The fingers beside her curled slightly, and Liu Shuang made a soft sound of agreement without moving.
Shen Qiqi approached her, her fingertips lightly brushing over her waist. She stretched her arm forward, trying to hook the towel on the ground. Half of her body was leaning on Liu Shuang, and their distance suddenly closed. Her arm tightened, and she didn't realize that she was holding Liu Shuang tightly from behind.
Shen Qiqi's gaze froze, her soft chest unexpectedly pressed against Liu Shuang's back, and her fine hair fell on her shoulders. She unconsciously stiffened.
Warm breath covered her neck, close enough to feel each other's heartbeat growing clearer.
Thump, thump, thump.
Shen Qiqi was completely unaware that she was about to touch the towel, with only a few centimeters between her fingertips.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her outstretched fingers and wrapped them in a cool palm.
Liu Shuang's voice came lowly, "Your heartbeat is so fast... why?"
Shen Qiqi opened her mouth, her mind going blank.
She remained in the posture of reaching out with her hand, with the sound of a panicked heartbeat ringing in her ears, fervent and honest, as if it were the expression of someone's burning desire.
But these heartbeats didn't seem to belong to just herself.
"... You too," she blinked and said hoarsely, "Are you nervous, Senior sister?"
Liu Shuang did not speak.
In the silence, she couldn't see her face, but the tight and compact heartbeat in front of her seemed to be a more honest answer.
She might as well explain everything to her.
Shen Qiqi suddenly wanted to stand up, to shout out now while she still had the courage- what's with all the "whys"? I just like you!!!
But then she remembered the old man from the Nanming tribe, the opposition between Heaven's will and the demons, and the momentary confusion and hesitation she fell into.
Just then, Liu Shuang gently released Shen Qiqi's hand, leaned over and picked up the towel, and placed it lightly in her hand.
She took a deep breath, as if she had made an important decision, and said, "There's something I want to tell you."
Shen Qiqi looked at her, swallowed a breath of air, "What is it?"
Liu Shuang lowered her eyes, unconsciously squeezing her fingers, "Actually, I am not..."
"... Knock, knock, knock!"
The door suddenly knocked, breaking the tense atmosphere between the two people.
Shen Qiqi sprang away from behind Liu Shuang like a spring, nervously looking towards the door like a guilty conscience.
"Senior sister Liu, Junior sister, have you rested well?" Zhao Ke's voice came from behind the door. "The flying carriage is about to reach the foot of the mountain. Get ready now, and you can go down."
Strangely, no one answered. He had to bend his fingers and knock a few more times, loudly saying, "Are both of you here? Did you hear what I just said?"
After waiting patiently for a moment, Shen Qiqi's dry voice came from inside: "...We know, thank you, Senior Brother Zhao."
Getting a response, Zhao Ke didn't think too much, satisfied and left, leaving the two people staring at each other inside the room.
The atmosphere just now was gone, and Shen Qiqi was a little annoyed, biting her lip. It was rare for the two of them to be alone. If she could seize the opportunity just now to explain clearly, it would have been better.
Liu Shuang closed her eyes and sighed imperceptibly, not sure if it was joy or disappointment.
She had thought a lot just now and wanted to take the opportunity to explain the fact of her rebirth to Shen Qiqi. She didn't expect to be interrupted.
...Oh well, there will be many opportunities in the future. There's no rush for now.
Both of them kept their secrets and remained silent. After a moment, Shen Qiqi lowered her head and her gaze fell obediently on the floor, whispering, "The water temperature...is still hot. Senior sister, wipe yourself off first. I, I'll go out first."
Liu Shuang said, "...Hmm. Change into another outfit before you leave."
Shen Qiqi nodded and walked to the screen, taking out a dress from her Qiankun bag and quickly changing into it.
The one she was wearing was covered in bloodstains and couldn't be worn anymore. She crumpled it up and threw it away.
