Senior Sister Went Mad After My Fake Death Chapter 36

With the clear, soft ring of a bell, a large cup of realgar wine was flung with a sizzle. On the ground, several intertwined snakes flicked their forked tongues, wailed pitifully, and after a few writhing turns, finally died.
The silver-white snake body, so lively just moments before, was now a corpse.
“Damn it, the demon scourge is really getting out of hand. All sorts of demons are coming to our mountain… Last time it was bears and pigs, this time it’s snakes,” a Bright Snow Sect cultivator grumbled, scratching her head. “And I remember this giant white python. It never caused trouble before.”
As soon as she finished, she cautiously glanced at Senior Sister Han Xiao, who was standing nearby.
Yes, they had come to deal with this group of troublemaking snake demons.
To deal with snakes, one naturally used realgar wine—a point Senior Sister Han Xiao had reminded them of before they set out.
Senior Sister Han Xiao was taking sect affairs quite seriously these days. It wasn’t that she hadn’t been serious before, but now her concern was almost all-encompassing.
It had gone from slight to almost absolute.
But the junior sister quickly figured it out. Her senior sister was the head disciple of an Immortal Lord; it was only a matter of time before she inherited Immortal Lord Yang Nian’s legacy. In other words, her senior sister was destined to become someone like an Immortal Lord herself.
That was why she was so responsible, even following them to deal with snake demons, only feeling at ease after watching them finish the job.
“Hey, Senior Sister, there shouldn’t be any more snake demons around, right?” the junior sister asked tentatively. “Good thing, too. We’ve used up most of this bottle of realgar wine. We used so much just now that the ground is soaked in it. Forget new snake demons appearing, I doubt any would dare come near this place.”
Han Xiao, who had been expressionless, gave her a casual glance. “Yes, well done. The snake demons certainly won’t dare to come near again.”
A smile bloomed on the junior sister’s face. Senior Sister Han Xiao really is getting nicer.
“But you used too much realgar wine. It’s wasteful. Next time, remember, you don’t need such a strong dose to kill one snake,” Han Xiao said, moving closer to the miserably dead white python. “The amount used on this one could have killed several more.”
“In this age of rampant demon scourges, we must prioritize conservation in all things.”
The junior sister’s ears drooped. “Yes, I will remember Senior Sister’s teachings!”
Even though their senior sister was closer to them now, she was still their senior sister, and a future elder. It was only natural for her to lecture them occasionally.
“Senior Sister, are we still needed here?”
Han Xiao shook her head, signaling that they could leave. She would handle the snake corpse.
“Senior Sister, do you think this snake corpse is useful?” a cultivator who had been silent for a long time suddenly spoke up.
She was a little glutton who, upon seeing anything, would wonder if it was edible.
The junior sister knew her, but Han Xiao did not. She gave the glutton a puzzled look. “What are you thinking?”
The glutton stammered, “This white snake looks so tender and delicious, it would probably melt in your mouth if cooked… Um, I’ve eaten snake before, I know what this kind tastes like.”
“And those green-black ones have an even more exquisite flavor.”
Han Xiao suddenly felt a chill on the back of her neck. Or perhaps, it was more than just a chill.
Her long lashes trembled. She used a rare, scolding tone. “Cultivators practice inedia! Stop being greedy and caring about such worldly appetites!”
Knew this glutton would cause trouble!
The junior sister quickly pulled her fellow disciple away, saying they had matters to attend to at the sword hall. Along the way, she didn’t forget to praise Senior Sister Han Xiao.
Her senior sister had achieved such a high level of cultivation at such a young age. No one knew where her skills came from, and speculation was rampant.
The junior sister believed her senior sister was born with a natural talent for the sword, making her perfectly suited for cultivation.
“And Senior Sister is slowly getting closer to us. Soon, she’ll form a pact with the Wunian Sect’s young master… Although the world is full of demon scourges now, a person needs a happy event to look forward to in life. These days, I’m just waiting for the wedding banquet!”
“…Will there be snake meat at the banquet?”
“Just shut up, will you!”
The disciples’ discussion faded into the distance, but Han Xiao remained standing in the mountain wilderness, the air thick with the smell of realgar wine.
Her face gradually turned a sickly green, almost the same color as the dark green scales and demonic markings spreading across her chest.
The intense, pungent smell shot straight through her nostrils.
