After Rebirth, the Love-Struck Cannon Fodder Woke Up - Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Probing
â—Ž Qingdai Assists, Secretly Tests the Heart â—Ž
Recalling the sorrow Du Lianxin had previously displayed, Qingdai intended to use this opportunity to test her Senior Sister.
With a thought, she opened her mouth with a smile: “The desire for beauty is universal. Miss Du has no Dao Companion and is alone. In what capacity is Miss Shen speaking these words?”
Shen Anlan replied without hesitation: “Naturally, in the capacity of Junior Sister Du’s Senior Sister!”
“Oh?” Qingdai asked casually: “Are Miss Du and Miss Shen perhaps from the same sect?”
Inside the defensive restriction, Du Lianxin spoke up at the right time: “I am a cultivator from the Talisman Peak. Senior Sister resides on the Falling Cloud Peak. We do not share the same master.”
Hearing this, Qingdai covered her mouth with a laugh. “Then you are ordinary Senior and Junior Sisters. Since that is the case, what reason does Miss Shen have to interfere with Miss Du’s affairs? Even if Miss Du genuinely falls for someone, it has nothing to do with Miss Shen.”
Shen Anlan tightly gripped the hilt of the Cloud-Piercing Sword, suppressing the urge to draw her sword and slash the ghost, and said coldly: “Even if I cannot interfere in Junior Sister Du’s affairs, Senior has even less standing to interfere. What was the meaning of your action just now?”
Qingdai feigned surprise: “Oh dear, Miss Shen couldn’t see it? It was naturally because Miss Du was sad, and I offered comfort.”
The anger in Shen Anlan’s brow deepened. “Junior Sister was perfectly fine. Why would she be sad? It must be because Senior said something inappropriate and caused trouble!”
This statement happened to be the truth, and Qingdai was momentarily a little embarrassed.
However, her intention this time was purely to test Shen Anlan’s feelings for her Junior Sister, so she quickly adjusted, sighing softly: “It was my loose tongue. I asked if Miss Du had someone she liked, and who would have thought it would upset the young lady?”
Hearing this, Shen Anlan felt a sense of nervousness, though she didn’t know why.
The accumulated anger in her heart dissipated at this moment. She looked at the graceful girl inside the restriction. Their eyes met in mid-air.
Du Lianxin’s gaze was complex. Although Shen Anlan was nervous inside, she did not show it on her face, and her eyes remained cold.
They stared at each other for a moment. Du Lianxin was the first to look away, shifting her gaze.
Since she had already anticipated Senior Sister’s reaction, her heart was calm at this moment, without any unnecessary emotions.
Qingdai watched from the side, feeling somewhat frustrated.
With her experience, she could naturally see that the two had feelings for each other. Unfortunately, both were clam-mouthed, unable to speak directly, preferring to remain silent.
If this continued, it would likely be a long time before they confessed their feelings to each other.
Thinking of this, she cleared her throat lightly.
“Miss Shen seems very concerned about whether Miss Du has someone she likes?”
Shen Anlan shifted her gaze away from the girl. For the first time in her life, she spoke words that went against her heart.
“No, I am only worried about Junior Sister’s safety. As for who Junior Sister likes, it is none of my business.”
“Is that so?”
Qingdai gave her a meaningful look, then changed her tone and said playfully: “Miss Du is beautiful and kind-hearted. Since Miss Shen doesn’t like her, then I will pursue Miss Du. I presume Miss Shen won’t object?”
Shen Anlan’s eyes turned instantly cold. “Didn’t Senior always want to find her lover from the past life? Being so fickle now, how do you deserve to like Junior Sister Du?”
Qingdai’s smile remained unchanged, and she continued: “Whether I deserve it is not for Miss Shen to decide, only if Miss Du likes me. If I can win Miss Du’s favor, I will dedicate my whole heart to her.”
Du Lianxin heard this and noticed that Senior Sister’s gaze had returned to her, seemingly carrying a hint of coldness.
She lowered her eyes and did not speak.
This was because she could tell that Senior Qingdai was joking. With Senior Sister’s intelligence, it was impossible for her not to understand this.
However, she hadn’t anticipated that Shen Anlan, controlled by emotion, had temporarily lost her usual insight.
Hearing Qingdai’s words and then seeing Junior Sister’s reaction, she mistakenly believed she was acquiescing. The anger in her heart surged again at this moment.
“No, I disagree!”
Qingdai raised an eyebrow. “Why? The two ladies are not from the same master. What standing does Miss Shen have to interfere with Miss Du’s choice?”
Shen Anlan retorted loudly: “Although Junior Sister Du and I did not share the same master, we are both core inner-sect disciples of the Clear River Sect. I entered the sect relatively earlier and have the responsibility to guide my Junior Sister and prevent her from straying onto the wrong path.”
Qingdai clicked her tongue. “That reason sounds so far-fetched. As far as I know, the Clear River Sect doesn’t have cultivators who practice the Dao of Heartlessness. Since when did being in love become straying onto the wrong path?”
“Humans and ghosts are fundamentally different paths. If Junior Sister were with Senior, it would inherently be a mistake!”
Hearing this firm statement, Qingdai let out a cold snort. “I didn’t expect Miss Shen to not only be stubborn but also a little rigid. What a pity for this beautiful face. You might be destined to live alone! Now that you have returned, I presume the defensive restriction can be removed?”
Shen Anlan looked at the silent girl inside the restriction. With a wave of her sleeve, she formed several hand seals and gently flicked them forward. The restriction covering the ten zhang area instantly dissipated.
Seeing this, Qingdai flashed, quickly arriving next to the girl, wrapping an arm around her slender waist, and pulling her into her embrace.
