CHAPTER 198
Senior Sister's Stance
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Ye Qinghan paid her no mind whatsoever, turning his gaze toward Shi Yao as he spoke.
"Shiyao, don't let her deceive you! Not a single one of these humans is trustworthy! They're the most deceitful creatures!"
"They spout nothing but righteousness and morality, yet behind closed doors, they commit acts utterly devoid of humanity!"
"She's not here to apprentice—she's here to humiliate our Master! She's just jealous that Shiyu got the treasure!"
If you ask Ye Qinghan how she knew this, she could only say she once thought the same way. But later, she realized there were things far more important to her than magical treasures.
But she believed humans were heartless, unprincipled creatures who’d do anything for gain!
She didn't believe Dongfang Jue would change! That was his true nature!
Ye Qinghan couldn't fathom it. What contribution could such a person make to the world? Why shouldn't he be killed?
Dongfang Jue grew desperate, hastily protesting, "I'm not like that! I haven't! I've truly changed!"
"Senior Sister, Jue'er has truly changed. Please give Jue'er a chance! Jue'er will prove it! Jue'er sincerely wishes to become your disciple!"
Ye Qinghan turned her eyes with a vicious glare, her murderous intent utterly unmasked!
"Stop calling me Senior Sister. You disgust me! I hate you, understand?"
"I joked with you back then because you were Her Highness the Princess—because we had no connection. But now you've dared to lay your claws on Lingxian Hall!"
"Don't expect me to be your sister. You disgust me. Got it?"
Ye Qinghan could tolerate Li Shiyao because she was a simpleton. She'd originally come just to play with her, even wanting to take her away—she'd never harbored any ill intent.
Yu Lan might be a bit scheming, but Ye Qinghan could tell Yu Lan adored their master and wouldn't do anything to harm her!
But Dongfang Jue was different. She was a human, hypocritical and heartless, hiding behind a veneer of false virtue to do disgusting things!
Dongfang Jue felt a bit wronged. While she understood Ye Qinghan's meaning, what girl could bear being spoken to like that?
Li Shiyu, no longer standing idly by, grinned and gestured for Senior Sister to sit down before helping Dongfang Jue to her feet.
"Hehe, Senior Sister, Shiyu thinks you're overthinking this."
"What favors did she offer you?" Ye Qinghan looked at Li Shiyu with equal confusion.
"Not at all! Shiyu believes that since Master has already agreed to take Sister Jue as a disciple, it must have been a considered decision. Could it be that Senior Sister doesn't trust Master's judgment?"
"Besides, Senior Sister, you still have me. If Jue'er misbehaves, even if she can deceive Master, could she really deceive you and me?"
Ye Qinghan understood: "I feel like she's already deceived all of you."
Ye Qinghan sighed inwardly. If not for her master's wife forbidding her from killing Dongfang Jue, she would have eliminated this menace regardless of her master's displeasure!
She waved her hand, motioning Dongfang Jue to approach. Taking a deep breath, she spoke calmly.
"I'll only say this once: don't call me Senior Sister."
"Second, you'd better play your part flawlessly. Don't slip up, or I'll kill you for sure."
Third, keep your distance unless absolutely necessary!"
Dongfang Jue felt truly wronged. She never imagined that after becoming a disciple, Ye Qinghan would treat her worse than before!
After finishing her speech, Ye Qinghan climbed into bed to sleep, paying no attention to Dongfang Jue or Li Shiyao.
Li Shiyao glanced at Dongfang Jue, then took her by the arm, suggesting they go for a walk.
Ye Qinghan didn't mind and decided to tag along.
Though they called it a stroll, it was merely sitting on the rooftop catching the breeze. Dongfang Jue watched her senior sister, genuinely unsure if she truly possessed only the mentality of a nine-year-old child.
"Senior Sister isn't a bad person. Don't blame her. To her, Master holds far more importance than it appears."
Dongfang Jue felt utterly wronged. When Li Shiyao pulled her into her embrace, tears welled up and spilled over.
"Second Senior Sister, Jue'er truly has no ulterior motives. I sincerely wish to become your disciple and become sisters with both of you."
Truthfully, she couldn't even recall the last time she'd cried.
"Shiyao understands. Shiyao knows Sister Jue is a good person."
The Northern Frontier General, second only to the Emperor, hadn't displayed such girlish vulnerability in who knows how long.
"Senior Sister, what should I do?"
Dongfang Jue honestly had no idea what to do.
Who was Ye Qinghan?
A man who could pluck enemy generals from a million-strong army and take a million heads! He killed without batting an eye, cold-blooded and ruthless!
You think she'll believe you just because you're sincere?
Impossible!
"Shiyao doesn't know~ But Shiyao thinks Sister Jue isn't bad to begin with, so there's no need to try to curry favor with Senior Sister. She doesn't like people like that anyway."
She kept saying she didn't know, yet offered the most practical advice.
That is, do nothing at all.
Dongfang Jue lay with her head on Second Senior Sister's lap, her cheek resting against her stomach, also wanting to gaze at the night sky.
But alas, that big belly blocked the stars…
"Senior Sister, what do you eat every day?"
Li Shiyao pondered for a moment…
"Whatever's available. As long as I'm full, I'm in a good mood."
Dongfang Jue felt as though Li Shiyao was constantly switching between two personalities—sometimes acting like an adult, other times like a child.
"Oh right, Senior Sister, Jue'er promised to support your pocket money."
Dongfang Jue spoke as he reached inside his clothes.
Hearing this, Li Shiyao gave him a look as if he were an idiot. She couldn't help but think this Dongfang Jue wasn't quite as smart as his senior sister had described…
If she truly needed financial support, surely Holy Mountain wasn't so impoverished it couldn't spare a few dozen taels of silver?
What Senior Sister gave her was pocket money; anything else she got elsewhere wasn't pocket money.
"I must step out for a while. Jue'er, stay close to our Master for now. After tonight, even if Senior Sister still can't accept you, she won't deliberately make things difficult for you."
Dongfang Jue nodded thoughtfully, sat up, and bid her senior sister farewell.
After calming her emotions and composing her expression, Dongfang Jue returned to her room.
Glancing at the senior apprentice sister on the opposite bed, she appeared to be asleep already, breathing evenly with her chest rising and falling normally.
When Ye Qinghan slept, she appeared quite docile. But in truth, once her protective instincts kicked in, she found it hard to hold back.
Dongfang Jue decided to sleep on Li Shiyao's bed instead. She found her second senior sister gentle and down-to-earth.
The rooms of the two senior sisters were even better than the Master's. The beds were soft and spacious; even with three people squeezed together, there was still room to spare.
That said, the master's quarters weren't bad either. Ye Qinghan never skimped when spending money on the master.
Lying in bed, her mind wandered, and she found herself amused by her thoughts.
Back and forth, her request to become a disciple had actually been accepted. Now, the only thing standing between her and becoming the third direct disciple was the initiation ceremony.
Dongfang Jue tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her thoughts were tangled. Faced with her master and senior sister, she felt momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
She felt both nervous and troubled. Her senior sister's disapproval left her at a loss, while the future her master spoke of stirred a thousand thoughts within her.
Seeing Dongfang Jue tossing and turning, Ye Qinghan finally spoke: "If you won't sleep, then get out!"
Startled by the senior sister's sudden outburst, Dongfang Jue's sturdy frame jolted, and she instinctively pulled the quilt tighter around herself.
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