Beautiful Sister, I’ve Come to Pick You Up

“Yo? Awake already?”

“Pretty polite, huh.”

Chen Xueli didn’t start with hostility.

She wanted to test this little junior sister first.

If the girl turned out unacceptable, even if it meant going against her master, she would drive her away.

They had met once before, so she had a rough grasp of Ning Yuer’s personality.

But two months was enough to change a person completely.

Even if Master trusted her, Chen Xueli needed to verify with her own eyes.

And most importantly, she had to establish her authority as the “eldest disciple.”

To make this little one behave and stop harboring unrealistic fantasies.

Because she had seen right through her.

On the surface, Ning Yuer played the pure, innocent little white flower.

But inside? Crystal clear.

Otherwise she wouldn’t have pretended not to know sword forms just to get Master’s hands on her.

Chen Xueli knew Heavenly Spirit Roots too well; she had one herself.

She wasn’t sure if the old Ning Yuer had been faking, but the current one absolutely was.

Not faking some sinister personality; just faking innocence to get close to Master.

Using the little-white-flower act to create all sorts of physical contact…

Too familiar.

If not for the Path of Severing Emotions forcing her to act cold, Chen Xueli would’ve kept up the same act forever.

Heh. Interesting.

Let this senior sister test just how deep your feelings for Master run.

Chen Xueli refused to believe anyone could spend this much time with Su Wanqing and remain unmoved.

Even if Ning Yuer had been indifferent before, under the influence of those charm bones, desire would bloom eventually.

This girl was a future rival.

She needed to be taught right now who the real “big sister” was.

“No need to be so formal. Just ‘Senior Sister’ is fine.”

“Mm. Senior Sister… did you just get back?”

Ning Yuer nodded, then carefully probed when Chen Xueli had returned.

Chen Xueli saw through it instantly and answered bluntly:

“Nope. I got back at noon.”

“Just finished ‘releasing’ two months of longing with Master. Heard I suddenly gained a junior sister, so I rushed right over to see you.”

“Not bad talent. In just two months, you went from mortal to Qi Refining third layer.”

She was lying, of course.

She had been watching them practice swordsmanship since morning.

But she had her pride.

“Releasing… longing?”

The moment those words registered, forbidden images flooded Ning Yuer’s mind.

She had only met Chen Xueli once, but she knew exactly how this senior sister felt about Immortal Sister.

By “releasing longing,” did she mean…?

“Jealous?”

Seeing Ning Yuer’s lips tremble, Chen Xueli knew her goal was achieved.

She stepped closer, practically nose-to-nose, staring straight into the girl’s eyes.

Ning Yuer hid it well, but Chen Xueli still caught that flash of disappointment.

“N-no.”

Ning Yuer realized she was being tested and quickly turned her head, avoiding those sharp, probing eyes.

It was different from facing Master.

Master trusted her completely; she didn’t need to be on guard.

But this person was different.

Those eyes were full of distrust.

Any slip-up would be caught instantly.

But she was still less experienced than Chen Xueli.

The moment she answered, she had already fallen into her “good senior sister’s” trap.

“No? Then that means you like Master too, right?”

Chen Xueli was brutally direct.

She had already exposed herself in front of this girl long ago; no point pretending now.

That would be disrespectful.

“Uh…”

Ning Yuer fell silent.

She didn’t know how to answer.

Admit it? She’d be handing over a fatal weakness.

Deny it? She couldn’t bring herself to.

Her fingers unconsciously clenched her sleeves as her mind raced for a safe response.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore.”

Actually, the instant Ning Yuer hesitated, Chen Xueli already had her answer.

Or rather, she’d known from the moment she laid eyes on her.

But she didn’t mind.

If Ning Yuer could spend this much time with Master and still feel nothing, Chen Xueli would question her humanity.

The girl’s current attitude already told her everything.

Her warning had landed.

For the time being, this little one wouldn’t dare make waves.

First impressions in a rivalry were crucial.

Whoever seized the dominant position early held a massive advantage later.

Right now, Ning Yuer’s weak front made Chen Xueli think she had won.

She believed she had successfully carved out a place of authority in the girl’s heart.

Little did she know, the battle wasn’t over.

In a moment, she would take a devastating counterattack.

Turning her complete victory into a draw.