While tying her belt, she couldn't help but tiptoe and sneak a peek at Liu Shuang's graceful back from behind the screen. From this angle, she could see her wiping her face, small droplets of water running along her slender neck and rolling down her porcelain-white skin, finally gathering into a pool on the hem of her skirt.
She swallowed hard and slowly withdrew her gaze.
She really wanted to know what her Senior sister wanted to say to her just now, but she felt like it wasn't the right time to ask.
Shen Qiqi supported her waist and let her imagination run wild. She couldn't help but boldly speculate: her heartbeat was so fast just now--could it be that she also wanted to confess to me?
Her eyes gradually lit up, imagining: Is it possible that her Senior sister also likes me? Hehehe, there are still such good things in the world... But Liu Shuang was a straight woman in her previous life, is it really possible to bend her? Moreover, this person, "Shen Qiqi," had always targeted and excluded her...
Shen Qiqi rubbed her temples and suddenly felt that the road ahead was long and arduous. Why did she have to wear this vicious cannon fodder character? The capture level was simply doubled. If she had a new identity, she might have made progress already.
...
Zhao Ke leaned against the railing and looked down. The flying carriage was fully automated and didn't require a person to steer, and the speed of travel wasn't particularly fast. From this height, the vast yellow earth of the barren mountains unfolded inch by inch. You could see the evenly distributed white bones of animals in sunny areas, like relics from the prehistoric era that had fallen down, as well as clumps of drought-resistant plants that were dry and hard. There were also many rare birds and beasts that had not been seen before, like ants shrinking into small black dots, crawling on the ground.
"Senior Brother Zhao!" A clear voice came from behind when he was lost in thought.
Zhao Ke turned around and saw Shen Qiqi dressed and walking towards him with light footsteps.
She came to Zhao Ke's side and looked down with him. "What are you looking at?"
"Just looking around." Zhao Ke smiled. "I've never been here before. The scenery of the wasteland is quite unique. Every blade of grass and every tree is full of life, unlike what you can see in the mortal world."
Shen Qiqi propped up her cheek and said, "Not really. There are many strange things in the world. Maybe they exist outside, but you haven't been there."
"You make sense." Zhao Ke nodded slightly. "By the way, where is Senior sister Liu? Is she okay? Is her injury serious?"
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Zhao. I've given her medicine. She'll come out as soon as she changes her clothes."
"Okay, then I can rest assured."
Shen Qiqi continued, "Speaking of which, I really have to thank Senior Brother Zhao for his help this time, willing to come here with me. Walking these roads alone would have been very difficult for me."
"It was nothing," Zhao Ke smiled. "I'm more impressed with Junior Sister's friendship with Senior Sister Liu. I hesitated for a moment and added, 'I originally thought that your relationship was not good, but I didn't expect it to be so deep and meaningful. This heartfelt sincerity is admirable. In the future, I will never again casually listen to rumors."
Shen Qiqi smiled awkwardly and pursed her lips, "You flatter me. The rumors that Senior Brother Zhao is talking about, are they referring to the information network of the Qingli Sect?"
"Yes."
I haven't even opened it since it came through the book. Shen Qiqi looked at him curiously, "Oh, what do they say about us on there?"
Zhao Ke hesitated, "Um, some people think that your personality is stubborn and that you treated Liu Shuang too harshly before. Now you are trying to please her in every way possible, but Liu Shuang is still in the dark. Another group of people think that you should have an unspeakable relationship in private and find it very interesting, so they want to find out... In short, opinions are divided and it's all very confusing."
Shen Qiqi smiled wryly, "Hehe, it's really confusing." It's scary. They haven't even started spreading rumors, and these people have probably already imagined a hundred different versions.
Zhao Ke felt ashamed, "I heard them speak so confidently and even cited numerous examples as evidence, so I believed them without thinking. Now that I have seen Junior sister's pure and sincere character and how she treats Liu Shuang so well, it doesn't seem like an act, and I feel guilty."
