into the Tianxuan Pavilion group. How could it not be awkward?
The Miaoyin Sect was clearly here to challenge the Tianxuan Pavilion.
Zi Xuan looked toward Feng Cheng. “Is this the head disciple of Tianxuan Pavilion, Master Feng Cheng?”
Feng Cheng was not the type to ignore people, especially a beautiful woman, even if she belonged to a rival sect. He raised his glass gracefully. “The very same.”
Zi Xuan also raised her wine cup from a distance, drinking with an enigmatic smile. “I have heard of your great name for a long time.”
Although there was no actual “spark” between them yet, Ming Yuemian could already detect a hint of something else in Zi Xuan’s smile. She instinctively looked over at Fu Shuang.
She saw Fu Shuang with her eyes downcast. She didn’t grant the subtle interplay between the two even a single glance, appearing either distracted or simply indifferent to everything else, focusing entirely on tasting the pastries.
Between her chopsticks was an exquisite hibiscus cake. She was taking small, dainty bites, looking surprisingly… cute in her refined manner.
Ming Yuemian peeked over and noticed that the dishes on Fu Shuang’s table were mostly untouched, except for the plate of hibiscus cakes, which was already empty.
Does she really like these?
Most cultivators had the “good habit” of fasting (Bigu). Those at the peak of power wouldn’t touch a grain of rice, keeping their six senses pure. While Fu Shuang was exceptionally gifted and diligent, she was still young and hadn’t reached that stage yet. She hadn’t completely stopped eating, but she followed a vegetarian diet, preferring light flavors and avoiding greasy or meat-heavy dishes.
Ming Yuemian propped her head on her hand, watching her for a while. To get on her good side, she moved her own plate of hibiscus cakes over to Fu Shuang’s table.
The white porcelain clinked softly against the table. Fu Shuang looked up. “?”
“What are you doing?”
Even after all these days, she still had that same cold face. Ming Yuemian sighed inwardly and said, “I saw that Sister likes this snack, so I’m giving mine to you.”
“No need,” Fu Shuang said expressionlessly, her voice cold as frost.
Ming Yuemian watched helplessly as Fu Shuang picked up the plate and placed it back exactly where it had been in front of her. She felt so powerless.
Fu Shuang said, “I don’t want yours.”
Showing undue kindness usually means one is up to no good. She didn’t want to be “softened up” by accepting gifts.
A pale wrist extended from a wide sleeve, passing right in front of Ming Yuemian. Before she could react, she had already grabbed that jade-like arm.
“What are you doing?” Fu Shuang was slightly startled. “Let go.”
“I just wanted to feel you…” Ming Yuemian blurted out, then swallowed the rest of her words, looking up at Fu Shuang with a wronged expression.
“Do not pull and tug at me like this,” Fu Shuang said, pulling her hand back and sitting up straight with poise.
Ming Yuemian: “…”
She just wanted to check the other’s body temperature, how could someone with a body temperature of 37°C be this cold and heartless?
Even my kindness is rejected. Ugh, it’s so hard to win over a beautiful woman.
Spurred by those words, she shot back, “Then who do you want to be pulling and tugging with? My Senior Brother?”
Fu Shuang hadn’t expected her to snap back. She lifted her eyes, looking at Ming Yuemian with a look of startled wonder, as if staring at a complete fool.
“I’m afraid my Senior Brother is a bit busy right now,” Ming Yuemian blurted out, fully committing to playing the fool today.
Fu Shuang: “?”
Seeing that the other woman still hadn’t grasped her meaning even after all that, Ming Yuemian decided to be blunt. She quirked her chin, gesturing toward the opposite side of the hall. “Look for yourself. My Senior Brother is busy pulling and tugging with other girls.”
Fu Shuang turned her gaze.
At the banquet table opposite them, Feng Cheng sat upright, looking every bit the elegant noble immortal, a total “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Princess Fei Qiong approached him shyly, her delicate hand holding a jade cup as she poured him wine.
“Exalted Immortal, please, drink your fill.”
“My thanks, Princess.”
The two shared a drink, Princess Fei Qiong’s face flushing a deep crimson. Nearby, the Miaoyin Sect’s Zi Xuan added, “Master Feng Cheng truly has a prodigious capacity for wine.”
Feng Cheng, naturally humble, replied, “The Daoist overpraises me.”
He then proceeded to clink glasses with Zi Xuan as well.
Tsk, tsk.
The “White Moonlight” and the “Red Rose” were both right here, and over there he had a “Pure Princess” and a “Seductive Priestess.” Seriously… even a man enjoying a harem of wives couldn’t have it better than this!
Is this guy trying to become the Wei Xiaobao of the cultivation world?
