She Knelt—And the Price Was Set

“Lin Wushuang, I never imagined you were actually female.”

Honestly, Jade Lotus seeking her out wasn’t surprising—at least not to Lin Wushuang. Yesterday, her master had told her some things. She suspected the so-called Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill probably didn’t exist either; it was just something used to deceive Jade Lotus.

She heard Li Wangyan intended to use Jade Lotus to investigate True Master Prison Law… She didn’t dare reveal the truth to Jade Lotus. If Li Wangyan found out, her fate would likely be very miserable.

“I have always been female. I just never imagined you would take the Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill.”
Jade Lotus smiled bitterly.
“That day, the demonic sects attacked. I had no choice.”

Of course, Jade Lotus was also lying. After all, she knew Li Wangyan had tampered with her. But she couldn’t tell Lin Wushuang that.

“Have you met your Dao Sword Peak’s new Peak Lord?”
“You mean my junior brother who was expelled years ago? No need to test like that. Regarding the past, my junior brother already received punishment. Now, it’s because he showed Master kindness that Master brought him back. Our righteous path always distinguishes merits from faults. Since the matter is in the past, naturally the merits are rewarded.”
“You are quite open-minded—I heard you and your junior brother are… close?”
Lin Wushuang shook her head.
“It’s just that Master hopes my junior brother and I can put aside past misunderstandings and forgive each other. I also want to resolve the conflict, so I act slightly more intimate.”
“I see… but I never imagined you would look so charming. Had I known earlier, when we were competing, I might have shown more tender care for a beauty.”
Lin Wushuang laughed.
“You couldn’t beat me back then anyway. Tender care for a beauty? You probably would have had your head smashed. Besides, you say I look charming. I think you look sweet. If seeking a cultivation partner, I think men in this world would probably prefer your type.”
“I… this is out of helplessness.”
“Oh.”

Jade Lotus bit her lip. She finally stated her purpose for coming.
“I heard your mind was shattered and your realm dropped?”
Lin Wushuang was instantly startled.
“Who told you that?”

Asking, she already knew the answer—it had to be Junior Brother. Jade Lotus was transformed by him, after all; perhaps they had some connection…

“How I know is none of your concern,” Jade Lotus said.
“But seeing you today, it really is true. Lin Wushuang, if it were before, you would have already acted. Not acting now—is it because of mercy?”

Her expression became somewhat proud, then appeared with an ambiguous smile.
“I say… you didn’t truly develop romantic feelings during your travels, did you? Or perhaps, after returning, you developed feelings for your junior brother?”
“I! Have not!”
“If not, how do you explain your realm? I always said your Ruthless Sword Dao is no good. Too dependent on mind state. Not like us spell cultivators, who refine techniques, are not affected by external things, and only see the Dao as true—you sword cultivators just aren’t good in these aspects!”

Lin Wushuang very much wanted to lose control, but she knew she couldn’t—because she couldn’t win. Jade Lotus was surely waiting for her to act. She lost to Lin Wushuang in the sect competition before and now wanted to take advantage of the situation to regain ground.

“And what about you, Jade Lotus? Having taken the Yin-Yang Rebirth Pill and become like this, aren’t you considering finding a cultivation partner? Looking at your flower-like appearance and moon-like beauty, I think no one would mind your past. Besides, you’ve always been popular. Regardless of gender. You were always gentle and refined! I used to think you were effeminate—perhaps this was fate. You were meant to be a woman.”
“You! Lin Wushuang! Aren’t you being a bit too much?!”
“Oh? Am I too much?”

The two stared at each other, before both finally exhaled in relief.

Jade Lotus said, somewhat uninterested,
“So, for the Demonic Extermination Conference, you can’t take the stage?”
“If the sect insists I act, I have no reason not to.”
“I… might find it difficult to fight now.”
Lin Wushuang could only spread her hands.
“I don’t understand your spell cultivator matters.”

Jade Lotus left Lin Wushuang’s cave abode and went to Li Wangyan’s.

“Senior Sister Jade Lotus, you’ve met Eldest Senior Sister?”
“Her mind being shattered… does it have to do with you?”
“Of course.”

Of course? How can you say that so shamelessly?! You just admitted it?!

Jade Lotus felt her words stuck in her throat, unable to come out. She didn’t know how to describe her current feelings.

“Senior Sister Jade Lotus need not panic. It’s just the Demonic Extermination Conference. If the Heavenly Dao Sect can’t produce corresponding strong cultivators, they’ll just let another sect take the lead. Golden Core disciples competing won’t affect the overall situation. At most, my master and your master will be held accountable. And how would the sect hold Nascent Soul elders accountable? Just a few reprimands, no big deal.”
“I! My master cultivated me tirelessly! How can I let Master suffer such humiliation?!”

