Chapter 17: Two Dreams- Part 4

Jiang Xuehe regarded his appearance as a tool to coax children.

After all, in his view, Ti Ying always seemed to want to sneak a look at him before.

He had no experience in coaxing children, but he felt that if he gave her what she liked, she would naturally behave better and be less troublesome.

Now that Ti Ying was injured, he naturally didn’t want her to run around recklessly. He wanted to coax her into happiness so that he could follow her.

But Ti Ying, in her youth and ignorance, didn’t even understand this gesture of goodwill.

After spending a few days together, she already thought Jiang Xuehe was too strange. Now that she discovered he bore the mark of the cursed, she naturally refused to be with him — when the ghost devoured him, if she accidentally discovered she also had a unique attraction to the cursed, what would happen to her?

She had to escape.

Ti Ying’s escape spell relentlessly aimed at Jiang Xuehe, who blocked her way and wouldn’t let her leave.

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Tkp vbkd qkdtlap cawpble ytykdpv bla oakpv.

Mk Zkdt kdpvydvzu qlzv vbl vbkd, pdso-zkjl calyvb clbkde bla, xyjkdt bla pnyzr vkdtzl.

Mwadkdt yaswde, Mk Zkdt rwpble cynj okvb bla ryzx, vokpvkdt bla blye swvoyae, yde bypvkzu ealo aydesx vyzkpxydp. Mbl vyzkpxyd bkeeld sd bla nblpv qzlo swv, yvvynjkdt Kkydt Dwlbl. Rd vbl xsxldvyau elzyu sq Kkydt Dwlbl clkdt scpvawnvle, Mk Zkdt alynble vbl osseld essa.

G akccsd oayrrle yaswde bla pzldela oykpv, rwzzkdt bla cynj.

A ribbon, a ribbon…

Ti Ying lowered her head and saw the pink-white, snowy color—wasn’t it her ribbon?!

She stomped in anger: “Traitor!”

But the ribbon was not sentient and couldn’t understand her words.

Ti Ying’s attacks then turned towards Jiang Xuehe: “You used my things to stop me!”

She widened her eyes, staring at this, this… a young man whose appearance seemed to have changed a bit, but she was too angry to care to look closely.

He was truly skilled, unlike her, who was a half-hearted practitioner.

The talisman paper she flew out was frozen in mid-air, while Jiang Xuehe’s robe sleeves fluttered slightly. His fighting style was particularly fierce, exuding a sharp and soaring beauty.

But Ti Ying accused him, her round eyes filled with teary mist, as if he had committed some unforgivable sin.

Jiang Xuehe was taken aback.

Even if he were unforgivable, it wasn’t appropriate to show it in front of his junior sister.

Jiang Xuehe retracted the ribbon, self-reproaching, “Sorry…”

Before he could finish his introspective words, the little girl’s eyes sparkled, her expression shifting from previous resentment to cunning.

She sprinkled some kind of powder towards him, and Jiang Xuehe held his breath and stepped back, while Ti Ying had already reached the door frame and pulled open the door.

Ti Ying leaned against the door, sticking out her tongue: “You villain, play by yourself; I’m leaving.”

Ti Ying jumped out, only to bump into the door.

She looked up dumbfounded, holding her reddened nose, realizing she had indeed hit the door—the wooden door she opened was just an illusion, she was still trapped inside the room.

Oh no.

Ti Ying quickly crouched and tried to escape in another direction, but her senior brother behind her evidently wasn’t in the mood to let her continue her folly.

As Ti Ying’s left hand reached for her chest, barely halfway there, she felt the cool fingers of the young man clasping her slender wrist.

Ti Ying bent down, knees bent, and from the sole of her embroidered shoe, she pulled out three needles. Before she could even prick them out, her fingers were slapped.

Ti Ying winced in pain, tears almost welling up in her eyes.

Jiang Xuehe approached from behind.

