Chapter 18: Take Her Path, Leave Her Nowhere to Go

“Since you’ve forgiven me, Junior Sister, why don’t you come back with us? I will earnestly plead with Master not to cast you out,” Liu Xuewei said, masking the disgust in her eyes toward Si Nansheng with a feigned look of hope.

“All right,” Si Nansheng nodded calmly.

For a moment, Liu Xuewei’s mind blanked. She was agreed to that so easily? Could it be too easy a yes? Moreover, looking at Si Nansheng like this, she had a bad feeling about it.

Mo Lie looked down at his junior sister, completely puzzled by what game she was playing. However, since she seemed to be enjoying herself so much, he decided not to say a word and let her have her fun.

“That’s wonderful, Junior Sister. I thought you wouldn’t forgive me,” Liu Xuewei wiped away crocodile tears.

“But...” Si Nansheng took a deep breath.

“What?” Liu Xuewei looked at her eagerly.

“As your junior sister, ever since you joined, I’ve gathered many rare treasures for you. It was all my duty,” Si Nansheng said. “But now, with my meridians and spiritual roots completely destroyed, I can no longer cultivate. Even earning money has become difficult. Junior Sister, you wouldn’t mind giving me some spirit stones, would you?”

Si Nansheng’s tearful gaze was nothing but an act of pity. She knew how to play the same game—she was going to walk Liu Xuewei’s path, leaving her with nowhere to turn.

Mo Lie turned to look at his little sister who lied without batting an eye. She had already broken through the Heavenly Dao realm, yet claimed she couldn’t cultivate?

Liu Xuewei’s expression suddenly stiffened.

Give spirit stones to Si Nansheng?

“Si Nansheng, don’t be too much. Junior Sister kindly wants you to come back, yet you dare to ask her for spirit stones?” Shen Jingyuan glared angrily at Si Nansheng.

“It seems Second Senior Brother and Junior Sister don’t truly want me back after all. Forget it then. Although the Four Divine Sect is poor, I can no longer cultivate, so staying here is at least a refuge,” Si Nansheng lowered her head, wiping away nonexistent tears.

Mo Lie thought to himself, Little Sister, our Four Divine Sect is only small in numbers, but not poor at all!

“No, no, Junior Sister, you misunderstood. Second Senior Brother isn’t intentionally harsh to you,” Liu Xuewei tugged at Shen Jingyuan.

“Really? Then will Second Senior Brother return the things he took from me?” Si Nansheng raised her reddened eyes, already rubbed raw from crying, to Shen Jingyuan.

“Yes.” Shen Jingyuan glanced at Liu Xuewei, whose eyes were full of hope, forcing him to grit his teeth and agree.

Both Shen Jingyuan and Liu Xuewei reluctantly produced storage pouches and handed them to Si Nansheng.

Si Nansheng narrowed her eyes and forced a harmless smile.

“You’ve truly been too kind to me. I’m deeply touched,” she said cheerfully.

Ignoring Shen Jingyuan’s dark expression, Si Nansheng stepped forward, took the storage pouch from Liu Xuewei, then reached for Shen Jingyuan’s pouch.

Shen Jingyuan held on tightly. Si Nansheng tugged twice but couldn’t pull it away.

“Give it here,” she said, not indulging him. With a sudden force, she snatched it away and quickly slipped it into her storage ring.

“Junior Sister, can you come back with us now?” Liu Xuewei took a deep breath, restraining her anger.

“Nope.” Si Nansheng shook her head.

“Why? Didn’t we just give you spirit stones?” Liu Xuewei’s anger made her teeth grind fiercely.

“These spirit stones are merely the rightful compensation for years of my servitude to you. As for returning to the Holy Heaven Sect, that’s impossible—I’m now a direct disciple of the Four Divine Sect,” Si Nansheng explained with a smile. Liu Xuewei’s heart sank. What else was there to understand? She had been played by Si Nansheng! Not only played, but she had also given her quite a lot for nothing.

“Si! Nan! Sheng! You’re begging for death!” Shen Jingyuan’s eyes reddened with fury at being outwitted by the one he looked down upon.

Si Nansheng quickly dodged behind Mo Lie’s back, showing only her fluffy little head. “Fourth Senior Brother, he’s so fierce, I’m scared,” she said.

Mo Lie looked at Shen Jingyuan and Liu Xuewei, a chill radiating from him as a thin layer of frost covered the surrounding air.

This sudden turn of events drew many eyes to them.

Shen Jingyuan ceased his attack, knowing full well he was no match for Mo Lie.

Yet, seeing Si Nansheng hiding behind Mo Lie and making faces made his anger flare even more.

Mo Lie patted Si Nansheng’s head reassuringly, as if to say, “With me here, there’s nothing to fear.”

“Junior Sister, has he ever bullied you?” Mo Lie asked, eyeing Si Nansheng’s fluffy head.

“No, Fourth Senior Brother. It’s not his fault for having a bad temper—it’s all my own doing. I was childish and didn’t know how to please him. It’s normal that he dislikes me. After all, I’m not like the sweet-talking, soft, coquettish Junior Sister who cries in someone’s arms when wronged,” Si Nansheng said with conviction.

Mo Lie watched his little sister’s earnest acting, twitching his mouth. Her knack for nonsense was truly remarkable! What could he do? Of course, he had to play along!

“Junior Sister, what was that nonsense you just said?”

“Uh...” Si Nansheng smiled. “Fourth Senior Brother, you’re quite the talker. I like to hear it—say more.”

“Junior Sister, you’re too kind. Being bullied like this and still defending them, you’ll suffer if you go out in the future. And what disgusting nonsense was that? Don’t ever become like that—I couldn’t bear it. Just be yourself.”

Mo Lie shuddered at Si Nansheng’s words. If his little sister became like that, he wouldn’t return to the sect ever again.

“All right, Fourth Senior Brother, rest assured—I absolutely won’t be like that,” Si Nansheng promised firmly, easing Mo Lie’s worries.

Si Nansheng thought to herself, maybe I scared Fourth Senior Brother just now with what I said.

“Don’t go too far!” Shen Jingyuan ground his teeth, glaring at Si Nansheng and Mo Lie, wishing he could strike them down with a single sword.

“Ah, the patrol squad is coming. Shen Jingyuan, you could attack now,” Si Nansheng reminded helpfully. Liu Xuewei hurriedly pulled the fuming Shen Jingyuan away.

If Shen Jingyuan went mad here, they’d never be able to return!

“Come on, Fourth Senior Brother, let’s do a high five!” Si Nansheng reached out her hand.

“A high five?” Mo Lie was puzzled.

“Like this...” Si Nansheng grabbed Mo Lie’s hand, palm to palm.

“What does this mean?” Mo Lie looked at his hand, then at Si Nansheng.

“It means we’re happy that Shen Jingyuan and Liu Xuewei got the short end of the stick. A high five expresses happiness!” Si Nansheng explained with a bright smile. Mo Lie nodded, understanding and remembering.

“Junior Sister, your situation was already told to us by Senior Brother when we returned. Those from the Holy Heaven Sect bullied you, and I’ll help you get back at them,” Mo Lie said, looking at Si Nansheng. When he heard about her ordeal, both he and Mo Yu were furious.

How shameless to treat a child so cruelly! If he and Senior Brother hadn’t stopped him, Mo Yu would have charged into the Holy Heaven Sect wielding his sword.