Han Xiao felt an urge to vomit, her eyes fixed on the giant white python lying dead on the ground.
She felt her own forked tongue wanting to involuntarily flick out.
…How did this snake infestation start so suddenly, catching everyone off guard?
Han Xiao’s brow furrowed as she considered the strange events of the past few days.
She had just been passing by and heard there were demons, so she followed along. Who would have thought it was a snake infestation, and that those clever-by-half cultivators would bring realgar wine?
Of course snakes feared a potent substance like realgar wine, and Han Xiao was no exception.
But she was already here; there was no reason to flee. If they noticed something was amiss, it would be bad.
In the past, her kind had caused trouble before, but she had never cared or paid any attention.
“I still don’t care now,” she murmured, her cold gaze falling on the corpse of her own kind.
The reason was simple. She was a demon with cultivation, naturally transcendent. What did these snakes, who had barely managed to cultivate sentience, have to do with her?
If they were lucky, they would become spirits, maybe even take human form. If they were unlucky, they would be caught, their skin torn off, their gallbladders used for medicine, and the rest of their meat cooked into a soup.
It was natural for her to look down on these snakes.
Han Xiao did not understand human sentimentality. She didn’t grasp the meaning of “grieving for one’s own kind.” She simply felt annoyed.
But now, she stared at the silver-white corpse on the ground, lost in deep thought.
She had no choice. This was part of the plan. To make her fellow disciples trust her more, from the sect elders down to the low-level cultivators, they were all targets she now had to “please.”
Han Xiao focused her gaze, feeling the heavy scent of realgar wine churning in her stomach. When had she started to dwell on such strange feelings?
Before, she had cared about nothing.
She didn’t care about cultivation, and she cared even less about love.
The sorrows of others, the fragmented scraps of history—why would she care?
But… in her dreams, it was always Jiang Chunai who appeared.
It’s a good thing she can still come to my dreams.
The strong smell of realgar wine seemed to amplify her senses. Han Xiao stayed a while longer, almost in a self-torturing way, reminiscing about Jiang Chunai for a long, long time before finally choosing to leave.
She was still a snake, after all. After inhaling so much of the realgar wine’s scent, her steps were a bit unsteady.
In a flash, Han Xiao recalled the days when she had just taken human form…
Back then, she was a soft-skinned snake, completely unable to walk upright.
Humans are so troublesome.
Han Xiao had said she would deal with the snakes on the back mountain, and she meant it. She knocked on Zhang Ziga’s door and told her about the snake infestation.
Zhang Ziga’s puzzled expression had not yet faded. “Oh, so that’s why you reek of realgar wine. I thought some snake-catching Daoist was hunting snakes at my door!”
Han Xiao smiled slightly. “You jest, Elder.”
Zhang Ziga led Han Xiao inside. “So, little friend Han Xiao, did you come to see me today because of the snake infestation on the back mountain?”
Han Xiao: “Precisely.”
She hoped Zhang Ziga could give her some milder medicine. “My fellow disciples don’t seem to understand. They just rushed in with potent realgar wine for a quick fix. We can’t do that in the future.”
Zhang Ziga nodded, seemingly in deep agreement. “I know. Sometimes I also feel that demons don’t deserve death…”
Han Xiao turned her head. “Then what is your opinion, Elder Zhang?”
“Disasters are rampant recently. The world is about to change,” Han Xiao said.
Zhang Ziga raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, we should both know that.”
That the world would fall into chaos had become a tacit secret between them.
“Little friend Han Xiao, wait a moment.” Zhang Ziga stood up, went into the inner room, and returned with a square box, handing it to Han Xiao. “Take this and scatter it on the back mountain… on the dead snakes.”
Han Xiao frowned, opened the box, and took a gentle sniff.
Even before she had opened it, she had caught a rich, clear fragrance. The contents of this box must be very good for her, and for snakes.
But why was Zhang Ziga using this medicine?
Before Han Xiao could ask “what is this,” Zhang Ziga said with a serious expression, “Little friend, you must follow my instructions and sprinkle this powder on the snake corpses.”
Han Xiao was puzzled. “Is there some trick to this?”
A vague suspicion began to form in her mind.
Although her relationship with Zhang Ziga was closer now, it was by no means a relationship where they knew each other’s deepest secrets.
