Firmament Sword

”Is that what they said?” A playful smile appeared on Xu Luo’s face as he said coolly, ”I’m very curious to see what they’re planning. Kidnap Qiqi... and then threaten me?”

”It’s possible!” Master Mao was sprawled lazily on a table, looking up at Xu Luo. ”Aren’t you worried?”

”Worried about what?” Xu Luo said coolly. ”Of the people the Kaiyang Sect sent this time, as long as Shangguan Qing doesn’t make a move himself, I’m not afraid of anyone!”

”Now that’s more like it!” Master Mao stuck out his tongue, licked his lips, and revealed a bloodthirsty expression. ”It’s been a long time since this Master has had a taste of blood!”

Just then, Huangfu Shishi walked in from outside carrying a plate of pastries. Seeing Master Mao on the table, she smiled. ”Miaomiao is here too. You must be hungry. How about you try some pastries I made myself?”

”Master Mao! You’re to call me Master Mao!” Master Mao corrected her, quite annoyed. Then he arched his back, stretched, and grumbled, ”You two can be all lovey-dovey here. This Master has things to do, so I won’t disturb you! Sigh, this afternoon, this Master heard that long-unheard ’Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ahhh’ again...”

Before he could finish, Master Mao scurried away in a flash. He had seen Xu Luo’s glare; if not now, when would be a better time to run?

’Hmph, kid, you just wait! One day, this Master will make you bow at my feet...’

”It’s all your fault!” Huangfu Shishi shot Xu Luo a fierce glare.

”That guy is just spouting nonsense,” Xu Luo muttered with an innocent look on his face. ”With my current cultivation level, I would have discovered anyone who dared to eavesdrop long ago!”

”Alright, alright, you’re the powerful one!” Huangfu Shishi smiled sweetly, picked up a pastry, and fed it to Xu Luo.

The two shared an intimate moment for a while before Huangfu Shishi suddenly said, ”Oh, right, I have a very good sister from the Kaiyang Sect who wants to go shopping with me tomorrow. In any case, I’m the host here, so I should at least show her some hospitality.”

”Are you sure she just wants to go shopping with you?” Xu Luo wanted to tell her the truth directly, but on second thought, he decided against it. He still wasn’t sure what Jiang Hanhai and the others would do, and telling her now would likely be a huge blow to Shishi.

Huangfu Shishi gave Xu Luo a strange look, then said, ”You don’t suspect her, do you? Don’t worry, she won’t harm me. Besides, this is the Imperial Capital, our turf. Even if she wanted to do something to me, what could she possibly do?”

As she spoke, Huangfu Shishi shifted, finding a comfortable position to lean against Xu Luo’s chest. She said softly, ”Actually, I know deep down that her reason for asking me to go shopping isn’t so simple. But... I still want to give it a try. I want to see if everyone is really like this.”

”At least I’m not!”

...

「The next morning.」

Huangfu Shishi sent someone to pick up Huang Yan. When she saw her, Huangfu Shishi noticed that Huang Yan seemed a bit prettier than when she had seen her last night. Also... the way she walked looked a little strange.

Before, she definitely wouldn’t have noticed these things. But having just gone through the process of changing from a girl into a woman yesterday herself, she was very sensitive to such matters. A sliver of doubt rose in her heart, but she didn’t ask about it.

”Senior Sister, where would you like to go? Today, I’ll be your guide and show you the splendor of the mortal world,” Huangfu Shishi said with a light laugh.

”I’ll follow your lead. I’m not familiar with this place, after all. Wherever you like to go is fine.” Huang Yan gave a gentle smile, looking very casual.

Afterward, Huangfu Shishi took Huang Yan to the most prosperous street in the Imperial Capital, Cyan Dragon Avenue.

The street was bustling with noise, and the endless stream of people and dazzling variety of shops left Huang Yan, a sect disciple, dumbfounded. It was her first time seeing such a lively scene. She had heard before that the mortal world was the most prosperous place, and that although the lives of mortals were short, they were as brilliant as fireworks. She’d never had a direct sense of it, but now she finally understood why people in the secular world fought so fiercely for fame and fortune.

Whoever possessed fame and fortune could enjoy all the splendor the world had to offer!

For a moment, a faint trace of jealousy toward Huangfu Shishi sparked in Huang Yan’s heart.

’She has a noble birth, a true royal in this mortal world!’

’She has a childhood sweetheart who would even go through hell and back for her!’

’After joining the sect, she quickly became a chosen one among the disciples, valued by the Sect Leader...’

’Compared to her, I seem far too ordinary.’

Once an emotion like jealousy takes root, it is very difficult to suppress.

Fortunately, Huang Yan had already gotten what she wanted. Although she was jealous of Huangfu Shishi’s background, she didn’t let it show.

The two happily walked and shopped. Cyan Dragon Avenue hadn’t become desolate because of the recent palace coup. After all, the internal strife had been quelled quickly and hadn’t damaged the Empire’s foundation, so its prosperity remained.

