Chapter 49: Hidden Feelings – It Made Perfect Sense for Her to Like Shen Yanting. Part 1

Si Xianling was different from someone like Feng Yingbo, who looked extremely frail—a sickly patient hiding beneath Nascent Soul skin.

Because she carried a demon beast bloodline, her physique could match that of an ordinary body cultivator. After taking the Healing and Qi Replenishing Pill, her body recovered much faster than that of a typical cultivator.

Si Xianling’s injuries had originally been so severe that she needed someone to carry her just to move. But after absorbing the pill’s medicinal power for several hours, she no longer needed support and could walk on her own.

Once she could move, she had stood at the very front watching the excitement, cheering on Gui Nian’an and the others alongside Feng Yingbo, egging them on to strike Hua Jinshi and Sect Master Wu Liangyi even harder. Now that Hua Jinshi was dead and Sect Master Wu Liangyi was dead too, with no more spectacle to watch, she suddenly remembered Feng Yingbo, who had acted just like her earlier. She walked over intending to get acquainted, only to find that Feng Yingbo had actually passed out.

Si Xianling arrived at just the right moment, catching Bo Xunong mid-sentence.

Though she had only heard the latter half of what Bo Xunong said, she still felt it was a bit over the line.

No matter what Shen Yanting thought, Si Xianling had always felt that this disciple of hers was a little too obedient—especially after guessing that her bloodline might be connected to the Ferocious Beast Clan.

In Si Xianling’s view, Bo Xunong didn’t treat Shen Yanting like a master at all. It was more like how one treated an admirer.

As for Shen Yanting…

Shen Yanting’s thoughts ran deep, and Si Xianling couldn’t quite fathom them.

But based on her understanding of Shen Yanting, there probably wouldn’t be any real shift in feelings. At most, she just favored this disciple a bit more. She wasn’t some rigid, pedantic person, and Shen Yanting was the epitome of propriety and self-restraint.

Si Xianling simply found it fun to tease Bo Xunong.

Her words carried a teasing tone, mostly in jest, but Bo Xunong didn’t pick up on it at all. “You want to steal my master from me too?”

“…” Si Xianling wondered if she’d misheard.

Bo Xunong’s way of thinking seemed very different from normal people’s.

When had she ever said she wanted to steal Shen Yanting from her?

Before Si Xianling could voice her question, Bo Xunong sneaked a glance toward Shen Yanting to confirm she wasn’t looking their way. Then she deliberately lowered her voice to intimidate Si Xianling. “If you try to steal my master from me, I’ll kill you.”

Bo Xunong even dared to threaten her?

Si Xianling found it novel. She was always the one threatening others—even the harsh words spat while deeply trapped in the Tianyao Sect had come from her mouth.

This was the first time she’d been threatened, and by a mere Nascent Soul Stage cultivator at that.

Did this little disciple have nerves of steel, or was she just that obsessed with Shen Yanting?

If it was the latter, then it was all the more interesting.

Deep down, Si Xianling took after Wu Qingshu. Wu Qingshu sought her fun on the sly, while Si Xianling was one step away from openly declaring her love of drama.

Si Xianling narrowed her eyes, grinning mischievously. “Little disciple, I never said I wanted to steal your master. Your master was never yours alone to begin with.”

Bo Xunong reflexively shot back, “Master only has me as her disciple.”

“She does have only you as her disciple, but she also has friends, her master, her grand martial aunt, her junior sisters…” Si Xianling listed off quite a few people before turning the question back on Bo Xunong. “How can you say she’s yours alone?”

Bo Xunong furrowed her brow. She thought Si Xianling’s sly smile made her look just like a fox.

Full of ill intent, and rather detestable.

Unfortunately, since she was Shen Yanting’s friend, Bo Xunong couldn’t kill her and had to respond to every word.

Bo Xunong forced a smile. “Senior Si, I never said Master was mine alone. You’re the one who said that.”

Seeing Bo Xunong not playing along, Si Xianling realized the girl wasn’t entirely dim.

Her curiosity was strong, and she’d finally gotten a chance to chat with Bo Xunong away from Shen Yanting. She wasn’t about to let it slip.

Si Xianling resolved to get to the bottom of this little disciple’s feelings. She stealthily gauged the distance to Shen Yanting, quietly widening the gap between them until she was certain Shen Yanting—lacking any spiritual power—absolutely couldn’t overhear. Only then did she continue speaking to Bo Xunong. “Little disciple, you just said that anyone who tries to steal Sister Shen from you will get killed by you. What exactly do you mean by ‘steal’?”

“Isn’t steal just steal?”

Not only did confusion flicker in Bo Xunong’s eyes—even Feng Jin, who had overheard their conversation, felt baffled.

Si Xianling patiently pressed on, making the question more specific. “Can I be friends with your master?”

“Sure.” The bewilderment in Bo Xunong’s eyes deepened. Someone as wonderful as Shen Yanting should have friends. “Not just you—the sect master and Uncle-Master Feng can be Master’s friends too.”