Both of them were hiding secrets from each other.
Zhang Ziga’s face remained serious as she said, “Snakes must not be offended.”
I must not be offended?
Hearing this, Han Xiao gave a light laugh, put the box away, and said, “I understand. I’ll go sprinkle this powder now.”
It seems Elder Zhang hasn’t noticed anything unusual.
The only person who had discovered her secret was now dead.
She would not bring that secret back to light.
Han Xiao had thought Zhang Ziga had more to say, but after hesitating for a moment and seeing no sign that she would be asked to stay, she took her leave.
As she was leaving, Zhang Ziga even mentioned that she was about to become the first cultivator in the Bright Snow Sect in nearly a hundred years to marry within the sect.
This was naturally a great honor, she said, and she sincerely congratulated her.
Han Xiao just lifted her lips in a detached manner.
As soon as she was gone, Zhang Ziga, whose eyes had been cloudy and unfocused just a moment ago, suddenly seemed to come alive. She took a lamp from under a lampshade.
The lamp was identical in style to the one she had “casually” placed in the Bright Lamp Pavilion!
The dim, yellow light fell on her face.
This light strangely illuminated her age, her wrinkles looking as if they were carved by wind and frost, rendered by the glow of the flame.
Zhang Ziga lowered her head and let out a muffled laugh.
This lamp, she had to keep it safe. It had to be lit not just in her heart, but everywhere.
Outside the window, the rain and snow began to fall again.
A tall, slender figure disappeared into the storm.
Han Xiao intended to walk back to her own residence, but as soon as she stepped outside, she saw You Qian.
She was holding an eighty-ribbed umbrella, standing forlornly in the wind and snow, the tip of her nose nearly red from the cold. The moment she saw Han Xiao, she broke into a smile. “Han Xiao.”
As she said those two words, You Qian’s heart was filled with joy.
In the past, she and Han Xiao were not familiar with each other; her understanding of her came entirely from her aunt. Now that they had contact, it was no longer just from her aunt. Han Xiao was a living, breathing person—
She only needed to call her by her full name.
Han Xiao lifted her eyelids slightly and nodded in acknowledgement. “A’Qian.”
At some point, You Qian’s clothes had become consistently beautiful, her silk skirts adorned with colorful and intricate patterns.
To find a good partner again—what a wonderful thing! At this thought, You Qian’s heart leaped with joy.
She had already had someone discreetly investigate. Han Xiao was indeed an upstanding member of the righteous path, unlike others who seemed to collude with demons and heretics. In other words, she had no shady background.
Furthermore, although she rarely smiled, she was quite beautiful. Perhaps with time, feelings could develop between them.
In short, just looking at Han Xiao made You Qian happy now.
“Where did you just come from, and where are you heading?” You Qian asked Han Xiao with a thick smile.
Han Xiao’s lips were pressed into a flat line, her dark eyes holding a deep color, her tone light. “I went to get some medicinal powder to sprinkle on the back mountain—the demon scourge is rampant, and there’s a snake infestation there.”
“So, are you going to the back mountain now?”
Han Xiao nodded. “My fellow disciples just threw potent realgar wine today. It’s best to go sprinkle this powder sooner rather than later.”
It might be good for me too. She had gone to ask Zhang Ziga with that thought in mind.
As Han Xiao expected, You Qian immediately said she wanted to go with her.
Han Xiao knew that refusing her would be useless and would only hinder her plans, so she remained noncommittal, just as she always did.
In any case, You Qian would “understand” her meaning, or more accurately, interpret her meaning according to her own thoughts.
“Let’s go. I’ve never seen what your back mountain looks like. Besides, I’m from the Wunian Sect; your Bright Snow Sect would surely not let me in.” Joy filled You Qian’s brows, and her tone was just as cheerful.
This is great. Han Xiao probably used to cultivate on the back mountain, right? She’s the great senior sister, and although she’s young, her cultivation is profound. She must have spent a lot of time and effort on cultivation.
Thinking of this, You Qian couldn’t stop herself from asking Han Xiao, “Did you grow up here? When you were just learning the sword, did you find it difficult?”
According to her aunt, Han Xiao likely had a natural talent for the sword to have achieved such strength.
“Yes,” Han Xiao replied quickly.
She was just going along with what she wanted to hear.
