Chapter 98 is about liking your junior sister's backhand straight shot!
As the night deepened, the music shifted, and the campfire blazed brighter. The aroma of alcohol wafted through the air, adding a blush to the faces of some of the young men present.
Ice cubes clinked in the glasses; the aged plum wine appeared amber in the glass. Several people sat at a table clinking glasses. Shen Lixia stared at the body cultivator performing acrobatics on stage. Before she could even marvel, someone next to her exclaimed in surprise, "So coordinated!"
Lu Changqing tugged at Wu Zhuyue, who had just sat down halfway, pointed to the small ball in the body cultivator's hand, and asked excitedly, "Did you see clearly how she caught the small ball?"
Wu Zhuyue drank some plum wine and felt extremely dizzy, her speech becoming sluggish: "I... I didn't see clearly."
She shook her head vigorously, as if that would dispel the effects of the alcohol. The fruits of the trees planted on Guyu Peak were all spiritual objects, and the wine brewed from them naturally carried spiritual energy. Those with a low alcohol tolerance, like Tusheng, would inevitably become drunk if they didn't concentrate on using their spiritual energy to sober up.
Unable to see clearly on the stage, my gaze shifted to Lu Changqing's face, where two rosy blushes bloomed on her soft features. The young man was clearly well-cared for by his mother; his face was full and round, looking just like…
Like an apple. Wu Zhuyue was stunned for a moment, and forgot how clichéd her metaphor was, suppressing the urge to stick it up and take a bite.
She turned her head stiffly, wanting to continue watching the stage, but Lu Changqing had no intention of letting her off easy. He reached out and turned the girl's face back, and when he saw that her face was flushed, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Xiao Wu, who gave you so much to drink?"
Lu Changqing found her adorable no matter how he looked at her, so he cupped Wu Zhuyue's face and kissed her.
Shen Lixia turned around when she heard the noise and happened to witness this scene. She opened her mouth and exclaimed, "Wow!"
Lin Yuxian, who was sitting next to Wu Zhuyue, moved her stool aside and sat next to Tang Huairou with great foresight.
Sure enough, the round table was almost overturned the next moment. Tang Huairou, with the speed of a hundred years of acupuncture, fast enough to put a patient to sleep, caught the wine and cups on it and looked in surprise at Wu Zhuyue, who was blushing, pushing Lu Changqing.
No, what did Junior Sister do? Why are the two of them suddenly getting along?
However, Wu Zhuyue couldn't say anything after holding back for a long time. She only gritted her teeth and called out "Lu Changqing" before turning around and leaving in a hurry. She swayed, and because of her flustered state, she almost tripped over a tree branch that someone had carelessly tossed aside after grilling fish. Seeing her like this, Lu Changqing was afraid that she would mishandle the weapon and shed tears later, so he quickly followed her.
"Senior sisters, I'm going to check on Xiao Wu!"
Wu Zhuyue's irritated voice followed immediately.
"Don't follow me!"
Regardless, they still chased after other places.
Shen Lixia took a sip of plum wine. "My nemesis."
However, she couldn't help feeling a little envious. The two were very close, and although they hadn't yet realized their true feelings for each other, they weren't reserved about touching. But this was also thanks to Lu Changqing's proactive and spoiled nature; he wouldn't back down because of Wu Zhuyue's coldness.
Such enthusiasm may seem disruptive, but it is not actually annoying.
Was she being too reserved, which was why she was so conflicted? Feelings, once spoken aloud, seem to lighten, preventing them from becoming increasingly heavy. She looked at the plum wine, thinking that it tasted sweet and rich, with a fragrant aroma; her senior sister would surely like it.
Coincidences often happen when you think of someone, and that person appears. Just as Shen Lixia picked up her wine glass, she heard a sudden shift in the string music, replaced by the clanging of metal, like the hum of a longsword. Since recalling her past life, her perception of music had become increasingly acute, and she could naturally discern this style so different from that of the Central Plains.
This world is different from the modern world, but it also has its own regional characteristics. Prosperous areas are no different from the Central Plains, while in remote places—this music has already brought out their uniqueness.
Cold, resilient, and ethereal. Covered in snow and wind year-round.
As she looked over, the wine glass in her hand suddenly wobbled, spilling some wine.
The person who stepped onto the stage from behind the scenes was none other than Qiao Yanshen. She was dressed in white, holding a rain-wielding sword, except for her light blue hairband, which resembled a ribbon of clear water flowing down a snow-capped mountain. In the night, her eyes were as calm as a deep pool, almost devoid of any blue, serene to the point of being cold, lacking her usual gentleness and instead exuding a sense of aloofness.
A voice reached their ears, filled with amazement, marveling that Qiao Yanshen was indeed Yan Xueya's direct disciple, practically a carbon copy of him, like a snow lotus blooming coldly in the icy wilderness.
