"Sister Bai Yin, what are you doing out here" Long Yuan rushed over Bai Yin's lonely form as she stood in the middle of the road, staring off into the distance where Zhu Na Ran went.
"A-Ah!" As soon as Long Yuan's hand landed on her shoulder, Bai Yin snapped out of her dream-like trance. "Oh, Junior Brother, what are you doing here?"
"Aiyah, what happened to your face," Long Yuan nearly jumped out of his skin, looking at the blood image in front of him. The river of dried blood that streamed down Bai Yin's white face as well as the gash on her forehead made her resemble one of those zombies he saw on TV.
It was a far cry from the innocent beauty described as in the novel.
"Ah? Oh," stroking her face, Bai Yin wiped off the flaking blood from her soft skin. "I forgot about this…"
"Did someone bully you?"
"A-Ah, well not really," Bai Yin squeaked as she wrung the handkerchief in her hands. "I-I just had a small accident, that's all."
"Hmm," Long Yuan's brows furrowed as he continued to look at the hideous gash on her forehead.
Hopefully, that wouldn't leave a scar.
"Let's head back, Senior Brother was climbing the walls in worry," looking down at Bai Yin's hands, Long Yuna noticed the bloodied rag. "Give it to me; it's not good for Sister Bai Yin to have such a dirty thing."
"Eh? No, it's okay," clutching the dirtied handkerchief up to her chest, Bai Yin smiled shyly at it. "I promised to give back to someone when we meet again."
"Oh, in that case, take good care of it," Long Yuan twitched in annoyance. Fortunately, Bai Yin didn't notice as she nodded absentmindedly as her face continued to redden.
What could have happened that made Sister Bai Yin act like this, he wondered.
"Host, can't you see that's the face of a girl in love," Zhuang Zhi's voice reverberated in his mind.
"Hah? In love?" Long Yuan couldn't wrap his mind around that concept. "How is that possible?"
If his memory was correct, Bai Yin started to develop feelings for the original Long Yuan after he saved her from a group of bullying disciples. Which already happened just a few days ago, so how is it possible that she's starting to have feelings for another now?
She didn't even look at him like that when he single-handedly beat off every one of those losers!
"Eh, let's head back, I don't want Big Brother to worry about me," Bai Yin mumbled as she started to walk off towards Dong Mo Peak briskly.
"Eh, let's go." Long Yuan couldn't help but feel bitterness in his heart, knowing that someone could be infringing on his future harem member.
"Xiao Yin, what happened to you?" Bai Chen quickly rushed over to Bai Yin after the pair returned to Dong Mo Peak's main hall. "Aiyah, how could this happen?" Gently brushing back Bai Yin's bangs, his lips pursed as he analyzed the gash. "Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be deep. Ah, be careful, ah…"
"Eh, I will," Bai Yin nodded.
As if noticing his presence, Bai Chen looked up sharply as he glared at Long Yuan. "How could you let this happen, Junior Brother?"
"Host, tread carefully. You're not equipped to be at odds against Bai Chen yet," Zhuang Zhi's voice reverberated in his mind.
"Apologies, Senior Brother," Long Yuan quickly dropped his knees. "I failed to protect Sister Bai Yin properly. Forgive me."
Bai Chen didn't say anything, but Long Yuan could tell that Bai Chen's resentment had dropped to a certain degree.
"Big Brother, don't blame A-Yuan," Bai Yin cut in. "It was my fault that I was injured. A-Yuan wasn't even around when this happened."
"It's because Junior Brother wasn't around to protect you that I'm upset," Bai Chen frowned. However, his tone had noticeably softened after Bai Yin.
"Still, Big Brother, it's wrong to punish A-Yuan for my mistake, so please let him off," Bai Yin pouted. "Plus, as you said, it's not a big deal. I can take care of myself, you know."
"Ah, fine," he sighed. Bai Chen couldn't argue against his little sister. "You're dismissed, Junior Brother."
"Yes," taking one last bow, Long Yuan bowed his head as he walked out of Dong Mo's main hall.
'That f*cker,' he cursed as he walked back to his dorm. 'Who does he think he is? Just because he is grandmaster's adopted son doesn't mean sh*t!'
"Host, calm yourself down," the pearl slipped out of Long Yuan's sleeve as he jumped onto his bed.
"I can't stand that guy, Zhuang Zhi," opening the system's screen, Long Yuan scrolled through his current progress and tasks. "Acting all high and mighty. Tch, and that look."
Kind and benevolent on the outside, yet cold and indifferent on the inside. Long Yuan couldn't stand such two-faced expressions.
In a way, Long Yuan couldn't help but dislike Bai Chen the moment he laid eyes on him. Heck, he didn't even like his character in the book!
