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Chapter 7: A Public Scene of Social Death
🕑 Added 2025-01-21 12:41:22 +0000 UTCThe sword intent was unstoppable, as if it were reaching for the moon in the heavens.
But just as the Hegui Sword was about to pierce Bai Yushuang’s body, Mei He hesitated slightly.
At the critical moment, Bai Yushuang withdrew her flute. She didn’t even attempt to block the attack, allowing the Hegui Sword to pass through her body. Yet, her expression remained remarkably calm.
The point of impact revealed no blood, only a faint illusionary figure.
Bai Yushuang smiled and said, “Master Mei, you’ve lost.”
Mei He, a master at the Infinite Realm, knew that Bai Yushuang, whose cultivation was merely at the mid-stage of the Cloud-Chasing Realm, shouldn’t have been unable to counter her attack, even if she had only used fifty percent of her strength.
Unless…
Mei He’s expression shifted as she asked, “Where is your true body?”
Bai Yushuang looked at Mei He with a gentle smile.
With crimson lips slightly parted, she softly said, “Just imagine: without Master Mei guarding the Lingxiao Pavilion, could it withstand the attack of the Demon Sect’s Left and Right Protectors?”
Mei He frowned. “Your true body is at the Lingxiao Pavilion… Could it be you’re after Chu Changli’s sword?”
So Bai Yushuang’s plan was to feint in one direction while striking in another.
She first captured disciples in the market, then deliberately created a commotion with her domain to lure Mei He away. Her true goal was the demon sword Chixiao, which had been guarded by the Wanjian Sect for seventy years.
Clearly, Bai Yushuang was determined to obtain it.
“Wasn’t this the choice of Master Mei herself?”
Bai Yushuang chuckled with amusement, glancing at Ji Rong, who stood among the crowd below. She spoke softly to Mei He, “Moreover, you’ve given me a pleasant surprise today.”
Hearing this, everyone followed Bai Yushuang’s gaze.
Just moments earlier, Ji Rong had forced herself to stand upright to watch the duel between the masters. As a result, she now stood tall and straight.
Among the bowing disciples, a woman in light garments, with an indifferent expression, stood out coldly amidst the crowd.
[Ding!! Mystery +10, Prestige +10]
Ji Rong stood frozen, at a loss for words.
She just wanted to watch the experts fight; she never expected to become the center of attention for the onlookers.
This overwhelming spotlight made Ji Rong’s skin crawl, yet she had to maintain a lofty image, pretending to be calm as she met the gazes of the two masters.
Even Mei He gave her a scrutinizing glance, as if pondering something.
Ji Rong: “…”
Wife, I have social anxiety. I’m scared.
The duration of the projection was limited, and just as the illusion was about to dissipate, Bai Yushuang pulled a small box from her sleeve and casually tossed it to Ji Rong.
With a radiant smile, she said, “Something I picked up along the way—consider it a gift for our meeting. Here, little girl, remember what I just said. I’ll be waiting for you. We have a long future ahead.”
With that, the projection dissolved into black ashes and vanished without a trace.
A long future ahead?
Ji Rong’s scalp tingled. She felt the gazes directed at her becoming more intense.
Instinctively, she caught the box, only to see a fluffy little head pop out. A pure white spirit fox looked at her with innocent eyes.
[Congratulations, Player, on obtaining Tianshan Snow Fox ×1. Bai Yushuang’s favorability +20.]
Ji Rong realized it now—this was what the assistant had referred to as “treasure hunting in the market.” But it seemed the Wanjian Sect had lost a peerless demon sword…
Then she thought, The Chixiao Sword doesn’t really have much to do with me anyway.
All in all, she had profited without loss.
But then Mei He descended gracefully, landing beside Ji Rong.
Mei He gazed at the fox, frowning slightly. “This doesn’t look like something Bai Yushuang picked up casually. There seems to be demonic energy lingering around it.”
Mei He’s noble features were naturally dignified, untouchable, yet the slight furrow of her brows added a touch of humanity, softening her cold contours.
Ji Rong stared at Mei He, stunned.
Wife! Wife is right here beside me!
She was entranced, wanting to declare “Wife, I love you” in the global chat.
She couldn’t help but marvel—there was nothing more beautiful in the world than this moment.
Mei He extended her hand to Ji Rong and said softly, “Changqin, give me the box to take a look.”
Changqin?
Ji Rong’s mind cleared instantly. She remembered that she wasn’t the game’s protagonist but the villain, Ji Rong, also known as Ji Changqin.
Then she wondered, How does Mei He know the original character’s courtesy name? Even as a player, I almost forgot she had one.
But no matter what, since her wife had spoken, she would never refuse.
Ji Rong was about to hand the snow fox to Mei He when the fox stuck out its tongue and began licking the scratch on Ji Rong’s hand.
On the other side, Mei He noticed a cinnabar mark forming on the fox’s forehead and her expression shifted slightly.
That was the mark of a blood contract—a sign of binding.
The little creature had stealthily formed a blood pact with Ji Rong when she wasn’t paying attention. Now it was her spirit companion, and the bond couldn’t be undone.
