Han Shengyao lightly frowned as she watched Lin Qianshuang lift the curtains and sit down in a hurry, her clothes unkempt.
"Didn't I say that I would wait for you? Why did you come in without tidying your clothes?"1
Lin Qianshuang's dress was mostly undone, and droplets of water fell from her messy hair. Feeling Han Shengyao's disgusted gaze on herself, she knew that her current appearance was not very elegant. She couldn't help but pull her lapels tighter around herself, muttering in a small voice, "Master, I was too excited that I forgot my manners. Besides the Demon Palace, I...... have never seen the outside world before."
Han Shengyao's face was much softer than before.
Lin Qianshuang could clearly see her own image reflected on Han Shengyao's pupils. She adorned a naive look, her glassy eyes filled with unfamiliarity and desire for the outside world. In her heart, she couldn't help but admire her own acting skills.
"I was forgetful. You're still just a child."3
Han Shengyao lazily leaned against the carriage, playing and twirling a few strands of her long hair with her fingertips.
She raised her eyes slightly to look at Lin Qianshuang.
Understanding the meaning of her look, she sat by her side.
Han Shengyao lifted her hand, which felt a bit cold, and gently rubbed the top of Lin Qianshuang's head. Warm demonic energy flowed out of her palm and carefully draped itself around her body.2
Within a few seconds, Lin Qianshuang felt like she was enveloped by warmth. Not only on her hair but also the water on her clothes had dried up.
The belt on her skirt was suddenly pulled, and a pair of dexterous hands were placed on her waist to refasten the wrongly tied chain of flower buttons.
"Shuang'er, you can't even fasten your clothes? How did I accept such a stupid disciple like you?"
A little stunned, Lin Qianshuang looked up slightly and felt Han Shengyao's breath closeby. She watched the side of her face in silence. Under those thick and slender eyelashes, the sharp beauty of the past could no longer be seen.
Her obscure silly demeanor fell apart in a moment, and her face grew gentler with the aloof and tranquil atmosphere. The corners of her lips subconsciously raised to form a shallow arc.
Han Shengyao patiently tied her inner robes, went behind her, and fastened her thin outer robes with a plain tassel belt that dangled.1
The woman's exquisite curves became more apparent as her clothes tightened and outlined her waist. The skin visible from her sleeves appeared smooth and flawless.
A beauty born with delicate hands and feet.
Han Shengyao's eyes were a little thoughtful. The status of Du Shuang, this old fellow, was quite high in Yixiang Establishment and rarely saw guests. But she liked beauty the most, so she shouldn't turn her disciple away.
HeYurFlas (GxG) (Girlxgirl) (GL)
16.1K656
Heroine Yuri Flags The protagonist was a normal high school girl. One day, she was reborn as the villainess marquis' daughter, Rosalind Stanley, who appeared in an otome...
Date Her Instead Vol. 3
1.6K143
It's now the beginning of the second term of the second year... and trouble is already here?! After realizing her feelings, Haruna Endo begins to pursue Kanako Nakatomi'...
THDEFLBRVIL (GxG) (Girlxgirl) (GL)
17.8K787
The Death Flag-Breaking Villainess On the morning of the entrance ceremony to Magic School, Elizabeth Astron realizes she has been reincarnated as the villainess of an...
好きで鈍器は持ちません!~鍛冶と建築を極めた少女は、デカいハンマーで成り上がる~
50.3K2.7K
1t's N0t That 1 L1k3 Us1n6 a Blunt W3apon! ーーーIs there any blunt weapon shining in your heart? I'm Hanna Falsett, an ordinary girl who dreams of becoming an adventurer. ...
This Vicious Girl Is Wrong For Me (MTL)
3.1K172
Author: Jiang Shenyang Translator: MTL Novels 1. Qin Yuzhen, codenamed salted fish. Won the "Best Tasker" award for one hundred consecutive years. The leader o...
