Qin Ximo Is Leaving Already?

After everything, Xiao Menglan carefully got out of bed and went to light a stick of incense in the censer.

Even though her movements were as light as possible, the person sleeping soundly on the bed still stirred awake.

“Master, let’s not do it today, please… your disciple will serve you again tomorrow. Spare me just for tonight…”

Cao Xueyan clung to one of Xiao Menglan’s arms, speaking in a spoiled, pleading tone.

At most, there was only one “simulation” session a day that counted as training.

Right now, Cao Xueyan had no intention of doing another one — her body was still sore and aching.

Her fair skin was covered in patches of red and purple.

Even her hips bore two obvious handprints — something that had once been considered a special indulgence, but had now become disturbingly routine.

Cao Xueyan didn’t even know how to feel about it anymore.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Xiao Menglan’s face.

She could swear on her Dao heart that this time, she truly had no such intentions!

“What nonsense are you thinking?”

Xiao Menglan flicked her disciple’s forehead lightly.

“I just wanted you to sleep better. I went to light a stick of incense for you.”

The incense used in the Moon-Inviting Palace was top-grade.

Using it merely to help someone sleep was an utter extravagance — it was the kind of incense that couldn’t be bought even with hundreds of spirit stones outside.

Only Xiao Menglan, a wealthy Golden Core cultivator, would dare treat something so precious like mosquito repellent.

Cao Xueyan blinked her eyes innocently.

“So that’s what it was. I wrongly accused Master. Should I apologize to you?”

Saying that, she propped herself up slightly, pressing her upper body against Xiao Menglan’s face.

“…What are you doing now?!”

Xiao Menglan’s face turned red with both shame and anger — but for some reason, she couldn’t seem to muster the strength to push this clingy disciple away.

Cao Xueyan smiled faintly.

“I noticed Master seemed to be very fond of this place just now… so I thought I might please you with it.”

“Nonsense!”

Xiao Menglan tried to sound stern, her reason completely in control now — she looked nothing like the passionate woman from moments ago.

“Master, don’t be so quick to deny it. Look carefully… aren’t those few red marks there your own doing?”

“Stop talking…”

Xiao Menglan’s voice weakened.

“Ah, Master, your ears are red.”

Cao Xueyan reached out to gently brush aside the messy strands of black hair by Xiao Menglan’s temple, tucking them neatly behind her ear.

Without the cover of hair, that blush stood out even more vividly — like a piece of iron heated until it glowed.

Xiao Menglan’s heart fluttered, but after all, she was a cultivator who had trained for centuries.

She quickly calmed down again.

Looking at the now drowsy girl nestled in her arms, she found she couldn’t even get angry anymore.

This little girl — she must have owed her something in her previous life.

“Yan’er, are you still awake?”

“Master still isn’t satisfied? I told you, wait until tomorrow…”

“I’m talking about something serious!”

Cao Xueyan barely managed to open one sleepy eye, lifting her head from Xiao Menglan’s chest and pretending to listen attentively.

“In two days, you’ll accompany me to see your Uncle Qin off.”

That woke Cao Xueyan up instantly.

“Uncle Qin? What happened to her?”

“I’ve mentioned before — the situation outside has become unstable lately.

As members of a righteous sect, it is our duty to eradicate evil and uphold justice.”

Xiao Menglan spoke softly.

“The demonic cultivators are growing restless, clearly scheming something.

Your Uncle Qin has decided to personally investigate and eliminate a few notorious ones while she’s at it.”

Cao Xueyan’s drowsiness vanished completely.

She sat up with a jolt, startling Xiao Menglan.

“Master, did you just say Uncle Qin is leaving the sect — to confront those demonic cultivators?”

“Exactly.”

Xiao Menglan stared blankly at her disciple’s overly intense reaction, unsure what had provoked it.

A flicker of fear flashed through Cao Xueyan’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She couldn’t panic — the more she panicked, the more suspicious it would seem.

She couldn’t let Xiao Menglan sense anything amiss.

“But… why so soon?”

The Cat Demon Conference had just ended.

