Volume 1, Chapter 39: With This Body, I Buy My Sister's Freedom

"Second Senior Sister! What a coincidence! I never expected to run into you here!"

Xu Zhanfeng had inquired all the way to Nanding City, as it was rumored that Senior Sister Ye Qinghan and her master occasionally appeared here. However, after lurking for two days, he hadn't seen the Senior Sister, but had instead encountered Li Shiyao.

"Oh? And you are?"

Xu Zhanfeng was draped in a black hooded coat, layered over with a ragged, coarse-cloth cloak. He wore a ghostly mask, and a heavy, ink-black tiger-headed dadao—taller than a person—was strapped to his back. Not an inch of his skin was visible; he was covered from head to toe. It was understandable, really; if he were to show his face, his terrifying appearance would likely lead to him being hunted down as a member of the Demon Clan.

Li Shiyao turned around. She held a candied hawthorn skewer in her hand, her expression vacant and naive, looking for all the world like a sheltered young miss who had wandered out from home. Yet, she showed no fear at the sight of the towering figure behind her, instead examining him with intense curiosity.

"Second Senior Sister, I am Xu Zhanfeng. We met in the secret realm."

As he spoke, Xu Zhanfeng lifted his cloak slightly and removed his mask to reveal his true face.

"Oh, oh, put it back on, put it back on. What are you doing here?"

"I wish to seek refuge with the Senior Sister, but I do not know where her immortal residence is located. I heard she occasionally visits Nanding City, so I have been waiting here."

Shiyao nodded as if she understood, though in reality, she had grasped nothing at all.

"Oh, well then, wait if you want. I still need to go find Sister Qinghan, so I can't talk anymore."

"Does Second Senior Sister know the Senior Sister's whereabouts?" Xu Zhanfeng knew Li Shiyao wasn't exactly sharp, so he didn't mind; he just knew he couldn't afford to offend her!

"I don't know."

"Then, Second Senior Sister?"

"I heard Sister Qinghan comes to Nanding City sometimes, so I’m looking for a place to stay and wait for her to appear."

...So, you were just repeating what I told you?

Xu Zhanfeng was about to speak when he heard Li Shiyao shout, "Sect Master Su!"

Xu Zhanfeng froze and whipped his head around. Li Shiyao had already bolted ten meters away.

Su Cheng’s face darkened. Was today just a bad day to go out? Why was there another troublemaker!

"Sect Master Su, is Sister Qinghan not here?"

"Xu Zhanfeng pays his respects to the Great Master."

Great. Two troublemakers. Though, this Xu Zhanfeng wasn't too much of a problem... Looking at the situation, were they both lurking here to ambush him?

"Do you two have business with me?" Su Cheng asked, clutching his freshly bought groceries and arching a brow. Even with the Chaos Bell and the God-Slaying Spear, he wasn't sure if he could withstand a powerhouse of the Integration stage like Xu Zhanfeng.

"Second Senior Sister, your business is more important. Please, go ahead," Xu Zhanfeng said, stepping back and bowing politely.

Li Shiyao didn't stand on ceremony. She grabbed Su Cheng’s hand and dragged him into a deserted alley, leaving Su Cheng’s head spinning.

"What is the matter, Miss Shiyao? Why so secretive?"

Li Shiyao stood opposite him, head bowed, her expression of distress heart-wrenching to behold.

"What happened?" Su Cheng was baffled. By all logic, what could possibly go wrong with the Holy Mountain? The Holy Mountain was no small sect; it was a major power with enough influence to stand toe-to-toe with Spirit Mountain! If not for Li Shiyao’s child-like intellect, her status as the Holy Maiden backed by the Holy Mountain would have commanded respect even from someone like Cheng Liang.

If nothing was wrong with the Holy Mountain, was it this girl? Had Ye Qinghan bullied her in the secret realm? That shouldn't be right; if Ye Qinghan had laid a hand on her, this girl wouldn't be jumping around so energetically!

After a long silence, as if she had finished a grueling internal struggle, Li Shiyao slowly raised her head, showing a pitiful expression as if she had been cruelly mistreated.

"Sect Master Su, I have thought about it for a long time. Sister Qinghan has been so kind to me... I want to trade myself for Sister Qinghan..."

"Huh? What do you mean? Trade for Qinghan?" Su Cheng was even more confused. What was she talking about? He couldn't understand a single word.

"Sect Master Su, please let Sister Qinghan go. I am willing to take her place and join the Lingxian Hall!"

"No, wait—did someone tell you something? I have never coerced Ye Qinghan into anything. Joining the Lingxian Hall was entirely her own choice."

"It wasn't someone else; Sister Qinghan told me herself. But please, don't blame her. I am willing to suffer the punishment in her stead!"

"No! No! You must have misunderstood something!" Su Cheng’s head was about to explode. At home, there was Dongfang Jue and her unknown agenda; now he had a delusional Holy Maiden in front of him, and an Integration-stage powerhouse waiting outside the alley! What kind of mess was this? If this kept up, the plot was going to collapse! Even if things had started going off the rails the moment Ye Qinghan became his disciple, this was clearly spiraling out of control.

"Shiyao did not misunderstand. Shiyao will listen to Sect Master Su. My body is very healthy, and if Sect Master Su likes, I can also..."

"No, hold on—there is definitely a misunderstanding here! What exactly did Qinghan tell you?"

"I know what you have done to Sister Qinghan, Sect Master. I am willing to endure the same, if only you would let her go."

Damn it! Was Li Shiyao here to rescue Ye Qinghan? What kind of brainwashing had Ye Qinghan performed on this girl?

"How about this: come back to the Lingxian Hall with me and say this in front of Qinghan, how about that?"

Li Shiyao’s eyes widened, her fear forgotten as she flatly refused. "No! Unless you promise to let her go, you’ll just whip her again once we’re back!"

What? Whose dirty water was being splashed on him? She was slandering him! And now she wouldn't even let him leave! The Lingxian Sword Technique could only be used within the Lingxian Hall, and he couldn't beat this girl—was he really going to be trapped?

"Fine, I promise you, okay?"

"Really?"

"If Qinghan truly wishes to leave the Lingxian Hall, I will never use force to keep her."

"Wait, do you think I'm stupid? What if you still have some leverage over her?"

"What leverage could I possibly have!" Su Cheng felt his head throbbing. If anyone called Li Shiyao stupid again, he would be the first to disagree. This girl was sharp as a tack!

"If I trade myself for Sister Qinghan’s freedom, is that not allowed?"

"It’s allowed, provided Ye Qinghan is willing to make the trade."

"Do you promise not to interfere?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I promise not to interfere."

"Good, let’s pinky-promise!"

...You are willing to risk your life for Ye Qinghan's freedom, and your solution is a pinky-promise? This was far too formal! And just a moment ago, you were acting like a poor little victim; where did this sudden arrogance come from? Refusing this, rejecting that?

Fine, a pinky-promise it was. Su Cheng found he had absolutely no way to deal with Li Shiyao.

"That’s settled then. Master, let’s go back."

"Hm? The swap is already happening? Why are you changing how you address me so quickly?"

"Sister Qinghan will definitely agree, so I’m just getting used to the title beforehand."

Shiyao was very happy. She had saved her Sister Qinghan. Compared to the rest of the world, which she didn't know, she cared more about saving her sister. Thinking of the days her sister spent in darkness, starving and suffering endless torture, how could she have any heart to cultivate?