Can Fellow Disciples Not Be Lovers?

A myriad of neon-lit films from her past life flashed through her mind, causing Luochen to helplessly rub her forehead.

This conversation was far too unhealthy; it made her feel as though she were engaged in something peculiar.

With an exasperated sigh, she gently tapped Ning Yao’s head. “The requirement is simply to let go and watch from the side.”

“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm,” Ning Yao cheerfully assented, stepping back to the side.

“If I can be saved, Yue will naturally follow your command,” Liu Yue also spoke, agreeing to the terms.

“Good,” Luochen nodded, then produced a small, delicate porcelain bottle.

Immediately, the fresh scent of bamboo leaves permeated the entire room.

“Senior Sister,” Su Yue said, a hint of urgency in her voice. “Each one we use is one less we have.”

“It’s fine,” Luochen waved her hand dismissively.

Although the Bamboo Green Pill was exceedingly precious, Luochen, whose body still harbored a nearly solidified core of spiritual energy, had little need for it herself.

At least, that would remain true until she had expended this accumulated spiritual power.

Extracting a single pill, Luochen gestured for Liu Yue to open her mouth.

“Soon, you will feel a surge of spiritual energy within you. Do not attempt to expel or resist it, or a repellent reaction will occur.”

“Understood.”

As the spiritual pill entered her system, Liu Yue felt a powerful surge of spiritual energy actively expelling the snake venom, simultaneously mending her internal organs, which had been ravaged and left riddled with holes.

Throughout this process, Liu Yue exerted every ounce of her will to overcome her body’s instinctive urge to retaliate against the foreign energy.

After a long while, she finally expelled a mouthful of tainted blood.

Witnessing this, Su Yue offered a Five-Turn Soul Revival Pill. Liu Yue cast a grateful glance at her before consuming it.

Gradually, her lips transformed from a pallid purple to a healthy crimson, and the swelling across her entire body began to recede.

“Senior Sister!” Ning Yao exclaimed, rushing forward to embrace her.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine now,” Liu Yue reassured her, gently stroking her head, her eyes brimming with tenderness.

Gazing at her senior sister’s face, etched with the weariness of her ordeal, Ning Yao could no longer suppress her emotions and leaned in to kiss her.

“Mmm,” a soft, involuntary gasp escaped Liu Yue’s throat.

Liu Yue froze for a moment, yet she did not push away the junior sister before her; instead, she pressed her hand to the back of Ning Yao’s head.

“Hey, hey, hey, what are you two doing?!”

Luochen was utterly bewildered. One moment they were facing a life-or-death separation, and the next they were kissing?

As their lips parted, a faint blush crept onto Ning Yao’s cheeks. “We’re a couple,” she stated.

“Aren’t you two fellow disciples?”

Luochen was speechless with shock.

“Can’t fellow disciples be lovers?” Ning Yao retorted, her tone entirely righteous.

Su Yue’s eyes immediately lit up.

Oh, you’ve done well!

Su Yue believed she could seize this opportunity to gauge her senior sister’s attitude toward such matters.

“It seems… there’s some truth to that,” Luochen mumbled, scratching her head, unable to find a reason to object.

Oh yeah, there’s a chance!

It appeared her recent actions could afford to be bolder.

Even as Su Yue was meticulously planning her future endeavors, Liu Yue had already struggled to her feet.

“My deepest thanks to both of you.”

Taking Ning Yao’s hand, she bowed deeply and earnestly.

“I am Liu Yue of the Scarlet Cloud Sect, and this is my junior sister, Ning Yao. Her temperament is still somewhat immature, and I apologize for any trouble she has caused you both.”

Liu Yue?

Luochen seemed to recall something. “I remember you. You are Cult Master Yan Shu’s eldest disciple.”

“Precisely. However, my late master has already ascended, and the other peaks are all coveting the position of main peak, eager to become the new Sect Master. I can only struggle to hold on.”

“Oh?” Luochen mused, as if a thought had just struck her.

“Junior Sister, please step outside for a moment.”

Liu Yue patted Ning Yao’s shoulder, signaling for her to leave.

