Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 46

On the morning of the third day of resting in the courtyard, Lingxi still followed Xie Xisui’s lesson of a small punishment as a warning. The white cloth was still firmly tied over her eyes.

Fortunately, after reviewing her memories that day, Xie Xisui had unlocked her spiritual sense.

Her spiritual sense extended to the courtyard’s surrounding walls, reaching outward like growing vines.

Lingxi was practicing her sword techniques in the courtyard. Just as the sword’s edge sliced through the air, she heard voices coming from the corner outside the courtyard wall.

“Are you sure Senior Sister is in there?”

“Yes, I heard someone say so yesterday. Why don’t we take a look?”

This was followed by the sound of shuffling footsteps and the occasional rustling of leaves as someone jumped up and brushed against the branches. Lingxi flipped her sword backward and returned it to its sheath.

“Senior Sister!”

“Senior Sister, what happened to you?!”

Lingxi was quickly surrounded by two people rushing in through the courtyard gate. Tong Ningyun reached out to touch the white cloth, but Lingxi raised her hand to stop her.

“Senior Sister, is it because you saved us that you were injured by the serpent phantom inside the Frightening Rainbow Scroll?”

“Is it serious?”

Their concerned questions made Lingxi pause for a moment before replying, “No, I was just careless.”

“Then, Senior Sister, your eyes…?”

“It’s nothing. Why are you both here?”

Qin Tang handed Lingxi a cup of water and said, “During the trial, it was thanks to you that we got out safely. Elder Xiang forced the illusion poison out of our bodies in time, so our injuries didn’t worsen.”

Tong Ningyun added, “We’ve wanted to visit you for a while, but no one knew where you were recovering. Qin Tang only happened to hear about it yesterday.”

She looked around the courtyard. “Is this place specially set aside for you to recover in peace because your injuries were severe? I never knew our sect had a place like this.”

Though Lingxi had lived here for three days and could tell through her spiritual sense that this was a secluded part of the sect, she had rarely visited the sect before and couldn’t say for sure.

She answered honestly, “I don’t know.”

“It is my residence.”

The leaves behind them rustled in the wind. Xie Xisui stood under the eaves, looking at them.

Lingxi was slightly startled before she respectfully greeted, “Master.”

Tong Ningyun and Qin Tang quickly bowed as well. “Apologies for the intrusion. Greetings, Sword Elder.”

Xie Xisui nodded. “You are here to take Lang Yue down the mountain with you?”

Tong Ningyun hesitated, glancing at the white cloth covering Lingxi’s eyes.

“Yes, but we also wanted to check on Senior Sister’s condition. Seeing her now, she should focus on recovering first.”

“She is fine. She may go with you.”

“Ah?”

Tong Ningyun instinctively looked up at Xie Xisui before realizing her rudeness and quickly lowered her head.

“Wait for her outside the courtyard.”

“Understood.”

Lingxi remained in her bowing posture. The sound of retreating footsteps faded behind her, and in front of her, a faint fragrance drew closer. Suddenly, a warm hand lightly covered the back of her own, a soft warmth seeping into her skin.

Lingxi hesitated, then spoke softly, “Master, must I go down the mountain this time?”

“Do you not want to go?”

“Yes. You have been in seclusion for months and only just emerged. If I go down the mountain now…” Lingxi’s voice unconsciously dropped, “then the Chuanze Ravine will be left with only you again.”

The person before her suddenly fell silent. A gust of wind swept through the branches, making them rustle.

Lingxi lifted her eyes to look at her. The wind tugged at the edge of the white cloth, loosening it slightly. She didn’t know when it had come undone, but it began to slip down slowly.

Xie Xisui was very close. Her pale pupils reflected Lingxi’s face. A faint warmth brushed against her cheek.

“But when I was in seclusion, weren’t you also alone in Chuanze Ravine?”

Lingxi heard her voice, low and slow, like a falling leaf brushing against her hand.

“It’s different.”

Xie Xisui’s lips curved slightly. “How is it different?”

Her dark eyes easily captured Lingxi’s gaze, making it impossible for her to look away.

“Because you are my master.”

Lingxi was momentarily dazed. The words she originally wanted to say melted into those two simple words: “Master.”

Xie Xisui lifted a single finger and lightly touched Lingxi’s forehead, speaking casually, “Oh? Is that why, when I borrowed your memories, it was always about me?”

Lingxi couldn’t withstand her gaze. She lowered her eyes and called softly, “Master.”

A soft light flickered in Xie Xisui’s eyes. Her fingertip brushed across Lingxi’s brow, leaving a faint golden glow that quietly faded into her skin.

Xie Xisui gave a small hum in response to her call and finally said, “Going down the mountain is part of your training.”

The lingering touch between them suddenly disappeared. Lingxi felt the absence of her fingers, catching a glimpse of the embroidered patterns on her flowing sleeves, faintly glowing in the light.

When she looked up again, all she saw was a blurry figure and a faint voice in her ear: “Go on. I will be waiting for you at Chuanze Ravine.”

Xie Xisui was gone.

Lingxi exhaled slightly, lowering her hand. “Yes, Master.”

……

“Senior Sister, I think the Elder really cares about you!”

“Of course! After all, you’re her only disciple.”

“That’s right—she treasures you the most!”

“I even heard from the other seniors that the Elder personally rescued you from the Frightening Rainbow Scroll. And I also heard that Yan Jiang…”

Tong Ningyun suddenly stopped, glancing at Qin Tang beside her. His expression was troubled.

