Volume 1 Chapter 17: Junior Sister, Lethal Hug

Volume 1 Chapter 17: Junior Sister, Lethal Hug

Although Pei Lengxue had resolved not to glance over at her senior brother chatting and sipping tea with that vixen, she still couldn't help sneaking a peek midway.

And what did she see?

The two of them looked like they were having the time of their lives—smiles, laughter, good vibes all around.

Her senior brother even had a smile that reached his eyes.

Then boom—she lost control for just a second.

The wooden training stake she was hitting exploded.

Not only that, but crackling lightning-shaped fractures had spread across the cloudstone tiles all around the courtyard.

Hearing the noise, Ye Anping hurried over. He took one look at the scorched, splintered mess and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

‘Looks like my junior sister just broke through another level of the Shadowleaf Sword Art…’

This was no ordinary sword technique. The Shadowleaf Sword Art was the secret art of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect art. Upon reaching the third level, the practitioner could turn falling leaves into swords—back when they fought Wu You, even he had trouble keeping up with her moves.

And now… the fourth level.

Control of spirit energy so precisely it could turn raw spiritual energy into sword energy.

Those cracks on the stone floor? Without a doubt, she blasted them with pure sword energy.

She had stepped right onto the threshold of the fourth level.

Was this… enlightenment?

In the game, even the Shadowmoon Sword Sect Master’s personal disciples needed nearly twenty years to go from the third to the fourth level. But she—

She was only fourteen.

Even Ye Anping hadn’t expected her compatibility with this technique to be so absurdly high. Thinking back, he really had picked the right sword technique for her.

Still, breaking through took a toll on one’s energy reserves.

He quickly moved to help her adjust her breath and stabilize her spiritual energy.

But as he got closer, he finally noticed—

Pei Lengxue’s eyes were red and swollen. As if… she’d been crying.

“Junior sister? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

“I wasn’t crying!! Sniff—” She sniffled, turning her head sharply, voice raised in protest. “I didn’t cry!!”

“Your eyes are so puffy they look like boiled eggs.”

“I said I didn’t cry! Uuuu—”

Then, without warning, Pei Lengxue rushed forward and flung herself into Ye Anping’s chest, burying her tear-streaked face against him.

“I really didn’t cry!”

“… …”

Ye Anping had no idea what was going on, but given how much she was bawling, he could only raise a hand and gently pat her back.

“There, there. Senior Brother’s here. Don’t cry, don’t cry. You’re already fourteen, yet still acting like such a child.”

“I really, really didn’t cry…”

She tightened her arms around him—hugging him with such force that it felt more like an attempted lethal chokehold. For a moment, Ye Anping was fairly sure his kidneys and spine cried out in agony.

“Junior sister—w-wait!!” He quickly tried prying her arms off. “My back—my back’s about to snap!!”

At that exact moment, Feng Yudie approached. She glanced at the shattered training stake and the crack-laced courtyard floor, blinking in surprise.

“Hm? Young Master Ye, what happened here?”

And for some inexplicable reason, the moment she opened her mouth, Pei Lengxue’s arms tightened even more.

Crack

Ye Anping inhaled sharply. Yep. His back was definitely fractured now.

“…Nothing important. Miss Feng, you should go rest.”

Feng Yudie hesitated. For a moment, she couldn’t help but feel a stab of envy.

She really wanted to be hugged by Pei Lengxue like that too.

But then she remembered what Ye Anping had told her earlier—that before long, they’d all be living together. If she played her cards right, hugs like that might become an everyday thing.

There was no rush.

“Alright. I’ll head back for now.”

“And don’t forget what I told you.”

“Of course. I always keep my word.”

She gave Pei Lengxue one last glance before limping away in the direction she’d come from.

As her figure disappeared in the distance, Ye Anping let out a long sigh. He lowered his gaze to the girl still buried in his chest.

“Junior sister, seriously… what happened? You crushed my waist like it was a twig. You’re not that excited about breaking through to the next level, right?”

Pei Lengxue finally raised her head. Her chin rested lightly against his chest, her eyes still glossy with unshed tears.

“Senior brother… sniff—”

Seeing her face all covered in tears and snot, Ye Anping could only sigh helplessly and tugged the corner of his sleeve to wipe her cheeks clean.

