CHAPTER 265
The Holy Maiden
============================================================
Half a month had passed in Lingxian Hall, yet Ye Qinghan felt as if an eternity had gone by. It had been far too long!
She hadn't recharged her energy in ages! This time, she would definitely make up for it with her Master!
With that thought, she lightly tapped her jade pendant. Lingxian Hall materialized before her, and Ye Qinghan stepped into the courtyard with practiced ease.
Now, the entire mountain belonged to her. She had even arranged housing for Elder Yulan's maternal family, though it was still under construction.
"Master! Qinghan has returned!"
Su Cheng had also come upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Ye Qinghan dressed in imperial robes, he felt a bit dazed.
It had been barely half a month, yet it felt like a child had grown up!
Ye Qinghan nearly shed tears of joy. As if reuniting after millennia apart, she spread her arms wide, ready to give her master a big bear hug!
After so long apart, surely he owed his First Disciple some compensation?
"Wow! Senior Sister! Shiyu missed you so much!"
Seeing her senior sister open her arms, Li Shiyu instantly darted forward, beating Su Cheng to the punch as she burrowed into her senior sister's embrace!
"Um… Senior Sister… I missed you too…"
Ye Qinghan gave a wry smile, then remembered: "Shiyao, your senior sister brought you some delicious treats. Go get them, Shiyao!"
"Wow! Thanks, Senior Sister!"
With that, Li Shiyu dashed toward the gate!
"Master! Qinghan missed you!"
Like a mother who'd just finished soothing her child, Ye Qinghan flung herself into Su Cheng's arms, clinging tightly to her Master!
"Good girl~ Today, your master will make something delicious for Qinghan!"
"Thank you, Master! But let Qinghan hug you for a bit first, okay? Qinghan really, really missed you~"
Su Cheng smiled fondly, ruffling the fox's head.
[Qinghan seems to have grown more like a demonic emperor, yet she's still that clingy little fox~]
Ye Qinghan thought to herself, Master actually quite likes clingy little foxes, doesn't he~
"It's been over half a month since Qinghan last saw Master. Every moment, Qinghan missed you terribly. Qinghan still wants to stay by your side~"
Following his Master back to the Main Hall and taking a seat, Ye Qinghan pulled out the little trinket he'd 'bought' for his Master while tentatively broaching the subject, eager to gauge his Master's reaction.
"Master, Qinghan has recently heard some things about Shiyao."
Unwrapping the red cloth to reveal an exquisitely crafted gift box, inside lay a pen-washing basin that appeared to be quite valuable.
Su Cheng's brows furrowed slightly. Oh no!
[Could it be… Qinghan heard about Shiyao and me sleeping together?]
Ye Qinghan frowned slightly, thinking to herself: Oh no!
How dare Shi Yao climb into her master's bed while she was away!
【I'm innocent! I didn't lay a finger on Shiyao—I sat in the courtyard all night long!】
"Something about Shiyu?"
Ye Qinghan's willow brows relaxed as she breathed a sigh of relief. It was obvious—given her master's unwavering integrity, if it were that easy, how could she have endured until now?
Besides, that Li Shiyu probably didn't even know what sleeping with a man meant.
"Yes. I heard she has another blood relative—her biological younger sister."
【So that’s it. Looks like those bastards couldn’t sit still.
Ye Qinghan's eyes flickered as she followed her master's train of thought to make her own guess!
Most likely, this biological sister had gotten into trouble!
But judging by Shiyu's demeanor, she likely remains unaware of this blood relative.
"Yes, Shiyu's blood relative is indeed still alive, though Shiyu has never met this sister."
Ye Qinghan was somewhat surprised. "It's actually true? Why?"
Su Cheng seemed hesitant, torn between whether to speak or not.
【Though she holds the exalted title of Holy Maiden, Shiyu's destiny is marked by misfortune.】
"After some thought, I see no harm in telling you. Shiyao must eventually face this truth."
"Shiyao is the Holy Maiden of the Sacred Mountain—no need for me to elaborate, Qinghan surely knows this…"
Su Cheng briefly outlined Li Shiyu's origins. As she understood, the Holy Maiden of the Sacred Mountain was not chosen from among the most outstanding women by popular vote.
She could be born into any household—perhaps the child of an elder, or even the illegitimate daughter of some scoundrel.
Li Shiyu was born into a fisherman's family. Her father fished, while her mother either gathered firewood or worked as a servant for wealthy households. Their life wasn't exactly poor, but it was barely making ends meet.
Li Shiyao and her younger sister Li Suyao were born together, but Li Shiyao's shortcomings were glaringly obvious. Compared to her clever and quick-witted sister…
Li Shiyao was flawed. To ordinary eyes—or rather, to the eyes of most people—she was a simpleton, intellectually impaired.
And this defect was incurable.
Under the scrutiny of divine arts, this flaw became undeniable. Even before Li Shiyao could speak or walk, she was already labeled as a simpleton—a useless waste not worth nurturing.
Had she been an only child, perhaps Li Shiyao might have received better treatment.
But Li Shiyao's parents had another daughter, named Li Suyao.
Though both were flesh of their flesh, one was clearly more cherished than the other.
Giving birth to two daughters meant Li Shiyu's mother could scarcely hold her head up in the village anymore.
And with Li Shiyu deemed a simpleton, her father's attitude was predictable.
In the entire household, only Li Shiyao's mother still cared about her daughter's existence. Everyone else ignored her, their faces twisted with disgust whenever she was mentioned.
This disgust naturally extended to Li Shiyao's mother as well. Countless people urged her to abandon the child.
But she was her own flesh and blood. Even with a heart of stone, how could she bring herself to do such a thing?
Eleven months passed. Li Shiyu had learned to walk and could even express her thoughts with a few words.
In contrast, Li Shiyu was still crawling around on the floor…
Just as Li Shiyu's mother was on the verge of collapsing under the pressure, envoys arrived from the Sacred Mountain.
The Holy Mountain had sensed the birth of a new Holy Maiden. Through divination, they had calculated her birth chart and name: Li Shiyu.
This was Li Shiyu's lifeline—and the family's lifeline. If Li Shiyu became the Holy Maiden, the entire household would benefit. When one person attains enlightenment, even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. The whole family could share in Li Shiyu's blessings.
It must be understood that the Holy Maiden's authority surpassed that of all on the Holy Mountain. She held the highest decision-making power and absolute veto authority!
Whatever the Holy Maiden decreed was non-negotiable!
Those who did not understand would learn through execution; those who did not accept would learn to accept!
If this came to pass, the entire family would bask in prosperity!
Yet everyone recognized a problem: Li Shiyao was a "fool." Could she truly become the Holy Maiden?
Was she worthy of the role?
Li Shiyao's mother wanted to give her a chance—a chance to escape this household—but the suggestion was dismissed.
To be precise, it was ignored. No one cared about the mother's thoughts.
Li Suyao was bright and quick-witted. Even if she didn't go to the Sacred Mountain, she could at least grow up healthy and marry well.
But Li Shiyu was different. This was the only chance for this flawed girl.
The one chance to escape this household. Li Shiyu's mother knew it well—she couldn't protect her daughter.
Who knew when her daughter might vanish, traded away for silver coins?
Indeed, just as no one cared about Shiyu's mother's thoughts, no one cared about Shiyu's feelings either.
A brighter future naturally belonged to the more capable daughter. Li Shiyao lacked the means to fight for it and couldn't match her younger sister's intelligence.
============================================================