Volume 3, Chapter 341 – The Woman in Red

Huang Shangshang spoke with such certainty that Song Shiyuan’s eyes carried a flicker of surprise.

She curved her brows, a faint smile resting on her face.

“Then I’ll borrow Senior Sister’s kind words.”

Seeing her expression, Huang Shangshang knew at a glance that this girl didn’t believe a word of it.

Well. As long as she didn’t keep torturing herself over it.

Huang Shangshang gave Song Shiyuan a helpless smile in return.

“Junior Sister Chi, are you still heading to the back mountain to practice your swordsmanship?”

As Song Shiyuan’s caretaker, Huang Shangshang knew better than anyone just how hard this girl pushed herself.

Talented, hardworking, and beautiful on top of it all. No wonder the Fox Monarch had taken notice of her.

Huang Shangshang felt a quiet pang of envy.

“I…” Song Shiyuan tightened her grip on the ancient sword, her gaze dimming slightly.

She pressed her lips together and said softly, “Senior Sister, I’d like to go out for a walk. Would that be alright?”

“Go out for a walk? Of course.” Huang Shangshang said. “Where did you have in mind?”

“The Sword Washing Terrace? Or the Sword Sinking Pool?”

“Or perhaps the Copper Fire Forge to temper yourself a little? I can come with you to any of them.”

“Oh, right. A few days ago, some of the junior sisters brought back a whole collection of new opera scripts from outside. Are you interested, Junior Sister Chi?”

“If you’re getting bored of sword practice, I could always come with you to take a look.”

Huang Shangshang spoke with genuine enthusiasm.

Song Shiyuan listened, but behind those dark, quiet eyes, something complicated flickered past.

She had lost her memories. She remembered nothing of before.

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From the moment her memory began, Senior Sister Huang Shangshang had always been like this.

Warm and spirited, caring and attentive, looking after her at every turn.

But as time wore on, even someone like Song Shiyuan, a person without her past, had begun to sense something off.

“Senior Sister…” Song Shiyuan said quietly. “I’d like to go out on my own…”

“You want some time to yourself?” Huang Shangshang’s gaze swept across Song Shiyuan’s face.

This girl. She really was still brooding over not being able to practice the sword technique.

Huang Shangshang pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment before adding, “Well, if you ask me, the Scripture Pavilion is probably the best place for that. It’s quiet there. Good for clearing your mind.”

The shadow in Song Shiyuan’s eyes deepened. “I meant… I’d like to go outside the sect…”

“Outside the sect?!” Huang Shangshang’s eyes went wide in an instant. “That won’t do. That absolutely won’t do!”

“Senior Sister…” Song Shiyuan lifted her gaze and looked directly into Huang Shangshang’s eyes. “Why won’t it? May I know the reason?”

“Junior Sister Chi!” Huang Shangshang replied with a serious expression. “You’ve lost your memories. You know how dangerous the outside world is!”

“A young girl like you going out there alone would be far too risky.”

“I’m only saying this to protect you!”

Huang Shangshang meant every word. And yet, inwardly, Song Shiyuan let out a quiet sigh.

“Senior Sister… when will I ever be allowed to leave the sect…”

“…” That question gave Huang Shangshang pause.

Keeping Song Shiyuan sheltered within Lingxu Sword Sect was an order from the Fox Monarch.

Whether Song Shiyuan could ever leave was entirely up to the Fox Monarch’s will.

Huang Shangshang was only a Young Sect Master. Who was she to make that kind of decision?

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She thought for a moment, then said, “Junior Sister Chi, when you’ve recovered your memories, or when you’ve grown strong enough to hold your own out there, then I’ll feel at ease letting you go.”

Song Shiyuan’s expression didn’t change. She wasn’t the least bit surprised by Huang Shangshang’s answer.

What she couldn’t understand was what made her so special.

Special enough that Huang Shangshang, the Young Sect Master of a sword sect, would be so on edge about her.

‘Strong enough to hold your own.’ Just an excuse.

Many junior sisters who had barely started their training were free to come and go from Lingxu Sword Sect as they pleased.