“You look like a little raccoon right now. Don’t you remember what I always told you? ‘Girls don’t cry easily. Tears solve nothing—only strength does.’”

Pei Lengxue gave a soft little nod, her voice as gentle as glutinous rice.

“Mn. I remember.”

She sniffled, then rubbed her eyes on Ye Anping’s robe again.

“Senior brother… is Feng Yudie prettier than me?”

“Prettier?”

Ye Anping paused, a little surprised—then realization struck. 

Of course. Lengxue was at that age now, caring about looks and comparisons.

He chuckled softly and teased, “What, feeling insecure just ‘cause you think she’s better looking?”

“No, I just…”

“In my eyes, you’ll always be the most beautiful girl in the world,” Ye Anping said, ruffling her hair gently. “Didn’t I used to tell you that every day?”

Only then did Pei Lengxue finally calm down. She rested her forehead against his chest and smiled quietly, lips pressed into a thin curve.

“All right now. Sit down and meditate. I’ll help you stabilize your spiritual energy. That sword art breakthrough of yours must’ve drained quite a bit of energy. Oh, and I need to tell you something, too.”

“Mm.”

Pei Lengxue nodded obediently and quickly sat down cross-legged, turning around and exposing her back to her senior brother.

As his warm palm rested gently on her back, a calm and steady warmth spread from the contact point, quieting the turbulence in her heart.

“Junior sister,” Ye Anping said softly, “do you remember the question I once asked you—what is the ‘dao heart’?”

“I remember,” Pei Lengxue answered without hesitation. “The dao heart means to shun evil and uphold virtue, to cast off human desire and preserve heavenly principle. It is unity of knowledge and action, bringing one’s innate sense of good to all things in the world.”

Ye Anping blinked, clearly surprised.

He had only mentioned it offhandedly when she was much younger. He hadn’t expected her to remember it so clearly.

“You actually remembered? I thought you’d long forgotten.”

“I don’t really understand what it means, but senior brother said to memorize it… so I did.”

“Then hold onto it. That answer will get you a perfect score.”

“Perfect score?”

“You’ll see tomorrow.”

. . . . . . .

Meanwhile…

Back in her room, Feng Yudie lay sprawled across her bed, replaying the two things Ye Anping had told her earlier.

The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she felt.

It almost seemed like that guy had taken a huge advantage of her somehow. She tossed and turned, unable to calm her mind.

“Xiaotian,” she grumbled, “don’t you think that Ye guy is kinda… weird?”

『Weird, yes, but…』

Xiaotian floated overhead with its head propped lazily in the air. It turned to her with a smile.

『I actually kinda like him.』

“You like him?”

『His intentions are righteous, and the fact that he knew the selection questions for the Profound Star Sect’s tests proves his connections run deep. That’s impressive for someone his age—most boys around fifteen are still playing in the mud. And with dual spirit roots and a cultivation of the third layer of Qi Refining by fifteen, if he had heavenly roots instead, his cultivation might even surpass yours.』

“So he bribed you with snacks and now you’re on his side?”

『He can’t even see me. If he could see me, I’d consider showing him the Heavenly Dao Scriptures myself. But didn’t you notice something else?』

“Notice what?”

『That sword art his junior sister used isn’t some common technique. It’s rare to see someone at the Qi Refining Realm control spiritual energy with such precision. I’d wager it’s either the secret sword technique of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect… or an ancient legacy technique.』

Xiaotian floated down beside her and patted her on the shoulder.

『Yudie, befriending him will bring you nothing but benefits.』

This was the first time Xiaotian had spoken so highly of anyone. Feng Yudie was surprised… but then she thought about Pei Lengxue and nodded in agreement.

“You’re right. After all, he is Miss Pei senior brother. That means he’ll be… my future uncle-in-law. I’d better stay on his good side.”

『…Uncle-in—』

Xiaotian froze. It took a deep breath, then WHAM—kicked her right in the forehead.

『Yudie, you little brat!! If I had more strength right now, I’d tan your hide!』

Feng Yudie ignored the spirit’s tiny punches and kicks, instead curling up on her bed with a goofy smile on her face. She hugged herself and rolled back and forth, giggling like a maiden in love.

“Miss Pei was so cool~~ I wanna get hugged and bullied by her too~~~ Ehehehe~~ hehehehe…”