Chapter 8

Lin Sa Sa’s boudoir was spacious, and her refinement was evident not only in her attire but also in the luxurious furnishings within the room.  

Upon stepping inside, a faint, delicate fragrance filled the air—similar to the scent that clung to Lin Sa Sa herself. Though pleasant, Feng Qi found it distasteful.  

“What a rare guest,” Lin Sa Sa’s voice drifted lazily from behind the lacquered painted screen, tinged with exhaustion.  

Contrary to his expectations of biting sarcasm, she simply called out when he remained motionless outside the screen, “Junior Brother Feng, come in.”  

Feng Qi still didn’t move, his cold gaze fixed on the screen’s depiction of white lotuses and red carp. “I’ll stand right here,” he said warily.  

“What’s the matter?” A laugh came from within the room. “Afraid I’ll eat you alive?”  

“If anyone should be wary, it’s me,” Lin Sa Sa admitted bluntly, fully aware of her own reputation. “I’m genuinely worried that one day, you’ll snap and strangle me to death.”  

As she spoke, she activated the defense magic array in the room—a formation set up by Lin Fu Feng. As long as Lin Sa Sa stayed safely within it, no one below the Great Ascension Stage could touch her.  

“Come in,” she urged him again. “Let’s have a proper talk.”  

“There’s nothing for us to discuss.”  

Feng Qi’s expression twisted in disgust, his words growing increasingly infuriating. “I’m only here so Senior Sister won’t worry. I don’t regret what happened yesterday. If you’re still angry, you can always ask the disciplinary elder to deliver the remaining thirty lashes. But I’m warning you—stay away from my senior sister.”  

Otherwise, he wouldn’t just kill her. He’d make sure she suffered a fate worse than death.  

The cloying sweetness of the room’s fragrance only deepened his irritation. Feng Qi much preferred the faint scent of soap that lingered around Luo Shui Wei—gentle and harmless, just like her nature, soothing enough to temper even his murderous impulses.  

He missed her already.  

Was she waiting anxiously outside the door for him to emerge? Or had she already left with He Lan Ling?  

Lost in these thoughts, Feng Qi’s expression darkened as he turned to leave. Just then, something hurtled toward him from the corner of his vision, smashing at his feet with a loud crash. A cloud of incense ash billowed out, thickening the already overpowering fragrance.  

“Wow, Feng Qi, I’m here trying to talk to you nicely, and you really think you’re something special, huh?”  

Lin Sa Sa’s temper flared. “Take a good look at yourself—what right do you have to warn me? Let me make this clear: if you dare step out that door today, I’ll drag Luo Shui Wei into the Sect Prison and have her beaten to death. Let’s see if my father sides with me or with you!”  

Her vicious threat froze Feng Qi in his tracks. He even pushed aside the curtain and stepped behind the screen.  

“Lin Sa Sa! If you lay a finger on Senior Sister, I’ll destroy the Cloud Hermit Sect at any cost!” Feng Qi stormed in, his face twisted with fury. If not for the magic array blocking him, he would have killed her on the spot.  

Lin Sa Sa feigned terror, lightly patting her chest. Dressed in a plain white nightgown, she reclined on the beauty couch and sighed theatrically. “If I were Luo Shui Wei, I’d be so moved by your devotion.”  

Destroy the Cloud Hermit Sect at any cost?  

Aside from the Radiant Saint Palace where Daojun resided, the Cloud Hermit Sect was the most powerful force in the eastern region. Declaring war on them was tantamount to challenging the entire Cultivation World.  

“Too bad,” she added mockingly, “your heartfelt devotion might not be reciprocated by Luo Shui Wei.”

Feng Qi’s expression stiffened as he couldn’t help but recall Luo Shui Wei’s retreating figure running toward He Lan Ling. His voice turned even colder, “None of your business.”

Lin Sa Sa tsked, “I wouldn’t bother if I had a choice, but Luo Shui Wei is standing in my way.”

Normally, Lin Sa Sa wouldn’t waste her breath on Feng Qi. If he dared to show her attitude and throw his weight around, she’d beat him half to death without hesitation. But things were different now. The task Lin Sa Sa needed to accomplish was too difficult, and she couldn’t do it alone—she needed an ally.

Why choose Feng Qi? The reason was simple: he was crazy and obsessive enough, and most importantly, he was hopelessly in love with Luo Shui Wei.

Luo Shui Wei liked He Lan Ling, and Lin Sa Sa needed to prevent He Lan Ling and Luo Shui Wei from getting together. Meanwhile, Feng Qi was deeply in love with Luo Shui Wei, and Lin Sa Sa’s chances of winning He Lan Ling’s heart were slim…

After sorting out her thoughts, Lin Sa Sa figured that instead of wasting time solely on He Lan Ling, she might as well focus her efforts on Feng Qi. If she could help him win Luo Shui Wei, even if she failed to capture He Lan Ling’s heart, the romantic fate between the male and female leads would still be severed.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed—Luo Shui Wei likes He Lan Ling.”

“What a coincidence, huh? I like He Lan Ling too, but unfortunately, he prefers your senior sister. Quite the predicament, isn’t it?”

