Ye Shunguanguan sniffled, tears silently trickling down her face.
She had built an image of a kind, elderly grandfather in her mind.
Initially, she had been terrified of being scolded, fearing he would be just like Elder Lu Hengzhou.
But the reality was quite the opposite…
This senior was actually venting on her behalf.
He had scolded both Elder Lu and her master in one go.
*Um, this is a bit…
anyway, it’s probably not very good, is it?*
After all, everyone was only doing what was best for her.
And yet, deep down, Shunguanguan felt a strange sense of happiness.
[Senior Jiang Suan, can you talk with me a bit longer?
There’s no rush for the guidance.
I can’t sleep anyway.]
[…]
Inside the divination shop, the corners of Jiang Suan’s mouth curled into a wicked smirk.
*Heh heh heh, she took the bait.*
He was going to coax this girl out of those mountains and lead her to indulge in the wonders of the world outside.
He would make the girl named Ye Shunguanguan sink so deep into enjoyment that she would never be able to forget it.
At such a young age, she deserved to enjoy life!
His pen moved like flowing water as he carefully crafted his persona as a soulful, caring grandfather.
As for why he chose to be a grandfather, it was to maintain the consistency of his image.
When they eventually met in person—an “internet dating” reveal, so to speak—it would be another surprise.
He had her right where he wanted her.
[If you ask me, you’re just feeling stifled.
You just need to get out and move around.
Cultivators should strive for an open and clear mind.
Since you are the strongest beneath Yi Xuan, then aside from Yi Xuan herself, who would dare to gossip about you?
If they do, just give them a good thrashing.]
[You must realize that those who claim to do things “for your own good” aren’t necessarily doing what’s best for you.
Just look at me—maybe I’m just pretending to be a senior from Yun Kui Mountain when I’m actually a scammer.]
[Deliberately playing with your emotions to lure you out of the mountains.]
*Pfft!*
A bell-like laugh echoed in Shunguanguan’s room.
She quickly covered her mouth and peeked out the window to check her surroundings.
Seeing no one on patrol, she patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
Who would ever call themselves a bad person?
[Senior Jiang Suan, honestly…
I can’t just hit everyone, can I?
That wouldn’t be right.]
[No, no, no.
Ask yourself: do you really want to stay cooped up in these mountains?
If ordinary women can travel safely, why can’t you?
Is it really because they fear for your safety, or is it because some people are trying to control you?]
Shunguanguan fell silent.
She lowered her eyes, her hand gripping the pen tightly.
The senior…
was certainly blunt.
[Senior, um…
tell me about yourself.
It seems like you’ve only just come out of seclusion.
If you have anything bothering you, you can tell me, too.]
[That way…
Shunguanguan and Senior can be considered friends, right?]
[Senior is my very first friend.]
Jiang Suan sighed with a hint of regret.
After so many years of restraint, it would be no easy feat for Ye Shunguanguan to shatter that cage herself.
You couldn’t expect a person to change overnight.
He twirled his pen and gave a soft laugh.
[I walk this world alone.
My friends and family of old are long gone, and the world has changed.
If a young girl like you doesn’t mind, I would be honored.]
[Child, I’ll tell you a story.
Want to hear it?]
[I do.]
[This story is called “Violet Evergarden.” There was a girl named Violet who used to only know how to follow orders as a “weapon.” Once she lost her orders, she didn’t know what to do with herself…]
The story was long, and the letters were slow.
As he inscribed the words onto the paper stroke by stroke, the girl read them one by one.
But at the very beginning of the story, a corner of the diary became damp…
*Who would make their intentions so obvious?
You silly senior!*
At the same time, the page on Jiang Suan’s side also became damp.
How could anyone not feel for a girl like this?
He let out a helpless sigh.
The night grew very, very deep.
He was already exhausted, yet he remained sitting by the bed, slowly writing for the girl.
He wrote that people are not tools, let alone assets.
A weapon should never replace a person’s sense of meaning.
[…]
[The same goes for you, Shunguanguan.
Goodnight.]
By then, the sky was beginning to pale with the coming dawn.
Sniffling, Ye Shunguanguan rested her face against the diary.
She had cried until she looked like a rain-drenched pear blossom.
The senior really was a senior.
He was so good at comforting people…
[Senior, tomorrow…
no, tonight, can I hear another story?
I’ll tell you my stories, too!]
[Then, I shall look forward to it…]
Utterly drained, Jiang Suan collapsed onto his bed and fell into a deep sleep.
