Chapter 6: The Junior Sister Will Eventually Grow Tired of You

“I am Yun Zhao.”

Yun Zhao said innocently, “You already said that ever since I liked Song Zhiyuan, I never called you senior sister. But I don’t like Song Zhiyuan anymore.”

“So now, calling you senior sister is perfectly fine, right?”

Indeed, there was no problem with that.

Yet Mu Qianqian still felt something was off about Yun Zhao. How could someone’s temperament change so drastically overnight?

She gave Yun Zhao a long, penetrating look. Yun Zhao met her gaze and smiled sweetly.

“What are you smiling at?”

Mu Qianqian glared at her. “Whether you’re really Yun Zhao or not, just don’t bother my master anymore.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Yun Zhao, with a crafty glint in her eyes, quietly peeked from the doorway as she watched Mu Qianqian leave, finally exhaling deeply.

“Host need not worry. No one in this world can tell you’re an external soul. All your actions will be automatically and reasonably adjusted by the plot.”

“Host, you only need to be yourself.”

The system’s words were like a calming balm, finally easing Yun Zhao’s restless heart.

But...

“System, what exactly does ‘just be myself’ mean?”

There was no reply. The system logged off.

Yun Zhao: “...”

“Qianqian, did you go find Zhao Zhao?”

The moment Mu Qianqian returned, she found Master Hanyue standing in her courtyard.

“Master,” Mu Qianqian lowered her head and spoke softly, “I went to find her, but I…”

“What do you think of her?”

Mu Qianqian was momentarily stunned, unsure why Master Hanyue asked that. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Yun Zhao... seems different from before. I thought she’d argue with me, but instead…”

She called her “senior sister” and even smiled sweetly at her.

It wasn’t like before, when they met only to quarrel or fight.

Master Hanyue muttered to herself, “Even you think so?”

Mu Qianqian didn’t catch what she was saying and cautiously asked, “Master, are you alright?”

“Nothing,” Master Hanyue composed herself and said to Mu Qianqian, “Qianqian, I will be in seclusion for a while. During this time, watch over Zhao Zhao and don’t let Song Zhiyuan lead her astray again.”

Mu Qianqian blinked. “Master, do you mean that those disgusting things Yun Zhao did before were all because Song Zhiyuan instigated her?”

Master Hanyue neither confirmed nor denied.

Mu Qianqian suddenly understood. “No wonder Yun Zhao was quite adorable as a child but went astray when she grew up. Someone must have corrupted her.”

“Master, rest assured, I’m her senior sister. I will definitely keep an eye on her!”

“Actually,” Mu Qianqian fiddled with her fingers, “before she liked Song Zhiyuan, Yun Zhao’s temperament was pretty good.”

So, it must have been Song Zhiyuan who corrupted her!

The next day, the incident at the council hall spread throughout the Qingyun Sect. Meanwhile, Qi Yan was also brought out by Yun Zhao for a stroll, at least allowing the disciples to recognize him.

The original Yun Zhao had always acted arrogantly, relying on the merits of her parents and grandfather in Qingyun Sect. The disciples greeted her with fear and reverence.

They were also polite and courteous to Qi Yan, whom she personally introduced.

Yun Zhao greeted them all with a bright smile, which left the disciples dumbfounded.

W-what? Is this still the same arrogant Yun Zhao who looked down on everyone except Senior Brother Song?

Had someone—or something—taken over her body?

“Yun Zhao,” Qi Yan felt uneasy under so many gazes, “do we really have to greet them?”

In his past and present lives, he was either locked in a dungeon or solitary, hidden in darkness.

Now, appearing before people for the first time, he felt rather uncomfortable.

Yun Zhao, immersed in the warmth of Qingyun Sect’s disciples, came back to herself. “You don’t like it?”

Qi Yan pressed his lips together. “I don’t.”

“Then let’s go back,” Yun Zhao smiled faintly. “Anyway, many have seen you already. Next time you go out alone, they won’t mistake you for an evil cultivator.”

She tiptoed close to his ear and whispered, “Hey, you say you hide your demonic aura, but why do you still look like you’re not a proper cultivator?”

His overwhelming gloomy aura would have made Qingyun Sect’s disciples treat him as an evil cultivator if she weren’t by his side.

The warm breath at his ear made Qi Yan stumble slightly and step away from Yun Zhao.

[Favorability +5, Current Favorability 7]

Yun Zhao’s eyes lit up as she grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s go back.”

She made a note in her little notebook: “Listening to Qi Yan’s words increases favorability.”

Just as they were about to leave, Yun Zhao heard someone call her name. She turned to see Song Zhiyuan striding toward her.

“Junior sister, I have something to say. Come with me for a moment.”

“Sorry,” Yun Zhao replied without hesitation, “I have nothing to say to you.”

Song Zhiyuan’s face darkened.

The onlooking disciples whispered excitedly, “What’s going on between Yun junior sister and Song senior brother? Did they quarrel?”

“Huh? Didn’t you hear today’s gossip? Rumor has it Yun junior sister has shifted her affections and likes the person next to her now.”

“That’s juicy! I’ve been busy cultivating. Brother, tell me all about it!”

“You’re not telling the whole story. I heard Song senior brother was two-timing—one with Yun junior sister, and one with a new junior sister. Looks like the ship sank…”

Cultivators are sharp-eyed, and Song Zhiyuan naturally heard these words. Seeing Yun Zhao resolute in refusing to talk with him aside, he turned to Qi Yan.

“Qi Yan, come with me.”

Yun Zhao frowned. “He’s not going with you either. We’re going home now. Goodbye, Senior Brother Song.”

She tugged Qi Yan’s hand to leave but couldn’t move him.

Looking back, she saw Qi Yan staring fixedly at the jade token in Song Zhiyuan’s hand, his gaze as if it were something more precious than life itself.

She let go of his hand and gently said, “You go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

Yet, when facing Song Zhiyuan, Yun Zhao scowled and said bluntly, “Just say what you need to say here. I’m watching. Don’t bully my Qi Yan!”

Song Zhiyuan: “...”

Qi Yan went with him, and the favorability quietly rose by two points.

Song Zhiyuan set up a formation to block sound but not sight. Yun Zhao stood in place, keeping her eyes on the two.

The curious disciples gathered around Yun Zhao. Given her gentle attitude today, one brave soul dared to ask, “Junior Sister Yun, Senior Brother Song and Junior Brother Qi look quite alike. Are they related?”

Yun Zhao shook her head. “No, there are many who look alike in this world. It’s just a coincidence.”

Hmm, the two are connected.

“What about those rumors today…”

Like the two-timing story.

Yun Zhao sighed, “You can’t believe all rumors.”

“Oh~”

Believe every word.

The disciples exchanged glances, whether they believed it or not was for them alone to know.

The conversation ended quickly. Qi Yan’s expression remained unchanged, but Song Zhiyuan seemed a bit unsettled.

“Junior Sister…”

“Please call me Junior Sister Yun or Yun Zhao,” she interrupted quickly. “I don’t seem to come from the same sect as you and we’re not familiar.”

With that, Yun Zhao took Qi Yan’s hand and left as if there was some bad luck lingering.

Song Zhiyuan’s face was unpleasant. The disciples dared not disturb him. Just as they were about to leave, they heard Song Zhiyuan mutter, “It’s only because he looks like me that Junior Sister will one day grow tired of you.”