Two Junior Sisters

This finally cleared up many of the doubts in You Su's mind.

"How did Junior Sister know I ran into trouble?"

This was the root of how Junior Sister knew he had experienced the power of that rotten flesh.

"Mistress told me... and the sword strike Mistress made against you earlier wasn't to kill you, but because she had already discovered another Malevolent Spirit on your neck."

"Mm, I see," You Su nodded.

"Will Senior Brother blame us? We knew Senior Brother was in danger, but we didn't tell you and didn't dare to help you?"

"I believe you and Mistress must have had your reasons for doing this."

You Su always spoke so gently to those close to him. He looked at the monstrous Junior Sister, his eyes showing no trace of strangeness anymore.

"Besides, one of you helped me eliminate the hidden danger, and the other gave me a spirit pill. You both helped me a great deal."

"Senior Brother, you're so kind," Junior Sister's tone was gentle. Just hearing her voice, one could imagine a youthful girl nodding shyly. "Actually, it's not that we didn't want to help you, but that we couldn't."

"Couldn't?"

"Mistress told me that consciousness cannot exist elsewhere for long, because like a wandering child, they naturally return to the main consciousness. The best way to delay their unification is to prevent the separated consciousness from intersecting with reality.

In other words, try to have the separated consciousness act as an independent individual, preferably with some differences from their real-life self. In fact, Senior Brother, you've long felt that Junior Sister and Mistress are a little different from their real selves, haven't you?"

No wonder I always felt the monstrous version of Junior Sister was less tsundere and more candid than the real her. Mistress, though usually taciturn, was even more aloof in the dream.

The Junior Sister and Mistress I met in the dream were like their real-life counterparts' avatars, living in my dream like the old grandfather residing in the protagonist's ring.

After listening, You Su felt that Mistress was truly an extraordinary woman, to be able to borrow the power of the Malevolent Spirit to perform such a heaven-defying act in the despair of being possessed.

"But Junior Sister, won't explaining this to me now also hasten your return?"

Return, it sounded like a warm word, but for the Junior Sister and Mistress in the dream, it meant a cold disappearance, and for the real Junior Sister and Mistress, it was an even more terrifying disaster.

"Since I decided to be honest with Senior Brother this time, I won't go back on my word. I might fall into a deep sleep for a while now, sealing my consciousness. Similarly, Senior Brother, don't mention anything about Malevolent Spirits to our real selves. After all, from their perspective, the main consciousness, you don't know they've been possessed. Discovering they've been possessed would be even more painful.

If the main consciousness realizes its own deficiencies, it will accelerate our return. You need to act as you always have, pretending you know nothing. Only then can we stall until Senior Brother finds a way to save us. But you can't rush either; heal your injuries and get stronger first. That's what you should be doing."

Hearing this, You Su felt a piercing pain. Knowing the suffering the other person was enduring, yet only able to pretend ignorance and watch coldly. The only thing you could do was to work hard behind her back to find a way to save her, even though the hope was slim.

"I will," You Su's voice was heavy yet firm.

Junior Sister stood up again, saying sadly, "As a burden, I feel sad thinking I won't see Senior Brother for a while, but I also can't bear to see Senior Brother remain so confused, so I have no choice."

The candlelight flickered with the breeze, the monster's shadow swaying. On this grotesque body, You Su saw no evil or malice, only a warm and sensitive heart hidden beneath the sticky flesh.

Do tears fall in dreams too?

You Su tasted the salty wetness on his lips and had his answer.

Seeing You Su's eyes redden, Junior Sister became a little flustered and took a couple of steps. She wanted to reach out and wipe away his tears but dared not touch him with this body, so she could only freeze in place.

You Su wiped his own forearm, his face regaining its resolute expression. He wasn't afraid of Junior Sister's hand suspended in mid-air and gently leaned into it.

The fleshy arm, covered in tiny tendrils, trembled slightly. Junior Sister's hand was cold and clammy, but You Su savored it, feeling no disgust.

He reached out and clasped Junior Sister's hand in return, unbothered by the creepy sores and slippery liquid. He said in the most solemn tone:

"Junior Sister, believe me, I will save you."

This was a vow the young man had repeated to himself countless times in his heart. This time, he finally made it to her in person.

Before the candle and under the moon, they made their solemn vows.

"I believe you."

Junior Sister no longer resisted his touch. Her spiral-shaped mouthparts rotated slightly, as if smiling, or perhaps crying.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment. The candlelight slanted, their shadows intertwined tightly.

Finally, Junior Sister broke free first. It took a step back somewhat awkwardly, then clumsily raised its right hand, just as she had forced herself to raise her sword earlier. She was saying goodbye.

"Junior Sister..."

"Senior Brother, you should wake up."

Before he could utter a word of refusal, the colors in You Su's eyes began to swirl and blur. A strong sense of falling woke him. The world he saw again was still the familiar chaos.

You Su pushed aside the thin blanket and sat up, wanting to go out and breathe the cool night air.

He suddenly realized something was wrong. Before he fell asleep, he was leaning against the bed, so why was he lying down when he woke up, with the blanket neatly covering him?

Ji Lingruo's even breathing gave him the answer.

She still couldn't rest easy and had secretly come to You Su's room to keep watch over him all night. However, overcome by exhaustion, she had already fallen asleep with her head on the wooden table.

The leaves rustled in the wind, and the night mist enveloped the bright moon, casting dappled, clear light.

A fairy in white stood on the branch of an ancient tree, her silhouette tall and graceful.

Her face seemed veiled by a layer of misty gauze, making it impossible to see clearly, reminding one of the distant solitary mountain, and evoking the image of clear, flowing autumn water.

Three thousand strands of black hair were tied into an elegant bun, and a green jade hairpin crowning it couldn't prevent it from fluttering and cascading over her shoulders. Just as her simple, unadorned long dress, as plain as a lotus, couldn't hide the stunning curves beneath.

The moonlight did not enhance her beauty; rather, the moonlight became more beautiful because of her.

Elegance and nobility surrounded her; she was like the first snowflake to fall upon the mortal realm. Just looking at her made one feel she shouldn't be here, that she belonged to misty, cloud-shrouded immortal mountains.

The immortal maiden quietly gazed in one direction, a piece of jade radiating emerald light, now cool to the touch, held in her hand. She slightly furrowed her delicate brows, like distant mountains.

At that moment, the elegant and luxurious sword at her waist began to vibrate strangely, its frequency increasing.

The immortal maiden grasped it and examined it. This sword had no sheath.

Just then, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from within the sword, shattering the tranquility:

"He Shutong, what the hell are you doing? Do you know my disciple almost died?"

That chapter might be a bit rough, please don't read it for now. I'll fix it and you can read it tomorrow ╥﹏╥