Uninvited Guests

Xiao Menglan couldn’t find anything to use as a red bridal veil for the moment, so she had to give up for now.

But she kept it in mind, thinking that once everything was over tomorrow, she must not forget about this red veil.

“Does this outfit feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Xiao Menglan asked.

Cao Xueyan shook her head.

This “Feather Phoenix Weave” was perfectly suited in both style and size, as if it had been tailor-made for her.

Moreover, it was actually a magical robe.

After recognizing its master, it would gradually adjust itself to fit its owner’s body even better — there was hardly another garment in the world that could fit more closely than this Feather Phoenix Weave.

After putting it on, Cao Xueyan felt that her spiritual power seemed to have slightly increased.

Not very noticeably, but it was indeed there.

It was clear that Xiao Menglan had found her quite a remarkable treasure.

The more Xiao Menglan looked, the more satisfied she became.

Holding Cao Xueyan’s small hand, she said, “Stand up and let your master take a look, will you?”

Cao Xueyan nodded shyly.

Although her legs felt a little weak for some reason, she still forced herself to slowly rise from the carpet.

That moment, she transformed from a crouching flamingo into a phoenix spreading its wings.

The previously folded layers of her skirt unfolded all at once, like a phoenix’s tail feathers — when they gently swayed, tiny sparks would occasionally leap out.

They say that clothes make the person.

In two lifetimes, this was the first time Cao Xueyan had ever worn something so magnificent.

As she watched, Xiao Menglan became lost in a daze.

Where had this celestial beauty come from?

Her disciple was so beautiful — and when she thought of how tomorrow Cao Xueyan would appear before all the other disciples wearing this very outfit, a twisted feeling welled up in her heart.

She wanted to keep her to herself, unwilling to share.

How nice it would be if such a lovely person could only appear before her alone.

For some reason, Xiao Menglan suddenly couldn’t see much of Wen Ruyu’s shadow on Cao Xueyan’s face anymore.

What was going on?

She was startled for a brief moment, but soon relaxed.

At this point, did it even matter whether Cao Xueyan resembled that person?

This good disciple’s body — Xiao Menglan had explored every inch of it, inside and out — she already knew it intimately.

Cao Xueyan was Cao Xueyan.

Wen Ruyu was Wen Ruyu.

From body to soul, they were completely different individuals.

If she were to force Wen Ruyu’s shadow onto Cao Xueyan, wouldn’t that be a kind of disrespect?

Read as “master and disciple,” written as “cultivation partners.”

Xiao Menglan had long since chosen to face the feelings in her heart.

Besides, hadn’t Cao Xueyan also disliked being mistaken for someone else in the beginning?

Since she had decided to treasure the present, then forgetting that person’s shadow might as well be a good thing.

Xiao Menglan couldn’t help but think — if Ruyu could know from the underworld, perhaps she would also feel happy for her.

“Master… is that enough now?” Cao Xueyan’s trembling voice pulled Xiao Menglan back to reality.

“This outfit feels uncomfortable to wear, I’d better take it off… and if it gets dirty or wrinkled, what will I wear tomorrow?”

“You little girl,” Xiao Menglan pretended to be angry.

“So unwilling to let your master look? Do you know how many places I went for this outfit? How many gifts I gave? How many favors I owed? Altogether, this dress might even be worth more than you!”

“Really!”

Cao Xueyan had guessed that the Feather Phoenix Weave might be valuable, but hearing Xiao Menglan’s words, she realized her imagination had been far too limited.

“It’s good that you understand. Now, turn around and let your master see the back.”

Without waiting for permission, Xiao Menglan gently turned Cao Xueyan by the shoulders.

Actually, the back wasn’t any different from the front.

After all, it was a ceremonial robe, not a seductive outfit — there was no revealing design like a backless dress; that would have been improper.

But Xiao Menglan still wanted to look.

Brushing aside a few loose strands of hair, the tight-fitting garment outlined the graceful curves beneath.

Further up, the only exposed part was that snow-white neck — like a mountain ridge covered in eternal snow.

Xiao Menglan stared, entranced.

