Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Bai Mu Mu, the Raider

Wen Xuan thought for a moment, sighed, and stepped onto Feng He Yun’s sword. He knew Feng He Yun hadn’t meant it. They had lived with Shen Sang Ruo for so many years. Their bond was deep. How could he truly harm her? Junior Sister had just returned after years missing, and they felt they had to make it up to her. Because of that, they had neglected Shen Sang Ruo, and distance had grown. She made rash choices.

[Maybe after a few more years, once we make it up to Junior Sister, and Little Ruo becomes more understanding and accepts Junior Sister, Thunder-Scale Peak will be warm and peaceful again.]

Feng He Yun urged the sword to full speed toward Wen Xuan’s cave. The cold wind cleared Wen Xuan’s head, and he explained what had happened these days.

He said quietly: “Because of this, Little Ruo suffered a great wrong. Those ten drops of heart blood ruined the results of years of work.”

He turned his eyes away, and regret rose again. [If I had just asked a few more questions back then, how would it have ended like this? We, as her Senior Brothers, are both at fault. One ruined her cultivation, the other almost took her life. We are sinners.]

Feng He Yun was shocked. So much had happened while he was away: the false charge, the Confinement Chamber, and the loss of all her cultivation because of heart blood. With Shen Sang Ruo’s temper, who knew how much she had bottled up? No wonder she had acted so strangely today. He wanted to slap his past self. He was a jerk, not a person.

Sensing Wen Xuan’s gloom, he tried to comfort him: “At least those ten drops of heart blood eased Junior Sister’s Extreme Cold Constitution.”

Wen Xuan nodded: “More than eased. After some more care, Junior Sister will be no different from an ordinary person.”

“Really?” Feng He Yun brightened with surprise. He was genuinely happy for Bai Mu Mu.

“Mm.”

Thinking of this, Wen Xuan’s tight brow eased a little. It was the only thing to be glad about lately. Mentioning Bai Mu Mu’s coming recovery lightened the heavy mood between them at last.

They soon reached Wen Xuan’s cave with Shen Sang Ruo. Wen Xuan rushed to prepare medicines for her treatment. Feng He Yun went to confess his fault to Master Ling Xiao. He did not dodge responsibility and was promptly sent by an enraged Master Ling Xiao to the Disciplinary Hall, the place in the Flying Cloud Sect that punished Disciples who broke the rules.

Moments later, Master Ling Xiao, Shen Dao Chen, and Bai Mu Mu arrived. Seeing their Disciple and daughter lying there as if she would fade at a touch, Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen were shaken. In their minds, frail always described Bai Mu Mu. Shen Sang Ruo had been full of life and energy. They had never seen her so weak. No, not weak, but on the brink of death.

The two elders poured Spiritual Power into her, nurturing her meridians and steadying the chaotic flow inside her. Wen Xuan had talent in medicine, but he was only starting out. His tonics could not compare to the rare medicines and pills stored by Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen. Without holding back, they brought out everything and spared no effort to save Shen Sang Ruo.

Only by late night did they stabilize her condition.

Bai Mu Mu came forward and asked: “Father, Master, how is Fifth Senior Sister?”

Master Ling Xiao withdrew his Spiritual Power and said: “She is stable for now and no longer in mortal danger.” Wen Xuan let out a breath, but Shen Dao Chen’s next words made his heart rise again.

Shen Dao Chen sighed: “Whether she wakes will depend on her own fortune.”

Bai Mu Mu spoke with sincere eyes: “Fifth Senior Sister is blessed. She will wake up soon.”

Master Ling Xiao noticed Bai Mu Mu’s reddened eyes and remembered how she had stayed quietly the whole time they treated Shen Sang Ruo. She had made no sound and never complained that their attention was elsewhere. For more than ten years outside, perhaps she had lived this carefully, too. Her sensibility made one’s heart ache. His heart softened. He rubbed her head and said: “I know you worry for your Senior Sister. With me and the Sect Master here, why trouble yourself to keep watch?”

Shen Dao Chen said gently: “Yes. Mu Er’s body just got better. Don’t tire yourself. Go rest.”

Wen Xuan wanted to speak, but then remembered he had spent a day and night refining tonics for Bai Mu Mu and had fed them to Shen Sang Ruo instead. Regret crossed his face. He only looked at Bai Mu Mu with concern.

[Ding: Master Ling Xiao favorability +1; current favorability: 87]

[Ding: Shen Dao Chen favorability +1; current favorability: 88]

[Ding: Wen Xuan favorability +2; current favorability: 89]

The alerts rang in Bai Mu Mu’s mind. Joy flashed in her eyes, but she quickly hid it. She said softly: “I am healthy now. I am very worried about Fifth Senior Sister. Please let me stay here.”

With the girl’s wet, pleading gaze, Master Ling Xiao and Shen Dao Chen relented.

Master Ling Xiao told Wen Xuan: “Look after your Junior Sister.”

Shen Dao Chen added with a sigh: “If Sang Ruo wakes and sees you worry about her like this, maybe she will be kinder to you.”

He truly didn’t know why Shen Sang Ruo disliked Bai Mu Mu so much. They only wanted to make up for Bai Mu Mu. After learning Shen Sang Ruo wasn’t his biological daughter, they hadn’t driven her out of the sect. They had treated her as before.

Bai Mu Mu nodded with happy relief. When no new alerts sounded in her mind, she felt a little disappointed. She lost interest in talking, sat in a corner, and pretended to rest with eyes closed.

She spoke to the voice in her mind: “System, show the strategy progress.”

Bai Mu Mu was a traveler who raided targets across many worlds. In this world, her goals were Shen Dao Chen, Master Ling Xiao, and the four Senior Brothers.

[Shen Dao Chen favorability: 87]

[Master Ling Xiao favorability: 88]

[Feng He Yun favorability: 86]

[Wen Xuan favorability: 89]

[Lu Shi Qing favorability: 87]

[Luo Chu favorability: 87]

[Strategy almost complete. Please continue, Host. When favorability reaches 100, you may slay kin to prove the Dao.]

[Complete the final task: achieve Ascension, and you may leave this world.]

Because of the incident where Shen Sang Ruo supposedly pushed her into the ravine, they hadn’t said anything openly, but their favorability had dropped. Now it had been made up again.