Chapter 294: Secret Talk in the Inner Chamber
Luo Wusheng wasn't entirely sure how he managed to make it back home.
What had just happened?
Hmm, it seemed his junior sister had used the news of the reopening of the Demon Artifact Pavilion tomorrow, along with instructing some subordinates to provide minor benefits, to disperse the crowd outside. Then…
She directly took Little Yuli away?
???
"The number of people is slightly larger than expected... It looks like the banquet will need a few more tables prepared. This will take about the time of two incense sticks to finish."
"Senior Brother, you probably have some matters to address first. There must be quite a few questions waiting for you to answer over there... In that case, I'll take Sister Yuliu with me to make some preparations..."
"As for you and me, Senior Brother, we'll have plenty of time to talk slooowly later~"
The soft and seductive whisper at the end from Bai Xiaoyao sent shivers down Luo Wusheng's spine. Before he could react, he noticed that Lu Yuliu had already distanced herself, a conflicted expression on her face.
The two young women now stood together.
"Well then, Senior Brother, see you when the banquet is ready... Oh, and no eavesdropping on what Sister Yuliu and I are discussing, alright?"
"I-I just need to handle some things with Sister Xiaoyao. We'll be quick... You're not allowed to follow us!"
Two voice transmissions rang in his ears simultaneously.
And then, the two girls disappeared through the manor's gates.
The figure of the Demon Sect's Holy Saint, who had just been embraced on his left and right, now seemed a little lonely.
...What was going on?
And the way his junior sister and Little Yuli were calling each other "sister"... Was that a term of endearment between "female friends"? Like how close male friends might joke around by calling each other "son of a bitch"? Did something like this happen in the original story?
'Also, I'm pretty sure I never told Bai Xiaoyao I'd arrive in the royal city tonight... In fact, even I couldn't have predicted the exact time due to the sudden use of teleportation and the series of events that followed, leaving no chance to send word...'
Something felt a little off about the script for his return this time compared to what he had imagined.
However, some things remained as he expected.
For instance, his junior sister still maintained her enticing little demoness demeanor.
And also...
"Brother Luo, you're finally back. Tonight, we can finally go to the Red Blossom Pavilion in a good mood!"
"Hm? Brother Long, you didn't go to the Red Blossom Pavilion these past few days?"
"Er... I mean, when I went before, I wasn't in a good mood..."
In any case, surrounded by his companions, Luo Wusheng finally returned to the "home" he had purchased in the royal city.
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Inside the manor, in Bai Xiaoyao's room.
Leading her "close friend" into the room, the demoness waved her hand gently, and the door closed instantly.
Then she extended a finger and began tracing in the air, as though sketching something.
"What are you doing?"
The somewhat nervous Lu Yuli couldn't help but ask, looking at the back of the young woman opposite her to steady her thoughts.
"Just a little precaution... This will isolate this room almost completely from the outside world."
Stopping her motions, Bai Xiaoyao turned slightly to glance back. "You wouldn't want my Senior Brother overhearing our conversation, would you, sneaky Yuliu?"
Lu Yuliu blushed at the jab, her face turning red.
"Who... Who's sneaky like that..."
"At this point, can you really deny that you like my Senior Brother?"
Their gazes locked.
"I... I like..."
Lu Yuli's voice trembled, and she bit her lip before turning away. "D-Don't you like him too? You even came to the royal city so early... even though there are still nine days left in the Human Immortal List!"
This statement, as if confirming something, made both of their breathing seem a little heavier. Yet, neither looked at the other.
A brief silence fell between them.
Bai Xiaoyao's footsteps echoed clearly in the quiet room as she walked lightly to sit on the bed.
"...This recent teleportation to Sword Province must not have been as easy as your letter made it seem, right?"
The abrupt topic shift left Lu Yuliu momentarily stunned, but the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect simply looked out the window, her tone distant:
"Although Senior Brother instructed you to write it that way in the letter, I was paying attention the whole time that day... There's no way I could misjudge his condition when he teleported away."
"At the time of the teleportation, Senior Brother should have been nearly unconscious."
"Were you the one taking care of him during that time?"
Lu Yuli hesitated, memories of the last episode surfacing in her mind. Her face turned conflicted...
Could her actions at that time really be called "taking care"?
Unseen by her, Bai Xiaoyao sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere and exhaled lightly.
"Thank you..."
The words were soft but clear.
Hearing them, and noticing her friend's subtle tremor, Lu Yuli opened her mouth but couldn't find the right words.
If she hadn't been transported along with him due to the space they were in, and instead was left behind to watch helplessly as everything unfolded...
Her thoughts grew chaotic, only to be interrupted by the next words.
"That being said, I won't let you 'sneak around' any further... At most, I won't press about your 'state' during that time or the events of the past few days."
"But as for the way you've always pretended not to be familiar with my Senior Brother in front of me... Well, if you still want to be the 'Little Yuli' by his side, I won't mind at all~"
Bai Xiaoyao smiled faintly, looking mischievously at the blushing girl opposite her.
'She's still as stubborn as ever... It seems that even after spending six days alone with Senior Brother, nothing major has happened? Plus, she returned to the Sword Sect on her own, so nothing could have occurred during that time either...'
'The only thing to worry about is whether her unusual condition before might have led to something...'
'...But that's unlikely, right? After all, when I was affected by that anomaly before, Senior Brother didn't do anything. Even when I lost consciousness, all he did was stare at my feet all night... Does he have some kind of... preference?'
'I'll have to test that next time...'
Meanwhile, Lu Yuliu, struggling with her weak verbal sparring skills, finally managed to formulate a reply.
"B-By that logic, aren't you also just his 'junior sister'?"
Bai Xiaoyao remained unfazed. "It's common in many sects for senior and junior disciples to marry, whether for love or to preserve the sect's legacy... And as the Holy Saint and Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, our Master might even arrange a marriage between us someday~"
However, her words faltered when she noticed the strange look her friend was giving her.
Then, Lu Yuli spoke, her tone complicated:
"Then... What if your Master has already betrothed him to someone else?"
The Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect froze, her expression stiffening.
"...Don't joke about something like that."
But Lu Yuli simply looked at her with a conflicted gaze.
For a long time.
Fine cracks began to appear on the corner of the bed.
Bai Xiaoyao stood up slowly, looking out the window, murmuring softly under her breath.
"In the chaotic, unorthodox histories of the Demon Sect, there are... instances of disciples killing their Masters to prove their path..."
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Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD