Chronicles of Heaven's Chosen - Chapter 50

“What do you think, Yaoyao?” Xiao Lingwei looked at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao glanced at Dongfang Xiu where he lay on the ground. “All right.”

Xiao Lingwei put away the Jointed Bone Whip. “Since my junior sister has said so, we’ll let the matter rest for now.”

For now?

Man Yue’s expression stiffened slightly. She said nothing, merely inclined her head to Xiao Lingwei before turning to help Dongfang Xiu up.

Dongfang Xiu’s face was pale. He looked at Xiao Lingwei with a dark expression. Never in his life had he suffered such crushing humiliation!

His gaze shifted to Yuan Yao, who stood surrounded protectively by several young men. Hatred began to grow in his heart.

Among the crowd, a youth wearing a ghost mask glanced in Yuan Yao’s direction, then turned to leave.

Yuan Yao seemed to sense something and looked toward his retreating figure. Despite the distance, she clearly saw the few vivid red curls trailing down his back.

Xie Yan…

Xiao Lingwei walked over and summoned a spirit vessel.

“We’re returning to the sect.”

She wrapped an arm around Yuan Yao’s waist, pushed lightly off the ground, and carried her onto the vessel.

Cang Li, Xue Jin, and Ying Wuji followed.

Xiao Lingwei looked down at the remaining cultivators. “All disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, come aboard.”

Seven more Xiaoyao Sect disciples soon joined them.

Song Yan turned to Lu Xiangxiang. “Junior Sister Lu, go on up.”

Lu Xiangxiang pressed her lips together. Without a word, she leaped aboard, only to see Xiao Lingwei take Yuan Yao by the hand and lead her into a cabin.

The seven Xiaoyao Sect disciples exchanged glances. They were intensely curious why their Little Junior Sister had left the sect and even entered the Wuduan Secret Realm.

Since Yuan Yao’s appearance, Lu Xiangxiang had felt everyone’s attention drift away from her. The sense of being ignored was deeply unpleasant.

No one had even asked who she was.

Her gaze moved unconsciously toward the pink-white-haired youth.

Xue Jin immediately sensed her eyes on him and looked back, his stare utterly cold.

Lu Xiangxiang’s heart trembled.

Cang Li noticed and made the introduction. “This is Master’s new personal disciple, Lu Xiangxiang. She will be our Seventh Junior Sister from now on.”

Xue Jin’s brows drew together.

“Fourth Senior Brother,” Lu Xiangxiang greeted as she stepped forward.

Xue Jin remained indifferent.

In her previous life, his entire being had carried a gloomy air and an indescribable, sinister chill. He had always treated others coldly.

Later, after she severed ties with the Xiaoyao Sect, his attitude toward her had changed. He had even claimed to have fallen in love with her.

Lu Xiangxiang naturally rejected him. In her eyes, belated devotion was worth less than weeds!

But she needed to remain in the Xiaoyao Sect for a while, so she had to establish a good relationship with them first.

She looked up at the others and spoke with apparent sincerity.

“Eldest Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Youngest Senior Brother—I know I caused all of you trouble inside the secret realm. I hope you won’t dislike me for it.”

“Junior Sister Lu, you didn’t cause us any trouble,” Song Yan said gently.

Lu Xiangxiang’s eyes reddened.

“If that’s true, why do all of you call me Junior Sister Lu? It makes me feel as if I don’t belong.”

Song Yan went still.

Lu Xiangxiang choked out in an aggrieved voice, “I rank seventh. Shouldn’t you call me Little Junior Sister? I know you all grew up together, and naturally, an outsider like me can’t compare to the bond you share. But I truly hope you can accept me instead of pushing me away. Since Master accepted me as his personal disciple, that means he has welcomed me. Could you… try to welcome me too?”

Silence followed.

Then Ying Wuji spoke. “Acceptance takes time. Besides, Master’s decision to accept you doesn’t mean we are obligated to do the same.”

“Right. If you don’t like being called Junior Sister Lu, how about Seventh Junior Sister?” Cang Li quickly added. “You’re a year older than Yaoyao and the same age as Wuji and Jin. We really can’t bring ourselves to call you Little Junior Sister.”

Lu Xiangxiang was dissatisfied, but she nodded all the same.

The seven Xiaoyao Sect disciples aboard the spirit vessel had naturally heard the entire exchange. Their attention shifted to Lu Xiangxiang.

At first glance, this Junior Sister Lu did resemble their Little Junior Sister somewhat.

On closer inspection, however, the two were quite different.

Lu Xiangxiang seemed gentle and reserved, while Little Junior Sister Yuan Yao was lively and mischievous.

Sensing the seven disciples’ gazes, Lu Xiangxiang turned and gave them a faint smile.

Their hearts immediately began to race.

Inside the cabin, Xiao Lingwei removed Yuan Yao’s outer robe. Her body was covered almost entirely in wounds, old and new overlapping in a horrifying sight.

Xiao Lingwei’s heart ached, but anger stirred in her as well.

“Where is the Saint-grade Skin-Restoring Salve Master gave you? Take it out. I’ll apply it to the old wounds, or they will certainly leave scars.”

Sensing her Second Senior Sister’s anger, Yuan Yao did not dare speak. She silently produced the Saint-grade Skin-Restoring Salve and handed it over.

She turned her back to Xiao Lingwei.

“Second Senior Sister, I was the one who begged Master to let me come out and train. I may have been hurt, but I also became stronger. Didn’t you notice that I’ve broken through from the eighth level of Qi Refining to the early Foundation Establishment Realm? Everything I suffered brought me something in return!”

Xiao Lingwei refused to be distracted. “Do you have any idea how dangerous the Wuduan Secret Realm is?! Even Foundation Establishment cultivators have only a slim chance of emerging alive, let alone someone who entered at the Qi Refining Realm. This was sheer recklessness!”

“Second Senior Sister, I know I was wrong.” Yuan Yao knew her well. Xiao Lingwei was cold outside and warm within. She needed to yield.

Xiao Lingwei’s expression eased slightly.

Her movements were gentle as she treated the wounds covering Yuan Yao’s body.

“Why did you want to leave and train?”

“I want to become stronger.”

Xiao Lingwei’s hands paused. “You’ve never wanted strength before. You were even afraid of becoming stronger. Tell me—who or what provoked this change?”

Yuan Yao’s heart lurched.

“Nothing.” She shook her head.

Xiao Lingwei frowned. “You’re lying.”

“Second Senior Sister, I have lots of reasons for wanting to become stronger. A few days ago, I dreamed that eighty years had passed and I’d become a hunched old woman with a face full of wrinkles, while all of you still looked young. You took me outside, and everyone who passed us asked, ‘Is that your grandmother?'” Yuan Yao was making it up on the spot, but the more clearly she imagined the scene, the more terrifying it became.

She sucked in a horrified breath. “I don’t want to become an old woman! And I definitely don’t want to be your grandmother!”

Xiao Lingwei burst out laughing.

“Very well. I’ll believe you for now.”

She wanted Yaoyao to become stronger too.

That way, Yaoyao could live for a very, very long time.