She couldn’t help leaning in — her lips tracing along that ridge, kissing lightly and deeply, sometimes gentle, sometimes lingering.

Cao Xueyan gritted her teeth.

She knew it!

Once this woman started, she would never stop easily — she had to do something.

But fine — her body and heart already belonged to her anyway.

As the tingling sensation spread across her back, Cao Xueyan’s knees weakened.

If Xiao Menglan weren’t holding her, she would probably have collapsed to the ground again.

Finally, Xiao Menglan’s face sank into a soft place.

Cao Xueyan couldn’t endure it anymore — this couldn’t go on!

“Master!” she protested softly, unable to say more directly.

“You’ve seen it, you’ve touched it — but today’s cultivation still hasn’t…”

Xiao Menglan snapped back to her senses, stood up quickly, and cleared her throat, pretending to be serious.

“You’re right. Cultivation isn’t something achieved in one day. Even if tomorrow is our day of great joy, we must not slack off.”

Day of great joy?

So ambiguous!

Cao Xueyan bit her lip — the disciple initiation ceremony, in her words, now sounded like a wedding!

Ah, so she finally said what she truly thought.

Cao Xueyan’s heart pounded wildly.

She knew it was wrong, yet still couldn’t help feeling flustered when she heard it.

Initiation ceremony… wedding…

How could those two be confused?

Finally breaking free from Xiao Menglan’s grasp, Cao Xueyan let out a small sigh of relief and carefully took off the Feather Phoenix Weave.

It felt strange — taking off such a close-fitting garment almost felt like peeling off a layer of skin.

Of course, that was just an illusion.

Cao Xueyan carefully placed the Feather Phoenix Weave back in its place.

When she looked back, Xiao Menglan’s eyes followed the robe to the rack, filled with reluctant longing.

If one listened closely, one might even hear faint sighs.

This woman!

Cao Xueyan fumed.

Still thinking about it!

“Master, please continue your work. Your disciple will go to the training hall to practice some spells.”

Saying that, Cao Xueyan turned and left.

Xiao Menglan knew she’d lost control of herself.

Though she was the master, she still smiled sheepishly.

“Yaner, are you angry again? Going to practice spells? How coincidental — your master happens to be free.”

Cao Xueyan kept walking without replying.

Xiao Menglan stayed behind, not following, doing who knows what.

No, no — stop thinking about her!

All she ever thinks about is my body… waiting for the perfect chance to throw me onto the bed!

As Cao Xueyan neared the training hall, she noticed there was no sound of the puppet attendants cleaning.

She found it odd but didn’t think much of it.

Pushing the door open, she saw that the hall was empty — except for one figure standing in the center.

Dressed in white, back facing her, surrounded by falling petals that seemed like illusions — several lotus flowers of different colors lay on the ground.

“So you’re the new disciple my senior sister has taken in?”

The voice was beautiful but carried a cold undertone.

“Not bad — you resemble someone I used to know. I wonder, besides appearance, how much else about you is the same as that person?”

Cold sweat ran down Cao Xueyan’s back.

It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her neck, her very life held within its grasp.

If that hand willed it, she wouldn’t even be able to speak — only submit.

Could this person be a Golden Core cultivator?

Who was he?

Why was he here?

What did he want from her?

“Don’t overthink,” the person said.

“Even the sect master herself has seen you in person. If I didn’t come take a look, it would seem discourteous of me.”

He turned around, his gaze passing through Cao Xueyan and landing on Xiao Menglan, who was now slowly approaching.

“Don’t you agree, senior sister?”

“Junior brother Lu,” Xiao Menglan’s expression remained calm.

“Why didn’t you tell your senior sister before coming to visit? I have tea and wine here — which would you prefer?”

Lu Jiansheng shook his head.

“No need for tea. I just wanted to see my future junior niece. I’ve seen her now, so I’ll take my leave. Congratulations and gifts will be delivered tomorrow.”

With that, he dissolved into a rain of petals, vanishing completely.

Xiao Menglan’s expression darkened as she stared at the petals scattered across the floor, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Cao Xueyan had already collapsed to the ground, unable to move.