Mei He shook her head and said, “Since it has already recognized you as its master through a blood pact, there’s no need to look further. It sensed my intent to kill and chose you as its master for self-preservation. It seems rather clever—a quick-witted little thing.”
The snow fox nestled into Ji Rong’s arms, timidly looking at Mei He.
Ji Rong looked at the snow fox in her arms, its fur as white as snow, soft and fluffy.
She couldn't help but reach out to touch the fox's head.
To her surprise, it felt unexpectedly good.
Ji Rong looked up and noticed Mei He frowning slightly, seemingly staring at her.
Worried she might have broken character, she coughed lightly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader."
Mei He, however, said nothing and continued to gaze thoughtfully at Ji Rong's face.
After a moment, she pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and gently wiped the bloodstains from the corner of Ji Rong's mouth.
Oh. My. God!!
Not only was Ji Rong screaming internally, but the onlookers were also utterly dumbfounded.
From the Sect Leader's address, they recognized this woman as the one who had been betrayed by fellow disciples not long ago.
What they didn’t expect was... that Sect Leader Mei would treat her with such care.
Through the silk handkerchief, Ji Rong felt the cool touch of Mei He's fingertips.
Her emotions soared to the heavens, only to plummet moments later.
Because it seemed like she had just destroyed her own ship.
Ji Rong looked at the amused glint in Mei He's eyes and her naturally affectionate actions, suddenly feeling like the Bai He CP she had shipped for three years was a complete joke.
Her ship had sunk—and it was her own doing.
In that brief moment when the Sect Leader raised her hand, she even came up with a CP name for herself and Mei He.
Let’s call it Ji Mei—Ji (you’re) too Mei (charming).
Mei He, oblivious to Ji Rong's inner drama, finished wiping away the bloodstains. She then put away the handkerchief and asked, "Changqin, are you hurt anywhere?"
Ji Rong shook her head.
Only her heart had taken a heavy blow.
Mei He glanced at Wei Zongqiu and Liu Ningshuang, who were unconscious on the ground.
With just one look, she concluded, "They were struck by Junior Sister Bai's enchantment technique. They’ll wake up in two days, and their bodies are unharmed."
Ji Rong couldn't help but wonder—if Mei He could determine their condition at a glance, why had she even bothered to ask her?
But Mei He was always swift and decisive, offering no explanations.
Before leaving, she gave Ji Rong a final glance, sheathed her sword, and flew away under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
As soon as the Sect Leader left, the onlookers turned their curious and envious gazes toward Ji Rong.
Holding the snow fox in her arms, Ji Rong glanced at her two unconscious companions and began to ponder a pressing issue.
She was the only one here. How was she supposed to carry two people back?
Mei He had likely gone to Lingxiao Pavilion, but leaving the three of them here was truly too cruel.
Now, Ji Rong was stuck—leaving felt wrong, but staying didn’t seem right either. She felt like the Bao Lu Market was her public embarrassment arena.
Fortunately, a streak of sword light flashed through the air. The newcomer, stern-faced, descended gracefully from a silver sword.
The man, clad in a cyan Daoist robe, exuded a solemn aura.
He first scrutinized Ji Rong, then glanced at the two unconscious figures on the ground, before coldly remarking, "Useless."
With that, he picked up one person in each hand, brushed past Ji Rong, and left in style, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
Ji Rong let out a long sigh of relief. Thankfully, Ye Yizhou had come; otherwise, she really wouldn’t have known how to clean up this mess.
The onlooking outer disciples, however, were amazed. "Is that Venerable Ye? He looks so intimidating..."
"Senior Ye has always been strict. If we make it into the inner sect, even apprenticing under Elder Gong Yu would be better than him!"
Ji Rong was quietly listening to the disciples gossip when she noticed their eager gazes, as if they wanted to strike up a conversation with her.
As a socially anxious person, she decided to take the initiative.
Ji Rong stepped forward and calmly said, "I’ve heard your discussions. Think about it—Sect Leader Mei defeated the strongest of the demon sect with just one sword."
"Moreover, with Senior Ye and Elder Gong guarding us, as disciples of the Wanjian Sect, all you need to do is focus on cultivation. There’s no need to elevate others while undermining yourselves."
Her words silenced the gossiping disciples.
For some reason, the woman standing at the center, speaking so composedly, exuded an invisible authority.
This subtle pressure also reassured them.
So, this was an inner disciple?
A few outer disciples, inspired by their longing for the inner sect, couldn’t help but exclaim, "Right! With Sect Leader Mei in charge of the Wanjian Sect, why should we fear those demon pests?"
"Exactly! Why elevate others while undermining ourselves? The Wanjian Sect is a century-old sect, destined to flourish for millennia. Why fear demon cultivators?"
The disciples instantly regained their morale. Proud of their identity as Wanjian Sect disciples, they were one step away from shouting, "Long live the Wanjian Sect!"
Ji Rong looked at the now-motivated outer disciples and nodded in satisfaction.
Yes, yes, she liked these brainless NPCs.