“Hmph, you’re talking about important things and not including me,”

Though she grumbled, Ning Yao obediently departed.

Witnessing this, Luochen became even more convinced of her suspicions.

“This snake venom was part of a scheme orchestrated by someone within your sect, its purpose being to eliminate you, the eldest senior sister.”

“Senior Sister Luo of the Flying White Sect truly lives up to her reputation,” Liu Yue said with a bitter smile. “The sect’s mission was to eradicate a nest of Five-Turn Brocade Snakes, but there was also a Seven-Turn King Brocade Snake present.”

“The so-called reinforcements were merely a deception for my junior sister; all they truly intended was to collect my corpse.”

“Are you not going to tell her the truth?” Su Yue inquired, leaning against the wall and idly toying with the entirely silver Chixiao Sword in her hand.

Liu Yue was momentarily speechless. “But she’s only…”

“You merely treat her as a child who needs protection,” Su Yue interrupted her. “Doing things you believe are for her own good only serves to move yourself.”

“An eagle confined to its nest will never learn to soar through the sky.”

“You are right.” After a moment of silence, Liu Yue nodded. “What I’ve done was merely my own wishful thinking. I will find an opportunity to tell her the truth.”

“By the way, I have another question, if it’s convenient to ask,” Luochen said, as if remembering something, and opened her mouth to inquire.

“Speak freely.”

“Cult Master Yan Shu was ambushed by Ye Yuli; was there a particular reason behind this? One must consider that this battle also severely depleted Ye Yuli’s vital energy, making such an act seem entirely unnecessary.”

Liu Yue appeared to fall into contemplation, recalling the past. “My master, back then, seemed to have discovered the hidden lair of a branch of the Phantom Soul Cult. After destroying it, she incurred the enmity of the Cult.”

“Did she… bring out a girl, approximately ten years old?”

“I regret to say, I do not know that,” Liu Yue replied, shaking her head apologetically.

“Thank you,” Luochen acknowledged with a nod.

Still, it was impossible to confirm. This entire matter was truly shrouded in mystery.

Liu Yue’s voice broke her train of thought.

“I cannot repay your life-saving kindness, but would you perhaps honor me with your company for a meal tomorrow?”

“That would be fine.”

****

The following day.

After a lively gathering, both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.

“Are you really leaving?” Ning Yao asked, a hint of reluctance in her expression.

It was her first time playing with anyone other than her senior sister.

“We have urgent matters to attend to, so we must depart first,”

Luochen replied with a smile, though her spirits were noticeably subdued.

Su Yue discerned the lingering, unshakeable sorrow etched between her senior sister’s brows.

Yesterday, Luochen had dreamt of Qingniu Village again, waking with a start in the middle of the night and startling Su Yue, who had been about to engage in some mischief.

She nearly got caught, but thankfully, Senior Sister hadn’t suspected anything.

Recalling the thrilling near-discovery from last night, Su Yue patted her chest, a wave of lingering fear washing over her.

In any case, they needed to investigate soon.

An indescribable unease gnawed at Luochen’s heart; she couldn’t shake the feeling that a conspiracy was brewing.

“Then let us part ways here.” Liu Yue retrieved a token from her storage ring. “This is a guest token from the Scarlet Cloud Sect; you are welcome to visit our sect anytime you wish in the future.”

“Then I shall thank Senior Sister Liu,” Luochen accepted without ceremony, sweeping her sleeve to tuck the token into her robes.

“Let’s go,” Su Yue said, turning slightly and naturally intertwining her fingers with Luochen’s.

“Let’s go too,” Liu Yue was about to say, but then she caught sight of her junior sister’s somewhat resentful expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your hand, give it to me,” Ning Yao demanded, pointing first at Luochen and Su Yue’s tightly clasped hands, then at her own hand, which she had apparently extended some time ago.

Liu Yue offered a sheepish smile and placed her hand into Ning Yao’s.

Ning Yao watched Luochen and Su Yue naturally holding hands, then glanced at her own somewhat slow-witted senior sister beside her.

“I really don’t know who the couple is and who the sisters are”

She muttered, feeling a familiar frustration.