"Heh, Bai Chen, the most favored disciple of Yun Cai Peak as well as the adopted son of the current sect master.
Known for his benevolent and 'kindness,' he is loved by sect disciples and masters alike as well as being an exceptional sword cultivator.
"Host, even though you dislike Bai Chen, you cannot deny that you will need him for guidance and assistance later on," the pearl fluttered around Long Yuan's head like a fly. "He did help you through your last breakthrough, after all."
"Tch, I know that. I'm not an idiot to charge into battle right away. Bai Chen is still of use to me for now.
But, honestly, Zhuang Zhi, who would've thought Bai Chen would be such a sis-con for his adopted younger sister, Bai Yin? Hah, when the author revealed such a dark stain on Bai Chen's character, hah! It was the best chapter yet!
To think that the beloved and pure cultivator that everyone praised had such perverted thoughts about his younger sister!
Though they may not be of blood, they're still brother and sister by name!"
Nonetheless, he did have to admit Bai Yin's appeal.
Tender pale skin that looked like water would squeeze out with a single touch, large watery eyes that leaked crystalline tears; Bai Yin was the epitome of innocent beauty.
"Not to mention having an amazing figure, she is the envy of most women," he mused.
Despite being a bit cowardly at the start of the novel, Bai Yin would eventually grow into the most promising pill alchemist of Yun Cai Peak. She would play a crucial part in some events that would happen later due to her abilities in pill making.
Truly, Bai Yin is a worthy member of Long Yuan's harem.
"Host…"
"Ah, what is it now, Zhuang Zhi," Long Yuan rolled his eyes as he mindlessly scrolled through the contents of the system's interface. "I promise I won't do anything right now if that's why you're worried. I promise I'll allow the story to go its course.
For now, at least."
If Zhuang Zhi had a face, it'd be made of wrinkles from its Host's attitude alone. Hah, would it kill its Host not to be such an a-
"Zhuang Zhi, that is not very nice," Long Yuan smirked. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. There must be a clause somewhere that states that systems can't backtalk their hosts."
"There isn't."
"Really? Ah, that's too bad."
"Host, this system feels like Host isn't taking the mission seriously."
"Of course, I'm serious. Very serious," Long Yuan yawned. "Alright, enough talk. I'm going to sleep. After all, the life of a hero is a very tiring one."
---
Lounging on a bench, Master Luo snacked on some apples as he watched his disciples do some late-night sparring.
'Ah, it looks like Zhu Na Ran isn't as sloppy this time," he mused as he picked up an apple slice with a silver toothpick.
"Oof!" Landing on her butt, Zhu Na Ran groaned in pain before the tip of a sword pointed at her throat.
"Try again," pulling back her sword; Ye Lian Hua held out a hand for Zhu na Ran to pull herself up.
"Ugh," taking the hand, Zhu Na Ran got back onto her feet. "Can't you go easy on me, Senior Sister? This match is like your fifth win out of five matches." She couldn't help but pout at the unfairness of her situation.
Five losses and zero wins! Would it hurt for her senior sister to let her win just once?
"Junior Sister, your movements are not as sloppy as before. However, your form is still shaky. You leave too many openings," Ye Lian Hua slowly circled her junior sister as she slowly bounced the flat side of the sword against her palm. "The sword is an extension of your arm as well as an extension of your person.
You still treat the sword as if its a random stick you picked off the ground and started to flail around."
"Erm," Zhu Na Ran pouted as she rubbed her sore backside. She understood what her senior sister was saying, but did she have to keep smacking her? "Still, do you need to hit so hard?"
Each round, Ye Lian Hua would find a way to smack her butt with the flat side of her sword!
'Wu wu wu, how am I going to sit down now,' Zhu Na Ran moped as she leaned against the practice sword for support.
When she returned earlier that night, Ye Lian Hua said that she wasn't mad at her, but she would like to differ!
She feels like her senior sister is deliberately punishing her through this surprise sparring match!
"Hah, for someone with such a thick face, you have such thin skin."
"Wah? What is that supposed to mean!"
"How about this, one more round. If you land a hit on me, then you're free to go."
Zhu Na Ran's eyes brightened at this aspect. Freedom!
Finally, she could go to sleep!
"However," holding up a finger to stop Zhu Na Ran from getting too excited, Ye Lian Hua added, "If I win, then you will have to run ten laps around the courtyard and five hundred sword swings before you can go."
"What! That's so rigged!" How was she supposed to win against that!
"Take it or leave it."
"Erm, lemme think," holding her chin, Zhu Na Ran furrowed her brows in thought. On one side, she would only need to land one hit to be free. 'But on the other hand, Senior Sister has been undefeated.'
Ah, it looks like there are no other options.
"Alright, let's do it!"