Shen Qiqi patted him on the shoulder, "It's okay. The relationship between me and Senior sister is not determined by others. Let them spread rumors, it doesn't affect us."
Zhao Ke smiled brightly, "Alright, in that case, I wish you both a hundred years of happiness."
Shen Qiqi stiffened and whispered, "Senior Brother Zhao is thoughtful." If he knew that me and Senior Sister were not actually together, wouldn't that be terrible?
A voice suddenly sounded behind her, "What are you talking about?"
Zhao Ke was startled and turned his head to see, "Ah, Senior Sister Liu?! When did you come?"
Shen Qiqi's back went cold as she slowly turned around. She had forgotten that Liu Shuang walked like a cat, tiptoeing and making almost no sound. She didn't know how long she had been standing behind them.
.".. Could she have heard everything? Oh God, I'm done for!
Liu Shuang looked at them, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and whispered, "I just arrived."
Shen Qiqi's tense expression relaxed a bit and she asked hopefully, "Really?"
Liu Shuang gave her a fleeting glance and said, "When you patted Senior Brother Zhao's shoulder."
Shen Qiqi thought to herself, "Why do I feel like something's off about this look?"
"Did you hear what we said earlier?"
"Not much," Liu Shuang said. "Something about 'a hundred years of happiness'?"
Zhao Ke explained, "Ah, it's about Junior sister and..." Suddenly his right arm felt a sharp pain and he grimaced, "Ah!!! Junior sister, why did you suddenly pinch me?!"
"It's nothing," Shen Qiqi let go of his arm and looked at him. "We're almost at the foot of the mountain, let's land quickly. It wouldn't be good if someone saw us sitting in Situ Yun's carriage."
Zhao Ke rubbed his arm helplessly and sighed, "Alright, alright. But why are you talking so fast?"
"I'm a little impatient," Shen Qiqi smiled. "Don't be mad, Senior Brother Zhao."
Liu Shuang's gaze fell on her hand and she squinted her eyes imperceptibly.
The carriage swayed for a while and finally arrived at the foot of the mountain. It landed smoothly on the ground like a plane landing.
Shen Qiqi walked to Liu Shuang's side as usual and took her arm, carefully walking down the steps step by step. Liu Shuang leaned against her and looked down at the delicate fuzz on her face. Suddenly she spoke up, "Junior sister."
Shen Qiqi's ears felt hot and she immediately replied, "What's wrong, Senior sister?"
Liu Shuang's voice was almost a whisper, and her warm breath sprayed onto Shen Qiqi's earlobe, "What did you and Senior Brother Zhao talk about earlier?"
Shen Qiqi's movements tightened, but her steps didn't stop. She laughed awkwardly, "It's nothing!" Feeling Liu Shuang's gaze on her, her voice gradually lowered, "Senior sister, it really was nothing..."
Liu Shuang stared at her with a strange expression, "A hundred years of happiness? Who and who?"
Help, why does she still remember this?!
Shen Qiqi whispered, "It's really nothing, just gossip."
Liu Shuang pursed her lips, "What gossip? Tell me about it."
Will this ever end?!
Shen Qiqi sneered at her and muttered, "Senior sister, I didn't know you were so curious."
Liu Shuang whispered in her ear, "I don't know the half of it."
Shen Qiqi's ears turned red, and she took a deep breath. "He said he likes someone else. Can't he wish us well?"
"Who?" Liu Shuang asked.
Shen Qiqi rolled her eyes and apologized silently to Ji Zhihua, "Ji Zhihua!".
"Really?" Liu Shuang looked at her skeptically.
Shen Qiqi tried to sound calm and casual. "Yes, really."
Liu Shuang looked at her for a moment, then nodded slightly. "I see."
Shen Qiqi relaxed and slumped her shoulders. Zhao Ke watched them from behind and thought to himself, "Even when Senior/ junior sisters meet again, they still have so much to whisper about. They must have a deep bond."
...
