After Transmigrating, I and the Female Lead Both Found It 'Really Fragrant' (GL) - Chapter 21

The atmosphere at the competition was already relaxed and lively. The elders didn’t pay much attention to the details, and Shen Qiqi’s “peculiar” behavior was like a drop of water suddenly splashing into hot oil, causing a wave after wave of buzzing discussions.

Someone asked in confusion, “What was the meaning of that strange pose of hers? What’s with all the ‘go for it’ and ‘you’re the best’?…”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s some kind of strange incantation!”

Someone else guessed cautiously, “I heard that the two of them don’t get along. Could it be that Shen Qiqi was cursing Liu Shuang to lose the competition with that gesture?”

“But I heard that they’ve been getting along pretty well in private lately! Didn’t Miss Shen just stand up for Liu Shuang?”

“Their relationship is so complicated!” the crowd exclaimed.

Amidst the chaotic rumors, Liu Shuang walked through the crowd, offering a distant smile to Shen Qiqi. Her black hair was dyed golden by the morning sun, and her whole body was bathed in a warm glow, shining brightly.

Shen Qiqi was stunned for a moment, blinking her eyes, and slowly took her hands down from above her head, covering her chest.

I wish Senior Sister wouldn’t go dark.

She curled up into a ball, her heart pounding in her chest, and an inexplicable feeling arose.

… It would be so nice to just be a gentle and sweet little white flower forever.

Fu Luo watched coldly, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes, “Are we two still going to fight or not?”

Liu Shuang turned around and said indifferently, “Fifth Senior sister, you first.”

Fu Luo untied a long whip from her side, gripped it tightly in her hand, and threatened, “I won’t go easy on you!”

Liu Shuang put her hands in her sleeves and smiled, “Fifth Senior sister, please be gentle.”

“Hmph, take out your magic weapon!”

“No need,” Liu Shuang said, “I’ll use my bare hands.”

Dealing with a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, there was no need to be so formal.

Fu Luo’s face immediately turned black, and the whip in her hand was twisted into a mosquito coil, creaking. “What do you mean? Are you looking down on me?”

Liu Shuang glanced at her with surprise, lazily saying, “Senior sister, you’re thinking too much.” If I took it out, you wouldn’t be standing here.

Other disciples would usually summon their spirit weapons when fighting, as a sign of mutual respect. Only Liu Shuang chose to fight bare-handed, which was basically announcing to the world – I can defeat you even with my bare hands.

Hearing this, everyone looked at each other.

“Why is Liu Shuang so arrogant today?”

“Probably because she has Miss Shen backing her up…”

Shen Qiqi was also very surprised. In the original book, when the female lead and Fu Luo fought, she used her own spirit sword. As a Qi Condensation cultivator, she was no match for a Foundation Establishment cultivator and naturally lost. She was publicly ridiculed and humiliated, and was almost expelled from the inner sect.

Fortunately, Qin Qing spoke up for her and protected her, saving her from further ridicule.

But because of this, Liu Shuang was isolated by many of Qin Qing’s admirers, and rumors were spread about her, describing her as a fickle b1tch woman, and she was despised by everyone.

And now Qin Qing and Liu Shuang weren’t even friends, so naturally he wouldn’t defend her; and she actually fought bare-handed. Could it be that it was because of her own time travel that caused this series of changes?

Shen Qiqi scratched her head, feeling very worried: Senior Sister, you look pretty cool like this, but don’t fail to show off!

Even the several powerful cultivators in the central seats changed their expressions.

Master Xu Fu snorted coldly and slapped the armrest of his chair with his palm, “This is outrageous! It’s too outrageous!” Naturally, he was referring to Liu Shuang, whom he despised.

“This Liu Shuang…” A man in luxurious black robes beside him folded his arms and mused, “Could she be the young genius who was once so famous?”

The man looked no older than 20 or 30, with handsome features and a natural air of authority. Despite his youthful appearance, he exuded a maturity and calmness beyond his years.

Master Xu Fu was startled and quickly replied, “That’s her.”

