Haven't Been a Senior Sister for Many Years - Chapter 17

Chapter 17:  The End

“The disciple suspects that Liu Sanqi is Elder Chu Zhiqin in disguise, and Liu Fuling is the demon lord Leng Junzhu whose cultivation has been sealed.”

When she heard the names Liu Sanqi and Liu Fuling, Liu Rushuang let out a cold laugh. It seemed she hadn’t given Chu Zhiqin trouble in too long, and the woman had grown bold enough to use her surname just to provoke her.

“This topic ends here. Don’t speak of it to anyone once we’re out.”

Chu Yu turned her head in shock toward Liu Rushuang. She hadn’t expected that, for once, Liu Rushuang didn’t seize the opportunity to condemn Chu Zhiqin. What’s more, she even told Ding Ying and the others not to tell anyone about today’s events. Had she changed?

Though Ding Ying didn’t understand why Elder Liu told them to remain silent, she nodded. “Understood.”

“Mm.” Liu Rushuang’s expression remained unreadable. “Where are Lin Hongxue and Ye Ling’er?”

When Ye Ling’er was mentioned, a warm fondness appeared on Shangguan Yan’s face. A smile blossomed across her features. “Ling’er fought a spirit beast today and, by sheer luck, broke through. She’s resting in the cave now, and Sister Hongxue is with her.”

Liu Rushuang allowed a rare, faint smile to rise on her lips, surprising her junior. “Not bad. Keep up the good work for the next two days. It’s late—we won’t disturb you any longer.”

Ding Ying and Shangguan Yan were surprised that Elder Liu was not as terrifying as the rumors claimed, but they kept their expressions respectful. “As you command, Elder.”

Liu Rushuang turned to Chu Yu. “Let’s go.”

Chu Yu: “Mm.”

The two summoned their spirit swords and flew off into the night. Moonlight bathed them, outlining their figures in a soft glow.

Chu Yu teased with a smile, “I never imagined you’d be so gentle with the Yaoguang Hall disciples. Normally, if someone was caught sleeping during training, you’d give them a scolding. But today, with one of them sleeping and the other pretending to sleep, you said nothing.”

Had her senior sister really changed after being reprimanded once?

Liu Rushuang told her to shut up. “It’s your fault.”

Chu Yu blinked. “Mine? How?”

Liu Rushuang fell silent. After a while, she said, “The chaos in the secret realm was caused by me. If I’d punished them for something that affected their training—when it was my fault to begin with—it would’ve been too harsh… Why are you smiling!?”

Somehow, Chu Yu was watching her with an expression that made Liu Rushuang recall bittersweet memories—of times when her senior sister was still alive.

Chu Yu smiled gently. “I’m just happy.”

She was happy to see her senior sister slowly returning to her old self.

Ever since Elder Leng’s death, Liu Rushuang had changed—her temper volatile, her demeanor unreadable. Many newer disciples had come to fear her. That hurt Chu Yu deeply.

After all, few knew that Liu Rushuang had once been a stubborn girl with a strong sense of justice—reckless, awkward, but sincere.

It wasn’t too late. Her senior sister could still find her way back.

Chu Yu smiled playfully. “I’m really glad it was us who led this secret realm trial.”

“…So am I.” Liu Rushuang turned away awkwardly, her voice light and scattered by the wind, but Chu Yu still caught her meaning and smiled even more brightly.

Back at the campfire, Ding Ying and Shangguan Yan sat down again, the fire not yet driving away the chill. Lin Hongxue poked her head out of the cave and gave an awkward smile. “Seniors, the elders are gone?”

Shangguan Yan rolled her eyes. “You’ve got some nerve. You didn’t even come out when you woke up. Just lay there pretending to sleep. Did you think the elders wouldn’t know?”

Lin Hongxue came out and sat at the fire, embarrassed. “Well, I was stuck either way. But Elder Liu wasn’t as scary as the rumors say.”

She didn’t dare say that Elder Liu even seemed… a little kind.

“You shouldn’t believe so much gossip and should focus more on your cultivation. Some people even say Elder Liu and Elder Chu are a couple. Do you believe that?”

“Huh? You heard that too? Wait… which Elder Chu?”

“Of course Elder Chu Yu. Who else?”

“But I heard it was Elder Chu Zhiqin!”

“…?”

“Sister Fang said Elder Liu had unrequited love for Elder Chu Zhiqin and turned that love into hatred…” As Shangguan Yan stared at her in disbelief, eyes wide, Lin Hongxue’s voice grew smaller and smaller, fading to a whisper.

“But I clearly heard Sister Lin and Sister Su say that Elder Liu and Elder Chu Yu were childhood sweethearts!”

“That’s enough! You both need to stop listening to gossip and reading silly romance novels!” Ding Ying couldn’t take it anymore. Were these two girls even listening to themselves? Spreading rumors about elders like that?

Chastised, the two girls immediately bowed their heads in shame. “Yes, ma’am…”

Ding Ying waved it off. “Hongxue, go sleep. Yan and I will keep watch.”

Having just been scolded, Lin Hongxue didn’t dare dawdle. She quickly retreated into the cave and curled up next to Ye Ling’er.

The next morning, they had a quick breakfast, extinguished the fire, and erased all traces of their camp.

“Let’s move. We’ve only got two days left—we need to make the most of it.”

“Right!”