If she denied growing up here, she would surely be pressed about where she did grow up—Han Xiao didn’t remember those things, nor did she want to bring them up.
Han Xiao also opened an umbrella and walked slightly ahead, toward the back mountain.
You Qian seemed to be seeing the back mountain for the first time. She found everything amazing, saying this place was different from the Wunian Sect’s mountain, and that tree was similar to one in the Wunian Sect…
Han Xiao listened with a completely placid heart. She treated You Qian just as she had treated everyone else in the past.
“Is the powder in this box?” You Qian peeked over and asked Han Xiao.
Han Xiao only nodded, not saying a word, as she opened the lid of the black brocade box. A rich fragrance immediately wafted out.
You Qian stared at the powder for a long time but couldn’t make anything of it, so she consciously stepped to the side.
…This stuff is really effective on snakes. A person can see it and smell it, but have no reaction.
Han Xiao pursed her lips, thinking to herself that it was a good thing she hadn’t given herself away just now. She and Zhang Ziga were not that close.
The powder was quickly scattered into the air, covering the corpse of the giant white python, which shimmered with a faint light.
Han Xiao stared fixedly at the giant python. As the powder covered its body and a layer of white snow fell upon it, shimmering blue flames began to emerge from its body.
This probably has the effect of pacifying the soul, Han Xiao thought.
Before she left, Zhang Ziga had said not to offend snakes.
She truly kept her word.
You Qian had just wandered back from the edge of a cliff and returned to see this scene:
The vast snow fell all around, and the white python’s body burned with pale blue ghost flames.
Beneath an umbrella stood a graceful woman. It was the beginning of a beautiful dream.
Without a second thought, You Qian approached Han Xiao and deliberately softened her voice to ask, “Sister Han Xiao, has the date for our grand wedding been set?”
Han Xiao first tilted her head slightly.
You Qian instantly held her breath. She only saw the shadow cast by Han Xiao’s long lashes as she tilted her head and lowered her gaze. Her own soul, already unsettled in this world of ice and snow, became even more restless.
Han Xiao finally turned her head back and smiled slightly. “Yes, it has been set. The sect elders have already decided on the matter for us. Has your aunt agreed on her end?”
Phew, she really is willing!
You Qian was overjoyed and quickly said, “My aunt said she’ll go with your decision. She said our pact is mainly for the good fortune and auspiciousness of a happy event…”
After all, the three realms had been too chaotic recently, full of sad events. The union of their two sects could serve to boost morale and inspire people.
The smile on Han Xiao’s face seemed to grow warmer and gentler. “Good. If your aunt has agreed, then this matter can be settled soon.”
You Qian broke into a wide smile.
This is wonderful. This is the first time Han Xiao has clearly spoken to her about their marriage.
Look, the crystal-clear snow fell on Han Xiao’s long lashes, dampening a large patch. Even her dark, ink-black hair shimmered with a silver light. She was truly breathtakingly beautiful.
But why did Han Xiao have that strange thing under her eyes?
You Qian secretly observed her future wife:
Looking closer, there seemed to be several extremely fine, crimson-black thin lines under her eyes.
They were so small and subtle, yet they felt particularly glaring to her, as if… those thin lines had a life of their own, and would grow vigorously and inhumanly, and no one could stop them.
Not her, and not even Han Xiao herself.
This feeling instantly made You Qian’s blood run cold. She blurted out, “Sister Han Xiao, you said my aunt agreed, and your sect’s people agreed. Our wedding will proceed as planned, right?”
Han Xiao seemed to have heard something extraordinary and lifted her gaze to look at her. “Of course.”
“Then, as Dao companions forming a pact, we must always accompany each other.” You Qian grew more uneasy.
For some reason, seeing those lines under Han Xiao’s eyes filled her heart with dread.
But Han Xiao was still smiling as she said, “Yes. Since we are forming a pact and marrying, becoming each other’s Dao companions, we must stay by each other’s side for a long, long time… never to be separated for all eternity.”
She raised her head, looking at the graceful, veiled moon in the sky.
The fine lines under her eyes began to grow uncontrollably again—inch by inch, as if they would penetrate to the bone marrow, making her cold blood boil.
Those thin lines pulled at her most sensitive soul, every thread connected to Jiang Chunai, to the sins she had committed.
Han Xiao turned back. You Qian was still watching her intently, her thoughts unreadable.