The Futu Cave and the surrounding mountains were all restricted by Situ Yun's magic. Within a radius of one hundred li, the Water Mirror could not enter any scene. Even if the sect masters knew where they had gone, they could not spy on them.
Seeing the blank mirror surface, someone complained, "What about the Danfa Division? Didn't they send people to investigate? How come we still can't see anything?"
"Yeah, they said they would find out what's really going on, but it's been so long and there's been no progress!"
The white-bearded elder of the Danfa Division wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve and said in a trembling voice, "Don't panic, everyone. This mountain has been trapped by the demon, and my people have already arrived at the foot of the mountain. They are trying to figure out how to break the trap."
Yun Mingyi, the head of the Yunqu Pavilion, asked, "Have you found out how this demon young master managed to enter the Demon (nightmare) realm?"
The white-bearded elder nodded repeatedly, "I mishandled this matter. Just now, we received news that we have captured a demonic cultivator at the foot of the mountain. If you all want to find out more, I can bring that demonic cultivator up here to explain to the sect masters."
Everyone was delighted at the news. One person immediately slammed the table and said, "What are we waiting for? Bring him up now!"
The white-bearded elder nodded slightly, spoke a few simple words to a miniature water mirror in his hand, and the door to the Nightmare(Demon) Realm opened. Several white-clothed people holding weapons emerged from inside, surrounding a black-clothed demon in the center. The white-clothed disciples pushed the black-clothed person forward without ceremony, pushing him in front of the sect masters' seats. Everyone could see him clearly: the man hung his head, swaying back and forth, his face obscured, his body bound tightly with ropes that restricted his demonic energy.
Yue Siqiong, the master of the Zhaixing Sect, stepped forward and asked preemptively, "Who are you and why did you come here to cause trouble?"
The black-clothed demon in the center slowly raised his head, looked at him, and said nothing.
The scene was awkwardly quiet. Yue Siqiong's face turned red and white, and he said hesitantly, "You demons are truly audacious, to dare to cause trouble in the Nightmare Realm!"
The man suddenly laughed. His voice was hoarse, like fingernails scraping across sandpaper, "The Nightmare(Demon) Realm has always been ours since the beginning."
Everyone looked at each other, their faces changing at his words, not because they felt offended, but because what he said was true.
Hundreds of years ago, the Nightmare Realm had emerged from the demon realm as a natural environment, and as such, many demon beasts and spirits had made it their home, living there freely without human interference.
Later, it was heavily occupied by cultivators who looted and plundered it, leaving almost nothing behind. It was only then that people realized they needed to preserve the seeds and pursue sustainable development, and they promptly stopped their banditry.
Later on, the Nightmare Realm gradually became the elite trial ground for the disciples.
This matter was somewhat disgraceful, as the previous sect master had taken it without the owner's consent after consultations, which went against the "righteous way" that the immortal sects had always advocated.
"Nonsense," someone said, their face turning red, "The Nightmare Realm didn't have your name on it from the beginning..."
This statement was unreasonable. The black-clothed demon chuckled softly, "Yes, the righteous sects 'stole' it, but can you call it stealing when no one was using it? They just took it by force, and we should be grateful."
Every sentence he said was pointed, and several people couldn't help but feel nervous. Yun Mingyi scolded him, "How dare a little demon cultivator speak so arrogantly? Tell us, why did you come here?"
The black-clothed demon sneered, "It's my territory. I came because I wanted to. Do I need a reason?"
The crowd was angry and the scene was boiling: "This is unacceptable!" "Get him!" "Daring criminal!"
In the midst of such chaos, Shen Jue suddenly spoke up: "Quiet." His voice was deep and imposing, and everyone dared not offend him. They all quieted down, except for Yue Siqiong, who narrowed his eyes in anger.
Shen Jue looked down at the black-clothed demon and spoke calmly: "How did you get in?"
