Haven't Been a Senior Sister for Many Years - Chapter 26
Chapter 26: The Aftermath of the Clash
“Who are you?” Su Yan’s voice was cold and hard, like a stone frozen for millennia. She tried to pull her hand back, but the one gripping her wrist didn’t budge.
“Step aside. This is between Chu Zhiqin and me. It has nothing to do with you.”
Su Yan was inexplicably filled with hostility toward the woman who had suddenly appeared—someone who looked exactly like the deceased Leng Junzhu. But unlike Leng Junzhu’s calm aura, this woman’s presence was like the scent of bl00d-soaked mud festering in a swamp for a thousand years, yet somehow also fragrant—like a lotus blooming from that very filth.
Contradictory, yet strangely cohesive.
She didn’t understand how this woman could look so identical to the dead Leng Junzhu—oh, except for those ominous golden serpent eyes. Su Yan turned to Chu Zhiqin, hoping for an explanation.
But Chu Zhiqin only stared blankly at the woman, not even sparing Su Yan a glance.
Damn you, Chu Zhiqin! Just as fury surged in Su Yan’s chest, the woman who had stopped her attack suddenly spoke.
Lazily, she tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. Her crimson lips curled into a sharp smile as she said,
“So noisy. Did Lin Su teach you to talk like that?”
Lin Su.
Su Yan’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know how this woman knew her master’s name, but that didn’t stop her from retorting:
“My master taught me that when I see a demon cultivator, I should kill them. Nothing else matters.”
“What a pity,” the woman sighed softly. “Seems Lin Su only taught you how to die.”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Su Yan lifted an eyebrow, her smile arrogant and confident. “You think I can’t tell you’re bluffing?”
She’d seen the chains on the woman’s wrists—she knew what they were. Su Yan inwardly cursed Chu Zhiqin’s perversion. Who would’ve thought someone with such a noble facade could act like a beast? No, even beasts would be ashamed.
Su Yan didn’t plan to waste more time. She unleashed a surge of spiritual power, shaking off the woman’s grip, and commanded her fellow disciples to surround and attack Chu Zhiqin and the woman.
But before her orders could be carried out, Chu Zhiqin blocked the attack. And strangely, the two tall disciples who had been guarding their escape path were already lying unconscious on the ground, their weapons stuck upright in the dirt. Su Yan hadn’t even noticed.
“Qin Hu! Chen Lin! What the hell happened to you two?” Su Yan frowned. Though the two were thick-skinned and hard to injure, they were still her responsibility.
“Just a little medicine,” said Leng Junzhu, poking her head out from behind Chu Zhiqin and shaking a small vial in her hand like a cunning fox. “It’ll just make them sleep for a bit.”
Chu Zhiqin had stashed a bunch of spiritual tools and pills in Leng Junzhu’s storage ring. This particular one was a colorless, odorless knockout drug that worked silently on cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage.
“So, looks like it’s one versus two now,” Su Yan said.
“One-on-one,” Leng Junzhu corrected with a smile. “A delicate lady like me wouldn’t dare interfere.”
Su Yan scoffed. She saw no trace of “delicate” on this woman. But that didn’t matter. Her true target was Chu Zhiqin. As for the sealed demon lord—who happened to look exactly like Leng Junzhu—she didn’t care.
Naturally, Su Yan got her wish and fought Chu Zhiqin. Unfortunately, before she could truly enjoy it, Chu Zhiqin seized an opportunity, picked up Leng Junzhu, and fled.
Chu Zhiqin smiled as she left:
“Goodbye, Su Yan. It was nice seeing you again.”
Su Yan didn’t give chase. She kicked the two unconscious disciples on the ground.
“Get up! You sleep like pigs. When we get back, double the training!”
The two, now awake, went from confused to panicked.
“Senior Sister (Junior Sister), why!?”
Su Yan growled, “Because you were taken out so easily! You’ve disgraced our Blade Sect!”
Qin Hu blushed and scratched his cheek awkwardly. “Sorry, it’s our fault for letting our guard down.”
Su Yan didn’t reply. She gazed toward Anning Town, brows furrowed.
“Let’s go. After that fight, others are probably on their way. Dealing with them would be a pain.”
“Alright.”
Su Yan led her men in the opposite direction from Chu Zhiqin. In the end, she had still helped her—just a little.
After they left, scavengers lurking in Anning Town came sniffing for the fight’s aftermath. But there was nothing left—only the mocking spring wind blowing through the empty scene.
…
“Where are we going?” Leng Junzhu nestled in Chu Zhiqin’s arms, idly twirling a strand of her hair.
“To Ningxiang Town. To find Lin Mianmian.”
Leng Junzhu pouted. She didn’t understand what was so special about that girl that Chu Zhiqin would go through such trouble for her.
“You sure seem to care about her a lot.”
Chu Zhiqin tightened her arms around Leng Junzhu’s waist, a sweet smile blooming at her lips.
“You know very well, the one I care about most… is you.”
A thousand thoughts swirled in Leng Junzhu’s mind. She gave a light hum but didn’t reply.
Chu Zhiqin simply smiled and focused on the road.
By the time she found Lin Mianmian, the girl and her grandfather hadn’t yet reached Ningxiang. The little girl had her head down, wringing her sleeves, eyes red from crying.
Neither of them spoke. They silently drove the mule cart forward.
“Not long gone, and you’ve turned into a little tabby cat?” came a teasing voice. Chu Zhiqin suddenly appeared on the cart, smiling brightly.
“Sister Sanqi!” Lin Mianmian shrieked and threw herself into her arms, making the cart sway. Her grandfather quickly steadied the mule and scolded,
“You little brat! Careful, or you’ll fall!”
“I won’t!” Lin Mianmian stuck out her tongue.
Chu Zhiqin patted her head. “Sorry to make you worry. I wish I could talk longer, but something urgent came up—I have to leave again.”
Lin Mianmian looked up at her. “Is it because—”
Chu Zhiqin gently shook her head, stopping her. “It’s all in the past.”
“Mianmian, remember what I told you. If anyone asks whether you’ve seen me, just say you haven’t.”
Lin Mianmian nodded. “Okay, I promise.”
“I’m sorry for dragging you and your grandfather into this. Please take good care of each other.”
Choked up, Lin Mianmian said, “It’s not your fault. I’ll take care of Grandpa.”
Old man Lin huffed, “I’m not so old I need a child to care for me. And you—if you’re leaving, stop dawdling!”
“Grandpa!” Lin Mianmian turned, pouting. “I’m not a kid! I can protect you! And that was rude!”
“Come back when you stop crying over everything,” he muttered, though his eyes were full of affection.
Lin Mianmian crossed her arms, cheeks puffed in defiance.
Chu Zhiqin watched them fondly. “I’m off. Take care.”
“You too, Sister Sanqi,” Lin Mianmian said tearfully, her eyes glistening.
Chu Zhiqin wiped away her tears, gave Lin Chunsheng a respectful nod, and then, with a light step, disappeared like the wind, leaving behind only a faint fragrance.
From her sleeve, a small green snake hissed in protest, clearly annoyed by how Chu Zhiqin seemed to leave bits of herself everywhere she went.