Cannot Be Hidden

The group, covered in grime, gazed upon the fruits of their arduous labor. Each face was alight with satisfaction, yet shadowed by a distinct bewilderment.

“Eh? Senior Sister Bai,” one female disciple inquired, her voice tinged with confusion. “This house you’ve designed is truly peculiar. I’ve never seen anything like it. Will it actually be comfortable to live in?”

“I don’t know,” Bai Lan replied, focusing on the practical aspects. “However, it will certainly be much sturdier. Should we be attacked by sea demons again, it won’t be easily destroyed like our previous homes. Junior Sisters, I truly thank you all. Without your collective help, I estimate it would have taken me much, much longer.” She pointedly sidestepped any comments regarding the house’s unusual design.

Observing Bai Lan’s shift in attitude over the past few days, one could say she seemed to gradually grow accustomed to interacting with these girls. She found that getting along with them wasn’t as difficult as she’d imagined.

“It’s nothing at all,” a female disciple at the second level of Qi Refining said with a beaming smile. “Compared to Senior Sister Bai’s life-saving grace, our small assistance is utterly insignificant. In the future, if Senior Sister Bai or Senior Sister Xue ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask us. We will certainly help in any way we can.”

This particular girl was named Sun Fuyao. Among the ordinary disciples, her talent was considered quite exceptional, especially since most outer sect disciples remained at the first level of Qi Refining, while she had already reached the second.

“Alright then, Junior Sisters, please return and rest,” Bai Lan said. “You’ve all worked hard. The three of us will likely need to properly decorate the interior of this house ourselves, so we won’t trouble you with these matters.”

The group all nodded, then, led by Sun Fuyao, they cheerfully departed, heading back to their own residences. Only after they had left did Bai Lan turn her gaze towards the three houses. They had already used their spiritual energy to accelerate the solidification of the mud, meaning the structures were now firm. All that remained was to tidy up the interiors before they could move in.

“Ah, Junior Sister Bai Lan, Junior Sister Linglong,” Li Yunxi sighed. “Your elder sister has truly benefited from your good fortune.”

“Don’t say that,” Xue Linglong immediately countered, shaking her head. “There’s no need for such formality between us.”

But just then, something unexpected occurred. A female disciple, clad in a pristine white dress, descended gracefully from the sky, her aerial approach bringing her directly before Bai Lan, Xue Linglong, and Li Yunxi. The three of them froze in stunned surprise.

Anyone capable of flight with the aid of a spiritual treasure had to be at least a Golden Core cultivator. Xue Linglong and Li Yunxi immediately fixed their gazes upon the newcomer. As for Bai Lan, the moment she recognized her, a wave of awkwardness washed over her.

“Greetings, Personal Disciple Senior Sister.” Having observed the newcomer’s attire, Xue Linglong and Li Yunxi immediately recognized her. She was a personal disciple from the Inner Sect’s Immortal’s Abode.

Indeed, it was Ximen Xue. As for her purpose, Bai Lan had already formed a rough guess.

“No need for formalities,” Ximen Xue stated plainly. “I’m here for her. You two may do as you wish. You, come with me.” With that, she seized Bai Lan’s hand and shot into the sky. Without a single word of argument, she flew directly towards the Inner Sect’s core area.

It was all so sudden. Xue Linglong and Li Yunxi immediately grew anxious, fearing that Bai Lan had somehow gotten herself into trouble.

“Linglong, Sister Yunxi, it’s alright! I’ll be right back,” Bai Lan quickly called out. Even as she ascended, she had caught sight of the worried expressions on Xue Linglong and Li Yunxi’s faces.

Xue Linglong paused, then quickly recollected herself. She remembered that Bai Lan had already been accepted as an Inner Sect disciple, and her time in the Outer Sect was merely a formality. Furthermore, she had met Bai Lan’s master before, which allowed her to quickly calm her fears.

Meanwhile, Bai Lan addressed Ximen Xue.

“Seriously, Senior Sister,” Bai Lan remarked, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “Couldn’t you be a little less hasty? You dragged me away without even letting me say goodbye!”

