Haven't Been a Senior Sister for Many Years - Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Hidden Mist Valley
The next morning, the snowstorm that had plagued Fuxian Town for several months vanished overnight. The sky, which had been overcast for so long, became crystal clear. The warm, gentle sunlight bathed everything it touched.
The long-silent town returned to its usual liveliness. Children, cooped up for months, ignored their parents’ repeated warnings to dress warmly and rushed outside to play in the snow with their neighbors.
Soon, the pristine snow was trampled into slush, and snowmen of all shapes and sizes filled every courtyard—none of the roadside areas were spared either.
Outside, the sky was bright. Inside the room, the incense burner on the low couch had almost burned out after running all night. Clothes discarded from the previous night lay scattered on the floor, and the room still bore lingering traces of intimacy.
Chu Zhiqin had enjoyed a rare peaceful sleep. Even the playful shouts of children outside couldn’t disturb her good mood.
Wrapped in her blankets, she lay close to another warm body.
The cold-averse green snake nestled against Chu Zhiqin, her hands resting gently on Chu Zhiqin’s chest. Her icy tail had transformed into legs, entangling with Chu Zhiqin’s in a tender embrace.
This embrace was too filled with warmth and affection. Chu Zhiqin didn’t want to leave it. She wished she could stay like this forever.
But she couldn’t.
The nearly extinguished incense burner suddenly reignited. Chu Zhiqin slowly loosened her arms from behind Leng Junzhu’s back, carefully lifting the covers. When the cold air hit her bare skin, she realized she was still completely naked.
A new set of clothes appeared in her hands.
Blushing, Chu Zhiqin quickly dressed and then retrieved another set from her storage ring, placing them on the bedside for Leng Junzhu to wear when she awoke.
She stepped barefoot onto the floor. The scattered clothes served as vivid reminders of everything that had happened the night before. Her pale face flushed again. Despite all the intimacy they’d shared, she still couldn’t face the change in their relationship without embarrassment.
The cold, soft fabric beneath her fingers seemed to sear her with leftover sensations from the night before. Her hands trembled slightly, almost robbing her of the strength to gather the clothes.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, clearing her mind until the trembling stopped. Then she placed the garments into her storage ring.
After a quick wash, she sat by the bed and gently called out to Leng Junzhu.
The cold-blooded snake had curled up tightly in the warm bed after Chu Zhiqin left, revealing only a round, adorable crown of hair peeking from the blanket.
“Wake up.”
“Mm…”
A soft moan came from beneath the covers, and the head disappeared entirely into the blanket.
Chu Zhiqin sighed and tried coaxing her. “You haven’t eaten anything since yesterday. Didn’t you want some Liuli fruits? I’ve already picked some and placed them in a bowl. Come on, get up.”
At the mention of Liuli fruits, Leng Junzhu reluctantly poked her head out. Her seductive eyes were still heavy with sleep.
“What time is it?”
“Just past the hour of Chen.” (approx. 7–9 a.m.)
“Where are my clothes?”
“Right by the bed.”
“Oh.”
A delicate hand reached from under the quilt toward the clothes. Before Leng Junzhu could throw off the covers, Chu Zhiqin turned her back.
Leng Junzhu chuckled softly and watched, satisfied, as Chu Zhiqin’s pale ears turned crimson.
“Why is it so noisy outside?” With long black hair draped casually down her back, Leng Junzhu yawned and, unwilling to get out of bed, raised her arms toward Chu Zhiqin.
Chu Zhiqin, resigned, walked over and scooped her up. “The snow stopped.”
Leng Junzhu immediately understood the implication.
The snow had stopped. People were back outside, which meant it was time for them to continue their journey.
She simply hummed in acknowledgment and began washing up.
But brushing her hair presented a challenge.
Back at Sword Pavilion, they had disagreed over hairstyling.
