After saying that sentence calmly, Fu Lingyi secretly observed the person opposite her for any tiny expression.
During these two days Yue Jin was starving, she hadn’t done anything else; she had truly been repairing the stove.
Most cultivators on the mountain could abstain from food and didn’t need to eat meals. The plants they grew were only spiritual herbs. Doing something with great fanfare like letting her junior sister go down the mountain to buy materials for her, she feared it would attract too much attention. So she had no choice but to let Yun Lingyue manage the sect for her for a bit. She herself flew her sword down the mountain to carry back a cooking pot and some wild vegetables and rice, and returning to the brewing room, rolled up her sleeves and busied herself.
Having never cooked before, she ruined several pots of porridge before finally managing to make one successful dish, which she carried over.
When she pushed open the door and entered, she saw that person lying on the ground barely breathing. Without the boost of cultivation, her body was truly weaker than an ordinary mortal’s.
She could only send her a little spiritual energy.
After all, she couldn’t truly let the person starve to death. Otherwise, how could she carry out the next part of her plan?
Yue Jin licked her lower lip. She had eaten hurriedly and hadn’t tasted it carefully, only remembering that it tasted good. Although she had practically gulped it down, the rice grains were chewy, and there was a bit of white sugar settled at the bottom, making it sweet.
“It’s delicious……” She nodded, lowered her eyes, looking cautious. “Lingyi, we haven’t even formed a Dao Companion bond yet, but you treat me so sincerely. You’ve truly gone to great lengths……”
In the story Fu Lingyi fabricated, Yue Jin was a weak young woman she had picked up from outside out of temporary soft-heartedness. During their time together, they had secretly developed feelings for each other and gradually formed a pact to be together for a lifetime.
But their good times didn’t last. They were separated by a demon lord, and while escaping, Yue Jin also injured her leg and lost her memory.
Anyone who heard this story told outside would feel immense pity.
It was just a shame that Yue Jin herself was about to vomit listening to it.
Fu Lingyi watched her for a moment, seemingly judging the sincerity in her words. Then she reached out and removed a grain of rice stuck to her lip. “Don’t say that. This is what I should do. Now that you’ve lost your memory, I should take even more care of you. Also, these past two days I’ve had someone clean up a guest room next to the courtyard for you to stay in. My junior sister will come to fetch you shortly. Just wait here quietly.”
After speaking, she picked up the bowl and chopsticks and left, not locking the door. The sky was about to brighten, the mountaintop was misty, and the air carried the lingering scent of dawn.
Yue Jin hid behind the door, confirming that she really hadn’t placed any restrictions on it. Her heart pounded. As soon as she was far away, she quickly dragged her left leg outside.
Even if it was carelessness, in any case, this was a good chance to escape!
Halfway down the path, Fu Lingyi suddenly turned around and walked back.
She had deliberately not locked the door just now, wanting to see if that person would seize this opportunity to escape down the mountain.
Anyway, even if she escaped, she couldn’t get past the Disciplinary Hall barrier. It could, however, test whether this memory loss was real or fake.
She quickened her pace, but when she reached the door, she discovered Yue Jin was no longer in the room.
The small room’s door was wide open. Footprints, one short and one long, went directly west. The owner of the footprints looked very hurried.
As expected, Fu Lingyi snorted coldly. It was all just deception. There was no memory loss at all.
She’s disguised it very well.
She formed a sword art, leaped onto her sword, and flew. When she saw that demon lord, she would make her wish she were dead.
The sword flew forward, the footprints became clearer, and a faint figure appeared in the distance. Fu Lingyi held her sword in her right hand, her sleeves fluttering. Her green robe formed a long line in the air.
“Yue…” Before she could finish calling the name, the wind blocked it in her throat.
That figure was indeed Yue Jin, except she wasn’t running away, but chasing a rabbit in circles.
Fu Lingyi frowned. What play is this?
She was already close, so she flashed over, lowered her sword, and asked: “What are you doing?”
Startled by the question, Yue Jin looked up. The rabbit skillfully hopped away, darting into the grass, causing her to let out a regretful “Ah”.
“What a shame…” She tidied her messy hair, turned around somewhat awkwardly. “How did you know I was here? I was just thinking that I couldn’t just wait for you to take care of me, so I wanted to slaughter this rabbit that passed by and make you a meal of rabbit meat, but I was too slow and it got away.”
The suspicion in Fu Lingyi’s eyes was obvious. She lifted her head and said, “…There are no rabbits on the mountain. That was Master’s spiritual beast.”
“What? Did I almost do something wrong?” Yue Jin’s eyes widened, her face full of apology. “I’m sorry, Lingyi, I didn’t know. I just wanted to do something…”
“It’s alright, I don’t blame you. You’re not well yet.” Fu Lingyi shook her head and put her sword away.
Dust was visible all over Yue Jin’s red skirt, and the outer green robe draped over her also looked dusty. Fu Lingyi glanced down at her exposed calf, stepped forward, and tightened her outer robe, tying the sash.
If she walked around the mountain like this, it wouldn’t be good for so many disciples to see her.
“Thank you…” Yue Jin’s face was flushed, perhaps from the sun, making her already fair skin seem even more transparent.
No flaws.
Fu Lingyi lowered her head, her heart a mix of emotions.
She was actually chasing a rabbit, not using the chance to escape?
Could it be… she really lost her memory? Not faking it?
Fu Lingyi finished tying her sash, her face without much smile. “Don’t wander around randomly next time. Although outsiders can’t enter the sect, there are many spiritual beasts, and you currently have no cultivation, so it’s very dangerous.”
