After Being Struck By The Love Gu, I Reached A Happy Ending With My Frail Best Friend - Chapter 3

The Zhaoshuang Sword shone cold beneath the brilliant crimson glow.

This was Bian Yingxue—the youngest Golden Core cultivator the cultivation world had seen to date.

“Senior Sister?”

Shen Fangzhou’s eyes lit up. Amitabha, Senior Sister, you finally came. Any later and rumors about your junior sister and your official love interest would have spread everywhere.

A bright smile immediately appeared on her face. Shen Fangzhou hurriedly rose to open the door for Bian Yingxue, moving so quickly that she looked almost impatient. The corner of her green robe, which had been curled in Xie Guiwan’s palm, slipped away like an autumn leaf.

Sect Master Xie silently rubbed her fingertips together.

Shen Fangzhou opened the door, only for the wooden panel to be pushed inward with a creak.

The surging cold outside roared into the room, lifting the newcomer’s plain white robes, completely unadorned.

Her brows were sharp as blades, her sideburns cleanly cut. Her lips were thin but faintly red. Her eyes were as keen as swords, and when they looked over coldly, they were enough to send a chill through anyone’s heart.

Bian Yingxue entered with a sword at her back.

Perhaps the Zhaoshuang Sword at her waist was simply too cold. The moment she stepped through the doorway, Shen Fangzhou felt as though several cuts had been carved across the back of her hand, nearly making her lose her grip on the door handle.

Only when Bian Yingxue saw her junior sister did some of the coldness on her face fade.

She had just opened her mouth to say something when her peripheral vision caught an extremely familiar figure.

The faint smile at her lips abruptly stilled.

Bian Yingxue said, “Sect Master Xie. It has been a long time.”

Xie Guiwan replied, “It has been a long time.”

That was all.

Shen Fangzhou looked from one to the other, growing unbearably anxious. She sighed and poked the system.

“It’s already been three years. Why do they still look like they barely know each other?”

The system thought, Have you ever once paid attention to where Sect Master Xie is looking?

It sneered and warned Shen Fangzhou, “I don’t care whether they know each other well. You’re not allowed to get close to either of them. If you really end up together with Xie Guiwan, your fates will become permanently entangled! Forget whether she survives—you definitely won’t be able to go back!”

“I know, I know. Where is your mind going?” Shen Fangzhou clicked her tongue. While welcoming her senior sister, she sternly condemned the system. “Sect Master Xie and I are merely very, very good friends! Besides, her official love interest is standing right in front of me. Do you really think I would personally tear apart my own ship?”

The system continued sneering. “Fine. Then swear to me that you’ll never fall in love with Xie Guiwan in this lifetime.”

Shen Fangzhou rolled her eyes. “Sure, I swear. Haven’t you noticed that I’ve been trying to match Sect Master Xie with my senior sister this whole time?”

The system smiled expressionlessly.

You hopelessly oblivious idiot.

Still, perhaps it was better if she remained oblivious. If its host truly fell in love with the female lead, even nine lives would not be enough for the Heavenly Dao to kill.

Though Shen Fangzhou complained to the system, she was not truly anxious. According to the original novel, the greatest physical contact between these two women—whose combined warmth rivaled ice blocks carved from Kunlun’s snowy peaks—was passing a medicinal pill to each other.

Everything had to proceed gradually.

Once they defeated the final boss and dealt with the black soul, Shen Fangzhou would put everything she had into pushing the romance forward.

Setting those thoughts aside, Shen Fangzhou reached for the teapot with her right hand.

Tea streamed into the cup, filling the room with fragrance.

She passed the cup to Bian Yingxue and swept her gaze over her senior sister. Only after seeing that the white robes were unstained by blood did she relax.

“Senior Sister, did you manage to send the distress talisman?”

Bian Yingxue accepted the cup with her right hand but did not drink. She only nodded and explained,

“The Demon Lord set up a barrier that cuts off all communication. If we had not happened to pass through Huizhou City, we might not have discovered the changes here at all. The barrier was difficult to break. It likely required a peak Golden Core cultivator. I was delayed for quite some time before I managed to send the distress talisman. The Immortal Alliance should be able to send reinforcements within seven days. Junior Sister, you worked hard today.”

Shen Fangzhou relaxed completely, her expression bright as spring.

“Why be so polite with me, Senior Sister? If anyone deserves praise, it is Sect Master Xie for arriving in time. Otherwise, Huizhou Pass’s formation would still be damaged.”