The man in black robes sighed, “It’s a pity that she has such a good foundation but seems to have wasted it…”

“Master Yun, Liu Shuang is sure to lose,” Master Xu Fu said sarcastically. “She hasn’t made any progress at all in the past year. I’m afraid she’s been too busy eating and sleeping, being lazy every day, and has long since given up on cultivation.”

Yu Zhenren, who was sitting beside him, frowned. “Uncle Master, be careful what you say!” She knew that Xu Fu had always had a grudge against Liu Shuang, and she didn’t expect his words to be so harsh.

In her opinion, Liu Shuang had always been very serious in class, much better than those inner sect disciples who liked to daydream and talk. She clearly wasn’t as useless as he said.

Ignoring her, Master Xu Fu asked, “Master Yun, in your opinion, are there any more outstanding disciples among the others?”

This man was none other than Yun Mingyi, the Sect Master of Yunqu Sect. He smiled knowingly, his voice clear, “All the disciples of your sect are the best of the best, each with their own unique qualities. They will surely become pillars of the cultivation world in the future and have unlimited potential!”

Master Xu Fu felt his vanity satisfied and bowed happily, “You flatter me, you flatter me. The disciples of your sect are also all dragons among men, with a bright future ahead of them.”

The two exchanged a knowing smile.

In the central seats, there was a pervasive atmosphere of flattery and backslapping among the adults, revealing a corner of the hypocritical and rigid facade of the cultivation world. The leaders of the various sects in the immortal world were like a stagnant pool, unchanged for hundreds of years.

On the arena, the two had already begun to fight without a word.

Perhaps because she was angry, Fu Luo’s attack was particularly fierce. The spikes on her whip were sharp and shone with a silver light. If she were hit, she would probably have a layer of skin peeled off.

Although Liu Shuang was empty-handed, her figure dodged nimbly. Just as Fu Luo’s long whip was about to hit her, she narrowly avoided it. Time and time again, it made people break out in a cold sweat.

The long whip, like a flame, whistled twice, sweeping through the air with a thunderous sound, but it missed again, kicking up a cloud of dust on the arena.

Seeing that she couldn’t catch her, Fu Luo’s face turned purple, and she angrily said, “Are you just going to keep dodging?”

Liu Shuang smiled slightly. She moved gracefully and appeared behind Fu Luo, delivering a gentle palm strike. With a bang, the palm wind rippled out like waves, surging violently, knocking Fu Luo off balance but without causing any pain.

The two of them fought back and forth, one as agile as the wind, the other as solid as a wave, and it was actually more exciting than expected.

Fu Luo’s face gradually turned ugly. She had thought that defeating Liu Shuang would be easy, that she could solve it in three rounds. But the other party always dodged in time and looked at ease, which made her feel like a cat teasing a mouse!

Yun Mingyi’s eyes lit up, and a look of appreciation appeared on his face. “Looks soft, but in fact, it’s using softness to overcome hardness. Good!”

Master Xu Fu’s face turned ashen as he watched the scene unfold.

The focus of the competition had somehow shifted to Liu Shuang. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on her graceful figure, and they couldn’t help but cheer for her: “Good dodge!”

“Hey, that move was amazing!”

Fu Luo’s breathing was short, and she seemed to be growing impatient. The long whip in her hand moved faster and more fiercely, whipping through the air like lightning, aiming straight for vital points.

Liu Shuang took a slight step back and dodged, and the barbs on the whip grazed her sleeves, revealing her slender white arms. In an instant, she struck out with several palms, the wind from her palms whistling past her ears as her black eyes shone clear and bright.

Although the palms were not painful, they were incredibly fast. Fu Luo turned her body quickly, dodging in a rather clumsy manner. Hearing the cheers from the crowd, she was both surprised and angry, her expression twisted as a dark glint flashed in her eyes.

Liu Shuang dodged easily, intentionally pretending to be careless in order to conceal her strength and allow Fu Luo to tear her clothes a few times.

In a flash of lightning, she deliberately exposed a flaw, and Fu Luo, who was not stupid, naturally seized the opportunity. The long whip, carrying a wave of heat, swept towards her delicate neck.

