CHAPTER 39
With This Body, I Exchange for Sister's Freedom
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"Second Madam! What a coincidence! To run into you here!"
Xu Zhanfeng had inquired his way to Nanding City, where it was said the First Lady Ye Qinghan and her master occasionally appeared.
After lurking for two days, he hadn't seen the First Lady, but he had spotted Li Shiyao.
"Oh? And you are?"
Xu Zhanfeng wore a black hooded cloak, layered over a tattered coarse cloth cape.
A ghost mask covered his face, and he carried a jet-black tiger-headed sabre taller than a man strapped to his back. Not an inch of skin was exposed—he was cloaked from head to toe.
It made sense—if he showed his face, that terrifying visage would likely be mistaken for demonic and slain…
Li Shiyao turned around, her face radiating the innocence of a young girl clutching a sugar-coated hawthorn on a stick, looking like some spoiled young miss who'd wandered out from somewhere.
Yet, upon seeing the towering figure behind her, she showed no trace of fear. Instead, she examined him with keen curiosity.
"Second Grandmother, I am Xu Zhanfeng. We met in the secret realm."
As he spoke, Xu Zhanfeng lifted the hood of his cloak slightly, removing his mask to reveal his true face.
"Oh my! Put it back on, put it back on! What brings you here?"
"I came seeking refuge with the First Lady, but I didn't know where her immortal residence was. I heard she occasionally visits Nanding City, so I waited here."
Shiyao nodded as if she understood, though she hadn't a clue.
"Oh, then wait here. I need to find Sister Qinghan first. We'll talk later."
"Does Second Madam know where First Madam is?"
Xu Zhanfeng knew Li Shiyu wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, so he didn't bother explaining. Better safe than sorry!
"No idea."
"What about Second Madam?"
"I heard Sister Qinghan occasionally visits Nanding City, so I plan to find a place to stay and wait for her to show up."
…So she was listening to me after all?
Just as Xu Zhanfeng was about to speak, Li Shiyao called out.
"Master Su!"
Xu Zhanfeng froze, whipping his head around only to see Li Shiyao already sprinting ten meters away…
Su Cheng's face darkened. Did she even check the almanac before leaving today? Why another troublemaker?
"Master Su, is Sister Qinghan not here?"
"Xu Zhanfeng, greeting Your Excellency."
Great. Two troublemakers. Though this Xu Zhanfeng isn't too much of a bother…
Judging by this setup, they're waiting for me here?
"What do you want with me?" Su Cheng raised an eyebrow, vegetables in hand. Even with the Chaos Bell and Godslayer Spear, he doubted he could handle Xu Zhanfeng at this combined cultivation level…
"Second Madam, your business takes precedence. Please speak first." Xu Zhanfeng silently stepped back, bowing respectfully with great courtesy.
Li Shiyao wasted no time, grabbing Su Cheng's hand and pulling him into a deserted alleyway, leaving Su Cheng utterly bewildered.
"What's going on, Miss Shiyu? Why all the secrecy?"
Li Shiyu stood opposite Su Cheng with her head bowed, her troubled expression tugging at one's heartstrings.
"What happened?"
Su Cheng was puzzled. What could possibly happen at Holy Mountain?
The Holy Mountain wasn't some minor sect—it was a major power that held sway even before the Spirit Mountain!
If not for Li Shiyu's childlike intellect, and with the Holy Mountain backing her, even Cheng Liang would have to show the Holy Maiden some respect!
If it wasn't the Holy Mountain, then was it this little girl who had gotten into trouble?
Could Ye Qinghan have bullied her in the secret realm? That didn't make sense. If Ye Qinghan had laid a finger on her, the girl wouldn't have emerged alive and kicking!
What could it be then?
After a long, seemingly agonizing internal struggle, Li Shiyao slowly raised her head, her face contorted into a pitiful little expression, as if she'd been wronged.
"Master Su, Shiyuo has thought long and hard about this. Sister Qinghan has been so kind to me… Shiyuo wants to trade herself for Sister Qinghan…"
"Huh? What does that mean? Trade for Qinghan?"
Su Cheng was even more bewildered. What on earth was Li Shiyu talking about? He couldn't make heads or tails of a single word!
"Master Su, please release Sister Qinghan! Shiyu is willing to take her place and join the Lingxian Hall!"
"No, did someone tell you something? I've never coerced Ye Qinghan into anything. Joining the Lingxian Hall was entirely her own choice."
"It wasn't someone else. Sister Qinghan told Shiyu herself. But please don't blame her. I'm willing to take her punishment!"
"No! No! You must have misunderstood something!"
Su Cheng felt like his head was about to explode. At home, Dongfang Jue was scheming with who knows what plans, now he had a Saintess spouting nonsense by his side, and outside the alley, a great power at the Fusion Stage was waiting for him!
What the hell was going on?!
If this keeps up, the plot will completely collapse!
Though things seemed off from the moment Ye Qinghan became his disciple, it was clearly spiraling out of control now!
"Shiyao hasn't misunderstood. Shiyao will listen to Master Su. Shiyao is perfectly healthy. If Master Su likes, then…"
"Wait, hold on! There must be some misunderstanding here! What did Qinghan tell you?"
"Master Su, I know what you did to Sister Qinghan. I'm willing to do it too. I only ask that you spare Sister Qinghan."
Holy crap!
Is this Li Shiyu here to save Ye Qinghan?
What kind of mind-altering potion did Ye Qinghan feed this guy?
"How about this? You come back to Lingxian Hall with me. We'll talk about it in front of Qinghan, okay?"
Li Shiyu glared, fear forgotten in that moment, and flatly refused!
"No way! Unless you promise to let Sister Qinghan go, you'll just whip her again once you get back!"
What? Who's smearing me with this filth?
She's slandering me! She's slandering me!
And she won't even let me leave!
The Ling Frost Sword Technique could only be used within the Lingxian Hall, and she couldn't defeat this guy anyway. Wasn't she doomed?
"Alright, I'll agree to your terms. Is that good enough?"
"Really?"
"If Qinghan truly wishes to leave Lingxian Hall, I will never use force to keep her."
"Wait, do you take me for a fool? What if you still hold something over Sister Qinghan?"
"What leverage do I have?!"
Su Cheng felt like he had two headaches in one. If anyone dared call Li Shiyao foolish again, Su Cheng would be the first to disagree!
This girl is incredibly sharp!
"Isn't it acceptable for Shiyu to trade herself for Sister Qinghan's freedom?"
"It's fine. As long as Ye Qinghan is willing to make the trade, then let it be."
"You promise not to interfere?"
"Fine, fine, fine. I promise not to interfere."
"Alright, let's make a promise!"
……
You're trading your life for Ye Qinghan's freedom, and then you want to make a promise?
This is way too formal!
And just a moment ago you were acting all pitiful—how come you're so bossy now?
This won't do, that's out of the question?
Fine, let's make a promise. Su Cheng has absolutely no way to deal with Li Shiyao…
"That's settled then. Master, let's head back."
"Huh? Switching already? You changed your mind that fast?"
"Sister Qinghan will definitely agree, so Shiyu should get used to the title first."
Shiyao was overjoyed. She had saved her sister Qinghan. Compared to the unknown masses, she wanted to save her sister more!
Thinking of her sister's life in utter darkness, starving daily and enduring endless torment, how could she possibly focus on cultivation?
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