As a demon queen from the demon realm, Leng Junzhu was used to being attended to—her hairstyle and attire never repeated. Even after being captured and confined in Chu Zhiqin’s room, she still had servants.
But for some reason, Chu Zhiqin didn’t want anyone else touching Leng Junzhu’s hair.
Even as a prisoner, Leng Junzhu couldn’t tolerate being unkempt. Left with no choice, she allowed Chu Zhiqin—whose braiding skills were abysmal—to do it.
With a peachwood comb, Chu Zhiqin clumsily combed through her hair. Her fingers, so dexterous in casting spells, were now stiff and awkward. Despite being a simple task, she treated it like a battlefield.
Leng Junzhu ate the Liuli fruits while watching her through the mirror.
The lofty sword immortal now combed the hair of a demon queen, her hands—once used to wield a sword—handling a comb instead. Her icy features were softened by affection; her gaze held no one else.
A strange sense of contentment welled in Leng Junzhu.
By the time she finished the last fruit, Chu Zhiqin had completed a slightly messy snake bun.
Leng Junzhu adjusted the jade hairpin and, unusually, didn’t tease Chu Zhiqin about her handiwork.
“Are we leaving today?”
Chu Zhiqin gently lifted Leng Junzhu’s chin to draw her eyebrows. “Yes. If we leave now, we’ll arrive before nightfall.”
Her hand, used to gripping a sword, was steady. The curved brows were quickly and expertly drawn.
“You still won’t tell me where we’re going?” Leng Junzhu puckered her lips, hinting for Chu Zhiqin to apply rouge.
After leaving Sword Pavilion, Leng Junzhu had tried many times to coax the destination out of her. But Chu Zhiqin had kept her lips sealed.
She had nearly given up asking—until now.
Surprisingly, this time, Chu Zhiqin answered.
“Hidden Mist Valley.”
Leng Junzhu was so startled that she nearly smeared rouge across her cheek.
Chu Zhiqin frowned and held her chin to keep her still.
“What for?”
Hidden Mist Valley—the number one medicine valley in the Nine Provinces.
It was said to hold treasures beyond imagination, sought by every cultivator.
Only a handful had ever found and survived it, becoming legends of their time. Most could never even locate its entrance.
Leng Junzhu was stunned that Chu Zhiqin knew where it was.
“To retrieve something,” Chu Zhiqin replied. After finishing the rouge, she painted a flower mark on Leng Junzhu’s forehead. Her breath lightly brushed Chu Zhiqin’s chin—just like last night.
Chu Zhiqin pressed her lips together, forcing her thoughts away.
“Alright,” Leng Junzhu didn’t push further.
Once the makeup was complete, Leng Junzhu’s beauty became breathtaking. Her golden snake eyes were cold yet mesmerizing.
Looking in the mirror, she admired herself. “At least my time as your test subject wasn’t wasted.”
Chu Zhiqin lowered her head and smiled bashfully.
Feeling mischievous, Leng Junzhu yanked her close. “Warm my hands, will you?”
Blushing, Chu Zhiqin leaned into her without a hint of protest.
By the time they went downstairs, it was already midday.
Their stunning appearances immediately caught the attention of the cultivators dining and chatting.
One had the charm of blooming peach blossoms; the other, eyes like silk and a satisfied smile. Truly a sight for sore eyes.
Some cultivators, overwhelmed with desire, ogled them with lustful glances.
Leng Junzhu frowned. She hated when her things were stared at obscenely.
Suddenly, the leering men felt a chill. The woman at the back turned her head, her beautiful face morphing into a pale-blue snake’s face. Her golden eyes stared icily, forked tongue flicking—a silent, deadly warning.
“D-Demon!” Panic erupted in the inn.
Leng Junzhu grabbed Chu Zhiqin’s wrist and enjoyed the chaos before finally leaving.
Though Leng Junzhu’s actions might expose them, Chu Zhiqin only smiled and shook her head.
“Come, don’t waste time on such fools.”
“Hmph.”