Ximen Xue merely cast a strange, appraising glance at Bai Lan. Immediately, Bai Lan felt a surge of divine sense power sweep over her, scrutinizing her thoroughly. If anyone else had probed her with their divine sense in such a manner, she would certainly have been furious.

Yet, facing Ximen Xue, who had looked after her for three years, Bai Lan simply resigned herself. She had long since been seen in her entirety anyway. As for the matter of her body transforming into a woman’s…

She knew it couldn’t be hidden. When Bai Yiren had saved her last time, she already understood that Bai Yiren would undoubtedly seize an opportunity to question her about what had transpired.

“If your aura hadn’t been so familiar, I would have thought I’d mistaken you for someone else,” Ximen Xue questioned, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Junior Brother, what happened to you? Why has your body transformed from a man’s into a woman’s?”

Such a bizarre occurrence was truly incredible, even to her. However, being of a naturally reserved disposition, she rarely let her emotions show on her face.

“This? This matter is quite complicated. I’ll explain everything when we see Master, to avoid having to explain it a second time,” Bai Lan sighed, unsure where to even begin.

“Alright,” Ximen Xue conceded. “By the way, were those two young girls your friends? One of them, the little one, seemed to possess quite remarkable talent.”

“Yes, I met them on the day I joined the sect,” Bai Lan replied with a smile. “One is named Xue Linglong, and the other is Li Yunxi. However, Li Yunxi’s talent is different. You must be referring to Xue Linglong; she’s a very gentle child.”

Ximen Xue nodded. Soon, they discreetly avoided the gazes of other disciples and arrived at Bai Yiren’s residence in the Immortal’s Abode.

Luo Yuyan was already there. The moment she saw Bai Lan in her current state, she, too, was utterly astonished. She stepped forward, her face a mask of disbelief, as she thoroughly scrutinized Bai Lan.

“No way, Junior Brother, your body, this? Is this real?” Luo Yuyan exclaimed, her hand involuntarily reaching out to touch Bai Lan’s chest.

Bai Lan hadn’t anticipated that this woman would directly assault her chest. The moment her body was touched, she shivered as if struck by lightning, instinctively retreating several steps.

“This… what is this feeling? Electrified?” Bai Lan’s expression was stiff and bewildered after she had stepped back.

Luo Yuyan’s expression, however, was even more exaggerated.

“Oh my heavens, it’s real! Junior Brother, you’ve truly become a Junior Sister! Master told me, and I didn’t believe it, but it’s actually true. What on earth happened?” Luo Yuyan looked as if the sky itself were about to collapse.

“Whoa, whoa, Second Senior Sister, don’t be so dramatic!” Bai Lan took a deep breath, trying to shake off that peculiar sensation, then said, “Let’s go see Master first, and I’ll explain everything to you then.”

“Alright, but you’d better explain it clearly,” Luo Yuyan grumbled, clearly annoyed. “If your explanation isn’t satisfactory, this elder sister won’t forgive you! Just half a year ago, you were a cute little boy, and now, after only half a year, you’ve become a big-chested elder sister? How infuriating!”

Luo Yuyan possessed a rather petite figure, one that simply couldn’t compare to Bai Lan’s. Even Ximen Xue, with her typical ice queen physique, couldn’t measure up to Bai Lan’s new endowments.

Soon, they entered Bai Yiren’s residence. Upon their arrival, Bai Yiren quickly emerged from her cultivation chamber. When at home, Bai Yiren typically dressed simply, her long hair flowing freely, clad in a plain white gown. Yet, even this understated attire could not conceal her profound beauty.

“Master, I’ve brought Junior Brother,” Ximen Xue announced.

Bai Yiren nodded, then walked over to Bai Lan and examined her closely. Interestingly, Bai Lan and Bai Yiren shared an uncanny resemblance. Their temperament, the shape of their brows and eyes, and their overall appearance bore at least a five to seven out of ten similarity. Truly, anyone unfamiliar with them might easily mistake them for sisters or even mother and daughter.