A Consequence of Opposing the Heroine’s Halo (GL) - Chapter 36

Above Fire Spirit Peak, a massive fiery lotus pulsated with suppression. This was the Karmic Flame Red Lotus, the Lifebound Treasure of Lin Yuan, the Peak Master. Normally, the crimson karmic fire surrounding the peak would alert Lin Yuan the moment anyone entered, but with so many guests today, he had long since severed that sensory link. Thus, Liu Sanye and Bai Tong managed to slip in successfully.

Inside Fire Spirit Peak, a celebration banquet barrier had been established. The interior was crowded and bustling, resembling a fairyland where a group of immortals had gathered. Stepping inside felt like attending the Flat Peach Feast in the Heavenly Palace, though here there were only spirit fruits and jade nectar, without celestial maidens dancing.

Liu Sanye and Bai Tong squeezed through the outer venue with the ordinary disciples. They were here to find Chu Danxue, not to play, so after scanning the area and seeing no sign of her, they took advantage of the chaos to slip toward the main venue.

At the main venue, several “old monsters” who had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years were exchanging pleasantries. Despite their great age, they maintained the appearance of their youth. In fact, Fang Shi, the Valley Master of the Illusion Array Valley, looked like a small child of seven or eight. The boy had a small braid tied on his head and a tender face, yet his words were exceptionally mature.

Riding on an auspicious cloud, he looked at Lin Yuan with a smile. “You brat, you’ve got good luck. Taking in such a fine disciple—it’s quite a boost to your reputation.”

Lin Yuan replied with a similar grin, “My luck is only slightly better than yours, Little Shi.”

Lin Yuan’s words made Fang Shi think of his own group of good-for-nothing disciples. He was furious, yet he forced a smile. “It’s a pity Brother Lin Yuan’s luck is still lacking. Two thousand disciples on Fire Spirit Peak, yet only Danxue has turned out to be capable.”

Lin Yuan’s smile deepened. He called over Chu Danxue, who was standing quietly nearby. “Our Danxue alone is worth a hundred capable disciples. Danxue, come meet your Grandpa Fang.”

Lin Yuan’s use of “Grandpa” nearly made Fang Shi’s nose go crooked with rage. He immediately retorted, “What ‘Grandpa’! Call me Martial Uncle!”

Lin Yuan countered, “You’re over a thousand years old, and Danxue isn’t even a hundred yet. I think ‘Grandpa’ is quite fitting.”

Fang Shi ground his teeth. “Aren’t you also over a thousand? Why doesn’t she call you Grandpa!”

Lin Yuan shot back, “I’m her master.”

“I’m still her Martial Uncle!”

And so, the two “old children” began to bicker amidst their pleasantries.

Chu Danxue: “…”

Just then, Feng Zhu approached with a plate, picking out spirit fruits to eat. Chu Danxue sought his help: “Martial Uncle Feng, could you help persuade Master and Martial Uncle Fang?”

Feng Zhu glanced indifferently at Lin Yuan and Fang Shi, then let out a snort. “Don’t call me Martial Uncle, call me Feng Zhu!” Then he turned and walked away, his temperament being exceptionally eccentric.

Chu Danxue: “…”

After Feng Zhu left, Xun Qiu drifted over with a plate of fruits. “Feng Zhu is just like that. But don’t you actually call him ‘Feng Zhu,’ or he’ll skin you!”

Chu Danxue had some understanding of Feng Zhu’s temper, as Jun Yining complained about his master in her ear every single day.

Chu Danxue smiled and thanked her, then asked, “Elder Xun, I’ve been in seclusion since I returned unconscious and wounded. I wonder how those two disciples I brought back are doing?”

Xun Qiu replied while eating, “Both are fine seedlings. One of them is even a Top-tier Heavenly Spiritual Root.”

“A Top-tier Heavenly Spiritual Root?” Chu Danxue was stunned and felt a bit guilty. “I actually didn’t know.”

Xun Qiu replied, “Don’t blame yourself. That girl Sanye wanted to stay by Bai Tong’s side and deliberately deceived you.” As she spoke, she eyed the Crane Feather at Chu Danxue’s waist. The feather shimmered beautifully in the light. “Is that the Crane Feather the Sect Leader bestowed upon you? It’s truly lovely.”

Being a collector, Xun Qiu’s mouth was practically watering at the sight of the beautiful item.

Chu Danxue nodded. She detached the Crane Feather and held it in her hand, the brilliant light reflecting in her eyes. “The Sect Leader said the Crane Feather represents protection. He told me to shoulder the responsibilities of the Eldest Senior Sister.”

Liu Sanye led Bai Tong through the shadows. They had finally managed to sneak into the main venue, but before Sanye could even celebrate, her collar was grabbed and she was hoisted up.

“Sanye!”

Bai Tong hurriedly reached out to pull her back, but then she realized the person holding Sanye was Jun Yining, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time. Her hand stopped.

Jun Yining held Liu Sanye, smiling exceptionally “happily.” “You little girl, you’re quite the liar~”

Knowing her secret was out, Liu Sanye put on a look of innocence and asked dazed, “Senior Brother, what are you saying? I don’t understand?”

Jun Yining held her collar with one hand and pinched her cheek with the other. “Stop acting. You’re a Top-tier Heavenly Spiritual Root yet you lied to us. You’re quite clever, aren’t you?”

Realizing she couldn’t keep up the act, Liu Sanye gave an awkward laugh. “Actually, it was all an accident. Do you believe me, Senior Brother?”

“I’d believe a ghost before I believe you!” Though Jun Yining said this, he still put her down. He looked at the two children standing obediently straight like they’d done something wrong and raised an eyebrow. “By the way, how did you two sneak in here?”