“Oh? I had not heard about that.”

Bian Yingxue lowered her brows, then turned to Xie Guiwan and thanked her solemnly.

“We have also troubled Sect Master Xie.”

“Senior Sister Bian need not be so courteous.”

Xie Guiwan coughed several times. Her gaze withdrew from the cup of tea as she smiled with perfect restraint.

“I happened to be returning to Kunlun to retrieve something and passed by Huizhou Pass.”

It was a coincidence—and also the beginning of the second plot arc.

In the original novel, where Shen Fangzhou had not existed, today’s disaster had nearly destroyed half of Huizhou Pass.

Xie Guiwan and Bian Yingxue, who had hurried over, had no choice but to switch from defense to offense. Bian Yingxue led a small team across Two Realms Mountain and deep into the demon realm, attempting to surround and attack the Demon Lord’s younger sister, Zhou Xu, in order to lift the siege on Huizhou’s army.

Neither of them had expected the Demon Lord, Zhou Han, to personally appear. As a result, Xie Guiwan, who remained behind to defend the city, was forced to sacrifice half her spiritual power and face Zhou Han alone.

Now that Shen Fangzhou was here, she absolutely would not allow either her senior sister or Sect Master Xie to fall into danger again.

She looked at the two of them.

“Most of the demon army fled today. If the enemy has any intention of returning, it may happen tomorrow or the day after, but they will come back eventually. Tonight, we should use the Sword Pavilion’s name to summon the cultivators of every sect in the city. Huizhou is too important. We must combine our plans and strength.”

Bian Yingxue naturally agreed.

Her thumb pressed against Zhaoshuang at her waist. Her gaze swept faintly over Xie Guiwan, who was drinking tea, before she set down her cup and stood beside Shen Fangzhou.

“Since that is settled, we have already disturbed Sect Master Xie for long enough.”

Xie Guiwan remained calm.

“Sword Master Zhaoshuang is too courteous.”

Shen Fangzhou thought it over and echoed her senior sister.

“Sect Master, we will take our leave. It is not yet afternoon, so you should rest more.”

Xie Guiwan nodded, seemingly without the slightest reluctance. She quietly watched the two martial sisters walk out.

Yet just as Shen Fangzhou was about to leave—

“Zhouzhou.”

Shen Fangzhou immediately poked her head back inside.

“What is it, Sect Master?”

“I suddenly remembered something. I may need to keep you for another moment.”

Shen Fangzhou did not hesitate at all.

After all, this was the female lead she had carefully protected for three years.

She said something to Bian Yingxue, slipped back into the room, and closed the door.

“Sect Master, what is it?”

“Could I trouble you to pass me that teacup?”

Shen Fangzhou froze.

Only then did she notice that the cup she had handed to her senior sister was still full.

She placed the scalding cup back on the table, then habitually touched her ear to cool herself and joked,

“That’s all—huh? Senior Sister didn’t drink it?”

“Perhaps she had already rested before coming,” Xie Guiwan said casually.

Then she changed the subject.

She raised her eyes, which were slightly watery from coughing, and looked at Shen Fangzhou with unusual focus. Her tone was soft.

“There is nothing else. Be careful when you go outside.”

Shen Fangzhou waved casually, clearly not minding such a small matter. She nodded and left.

With a soft ding, the door closed.

Only the fragrance of tea remained in the room.

Xie Guiwan did not rise to rest.

It was always like this.

That person was always like this.

No matter what Xie Guiwan did, Shen Fangzhou would silently remain beside her, as though permitting everything she chose to do and forgiving everything she had ever done.

Xie Guiwan slowly closed her eyes, suppressing the thoughts in her heart that could not be spoken.

As if relaxing, she turned the teacup little by little.

The hall was filled with the rich fragrance of Lingnan Phoenix tea.

After staying at the Sword Pavilion for three years, she knew this was the tea Bian Yingxue habitually drank.

So why had she not drunk it?

Xie Guiwan idly poured the tea away.

It did not matter.

Perhaps it was better that she had not.

---

Night deepened.

Huizhou Pass, which had repelled the demon army during the day, was filled with the joy of having survived a catastrophe.

The civilians gathered here had long grown accustomed to war. Life therefore continued as usual. Voices urging others to drink wine or tea rose endlessly, while brilliant lanterns hung from pavilions and towers.

The deliberation hall in the city lord’s residence was even brighter than daylight.

Tonight was the first council Shen Fangzhou had convened in the Sword Pavilion’s name. In title, she could already be considered the acting city lord.