Feng Qi gradually began to listen to Lin Sa Sa’s words, vaguely discerning her intentions. He narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at her. “What are you planning?”

Lin Sa Sa was straightforward. “He Lan Ling—mine. Luo Shui Wei—yours.”

She would help him get Luo Shui Wei, and he would help her keep Luo Shui Wei in check.

“…”

As expected, the conversation ended without a resolution.

For years, she and Feng Qi had been at odds. Feng Qi was cautious and sensitive by nature, and gaining his trust wasn’t something that could be achieved with just a few words.

But it didn’t matter.

Though Feng Qi had ended the conversation with the word “ridiculous,” he hadn’t outright rejected her. The rest would just take time. Feng Qi’s possessiveness was so strong that all he needed was a few more provocations from Luo Shui Wei, and he would come looking for Lin Sa Sa on his own—no need for her to seek him out.

Lin Sa Sa had been waiting for the right moment, but she hadn’t expected the opportunity to come so soon.

The next day, as she went to He Lan Ling’s place for their scheduled sword practice, she happened to run into Luo Shui Wei leaving his courtyard.

“J-Junior Sister…” The girl in the white dress clutched a longsword, her sleeves adorned with a few orchid motifs. When she saw Lin Sa Sa, a hint of panic flashed across her face.

Lin Sa Sa’s gaze fell on the sword Luo Shui Wei was holding tightly. Her expression darkened as she spoke sharply, “What are you doing here?”

Luo Shui Wei hugged the sword closer to her chest, her voice tinged with guilt and grievance. “I-I just came to see Senior Brother… I didn’t do anything…”

Lin Sa Sa laughed in exasperation.

Sometimes, she truly didn’t understand why everyone praised Luo Shui Wei as pure and kind, while she alone found her hypocritical and malicious. It was as if, from the very first meeting, every word Luo Shui Wei spoke to her carried hidden meanings—and Lin Sa Sa could hear every single one of them.

If she hadn’t done anything, why bring the sword? To show off how pretty it was to He Lan Ling?

Lin Sa Sa snorted coldly and strode past Luo Shui Wei toward the courtyard. Seeing that Luo Shui Wei was still standing there frozen, she snapped in disgust, “Get lost. Don’t interfere with my sword practice with Brother Ling.”

BANG—

The gate slammed shut behind Lin Sa Sa with a forceful thud.

Passing through the winding pebble path, Lin Sa Sa nearly sprinted into the courtyard. She was a bit late today—He Lan Ling had already finished his sword practice and was now sitting in the pavilion reading a book.

“Well, would you look at this? The moment I take my eyes off you, you’re sneaking off to dual cultivate with Luo Shui Wei behind my back. Do you think I’m dead or something?”

He Lan Ling’s long lashes trembled slightly as he looked up, only for the book in his hands to be snatched away forcefully. Lin Sa Sa stood before him, fuming, gripping his chin with one hand and tilting it up toward her. “Speak! Did you just dual cultivate with Luo Shui Wei?”

The position—her above, him below—was one He Lan Ling despised the most, especially with Lin Sa Sa’s accusatory tone, as if she were a wife catching her husband in an affair. He turned his head away, brushing off her mischievous little hand, his voice cold. “Nonsense.”

“How is it nonsense? I just saw Luo Shui Wei walking out with her sword! You two must have practiced together!”

Since she hadn’t actually witnessed it, no bell chime rang in Lin Sa Sa’s ears as a warning. She noticed He Lan Ling’s attire today—his usual unchanging white robes were embroidered with a few red plum blossoms. Whether intentional or coincidental, it matched Luo Shui Wei’s outfit surprisingly well.

“How hideous,” Lin Sa Sa muttered, still irritated.

But what infuriated her even more came later. While He Lan Ling was channeling Spiritual Power into her, she spotted a silk ribbon wrapped around his right hand, coiled in layers and tied into a bow—concealing the bite mark she had left.

There was no need to guess; this had to be Luo Shui Wei’s doing. She was staking her claim, declaring her territory to Lin Sa Sa.

“You’re absolutely useless!”

Leaving He Lan Ling behind, Lin Sa Sa stormed straight to Feng Qi’s courtyard and kicked his door open.

Feng Qi was inside, copying the tranquility incantation. His white underrobe softened his usual sharpness, his dark hair half-tied as he sat expressionless. The incantation had soothed his turbulent emotions, so when Lin Sa Sa barged in, he merely uttered indifferently, “Get out.”

Lin Sa Sa had brought defensive magical artifacts with her, unafraid of any sudden outbursts from him. She deliberately took a seat that would annoy him and smirked. “Oh, sitting so comfortably, are you? Has Luo Shui Wei not come to see you yet?”

Feng Qi’s brush paused mid-stroke as Lin Sa Sa vividly described how He Lan Ling and Luo Shui Wei had practiced swordplay together, bodies close. Though she hadn’t seen it herself, she embellished the tale, adding how Luo Shui Wei had tenderly bandaged He Lan Ling’s wounds—successfully making Feng Qi lose his composure.