Under Ding Ying’s lead, the group ventured deeper into the desert. As they went, the spirit beasts grew fiercer—and so did the quality of the spiritual herbs and rare treasures they found.

The temperature rose steadily. Ding Ying suspected a volcano was nearby. Sure enough, before long, a massive volcanic mountain range appeared before them.

Volcanoes of all sizes surrounded a towering central one, which reached into the clouds. Scorching lava occasionally erupted from its mouth, and thick smoke rolled with streaks of volcanic ash.

Before it, the group seemed no larger than ants.

Ye Ling’er stared in awe. “How did we miss something so huge on the way here?”

Shangguan Yan caught some ash and studied it. “The ash in the air reflects sunlight and creates the illusion that there’s nothing here.”

Ye Ling’er nodded thoughtfully.

Before entering, Ding Ying warned, “No one is to act alone or go near the central volcano. The beasts there are beyond our capabilities. Stay low-profile.”

Everyone agreed.

Unfortunately, staying low-profile proved impossible.

As soon as they entered, all the volcanoes erupted at once. The sky turned black with ash and smoke, choking their vision and stealing their breath.

Ding Ying immediately pulled out antidote pills and distributed them. “Hold your breath. Don’t inhale the ash. Look for eruption patterns so we’re not caught off guard.”

They moved cautiously through the smoke, swatting away waves of fire scorpions lurking in the shadows. It was endless.

Worse, the thick smoke blocked spiritual energy, making it impossible to replenish their strength naturally. They had to rely on pills to restore their energy.

“These damn scorpions!” Ye Ling’er grumbled as she swung her sword.

Eventually, the scorpions lessened, and the girls were able to breathe easier as the ash began to settle.

Finally escaping the scorpion-infested zone, Ding Ying caught sight of a volcanic crater.

“It’s Extreme Fire Crystals!” Ye Ling’er cried, spotting the rare material near the crater—but so did a massive fire ape, five or six meters tall.

“I’ll go with Yan to distract the ape. You two grab the crystals and run. Don’t look back—this place is too dangerous for a drawn-out fight.”

“Got it! We’ll get the goods!”

What followed was chaotic but effective.

Ding Ying and Shangguan Yan lured the ape away with perfect teamwork. Meanwhile, Lin Hongxue and Ye Ling’er raided the crater. Not only did they grab the fire crystal, but they also picked several rare fire plants—claiming enough treasure to fill three reward slots.

“ROAR—” Realizing it had been tricked, the fire ape let out an earsplitting screech. The shockwave left Ding Ying and Shangguan Yan clutching their ears in pain.

“Run!” Ding Ying shouted.

Not that they needed telling—Lin Hongxue and Ye Ling’er had already fled the scene with their loot.

The chase through the volcanoes was wild and frantic. When they finally escaped, the girls were covered in ash and looked like soot-covered kittens.

They laughed, high-fived, and celebrated.

“Clean up and head north.”

“Right!”

They found water to wash off the ash, then hurried north without resting.

Time flew by. Three days passed in a blink, and the sisters, loaded with treasures, reached the rendezvous point.

Liu Rushuang and Chu Yu picked them up with a flying ship and smoothly left the secret realm.

Onboard, Chu Yu smiled and praised their performance before sending them off to rest.

“Thankfully, everything went well. What will you do now?” Chu Yu asked Liu Rushuang, concern in her voice.

Liu Rushuang gazed at the sea of clouds and said calmly, “At most, I’ll be punished. No need to worry.”

Chu Yu sighed. “You could’ve avoided this. Why go through it? Oh well—let’s hope Elder Sinan shows mercy.”

Liu Rushuang scoffed. “Asking Sinan to go easy is like asking her to die. Everyone knows she treats the sect’s rules like sacred law. No one gets special treatment.”

Chu Yu: “You’re right… Wishful thinking.”

Liu Rushuang offered a rare reassurance. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. No use worrying.”

As they spoke, Shangguan Yan and Lin Hongxue secretly watched them.

“I think what Sister Lin and Sister Su said might be true…” Shangguan Yan whispered.

Lin Hongxue replied, “I don’t see a difference.”

“But…”

Ding Ying snapped, “Watch your words!”

They immediately shut up and resumed meditating.

As the ship neared the sect, Ye Ling’er noticed a large crowd of cultivators still gathered outside, protesting against Chu Zhiqin and Leng Junzhu. The numbers had only grown.

Right then, Liu Rushuang—who had been meditating—suddenly opened her eyes and stood.

Chu Yu blinked. “Senior sister?”

Liu Rushuang gave her an apologetic smile. “Forgive me, little sister.”

Before Chu Yu could react, Liu Rushuang summoned her sword and flew off. “There’s something I must do. If I return now, Elder Sinan will confine me, and I don’t have time for that. Please inform the Sect Master that I’ll return in a month and willingly accept any punishment then.”

“Senior sister—” Chu Yu could only stare in shock as Liu Rushuang disappeared into the sky.

The ship passed through the sect’s barrier.

Lin Hongxue tugged Shangguan Yan’s sleeve. “Looks like your theory was wrong.”

“…Shut up.”

“Oh…”

Back in the sect, Chu Yu accepted punishment in Liu Rushuang’s stead, while Liu Rushuang journeyed across the land in search of Chu Zhiqin and Leng Junzhu.

Thus, the adventure at Dingmi City came to a close.