Outside, the bright sunlight forced Leng Junzhu to squint. Children played, merchants shouted, and young women laughed as they strolled toward the eastern plum grove.
Such peace. Such serenity. It made her want to destroy it all.
Yet the plain bracelet on her wrist reminded her she couldn’t even cast a basic trick spell now.
Chu Zhiqin looked back. “What’s wrong?”
Leng Junzhu shook her head and followed.
They walked side by side down the street. The snow was mostly cleared, though the occasional child still sprinted by. One even bumped into Leng Junzhu and fell on his butt.
He looked up to apologize—then saw her golden snake eyes and screamed, fleeing.
Leng Junzhu laughed heartily, her mood lightened.
Chu Zhiqin pushed her along. “Picking fights with children, really?”
“Mind your own business,” Leng Junzhu pouted.
Chu Zhiqin sighed. “Let’s go.”
Outside the city gates, snow blanketed the land, untouched.
Leng Junzhu happily stepped into the snow.
Ever since winter began, she had rarely taken human form, preferring to sleep coiled around Chu Zhiqin’s wrist. But now that they were heading to Hidden Mist Valley, she insisted on seeing it with her own eyes.
But first, there was a problem to handle.
“Hey, how long are you going to let those bugs trail us?”
“…”
Leng Junzhu had noticed the tailing group as soon as they left the inn. That she tolerated it this long was surprising.
Chu Zhiqin chuckled. She had expected Leng Junzhu to lose patience much sooner.
Now that she’d spoken up, it was time to act.
After adjusting Leng Junzhu’s cloak, she handed over her life-bound spirit sword. “Hold this. I’ll be back soon.”
Her white figure vanished. Leng Junzhu now held the infamous sword of the Nine Provinces—Wuyou.
It felt lighter than most swords. Its scabbard and hilt were plain, adorned only with a faded red tassel.
She studied it. Though the tassel was worn, it had been meticulously preserved. No threads were frayed.
She drew the sword—surprised she could.
The blade was sleek and deadly. The characters “Wuyou” flowed like dragons. Leng Junzhu had no doubt it could cleave through anything.
As she admired it, Chu Zhiqin returned—fresh-faced, hair neat, no trace of battle.
Leng Junzhu asked, “Who were they with?”
Chu Zhiqin shook her head. “No one.”
Just a bunch of lustful fools who thought they could overpower her and indulge their filthy fantasies.
Recalling their crude words made her want to kill them all over again—death had come too easily.
Leng Junzhu sensed her anger. “Let’s go.”
When Chu Zhiqin didn’t elaborate, Leng Junzhu didn’t ask further. She handed back the sword. “You trust me with your life weapon?”
Chu Zhiqin looked at her and thought: If it’s you, it’s fine.
But she said nothing, only took it back in silence.
The only sound left was the crunch of snow underfoot.
As the sun dipped low, pink and gold hues blanketed the snowy landscape. A crescent moon and a few stars twinkled above.
Bored, Leng Junzhu finally spoke. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll learn Hidden Mist Valley’s location and bring others to loot it?”
Chu Zhiqin smiled. “Without me, none of you can enter.”
Leng Junzhu didn’t understand her confidence.
At that moment, Chu Zhiqin stopped in front of a small pond.
“We’re here.”
“Hm?”
“Hidden Mist Valley.”
The pond was shallow and unimpressive—just a few dead branches and scattered stones.
This? Hidden Mist Valley? Leng Junzhu was skeptical.
Then, right before her eyes, Chu Zhiqin cut her finger. A drop of bl00d fell into the water. She channeled a spell, and the scenery around them began to distort.
Startled, Leng Junzhu instinctively grabbed Chu Zhiqin’s hand.
As they were teleported into the valley, her last thought wasn’t about the legendary Hidden Mist Valley.
It was: No wonder Chu Zhiqin said no one could enter without her—it takes a bl00d ritual… like a bl00d tie.