Volume 1, Chapter 43: It makes sense! It all makes sense!

[The Mind-Capturing Mirror shows no reaction. It is the truth.]

[That means only she knows about this, which is for the best...]

Ye Qinghan was stunned. She had never even heard that her Master possessed a lie-detecting magical treasure!

Although her Master always came prepared, to keep even his chief disciple in the dark?

Was he afraid I would find out about the Supreme Innate Treasure?

Besides, this treasure wasn't kept in the Wanyue Pavilion, so Master must be carrying it with him!

If that was the case, didn't she just make a total fool of herself?

Yet, Master had never used it on her, which meant he truly considered her one of her own. Thinking of this, she felt a slight sense of comfort...

"Whatever my sister's intentions are, Jueli will certainly never forget them. Jueli truly harbors no ill intent, nor has she been instigated by others."

[The truth... Then what did she come here for? Surely she hasn't taken a fancy to me!]

[She definitely has an ulterior motive!]

Ye Qinghan froze, pondering what her Master was thinking...

It was entirely possible!

This wretch had still been plotting to become an apprentice during the day!

If one assumed she had set her sights on Master, her sudden visit no longer seemed so sudden! Following that, she had probed me for information to learn more about Master!

Most importantly, she even claimed she wanted to become his disciple!

Then she drops some inside information to make Master take notice of her!

It all connects now!

Oh! You little vixen!

I thought you merely wanted to harm my Master, but it turns out you actually have quite the strategic mind!

So your real goal was to steal my Master from me!

You damned creature, you deserve to die a thousand deaths!

"In that case, sister can rest easy."

Ye Qinghan spoke through clenched teeth. Even if Master hadn't caught on yet, she understood everything completely!

Dongfang Jueli felt her hair stand on end and a chill run down her spine. Just a moment ago, everything had seemed fine, but now Ye Qinghan was looking at her with thinly veiled, intense murderous intent!

Huh?

Did I say something wrong?

She harbors no ill intent, yet she's still unhappy? Could it be that she doesn't believe me?

"Uh... Sister, do you not believe Jueli?"

"How could that be? I believe you so much! I believe you completely!"

Not only do I know you aren't lying right now, but I also know what scheme you little vixen is cooking up!

No, I have to find a way to kill her!

She cannot be allowed to stay by Master's side all the time...

"Master, Qinghan is a bit tired. May I go rest first?"

***

"Of course. Qinghan, take care of your health. The purpose of cultivation is to refine the body and mind; if you neglect your health, it will all be in vain like fetching water in a bamboo basket."

Ye Qinghan grabbed Dongfang Jueli by the wrist and hauled her straight up out of the chair...

"Hey, Sister Qinghan, I'm not tired yet, I don't need to rest..."

"No, you are tired!"

Huh? Dongfang Jueli was utterly numb with shock. No matter how she looked at it, this situation was entirely unsuitable for spending time alone with Ye Qinghan!

It was too dangerous!

Palace Master Su, what are you grinning and smiling over there for? Does this scene look heartwarming to you?

You may be smiling so peacefully right now, but in a moment, I'm going to be leaving this world just as peacefully!

She was dragged out of the main hall by Ye Qinghan and pulled all the way back to Ye Qinghan's bedchamber.

"Uh... Sister Qinghan..."

"It's just the two of us now, drop the act!" Ye Qinghan didn't bother putting on a pleasant expression. Toward any wicked woman attempting to snatch her man away, Ye Qinghan wished she could execute her on the spot.

"What is wrong with you? What did I say to make the Senior Sister angry?"

"Who the hell is your Senior Sister?"

As she spoke, Ye Qinghan made a move to draw her sword, and Dongfang Jueli hurriedly pressed her hand down.

"Hey, hey, hey! My mistake, don't be so hot-tempered!"

"You're so good at guessing, why don't you guess what I'm thinking right now?"

There were no lights on in the room, but Dongfang Jueli could still clearly see the pair of murderous fox-like eyes belonging to Ye Qinghan...

"You must be thinking about how to kill me..."

"You guessed right!"

"No, no, no, calm your anger. I've learned my lesson, I really harbor no ill intent, truly!"

"You're already setting your sights on Master, and you claim you harbor no ill intent?"

"Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere?"

"I also said I would hack off your feet and stuff them into your mouth! Did you forget?"