Although Shen Fangzhou was only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, the dazzling sword strike she had unleashed during the day was enough to win everyone’s wholehearted respect.

Thus, no one dared show the slightest disrespect or contempt tonight.

With a powerful enemy before them, having someone willing to step forward and take responsibility was also a good thing. Every prominent sect in the city had sent representatives early to await her instructions.

The deliberation hall was so quiet one could hear a needle fall.

The guests seated themselves according to custom, leaving only the broad city lord’s chair on the platform empty.

There was no soothing music for entertainment.

Nor was there spiritual wine offered to the guests.

It was excessively simple.

Chen Zhan sat near the bottom of the hall, almost beside the entrance. His expression was extremely gloomy, carrying even a trace of fear.

Naturally, his elders and sect could not compare with a colossus like the Sword Pavilion.

As a sword cultivator, he had desperately wanted to find another path and secure an immortal opportunity for himself.

The moment he saw that dazzling strike during the day, he had immediately formed the intention of currying favor with that senior.

Who would have thought the green-robed woman was Shen Fangzhou?

And Shen Fangzhou truly intended to hold him accountable for what happened on the battlefield—even reporting him to the Immortal Alliance!

All cultivators had a duty to take turns guarding the border passes for one year. But if the Immortal Alliance confirmed that he had deserted, he might be forced to remain in this bitterly cold place for seven or eight years.

What rotten luck.

Chen Zhan looked around the deliberation hall.

He could faintly hear Shen Fangzhou’s name being discussed nearby.

He tightened his grip around the porcelain cup, seething with resentment.

These so-called favored children of heaven only dared act however they pleased because they had powerful sects behind them.

Remembering what the black-robed person had told him before the banquet, Chen Zhan hardened his heart and made his decision.

At that moment, the entire hall abruptly fell silent.

The pale moon illuminated a figure at the entrance.

Shen Fangzhou wore green robes and carried the Nine Songs Sword Case on her back. Her expression was calm and unreadable.

She held half a scroll in her right hand. Her dark eyes carried an indescribable pressure as they slowly swept across the room.

Everyone fell silent.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds—

Then Shen Fangzhou suddenly smiled.

“There is no need for everyone to be so cautious. Tonight, as the Sword Pavilion’s chief disciple and acting city lord, I invited you here precisely to seek the opinions of my fellow Daoists so we may overcome Huizhou City’s crisis together.”

Lively greetings and cheerful conversation immediately resumed.

At first glance, the atmosphere even seemed rather harmonious.

Shen Fangzhou took her seat.

Bian Yingxue, who had arrived earlier, finally allowed some of the coldness in her expression to soften.

Xie Guiwan arrived last. Yet for some reason, she paused slightly as she entered, her gaze sweeping over Chen Zhan, who sat nearby with lowered eyes and an obedient expression.

Chen Zhan lowered his head even further, but muttered resentfully,

“Sickly invalid. What an ostentatious display…”

Shen Fangzhou’s hearing was exceptionally sharp.

Her expression darkened at once, and she was just about to speak when Xie Guiwan pressed lightly against her sleeve.

Her expression remained gentle and calm.

“Why bother entangling yourself with a petty person?”

“But—”

Meeting Xie Guiwan’s soft gaze, Shen Fangzhou could only stop.

She firmly memorized the speaker’s face before turning back to the hall.

A moment later, she spoke in a measured, clear voice.

“Everyone present is a pillar of the Immortal Alliance, so I will speak frankly.”

“News of the previous city lord’s death has already spread through the demon realm. One of the four passes at Two Realms Mountain now has a weakness. The enemy will undoubtedly return with a hundred times their current force. The Demon Lord, Zhou Han, has already severed every communication channel from Huizhou Pass. Whether we live or die may be decided at any moment.”

Everyone was startled.

None had expected the Demon Lord to directly target a fortified pass.

Shen Fangzhou paused.

Only after noticing the obvious worry on several faces did she continue.

“There is no need to panic excessively. Fortunately, Sword Master Zhaoshuang has already broken through the barrier and sent a communication talisman to request aid from the Immortal Alliance. We need only endure for ten days before reinforcements arrive.”

An elderly man seated below recovered first and asked tentatively,

“Endure for ten days… Acting City Lord, I assume you already have a plan. If the city formation has been fully repaired and we seal the gates without leaving, perhaps that will be enough to deal with the situation.”

It would not.

The one who would arrive was the Demon Lord, Zhou Han.