Du Lianxin was caught off guard, falling into the cold embrace. She subconsciously tried to struggle, but at that moment, she heard a voice transmission from the other party.
“Miss Du, please bear with it for a moment. This is only to further test the young lady’s Senior Sister, with no other intention.”
Although Du Lianxin already knew the answer, she quieted down at this moment, leaning into Qingdai’s embrace.
In Shen Anlan’s eyes, this looked like mutual affection.
A feeling of sourness, which she had never experienced before, suddenly surfaced in her heart.
Why must Junior Sister like her of all people? A ghost?
Especially since this ghost had not only harmed Junior Sister before but also had a former lover she couldn’t forget!
If, one day, the other party found her lover’s soul or reincarnated body, Junior Sister might be ruthlessly abandoned.
Shen Anlan couldn’t understand why Junior Sister was particularly fond of Qingdai.
Although the ghost was a beautiful seductress, if they were truly judged on appearance, she, Shen Anlan, was not inferior to the other party at all!
If she truly wanted to like someone, why… why couldn’t it be her?
Although Shen Anlan was aloof by nature, she was never one to tolerate being wronged. At this moment, she was extremely unhappy, with only one thought in her mind: to completely separate those two figures in the distance!
She secretly convinced herself that Junior Sister was inexperienced and had probably been deceived by the Ghost King. Her intervention to break them up was saving Junior Sister!
After making her decision, Shen Anlan did not hesitate further. She drew her sword and flew forward.
Qingdai had been secretly observing the purple-clad woman’s movements. Seeing her action now, she immediately understood.
The probing was over, and a result had been achieved.
She released the girl in her arms and swiftly retreated backward.
Shen Anlan came to her Junior Sister’s side, lifted her into her arms. While moving away from Qingdai, she turned and locked onto the other party with her divine sense, slashing out a sword beam containing sharp killing intent.
Facing the sudden, powerful attack, Qingdai raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, then quickly cast a spell to block it.
She had reached the Ghost King realm. In the world inside the mirror, Shen Anlan’s strength was greatly suppressed, so the attack did not harm her, given her defense.
After this encounter, Qingdai had a clearer understanding.
Shen Anlan was more than just concerned about this Junior Sister; her possessiveness was boundless.
If that sword strike had been launched at her full power, she might not have been able to take it safely.
Alas, I finally decided to be kind-hearted and help someone, and almost got myself involved. I can’t do this kind of thing again in the future!
Qingdai was a little annoyed. She had never been a busybody ghost before. Her actions today, if she were to ask herself honestly, were probably due to her inability to bear seeing Miss Du upset?
That girl was indeed somewhat similar to Wanyun. It could be said that beauty was misleading!
Of course, she had no intention of using her as a substitute. Doing so would be unfair to both Wanyun and Miss Du. She certainly didn’t want to be a heartless woman!
On the other side, Shen Anlan slashed out a sword and, seeing the Ghost King easily block it, was about to strike again. Just then, the girl beside her tugged at her sleeve.
“Senior Sister, Senior Qingdai means no harm.”
Hearing the girl pleading for the Ghost King, the anger in Shen Anlan’s heart intensified.
“Junior Sister likes her that much? Don’t forget she has a former lover. How long have you known her, Junior Sister? How could your weight in her heart compare to someone she spent years with? Has Junior Sister ever considered what you would do if her former lover appeared one day?”
Du Lianxin was somewhat embarrassed at the moment. Had she known this would happen, she shouldn’t have agreed to Senior Qingdai’s probing attempt just now.
“Senior Sister, you misunderstood. Things are not as you think.”
Shen Anlan frowned deeply. “Can something I witnessed with my own eyes be a misunderstanding?”
Du Lianxin urgently explained: “Senior Qingdai said she wanted to test Senior Sister, which is why she did that.”
Shen Anlan was full of doubt. “Test? Test what?”
After asking this, she immediately realized it and pursed her lips.
“Those who can become Ghost Kings are all ruthless and vicious individuals. Why doesn’t Junior Sister consider why she would help you test me? What benefit does she gain from it?”
“This…” Du Lianxin was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
She only heard Shen Anlan continue: “In my opinion, she is using this as an excuse to seize the opportunity to get close to Junior Sister. I saw her holding Junior Sister just now, and her expression implied covert delight, showing no sign of a test. Junior Sister had better keep a distance from her.”
In the distance, Qingdai heard these words, secretly ground her teeth, and flew closer to the two of them.
“Miss Shen, is your prejudice against me perhaps too great?”
Shen Anlan shielded Du Lianxin behind her, confronting the Ghost King with her sword.
“Whether it is prejudice or not, Senior knows in her heart.”
Qingdai’s willow-like eyebrows shot up. She was about to refute, but then heard Shen Anlan continue: “Senior, having cultivated to your current realm and existed for a thousand years, is rich in experience. You would not simply bestow kindness. I only ask Senior one question: were your actions in any way due to my Junior Sister’s resemblance to your lover?”
Hearing this, Qingdai was momentarily silent, feeling a little guilty.
Although she had no ulterior motives toward Du Lianxin, at the root of it, she had indeed chosen to help because of this reason, unable to bear the girl’s continued sadness.
However, she couldn’t admit it directly now, or Shen Anlan would likely fight her.
With a turn of her mind, Qingdai smiled and said: “I helped Miss Du only because my loose tongue earlier caused her sadness. This act is merely to apologize, not as Miss Shen believes. Why doesn’t Miss Shen think carefully? If I truly harbored intentions toward Miss Du, there are many more means I could use. Why would I choose such an easily exposed method?”