Why was she the only one who couldn’t?

Song Shiyuan lowered her eyes slightly. “Alright. I understand, Senior Sister.”

Seeing her like this, Huang Shangshang felt a twinge of guilt. “Come now, Junior Sister Chi. There’s plenty here in the sect to enjoy. It’s not any worse than out there.”

“If you’re feeling cooped up, you don’t have to practice today. I’ll keep you company.”

“Mm.” Song Shiyuan smiled faintly. “Thank you, Senior Sister. It really is fine here. I don’t feel cooped up.”

Huang Shangshang figured Song Shiyuan had simply been inside too long and was starting to feel restless. She couldn’t exactly blame her. Truth be told, even she herself had been feeling a bit stifled lately.

But looking after Song Shiyuan was her responsibility. She wasn’t about to let her mother grab her by the ear and lecture her.

“Young Sect Master!”

From somewhere in the distance, a senior sister of the sect waved in Huang Shangshang’s direction. “The Sect Master is looking for you!”

“Huh?!” Huang Shangshang’s face shifted with a flash of surprise. “Mother’s back?!”

She turned to Song Shiyuan with an apologetic smile. “Junior Sister Chi, I’m afraid I have to take my leave for a moment.”

“Go ahead.” Song Shiyuan smiled lightly. “The Sect Master’s matters come first. I’ll be fine.”

“Alright, alright.”

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Huang Shangshang gave Song Shiyuan a nod, then hurried away.

Song Shiyuan stood alone beneath the willow tree by the water’s edge.

A gentle breeze stirred the branches, lifting the strands of her hair.

She sighed quietly to herself.

She knew Huang Shangshang meant her no harm.

But she could just as clearly feel what Lingxu Sword Sect had done, keeping her here under a kind of house arrest.

She had lost her memories. She hadn’t lost her mind.

In all the days she had spent within Lingxu Sword Sect, she had sensed the wrongness at every turn.

The sect was lovely. The people here treated her well.

And yet she could still feel it, that invisible restraint pressing in around her.

Like a pampered songbird kept by its owner. The owner was fond of her, hadn’t locked her in a cage, but would never allow the bird to fly beyond the room.

Song Shiyuan didn’t know what it was about herself that Lingxu Sword Sect valued so highly, but she had a faint, gnawing suspicion that it had something to do with the memories she had lost.

“You seem to be sharper than I imagined, Song Shiyuan.”

At that moment, a voice sounded from behind her.

“Who’s there?!” Song Shiyuan’s mind snapped to attention.

She spun around and drew her sword, leveling it at the figure who had appeared at her back without warning.

It was a woman. Red hair, red robes.

Her figure was graceful, her face bewitching.

But within those beautiful fox-like eyes burned something fierce and violent, a killing edge held barely in check.

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She seemed to have emerged from the lake itself, rippling water trailing at her back.

Song Shiyuan felt her breath catch.

As the woman drew closer, a scorching, intense aura rushed forward to meet her.

She was like a living flame, burning everything around her without distinction.

“It wasn’t easy finding you.” The woman in red said. “I thought she would have hidden you in the Fox Palace, or sent you off to Nether Abyss City. I never expected it to be Lingxu Sword Sect.”

“How bold of her. The Song Clan isn’t even that far from Lingxu Sword Sect. Wasn’t she afraid you’d be found?”

Song Shiyuan furrowed her brow. “Who are you? Do you know me? And who is Song Shiyuan?”

“I know you. Of course I know you.” The woman in red smiled. “I have been watching you for a long time. I watched you, foolish woman, step deeper and deeper into her trap.”

“Still, meeting you face to face like this, properly, it’s a first.”

Song Shiyuan couldn’t make sense of what she was saying.

She kept her hands folded behind her, a talisman already palmed in secret.

The woman laughed softly. “Put down whatever’s in your hand. I have no ill intentions toward you.”

“I simply want to ask you to come with me.”

“As for who I am…”

The woman in red furrowed her brow slightly, as though something unpleasant had crossed her mind.

She cleared her throat and said:

“Names aren’t important. But you may call me…”

“Weisheng Jinyue.”