To prevent his junior sister from using any more tricks, he grabbed her left wrist with one hand and encircled her right fingers with the other, lifting Ti Ying against the wall, pressing her into the corner.

Jiang Xuehe asked curiously, “Am I the villain?”

Ti Ying huffed, “Hmph!”

Jiang Xuehe’s tone slightly darkened. “Then I’ll show you what a real villain is.”

The girl in his arms trembled instantly.

She was a petite figure, making Jiang Xuehe’s presence overwhelming. The little girl closed her eyes, pretending to be tough, her face pale and her eyelashes fluttering. She pressed her snow-white lips together, silent, looking pitiful.

Jiang Xuehe’s eyebrows raised slightly. She also had a stubborn side.

His heart calmed slightly.

His gaze softened. “I’m not a villain.”

After a pause, he added, “At least not to you and our master.”

Ti Ying thought to herself, “Of course, a villain wouldn’t admit they’re bad. My former master even said that those afflicted with the cursed mark have their own issues!”

Jiang Xuehe coaxed her, “You always keep your eyes closed; how is senior brother supposed to talk to you, junior sister?”

Ti Ying thought to herself, “He’s no senior brother of mine.”

Ti Ying waited for some fierce punishment, naturally refusing to open her eyes. Who knows, if she opens them, he might use those ghosts and monsters on him to scare her. Maybe he’s even in cahoots with the ones chasing her… She was so naive, actually letting him help bury the bodies.

Ti Ying scared herself with her own thoughts, growing increasingly frightened. But then a hand reached her cheek, brushing aside a strand of hair that had fallen over her mouth, neatly tucking it behind her ear.

His fingers grazed her cheek, accidentally brushing against her trembling eyelashes amidst her flinching.

Both of them paused for a moment.

His breath was clear and faint.

This sensation…

Ti Ying’s heart skipped a beat.

—

Inside the Yujing sect, the sect master passed away, and the five elders worked together to handle the major affairs within the sect.

In the main hall, a Big Dipper formation was set up, with spiritual energy shimmering in the night sky, being drawn into the main hall.

One by one, divine consciousness was drawn in.

Each divine consciousness entering the formation transformed into a person. Soon, within the Big Dipper formation, the souls of three individuals appeared together, looking towards the radiant brilliance where the five elders of the Yujing sect sat, presiding over the formation’s core.

Among the five elders, there were four men and one woman.

Among the four men, the youngest and most elegant one had a face as cold as frost and a demeanor as if snow were falling around him. He sat beside the only young female elder of the Yujing sect. Compared to the others, this female elder had a gentle and graceful appearance, like a willow swaying in the breeze, delicate as a plum blossom under the moonlight.

The female elder spoke in a gentle tone, “Visiting the Yujing sect late at night, are you here to burn incense for the sect master?”

The young male elder sitting next to her, as cold as frost, said coldly, “The Yujing sect is the head of the four major immortal sects. If it’s only a visitation of divine consciousness and burning incense, I’m afraid it’s inappropriate.”

The visitors paused.

This young male elder, named Shen Xingchuan, was the number one swordsman in the world today. It was because of this that he could dominate over others and become one of the five elders of the Yujing sect.

The female elder beside him was Shen Yushu, Shen Xingchuan’s younger sister.

She didn’t seem particularly formidable… People thought that she became an elder because of her brother’s influence.

The Yujing sect was now truly a mixed bag.

With the sect master’s passing, two of the five elders were so young that their cultivation levels were inevitably lower than the others’.

Tonight’s unexpected guests clearly didn’t care much about these five elders.

A pot-bellied soul sneered, “Nephew, niece, your words are rather abrupt. We had a close relationship with sect master Bai, hearing of his passing, we couldn’t help but feel sorrowful. We’re old friends, just came early to see what’s going on.”

Elder Hua among the five elders flashed a hint of suspicion in her eyes, “Early?”

