I Can Only Rely on You Now!

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

Qi Xiao’s question to the man before her came from genuine bewilderment in her heart.

She searched her conscience.
She believed she had shown him sufficient respect and wariness.
Moreover, when he was framed, she had sincerely extended her goodwill.
While it was true that her actions were motivated by fear of retaliation, who could say her deeds weren’t kind?
Was a good deed done out of fear and worry no longer a good deed?
She absolutely could not agree with that.

Thus, even she lost a bit of her composure at this moment, sharply questioning Li Wangyan like this.
Of course, there was an element of bluster in her tone.
She felt she likely had no real way to deal with this junior brother of hers.

“Senior Sister, don’t be so hasty.” Li Wangyan appeared very composed.
“We can speak slowly.
Don’t panic.
Haste makes waste.”

You have the nerve to tell me not to be hasty?!
You’re the one who did this to me!

Despite her thoughts, Qi Xiao still released her grip on Li Wangyan’s collar.
She knew deep down that panic wouldn’t solve anything.
As a qualified cultivator, the only thing to consider when facing a problem was how to solve it.

“As expected of Senior Sister, remaining unflustered even if mountains collapse before you.
It is only fitting that Senior Sister achieves great things.”

Qi Xiao didn’t want to hear this.
She just stared coldly at Li Wangyan.
“Give me an explanation.”
“What is your purpose in returning to the sect?
What have you done to me?
How do I change back?”
Her questions went straight to the core.

Li Wangyan chuckled.
“As for the first question~ Senior Sister should have an idea.
I returned to the sect, of course, for revenge.
Revenge against my dear master, against my eldest and second senior brothers, against True Master Prison Law, even against the Sect Leader who never showed himself, and against the fifty disciples who entered the secret realm with me back then.
Those disciples were all heavenly prodigies, at Qi Refinement ninth layer back then.
Five years have passed; they must have all entered Foundation Establishment by now?”

Revenge…

Qi Xiao wasn’t surprised by this answer.
In fact, it would be strange if a protagonist didn’t seek revenge.
You wronged me, and now that I’m strong, if I don’t take revenge, what did I cultivate all this power for?
So, this was an answer Qi Xiao had anticipated.

She just kept staring at Li Wangyan.

“As for what I did to Senior Sister… Senior Sister, haven’t you already seen it?
I turned you into such a beautiful female cultivator.
As for how to change back… there’s no way, Senior Sister.”

“What?!”

What kind of answer was that?
You turned me into such a beautiful female cultivator?
Did I ask you to?
And what do you mean there’s no way to change back?

She wanted to press further, but Li Wangyan’s response had already told her—this person wouldn’t answer properly.
He wouldn’t give her a straight answer.

“Li Wangyan, do you think that just because you saved Master’s life, you can do whatever you want?
Although it sounds treasonous, Master is a person of a cold and detached nature.
Back when you saw Master’s decree, you should have understood.
Do you really think that after doing something like this, Master would back you up?”
“Back me up?” Li Wangyan smiled.
“Master will definitely back me up, my dear Senior Sister.
Otherwise, shall we go see Master together?
Speaking of which, in terms of appearance, Senior Sister might be slightly inferior to Master now.”
“What?!”
“But Senior Sister needn’t worry.
Although Master’s beauty is peerless and her figure is… extraordinary, I genuinely prefer your type, Senior Sister.
Your development is also quite good, yet not as exaggerated as Master’s.
And your appearance, though slightly less stunning than Master’s, possesses this noble and sacred aura that Master lacks.”
“You… you actually… But yesterday…”
“The ‘Flower in the Mirror, Moon on the Water’ technique.
Senior Sister should know it too, right?”

So, when she saw Master yesterday, Master had already been transformed into a woman by Li Wangyan?

Preposterous!

But Master’s eyes yesterday were indeed no longer as sharp as before…
What did that have to do with being male or female, though?

Regardless…

“Let’s go see him then!”

When the two arrived at True Master Dao Sword’s cave abode.

True Master Dao Sword saw Qi Xiao.

“What brings the two of you to my cave abode?”
“Master, Senior Sister, why not dispel the spell?”

Upon hearing this, True Master Dao Sword was visibly taken aback.

He watched as Qi Xiao dispelled the ‘Flower in the Mirror, Moon on the Water’ technique on herself, revealing her female appearance.

True Master Dao Sword was silent for a few seconds, then dispelled his own illusion as well.

A flicker of awe passed through Qi Xiao’s eyes.

One had to admit, Junior Brother Li Wangyan hadn’t lied.
Her master truly possessed breathtaking, peerless beauty.
A face so perfect it seemed bestowed by the Creator.
However, slightly incongruous with that face was her figure, which could only be described as… extraordinary.
One hand absolutely could not grasp it all!

The cool, aloof Great Thunder Sword Immortal?
Interesting.

Qi Xiao felt like she could almost hear phantom “hoooooh” sounds.

Considering this, she immediately erased such vulgar thoughts from her mind.
What was she thinking?

