Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 423 409: Fairy Ye Also Wants to See Senior Sister Lu

"Really? Junior Martial Uncle Pei, you're willing to visit my master!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sixuan's almond-shaped eyes instantly lit up. The corners of her mouth turned up unconsciously, and a slightly childish smile, full of both anticipation and a bit of unease, appeared on her baby-fat cheeks.

She had her suspicions about the conflict between Pei Yuhang and Lu Ruoxi.

After all, it had been so long since Lu Ruoxi had resigned from her position as an Elder and run into trouble, yet Pei Yuhang had never once come to see her. Combining that with the tears her master sometimes shed in her sleep and the choked sobs in her delirious mutterings...

'The only person who could haunt my master's thoughts and dreams and cause her such unbearable grief... was probably Junior Martial Uncle Pei.'

Pei Yuhang looked at the young woman before him, a complex glint in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. Finally, he nodded solemnly, his voice low and firm. "Yes, I promise you."

'Although Lu Ruoxi did many terrible things to me in the past after hypnotizing me, she's still my senior sister. She helped me and Liyuan through many tribulations. Now, hearing from Chen Sixuan how wretched and dejected she is, I can't help but feel uneasy.'

'Since Senior Sister ran away after I found her on that snowy night...'

'...I should take the initiative and pay her a visit to ask.'

'Senior Sister, what are your feelings toward me, toward Liyuan, right now?'

Ye Liyuan observed Pei Yuhang's doubtful expression, then glanced at Chen Sixuan, who looked like she wanted to say something but was holding back.

She had a strange feeling that these two, one older and one younger, were both hiding something from her.

Meanwhile, after Pei Yuhang arranged with Chen Sixuan to visit his senior sister the next day, Chen Sixuan politely declined the invitation to stay the night at the Cold Palace Sword Mansion. She went outside, mounted an Immortal Crane, and departed.

Inside the room, only Pei Yuhang and Ye Liyuan remained.

Ye Liyuan tilted her small face up, her clear almond eyes shimmering with a watery light. She spoke softly, "Ah Han, are we leaving tomorrow morning to see Senior Sister?"

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang frowned slightly. 'The things I need to discuss with Senior Sister cannot be overheard by Liyuan.'

'At least, I can't let Liyuan know right now. For my unprepared Dao Companion, the shock would be too great.'

'I'll have to... find a way to send Liyuan away.'

"Liyuan."

"What is it, Ah Han?"

"You must be close to breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, right?"

Pei Yuhang suddenly wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind, resting his chin on her delicate shoulder. He inhaled the faint, orchid-like fragrance of his Dao Companion's hair, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He kissed her fair, lovely earlobe and then whispered softly:

"I just remembered, the Sect's Bone Marrow Cleansing Spring will be open tomorrow. I'll ask the Great Elder for a spot. How about you go soak in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spring tomorrow?

If all goes well, you could use the spring's power to break through to the Nascent Soul realm within two months."

Ye Liyuan pursed her lips at his words.

"But... I was going to visit Senior Sister with you tomorrow, wasn't I?"

"If Senior Sister only sees you and not me, she'll definitely think I'm a terribly inconsiderate junior sister."

'As if! Liyuan, you have no idea. Senior Sister would be thrilled if I went to see her alone...'

Pei Yuhang grumbled inwardly, but his tone remained gentle as he tried to persuade her.

"Liyuan, Senior Sister certainly wouldn't want you to delay your cultivation because of her. Her Dao Heart is already in a fragile state. If she knew you gave up this opportunity for her sake..."

"What if she feels guilty and her heart's affliction worsens?"

Pei Yuhang coaxed her patiently.

"But..."

"No buts, Liyuan. Just get ready and go have a nice, relaxing soak in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spring tomorrow. Leave Senior Sister to me."

Pei Yuhang soothed his Dao Companion.

He then took out a Transmission Token, preparing to ask Elder Xiao about a spot for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spring.

As a Sword Dao Fairy who had once nearly advanced to the Void Refining realm, Ye Liyuan's aptitude was unquestionably that of a top-tier prodigy. Now that she had overcome her Heart Demon and could cultivate normally, getting her a spot in a prime cultivation location wasn't exactly pulling strings behind the scenes.

Of course, if Elder Xiao said Ye Liyuan didn't meet the requirements, he wouldn't force the issue.

He would just have to come up with another reason to fool... no, to persuade Liyuan.

Outside the window, Jiu, hidden in a rift in space, slowly retracted their gaze and silently departed.

'Lu Ruoxi's Dao Heart has shattered... Interesting.'

'The Holy Daughter will probably be very pleased when she hears this news.'

...

...

「The next morning.」

Pei Yuhang stood at the entrance of their residence, waiting for his Dao Companion who was getting ready, and sighed softly.

When he had spoken with Elder Xiao yesterday, the elder had agreed to give him a spot for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spring. However, he had also mentioned that "the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spring will be open for three days."

And Ye Liyuan had happened to overhear that sentence.

Now, Ye Liyuan was once again insisting on seeing Senior Sister.

And Pei Yuhang no longer had any reason to stop Fairy Ye from accompanying him to see Senior Sister today.

'Fate really plays tricks on you. Now I owe Elder Xiao a favor, and I can't even achieve my goal of seeing Senior Sister alone...'

Pei Yuhang lamented softly, feeling that the world was sometimes just this helpless. The more one schemed, the more likely things were to backfire.

"Ah Han, sorry to keep you waiting."

A voice as clear as a warbler's song came from behind him.

Pei Yuhang turned around and saw his Dao Companion, who had dressed up meticulously. In that instant, the gloom in his heart seemed to dissipate.

Today, Ye Liyuan wore a pale cyan flowing cloud gauze dress, with a thin belt woven from silver thread tied around her waist, accentuating how slender it was—enough to be encircled by a single hand.

A jade hairpin was nestled in her hair. As she tilted her head slightly, the pearls and jade on it swayed gently, refracting shimmering halos of light in the morning sun.

'Indeed, a beautiful woman is the most pleasing sight to the eye.'

'Especially the beautiful woman he loved.'

"Ah Han, stop staring, you're making me blush..."

Ye Liyuan's ears grew hot under his intense gaze. Her long eyelashes trembled and lowered, casting a small shadow beneath her eyes.

Although a shy blush spread across her face, she felt a surge of pride in her heart, knowing that Ah Han acknowledged her charm. She couldn't help but puff out her chest slightly.

"Liyuan, you look beautiful."

"Oh, stop it. I know that even if you don't say it!"

Ye Liyuan shyly gave Pei Yuhang a light punch, but she couldn't suppress the faint smile at the corners of her lips. "Alright, Ah Han, enough with the sweet talk. Let's go."

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang's thoughts were pulled back to reality.

His expression couldn't help but turn grave.

'That's right, I have to take Liyuan with me to see Senior Sister now.'

'But Senior Sister's current state...'

Pei Yuhang couldn't imagine what it would be like for him and Liyuan to reunite with Senior Sister together.

After all, the relationship between the three of them, fellow disciples of the same master, could never go back to the way it was.

Filled with this anxiety, Pei Yuhang wrapped an arm around Ye Liyuan's slender waist. Together, they stepped onto a Spirit Sword and flew toward Dan Yun Pavilion.

'Whatever. I'll just see Senior Sister first and figure it out from there.'