“You’re saying… Shijie bandaged He Lan Ling’s hand?” The wounds on Feng Qi’s back from the rod punishment began to ache again. He had suffered so much, yet Luo Shui Wei had never personally tended to his injuries.

Lin Sa Sa pinched her fingers together, indicating a tiny size. “A wound this small would’ve healed on its own if she’d waited just a bit longer. Look at how badly injured you are, and she doesn’t even care.”

Feng Qi instinctively defended Luo Shui Wei. “Shijie said there should be boundaries between men and women…”

“Oh? Is He Lan Ling a woman, then?”

Feng Qi fell silent.

In the face of favoritism, any explanation felt feeble.

Feng Qi had his pride, and Lin Sa Sa wasn’t in a hurry. After returning, she pleaded with the disciplinary elder to lift Feng Qi’s confinement. A thousand words couldn’t compare to him seeing it with his own eyes. At the very least, Lin Sa Sa could tell he was wavering.

In the following days, to prevent Luo Shui Wei from seeking out He Lan Ling for sword practice, Lin Sa Sa made a habit of rushing to his place early every morning. After a while, though her relationship with He Lan Ling showed no signs of improvement, she did feel her own cultivation advancing.

Perhaps misfortune had turned into blessing. After the fall from the cliff, she felt her damaged spiritual root slowly repairing itself, making cultivation much easier than before.  

She couldn’t help but entertain a bold fantasy—if she truly couldn’t stop Luo Shui Wei and He Lan Ling from falling in love, then she might as well focus on cultivation and strengthen her own power. When the time came for Luo Shui Wei’s wedding, just before the Book Spirit erased her, she could storm the ceremony with her sword and turn their joyous occasion into a funeral.  

The mere thought sent a thrill through her.  

“Focus.” A low, pleasant voice sounded by her ear.  

The spiritual glow at her fingertips dimmed as a slender, pale hand wrapped around her wrist. He Lan Ling adjusted Lin Sa Sa’s posture, guiding her to calm her mind and discard distracting thoughts. When the spiritual light gathered again, he said, “Release.”  

Lin Sa Sa thrust her palm forward, channeling the gathered energy toward a distant tree. The thick branch shook violently before snapping, leaves scattering in its wake.  

“It worked?!” Lin Sa Sa could hardly believe it.  

He Lan Ling had spent days teaching her the theory of spellcraft, but today was their first practical session. Knowing she had no natural talent for magic, she had prepared herself for a grueling struggle—never expecting to succeed on her first try.  

“Am I some kind of legendary prodigy?”  

Lin Sa Sa was getting carried away. “My father is the Sword God, famous since his youth. Logically, I should be a cultivation genius too, but everyone kept saying my spiritual root was damaged and cultivation would be difficult. And yet, look at me now.”  

Recalling the motion, she struck out again on her own. This time, the force was even stronger, blanketing the ground with fallen leaves.  

“Am I amazing or what?” The more she looked, the more convinced she became of her own brilliance.  

He Lan Ling smiled faintly, offering a somewhat perfunctory compliment. “Indeed, you are.”  

Perhaps because he had poured too much of his own Spiritual Power into Lin Sa Sa, He Lan Ling’s complexion had grown increasingly pale these past few days. Strangely, despite his pallor, his lips remained a deep crimson, and his dark eyes held an unreadable intensity. Paired with the Magic Crest on his forehead, his beauty took on an eerie, almost demonic edge.  

“Have you not been resting well lately?” Lin Sa Sa couldn’t help but ask.  

At first, seeing him like this, she had even asked Chu You to brew him a tonic to replenish his energy. Now, she suspected he hadn’t drunk a drop of it.  

Noticing her gaze, He Lan Ling suddenly raised a hand to touch his Magic Crest, as if confirming something. This time, he didn’t push himself. “Most likely due to excessive Spiritual Power depletion. It hasn’t fully recovered yet.”  

“Then I—” Lin Sa Sa was about to offer to keep brewing tonics for him when He Lan Ling interrupted.  

“Don’t come tomorrow.”  

Lin Sa Sa froze. After a pause, He Lan Ling added, “I’ll be in seclusion for a few days.”  

“Seclusion?!”  

He Lan Ling had been expressionless, but hearing the shock in Lin Sa Sa’s voice, his lashes lifted abruptly. His dark, icy gaze settled on her, yet he still managed to smile gently as he asked, “What’s wrong?”  

A chill ran down Lin Sa Sa’s spine. She quickly waved her hands. “Nothing, nothing.”  

Sure enough, He Lan Ling always acted strangely before entering seclusion.  

Author’s Note:  

Ding—  

A secret plotline is about to be triggered. For decryption, find 0; for lazing around, find the ghosts and ghouls JQK bomb a pair of 2s…  

Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: My Big Chrysanthemum is a Cat—1;  

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: 41374438—20 bottles; Ni Chang—14 bottles; Yi Zhi Hu Yan—5 bottles; My Big Chrysanthemum is a Cat—3 bottles; Good Morning—2 bottles; A Tangerine, If Only Like the First Meeting—1 bottle.