Volume 3, Chapter 289 – Young Master Song, Xiyan Has an Unreasonable Request

Crying again?

Listening to the faint sobbing drifting in from outside, Lu Zhuxin raised a hand and rubbed her furrowed brow.

A dignified wolf clan princess who was not only a hopeless romantic but a crybaby on top of it.

Honestly, what a mess.

Lu Zhuxin didn’t even know whether she should be marveling at a novel heroine’s tenacity in matters of the heart or scoffing at a love-brained girl’s blind devotion to her feelings.

[Host.]

“Be quiet. I don’t want to talk right now.”

[Host, is this the same mindset you had when you were pursuing Song Shiyuan?]

Lu Zhuxin had the distinct feeling that this System was hinting at something.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lu Zhuxin said. “Bu Lianshuang is not my primary pursuit target right now. Why would I waste energy on her?”

“At a time like this, instead of letting her cling to me and cause trouble, it’s better to let her settle down on her own for a while.”

[Host, is that truly what you think?]

“Ha.” Lu Zhuxin let out a dry laugh. “What else would I be thinking?”

[The System cannot read the host’s thoughts or internal state. There is therefore no basis for judgment.]

“I’m actually rather curious.” Lu Zhuxin continued. “Why would you want to know what I’m thinking? And what would you do with it if you did?”

“Or are you saying that once you know my thoughts, you’d quietly start sabotaging me?”

[That is a false premise. The System does not and cannot interfere with the host’s thoughts or actions. That is outside its permissions.]

“Is that so?” Lu Zhuxin smiled faintly. “Isn’t that exactly what your predecessor did?”

[03 has no knowledge of the previous System’s history and cannot verify the host’s accusation.]

[However, 03 can guarantee that 03 has no intention of interfering with the host’s actions whatsoever.]

“And how does one prove that?” Lu Zhuxin said. “Empty words carry no weight.”

[03 has no need to prove this. Regardless of whether the host trusts 03, 03 will fulfill its own responsibilities.]

“Tsk, tsk…” Lu Zhuxin clicked her tongue.

This System 03 was genuinely nothing like Ming Zhaoxi. If it were Ming Zhaoxi, she’d only get more flustered the more Lu Zhuxin pressed her.

Still, Lu Zhuxin harbored some doubt. Were these so-called responsibilities of System 03 really what it claimed them to be?

Probably not entirely, she suspected.

Fortunately, Lu Zhuxin had already found a few ways to keep these Systems in check.

Rеad oո KαtRеadіnɡСafе

With that thought, she stretched lazily.

“I’m tired. Time to sleep.”

[Host, are you truly not going to do anything about Bu Lianshuang?]

Lu Zhuxin raised an eyebrow slightly.

Through the closed door, she could still hear Bu Lianshuang’s faint crying.

That little crybaby was still at it.

Was she made of water? To cry this much.

“Leave her be.” Lu Zhuxin said. “She’s not a child. She should learn to work through things on her own.”

“If she can’t even hold up under this much grievance, keeping her by my side would only be a nuisance.”

“Let her feelings settle first. We can talk after.”

With that, Lu Zhuxin lay down on the bed.

She closed her eyes. Her consciousness gradually sank.

When the scene before her reformed, she had already entered the linked dream.

“Your Majesty!” Hu Mei’er stood before Lu Zhuxin in perfect, reverent attention.

Lu Zhuxin glanced at her, then looked down to check her own clothing.

For once, she was dressed normally.

“Your Majesty, do you have any instructions?” Hu Mei’er asked again.

Lu Zhuxin composed her expression and said, “The plan needs to be moved up. The matter I spoke to you about before, have you finished making arrangements?”

Hu Mei’er nodded. “Your Majesty’s instructions were passed down at the earliest opportunity.”

“The entire fox clan stands ready and awaits Your Majesty’s command.”

…

Song Shutao returned to her guest room.

Even now, she hadn’t fully recovered from the events of the day.

This body was only a substitute, but to maintain its convincing appearance, she had used a secret technique to split a fragment of her soul and embed it in the substitute body’s spirit core. If the substitute were destroyed, she would suffer serious injury herself.

‘That maid… was she really just an ordinary maid of the Chi residence?’

Song Shutao muttered to herself.

Rеaⅾ οո КαtReαⅾіոɡСаfе

Still, she felt somewhat relieved. If the Chi family’s Eldest Miss hadn’t personally stepped in to get her out of that situation, her identity might not have held up much longer.

Her dear nephew Song Shixuan had really handed her an impossible errand.

Knock knock knock.

A knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

“Young Sect Master, it’s me. Lu Guan.”

Song Shutao let out a breath of relief. She stood and pushed open the door.

Lu Guan was standing outside, dusty from travel.

“Something the matter?”

Lu Guan glanced left and right to make sure no one was watching, then stepped inside.

He locked the door and set up a barrier to block any detection.

“Young Sect Master, the sect has received some information that needs you to verify.”

Song Shutao saw how cautious he was being and grew slightly tense. “What is it?”

Surely Lu Guan hadn’t come to discuss Lingxiao Sword Sect secrets with her. She wasn’t actually Song Shixuan!

“Rumors have been circulating outside that a sword cultivation prodigy has appeared within the Chi family. That this person is said to be the reincarnation of a Sword Venerable.”

Song Shutao froze at those words.

She hadn’t expected that this was what Lu Guan had come to tell her.

This was something only the Chi family and herself should have known about.