The sudden silence made Lingxi turn to them. “What is it?”

Qin Tang hesitated before stepping forward. “Senior Sister, I’m sorry. If I had known what kind of person Yan Jiang was, I would never have let him join our team. It’s my fault you got hurt.”

“It’s fine. At that time, none of us knew what would happen.” Lingxi paused. “I was injured mostly because of my own mistake.”

Though Xie Xisui hadn’t mentioned it, Lingxi had guessed the reason from the memories she had borrowed during their mission.

Tong Ningyun curiously asked, “Your mistake? Why do you always blame yourself, Senior Sister?”

Lingxi glanced at her but didn’t respond. Her mind echoed with Xie Xisui’s cool voice from before:

“You’re going down the mountain like this? How can I not worry?”

“I won’t let you get hurt.”

“A small punishment as a warning.”

Lingxi unconsciously sighed. She had only just left Yaoguang Sect, but she already wanted to go back.

“Senior Sister?”

“Mm. What did you just say about Yan Jiang?”

Tong Ningyun thought for a moment. “Oh, they said the Sect Leader locked him up in the Hundred-Zhang Tower. The Elders used the Qing Frost Order on him. For seven days straight, he’ll feel pain all over his body for an hour each day. I think it’s punishment for hurting his fellow disciples?”

“Mm.”
Ling Xi nodded slightly.

Tong Ningyun looked around, then leaned closer to Ling Xi and lowered her voice. “But I think… maybe the Elders punished him like this because he caused you to get hurt? After all, in the past, they wouldn’t step in for this kind of thing.”

“…”

“You didn’t know about this, Senior Sister? The Elders didn’t tell you anything?”

Ling Xi looked at her deeply and reminded her, “We’re still inside Yaoguang Sect’s barrier. The wind can carry your voice far.”

“Ah!”

Tong Ningyun quickly covered her mouth and didn’t dare speak again.

After leaving the Yaoguang Sect’s territory, the three of them walked east along the main road. Qin Tang wanted to return to Pingzhou Town for a look. Although his parents had died long ago on the day Xie Xisui saved them, it was still his hometown. The town had later come under the control of Yaoguang Sect, so it might be more prosperous now than the “ghost town” it used to be.

Ling Xi agreed, since she still had to fulfill the young host’s last wish.

They bought three horses in a small county town along the way and rode out. Two days later, they arrived at Pingzhou Town, once a gray and desolate area.

They led their horses and walked into town. Compared to the first time Ling Xi saw it, Pingzhou Town was much improved.

There were no rampaging monsters, no collapsed houses, no burning dead trees, and no terrified people living in constant fear.

When they arrived, the golden sun still hung in one corner of the sky. Street vendors were shouting their wares, the roads were crowded, and the town was full of life.

“This is really nice…”

Qin Tang sighed. When Ling Xi looked at him, she noticed his eyes were slightly red.

Tong Ningyun patted his shoulder and agreed, “Yeah, it really is.”

Ling Xi walked past a vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers. She went over and bought one, fulfilling one of the young host’s wishes.

“Senior Sister, you like candied hawthorn?”

“Mm.”

They continued down the street and soon came to a large inn at the corner of an intersection. Lively cheers could be heard from inside.

This piqued Tong Ningyun’s interest. She immediately decided they should stay the night in that inn. Ling Xi and Qin Tang followed her in.

As soon as they entered, a waiter came to greet them. There seemed to be a performance going on, and many guests had already gathered to watch.

All the good seats in front were taken, and only a few seats at the back or sides were left. Even the stage couldn’t be seen clearly from there.

Ling Xi glanced around and picked the most secluded corner. After Qin Tang and Tong Ningyun finished checking in, all the remaining seats had been taken.

“So lively! Not a single seat left? Looks like the waiter didn’t lie to us.”

“What’s going on that’s so popular?”

Ling Xi tried to peek past the crowd in front of her, but the stage was still empty.

“The waiter said it’s a storyteller who came to town a few months ago. He’s so good that every time he performs, it’s a full house.”

Qin Tang lowered his voice and explained to Ling Xi.

Tong Ningyun rested her head on her hand and looked forward. “He’s a storyteller, but there’s no table, no wooden clapper, no folding fan, not even a handkerchief?”

“Maybe it just hasn’t started yet…”

Qin Tang hadn’t even finished speaking when a deep drumbeat suddenly rang out from the front. The rhythm was fast, like a build-up before the show.

Ling Xi took a bite of her candied hawthorn. The sugary coating was sweet and thick, while the sour hawthorn inside added a sharp contrast in her mouth.

“Dear guests, thank you for waiting. Last time, we told the story of how, on a dark and windy night many years ago, the sword elder from Yaoguang Sect came to Pingzhou Town…”

“Pfft…”

Tong Ningyun choked on her tea. Qin Tang quickly handed her a handkerchief, and both of them turned to look at Ling Xi, who was still staring out the window and eating her candied hawthorn.

Ling Xi slowly spit out the hawthorn seed and narrowed her eyes as she looked at the stage.

On stage wasn’t some old man with a long beard. It was a woman in a pale robe, standing with her hands behind her back. She lazily tucked her hair behind her ear with one hand.

Ling Xi’s brow twitched slightly, but her eyes carried a cold light.

Tong Ningyun cleared her throat. “Ahem… What kind of performance is this? Not only is the storyteller a woman, but even her clothes look like they’re copying the Elder’s robes on purpose?”