The black-clothed man paused, then slowly lifted his head. Everyone was stunned. His face looked terrifying. Every inch of skin, from his eyebrows to his jaw, was covered in scars, like deep ravines, destroying the once smooth and three-dimensional features of his face, making it impossible to recognize his original appearance.
Surprisingly, he looked around, smiled meaninglessly, and answered, "You'll have to ask one of you."
Shen Jue narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "What do you mean?"
The crowd's pupils contracted, their faces different, and they came up with different guesses.
Shen Jue asked again, "Who is that person?"
"I can't say," the black-clothed demon said, "I have integrity and must keep it a secret for them." With that, he didn't speak again.
Then Shen Jue asked him a few more questions, but didn't get any answers. He shook his head and signaled for several white-clothed disciples to take the black-clothed demon away.
Yue Siqiong was aggressive, "Master Shen, are you just going to let him go? Aren't you going to ask him more questions?"
Shen Jue looked at him but didn't say anything. He Yewu spoke up, "This demon is very cunning, he must have used something to dispel his demonic energy, and disguised himself as a participating disciple to sneak in."
"What? There's still something like that?"
"It is said that there is a 'marketplace' in the demonic realm, where many rare goods are traded, including treasures that dispel demonic energy."
Someone spoke out the thoughts in many people's minds, "But the location and time of the trials are different every year, so the demonic cultivator could not possibly know the specific details of this year's trial...someone must have informed him!"
Yun Mingyi said, "What the demon said may not be true, it could just be planting seeds of suspicion."
"What do you mean, Master Yun?"
Shen Jue said calmly, "Perhaps he spread false information to sow discord among everyone present."
Yue Siqiong smiled slightly, his hands clasped in his sleeves. "Master Yun, that may not be the case. Although the words of demon cultivators are strange and unpredictable, they may have some truth to them. It's best for everyone to be on guard and remain vigilant."
Suddenly, a blank water mirror ahead of them flickered, and several figures gradually appeared.
Shen Qiqi was carefully supporting Liu Shuang, with Zhao Ke following closely behind. The three of them were slowly walking out from the foot of the mountain.
Shen Jue's clenched fists gradually loosened, and his expression relaxed.
He Yewu exclaimed in surprise, "My god, she really rescued that disciple from the demon's hands!"
"Who are these two disciples? Their future is limitless!"
"That female disciple seems to be quite injured. I wonder what the demon cultivator did to her?"
"Situ Yun is truly ruthless! He acted so viciously and recklessly, where does that leave us righteous sects?"
The crowd was filled with indignation, as if they themselves had not just been watching and ignoring what was happening.
Someone expressed confusion: "Where did the purple-robed disciple who followed us go...?!" But this question was almost insignificant now, and no one cared about Ji Zhihua's whereabouts.
Yun Mingyi glanced at Shen Jue and smiled, "Sect Master Shen, you can finally relax now."
The crowd praised him, "Yes, yes, the disciples of the Qingli Sect are truly talented!"
"I wonder what method they used to deal with that demon. It's good that everything is peaceful now!"
However, Shen Jue didn't pay attention to these people. He looked at Liu Shuang in the mirror, his eyes darkening, seeming a bit puzzled.
Beside him, He Yewu noticed and asked concernedly, "What's wrong, Sect Master Shen?"
Shen Jue whispered, "The injuries on her body... are very strange." Although they originated from demonic energy, they didn't seem like they were caused by demonic beasts, but rather by something that a human had inflicted. However, with his current cultivation level, he couldn't tell what had caused her injuries.
"That Situ Yun is always scheming and capricious, he must have intentionally used some despicable methods to torment that disciple." He Yewu shook her head and sighed, "Ah, that person is truly pitiful."
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
"I'm here!!! I'm so sorry!!! I'm really sorry, everyone..."
"My state has been really bad recently, every time I open the document, I delete and change things, unsatisfied with what I've written. Thank you to all the readers who have been following my updates... (the author who is bad at speaking sheds tears)"
Translator's note: A bunch of old man 🙄.
To Be Continue!...