The pot-bellied soul chuckled, “Heard that the Yujing sect is selecting disciples. Coincidentally, it’s been many years since our sects have done so. We can’t let all the talented individuals in the world be taken by the sect master. This time, we’ve discussed and decided to come and pay our respects to sect master Bai. Also, to join hands with the Yujing sect to organize a selection competition.

“Selecting disciples together among the four major sects will surely attract talented children. This way, the children won’t run around aimlessly, unsure which sect they should join, wasting their time.”

The five elders of the Yujing sect’s expressions changed at the words.

Elder Hua said, “I’m afraid we can’t entertain you. We still have to welcome the new sect master…”

Another old voice, filled with ill intent, joined the conversation, “Perfect timing. We can help assess and see which of you elders is qualified to become the sect master of the Yujing sect.”

This statement clearly aimed to influence the position of the sect master of the Yujing sect.

Shen Xingchuan immediately stood up, his hand reaching down, offering a cold sword, emanating a chilly aura.

Elder Hua immediately rebuked, “Junior Brother Shen, restrain yourself! Is this how we treat guests?”

Shen Xingchuan stood tall, his gaze cold as he looked at these souls.

These souls were all highly cultivated, and they weren’t afraid of him.

The pot-bellied soul who spoke earlier chuckled, “Why so hasty, Junior Brother Shen? We’re just here to watch the excitement, to see if the Yujing sect lives up to its reputation, allowing us to pay our respects…”

The intervening old voice continued, “For years, the Yujing sect has always held the top position among the four major immortal sects. It’s said that the Yujing sect was founded by Immortal Lord Qingmu… But we’ve always been doubtful about whether Immortal Lord Qingmu is truly an immortal.

“We’ve never seen any traces of his immortality… It’s said that immortals are immortal and unchanging. With the passing of sect master Bai and the Yujing sect leaderless, shouldn’t we invite an immortal to come forward and oversee the situation?”

With this, the Yujing sect understood that these people were here to test their strength.

Shen Xingchuan lowered his gaze, “A thousand years ago, Master Qingmu fell alongside demons while suppressing them. It’s widely known. How could he reappear? What are your true intentions? You know best.”

The old voice chuckled. “Just paying a visit.”

But it was clear they were dissatisfied with the position of the sect master of the Yujing sect and wanted to change the rankings.

A helpless young voice awkwardly interjected among them, “Don’t argue, please don’t argue, let’s talk it out…”

After consulting with Elder Hua and the other elders of the Yujing sect, Elder Hua smiled, “Since the sect masters are visiting and want to select disciples together with the Yujing sect, we are honored and naturally will extend our hospitality.”

The divine consciousnesses who had arrived tonight were startled, their purpose achieved, and they promptly departed.

—

At the inn downhill,

Ti Ying was trapped in the corner by Jiang Xuehe, vaguely thinking of her dream. In the dream, her senior brother seemed to be like this…

Ti Ying was petite, so he had to bend down to talk to her, blocking her firmly… Humph, she wanted to chop off the ankles of everyone taller than her!

As Ti Ying cursed her senior brother in her mind, she heard Jiang Xuehe whisper, “Little Ying, I’m your senior brother.”

Ti Ying didn’t immediately grasp the true meaning of this statement.

Suddenly, she heard a thud at the door or window, as if something had flown in from the night sky into the room.

Ti Ying blinked, turned her head, and saw a paper crane carrying a very large and heavy bag, struggling to open the window.

The paper crane flew into the room, seeing the two of them struggling, unsure who to approach.

This is the paper crane from her former master.

Jiang Xuehe lowered his thick, long eyelashes, his gaze gentle, yet with a bewitching allure born from that gentleness. “Little Ying, I really am your senior brother — the elder brother you’ve never seen before.”

The chilly night breeze was clear as the paper crane flapped its wings.

Ti Ying, leaning against the wall and held close by the youth, suddenly lifted her head and looked up at Jiang Xuehe.