Cao Xueyan had barely recovered from a “battle” that was no less exhausting than fighting a beast, and now this news — her instincts reacted before her reason could.

Now was absolutely the wrong time for Qin Shimo to leave.

“What’s the matter?”

Xiao Menglan eyed her warily.

“Master, is Uncle Qin going out to… flush the enemy out of hiding?”

Cao Xueyan tried to sound like she was only concerned for her uncle.

“Mm.”

Xiao Menglan nodded thoughtfully.

“She’s not going to hunt them down — just to gather intelligence.

That’s why I’m taking you along. You’ve worked with her before, so you’ll coordinate well.”

“I see.”

Cao Xueyan let out a breath of relief.

She had feared Qin Shimo was going to recklessly throw herself at the demonic cultivators — which would have played right into fate’s hands.

But if it was reconnaissance, she could help with that.

“What should I do then, when we’re out there?”

“Just stay by your Uncle Qin’s side and protect her.”

“Protect her?”

Cao Xueyan blinked, confused.

“Yes.”

Xiao Menglan nodded.

“The demonic cultivators’ target will be your Uncle Qin, but they won’t spare you either.

So this mission is to support her — not to die in vain.”

“Understood.”

Cao Xueyan nodded earnestly.

As she looked at Xiao Menglan, she suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.

She realized — her master must truly care for Qin Shimo, to make such careful arrangements for her.

Yet Qin Shimo’s heart had always belonged elsewhere.

How pitiful.

“Don’t just stand there. Go prepare.”

Xiao Menglan patted her on the head.

“We leave at dawn.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cao Xueyan obediently left the room and returned to her own.

She took out her talismans and began sorting them.

Then she drew several new ones, making sure nothing would go wrong.

She knew her master was worried, and she didn’t want to let her down.

She also needed to protect herself — and make sure the demonic cultivators didn’t succeed.

Thinking of Uncle Qin, she suddenly grew curious.

What kind of woman did Qin Shimo like?

She remembered that Qin Shimo had never brought any woman home.

But… she did seem to be very fond of Xiao Menglan.

Cao Xueyan shook her head, dismissing those messy thoughts.

Now wasn’t the time for that.

She had to focus on the mission.

She sat at her desk, drawing one talisman after another.

Time passed quietly.

Finally, dawn came.

She packed her things and went to Xiao Menglan’s room.

“Master, I’m ready.”

“Come in.”

Xiao Menglan’s voice came from within.

When Cao Xueyan entered, she found her master already dressed and tidying her hair.

“Perfect timing,” Xiao Menglan said.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, Master.”

They left the sect together.

Along the way, Xiao Menglan was silent.

Cao Xueyan didn’t dare speak either.

Soon, they arrived at an abandoned village — eerily quiet and lifeless.

“This is the place,” Xiao Menglan said.

“The demonic cultivators should be here.”

She scanned the area carefully.

Cao Xueyan followed her gaze but found nothing strange.

“What should we do now?” she asked.

“We wait,” Xiao Menglan replied.

“They’ll show up soon.”

They hid themselves in a secluded spot and waited.

Time passed slowly.

Then, faint noises came from afar.

The two women exchanged glances.

“They’re here,” Xiao Menglan whispered.

A group of shadowy figures appeared, radiating heavy demonic energy.

“What strong demonic power…” Cao Xueyan whispered in alarm.

“Don’t be afraid,” Xiao Menglan said softly.

“I’ll protect you.”

She held her disciple’s hand, giving her a reassuring look.

Cao Xueyan nodded, warmth blooming in her heart.

Before long, the demonic cultivators reached the village, searching for something.

“They’re looking for Uncle Qin,” Xiao Menglan said.

“They think she’s here — but she’s not.”

“Then where is she?”

“She left earlier, to a safer place. Our job is to draw these demons away.”

“Draw them away?”

“Yes,” Xiao Menglan confirmed.

“We can’t let them discover Qin Shimo’s true whereabouts.”

She handed Cao Xueyan a talisman.

“Stick this in the center of the village.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cao Xueyan obeyed.

Once she affixed it to a large tree, powerful spiritual energy burst forth.

The demonic cultivators immediately took the bait, rushing toward the talisman.

