One Night’s Conversation

Compared to the situation in the Immortal’s Abode, Xue Linglong’s experience was completely different.

After arriving at Tianyin Pavilion, she was immediately welcomed warmly by all the senior and junior sisters.

This was largely due to Xue Linglong’s gentle personality and sweet temperament.

She treated everyone kindly, and such a personality naturally made her welcome wherever she went.

She had already completed her procedures at the Inner Disciple Management Office and had changed into the Direct Disciple attire of Tianyin Pavilion.

Although the style of the Direct Disciple robes across the different factions was the same, their colors differed.

Now dressed in the lotus-pink robes of Tianyin Pavilion, Xue Linglong appeared even more graceful and gentle.

Of course, her popularity was not solely due to her personality.

Her talent in music was also extraordinarily high, reaching the level of a true prodigy.

The assessment in Tianyin Pavilion specifically evaluated a disciple’s innate musical aptitude.

Xue Linglong easily passed all the assessments related to musical instruments and rhythm, leaving all the inner sect disciples completely convinced.

In their eyes, it would have been truly strange if Qiu Hanyun had not valued such a talented disciple.

After all, what master would not cherish such a prodigy?

Furthermore, this warm reception was also related to the temperament of Tianyin Pavilion itself.

The disciples of Tianyin Pavilion were known for their calm and gentle dispositions.

Only those with peaceful and kind hearts were suitable for cultivating their techniques.

In contrast, the Immortal’s Abode specialized in sword arts.

In the cultivation world, the sword symbolized killing and battle.

As a result, disciples of the Immortal’s Abode often possessed strong killing intent, intense competitiveness, and great respect for martial strength.

Bai Lan’s cultivation realm was currently far too low within the Immortal’s Abode.

No matter how great her talent might be, without demonstrating absolute strength it would be very difficult for her to gain recognition in a short period of time.

Bai Lan understood this perfectly.

That was why she had initially been reluctant.

However, later that evening, both Ximen Xue and Luo Yuyan came to visit her residence.

Although Bai Lan was unwilling to interact with unfamiliar disciples, she would certainly not refuse the company of Ximen Xue and Luo Yuyan.

“Junior Sister, are you avoiding the other disciples because they objected to your becoming a Direct Disciple earlier today?” Ximen Xue asked.

The three of them sat together on the platform outside their pavilion, looking up at the starry sky as they talked.

Facing the two senior sisters who had taken care of her for the past three years, Bai Lan decided to speak honestly.

Of course, honesty also required discretion.

Some truths could be spoken directly, while others needed to be concealed or slightly altered.

“Senior Sister, that is indeed one reason,” Bai Lan admitted.

“But the main reason is that I simply don’t like interacting with strangers.”

“I’ve been in the outer sect for so long, yet I know fewer than ten people.”

In other words, she was telling them that her personality was naturally solitary.

She was not someone who would easily approach others.

“Haha, your personality really reminds me of when I first joined the sect and interacted with Senior Sister,” Luo Yuyan laughed as she took a sip of tea.

“Senior Sister used to be exactly like you. She rarely spoke and never interacted with the other sisters in our faction.”

“But in the end, didn’t she still become the most respected inner sect disciple in the entire sect?”

The tea they were drinking was not ordinary tea.

It was Spirit Flower Tea, brewed from three-leaf magnolia blossoms.

This tea could slightly increase the speed of cultivation.

Ximen Xue rarely brought out such a precious drink.

Bai Lan glanced at Ximen Xue, who sat calmly as if she were meditating.

She did not need to think too much to realize that Ximen Xue must be someone who was difficult to approach.

Yet now Bai Lan found that she could understand Ximen Xue a little better.

After all, she herself was quite similar.

“But Senior Sister, you seem to be very respected by the disciples now, even though you don’t speak much,” Bai Lan asked.

“I fought for it,” Ximen Xue replied simply.

Bai Lan fell silent for a moment before smiling bitterly.

She immediately understood what Ximen Xue meant.

Her meaning was simple.

“I am respected because I am powerful.”

“No one can defeat me.”

“And if no one can defeat me, why should I care about how others view me?”

“Haha, Senior Sister is absolutely right!” Luo Yuyan burst into laughter.

“Among the five factions of our Luoshen Sect, Tianyin Pavilion has the best atmosphere.”

“Tianxiang Garden is the most traditional.”

“Canglan Hall is the easiest to get along with.”

“Luoshen Palace gives off the most arrogant feeling.”

“And as for our Immortal’s Abode… most disciples are rather difficult to approach.”

“They are extremely competitive.”