What is she thinking? It wasn’t a look of concentration, or one filled with true love.
Han Xiao understood, because she probably wasn’t showing such a genuine expression either.
But her vow tonight was real.
Becoming each other’s Dao companions, we must stay by each other’s side for a long, long time, never to be separated for all eternity.
“So, Sister Han Xiao, we’ll always be together from now on?” You Qian asked tentatively.
The moonlight was like a silken ribbon, casting a silver-white glow on the ground. Suddenly, a fierce wind blew, and You Qian did not hear Han Xiao’s reply.
So what? The Bright Snow Sect elders had agreed, her aunt had agreed, she and Han Xiao had both agreed. This was simply a happy event that everyone approved of!
It was just that the wind was strong, so she hadn’t heard Han Xiao’s reply.
On her wedding day, she would have to dress up beautifully, just to show Yan Linglong!
You Qian looked forward to that day more and more. Her aunt had told her that many immortal sects would be invited.
By then, probably the entire cultivation world would know about her grand wedding with Han Xiao.
This was also a good opportunity to showcase the Wunian Sect.
Getting married and forming a pact. How she longed to form a pact with Han Xiao.
What a glorious day that would be for her!
The entire sect was filled with a festive atmosphere.
Dao Lord Qiming was busy organizing this happy event, calling over a large group of disciples to address invitations to various immortal sects, inviting them to attend the wedding of Han Xiao and the Wunian Sect’s young master.
The hundred immortal sects, large and small, were countless. Just organizing how many sects there were, and who the famous figures were within those sects and factions, took a lot of time.
After finally sorting it all out, they had to start writing the invitations, which was another arduous task.
Jing Shun was doing just that, but he was really unwilling to do work for Han Xiao. Although Dao Lord Qiming had given him the task and he had agreed on the surface, the moment the Dao Lord turned her back, he called over his subordinates and told them to finish it for him quickly.
Hmph, that woman is inferior to me in every aspect, from seniority to age. Why does she get to have all the good things?
All the best things just fall into her lap!
The more Jing Shun thought about it, the more he gnashed his teeth in hatred. He suddenly reached out, snatched an invitation from the white jade table, and scribbled all over it with an ink brush, stunning his subordinate. “Senior Brother, Senior Brother Jing Shun, what… what are you doing?”
Jing Shun irritably threw the thing aside and said, “Leave me alone! I’m just venting. You do what you need to do. There are so many invitations, what’s wrong with me using one?”
The subordinate fell silent sheepishly and could only continue his work.
Their master was indeed very invested in Senior Sister Han Xiao’s affairs.
Their master had told them to finish all these invitations within three days. After they were done, they had to be packaged nicely, and then people would be sent out to deliver them to each immortal sect.
Large and small, all of them.
“Wow, even Yanqiu is on the list!” the subordinate suddenly exclaimed, pressing down his brush.
“What’s wrong with Yanqiu?” Jing Shun snorted. “Isn’t it just that place where Nuwa’s descendants gather? They even call themselves Nuwa’s descendants. Pfft, I say they’re just selling snake oil under a fancy name. So many years have passed, who can tell who’s a real descendant?”
The subordinate still didn’t dare to speak, but the name “Yanqiu” had ignited Jing Shun’s anger again. He suddenly shot over and told the subordinate to write down a name.
“Chang… Chang Shao?” the subordinate murmured, unable to write the character after trying for a long time.
Jing Shun cursed, “You idiot!”
After he finished cursing, he snatched the brush from the subordinate’s hand and wrote the two characters for “Chang Xin.”
“I told you how to write it, and you still can’t. Forget it, let me do it.” After he finished writing, he spat again.
He wasn’t inviting Chang Xin for no reason.
Yanqiu… he only knew this mute. And he had another reason for inviting this mute…
After all, she and he were, in a way, companions. Most importantly, that night, when Han Xiao was walking like a madwoman in the pouring rain, Chang Xin had seen it too.
Oh, so glorious, are we? That night’s events won’t be erased!
Thinking of this, Jing Shun checked the invitation again. He was determined to invite every single person who had seen Han Xiao’s pathetic side that day!
The subordinate stared blankly as his usually lazy senior brother suddenly became diligent.
“Alright, it’s done. I’ll go arrange for people to deliver them now! First, to Yanqiu!”