Si Xianling: “Can I stand next to your master?”

Bo Xunong: “Sure.”

Si Xianling: “Can I talk to your master?”

Bo Xunong: “Sure.”

Si Xianling: “Would any of that count as stealing your master?”

Bo Xunong: “Of course not.”

Bo Xunong had extremely poor patience with others. She was only responding word-for-word out of respect for Shen Yanting’s friend. But Si Xianling kept beating around the bush without getting to the point, clearly toying with her for amusement. She felt Si Xianling was being a bit too boring.

Tired of dragging this out, Bo Xunong’s tone suddenly turned icy. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

The speed of Bo Xunong’s mood shift rivaled how quickly she usually flipped through the Talisman Arts that Wu Qingshu forced on her.

One moment full of smiles, like a spring breeze; the next, cold and fierce.

Shen Yanting’s little disciple was two-faced.

Si Xianling grumbled inwardly and snapped irritably, “I want to know what you think ‘stealing’ means. Appearing by her side? Kidnapping her? Taking her away from you? Or possessing her?”

Bo Xunong’s expression grew even colder. “You want to kidnap my master?”

She sneaked another glance toward Shen Yanting to confirm she wasn’t paying attention.

In an instant, Bo Xunong seized Si Xianling’s wrist and yanked her close, staring her down coldly. “You want to hurt my master.”

Si Xianling’s smile froze on her face. She’d meant to coax Bo Xunong into following her lead, to fully uncover the girl’s intentions. She hadn’t expected Bo Xunong to veer completely off script. Si Xianling didn’t even doubt that if she nodded now, this fierce-looking little girl would bite through her throat in her sleep someday.

She was somewhat speechless. “Why would I kidnap Sister Shen? I just wanted to ask if you like your master—like, have such a strong possessive desire for her!”

The four of them—Bo Xunong and the others—lagged at the back of the crowd. Wu Qingshu and Shen Yanting were busy soothing the people of Mistlongevity Village, with no attention to spare for them, let alone eavesdropping. No one else entertained such notions.

All of Si Xianling’s tamed beasts had been forcibly shrunk by Wu Qingshu and placed on her own body.

These words were heard only by Bo Xunong and Feng Jin.

Feng Jin stared at Si Xianling in shock—stunned that she’d asked so directly, but also that she’d hit the nail on the head.

She instinctively glanced toward Shen Yanting, but Bo Xunong didn’t react as expected. “Of course I like my master. Would you dislike your master? That would make you pretty unfilial.”

Si Xianling rolled her eyes, finding Bo Xunong a bit dim-witted. “I don’t have a master, and the ‘like’ I’m talking about is obviously different from what you mean.”

Bo Xunong: “How is it different?”

Feng Jin chimed in softly from the side. “Eldest Senior Sister, the ‘like’ she means is probably admiration—like romantic love.”

“Romantic love?” Bo Xunong nodded matter-of-factly. “Of course! Master is so wonderful—she deserves everyone’s admiration! Worship! Reverence!”

She wished everyone would revere Shen Yanting just like her.

Her starry eyes sparkled with pure sincerity, her respect and adoration for Shen Yanting plain for all to see. She never hid it.

Si Xianling dealt with tamed beasts every day, and she felt they were smarter than Bo Xunong.

They still weren’t talking about the same thing.

Si Xianling grew a bit disdainful of Bo Xunong’s brain. “Even your junior sister gets what I mean, but you don’t. I’m asking if you want to have Sister Shen, to form a Dao Companion bond with her.”

“Of course not!”

Bo Xunong denied it swiftly, and Si Xianling wasn’t convinced. “You don’t want to get close to Sister Shen?”

“No.”

This wasn’t a lie. Compared to getting close to Shen Yanting herself, Bo Xunong preferred Shen Yanting drawing near to her.

Every day, she yearned for Shen Yanting to like her, to stroke her head, her face, her neck. Perhaps once her fur and tail grew in, Shen Yanting could even see her as a fluffy demon pet to cuddle.

Si Xianling eyed Bo Xunong suspiciously. “You don’t want to kiss Sister Shen? Touch her?”

“No.”

The answer came firm and unwavering, with not a hint of guilt in her clear, unclouded eyes.

Bo Xunong could say it with a clean conscience. She’d never had any irreverent thoughts toward Shen Yanting—no kissing or touching. But she had fantasized about Shen Yanting touching her. If Shen Yanting wanted to kiss her… she certainly wouldn’t refuse. She’d accept anything Shen Yanting did to her.

Good or bad, it didn’t matter.

Si Xianling’s conviction wavered. “You really never thought about possessing Sister Shen?”

“Of course not.”

Each denial rang firmer than the last—these were all Bo Xunong’s true feelings.

Possessing Shen Yanting was something she didn’t even dare dream of. But if Shen Yanting wanted to possess her, she’d gladly agree.