Li Wangyan said with interest,
“Oh? So, Senior Sister Jade Lotus has figured it out? No wonder you came to my cave abode. You plan to improve your combat power, huh!”
“You… isn’t this your intention? Isn’t this what you want?”
“Eh~ I don’t like hearing that.”

Li Wangyan sat on his stone bed, crossing one leg over the other, looking carefree and indifferent.
“I have already reformed, intending to be a gentleman. If Senior Sister thinks my intentions are impure, you can leave. I said it doesn’t affect anything. I don’t have the hobby of forcing others.”

Bullshit!
Even with Jade Lotus’s good temper, she really wanted to curse. But at this moment, she absolutely couldn’t. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to show the gentlest smile.
“Senior Sister of course doesn’t think that way. Just… sincerely, wanting to request Junior Brother’s help.”
“Hmm… Now that I like to hear. But Senior Sister, you also know ‘The Great Sorrow and Great Joy of Heaven, Earth, Qian, Kun, Yin, and Yang’ is a very precious cultivation technique. It’s said to be the Joyful Supreme’s way of attaining the Dao. It has remained unknown all these years. It wasn’t easy for me to obtain it—helping Senior Sister is only natural. But what reward will Senior Sister give?”

Jade Lotus widened her eyes. She could hardly believe her ears. She couldn’t believe such shameless words came from Li Wangyan’s mouth.

“This technique cultivation involves those kinds of things… I… doing those things with you… and you still want a reward from me? Wouldn’t I be losing both wife and soldiers? I’d be giving myself away too!”

“What? Senior Sister unwilling? That’s a good feeling. I originally intended to keep this technique to cultivate with my Senior Sister Qi. Using it on you would seem disloyal to Senior Sister Qi. If you hadn’t requested me, I wouldn’t have brought it up.”

Jade Lotus knew her master was now targeted by True Master Dao Sword and this Li Wangyan. Li Wangyan aside, if the war truly began, True Master Dao Sword was mid-Nascent Soul, even nearing late Nascent Soul—while her master was only early Nascent Soul.
Moreover, True Master Dao Sword’s killing power ranked highly among Nascent Soul True Masters. If her master showed any weakness… True Master Dao Sword might seek an opportunity during the war to act against her master to obtain the so-called truth…

She believed in her master, but she also knew True Master Dao Sword was a very cruel person.
Besides, recently, she seemed to have investigated some things… though she thought it might be a misunderstanding. But…

She had to win. She had to prove her value to the sect. Her cultivation method and her master’s were two complementary paths—the more she was serious, the more the sect would value her master. True Master Dao Sword should then show some restraint.
Even though the root cause of all this was this demon-collaborator Li Wangyan, now, she could only feed the demon with her own body…

Biting her red lips lightly, her face showing extreme humiliation. But the smile on Li Wangyan’s face grew even stronger. He felt he might be a little perverse; he liked girls showing such expressions.
Like Master, like Eldest Senior Brother, and now Jade Lotus before him.
But Senior Sister Qi rarely had such expressions. Even when he made her wear the dress or suddenly kissed her… she often looked at him with some confusion or curiosity.
She was pondering what kind of person he was.

That’s why Senior Sister Qi is different!

Li Wangyan couldn’t help but feel emotional. He smiled warmly at the Jade Lotus before him, whose face was full of humiliation.

“Whatever reward Junior Brother wants, just say it. As long as Senior Sister can fulfill, Senior Sister can…”

These words seemed to drain all of Jade Lotus’s strength. After saying them, she collapsed weakly to the ground. Years of pride, her ‘way of a gentleman,’ her ‘gentle as jade’—all seemed to be completely thrown to the ground by Li Wangyan, smashed into pieces, then trampled repeatedly.

“Senior Sister! Since Senior Sister has such sincerity, if I still refuse your request, that would be too much. However, as for my request… Senior Sister will know later. For now, let’s first improve Senior Sister’s cultivation. Hmm, it also improves my own cultivation. Not to boast, but cultivating the Great Dao with me, Senior Sister, will benefit you infinitely!”

Jade Lotus’s clothes slipped off her body.

…

Li Wangyan hadn’t been lying!

While cultivating “The Great Sorrow and Great Joy of Heaven, Earth, Qian, Kun, Yin, and Yang,” Jade Lotus truly felt the myriad Dao ideas circulating within Li Wangyan’s body. For a spell cultivator like her, these things indeed were highly beneficial. She even felt she was approaching the Nascent Soul gate, only one opportunity away…

Though…

She mobilized her inner spiritual power and did a brief cleansing.
She couldn’t possibly give birth under such circumstances…
Perhaps Li Wangyan would be angry, but she could only endure it.

Speaking of which… what exactly does Li Wangyan want me to do for him?