Special Mission

The elegant middle-aged woman gazed at her unconventional senior sister, her face filled with emotion. Had she not succumbed to worldly affections and romance back then, she might still be cultivating peacefully within the Luoshen Sect.

The woman before her was Lin Yuyao, the final disciple taken by Luo Yan’s master. The previous generation of the Luoshen Sect had no factions; its elders were direct disciples of the former Sect Master, while the sect’s deacons were ordinary disciples. Among these direct disciples, Lin Yuyao was the youngest.

In her youth, during her travels, she had an unexpected encounter with Chen Tianqi, who would later become the current Emperor of the Chen Kingdom. At that time, of course, Chen Tianqi was merely a prince, and she was entirely unaware of his royal status.

Love, a concept both simple and profoundly complex, blossomed between them after they spent a period of time together.

They soon became a couple. It was only after they were together that Lin Yuyao discovered he was a prince of the Chen Kingdom. Driven by the impulsive passion of love, she had already given herself to Chen Tianqi, violating the strict rules of the Luoshen Sect.

Ultimately, she had no choice but to leave the Luoshen Sect and marry Chen Tianqi, becoming his imperial consort. It was precisely because of her that Chen Tianqi was chosen as the Crown Prince by the previous Emperor of Chen, for he had married a direct disciple of the Luoshen Sect Master.

Even though she had left the sect due to its rules, the Luoshen Sect still extended greater support to the Chen royal family out of respect for Lin Yuyao. The previous Sect Master had also instructed Luo Yan and the others to take special care of Lin Yuyao.

Lin Yuyao’s return to the Luoshen Sect this time clearly indicated a matter she needed their help with, and it was certainly no trivial affair. Only for a truly significant issue would she come back in person.

“Senior Sister, please don’t jest. The mundane world is a great dyeing vat; once you enter, it’s difficult to emerge untainted. The purpose of my visit, as I’ve already messaged you, is to seek your help. This matter will only bring benefits to our Luoshen Sect, with no harm whatsoever,” Lin Yuyao stated helplessly, glancing at the composed girl beside her.

Luo Yan, of course, understood the reason for Lin Yuyao’s return. She smiled, observing the tranquil, silent girl.

“You must be Xiaoya, aren’t you? Come, come to your Senior Aunt. Let your Senior Aunt have a good look at you,” Luo Yan cajoled the girl with an expression akin to enticing a child.

The girl, however, did not immediately approach. Instead, she looked to Lin Yuyao.

“Oh, why are you looking at me? Hurry over! Let your Senior Aunt examine you properly. For this matter, we can only rely on the sect’s help; your mother is out of options,” Lin Yuyao urged.

The girl pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then walked towards Luo Yan, stopping about three feet away from her.

“Greetings, Senior Aunt,” the girl bowed slightly, performing a formal salute.

The etiquette carried such a strong masculine aura that Luo Yan momentarily felt a strange illusion, as if the girl standing before her was actually a man disguised as a woman.

“Why such a strong masculine presence? Sister, are you truly raising Xiaoya as a boy?” Luo Yan cast a slightly reproachful glance at Lin Yuyao.

“Senior Sister, what choice did I have? A single misguided thought back then led to this situation. It’s too late for regrets now; I can only see it through to the end,” Lin Yuyao sighed.

“Hmph! Speaking of which, I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time. You’re not foolish; you later knew he was deceiving you, merely wanting to use your status to become emperor. Now that his true colors are fully revealed, I think you should sever ties with him and return to the Luoshen Sect to cultivate. Master said that as long as you break free from him, the sect’s gates will always be open to you,” Luo Yan’s expression suddenly turned stern.

In that moment, Luo Yan truly resembled a Sect Master, a true Senior Sister.

“It’s too late. Since the mistake has been made, let it be completed. He deceived me, but didn’t I also deceive him? It’s simply retribution. It’s just that Ya’er has suffered because of it,” Lin Yuyao said, looking apologetically at the girl before her.

