Junior Sister, What's Going On? (Seeking Monthly Tickets! Seeking Follow-up Reads! Seeking Book Recommendations!)

Su Ling'er tried again and again.

Again and again.

She had the little insect hide inside the tree trunk.

Or hide on the roof beam.

She even had the insect burrow into the mouths of wild beasts.

But each time, she failed.

Finally, she gave up struggling, slumping onto the straw and looking at the hole in the roof.

The sun had already set, and the twilight glow squeezed through the cracks in the window, dyeing the dilapidated thatched hut a bloody hue.

That light was just like her current state of mind, utterly silent, with only ashes remaining.

A patch of light also reflected on the ground beside her.

Within the light spot, a few dust particles danced silently, spinning, and finally returning to stillness...

The pot of Worry Flower she had brought back quietly bloomed with a faint, tiny azure.

The dust settled, reflecting her hopes that had been extinguished time and again;

The azure bloomed, sharing her current grief.

But why?

Why did they know the location of the insects she released every single time?!

It was like this every time!

And why wasn't she discovered immediately when she released the Spirit Contract Insect just now?

If they knew these were insects used for reporting information, why didn't they just capture her, the source?

Moreover, with Senior Disciple Brother Lin Qingfeng's methods and his quick temper to kill, how could he tolerate her living until now?

This didn't make sense.

Su Ling'er lay on the straw, her arms dangling, resting on her forehead.

Her red sleeves covered most of her face, revealing only a small part of her countenance.

Was it because she activated it with her vital blood?

Or did the insect itself carry the unique spiritual power imprint of Qing Xu Temple, which they could detect?

Or perhaps...

Regardless, they could identify this "foreign object" that did not belong to Gui Xi Sect.

But why?

Why did they merely keep eliminating this "foreign object" without ever pursuing the source that released it?

She didn't believe her hiding skills were so brilliant that they could fool the eyes and ears of the entire sect.

The only explanation she could think of...

Su Ling'er's pupils contracted sharply.

She thought of the most manipulative plot in plays.

She thought of the smile on Lin Qingfeng's face, that benevolent and serene smile, yet one that held the insight of knowing everything.

They were absolutely doing it on purpose!

They must have already realized it was her releasing the insects through some means!

They also knew she wanted to escape!

But they neither stopped her nor exposed her!

They just waited for her to ignite a spark of hope each time, and then personally extinguish that flame in the most spectacular way!

They didn't want her dead!

They just wanted to watch her struggle repeatedly between endless hope and despair!

They wanted to see her try to escape every time, only to smash her head and bleed, ultimately curling up in a corner and trembling!

"Is this a cat playing with a mouse... Heh heh..."

She gave a weak, self-mocking laugh.

The depletion of her soul and the severe mental trauma crashed down.

The world spun before her eyes.

The thatched hut, the straw, and the hole she saw all became blurry and distorted.

Finally, she fell into darkness.

She... fainted...

It's unclear how much time had passed.

Thump.

Thump, thump, thump.

A rhythmic knocking sound entered her ears, even keeping a beat.

Who is it?

Knock knock knock! Knock knock knock!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The knocking grew urgent, the force behind it increasing.

Outside the door, Lin Qingfeng frowned, his black robes fluttering in the night wind.

Junior Disciple Sister has been resting the entire afternoon, why is she still sleeping?

Junior Disciple Sister is incredibly lazy today!

"Junior Disciple Sister!"

There was no response from inside.

Thump! Thump-thump! Thump! Thump-thump-thump! Thump!

Lin Qingfeng began drumming on the door directly.

"Junior Disciple Sister, wake up! The sun is already high in the sky! A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!"

Junior Disciple Sister...

Could she have been so overwhelmed by sect missions that she decided to hang herself?

Impossible!

With Junior Disciple Sister's willpower, how could she be crushed by mere thousands of sect missions!

No way!

And so.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

"Junior Disciple Sister! If you don't open the door, Senior Disciple Brother is coming in!"

The violent shaking finally pulled Su Ling'er's consciousness back from the abyss.

She suddenly opened her eyes, her head still throbbing with pain.

"Junior Disciple Sister! Open the door!"

Outside the door, that familiar voice that filled her with dread continued.

It's Senior Disciple Brother, Lin Qingfeng!

Boom!

Su Ling'er's mind went blank, as if struck by lightning.

Has she been discovered?

Has the matter of the Spirit Contract Insect been exposed?!

He's here, he's finally here!

He's tired of playing cat and mouse, and he's coming to purge the sect!

But.

Resist?

What could she use to resist?

This wooden sword?

Although this wooden sword is extremely strange, could this wooden sword and her Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivation possibly stand against Senior Disciple Brother, whose cultivation level she couldn't even fathom?

It would be like an ant trying to shake a tree, or a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Su Ling'er gave a bitter smile.

But at this moment!

The knocking outside stopped!

Su Ling'er could almost imagine Lin Qingfeng standing outside the door, his face wearing that compassionate smile, but his hand likely already resting on that ancient sword named [Wait a Moment].

Was he waiting for her?

Waiting for her to open the door and step towards death?

Or, would he lose his patience, kick down the door, and then hack her into pieces?

What should she do?

What should I do?

Beg for mercy? Confess? Or play dumb?

Would the Mo listen?

I'd probably die even faster!

Besides, how could a cultivator of the Righteous Path act like this!

Perhaps...

Perhaps he was just passing by, just happened to need something from me, and didn't discover the Spirit Contract Insect's secret?

Su Ling'er still held onto a sliver of hope in her heart.

Calm down, I must calm down!

The more this happens, the less I can panic!

She raised her hand.

Slap! Slap!

She slapped her cheeks hard with both hands.

The stinging pain from her palms meeting her cheeks helped her thoughts clear up a bit.

I can't let him see my weakness!

And I definitely can't let him see my fear!

She leaned against the wall, staggering to her feet, and tidied her disheveled clothes.

Finally, she took another deep breath, forcing a somewhat lazy and bewildered smile onto her face.

Yes, just like this.

Hold it together, Su Ling'er!

She slowly walked to the door, her fingers still trembling as she reached for the bolt.

Creak--!

She pulled the door open.

A slight friction sound came from the door hinges.

Outside the door, the figure in black stood quietly.

Su Ling'er lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

"Senior Disciple Brother... it's so late, what is it?"

"I... I just woke up..."

However, Lin Qingfeng didn't follow her lead, instead looking at Su Ling'er with confusion.

Hmm?

Junior Sister's complexion...

"Junior Sister, what's... what's going on?"