Liu Shuang flipped backwards, feigning a desperate struggle, and struck out with a palm, her palm trailing a few black flames. This palm, although seemingly full of power, was actually very light, and even an ordinary person could easily dodge it.

Unexpectedly, Fu Luo looked at her with a strange smile, her pupils constricting slightly, as if she couldn’t dodge. She was hit by the flames and flew out with a bang, falling heavily off the stage.

A sudden change occurred, causing an uproar among the audience.

“Senior Sister Fu Luo!”

“Are you okay, Junior Sister Fu Luo?”

“What happened?”

Everyone immediately crowded around her, surrounding her in layers.

Fu Luo fell to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of bl00d, and her cold eyes looked directly at Liu Shuang on the stage, her tone filled with sorrow, “Junior Sister Liu, I know you hate me…”

Liu Shuang stood in place, frowning slightly. She hadn’t used much force in that palm strike, and Fu Luo’s acting was quite good, looking injured and pitiful, which moved everyone around her.

Several elders rushed over and helped Fu Luo up, leaving Liu Shuang alone on the stage.

Shen Qiqi was dumbfounded. There was no such plot in the book… How could this have happened?

She believed that Liu Shuang would never hurt anyone without reason, and Fu Luo must be up to something!

“Elders, quickly save Senior Sister Fu Luo, she’s coughing up bl00d!”

“How could she be so badly injured…”

Someone looked at Liu Shuang and was the first to accuse, “We all saw it, it was Liu Shuang who beat her like this!”

“She’s so cruel, she doesn’t even spare her fellow disciples!”

Liu Shuang stood with her hands behind her back and said coldly, “Someone is just putting on a show.”

Someone said indignantly, “You still say that! If it weren’t for your vicious attack, how could Senior Sister Fu Luo be injured like this?”

Shen Qiqi retorted, “Is that so? I don’t believe it. Why would my Senior Sister hurt her for no reason?”

Someone disagreed, “Who knows, maybe she’s seeking revenge?”

“That’s right, this woman is so petty. It’s just because she was said a few words…”

Suddenly, Master Xu Fu roared, “Enough!”

He looked at the proud woman on the stage and said aggressively, “Liu Shuang, do you know your mistake?!”

Liu Shuang raised her chin and her eyes were cold, “I’m not wrong.”

“You’re not wrong?!” Master Qilian sighed, “I have repeatedly stated that you cannot injure others, just a tap is enough! Yet you have severely injured your Senior sister!”

Fu Luo leaned against someone, feigning weakness, a hint of triumph flashing in her eyes.

Seeing the tense situation, Shen Qiqi ran onto the stage in three quick steps and stood in front of Liu Shuang without hesitation, saying solemnly, “Wait, you should investigate this further! I believe in my Senior Sister, she wouldn’t do something like this… there must be another reason!”

Liu Shuang looked at her in surprise, her brows softening for a moment, her heart warming slightly.

“What else is there to investigate, she’s so injured!”

The crowd echoed, “That’s right, just admit it!”

All the accusations were suddenly directed at Liu Shuang, and for a moment, no one except Shen Qiqi stood by her side.

Master Xu Fu waved his sleeve and said, “Shen Qiqi, now is not the time for you to be willful!”

Shen Qiqi scoffed, “Willful? I’m just telling the truth. You guys don’t even think about it, how could Senior Sister Fu Luo, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, be knocked flying by a Qi Condensation cultivator?!”

“But Fu Luo is indeed injured, how do you explain that?” someone asked.

Shen Qiqi bit her lip, “Who knows, maybe she forced that bl00d out herself.”

Fu Luo’s expression froze, “…You!”

“Shut up!” Master Xu Fu said coldly, “Shen Qiqi, what evidence do you have to prove that Fu Luo is faking it?”

“I…” Shen Qiqi opened her mouth, her fists clenched, “But there’s also no evidence that Liu Shuang did it!”

A-Bao said, “Nonsense! Senior Sister Fu Luo’s injury is the best evidence! In my opinion, she saw a conflict with Senior Sister Fu Luo and took this opportunity to seek revenge!”

“Who would deliberately hurt themselves? Ha, you’re making excuses.”

“This waste is so vicious!”