The Chi family had already issued orders to seal the information. Song Shutao had never mentioned it to anyone. How had word gotten out?

Was the Chi family a complete sieve?

Lu Guan, unaware of Song Shutao’s inner thoughts, continued, “Young Sect Master, this matter is extremely important to the sword sect.”

“The Chi family has always been guarded against Lingxiao Sword Sect, but you are different. You are the Chi family’s future son-in-law. I’m hoping you can use that connection to look into this and determine whether it’s true.”

Song Shutao was taken aback. She thought it over for a moment and said, “I’m aware of this matter.”

Lu Guan’s eyes lit up. “So Young Sect Master has already looked into it?”

“Yes, actually the situation is this…” Song Shutao’s words suddenly stopped.

The matter of Chi Muxue being the reincarnation of a Sword Venerable was the Chi family’s secret.

Rеad oո КatReаdіոɡCafе

And beyond that, she had made a promise to Chi Xiyan not to let this information spread.

But Song Shixuan was the Young Sect Master of Lingxiao Sword Sect. Could she tell Lingxiao Sword Sect about this?

Song Shutao wasn’t sure.

After all, she herself was not a disciple of Lingxiao Sword Sect.

After hesitating for a moment, she decided she shouldn’t tell Lingxiao Sword Sect about this for now. At the very least, she needed to send word back to the Song family first and consult Song Shixuan before making any decisions.

“When I was discussing sword principles with the Chi family’s disciples earlier, someone happened to mention it in passing. There did appear to be a remarkably gifted young person at the spirit root testing ceremony.”

“However, I’m not certain whether this is the same person being spoken of in the outside rumors.”

“I’ll need to look into it further before I can say.”

Lu Guan frowned slightly at this, but nodded nonetheless. “Understood, Young Sect Master.”

“This matter is of the utmost importance to the sect. Please do not take it lightly.”

“I’ve arranged for some disciples to stay at the inn outside the Chi residence. If anything comes up, you can reach us at any time.”

“The Chi family’s head does not hold a particularly friendly attitude toward Lingxiao Sword Sect.”

Song Shutao nodded. “I understand. I’ll be careful.”

She saw Lu Guan out.

She closed the door and sat down to meditate.

Not long after Lu Guan had gone, she heard footsteps again.

She furrowed her brow. “Who’s there?”

“Young Master Song, it’s me. Chi Xiyan.”

Song Shutao’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected Chi Xiyan to come and find her privately like this.

After all, even getting a single meeting with Chi Xiyan before had required pushing through layer upon layer of resistance from the Chi family.

Song Shutao quickly opened the door and found Chi Xiyan standing outside, wrapped in a cloak.

“Young Master Song, may I come in?” Chi Xiyan asked.

“Please, come in, Miss Xiyan.” Song Shutao welcomed her inside.

Once they were in the room, Chi Xiyan took off her cloak.

Song Shutao asked, “You’ve come to visit privately, Miss Xiyan. Is there something urgent?”

“Young Master Song, Xiyan has come on behalf of her younger sister to offer you an apology.” Chi Xiyan gave a slight bow. “My younger sister is willful. Having her maid affront Young Master Song reflects my own failure to keep proper order.”

Rеαⅾ οո КаtReαdіոɡСαfе

“I ask that Young Master Song, for Xiyan’s sake, not hold Muxue’s reckless behavior against her.”

Song Shutao was surprised. “Miss Xiyan, you’ve come all the way here in the middle of the night just to say this?”

She shook her head. “She is your younger sister. Why would I be angry with her?”

More than any anger, what actually preoccupied Song Shutao was how close her cover had come to being blown. If her identity had been exposed here in the Chi residence, she wouldn’t know how to face Song Shixuan upon returning.

Song Shutao added, “Muxue is bright and free-spirited, gifted and quick. She’s a very endearing child.”

“Even if she has a bit of a mischievous streak, there’s no real malice in her.”

“Miss Xiyan, I am not a petty person.”

Chi Xiyan bowed again. “Your willingness to forgive, Young Master Song, means a great deal to Xiyan.”

“There’s really no need for that, Miss Xiyan!” Song Shutao hurried forward and reached out to support her. “You and I will be husband and wife before long. For something this small, there’s no need for such formality.”

The moment Song Shutao took hold of Chi Xiyan’s arm, Chi Xiyan gave a faint, startled pause, then quickly stepped back half a step.

“Young Master Song.” Chi Xiyan clutched her own arm and drew a slow breath. “We are not married yet…”

Song Shutao withdrew her hand, slightly embarrassed. “That was presumptuous of me.”

She had forgotten again. She was currently playing the role of a man.

Men and women should not touch carelessly.

Even if Chi Xiyan was her fiance, they couldn’t be too intimate before the wedding.

Though, if that was the standard, Chi Xiyan coming to meet her privately was far more improper to begin with.

Would the famously composed Chi family Eldest Miss make such a mistake?

With that thought, Song Shutao asked, “Your private visit, Miss Xiyan, surely isn’t only for the purpose of an apology?”

If an apology were all it was, there was no reason to come in person like this.

Chi Xiyan paused, something hesitant crossing her face.

“Young Master Song, Xiyan did come because of Muxue.”

Song Shutao looked at her, puzzled.

Chi Xiyan wavered for a moment, then her gaze steadied with resolve.

“Young Master Song, as your betrothed, Xiyan has an unreasonable request to make.”

“Xiyan would like to ask Young Master Song for help in arranging for Muxue to become a disciple under Immortal Venerable Qingzhi.”