”Little Sister, I’m a bit tired. Why don’t we find a place to rest?” Huang Yan said to Huangfu Shishi.

”Okay,” Huangfu Shishi agreed. For her, although Cyan Dragon Avenue was prosperous and lively, she didn’t enjoy such clamor. If she weren’t accompanying Huang Yan, she would never have come to a place like this. Unless, of course, she was with Xu Luo.

A group of palace Guards followed from a distance. They weren’t wearing their Guard uniforms and looked no different from ordinary people. This was because Huangfu Shishi didn’t want to make a big fanfare and let everyone know she was here.

Master Mao was following in secret. An accident was very likely to happen today. It was inconvenient for Xu Luo to come along, but Master Mao was a much smaller target. No one would notice a cat.

Huangfu Shishi led Huang Yan to a teahouse. After going inside, she casually ordered a pot of tea, and the two sat down to chat.

Huang Yan acted perfectly normal the entire time, without the slightest hint of anything unusual. Huangfu Shishi relaxed her guard a little, feeling that no accident could happen here. This was because even this teahouse was one of the Hidden Dragon’s strongholds!

If anything happened, the Hidden Dragon’s people would send out a message at the first possible moment.

These were things Huangfu Shishi had only learned after returning this time.

”Junior Sister, are you not the least bit tempted by the Sect Leader’s arrangement for your marriage?” Huang Yan took a sip of tea, then looked up at Huangfu Shishi and asked, ”I heard Jiang Tianhai’s background is extraordinary. Their ancestor seems to still be alive, just in seclusion. His strength has probably already reached an unbelievable level! And Jiang Tianhai is a man with a limitless future. If you’re with him, you’ll definitely be well off.”

Huangfu Shishi gave a faint smile. ”Senior Sister, you’re not here to be Jiang Tianhai’s lobbyist today, are you? You saw what happened yesterday. Leaving aside the friction between the sect and our Cangqiong Royal Family, on a personal level, I have no feelings for Jiang Tianhai whatsoever. I would never marry him!”

”Junior Sister, isn’t it a bit early to be saying that?” Suddenly, a voice came from the entrance. A handsome young man in a sapphire-blue long robe, holding a folding fan, walked in from outside.

”Jiang Tianhai... why are you here?” Huangfu Shishi wasn’t scared, just surprised. From start to finish, she had been the one to choose where they shopped and where they had tea. She also hadn’t noticed anyone following them. Although Jiang Tianhai’s strength was considerable, he was only a small step above her current level. It made no sense that she wouldn’t have been able to detect him if he were tailing them.

”Heh heh, while this Imperial Capital may belong to your Huangfu Family, it also belongs to all the people under heaven. You can’t say that I’m not allowed to be where you are, can you, Junior Sister?” Jiang Tianhai sat down across from Huangfu Shishi with a grin, then smiled at Huang Yan. ”This little brother greets his sister-in-law!”

”Sister-in-law?” A surge of anger suddenly hit Huangfu Shishi. She looked up at Huang Yan without a word.

Huang Yan lowered her head shyly. A moment later, she looked up and met Huangfu Shishi’s gaze. ”Junior Sister, I’ll be honest with you. I’m already Senior Brother Hanhai’s woman. As long as you marry Tianhai, we two sisters will truly be one family, our bond made even closer! We’ll never have to be apart again. We can cultivate together, be together...”

”Enough!”

Huangfu Shishi’s voice was cold as she cut her off. She stood up and looked at Huang Yan, her eyes filled with disappointment. ”Senior Sister, until this moment, I still considered you my senior sister. I’ll pretend today’s matter had nothing to do with you! But I hope... this is the last time! Someone will be here shortly to take you back. I’ll be taking my leave first. Goodbye!”

With that, Huangfu Shishi turned to leave.

”Wait. What’s the rush?” Jiang Tianhai’s handsome face twisted. A cold smile spread across his lips as he said coolly, ”I’ve said it before. You are my woman. You can only be my woman! If I can’t have your heart... then I’ll have your body!”

”Jiang Tianhai, have you no shame?” Huangfu Shishi stopped in her tracks, but didn’t turn back. She said coldly, ”I’m right here. You can try... Huh?”

As she spoke, Huangfu Shishi suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over her. Her expression changed, and an intense feeling of disappointment welled up in her heart. She slowly turned around and looked at Huang Yan. ”Senior Sister... it was you?”

”I... I was also... doing this for your own good.” Huangfu Shishi’s pure gaze made Huang Yan feel guilty. She averted her eyes, not daring to meet Shishi’s, and said softly, ”Shishi, I’m sorry...”

”Heh... heh heh!” Huangfu Shishi let out a few desolate laughs. She whispered, ”Sorry? I don’t need it!”

Jiang Tianhai stood up and slowly walked toward Huangfu Shishi, sneering, ”So what if this is the Imperial Capital, your home? I want you. Who can stop me?”