VILWITACATCHASYS (GXG) (GIRLXGIRL) (GL)
3K120
Villainess With A Cat-Changing System Huo Yu, a second rich generation with Doraphobia, suddenly became a small kitty cat, and the bound system told her that she was cur...
EVIFSHETHEDEMONKING (GXG) (GIRLXGIRL) (GL)
9.6K210
EVEN IF SHE'S THE DEMON KING'S DAUGHTER, SHE'LL BETRAY HIM BECAUSE THE HERO'S PARTY IS YURI HEAVEN! The Demon King continues to attack and invade the human world. His da...
Lin Qianshuang looked Han Shengyao up and down with a satisfied look. Although she didn't know why, the look of appreciation on master's face as she looked at herself made her feel very happy.3
Before they knew it, the carriage stopped, indicating that they had arrived at the tall information building. Yixiang Establishment was set up in Tianshu City, where the Alliance of Independent Cultivators(1) is located.
Yixiang Establishment is located in a romantic land of flowers(2) but still upholds its scholarly and elegant image. It is a place where outstanding beast, demon, human, and spirit cultivators of the four Daos gather to exchange cultivation experience. The top names of Yixiang Establishment are all well-known figures in the four Daos. To meet them, not only must you pay a high price, but also meet their proposed meeting conditions.
After getting off the carriage, Han Shengyao wore a veil and instructed Lin Qianshuang to follow her closely. They walked towards the bustling gates of Yixiang Establishment.
Under the swaying red lanterns, a group of male and female cultivators dressed up in flowery clothes turned and twisted to receive the cultivators of the four Daos. When they saw Han Shengyao, they all flocked to her and pushed her through the door.
Lin Qianshuang followed her into the building. A beast cultivator was hovering over the flower platform with great momentum on the tip of his foot. His silk belt floated, and his posture was akin to a moon in the sky. Cultivators of the Human Realm played their music using the zither, the flute, and both sides of the drums. The rich and powerful rhythm flowed in the air. The sound of the beating drums became heavier and heavier as the beast's dancing posture and movements changed. The tone of the song gradually became majestic. (3)
For a while, Lin Qianshuang watched the dance on the flower platform with great interest before withdrawing her eyes and followed Han Shengyao to the second floor.
The sound of the traditional stringed and woodwind instruments lingered faintly. The cultivators gathered on the comfortable and elegant seats of the second floor were bustling with excitement as they toasted each other.
In one of the private rooms, Liang Jingxuan was watching the performance when suddenly, the sight of a figure walking towards the second floor attracted his eyes. The image of that figure's back was very similar to the senior sister who died for him.5
"Senior brother, who are you looking at? You look so fascinated."
The sweet and lovely face of a woman smiled as she looked at him closely. Her bright eyes curved like crescent moons, looking smart and cunning.
Liang Jingxuan withdrew his gaze and drank his tea to cover up his trance, muttering, "it's not her, I recognized the wrong person."
Xiao Lanle's crystal eyes, which looked like the bright moon, darkened for a moment. She bit her lower lip and angrily snatched Liang Jingxuan's teacup, saying, "Senior brother, I secretly snuck out with you without telling my father. How could you still think of that dead senior sister Lin!"1
"Sage, you're here? Lord Du Shuang is already waiting inside."
A demon cultivator bowed respectfully to Han Shengyao and guided them to a quiet corridor.
Lin Qianshuang was following Han Shengyao when the system suddenly gave a 'Ding dong!' sound. The Favorability Interface popped up in front of her. The second portrait, Xiao Lanle, whose avatar was still blacked out, was suddenly unlocked. Unlike Han Shengyao's favorability, in the beginning, Xiao Lanle's favorability showed a negative 50%.6
Since the system unlocked Xiao Lanle's rescue strategy interface, she should've encountered her just now.
Lin Qianshuang looked at the negative 50% favorability and felt a little depressed. She wondered if the system made a mistake as there was no such thing as a negative favorability before they even officially met.2
Xiao Lanle, the daughter of the head of the righteous sect, is inside Yixiang Establishment in the independent city of the four Daos where good and bad are mixed together. One can imagine who brought her here.