"Hey, how can Fairy Qinghan go back on her word?"

Ye Qinghan reasoned that she had assumed Master would surely refuse—given his aversion to trouble, not chasing her out was already showing her immense courtesy!

Who could have known Dongfang Jueli would pull a stunt like this on her?

Now, even if Dongfang Jueli wanted to leave, Master might not necessarily agree anymore!

If Dongfang Jueli were allowed to linger shamelessly in the Lingxian Hall, how could she ever tolerate that?

Although Master remained aloof from women, could he really withstand her relentless pestering? What if there was an exception to every rule?

"What? Are you dissatisfied? Does killing you count as interfering? I will not go against Master's will, but before you officially become an apprentice, it seems to me we aren't all that close."

"Wait, didn't you just say that the Prince and Master were old acquaintances, and that you and I are sisters, not outsiders?"

"I don't even know your Prince; he can be acquaintances with whoever he pleases. As for being sisters? Heh."

"Hey, hey, hey, good sister, there's no need to go this far, right? Even if I come here, you'll still be the chief disciple. Surely you don't think Master would prefer me over you?"

"Are you looking to die?"

***

While Ye Qinghan spoke, her sword was drawn halfway out before being pushed back in by Dongfang Jueli...

"Don't be angry, Senior Sister, don't ruin your health over this..."

"You damn..."

Ye Qinghan pushed Dongfang Jueli down to sit on the bed, then enunciated every single word clearly:

"I will only say this once, so listen well."

Dongfang Jueli sat up straight and obediently nodded, knowing she had narrowly escaped death and wise enough not to push her luck further.

"If you are sincere about seeking instruction, as the chief disciple, I naturally won't stop you. But if you resort to petty tricks and dare to play games—"

"Even if you manage to join the sect, I won't let you leave alive!"

Dongfang Jueli was startled. She knew Ye Qinghan meant every word. Although she figured that once she officially became an apprentice, Ye Qinghan would likely have to show restraint out of respect for Master and find it difficult to make a move against her, she didn't dare take that gamble.

"I understand, but..."

"But what?"

"Didn't you also use tricks to get Palace Master Su to accept you?"

Ye Qinghan offered no reply; there was no point in explaining such matters.

Ye Qinghan felt that even if that blockhead Li Shiyao came to seek instruction, she would still be better than Dongfang Jueli.

At least Li Shiyao understood what becoming an apprentice meant and wouldn't play such petty tricks. On the contrary, if someone thought such petty tricks could fool both Master and his chief disciple, they were truly foolish.

With that said, Ye Qinghan channeled her immortal arts to ignite the oil lamp, illuminating the room in a warm glow.

"Tonight, you're sleeping with me."

"Uh... I'm actually not tired..."

Ye Qinghan casually stripped off her outer garments, pulling a black nightgown from the wardrobe to change into.

Her sword case leaned against the bedside, the three-foot Ling Shuang sword resting between her slender legs, and by now, her fox ears and tail had also popped out.

And then, Ye Qinghan simply went to sleep...

Dongfang Jueli was left standing there, awkwardly sizing up the room.

On the walls hung several portraits of Su Cheng, most of them drawn by Ye Qinghan, with another half-finished piece resting on the desk.

Only the bracelet had been removed; the system called it the [Desire-Severing Bracelet], though its exact function remained unknown.

The jade pendant—roughly the size of a bank card—and the immortal pill were still tucked inside her bodice, and even beneath her nightgown, the sharp corners of the jade pendant were faintly visible between the cleavage...

The water-sleeve glazed dress hung inside the wardrobe; it was truly an immortal-grade garment, looking breathtakingly gorgeous.

Ye Qinghan was enveloped in a faint, natural fragrance. Dongfang Jueli suspected that hardly any man could resist it, and even a woman would find it intoxicatingly pleasant.

Ye Qinghan seemed already asleep, looking utterly enchanting. Though Jueli didn't know much about Su Cheng, her impression of Ye Qinghan had deepened considerably.

With a nation-toppling beauty, a one-in-a-million talent, and absolute obedience to Su Cheng, always putting her Master's happiness above all else—

It was no wonder Su Cheng liked her so much and bestowed so many treasures upon her.

Still... she wasn't so bad herself, right?

At least, she would work hard too!