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(MC POV)
The stone paths were quiet and tranquil, occasionally birds would fly by and their chirps would be heard.
As I ascended up the mountainous paths the movements from the Inner Disciple's homes indicated that a number of them were starting to wake up. Every once in a while I would see someone in their courtyard and we would wave at one another.
This peaceful and calming walk through the sect is one I've been depriving myself of during these last few months.
A spring breeze blows through and rustles my clothing. The sounds from my feet hitting the stone pathways create a soft tapping, but my lonely set of footsteps were soon joined by another pair up ahead.
There was a T intersection up ahead and the sounds were coming from the side path ahead. Expecting to soon see another Inner Disciple I looked readily at the corner.
The steps came ever closer and from the sound it was extremely likely that they were both heading towards the intersection and would appear soon before I did.
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
When the disciple finally came out from around the corner my expression froze when I gazed upon her appearance.
Immediately I scanned her soul signature as her appearance was the exact same as if not a perfect replica of my Sixth Disciple.
'Is, is that Li Daji? N-no, it can't be! The soul signature of this woman is completely different in comparison to the one I know! But how common would it be to find someone with this exact same appearance around the world? It's not only the face, but the body as well!
The only difference between the two was the fact that this woman didn't have any fluffy tails nor ears. Is it her transformation? Why would she come back though after all that time? Did she simply think I would forget about her?
But she couldn't change her soul signature in the past. Perhaps, she has simply grown up a little more and has refined her technique. I feel like I can't simply gloss over this matter.
This woman is a little suspicious, I'll have to keep an eye on her. Maybe I could get something from this upcoming short interaction.'
When I was finally out of my thoughts she had come close enough for us to begin to have a little interaction.
I started out by lightly waving at her.
"Hello there Junior Sister, how have you been?"
"Oh? Calling me Junior Sister? Fufu~ What makes you think that you're the Senior one and I'm not? It's not uncommon to have never seen each other in this massive sect before!"
I cracked a smile at that thought. I'm by far the absolute most Senior person imaginable in this sect.
I quickly remembered the first time I ever started roaming the sect as an Inner Disciple and chuckled internally.
"I've been a Disciple of this sect for at least 3 dozen years!"
"Oh is that so? What if I told you I've been here for 40 years straight?... Fufu~ Just kidding! I've been an Inner Disciple for um… 7 years. Alright "Senior" Brother, I've been good. What about you?"
"I'm fine Junior Sister, I'm fine. It was nice meeting you."
I continued walking the path as I analyzed the little interaction we had. I couldn't talk for too long since it might alert her, if it wasn't her then it would simply be a little awkward, but if it was then maybe she might pull something or even change her appearance and soul signature again.
'She even acts similar to her, it can't be a simple coincidence could it? Actually, what should I even do if it was her? I never thought too deeply about it, well at least for Li Daji. For that other traitor I had a few plans in mind.'
I didn't get to walk too far before she called out to me though.
"Hey "Senior" Brother wait a moment!"
I turned around just as she appeared by my side.
"What might be the problem Junior Sister?"
"I was just wondering why did you pause for a bit when I first came out from around the corner?"
I continued walking, but this time she was right beside me, acting as if there was no barrier between the two of us and we've been friends for a lifetime.
"Oh that? Well, I simply had something on my mind, that's all."
"Hmm? Is that so? Well I don't mind listening to this "Senior" Brother of mine. Come on, tell this Junior your troubles! It couldn't be that you were thinking of something lewd about me were you? Is my appearance just that enticing to you? Fufu~"
I let out a smile at her antics as I decided whether or not to tell her. In the past although she was quite mischievous at times she never did anything horrible nor did she disobey me. Her betrayal was almost spontaneous, but I suppose that's how my fourth was as well.
'I need to get a refresher about why she betrayed me from Ying'er. It's been too long and it's never been my focus so I've forgotten it. Since she's given me this opportunity to ask more I'll take it then.'
"Well, you weren't entirely wrong-"
"*Gasp!* To think this "Senior" Brother was actually so perverted! Seems like this Junior Sister might be in some trouble if I actually think about sticking around. Fufu~ Just kidding!"
'The more she speaks the more I start to believe that this actually is Li Daji.'
"...I just was thinking about how similar you look to someone I knew before."
"Oh right? What's so different about me compared to that person?"
"Well she had a large pair of fluffy white ears and accompanying white tails."