“Only by defeating them can you earn their genuine respect.”

Each faction had its own unique characteristics.

The Immortal’s Abode represented the sword.

Tianyin Pavilion represented the zither.

Canglan Hall represented the Water Spirit Silk.

Tianxiang Garden represented medicinal cauldrons.

Luoshen Palace represented the Jade Pure Bottle.

“Yuyan is right, Lan’er,” Ximen Xue said.

This was a rare moment when she spoke more than a few words.

“You should try to adapt to these new surroundings.”

“I once had the same thoughts as you.”

“But later I realized that having a group of sisters willing to interact with you can give you a sense of belonging in this sect.”

“It prevents you from feeling lonely.”

“Of course, this is only my personal opinion.”

“Perhaps you are still too young to fully understand these things.”

“Oh my, Senior Sister is quite talkative today!” Luo Yuyan teased.

“Junior Sister, these are rare words of wisdom!”

“Senior Sister has never said anything like this to me before!”

In truth, Ximen Xue was already more than two hundred years old.

She was several times older than Bai Lan.

Even Luo Yuyan was decades older than Bai Lan.

Time, after all, changed people’s perspectives.

Bai Lan did not immediately reject their views.

Instead, she thought about them carefully.

After talking for some time, the three returned to their respective rooms to rest.

However, just as Bai Lan was about to enter her room, Luo Yuyan suddenly squeezed inside behind her.

“Huh? Second Senior Sister, what are you doing?”

“I need to cultivate,” Bai Lan said quickly as she watched Luo Yuyan walk into her room.

“Don’t be like that!” Luo Yuyan protested.

“We sisters need to strengthen our relationship.”

“You are not allowed to refuse.”

“No cultivating tonight.”

“Just chat with me.”

“Huh? What…?” Bai Lan felt a sudden chill run down her spine.

However, Luo Yuyan was an early Golden Core cultivator.

Naturally, she would not give Bai Lan the chance to refuse.

She quickly closed the door.

Then she pointed at Bai Lan from a distance.

A flash of white light struck Bai Lan.

In the next moment, Bai Lan discovered that she could no longer move.

“Hmph! I knew you would try to make excuses to refuse me,” Luo Yuyan said proudly.

“Senior Sister can reject me because she is stronger.”

“But you want to refuse me?”

“No chance.”

“Time to sleep!”

She immediately carried the immobilized Bai Lan to the bed.

Then she began removing Bai Lan’s outer clothing.

“Senior Sister, what are you doing? This isn’t appropriate,” Bai Lan said with a twitch of her lips.

“What is inappropriate about it?” Luo Yuyan replied.

“I’m not a man.”

“We’re just going to chat about secrets.”

Soon she removed Bai Lan’s outer robes, leaving her only in her undergarments.

Then Luo Yuyan placed Bai Lan on the bed.

After that, she removed her own outer clothes and lay down beside Bai Lan under the blanket.

Only after everything was settled did she release Bai Lan from the immobilization technique.

But what use was that now?

Luo Yuyan immediately wrapped her arms around Bai Lan’s neck like a mischievous child and pressed close against her.

Then she stared directly at Bai Lan with wide eyes.

“Huh? Ah…” Bai Lan wanted to speak, but no words came out.

“Why are you sighing?”

“If anything, I’m the one at a disadvantage here,” Luo Yuyan said seriously.

“You used to be a man, remember?”

“Even though I may look young, I’m still quite a beauty.”

“Now that we’re sharing a bed, don’t you have any thoughts?”

Bai Lan rolled her eyes.

“Second Senior Sister, you’re really boring,” Bai Lan said helplessly.

“You remind me of how I used to sleep when I was a child.”

“You’re thinking about how you used to sleep in your mother’s arms, aren’t you?” Luo Yuyan asked with a smile.

Bai Lan froze for a moment.

She did not know how to respond.

“No answer means yes,” Luo Yuyan continued.

“So Junior Sister misses her mother too.”

“That’s good.”

“At least you still have memories.”

“Unlike me… my mother passed away nearly a hundred years ago.”

As she spoke, Luo Yuyan’s mood gradually became melancholic.

For cultivators, separation through life and death was extremely common.

Ordinary mortals could live for only about one hundred years.

Qi Refining cultivators could live for two hundred years.

Foundation Establishment cultivators could live for five hundred years.

Golden Core cultivators could live for one thousand years.

As for Nascent Soul cultivators, their lifespans were even longer.

The reason Luo Yuyan seemed particularly fond of mature women was likely because her memories of her mother were tied to the image of herself as a child resting safely in her mother’s embrace.