Chapter 4: The Reborn Shielded Beloved (Part Three)

“What?” Xiyun opened her eyes, unable to believe what she’d just heard as she looked at Tushan Xi. “What did you just say?”

Seeing her lingering doubts, Tushan Xi solemnly raised three fingers of her right hand and swore, “I, Tushan Xi, swear upon my very soul: if, after learning the truth, I choose to shield Qingyuan, may I be struck by a hundred bolts of heavenly lightning and perish, my soul scattered to nothingness.”

The moment she finished her oath, a violet bolt of lightning flashed by the window, crackling loudly.

Xiyun stared at her in astonishment; unless she was mistaken, that lightning was a sign from the Heavenly Dao itself.

Heaven had heard and acknowledged Tushan Xi’s vow.

If she ever protected Qingyuan in this matter, there would only be one fate awaiting her—death.

With Heaven as her witness, there was no room for deceit.

Seeing the blank look in Xiyun’s eyes, Tushan Xi lowered her hand and asked, “Do you believe me now?”

“You—” Xiyun pursed her lips and looked away, discomfort in her tone. “You didn't have to go so far.”

“But now you feel at ease, don’t you?” Tushan Xi noticed how Xiyun turned her head, refusing to meet her gaze, yet the wariness in her posture had faded considerably. She edged closer, tentatively reaching out to hold Xiyun’s cold hand.

Feeling the gentle warmth envelop her hand, Xiyun’s eyes fluttered as she looked at Tushan Xi, unable to stop herself from asking, “Will you really listen to me?”

Tushan Xi nodded, her gaze soft, the tenderness in her eyes like that of an elder toward a cherished junior. “You’ve been unconscious these two days, and I’ve already investigated. Now, there are only the two of us nine-tailed foxes left in the world.

As kin, we are bound by blood. I’m tens of thousands of years your senior; it is only right that I protect you, care for you, and guide you.

If you don’t mind, would you call me Sister Xi from now on?”

“Sister Xi?”

Xiyun spoke the name hesitantly, and Tushan Xi’s face lit up with joy, leaving Xiyun puzzled.

Was calling her by a simple title really such a delight?

[Host, host! The heroine’s favorability toward you is already up to zero percent!] The system’s sudden outburst in Tushan Xi’s mind nearly ruined the mood she’d been building.

Seeing Xiyun lower her head as if lost in thought, Tushan Xi complained inwardly, “System, don’t just pop up and interrupt my train of thought.

And really, is zero percent favorability even worth celebrating?”

The system quickly admitted its mistake. [Sorry, host, I was just too excited. When the heroine first woke, her favorability toward you was minus fifty percent, and now it’s zero! That’s a huge improvement!]

Hearing the negative value, Tushan Xi raised an eyebrow. “Favorability can be negative?”

Before the system could reply, Xiyun cautiously spoke up, “Senior Tushan, do you know how you were brought back to life?”

“Qingyuan said he found an ancient formation and used half his cultivation to revive me.”

No sooner had she spoken than Xiyun sneered. “He dares to say such things without fear of lightning striking him down. Then again, now that he’s reached the Supreme level, what harm could mere heavenly lightning do him?”

From her tone, Tushan Xi immediately sensed there was more to the story and pressed her for the truth.

“Senior Tushan, the formation was real. But do you know what truly powers such a formation? It’s not cultivation, not spiritual energy.”

“Then…what is it?” Tushan Xi’s voice trembled, her gaze unsteady. She seemed to have guessed the truth, yet feared it might be real.

Seeing her like this, Xiyun laughed with a wild, bitter edge. “It was the blood of the nine-tailed fox—a drop from my heart! Senior Tushan, you came back to life by stepping over my very life. Well? Do you like this answer?”

The truth struck Tushan Xi so hard she staggered back, unable to stand. “No, that’s impossible. Qingyuan…how could Qingyuan do such a thing?”

“Impossible? When you bandaged my wound, did you never wonder why I had only one injury, right over my heart? If someone truly wanted me dead, why not just kill me outright, or take my inner core? Why leave a wound at my heart that wasn’t even fatal?”

The more Xiyun spoke, the more Tushan Xi’s composure crumbled. “No, impossible, stop—please stop.”

Xiyun gazed at Tushan Xi with a mocking smile, clearly taking pleasure in her collapse. Even now, she had to admit that Tushan Xi was still breathtakingly beautiful; the tears only added a fragile, heartbreaking grace.

Her voice turned ever sharper. “See? Even now, you remain so lovely. No wonder the Celestial Lord can’t forget you.”

She deliberately emphasized “can’t forget,” and as expected, Tushan Xi’s expression grew even more fragile, confusion clouding her eyes.

Clearly, she had never suspected her junior brother harbored such feelings for her.

Watching her, Xiyun suddenly burst into laughter—a wild, bitter sound that filled the room. It was impossible to tell whether she was mocking Tushan Xi’s despair or herself for misjudging Qingyuan and nearly losing her life.

Her laughter trailed off into tears, a faint scent of blood drifting to Tushan Xi’s nose.

That hint of blood snapped Tushan Xi back from the brink of collapse. Red-eyed, she steadied her voice. “Take your medicine. It’s good for you. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe.”

Just now, your struggles must have opened your wound. I’ll fetch something to bandage it again.”

Xiyun’s gaze fell on the pitch-black medicine bowl at her side. “And what about Celestial Lord Qingyuan?”

By now, Tushan Xi had composed herself, her eyes regaining their usual calm and steadiness. “I will give you an answer. If what you say is true, I will drag him here to kneel and beg your forgiveness, to answer for his crimes—whatever you decide. But remember, whatever revenge you seek, you must take care of your own health.”

With that, she turned to leave, almost as if fleeing.

Watching Tushan Xi’s retreating figure, Xiyun shook her head, tears streaming uncontrollably as she stared at the ceiling.

Tushan Xi, who seemed to have left, stood quietly at the doorway, listening to the muffled sobs inside. She sighed deeply.

Only when the world fell silent again did the system reappear. “Host.”

Hearing its hesitant tone, Tushan Xi asked, “What is it?”

“Host, the heroine’s favorability toward you has dropped to minus twenty.”

Tushan Xi nodded calmly. “That’s still better than I expected.”

“Host, why did you deliberately provoke the heroine? You could have just pretended not to know…”

“And wait for her to come and assassinate me?”

Tushan Xi smiled, explaining patiently to the system, “This matter of drawing her blood is a thorn between us. If I put myself in her shoes—if the person I liked used my blood to revive his beloved, and that beloved appeared before me daily as if nothing had happened—I’d resent her too.

Rather than waiting for a blow-up later, it’s better to pull out the thorn now. I also want her to see that I truly stand on her side.”

[Oh, I see! I didn’t expect you to be so considerate, host.]

Tushan Xi accepted the praise without hesitation, then rolled her neck and flexed her wrists, as if preparing for battle.

“Time to get ready to teach the male lead a lesson.”

[Teach the male lead a lesson—] the system repeated in shock, then let out a shrill cry, [Wait, who?!]