Chapter 31
Chapter 31: Plan Before Acting
Zhao Ke Xin stared at Zhu Wen Yin as if she were seeing her for the first time.
Her thoughts buzzed until they blurred into a single, frantic question.
Could someone really do that?
Catch a nine-tailed fox. Take its blood. Use it to bind a man’s will…
She couldn’t bring herself to follow the thought to the end.
Zhu Wen Yin unfolded the handkerchief and glanced at it. Her tone returned to ordinary, almost mild. “Look. In such a short time, you’ve soaked it through. A girl’s tears are precious. Use them where they matter.” She lifted her eyes. “Right now, you’re only crying in front of me. How is that worth it? If you want to cry, cry in front of Senior Brother An. He’s kind. If you stand there, silent, with tears in your eyes, and apologize… he’ll be too embarrassed to keep scolding you with harsh words.”
Zhao Ke Xin’s gaze sharpened. “Senior Sister…”
“We are true sisters,” Zhu Wen Yin said, folding the cloth away. “Of course I want what’s best for you.”
“I know.” Zhao Ke Xin swallowed, regret breaking through her anger. “If you had been there when I argued with Jiang Li Sheng, you would’ve stopped me. You wouldn’t have let me hurt Senior Brother An by mistake.”
Then she remembered Zhu Wen Yin’s cold certainty and asked, voice tight, “Senior Sister… you said if Jiang Li Sheng dares to get close to Junior Brother Wei, she’ll be finished. If she really does… will she truly be finished?”
“She will,” Zhu Wen Yin said without hesitation. “Who is Junior Brother Wei? He is the Kun Lun Sect’s young genius. He bears the sect’s heavy responsibility. He cannot be lost. The Sect Master will not allow any childish romance to obstruct his path.”
Zhao Ke Xin jolted upright, pain forgotten for a heartbeat. Her fingers clamped around Zhu Wen Yin’s wrist. “Then I want Jiang Li Sheng finished.”
Her breath came fast, eyes wild. “Senior Sister, I’ll cultivate hard. I’ll go to Qing Qiu Mountain. I’ll catch a nine-tailed fox and take its blood.”
Even if she didn’t use it on Senior Brother An… even if she—
Her hand trembled violently, but she forced the words out anyway. “I want Jiang Li Sheng to die.”
“Junior Sister,” Zhu Wen Yin said, turning her grip and holding Zhao Ke Xin’s hand down, steady and firm. “Don’t be impulsive. In seven days we go to the Qi Shan Secret Realm. The first thing you must do is apologize to Senior Brother An and repair your relationship. And you must also apologize to Jiang Li Sheng—make peace.”
Her voice lowered, each word precise. “Only then can you plan before acting.”
Zhao Ke Xin nodded, though her blood still burned. It took a long while before she loosened her grip. Then, hesitating, she asked, “Will this… hurt Junior Brother Wei?”
“It won’t,” Zhu Wen Yin said. “Junior Brother Wei is favored by heaven. The Heavenly Dao’s fortune protects him.”
Only then did Zhao Ke Xin seem to breathe again. A moment later, the pain crashed back into her. Her face went white. Cold sweat slicked her skin as she fell back onto the bed. “Senior Sister… it hurts…”
“Lie down,” Zhu Wen Yin said quickly. “I’ll soothe you again.”
Jiang Li Sheng had no idea what Zhu Wen Yin had been thinking over these seven days—about her, about Zhao Ke Xin, about An Ru Xu, about Wei Qing Lan.
She had only just woken, and her mind was still fogged with sleep. Standing behind Wei Qing Lan on his sword, she nearly toppled off twice. Both times, Wei Qing Lan caught her in time. The second time, he simply grabbed her by the collar and hauled her forward, planting her in front of him as if she were weightless.
Jiang Li Sheng’s breath caught. Embarrassed, she said, “Senior Brother Wei, sorry. I’m still not fully awake.”
“When we reach the Medical Hall and you take Spirit-Replenishing Pills, I’ll send you back to rest,” Wei Qing Lan said.
Wind tore at her loose hair. She’d rushed out after being woken and hadn’t tied it properly; now it scattered around her face and neck, exposing pale skin at her collar. Wei Qing Lan released his grip and looked away, eyes forward.
“Stand steady,” he said.
“I will,” Jiang Li Sheng promised, forcing her eyes open with sheer will.
Wei Qing Lan flew fast, and even so, Jiang Li Sheng found every breath an effort. After what felt like far too long, the sword finally descended into the Medical Hall’s grounds. The moment it stopped, she exhaled hard and jumped down.
She jumped too quickly.
Her legs gave a fraction under her, and her skirt caught her steps. She stumbled forward.
Wei Qing Lan caught her by the arm. “What are you rushing for?”
“I’m not rushing,” Jiang Li Sheng said at once, yanking her arm free and stepping back. “I just didn’t stand steady.”
Wei Qing Lan froze, a faint stiffness running through him. He withdrew his hand. His expression cooled, and his gaze settled on her—light, sharp, and difficult to bear.
“Junior Sister Jiang,” he said, “why are you afraid of me?”
“I’m not,” she insisted.
Wei Qing Lan watched her. “Whether you are or not, you know.”
Jiang Li Sheng lowered her head. She rubbed her toes against the ground, feeling pressure settle over her like a weight—Golden Core pressure, heavy and unyielding. She held out for a few breaths, then couldn’t endure it.
She drew in a deep breath, then blurted, “Senior Brother Wei—once I heal your spiritual mansion, I’ll have repaid your saving grace in the Forbidden Grounds. After that, it’s best if we have less contact.”
Wei Qing Lan’s voice turned cold. “Why?”
Jiang Li Sheng didn’t dare look up. Her courage felt paper-thin, but she forced it through. “You’re the Kun Lun Sect’s treasure. I’m afraid if I get too close to you, I’ll do something wrong, harm you, and cause a disaster. And then I’ll be locked away at the Ten-Thousand-Year Hopeless Cliff.”
Wei Qing Lan let out a short scoff. He sheathed his sword with a clean click and started toward the Medical Hall, his voice cool as frost. “Don’t flatter yourself. With your little skill, you can’t cause any disaster in front of me.”
He walked inside without another glance.
Jiang Li Sheng stood where she was, fuming.
In Qing Xu Sect, people hated her so much they wanted to drive her out. Yet here, in the Kun Lun Sect, she was the one being looked down on?
Fine.
The one looking down on her was Wei Qing Lan—and he had the right to be proud.