Bo Xunong’s thoughts suddenly stuttered. Though she didn’t harbor the desires Si Xianling described, she did crave the reverse—hoping Shen Yanting would do those things to her. Wasn’t yearning for Shen Yanting’s closeness still closeness? Wasn’t longing to be kissed and touched still intimate contact?

Shen Yanting possessing her didn’t seem all that different from her possessing Shen Yanting.

She craved Shen Yanting—craved her affection, her touch, her… The words “my husband” whispered in Shen Yanting’s voice echoed in her ears. A strange flush crept over Bo Xunong’s face, her lips parting as her breaths grew hotter, her tongue tingling faintly.

She loved Shen Yanting—not the respect of disciple for master.

Bo Xunong struggled to process this sudden realization. She couldn’t accept having such feelings for Shen Yanting. What would make her any different from Guan Caimei and the others…? No, it was different. She would never hurt Shen Yanting—only protect her. She would never turn Shen Yanting into a plaything.

All her desires hinged on Shen Yanting’s willingness.

This wasn’t the greedy possession of Guan Caimei and her ilk. It was more like chasing after light.

The ferocious beast world held two instincts: killing and blood-drinking. But Bo Xunong had a third: loving Shen Yanting. Shen Yanting was the sole beam of light piercing her dark, blood-scented world. Instinctively, she’d cup that light in her palm, yet dare not hold it too tightly, lest it flicker out.

Protecting from afar wouldn’t harm Shen Yanting.

This line of thinking eased her heart a little. In that instant when she’d felt like Guan Caimei, Bo Xunong had even contemplated ending herself.

Bo Xunong didn’t dwell on why she’d fallen for Shen Yanting.

Shen Yanting was so wonderful—loving her was only natural. She deserved the love of all.

Bo Xunong didn’t expect to be worthy of Shen Yanting anyway. Staying by her side as an obedient demon pet should be qualification enough. Or she could raise her cultivation and become a sharp blade for Shen Yanting. Either way—pet or blade—the prerequisite was no snitches.

Master might tolerate a disciple at her side, but Shen Yanting wouldn’t keep Bo Xunong forever.

Shen Yanting would love many in the world, but that love had nothing to do with romance.

To be the Immortal Elder’s most loyal follower, she simply couldn’t let the Immortal Elder know of the desires in her heart.

While Bo Xunong was secretly pondering, Si Xianling racked her brain but still felt something was off. “Did I really guess wrong?”

Bo Xunong snapped back to her senses and heard this. Her sharp gaze instantly locked onto Si Xianling.

Perhaps because Si Xianling shared a bloodline with demon beasts, Bo Xunong’s bloodline exerted a suppressive effect on her too. Being stared at like this, Si Xianling felt her limbs go numb, unable to move. “What are you doing?”

Bo Xunong said, “You seem to have guessed right.”

Si Xianling’s curiosity was practically overflowing. “You really like Sister Shen? So when are you planning to tell her? If you don’t dare, I can help you say it?”

She really did have the idea of telling Shen Yanting.

If Bo Xunong didn’t admit it today, Si Xianling might bring it up with Shen Yanting someday. If Shen Yanting ended up distancing herself because of a couple of questions, Bo Xunong wouldn’t even know where to cry.

Bo Xunong’s tone darkened as she tightly gripped Si Xianling’s wrist. “If I don’t say it, you can’t either.”

Si Xianling let out a sly laugh and wagged her eyebrows at Bo Xunong. “Little disciple, you can’t control me.”

Bo Xunong took a step forward, her presence overwhelmingly oppressive. “I’ll kill you.”

Si Xianling wasn’t afraid of threats. She laughed even more slyly. “You can’t kill me.”

There were too many people standing behind her. Even a top sect like the Heavenly Feast Sect had been annihilated because of her. How could she be threatened by a nascent soul stage cultivator? Just as Si Xianling was about to tease Bo Xunong some more, Bo Xunong suddenly pinched her cheeks, forcing her mouth open and stuffing something wriggling inside.

Si Xianling felt an itch in her throat and coughed violently twice. “What did you feed me?”

Bo Xunong ignored her and popped a red thing into her own mouth.

After Bo Xunong swallowed the unidentified object, two streaks of golden light instantly enveloped them both, then dissipated at an astonishing speed. Once the golden light faded, a warm current wrapped around Si Xianling’s injured meridians, healing her damaged channels in a single breath.

The trembling spirit root in her dantian suddenly solidified quite a bit. The half-human, half-rabbit thing wrapped by the spirit root, which had been on the verge of death and unable to even open its eyes, now had its eyes snap open with the surge of warm current. A thin wisp of golden light emerged from the little person’s eyes. As more warm current flowed in, the gray fur at the tip of the little person’s rabbit tail gradually turned pale gold.

This half-human, half-rabbit was the manifestation of Si Xianling’s nascent soul. It had changed once after she broke through to the out-of-body realm, due to the realm breakthrough. But now, she hadn’t broken through, nor had she stumbled upon any fortune. What was going on?

And she knew exactly what the solidification of her spirit root meant.

Her spirit root grade had increased.