He was truly exhausted; he couldn’t keep up with these young people.
After all, he wasn’t a cultivator.
He really needed to start exercising, or life would be brutal going forward.
He could barely handle one Shunguanguan; what would happen if there were more?
Being a player wasn’t a job for just anyone!
Meanwhile, on Yun Kui Mountain, a young man searching for his sister had climbed halfway up the mountain at dawn and returned to the sect gate.
With his brown hair and heroic bearing…
It was Ye Shiyuan.
He carried his sword up the mountain, a faint murderous aura lingering between his brows.
He looked ready to follow Jiang Suan’s advice to the letter—to kill until the matter was settled.
“Ye Shiyuan?
Why have you returned to the mountain at this time?
Has Sect Leader Yi Xuan given you instructions?”
Outside Shunguanguan’s courtyard.
Lu Hengzhou was monitoring the area like a creep.
He maintained an arrogant posture, treating the disciples with cold indifference, as if they were mere tools.
When the two met, it was a case of “enemies meeting with eyes burning red.”
Ye Shiyuan suspected that the Qingming Sword choosing his sister had everything to do with this man.
However, he couldn’t be bothered to deal with the elder at this moment.
He was here to see his sister.
Since when did he need to report that to anyone else?
The only reason he hadn’t exploded on the spot was out of respect for Yi Xuan; after all, Yun Kui Mountain hadn’t mistreated the siblings over the years.
But once he entered the courtyard and softly knocked on his sister’s door, there was no response.
Myriad dark thoughts flashed through Ye Shiyuan’s mind, and panic set in.
“Little Guang!”
The girl was asleep on her bed, her eyes red and swollen.
Startled awake by the intrusion, she hurriedly pulled up her covers to hide the diary and cried out.
“Elder, Shunguanguan isn’t dressed yet!
Don’t come in!”
“!!?”
A moment later, seeing that it was her brother, she let out a sigh of relief.
*Oh, it’s just my dummy brother coming back to see me.*
*Honestly, he stays down the mountain for so long.*
*There’s no one to keep me company in the mountains.
Hmph, I don’t need him anyway.* She stole a precious glance at her diary.
She had someone to talk to now, hehe.
She had no idea what a shock her appearance had given her brother!
In an instant, a monstrous rage surged in Ye Shiyuan’s chest.
*Did that bastard actually dare to break into Little Guang’s bedroom?
Die!*
“Eh?
Brother, what are you doing?”
“Settling the score with that man named Lu.”
“Wait, uh…
Brother, did you misunderstand something?”
The powerless sister could do nothing.
the furious brother could hear nothing.
The weak elder was hoisted up by his collar and given a brutal punch.
Soon after, he was on a video call, furiously complaining to Yi Xuan about the rebellious disciple.
But Yi Xuan chose silence.
Yesterday, she had been too caught up in her embarrassment and had completely forgotten her primary reason for visiting the senior.
She was meant to ask about Shunguanguan’s situation—was there a way to unbind the Qingming Sword?
It seemed she would have to go ask again today.
Thinking carefully now, a great master like the senior had no reason to lie to her.
Since Jiang Suan said Elder Lu was problematic, she had to start believing it, even if it pained her.
“Elder Lu, if Shiyuan struck you, he must have had a reason.
I am busy with a matter right now; we will discuss this after I am finished.”
“Sect Leader!
Sect Leader!
That rebellious disciple…”
The video feed froze on the image of Lu Hengzhou’s bruised and swollen face.
Orange Fufu couldn’t help but let out an impolite giggle.
*Serves him right!*
“Senior Sister, what are you laughing at?”
“Nothing…”
“Master, Master, can I go find that divination charlatan today?
What’s with this ‘one divination per day’ nonsense?
He’s so mysterious.”
Orange Fufu rubbed her hands together.
She had made up her mind.
Why bother with all this trouble?
For the sake of the Tiger-Taming Bell, Fufu didn’t mind making a scene and giving that charlatan a good beating.
Since he knew someone was causing trouble for the world and didn’t act…
He surely wasn’t a good person!
Beat him!
But seeing her disciple’s stance, Yi Xuan grew slightly flustered and held her back.
“Ahem…
Fufu, the water here is very deep; you can’t handle it.
I have more important matters to attend to.
Don’t be rash these next two days.
Let me go and investigate further first.”
“Regarding the Tiger-Taming Bell, I do indeed know a thing or two.”