Yue Jin indicated she understood, her expression like someone who had made a mistake, looking a little wronged.
After Fu Lingyi finished speaking, she took her back. The two walked back to the bamboo courtyard one after the other, without a word along the way, each lost in thought.
However, Yue Jin’s thoughts were entirely spent praising herself extravagantly in her mind, wishing she could laugh wildly up at the sky.
Too clever.
This counter-espionage move of mine is simply perfect.
Did she really think I couldn’t tell this unlocked door was a trap? But I had to step into this pit.
That way, when the truth is revealed, it will be even more real, even more catching them off guard.
She lagged behind, looking at Fu Lingyi’s profile, feeling secretly delighted.
My suspicion has finally been cleared for now. Next, I just need to choose a time when no one is paying attention and escape again…
Yun Lingyue was pacing at the entrance to the separate courtyard. Seeing the two of them arrive, she quickly stepped forward to greet them. “Senior Sister! The person you asked me to fetch wasn’t there… Eh, is that her?”
“Lingyue, I’m leaving her to you,” Fu Lingyi instructed, then turned and left decisively.
She couldn’t keep up this Dao Companion act any longer.
Yue Jin didn’t mind. She shifted her gaze to the woman before her. She remembered very clearly that in her countless provocations and battles against the Disciplinary Hall Sword Sect, this person had always followed Fu Lingyi just the same, utterly loyal.
Moreover, her face was full of innocence, clearly showing she hadn’t suffered much.
Very annoying.
Yun Lingyue also scanned her up and down with a look of distaste, muttering softly, “She really does look like…”
After returning from suppressing the demonic sect a few days ago, Senior Sister Fu Lingyi had been busying herself with I don’t know what, rustling around. One moment she’d ask her to go down the mountain to buy steamed buns, the next she’d have her manage the sect, while she herself would shut herself in the brewing room, getting covered in dirt.
It was good today, she had rushed directly into her room even before the sun had risen, asking her to clean up a bamboo house.
Yun Lingyue, groggy with sleep in the early morning, asked, “Are we getting new disciples, Senior Sister?”
“No.”
Fu Lingyi’s gaze was a little evasive. “It’s my Dao Companion.”
“…”
“A Dao Companion?”
If Senior Sister Fu got a Dao Companion, all the cultivators in the cultivation world would be heartbroken.
She might, also be heartbroken.
Yun Lingyue’s half-asleep mind reacted slowly. She only heard herself asking incessantly, “What Dao Companion? Senior Sister, aren’t you cultivating the Emotionless Path?”
The person standing tall in the darkness spoke in a tone not as gentle as usual, but rather carried a hint of barely perceptible delight.
She didn’t answer Yun Lingyue, but instead spoke of something else.
“That person… is somewhat similar to someone we know well.”
“Or rather, exactly the same.”
Truly exactly the same.
Until that person stood here allowing her to observe closely, those features, those striking upward-slanted eyes, and that curved lip like a half-smile, were all exactly like that demon lord’s.
Are they too alike?
“Have you stared enough?”
With Fu Lingyi gone, Yue Jin’s long-suppressed nature surfaced again. Seeing Yun Lingyue about to stare holes through her, she spoke up to interrupt, a look of impatience on her face.
Quite fierce…
Yun Lingyue pouted. She wasn’t as patient with others as she was with Fu Lingyi, especially not with a woman who had taken her Senior Sister.
“What are you so pleased about? Don’t think that just because you’ve latched onto Senior Sister Lingyi, you can rest easy.”
Ignoring Yue Jin’s limping leg, she walked straight into the room, moving quickly. She leaned against the door frame first, arms crossed. “You’ll live here. The side peak of Disciplinary Hall Mountain is the residence of my Senior Sister and my Master, Venerable Yi Qing. It’s a quiet place for cultivation. You haven’t abstained from food yet. If you want water, go fetch it yourself from down the mountain. Don’t keep bothering Senior Sister. She’s very busy with sect affairs usually. Since you’re supposed to be her Dao Companion, you should worry her less.”
After saying that, she even made a ‘tsk’ sound, her expression full of disdain. “Lost her memory and still clinging to our Senior Sister. Truly shameless…”
Yue Jin wished she could roll her eyes to the heavens. This person not only looked innocent, but her thoughts were also incredibly simple. Whatever she thought inside was laid bare, as if afraid others wouldn’t see it.
I’ve been living so miserably, and this little girl wants to bully me on top of it? If I don’t fight back, wouldn’t I have wasted acting for so long?
“Well, what can be done?” Yue Jin leaned against the door frame. Even though her left leg was weak, she stood straight. “Not only did I lose my memory, but my body is also injured. But Lingyi insists on forming a Dao Companion bond with me. She said I’m the person she loves most in this world. All this time, she thought I was killed by a demon… a demon lord, and she cried silently every day, preserved her purity for me, and even cultivated the Emotionless Path for my sake. Now it’s alright, she found me again. She swore to me that from now on she will call me darling every day, letting me remember the good times we had. Even if she no longer cultivates immortality and returns to the countryside to be a leisurely couple, she would be content.”
After speaking such a long string of words continuously, Yue Jin’s heart felt a sustained sense of satisfaction.
Everything Fu Lingyi had disgusted her with these past few days, she returned it all.
She had finally let out the pent-up frustration.
Seeing Yun Lingyue’s eyes turn red with anger, stuttering “you, you, you” several times without saying a complete sentence, and finally leaving with a flick of her sleeve, Yue Jin felt incredibly pleased.
Hmph, trying to contend with me.
Besides having strong cultivation, Yue Jin had been through the mill for so many years. She was also a master of speaking sarcastically.