Chapter Three: The Beloved Little Junior Sister

Huo Shi Qing was still surrounded by a large group of beautiful female cultivators, each gazing at him with infatuated expressions, as if utterly bewitched and helpless.

Shen Yan Chu did not hide his intentions. “I’m going to find Jiang Heng and invite her to the junior sister’s birthday banquet.”

Huo Shi Qing’s face immediately darkened. “Are you trying to ruin the junior sister’s birthday? That kind of bad luck—how could you…”

Before he could finish, Shen Yan Chu sharply interrupted him, “Shi Qing, she is our junior sister too!”

Huo Shi Qing sneered coldly. “I don’t have such a malicious, vile, and shameless junior sister. Not only did she tarnish our master’s reputation, but she also sullied the name of Snow Crane Peak! I know the senior brother is gentle and forgiving, but kindness must be used in the right place.”

Shen Yan Chu knew that Huo Shi Qing harbored deep prejudice against Jiang Heng, and it wasn’t something that could be easily changed. Without saying another word, he mounted his sword and flew off.

As soon as he entered Jiang Heng’s cave, Shen Yan Chu sensed something was wrong and hurried to her stone bed. “Junior sister!”

The cave was cold and desolate. Jiang Heng lay unconscious, her body burning with fever, looking on the brink of death.

Without hesitation, Shen Yan Chu gathered her horizontally in his arms and rushed to the sect’s medicine hall outside the peak.

Uncle Ji, who oversaw the medicine hall, was taken aback. “Such a serious injury… it looks like it’s been neglected for quite some time. Why are you only bringing her now?”

Shen Yan Chu bowed his head slightly. “Please, Uncle Ji, treat my junior sister.”

His heart felt like it had been pierced sharply.

The junior sister had only a minor injury before, yet they worried incessantly and sent precious, nourishing elixirs and medicinal herbs as if they were common vegetables.

But no one had expected Jiang Heng’s injury to be so severe, requiring those precious remedies even more urgently.

If it weren’t for the matter of the seating that reminded him, as senior brother, perhaps Jiang Heng would have succumbed to her injuries and died on Snow Crane Peak!

Why had he, always just and upright, acted so unfairly?

Just as Shen Yan Chu was wracked with headache, his own voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

It’s all Jiang Heng’s fault.

She brought everyone’s disdain upon herself by her own reckless actions. Human hearts are made of flesh; such bias is only natural.

Shen Yan Chu froze, his expression momentarily vacant.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong with senior sister?” Xu Ning An arrived, anxiety etched deep on her face.

Trailing behind her were Huo Shi Qing, wearing a sullen expression, and Xia Zhiyu, looking somewhat uneasy.

Shen Yan Chu lowered his gaze. “She suffered a grave injury and didn’t receive timely treatment, which only made things worse…”

He hadn’t seen any spiritual medicine or spirit stones in Jiang Heng’s cave; it seemed those responsible either were lazy or held grudges against Jiang Heng and deliberately withheld aid.

Tears brimmed in Xu Ning An’s eyes, dropping one by one. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for everyone busy preparing for my birthday, senior sister wouldn’t have been neglected…”

Seeing her so upset, the others’ hearts ached, and they all tried to comfort her.

“What kind of mistake is that? Everyone is willingly busy for you. Who can resist adoring our little junior sister so much?” Shen Yan Chu gently cupped her face, wiping away her tears.

“Exactly. No more blaming yourself recklessly, or I won’t take you down the mountain to play anymore,” Huo Shi Qing teased, pinching Xu Ning An’s cheek.

Xia Zhiyu was also anxious. “Be good, little junior sister. Don’t cry. Jiang Heng brought this on herself. Who told her to cause you harm? Everyone just wants her to learn a lesson.”

That statement struck a chord with Shen Yan Chu. He looked directly at Xia Zhiyu. “When you went to fetch the sword earlier, didn’t you notice she was gravely injured?”

Xia Zhiyu’s face flushed, her voice dropping several tones. “I noticed, but I didn’t think it would get so serious. Her cave was full of spiritual energy, so even without medicine or spirit stones…”

Cultivators are unlike mortals; no matter how severe the injury, if death doesn’t come immediately, gradual recuperation and absorption of natural spiritual energy can heal the wounds. The risk of death isn’t as high as it appears.

Shen Yan Chu’s expression darkened further. “But you took away her life-bound spiritual sword yourself! Don’t you know that would only worsen her injury?!”

Xia Zhiyu stood frozen, struck as if by lightning.

Indeed, how had he forgotten that crucial detail…

Huo Shi Qing cut off their conversation. “That was her own stubbornness and pride. Who else can be blamed? What’s a few days’ delay? Do you think fourth junior brother wouldn’t agree? I believe she did it on purpose, just to gamble and see if we would feel guilty and soften. That woman is truly cunning beyond measure!”

Xia Zhiyu felt somewhat relieved and regained her confidence.

Yes, if she had given that excuse, he certainly wouldn’t refuse.

No matter how strained their relationship was now, after centuries of companionship, she was still their junior sister. Bonds remained, and he was no ruthless demon cultivator.

Shen Yan Chu fell silent.

Noticing senior brother’s hesitation, Huo Shi Qing coldly said, “If you don’t believe me, why not make a bet?”

Xia Zhiyu asked, “What kind of bet?”

A mocking smile curled Huo Shi Qing’s lips. “I bet that once Jiang Heng recovers, she will use this incident to cause trouble, crying and making a scene to force us to treat her as before, then secretly plotting against our little junior sister. I bet she will definitely do that.”

Xia Zhiyu hesitated.

If it had been before, he wouldn’t dare bet against Huo Shi Qing, because he too thought Jiang Heng would behave that way.

But after seeing Jiang Heng’s expression on that day, something inside him wavered, and he wasn’t so sure anymore.

Huo Shi Qing looked at Shen Yan Chu. “What do you think, senior brother?”

Shen Yan Chu raised his eyes. “Fine, I’ll bet with you. If I win, will you apologize to our junior sister? After all, you’re the one who caused her injury and should be the one to care for her.”

A glint of hostility flashed in Huo Shi Qing’s eyes. “I agree. But if I win, senior brother must never defend that woman again, never mention her name in front of us, and just consider her dead!”

Shen Yan Chu nodded. “Agreed.”

Xu Ning An didn’t like all the attention being focused on Jiang Heng and timidly spoke up.

“Um… will third senior brother really come back to attend my birthday banquet this time?”

Shen Yan Chu’s expression softened, and he smiled gently. “Of course. Since he promised you, he will definitely make it happen.”

Xia Zhiyu also knew their third senior brother’s nature well. “Yes, he’s usually cold and indifferent to others, but he dotes on the little junior sister like no one else.”

Huo Shi Qing raised an eyebrow. “Who on Snow Crane Peak doesn’t care for the little junior sister? It’s not just him. The reason is simple – An An is kind and beautiful, the purest and most adorable person in the world.”

Xu Ning An’s face blossomed into a radiant smile. “Yes, with so many people caring for An An, I feel so happy!”

The others, seeing her bright smile, felt their hearts soften, and the tension that had filled the air completely dissipated.

When the little junior sister feels happiness, that is their happiness.

Therefore, they would do everything in their power to protect their sect’s most precious treasure.