Chapter 11: The Beloved Who Returned from Death to Shield Me (Part Ten)

“All right, take your time to think. If you need anything, call me.”
Tu Shanxi patted Xiyun’s shoulder, left her with a word, and walked away.

In the study next door, Tu Shanxi was rummaging through shelves for books on cultivation.

“Why isn’t there anything?”
[Host, what are you looking for?]
“I’m searching for manuals suitable for Heaven-level cultivation,” she replied, straightening up. “Why isn’t there any?”

She’d spent most of the day searching, only to find manuals for the Divine level, and most were about pills and formations.

“If worst comes to worst, even some basic manuals would do.”
Seeing her so troubled, the system kindly reminded her, [Host, the original owner had reached such a high realm and never took disciples. How could there still be basic manuals here?]

That struck Tu Shanxi like an awakening. “Right, I completely forgot about that. But if there’s none here, Qingyuan must have some. I’ll go get them from him.”

She lifted her foot, ready to leave, and the system exclaimed, [Huh? You’re just going to take them? What if he doesn’t give them to you?]

“Why wouldn’t he? His cultivation is far above mine, he won’t need those manuals, and besides, he still has two disciples.”

The more she spoke, the more reasonable it sounded. “If it comes to it, those two disciples must have manuals.”

Inside Qingyuan’s cave, Qingyuan was delighted to hear that Tu Shanxi had come to see him, but as soon as he learned the reason, his face instantly fell.

“Senior Sister, you finally came to see me and it’s for Xiyun?”

“Why, is it not allowed?” Tu Shanxi countered.

“Senior Sister!”
Qingyuan grew anxious. “Senior Sister, you’ve only just awakened, and including this time, you’ve only visited me twice—both times for Xiyun.

Senior Sister, you care so much for Xiyun—last time you argued with me for her, now you’re here asking for manuals for her.”

His agitation grew, and he stepped closer to Tu Shanxi, eyes reddened as he asked, “Senior Sister, why can’t you care for me? I’m your junior brother too! You used to care most about me,

but why, why since you woke up, you only asked about Master and the other brothers, never about how I’ve been, whether I’ve suffered, whether I’ve faced danger.”

In the end, Qingyuan’s voice dwindled, his spirit shattered. “Why, Senior Sister, why don’t you care about me anymore?”

Listening to his near breakdown, Tu Shanxi sneered inwardly, Foolish child, because I am not your Senior Sister.

But outwardly she wore a gentle smile, replying softly, “How could I not? You are my only junior brother in this world.”

---

“And Xiyun?”

“She’s my younger sister.”

Qingyuan closed his eyes, as if resigned, and looked at her. “Senior Sister, in your heart, is your junior brother more important, or is Xiyun, your younger sister?”

Tu Shanxi’s lips parted, about to say that Xiyun was, of course, more important, but then she saw the fragility in Qingyuan’s eyes.

Forget it, she decided not to wound him.

“In my heart, you and Xiyun are equally important.”

She thought this would suffice, but he gave a cold laugh. “Equally important. Senior Sister, you and I have known each other for tens of thousands of years, and you’ve only known her for a few days, yet in your heart she means as much to you as I do.

Senior Sister, is it that I mean too little to you, or that Xiyun means too much?”

“Qingyuan—”

“Senior Sister, you needn’t say more. I’d like to be alone.”

Dismissed, Tu Shanxi had no choice but to leave. As she reached the door, she turned to the lonely figure and said, “Qingyuan, to both you and me, Xiyun is just a child. And we both owe her; it’s only natural I look after her.

Qingyuan, this is our debt to her. I’m redeeming it on our behalf.”

With that, she left, leaving Qingyuan standing alone.

The room fell quiet again, and Qingyuan stood in the distance, anger rising in his heart.

Redemption, redemption—Xiyun, Xiyun!

Now Senior Sister’s mind is full of Xiyun; there’s not a shred of him left.

If only, if only he hadn’t let Xiyun appear before Senior Sister, if only he’d let her die back then—then today wouldn’t have brought such a risk.

No, he had to find a way to drive Xiyun away; she absolutely couldn’t stay by Senior Sister’s side any longer.

...

After Qingyuan refused Tu Shanxi’s request, she didn’t seek him out again. Instead, she contacted several old acquaintances and obtained various foundational manuals.

During this period, under Tu Shanxi’s attentive care, Xiyun’s condition improved a great deal, though she still hadn’t made any decisions.

“If you can’t decide, why not return to Fierce Fang Mountain for now?”

“Return to Fierce Fang Mountain?”

“Yes, go back and see. You haven’t been there for a long time, have you?”

---

Tu Shanxi’s suggestion made Xiyun nod. “Roughly speaking, it’s been more than two years, I think.”

“Over two years—Fierce Fang Mountain must have changed quite a bit. I’ll accompany you back, treat it as a little outing.”

Xiyun was surprised. “Sister Tu Shan, you want to go with me?”

Tu Shanxi nodded. “Of course. How could I let you go alone? Besides, I’ve never been to Fierce Fang Mountain myself—this is a perfect opportunity to visit with you.

However, my cultivation is lost for now, so if anything happens, I’ll be relying on you to protect me, Xiyun.”

“I promise,” Xiyun’s eyes were resolute as she looked at her. “I’ll take good care of you, Sister Tu Shan. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tu Shanxi smiled gently. “I believe you.”

Seeing that Xiyun had made up her mind, Tu Shanxi began to pack.

Fortunately, her spatial ring was large enough for anything she wished to bring. Judging by Xiyun’s words, Fierce Fang Mountain sounded like a rather desolate wild mountain, so she needed to prepare well for food, clothing, and lodging.

She couldn’t let them both revert to their original forms and sleep out in the wilderness.

And as for food—she couldn’t cook, and surely wouldn’t want to forage randomly. She was quite picky; even the tastiest wild fruits would become tiresome if eaten daily.

Xiyun watched Tu Shanxi bustling about with surprising enthusiasm. She’d thought Tu Shanxi’s offer to accompany her was just a casual remark.

After all, even Xiyun, who had grown up there, had to admit the place was bleak, and someone like Tu Shanxi, used to ease and comfort, surely wouldn’t adapt.

So she hadn’t taken Tu Shanxi’s words seriously at first, but now, seeing her so delighted and asking so many questions about Fierce Fang Mountain, she was taken aback.

Whether she was faking it or genuine, at least she wasn’t like the others, who mocked Xiyun for being a wild girl from the mountains.

[Host, host, the heroine’s affection has increased again. It’s now at 25%.]

The system’s joyful voice echoed in Tu Shanxi’s mind, and she glanced at Xiyun, who sat obediently beside her, listening.

Indeed, still just a child—she could be won over with a little coaxing.

Thinking this, Tu Shanxi continued sharing her preferences. “As for me, everything else is negotiable, but there’s one thing: no matter the circumstances, you must never leave me behind. Otherwise, I’ll get lost.”

“Huh?”