Ming Yuemian thought to herself: Fu Shuang wasn’t angry when she saw me or Xiao Ju before, but surely she has to be angry now, right?
Two love rivals appearing at once! Double the trouble, no extra charge!
If she wasn’t angry at this, she wasn’t human!
And yet… Fu Shuang really wasn’t angry.
She gave only a cursory glance before coldly dropping her gaze. Her expression didn’t shift in the slightest, she remained as frosty and aloof as ever, like a person sculpted from a mound of ancient snow.
“There is nothing worth seeing. How tedious.”
She stopped looking and picked up her chopsticks, seemingly wanting to eat something else. But the plate of hibiscus cakes was empty. Someone had just tried to be gallant by offering their own plate, only to have it returned untouched. It seemed Fu Shuang had only just remembered this, her chopstick tips circled the table once before she dejectedly set them down.
A trace of nearly imperceptible annoyance flickered across her snow white features.
“This???” Ming Yuemian was floored. “My Senior Brother is acting like that, Sister, and you’re still not angry?”
The pearls on her hairpins swayed as she abandoned all pretense of image. Her face was a mask of shock, practically screaming the words: NO. HOPE. LEFT.
“What he does has nothing to do with me.” Fu Shuang gripped her cup, but remembering her poor tolerance for alcohol, she let it go.
Ming Yuemian was speechless. “No matter what he does, you’ll just forgive him? Even if he marries eighteen concubines in the future, it wouldn’t matter?”
“It wouldn’t matter,” Fu Shuang said flatly.
Whether Feng Cheng married a hundred and eight concubines had nothing to do with her. What she wanted was revenge; as for his romantic debts, Fu Shuang had long since stopped caring.
Ming Yuemian: “…”
“You…”
Fu Shuang arched an eyebrow. “Me?”
Ming Yuemian wanted to say, ‘You’re certainly a generous “Main Wife,” aren’t you? Don’t be such a doormat!’ But she couldn’t bring herself to label Fu Shuang with such a word, so she swallowed it down miserably.
Saving her was just too difficult!
Then, Ming Yuemian’s protective streak kicked in: It’s not Sister’s fault. It must be that scumbag Feng Cheng; his PUA (Pick-Up Artist) skills are too strong!
There are no natural doormats in this world, only too many PUA scumbags who turn them into ones!
Yes, exactly. That must be it.
Fu Shuang watched her expressions shift several times before Ming Yuemian finally slumped in defeat, looking utterly vexed. Suddenly, Fu Shuang spoke: “Do you really want me to be angry that badly?”
Ming Yuemian looked at her.
“All these days, you have tried every possible provocation to make me see your Senior Brother laughing and talking with other women. If you claim it was unintentional, it would be far too coincidental,” Fu Shuang said with certainty. “You did it on purpose.”
Ming Yuemian gave her a listless, helpless look.
Heavens, you figured that out? You’re a regular genius!
But how can you not see that Feng Cheng is a total scumbag? Do you have selective blindness? Waaaah.
Fu Shuang continued, “Your goal was to make me angry. Now that you haven’t succeeded, are you very disappointed?”
Ming Yuemian was indeed disappointed, but listening to Fu Shuang’s tone, something felt off.
She said with a strange expression, “I did it all for your own good, what benefit would I get from making you angry otherwise?”
Fu Shuang let out a cold laugh.
Ming Yuemian: “?”
Fu Shuang: “The benefit, naturally, would be my separation from your Senior Brother. Without me, wouldn’t you be the only one left by his side?”
Ming Yuemian suddenly realized: Fu Shuang thinks I’m trying to clear the competition to become the “Main Wife”!
Seriously, whoever wants that “Main Wife” position can have it. She certainly didn’t want it, was it even a prize worth having?
She was so annoyed she didn’t even notice Princess Fei Qiong sitting down right next to Feng Cheng to serve him food. She didn’t even care about capturing that “evidence” to show Fu Shuang anymore.
She admitted it: “I do hope you and my Senior Brother break up.”
“But not because I like him,” Ming Yuemian said. “It’s because I like you.”
“Sister, there is no future for you and my Senior Brother.”
Ming Yuemian’s expression was dead serious. While blackening the competition’s reputation, she softly recommended herself. A flush crept onto the tips of her ears as she whispered:
“You’d be better off with me.”
Fu Shuang stared coldly at Ming Yuemian for a while with eyes that claimed to see through the world’s deceptions, then turned her head away.
“At least find a better excuse next time,” Fu Shuang said. “You’ve used that one once already. Change it.”
She still didn’t believe her. Ming Yuemian felt like she was about to cough up blood.