She saw True Master Dao Sword, just as she had done moments ago, approach Li Wangyan and demand:
“You beast!
If you seek revenge against us, turning me into this… fine.
I owe you, I wronged you, I owe you a life.
Being transformed like this, I have no complaints.
But what wrong did Qi Xiao ever do to you?
How could you transform her like this as well?
Are you even human?”

Hearing her master’s anger on her behalf, Qi Xiao was momentarily touched.
She hadn’t expected her master to defend her so vehemently, even while suffering the same fate.

“Is Master now defending a disciple?”

Both individuals present were, of course, intelligent.
Li Wangyan’s thinly-veiled sarcasm was unmistakable.
Only a fool wouldn’t catch it.

“I… at that time… this master was also deceived and misled…”
True Master Dao Sword was clearly guilty, finding it difficult to refute Li Wangyan’s words, and could only offer this excuse.

“Whether it was deception or not, I will investigate slowly in due time, and the truth will come out, my dear Master.
You can save these words for after my investigation is complete.
I believe I will be very willing to hear your explanation then.”

True Master Dao Sword immediately didn’t know how to respond.

She knew better than anyone whether it was a frame-up, a misunderstanding, or something else…

Qi Xiao sighed inwardly.
She, of course, understood that her master, back then, was contending for the Sect Leader position and couldn’t afford any blemishes, hence the “righteous sacrifice” of Li Wangyan.
It was normal for Master to lack conviction now.
But then again—was her master the type to reason with a mere Foundation Establishment ant?
Was True Master Dao Sword someone who reasoned with small fry?
Could it be that Master had already tried to take action against Li Wangyan?
But because of the old grandpa behind Li Wangyan, Master didn’t dare act recklessly.

Qi Xiao thought this was possible.
In fact, the possibility was very high.
If the old man behind Li Wangyan could make her master wary, he must be at least a Transformation stage cultivator!

My decision not to act rashly was correct.
Qi Xiao felt a pang of relief.

“That… Wangyan, you… this master has some words to say to you and Senior Sister Qi.
Could you… perhaps leave us for a moment?”
“Oh?”

Li Wangyan stared at True Master Dao Sword, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips.

A flicker of entreaty passed through True Master Dao Sword’s eyes.

This expression was a rare sight.
Li Wangyan smiled.
“Then I shall not disturb Master and Senior Sister’s… heart-to-heart talk.”

He decisively left the cave abode.

True Master Dao Sword finally let out a sigh of relief, then turned a complicated gaze towards Qi Xiao.

“If you have any questions, you may ask.”
“—Master.
Junior Brother harbors hatred for the sect.
How could you bring him back?
He will surely turn the sect upside down.”

How could True Master Dao Sword not know this?

She sighed.
“Do you know that your junior brother possesses a treasure called the ‘Mystic Maiden Mirror’?
Its opening page states: ‘To record all extraordinary women under heaven’ to achieve the Great Dao.”
“Ah? Could it be that junior brother used such a treasure to transform us into female cultivators?”
“Precisely.”
“What grade is this treasure?”

True Master Dao Sword was silent for a long time before uttering two words:
“Immortal Artifact.”

Qi Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply.
She instinctively looked around as if fearing someone might have overheard the term, then finally said, “An Immortal Artifact!
Master!
How… how is that possible?”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but it is the fact.
Your master would not mistake such a thing.”
“Then… if we could obtain the Immortal Artifact, wouldn’t our path to immortality be assured?”

True Master Dao Sword looked at Qi Xiao and sighed.
“I too once had such thoughts.
However, since the Mystic Maiden Mirror is such an immortal treasure, it naturally has means to restrain us.
Although Li Wangyan’s cultivation is still low and he cannot yet unleash the Mirror’s true power, we who are recorded within it can do nothing against him.
Our fates are now intertwined.
We rise and fall together!”
“To think such a thing… But Master, if it’s merely turning us into women, while insulting, it isn’t excessively severe.
Especially since we are single-minded in pursuing the Dao.
It doesn’t seem like a fitting revenge for junior brother.
He will definitely do something more extreme.”

True Master Dao Sword’s hand trembled slightly.
She forced herself to appear calm.
“This master’s fear is exactly that.
As you said, if it’s revenge, he will not stop here.
His cultivation is still weak now.
Once his realm improves, he might very well be able to force us… to do things… that are too shameful to behold!”

It seemed Master had also imagined the scenario of those “hoooooh” sounds.

Qi Xiao certainly didn’t want that either.

“What should we do then?”

True Master Dao Sword could only reach out and take Qi Xiao’s hand.
“In such a situation, we can only rely on you, Qi Xiao!”
“Ah? Me?”
“I know you showed him kindness and goodwill that day.
He feels gratitude and admiration for you.
Perhaps you are the only kindness left in his heart.
If anyone can guide him towards the righteous path, it can only be you, Qi Xiao!
To avoid the potential tragedy that may come, you must do this!”