No, Senior Sister isn't like that. She clearly has a very kind personality; when she's gentle, she can make your bones melt.
But her senior sister was indeed only like that to her. Her gentleness towards others was always measured and distant, but only towards her, it was as if she could indulge her in anything.
The slender icicles transformed into a vast cloud of mist, permeating the stage. The chill and dazzling whiteness made the surroundings resemble a snow-covered wonderland. Blue light reflected off the ice, occasionally landing on the white robes of the graceful figure on the stage. Her fluid swordsmanship, the azure spiritual energy surrounding her, and the gracefully drifting snowflakes were breathtakingly beautiful and ever-changing.
While everyone else was unsure where to look, Shen Lixia's gaze was already locked on Qiao Yanshen, piercing through the vast white fog like a hunter chasing a white bird on a snowy plain, following her figure closely and unable to look away.
The initial affection, as delicate as silk, has now become a raging torrent, a waterfall crashing down from a cliff, resounding with a deafening monologue in her heart, so loud that she has no time to heed her pounding heartbeat and forgets to raise her hand to cover her blushing face.
What the strong liquor couldn't do, the woman in white on the stage did with ease. The surrounding noise and commotion gradually subsided, not because the others had fallen silent, but because Shen Lixia was no longer paying attention to them.
In that instant, her world consisted only of her senior sister.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for Qiao Yanshen, after gracefully swinging his sword, suddenly stopped, turned around, and his gaze pierced through the crowd, meeting hers without any attempt at concealment. His calm and indifference shattered at that moment, as if ice had melted and snow had vanished; Qiao Yanshen raised the corners of his lips and smiled slightly at her.
In the darkness of night, Shen Lixia suddenly heard a faint sound, as if it were the sound of flowers blooming.
Icicles fell to the ground, ice flowers bloomed, and a crisp sound rang out, bringing the magnificent performance to a grand close along with the final notes of the zither. Amidst enthusiastic cheers, Qiao Yanshen sheathed his sword and stepped off the stage, only to be beckoned over by Yan Xueya. Shen Lixia looked at her again, but received no response.
A cup was pushed in front of her, filled with clear wine. Qiao Yanshen thanked him before picking it up. After a moment's hesitation, unlike her usual reserved demeanor, she drank it all in one gulp. The cold wine calmed her slightly as it went down her throat, and she listened to the immortals' idle chatter.
When Yan Xueya finished practicing the last move, he told her that swordsmanship is not about being perfect and sticking to one style. A combination of strength and gentleness, with countless variations, can also be considered a sword move.
The constant amidst change is the essence of returning to oneness.
“This is a custom from my hometown. In the cold of the snow, it was originally used to warm the body, and it has been passed down to the cavalry in the troop since childhood, learning sword dancing. I think this is something I can teach you, and perhaps one day you will also go to the snowfield. They will accept you as they accepted me.”
May you find your home wherever you go.
She thought to herself that she had indeed found her place.
At that moment, a hand held out a wine glass, and Qiao Yanshen let the glass meet it, gently clinking them together.
"Yan Shen, you did very well." Yan Xueya put away her wine cup. "Such movement techniques can also be used in actual combat in the future."
"Don't mention cultivation if the child is already tired!" Yi Xiaohan waved his hand and pushed various snacks in front of Qiao Yanshen. "Has she been making you practice this all the time? She's really relentless!"
Ruan Luoying smiled and said, "After all, this was brought by Xueya from his hometown. Whenever he goes on stage, it is always the finale, so it is naturally very important."
Qiao Yanshen lowered her eyes, her eyelashes casting shadows in them, concealing a faint weariness. She listened to her teachers' conversation, only answering a few words when asked, otherwise remaining silent. Cup after cup of wine went down her throat; she didn't use her spiritual power to neutralize it, but simply let her consciousness sink into the warm intoxication.
Chi Yueying noticed that she was absent-minded and was about to tell her to go back and rest when a "Senior Sister" stopped all unspoken or ongoing conversations.
Looking up, I saw a young man in red standing before me, his fists clenched, his eyes gleaming and swaying with the flickering firelight.
"Junior Sister," Qiao Yanshen smiled, his voice gentle, "Why is your face so red?"
Shen Lixia didn't answer Qiao Yanshen's question. Instead, she walked to her side and extended her hand. Qiao Yanshen blinked, took her hand, and before she could even say a word, the boy led her towards the woods.
Ruan Luoying and Yi Xiaohan exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying three words: Something's up. They both turned to Yan Xueya, but the woman, who was simply drinking, stopped abruptly when they looked at her: "Why are you looking at me like that? Is your sword itching or your blade rusty?"