Even if Zhou Han’s cultivation had regressed for some unknown reason, she remained one of the strongest figures in either realm.

Expecting a single talisman formation to stop her was like a monk chanting scripture before a bandit and hoping to reform the opponent through virtue.

“No.”

Shen Fangzhou rejected the suggestion at once, her expression calm.

“Although we do not know why the Demon Lord suddenly sealed off the pass, if even she has intervened, how long can it be before she personally arrives in Huizhou?”

If there was even the slightest chance of her coming, Huizhou would become a city of the dead.

After hearing this, the elderly man indeed stopped objecting. He only frowned and began considering the implications.

The first person to speak often represented the will of Huizhou’s local factions.

Defending the city and conserving strength would normally be the best choice.

But it was not suitable now.

Seeing that the time was right, Shen Fangzhou said solemnly,

“I have received other information. The Demon Lord’s younger sister, Zhou Xu, is currently within Two Realms Mountain carrying a supreme treasure of the demon race. Sect Master Xie and Sword Master Zhaoshuang are both present. The acting city lord’s position can be entrusted to the two of them, while I lead a small team to ambush Zhou Xu. Once that is done, Huizhou City’s siege will naturally be lifted. As for the members of the team, I will have to ask everyone here to select your finest cultivators.”

Bian Yingxue was startled.

She abruptly turned toward Shen Fangzhou.

Seeing that her junior sister deliberately avoided her gaze, she finally realized that Shen Fangzhou had deceived her.

She lowered her brows and looked toward Sect Master Xie.

Yet Xie Guiwan’s expression remained composed, as though she had known about this all along.

No one else in the hall objected.

The elderly man even sighed with relief.

After all, Shen Fangzhou would be the one venturing deep into Two Realms Mountain. As for selecting people, it was even easier if he did not need to personally take action.

Some nodded.

Others praised the plan.

Amid the harmonious atmosphere, however, a slightly grating voice suddenly emerged.

“Is Acting City Lord Shen perhaps worrying too much?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Chen Zhan slowly rose.

“Friction frequently occurs between the immortal and demon realms along the border. There have been countless battles both large and small. To claim the Demon Lord will come merely because communication has been sealed—does that not sound rather alarmist? Two Realms Mountain’s restriction allows only Golden Core cultivators to enter. If the Demon Lord personally comes, would she not be rejected by the Heavenly Dao?”

Shen Fangzhou only gave a soft “Oh.”

She did not even look at Chen Zhan.

“So it is the friend who deserted the battlefield today.”

Chen Zhan’s expression changed.

“Acting City Lord Shen need not bring up unrelated matters to divert attention.”

“I was merely saying that I remembered you,” Shen Fangzhou replied indifferently. “According to your opinion, the Demon Lord will not come to Huizhou City.”

“Yes. At the very least, there is an extremely high probability—”

With a crash, the wine cup shattered.

Shen Fangzhou’s expression turned cold as she shouted,

“An extremely high probability? If that chance you claim is less than one in ten thousand becomes reality, and the Demon Lord arrives, what of Huizhou City’s three thousand cultivators? What of the danger of Two Realms Mountain’s passes collapsing? What of the thirty thousand civilians inside the city?”

She sneered.

“Will you take responsibility for all of them?”

The hall fell silent.

Countless gazes filled with the excitement of watching a spectacle turned toward Chen Zhan.

His face flushed crimson.

The humiliation of being openly mocked surged wildly through his mind.

Throwing caution aside, he slammed the table and stood.

“Shen Fangzhou! Then can you answer for the lives of the people in that so-called small team? Do you think surrounding Zhou Xu is safe? You are the Sword Pavilion’s chief disciple, yet you are still only at Foundation Establishment. You people from famous sects who rely on your backgrounds and try to trade human lives for prestige are nothing but bastards—ah!”

His scream echoed through the hall.

The elderly man focused his eyes and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

A sword talisman was embedded diagonally through Chen Zhan’s right shoulder.

Blood streamed from a wound as wide as a bowl, thoroughly staining the luxurious carpet red and filling the hall with the foul stench of blood.

The cultivator who had been filled with righteous indignation only a breath earlier now resembled a beaten stray dog, howling as he rolled across the floor.

His right arm was clearly beyond saving.

The elderly man tremblingly looked toward the culprit.

Xie Guiwan calmly took a sip of wine, her expression indifferent.

“Article Forty-Two of the Immortal Alliance: one who insults the lord of one of the four passes shall lose an arm.”