“Mother, this is not your fault. He was the one who deceived you first, and I willingly chose to do this. You did not force me,” the girl suddenly retorted.

“You, sigh! Ultimately, your mother is truly sorry for you. Senior Sister, will you help with this matter or not? Chen Tianqi is unlike previous emperors; he is determined to break free from the sect’s control. If this continues, the Chen royal family will gradually become alienated from our Luoshen Sect,” Lin Yuyao reiterated.

“Help? Of course, I’ll help. However, this matter is rather complex. Finding a suitable person to undertake such a mission is proving very difficult for me right now. Ordinary disciples cannot fully keep secrets, and those with too much power are unsuitable, especially since we can’t tell them the full truth. Finding someone capable of this task is truly challenging,” Luo Yan said, her face etched with difficulty.

Just then, the girl standing before Luo Yan spoke.

“Senior Aunt, when Mother and I entered earlier, we met a female disciple on the way. Her cultivation had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment realm. I think she is quite suitable, and her appearance also aligns with what I envision.”

“Ah? Her cultivation hasn’t reached Foundation Establishment? Then she must be an outer sect disciple. Today is the day of our Luoshen Sect’s first assessment for outer sect disciples to advance to inner sect disciples. The person you mentioned should be participating in the inner sect assessment,” Luo Yan mused.

“Senior Aunt, just tell me if it’s possible or not. In any case, I’ve set my sights on her. Having her come to the Chen Kingdom to assist me would be perfectly suitable,” the girl named Xiaoya stated again.

Seeing her junior niece’s persistence, Luo Yan found it difficult to refuse.

“Very well, we’ll proceed as you wish. Of course, it cannot be immediately. We must find a plausible reason to persuade others, after all. Which unmarried maiden would willingly undertake such a task?” Luo Yan did not refuse, effectively agreeing.

“That’s excellent, Senior Aunt. I’ve already memorized her appearance. I’ll draw it for you to see,” the girl named Xiaoya retrieved paper, brush, ink, and inkstone from her storage space.

She then began to draw before Luo Yan, her hand moving swiftly and smoothly. In less than ten minutes, she had completed a portrait of a girl.

“There, Senior Aunt, it’s her,” Xiaoya said, handing the portrait to Luo Yan after she finished drawing.

Luo Yan took it and, upon seeing it, froze.

“This… isn’t this Yiren? No, are you certain the girl you saw was her? Why does this painting look so much like your Second Senior Aunt?” Luo Yan puzzled.

Indeed, merely looking at the portrait made it difficult to distinguish between Bai Lan and Bai Yiren; they bore a striking resemblance.

Lin Yuyao was also stunned upon hearing this. She walked over to glance at the portrait and found that it truly resembled her Second Senior Sister, though with some subtle differences.

“Second Senior Aunt? No way. She only has a cultivation below the Foundation Establishment realm. Although I haven’t met Second Senior Aunt, shouldn’t Second Senior Aunt be at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm?” Xiaoya was also taken aback.

“This? Senior Sister, what’s going on? Has Second Senior Sister suddenly changed her ways and secretly had an illegitimate daughter outside?” Lin Yuyao asked, her face full of suspicion.

Luo Yan immediately rolled her eyes. She knew her junior sister too well; it was utterly impossible.

“Impossible. It must simply be a strong resemblance. How about this: I will agree to this matter for now, but I can only guarantee that someone will undertake this task. However, I cannot guarantee that it will be the girl in the painting who goes,” Luo Yan stated clearly beforehand.

Lin Yuyao was indifferent; as long as someone came to perform the task, she didn’t care who it was.

“Mother, I want the girl in the painting,” Xiaoya insisted.

“Silence! This is not for you to decide. That’s settled then, Senior Sister. I’ll take Ya’er back now. We can’t be away for too long, or it will arouse suspicion,” Lin Yuyao said, standing up.

“Alright, but before you leave, go see Master. She misses you dearly.” Luo Yan did not try to make them stay, as Lin Yuyao’s identity was rather sensitive.