Haven't Been a Senior Sister for Many Years - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Gu Ze Lan

In the frigid twelfth lunar month, the sky hung low and heavy. Jagged mountain ranges split it in two—one half birthing a greater snowstorm in the heavens, the other swept by fierce winds driving icy grit across the vast Fu Xian Town, blanketing it beneath endless white.

Within the white-walled city, even the tall gates couldn’t block the storm. Shops lining the streets had their doors and windows tightly shut. A few hurried figures passed by, leaving footprints that were soon erased by the snow.

Turning a few corners, the wine tavern run by Lady Qing hung red lanterns. A gust of wind lifted the corner of the door curtain, revealing the warm, well-lit interior.

Near the entrance sat the counter.

In the bitter cold, Lady Qing wore only a thin robe as she worked the abacus behind the counter, fingers clicking away, her smooth forehead beaded with sweat. A charcoal brazier by her feet burned tirelessly.

Deeper inside, cultivators sat avoiding the storm. The tavern boy frequently changed the hot water in the warm wine pots, lest the patrons get sick from drinking cold wine.

“Hey, have you heard about what happened in Fengyang?”

“Pfft, who hasn’t? The whole Nine Provinces is buzzing about it—everyone’s saying something different.”

“I heard someone kidnapped the new Demon Lord—not to kill her, nor torture her. What do you think—could it be…”

“You mean, maybe our noble, pure-hearted Sword Immortal and the Demon Lord are—”

“Hey! You trying to get yourself killed, blabbing like that?”

“Sorry, sorry! I’ll drink as punishment!”

The cultivators, half-drunk, began babbling gossip they’d normally never dare speak. Gu Ze Lan curled up in a corner, sipping wine and munching sunflower seeds, ears perked up, eavesdropping with great delight. In this out-of-the-way town, information was scarce, and visitors even rarer. It was a rare treat to hear outsiders gossip about the Nine Provinces—she listened intently, going through plate after plate of seeds.

Just then, a pair of slender hands lifted the thick curtain at the tavern entrance. A blast of frigid wind slipped through every crevice, making Gu Ze Lan shiver. Her wine-fueled warmth instantly vanished.

The laughter and chatter paused for a few seconds before resuming.

Gu Ze Lan muttered and looked toward the door—only to see a woman with a graceful brow and delicate features, skin like jade, and naturally red lips. Her cloak was dusted with snow, and crimson blossoms embroidered at her sleeves resembled fallen plum petals on fresh snow.

The thick white winter robes didn’t make her look bulky. Instead, they emphasized the daintiness of her face and the grace of her figure.

“Shopkeeper, is there a seat available?” the woman in white asked, brushing snow from her shoulder. Her voice was clear and cool.

The abacus clicking stopped.

Lady Qing looked up. Upon seeing the jade pendant at the woman’s waist, she quickly looked back down and resumed her calculations.

“Apologies, dear guest. We’re full,” she said, despite the tavern clearly having space. Still, the shop boy went up to greet her.

The woman didn’t immediately leave. She glanced around and locked eyes with Gu Ze Lan, who’d been sneaking peeks at her.

She approached.

Gu Ze Lan panicked. Looking away seemed rude, but meeting her gaze was worse. She grabbed her wine cup, pretending to drink.

“Miss, may I sit here?” the woman asked politely.

“O-of course!” Gu Ze Lan stammered, hurriedly clearing seed shells from the table to make space.

“Thank you.” The woman gave a faint smile. It dazzled Gu Ze Lan, who found herself smiling foolishly in return.

“A pot of wine and a bowl of plain noodles, please.”

“Right away, miss,” the tavern boy replied, hurrying off.

Soon, he returned with a tray.

“Your wine and noodles, please enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

The clear wine steamed gently in its pot. The plain noodles, garnished with scallions, looked and smelled delicious.

Gu Ze Lan swallowed hard. Her stomach growled. Embarrassed to order the same thing now, she sipped her wine and nibbled on pickles to curb her hunger.

The woman hadn’t started eating. Instead, she reached into her sleeve and gently pulled out a vibrant green spirit fruit.

Gu Ze Lan blinked, puzzled.

A moment later, a wisp of green mist crept out from the woman’s sleeve.

Only then did Gu Ze Lan realize what she had glimpsed earlier wasn’t wine-induced hallucination. The flash of green had been a snake—a small, elegant green snake.

It slithered out, no thicker than a finger, its golden eyes giving it a mesmerizing look. Even someone like Gu Ze Lan, who wasn’t fond of reptiles, found it adorable.

The woman noticed her stare.

“Sorry—if the snake makes you uncomfortable…”

“No, no! It’s beautiful. I couldn’t help but look,” Gu Ze Lan quickly replied.

“By the way, may I ask your name? I’m Gu Ze Lan.”

“You may call me Miss Chu,” the woman said, withholding her full name.