“I was just chatting with Master. Whether I lied or did anything else, you’ll have to ask her yourself.”

“I’m explaining only because I don’t want you misunderstanding Master’s innocence.”

“I acknowledge you as my junior sister now.”

“But you’d better not overstep.”

“Even if Master forgives you, I won’t.”

“I don’t care if you like her. If you manage to steal Master from me, I’ll admit defeat.”

“You’re welcome to try. I don’t believe you can.”

“But if you ever hurt Master—”

Chen Xueli smiled gently, her voice dripping with threat:

“—don’t blame me for being ruthless. I guarantee you’ll die very, very miserably.”

“Understood?”

“Mm.”

“Good. Then I’ll go. Keep cultivating, junior sister.”

“…”

Ning Yuer didn’t respond.

She just silently watched Chen Xueli walk to the door.

Which made Chen Xueli mistakenly believe her speech had scared the girl stiff.

But in that moment, a wicked little smirk flashed across Ning Yuer’s face.

For a split second, she perfectly embodied the black-bellied heroine Su Wanqing feared.

The instant she realized Chen Xueli was here to declare dominance and intimidate her, Ning Yuer had already planned her counterattack.

She had endured, waiting until Chen Xueli thought victory was assured.

And now was the perfect moment.

“Senior Sister.”

“Hm?”

As expected, Chen Xueli paused and turned back to the innocent, confused-looking girl.

“Master said something to me before, and I don’t understand it. Can you explain?”

“I’m too embarrassed to ask Master, so…”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s just…”

Ning Yuer twirled a lock of hair, putting on a scared, helpless expression.

“Master once said she really wants to ‘eat me up in one bite.’ What does that mean?”

“Does Master want to fatten me up and then eat me?”

CRACK—

The doorframe in Chen Xueli’s hand shattered instantly.

She knew it was deliberate.

She knew this was Ning Yuer’s retaliation.

And she knew that with those words, their first clash no longer had a winner.

Even knowing it was bait, she still took massive damage.

“I don’t know. Go ask Master yourself!”

With that, Chen Xueli stormed out.

Ning Yuer followed to the doorway and called sweetly:

“Senior Sister, where are you going?”

“To settle accounts with your master!”

Watching her senior sister’s furious retreating back, Ning Yuer’s goal was achieved.

After two months, she was no longer that timid little girl.

And she had no idea that while her mockery felt great,

her poor master was about to suffer for it.

“?”

Su Wanqing, who had just been about to rest, noticed Chen Xueli storming back in.

She looked at her disciple in confusion.

Didn’t she just leave?

Why was she back so soon?

Wasn’t she tired from traveling?

Or… did she want to sleep together again?

“What are you doing back?”

“What am I doing back?”

Chen Xueli let out a cold laugh, vinegar practically pouring from her voice.

“Of course I’m here to ask what Master meant when she said she really wants to ‘eat that girl up in one bite’~!”

“???”

Su Wanqing froze.

How did this rebellious disciple know that phrase?!

!

Then it hit her, Chen Xueli had just gone to see Ning Yuer.

Oh no!

That little brat was trying to kill her!

…

Two years later —

Shen Xianyue, who had been out of contact for so long, had finally solidified her position as the “Saintess of the Demonic Path” today.

At last, she could go retrieve the beautiful big sister she had dreamed of every single day for two years from Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

“Hehe~”

Alone in her room, Shen Xianyue gazed at the dudou in her hands, smiling in anticipation.

“Beautiful big sister, wait for me~♡”

She was just about to take another longing sniff when the door suddenly opened.

“Hm?”

Shen Xianyue hid the intimate garment in a flash, letting out a breath when she saw who it was.

“Phew, it’s just you, Bing’er.”

“Sister.”

A silver-haired, violet-eyed ice fairy walked in.

Despite wearing the uniform of the demonic sect, she didn’t look demonic at all.

She resembled one of those righteous heroines from storybooks who cut their hair to slay demons.

Her icy aura was even more exaggerated than Su Wanqing’s pretended coldness, as if she truly felt no emotions.

“What are you going to that remote Lin Meng Yun Province for?”

Shen Xianyue trusted this person completely and answered without hesitation.

“Of course, to forcefully marry the love of my life I’ve been dreaming of~♡”