I watched her expressions in the corner of my eye, but she was simply staring at me with this warm smile.
"Is that right? Say what might have been her name? I'm Su Daji, maybe that's similar too, who knows?"
'Is she just playing with me? That's simply one character off! I wonder if she knows the significance of that name? Well I guess there isn't one in this world, but still to think she would pick that name as her alias. There's practically no doubt at this point that she's Li Daji, but what would her purpose be for coming back?'
"It's Li Daji, isn't that conveniently similar?"
"Wow! Really? It seems even our names are a little similar. Say, this Li Daji person isn't simply someone you made up so that you could interest me right? Is it not too odd that almost everything about that person just happens to be the same or similar to me? Fufu~
You didn't have to do that you know? You could have simply spoken to me normally!"
"Ah? Let me ask you a question, Su Daji, What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to walk around a little bit and since I usually never come over here I decided, why not this time?"
'You know what, I'll let you keep your little pretense. Maybe another time I'll break it, but I want to know why you returned. Could it be that she wants to get revenge on Ying'er for exposing her traitorous acts? Maybe it has something to do with me though? She could have simply left me alone and not even interacted with me if she so wished. Does she want revenge against me, perhaps for not taking her side?'
"Ah, is that it? Well I think I have to go now, so please excuse me."
I turned around once more, but she didn't want to let me leave as before I could even take a step away, a hand grabbed onto my left wrist.
"Please wait a little more, Senior Brother, I have another question for you."
I looked a little intently at the hand and simply thinking about where I was going next was giving me a little headache.
"Yes? What is it this time?"
I looked at the seductive features of this woman whose fox-like eyes narrowed a little at me. Her lips curved up at the corners and a little fanged tooth could be seen hanging out from one side almost like the signature of numerous mischievous characters.
That smile of hers instantly switched to a cheeky smirk for a moment as she lunged to capture my arm. My arm was now smothered by her body and she looked up at me with a smug look.
'*Sigh* Is this what I get for trying to get extra information? Could I have dodged it? Yes. Should I have? Yes. Why didn't I? Hmm, that's a little tough. Perhaps seeing her brought back memories of how much she had done it in the past and for that split second I didn't even think about it.'
"So, does this Senior Brother have anyone? Perhaps as a lover…?"
"Yes, I'm taken. Please let go of me. I really should go now."
Her eyes dimmed a bit as she stared at me and just like that she stayed for another couple seconds. I was about to tell her off before I felt that her strength was quickly weakening. Another couple seconds later her arms fell off me as she backed away a couple steps.
Seeing her pitiful appearance I sort of felt bad for no reason. It was obvious that she was a little saddened by my answer, but why?
I tried to think about it for a second before one specific memory came up. When she was still pretty small I think she stated she would marry me one day, but of course I didn't take it seriously.
How could I? She hadn't seen the world yet and once she did there would be a good chance that she would meet another man who she liked more. There was no way that the person she would love till death would be me.
As that memory came up I wondered for a moment whether or not that little promise of hers still held true. What would I even do if it was? Would I simply be able to accept her feelings?
In the past I definitely wouldn't have been able to, but now that Ying'er has convinced me to open up the possibility of a harem it might not be too far off a reality.
I looked at her to say goodbye, but I could practically see the longing in her eyes as she watched me. I waved my hand at her as I began to walk away.
"Goodbye Su Daji."
"Goodbye Mas-*Ahem!* Senior Brother."
As I left the area I checked back behind me to see that she was still standing where I left her as she continued to stare at me. The moment she realized I was looking she turned away though as she began to walk back in the direction she came from originally.
'I wonder if this so-called Su Daji has any records of their entrance date? When I get to the Grand Hall I should check the records to see if she even has any traces or if she simply appeared out of thin air.'
When I finally arrived at the Grand Hall I went to the records room and checked the reported new Inner Disciples from 7 years ago.
I read through record after record until I finally found it.
'Heh! Looks like she did have something huh?'
The record stated that she did in fact become an Inner disciple 7 years ago and it even had a date, but the method she was tested on wasn't so common. It was a private testing which meant that there wasn't any kind of competition or public event in which most would test to become one.
'Li Daji, you really exposed yourself to me. I know you could have had many more ways to go about this, especially if you didn't want to be noticed. But you picked the most conspicuous method, I wonder now, did you really come back to the sect for me?'