“They’re hooked,” Xiao Menglan said.

“Let’s go.”

She grabbed her disciple’s hand, and they ran in the opposite direction.

The demons didn’t chase them — they were too focused on the talisman.

The two women escaped safely and met up later with Qin Shimo in a valley.

“Uncle Qin!”

Qin Shimo turned and smiled faintly.

“You made it. They didn’t follow you, did they?”

“No,” Cao Xueyan said. “They were distracted.”

“Good. Let’s go. We’ll head somewhere safer.”

The three of them departed together.

Along the way, Qin Shimo and Xiao Menglan discussed the demonic threat, while Cao Xueyan listened quietly.

She knew — this mission was far from over.

She had to protect them both.

She had to become strong enough to safeguard everyone she cared about.

That was her purpose in this world.

She clenched her fists, silently vowing that the demonic cultivators would pay for what they’d done.

Qin Shimo was really leaving the sect already?

To confront the demonic cultivators?

If not for Cao Xueyan’s simulation device, she might not have paid much attention to it.

By all logic, with Qin Shimo’s cultivation and skill, failure seemed impossible.

But in every simulation Cao Xueyan had run — dozens of times now — Qin Shimo had fallen.

If no outside force intervened, it was a death trap.

“Why is Uncle Qin in such a hurry?”

Cao Xueyan feigned curiosity.

“In just a month or two, won’t it be time for the disciple tournament?

As the sect leader, how can she miss such an important event?”

Xiao Menglan sighed.

“I tried to persuade her the same way.

The disciple tournament is held every ten years — not as grand as the Demon Clan Assembly, but still a major event.

Traditionally, the winner receives a personal audience with the sect leader.

If she’s gone for two years, what kind of precedent is that?”

“Exactly!”

Cao Xueyan nodded vigorously.

“All the senior brothers and sisters train so hard for that chance — wouldn’t it break their hearts?”

“What are you saying?” Xiao Menglan frowned.

“Even if she’s not there, the rewards won’t change. Why would they feel disheartened?”

“Because Uncle Qin isn’t just the sect leader — she’s their idol!

Her cultivation is unmatched, her swordsmanship divine, her character upright… and she’s beautiful too!

Everyone in the sect admires her.

If they win and still can’t even meet her — how could they not be disappointed?”

Cao Xueyan was practically babbling nonsense now.

But Xiao Menglan wasn’t stupid — her expression turned suspicious.

“Sounds like you don’t want your Uncle Qin to leave.”

“Of course not! It’s too dangerous outside!”

Xiao Menglan laughed confidently.

“There’s an old saying — ‘Worrying over others’ affairs is a fool’s game.’

My senior sister’s strength is unmatched.

There are few in this world who can threaten her.

Unless ten ancient demonic lords rise from their graves at once, none could harm her.

The rest are nothing but weaklings.”

Cao Xueyan wanted to scream — that was exactly why Qin Shimo was doomed!

“Mas~ter~”

She tugged Xiao Menglan’s sleeve pitifully.

“Please, just try to talk her out of it…”

Xiao Menglan’s face hardened.

“What nonsense!

A true cultivator — especially a sword cultivator — must remain fearless, even in the face of death.

If this journey is for the sake of righteousness, she must go, no matter the danger.”

“…Fine.”

Cao Xueyan flopped helplessly onto the bed.

It was obvious — Xiao Menglan had no intention of stopping her.

So Qin Shimo was really going.

It all came down to her being too strong — “invincible,” as everyone called her.

Even if the demonic cultivators ganged up on her, she could still escape.

Sword cultivators didn’t just wield swords — their mastery of flying sword techniques made them faster than anyone else.

“Get some rest these next two days,” Xiao Menglan told her gently.

“Be ready to accompany me when we see your Uncle Qin off.”

Cao Xueyan glanced at her simulation panel.

Host: Cao Xueyan
Realm: Qi Refinement Stage 9
Talismans: Beginner Level
Simulations: —
Action Points: —

“Rest well, huh…”

Cao Xueyan smiled bitterly.

How could she possibly sleep, knowing what was about to happen?