“Miss Chu, are you here for sightseeing? If so, it’s a pity—the snow this year is especially heavy. Most shops are closed, and the views are all buried,” Gu Ze Lan babbled on, completely at ease thanks to the woman’s beauty.

“Just passing through. I stopped due to the storm—once it clears, I’ll be on my way,” Chu replied, holding the spirit fruit up to the little snake.

The snake sniffed it, took a tiny bite, then shoved it away with its tail, clearly displeased.

Unbothered, Chu took out another fruit. Then another. Then another.

Eventually, she pulled out a jade bowl made of ancient ice. Inside were glowing fruits—Xuanbing Liuli Fruits, highly coveted by cultivators.

They gleamed like crystal grapes, so delicate they required storage in thousand-year ice to retain potency.

Gu Ze Lan was stunned. This woman was either outrageously wealthy or doted on her pet to an absurd degree.

Before Chu could offer the fruit, a group of drunken cultivators stopped drinking and eyed the jade bowl greedily.

Three burly men surrounded them. The leader, a bearded brute, reeked of alcohol and belched loudly.

Gu Ze Lan wrinkled her nose, resisting the urge to vomit.

“Hey, miss. Don’t think I’ve seen you around Fu Xian Town before,” the brute said, reaching for her shoulder.

A pair of chopsticks blocked his hand.

“You—!” he roared, humiliated.

His two companions flanked him threateningly.

Gu Ze Lan’s face tensed. These were local thugs: Hu Laosan, Jin Yinshan, and Wu Yuan—all mid-Stage Golden Core cultivators, infamous for robbing visiting cultivators.

She discreetly reached for her sword. If they escalated things, she’d fight, even if she was sick.

“Stupid woman! You got a death wish?!” Hu Laosan raged, his veins bulging—yet the chopsticks didn’t budge.

The green snake raised its tiny head, golden eyes radiating a chilling bloodlust.

Despite its size, Hu Laosan felt a murderous aura radiating from it. Sweat beaded on his back despite the blazing hearth.

Furious, he raised his massive fist.

“Damn beast, I’ll kill—”

“Noisy,” Chu said flatly.

With a flick of her chopsticks, she struck his wrist, making him scream and recoil.

Gu Ze Lan awkwardly half-drew her sword… and sheathed it again. Apparently, her help wasn’t needed.

Wu Yuan drew a curved blade, sharp and deadly. The tavern boy fled toward the counter.

“Madam Qing! There’s a fight!”

Lady Qing sighed and came running. When she saw Chu, she winced.

“Please, let my tavern survive this,” she muttered.

“Let’s settle this peacefully, gentlemen. No need for violence,” she said, stepping between them to shield Chu. “Hu Laosan, you promised me there’d be no trouble tonight. Don’t tell me your word means nothing?”

Hu Laosan sneered.

“Once I get those Liuli fruits, not only your little tavern, even you—”

He licked his lips and leered.

Lady Qing’s expression turned icy. This fool was asking for death.

Before she could act, Chu moved.

Hu Laosan’s hand, reaching toward Lady Qing, was severed cleanly. Bl00d gushed.

Before he could scream, a thin red line appeared across all three men’s throats. Their heads slumped.

No one saw Chu’s movements—just a flash of cold light, then bl00d sprayed as the bodies fell.

Chaos erupted.

Young cultivators screamed and fled in panic.

“Apologies,” Chu said calmly, letting the snake coil onto her hand. “I couldn’t help it.”

Lady Qing clutched her head.

“You may feel better after that, but my poor tavern almost got wrecked,” she grumbled. “Liu Rendong! Get out here and clean up!”

No response.

“Still want your pay this month or not?!”

A trembling tavern boy emerged from under a table.

“I… I really can’t, boss lady…”

Three corpses, eyes wide open—far too horrifying.

“Useless!” Lady Qing snapped.

While they argued, Chu quietly dealt with the corpses.

“All cleaned up. Here’s compensation,” she said, tossing over a storage pouch.

Lady Qing peeked inside—gleaming treasures. She smiled brightly.

“Ah, so generous! You must be from a prestigious sect. Have you found lodging? If not, I have a room—”

“Thanks, but I have matters to attend to.” Chu turned to leave, then paused.

“Gu Ze Lan.”

“Huh?”

“Take this pill.” She handed over a jade bottle. “You have good talent and a solid foundation, but your desperation has damaged your meridians. Your golden core is shattered—your cultivation regresses instead of progressing.”

“The Nine Provinces is vast. No need to wait here to die.”

Chu handed her the bottle and left.

Gu Ze Lan stared, stunned, the warm bottle in her hand.

Lady Qing gave her a nudge.

“What are you spacing out for? Go thank her!”

“Oh—right, right! Miss Chu, wait!”

She ran outside, but the snow-covered street was empty. Chu had vanished.

Tears welled in Gu Ze Lan’s eyes, slipping silently down her cheeks.