It could only be Liang Jingxuan, the senior brother she likes, who does not do honest work.
What are they doing in Yixiang Establishment?
Lin Qianshuang's train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a closing door.
When she returned to her senses, she found herself standing alone in a spacious study room. The light cyan silk curtains fluttered like layers of ripples, mixed with the smoke curling up from the burning incense.
The mass of mist covered the silhouettes of the rustling bamboo forest cast on the wall from the window under the hazy moonlight. A bright and beautiful sparrow jumped lightly on the thick ink of the inkstone. A zither, whose tail was charred, was placed flat in front of a gray cushion. Its strings were still quivering slightly, indicating that the owner had just recently used it.
The only thing that felt out of place in the elegant and peaceful environment was the very strong scent of red powder. It made her throat feel a little uncomfortable after inhaling, causing her to cough a few times.
Outside the door came two voices. Lin Qianshuang could hear Han Shengyao's voice, so the other female voice, which sounded quite raspy, should belong to Du Shuang.
Du Shuang, with a broken sword on her back and a girl of exquisite beauty in her arms, looked at Han Shengyao and said, "I was playing a little song for my baby and was about to do something interesting. Until we were interrupted by you, an unexpected guest! "1
Han Shengyao knew of this old friend's special temperament early on, so as she watched her embrace a girl, she didn't feel that it was strange at all. She released her demonic energy to threaten the girl in her arms to leave, and then she stepped forward.
"Du Shuang, I'm looking for you for an important matter. I have a disciple who is qualified and suitable for cultivating the path of the sword. Right now, she wants to build a foundation, so I'm afraid you'll have to give her a few pointers."
Han Shengyao had always accepted male disciples, with each and every one of them having strange looks.
Du Shuang was not interested in teaching a male pet.
She stretched her hand towards Han Shengyao and said with a look of interest, "If you want me to teach your disciple, first give me a piece of gold. Then I'll teach depending on my mood."
Without a change in her expression, Han Shengyao handed her a piece of gold.2
Du Shuang gave her a surprised look as she took it. A smile formed on her face before she threw the piece of gold back to Han Shengyao. "You really gave it to me ah. We've been friends for several years, I was just playing with you."
Han Shengyao placed it back into her jade slip, looked at her lazily, and said, "Then, do you agree to teach my disciple?"
"I'll teach. I, Du Shuang, don't dare to disobey the Sage's orders."
Du Shuang clicked her tongue and opened the door to the study, dropping the words, "Sword cultivation requires you to practice your energy. Go get me another zither."
Han Shengyao was relieved to hear her words, not annoyed by her rude tone. She moved to another compartment to pick up the zither. Du Shuang was unpredictable, it's not easy to get her to agree.
Walking into the study, Du Shuang raised the silk curtains, thinking about the disgusting and ugly appearance of Han Shengyao's new male pet. But she didn't expect that after just one look, her eyes glued onto the person sitting on the cushion, not moving an inch.
The beautiful side profile of her face shimmered under the light with a clear lustre, her thin white robes outlined her slender waist as it curved to the ground like floral waves.
She seemed to sense footsteps approaching her.
Lin Qianshuang turned and smiled at the visitor, "Master, you're here."
Du Shuang's heart thumped and felt a little itchy. The moment the young girl turned to look at her, the pair of blue eyes resembling the sky twinkled in the twilight, making them appear especially bright and beautiful.2
This pretty little lady turned out to be Han Shengyao's new disciple?
Since when did she develop a habit of accepting female disciples?
Lin Qianshuang, who was uncomfortably stared at by the stranger in front of her, suddenly remembered the conversation she heard. She asked, "Are you the Sword Venerable, Du Shuang?"
She turned out to be Han Shengyao's new pet. Surely she wouldn't mind if she teased her a little.