"Your two students—"
Before they could ask their questions, Chi Yueying sealed their mouths with a silencing spell each. Yan Xueya roughly understood what she meant and smiled slightly.
“I think it’s great,” she said softly, “but I don’t know if I’ll live to see the day they form a bond.”
As if they hadn't expected her to understand and think of this, the three of them were slightly taken aback. Before they knew it, their cups and saucers were taken away, and three jars of wine were placed on the table.
"If you don't want to kill your cravings, drinking like this is much more enjoyable. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you won't spoil my fun?"
Oh right, this person is from Xueyuan. He's efficient, speaks frankly, and can drink from a whole jar without choking.
They walked very fast, passing through the laughing crowd, away from the overflowing aroma of wine, until a gentle breeze touched their faces, and once again stepped onto the open space where they had previously admired the stars.
When the voices faded into the distance, leaving only the music echoing through the trees, Shen Lixia stopped and turned around. She gripped Qiao Yanshen's hand tightly, feeling the sudden gust of wind bring a chill.
The person in front of me had all of their black hair loose and their bangs were messy, but it couldn't hide their gentle, watery eyes.
At this moment, the senior sister seemed to come alive again, breathing slightly, returning her warm handshake, and looking at her with eyes full of smiles. Shen Lixia had drunk a lot of wine before coming to find her, and now her whole body was burning up, and she couldn't tell why.
As soon as the wind blew, she quickly raised her hand, as if she had forgotten that they were both cultivators, and said earnestly, "Senior Sister, I can also light the campfire."
As they spoke, flames suddenly ignited around them, dancing among the shadows of the trees and illuminating the two people in the center. The flames were gentle, so they did not scare away the fireflies, allowing the luminous insects to continue moving around.
This isn't a campfire. Besides, won't they set the mountain on fire? Qiao Yanshen glanced at the treetops and only looked away when she realized the spirit fire was under control. Little did she know that her junior sister had caught her in that moment of distraction, and her face visibly changed from joy to grievance.
"Senior Sister, what are you thinking about?"
"I wasn't thinking about anything," she replied softly, a smile in her eyes. Unexpectedly, the young man was dissatisfied with her answer. He frowned slightly, seemingly thinking for a moment before suddenly pulling away from her, though their hands remained tightly clasped.
"I'm right in front of my senior sister... doesn't she miss me?"
She looks absolutely adorable right now, like a bird greedily pecking at fermented berries, its feathers all fluffy from being drunk.
Yes, of course I'm thinking of you. Qiao Yanshen thought silently, without saying it aloud.
As Shen Lixia listened to the faint music, she suddenly remembered something from the past that she had never formally done with anyone. At this moment, drunkenness overwhelmed her reason, so she didn't hesitate and acted on a whim.
"Senior Sister, shall we dance together?"
Qiao Yanshen did not expect her to say that, but the surrounding firelight hissed and danced, full of enthusiasm and joy, just like her words.
She chuckled and asked, "What kind of dance would you like to perform, junior sister?"
Shen Lixia said, "Whatever. My senior sister and I have always had a good understanding. Now it's a good time to see just how good our understanding is."
As she spoke, she released Qiao Yanshen's hand, bowed slightly, and then reached out again.
Despite wearing a beautiful and elaborate long robe, such etiquette did not seem out of place.
Light music flowed, and Qiao Yanshen took her hand, letting her lead him to match the rhythm of the unknown melody. They were indeed very in sync; with every move, if one quickened her pace, the other would calmly follow; when Shen Lixia lost her balance, Qiao Yanshen would reach out and pull her closer.
She leaned back slightly and felt the boy's burning palm against her waist, holding her tightly.
The junior sister's stunningly beautiful face naturally drew closer, her hair falling gently against her skin, causing a silky itch. The sweet, intoxicating scent of wine wafted over, mingling with Shen Lixia's faint yet burning aura, enveloping her completely.
A warm tide surged towards Qiao Yanshen once more. Looking into those pale golden eyes, her heart trembled. Their intimacy lasted only a moment before they parted again, leaving only the lingering sensation of his burning fingertips on her waist, causing her to bite her lip involuntarily.
The music stopped, and the dance came to an end. Qiao Yanshen had almost forgotten that Shen Lixia was still drunk, thinking that perhaps her drunkenness had been dispelled by the evening breeze, but he saw that the boy was still blinking and speaking indistinctly.
"Senior Sister..."
Her appearance pleased the person in front of her, making her smile again, her eyes even slightly narrowed. A pair of hands cupped Shen Lixia's face and gently patted it twice.
However, this could not bring the boy to his senses. She stared blankly into Qiao Yanshen's eyes, her mind filled with only one thought.
She liked the person in front of her, and understood her feelings more deeply than ever before.
She likes the senior sister.
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