Yu Zhenren hesitated for a moment and whispered, “Uncle Master, I think Shen Qiqi’s words make sense, why don’t we investigate further?”

Master Xu Fu glared at her and sneered, “Yu Zhenren, I know you’ve always favored Liu Shuang, but this isn’t a time for you to be sentimental!”

Fu Luo looked at her pitifully, her eyes shimmering, “Elder…”

Yu Zhenren sighed, shook her head, and said nothing more.

The rumors stuck to her like glue, but Liu Shuang remained expressionless, her dark eyes beneath her long lashes calm, as if she were used to it.

Shen Qiqi felt a vein pop in her forehead and was about to argue further when Liu Shuang suddenly grabbed her hand and shook her head slightly.

Her fingertips were cold and delicate, and as she held Shen Qiqi’s slender wrist, she instantly extinguished the fire in her belly.

Shen Qiqi could only hold back her anger, her brows drooping, and the arrogant look she had just had disappeared, replaced by a somewhat wronged expression. “Senior Sister…

Liu Shuang unconsciously ruffled her hair and whispered, “There’s no need to argue with them anymore, they won’t believe you.”

One was a rising star in the inner sect, the other was a useless person who hadn’t made any progress in years.

Anyone with eyes could see who they should support.

Shen Qiqi lowered her head dejectedly, looking around. Apart from herself, no one was willing to come forward to help Liu Shuang.

She subconsciously looked at Qin Qing and Sheng Ci. These two male leads were also sitting there, one with a furrowed brow and the other with a hesitant expression.

The disciples of other sects were even more indifferent, enjoying the misfortune of others.

Suddenly, Shen Qiqi felt very cold. How could the female lead go through such unreasonable things time and time again?

Master Qilian’s voice was like a bell, and his spiritual pressure swept over like waves, forcing people to submit. “Liu Shuang, won’t you admit your mistake!”

Liu Shuang stood there, her eyes growing darker, “…I’m not wrong, and I didn’t do anything.”

“You’re not wrong, so did she do this to herself?” Master Xu Fu sneered, “You might as well admit your mistake earlier and reduce your punishment.”

Seeing that the situation was settled, Liu Shuang smiled self-deprecatingly and said coldly, “Punish me if you want, whatever.”

Master Qilian’s expression softened slightly, and after discussing with the others for a moment, he announced, “Since that’s the case, starting today, Liu Shuang will be sent to the Blackwater Cliff and confined for 30 days!”

A look of triumph flashed in Fu Luo’s eyes for a moment.

The crowd’s eyes twinkled with malicious joy, as they were excited to have another story to gossip about at the dinner table.

Soon, two cultivators came up to take Liu Shuang away.

“Senior Sister…”

Shen Qiqi suddenly became stubborn and subconsciously held her finger tightly.

When the cultivators came to take her away, she refused to let go.

Liu Shuang was unable to break free for a moment, so she leaned down slightly and patted her hand. “Junior Sister, let go of me first.”

Shen Qiqi lowered her head and shook her head vigorously.

She felt heartache. She was so weak and helpless, and wished she could grow three heads and six arms to protect the female lead from being hurt again.

Liu Shuang sighed helplessly and gently cupped her face.

The little girl’s eyelashes were long and dense, and her small face, the size of a palm, rested quietly in her palm, her eyes and nose red and her eyes filled with tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

Liu Shuang’s heart suddenly softened.

She felt like she was possessed by a demon, and she lowered her head and placed a feather-like kiss on Shen Qiqi’s forehead.

Shen Qiqi’s eyes widened suddenly, tears welled up on the tip of her nose, and she forgot to maintain her grip, letting her go.

The whole world seemed to have only them two.

Liu Shuang’s back gradually faded away with the two people, disappearing into the end of the light.

Shen Qiqi stood there, covering her hot forehead, stunned, feeling like she had been deceived.

She saw Liu Shuang turn around and smile quietly, as if to comfort her silently, her pale red lips parted, and every scene seemed to be in slow motion.

“It’s okay, wait for me.”

A/N: A little bit of angst, it’s about time for them to open up a bit! (From the author’s perspective)