Du Shuang thought wickedly in her heart and said to Lin Qianshuang with a heroic face that differed from ordinary women, "Exactly, I am Du Shuang.
If you want to build a foundation with the sword, you must first refine your energy. I have a music score here which you must carefully play according to my methods. You need to remember the pause in each rhythm and later, you can figure out your own set of pauses. In the future, it'll be much easier to cultivate the law of energy control(4) when you refine the demonic energy in your body."
Lin Qianshuang listened carefully to her words, sat on the cushion and placed both her hands on the tail-burned zither. She played a whole song using the finger-pressing technique taught to her by Du Shuang.
As she practiced, she gradually felt that something was wrong. The woman guiding her from behind was deliberately pretending to unintentionally rub against her back. The hand holding hers and adjusting the position of her fingertips constantly stroked her fingers.5
Lin Qianshuang, who was halfway through the song, felt a touch on her tailbone. She finally couldn't take it and stood up with a blushing face.
Just now, she could fool herself into thinking that it was all an illusion. But now, she's sure that Sword Venerable Du Shuang was making light of her.
Lin Qianshuang looked at her with vigilance as she distanced herself.
Usually, the harassment she encountered back in her original world, whether it be in the office, the bus, or on the subway, was all done by the opposite sex.
But in the world of this novel, it was done by a fellow sister.
It was a really strange feeling.
Du Shuang no longer hid her true purpose when Lin Qianshuang discovered her intentions. The broken sword in her hands flew to attack Lin Qianshuang.
As she dodged, Du Shuang pounced on her and threw her to the ground, rendering her motionless by sealing her acupoints. She smiled ambiguously and said, "Little beauty, you are too much of a charmer. I've been chasing Han Shengyao for a year without backing down, but you're the only one she seems to treat differently. However, in the end, you're just her plaything, so it's better to follow me instead."2
She caressed her face lightly. Lin Qianshuang couldn't speak as her mouth was forcefully sealed. She resisted and turned her face away with a disgusted face. This person's hand made her feel sick, different from the feeling of Han Shengyao being close to her.2
Du Shuang looked at her disgusted expression and kissed her eyelids, looking as if she had found something new. "Are you straight? Did Han Shengyao not touch you?"4
Scram.
Lin Qianshuang's sealed mouth made a few 'Umph!' noises. Her temples twitched a few times when she realized that Du Shuang must've misunderstood and thought that she was the same as the group of male pets that Han Shengyao had collected.
Du Shuang felt that she was a little cute. She rubbed her chin and raised it with her fingers. She looked at her eyes with a silly face full of lust/love and said, "Don't be afraid. Let me teach you how to really breathe and please your master."1
Lin Qianshuang's eyes widened as she watched her lips closing in on her. She felt her stomach churn.
"Du Shuang, the zither in your central room was borrowed by Yuelan. So I went to Xiaohong to borrow... You... "4
There was a sound of a heavy object falling to the ground. The body of the zither split into two halves, and its strings rattled as it plucked out and turned into waste wires.
Han Shengyao was shocked to see Du Shuang maintaining a strong kiss with Lin Qianshuang by pressing her on the ground, and subconsciously dropped the zither in her hands.
Du Shuang saw her come in. She daintily lifted her bangs and looked up with a smile as she said, "Sage, your new disciple tastes good."
......
(1)T/N: Originally written as "Alliance of Scattered Cultivators", doesn't really make sense and I'm not really sure on what to change 'Scattered' with.
(2)T/N: Original text: "怡湘楼处在烟花风月之地,"
A bit thrown off by '烟花' which means fireworks and '风月' meaning wind and moon. Not sure how to rephrase this.
(3)T/N: This whole paragraph gave me a headache.
(4)T/N: Original text: "日后你炼化体内魔气时需要摸索出的修炼运气规律也将容易许多。"
Originally translated as 'law of fortune', I'm not entirely sure about what it had to do with refining one's qi, so I changed it to its other meaning. If someone has an accurate translation that makes more sense, please comment it here.