Shen Xianyue Runs Into Chen Xueli?

Inside the inn:

“A… Achoo!”

Su Wanqing, who was meditating, suddenly sneezed.

She didn’t even need to think to know exactly who was cursing her right now.

Though she didn’t know the details, Shen Xianyue was definitely intensifying the search these days.

And once she was found… even an idiot could guess what would happen.

To avoid that witch, Su Wanqing hadn’t left her room for two full days.

Windows shut tight, afraid even a crack would give her away.

Her original plan was to tough it out until the day she was supposed to meet Li Ziyue, then sneak out of town, finish the mission, shove the heroine to the Red Embroidery Sect, and bolt straight back to the sect.

But now she was reaching her limit.

It was just too damn boring.

All she could do was cultivate or sleep.

Sure, back at Heavenly Sword Pavilion she’d spent long periods in seclusion too.

But even then, she could at least step into the courtyard or stroll through the bamboo forest on the mountain.

Now?

She was cooped up in this tiny room like a prisoner—door sealed, second door sealed, couldn’t even get a proper cup of tea!

Of course the inn had tea.

Just not the tea she wanted.

She deeply regretted not bringing her own stash.

But she couldn’t go out to buy any now.

She was so bored she felt grass growing on her head.

“I want afternoon tea…”

Missing the fragrance of tea and the delicious pastries she’d bought the other day, Su Wanqing completely lost the will to cultivate.

She flopped onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“…”

Silence.

Then, without quite knowing why, she took out her transmission token and just… looked at it.

A moment later, she unconsciously channeled spiritual energy into it.

Three seconds later, a voice came through.

“Master, what’s wrong?”

Chen Xueli.

After a long internal struggle, hunger finally defeated shame.

Su Wanqing whispered tentatively:

“Are you… busy right now?”

Her tone was so soft and hesitant that any outsider would instantly misunderstand—like a lonely little wife missing her partner.

Good thing Chen Xueli was alone when she answered, or the misunderstanding would’ve been catastrophic.

At the question, Chen Xueli glanced at Qiao Jinxuan, who was going door-to-door asking villagers questions, and answered without hesitation:

“Not busy.”

“Good. Then come here.”

Su Wanqing gave her the address and asked her to come over.

“Understood, disciple is on the way.”

Chen Xueli didn’t refuse.

Just from her voice, she could tell something was off with Su Wanqing.

Worry immediately surged in her heart.

It had only been two days—what had happened to Master?

Why was she suddenly calling her over?

“Junior sister, my master needs me for something.”

“You keep going. I’ll head out first.”

After ending the transmission, Chen Xueli walked over to Qiao Jinxuan and took her leave.

Their current job was just visiting villagers—nothing dangerous, just tedious.

But anything involving Su Wanqing took absolute priority for Chen Xueli.

“Eh?!”

Before Qiao Jinxuan could react, Chen Xueli had already vanished, leaving no room for argument.

Staring at the endless row of houses, Qiao Jinxuan sighed in despair:

“How long is this going to take…?”

Though Chen Xueli wasn’t in town, she wasn’t far either.

Ten minutes of sword flight, and she was back at the town gate.

Following the address, she quickly arrived at the inn.

“Mas—Master…!”

Afraid something had happened, Chen Xueli burst through the door, panting heavily from rushing.

She had expected some urgent matter.

Instead, the sight made her want to laugh and cry at the same time.

“You… are you okay?”

Seeing her beautiful master sprawled dramatically on the bed, Chen Xueli was still catching her breath from the sprint.

“Mm.”

“What did you need me for?”

Only after confirming Su Wanqing was safe did Chen Xueli finally relax.

Good—Master was fine.

“Uh…”

Originally, Su Wanqing hadn’t felt too embarrassed.

But seeing how worried Chen Xueli looked, guilt suddenly flooded her.

She should’ve explained clearly.

She hadn’t expected the rebel disciple to think something bad had happened.

Still… seeing how much she cared warmed her heart a little.

“This master…”

Thinking about what she was about to ask, Su Wanqing hugged her pillow tightly.

A blush slowly crept up her usually cold face.

She couldn’t quite bring herself to say why she had really called her over.

“This master wanted…”

…

Scene change.

Chen Xueli was now at the pastry shop Su Wanqing had visited the other day, buying enough for two.

“Here you are, sir.”

“Mm.”

Looking at the pastries in her hand, Chen Xueli let out a helpless laugh.

She really hadn’t expected Master to drag her out for something like this.

Though that shy, blushing, embarrassed request just now had been utterly adorable.

But still, she sensed something was wrong.

She didn’t ask, though.

She just bought exactly what Su Wanqing wanted.

If Master wasn’t telling, she’d investigate herself.

“Time to head back—”

She’d already gotten tea from the teahouse.

Now with pastries in hand, she should go.

Master was probably getting impatient.

But just as Chen Xueli was about to leave the shop,

a pale-purple-haired girl brushed past her, walked in, and asked the shopkeeper:

“Boss, any news about that person?”

“?”

Chen Xueli, not usually nosy, suddenly slowed her steps.

Her sixth sense was screaming—this girl was trouble.

And sure enough,

right after she stepped out the door,

the shopkeeper shook his head.

Shen Xianyue’s face fell—disappointed and a little troubled.

Even then, Chen Xueli wouldn’t have thought much of it.

Until she heard her own name.

“Sigh… this is really strange.”

“I’ve been asking around for so long, and it seems ‘Chen Xueli’ isn’t even her real name?”

Chen Xueli: …?

Wait.

What the f*ck?