The Wicked Side Character’s Guide to Seducing the Male Lead - Chapter 5

“Junior Sister Fu, would you consider becoming my master’s disciple instead? She’s wonderful. And if you became my junior sister, I’d be very good to you too.”

Before Fu Qinghua could answer, someone flicked my forehead. Ninth Senior Brother shot me a look. “What do you think the Grand Elder would do if he knew you were poaching his disciple? Beat you, perhaps?”

Me: …

Given how fiercely he treasured talent, he probably would.

Fu Qinghua spoke up quietly. “Um, Ninth Senior Brother, has it occurred to you that Eldest Senior Brother might beat you for bullying her?

“We’re in a secret realm. The Grand Elder can’t reach you here. Eldest Senior Brother, however, is right…”

All three of us turned to find Xuan Yi watching us coolly.

Fu Qinghua covered her face with one hand, looking wildly excited. “Hehehe…”

Me: ???

Ninth Senior Brother: !!!

Master was always gentle. The Xuan Yi she’d raised was anything but. Every inner disciple was afraid of him.

Ninth Senior Brother shuddered. “We were only playing, Eldest Senior Brother.”

He tugged discreetly at my sleeve. “Weren’t we, Little Junior Sister?”

I held up three fingers, then extended my palm.

Feeling the weight of the spirit stones in my hand, I nodded firmly. “Exactly! Don’t be angry. We’ll stop fooling around.”

“Huahua, come here.”

“Okay.”

Passing Fu Qinghua, I couldn’t help trying once more. “My master is the best master in the world, Junior Sister Fu. Do think about it.”

Xuan Yi drew me to his side. “They can barely look after themselves. Why are you staying with them? Do you only think of me when you’re in danger?

“That won’t do, Huahua.”

With his eyes lowered slightly, he looked a little forlorn.

Me: …

After reproaching myself for two seconds, I had a sudden thought.

We were in a secret realm!

Danger!

Protection!

Trusting someone to watch your back!

What a perfect opportunity to bring the leads together!

I was going to secure both their support!

“Eldest Senior Brother, since you’re so powerful, why don’t you help Junior Sister Fu too? She…”

“Little Junior Sister! Ninth Senior Brother is very capable too. He’ll protect me. Be good and listen to Eldest Senior Brother. Don’t worry about me.”

I looked at Fu Qinghua. Her expression was strange, both excited and strained. The smile at her lips was obvious, yet somehow… restrained.

I didn’t understand it at all.

“Junior Sister Fu…”

I wanted to explain that apart from me, Ninth Senior Brother was the laziest person in the inner sect. He might not be very strong. In a secret realm, finding someone powerful to keep you alive was the priority.

He glared at me. “Rest assured. I’ll take good care of her.”

For some reason, Xuan Yi looked a little happier. He patted my head. “They don’t appreciate the offer. Leave them be.”

Then he took my hand, his voice gentle. “Just stay with me, Huahua.”

Since we all belonged to the same sect, we decided to travel together.

Xuan Yi led the way, holding my hand. Perhaps I imagined it, but I kept feeling that the others were looking at me strangely.

Whenever I turned around, though, they acted as if nothing had happened.

“What are they whispering about, Eldest Senior Brother? Listen in and tell me.”

He looked down at me. “You neglect your cultivation, and now you can’t even eavesdrop when you want to. Shall we take it more seriously once we’re out?”

“Never mind, then. I don’t care that much.”

I adjusted my veil, hiding myself completely beneath it.

There were things that effort alone couldn’t fix. Cultivation was one of them.

I’d been an abandoned baby. Master found me on her travels and brought me back to the sect, where I grew up. Surrounded by cultivators, I’d loved training at first.

But I was hopeless. I didn’t have the slightest talent for it.

Once, I had worked harder than anyone. It simply hadn’t mattered.

Eventually, I began pretending not to care. I lazed through my days, acting interested in everything except cultivation.

It worked. Everyone thought my low cultivation was the result of laziness. But I couldn’t deceive myself.

How could I possibly not care?

Xuan Yi stopped. Bending slightly, he lifted my veil and looked straight at me, his expression gentle. “Do you trust me, Huahua?”

The sudden closeness of his face startled me for a moment. Then I nodded without hesitation. “I do!”

He was Master’s first disciple. He’d held me in his arms and soothed me before all my teeth had even come in. Apart from Master, no one had ever been better to me. Of course I trusted him.

He smiled and pinched my cheek, his voice coaxing. “When we get back, will you let me teach you to cultivate?”

I meant to refuse. But looking into those deep eyes, I somehow found myself nodding.

Xuan Yi gave the soft flesh of my cheek a tug, then leaned close to whisper, “They were saying you’ve grown up.”

“?”

That was all?

They’d all attended my eighteenth birthday celebration. Was that really worth so much whispering?

After straightening my veil, he took my hand and led me on. This time, I could clearly see the smile at the corner of his mouth.

What was he so happy about?