Liu Sanye, that heartless girl, decisively sold out Xun Qiu. “Elder Xun gave me a map…” She then quickly explained, “We didn’t come to Fire Spirit Peak to play, we came to congratulate the Eldest Senior Sister!”

Bai Tong nodded repeatedly beside her.

Jun Yining crossed his arms and laughed. “You have heart, then. I’ll personally take you to see Senior Sister.”

Liu Sanye pulled Bai Tong and gave Jun Yining a deep bow. “Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Jun Yining: “…” Why does this brat love bowing to him so much?

Jun Yining led the way. He frequented Fire Spirit Peak and was intimately familiar with the paths. Being a talkative type, he chatted with them as they walked—though it was mostly Liu Sanye replying.

“Little Sanye, I’m actually not surprised at all that you’re a Top-tier Heavenly Spiritual Root!”

“Why do you say that, Senior Brother?” Liu Sanye wondered secretly. Did she have an aura? Was she glowing?

Jun Yining laughed. “Because you’re both ‘top-tier’ [極品 – also means a real piece of work/oddball].”

Liu Sanye: “…” Okay, shut up!

However, Jun Yining’s real thought wasn’t that. As someone who judged people primarily by their looks, his actual thought was: Sanye has turned white! Holy crap, she looks so good! As expected of a Top-tier Heavenly Root, I really want to pinch her! I should have pinched her more just now!

Of course, Jun Yining couldn’t say his real thoughts out loud, or he’d be treated as a pervert. He’d been beaten for being a pervert before and had a psychological shadow about it.

Moments later, the three found Chu Danxue. After forming her Nascent Soul, she seemed even more beautiful. She stood amidst the celestial mist with a graceful silhouette; the crimson vermilion mark on her forehead seemed to carry a hint of divinity, making her exceptionally striking. She looked like a goddess from the Nine Heavens who had just descended to the mortal realm.

Seeing this version of Chu Danxue, Liu Sanye momentarily didn’t dare to step forward. Her radiance was so great that it made one afraid to approach.

Since Liu Sanye stopped, Bai Tong stopped as well. Only Jun Yining felt nothing out of the ordinary, leaning toward Chu Danxue as usual. “Senior Sister, guess who I brought to see you?”

Chu Danxue had seen the three from afar, yet she still asked with a smile, “Who did you bring?”

Jun Yining hoisted Liu Sanye up. The suddenly hoisted Liu Sanye was as tense and still as a wooden chicken. She greeted her, “Eldest Senior Sister, hello.”

Liu Sanye’s silly look made Chu Danxue laugh. She asked the two, “How did you two get here?”

Seeing that Chu Danxue was still as kind as ever, Liu Sanye breathed a sigh of relief. “We came to congratulate you!”

Then, Bai Tong pulled a crystal fan from her storage bag. “This is a gift for Eldest Senior Sister. I hope you like it.”

Chu Danxue hadn’t expected the two children to be so thoughtful. She accepted the fan with a smile, then took out two folding fans—one with water attributes and one with wood—from her storage bracelet. The folding fans were simple and unadorned, heavy and elegant. At first glance, they looked like ordinary fans, but they were actually Heaven-rank dharma treasures imbued with profound spiritual power.

Chu Danxue gave a fan to each of them. “I like the fan you gave me very much. I’ll give you these as return gifts.”

Liu Sanye was stunned as she looked at the Heaven-rank treasure in her hand! “This… this… isn’t quite right.” Owning a Heaven-rank treasure meant being invincible among peers below the Nascent Soul stage, and even allowed for slaying enemies above one’s rank. It was incredibly precious; even the Hegui Sect’s Treasure Pavilion didn’t have Heaven-rank items.

Chu Danxue stroked Liu Sanye’s head. “I no longer have use for them. Keeping them is pointless; it’s better to give them to you.”

Liu Sanye was nearly moved to tears. The Eldest Senior Sister was truly too good. Since she was this good, she had to protect her! She wouldn’t let Senior Sister suffer the tragic end described in the book. After making a series of mental vows, she shamelessly accepted the fan.

Xun Qiu had been eating spirit fruits nearby. Hearing Liu Sanye’s voice, she was so startled she dropped her fruit and rushed over. “Sanye, Bai Tong! Why are you here?!”

If Lin Yuan found out, wouldn’t she be thrown into the Ice-Fire Abyss to roll around a few times? The thought terrified her. She glanced back and saw Lin Yuan still bickering with Fang Shi. Xun Qiu breathed a massive sigh of relief, then hurried to drag the two girls into a corner. “How did you run all the way here?”

Sanye replied, “Did you forget? It was the map you gave me.”

Xun Qiu’s face darkened. “I regret it now. Give the map back.”

How could Sanye spit out something she’d already swallowed? She said to Xun Qiu, “Can’t we just go for a run?”

Xun Qiu replied, “Absolutely not! The Hegui Sect has explicit regulations: outer sect disciples who haven’t reached Foundation Establishment cannot leave the Southern Dividing Ridge at will. Otherwise, why do you think so many people grow old and die there?”

Liu Sanye clutched her storage bag. “You didn’t tell me! Don’t worry, I won’t run around next time. Besides, I’m going to Green Wood Peak soon; I won’t be an outer sect disciple anymore.”

Xun Qiu thought about it and realized she was right, so she didn’t confiscate the map. However, to be safe, she decided to take them away immediately.

Just as she was about to leave, Jun Yining quickly stopped her. “Elder Xun, don’t leave yet!”

Xun Qiu glared at him. “Brat, why are you stopping me? Are you trying to get me killed!”

Jun Yining quickly changed his tune. “No, you can leave, but Liu Sanye has to stay.”

Liu Sanye pointed to herself, confused. “Stay for what?”

Jun Yining replied, “To follow me back to Green Wood Peak, of course!”