Volume 3 Chapter 5 / Chapter 171: Junior Sister, Sleep Now
After Xiao Die left, Pei Lengxue obediently went to warm the bed. She lay on the bed in the bedroom, her big, glistening eyes fixed on Ye Anping, who was now sitting at the desk. She blinked occasionally, lost in thought.
Ye Anping needed some time to adjust before he could completely clear his mind and focus. He held a brush in his right hand, moistened its tip with saliva, and lightly dipped it into the inkstone. Straightening his back and lowering his head, he began writing five words on a blank sheet of rice paper:
——《Shadowmoon Sword Sect》 Strategy Guide.
He then wrote three lines:
——Shadowmoon Sword Sect Eldest Miss, Yun Yiyi, Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage.
——Shadowmoon Sword Sect Second Miss, Yun Jiujiu, Foundation Establishment Late-Stage.
——Shadowmoon Sword Sect Third Miss, Yun Xi, Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage.
After writing these lines, Ye Anping placed the brush back on the brush rack and stared intently at the paper, simulating scenarios in his mind. In the game’s timeline, the plot of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect ran concurrently with that of the “Emperor Sect,” but this world had already deviated from the original script.
——Yun Xi appeared at the Chi Dragon Mansion and almost died under the demon cultivators’ blood snow.
——Yun Yiyi sent a jade slip to the Hundred Lotus Sect, hoping for him, the young master of the Hundred Lotus Sect, to come and marry into her sect.
In the game, as soon as the player received the rumor “Shadowmoon Sword Sect Master, Yun Tianchong, is about to exit seclusion,” the sect’s quest would start, and they could receive missions there. Although Ye Anping hadn’t heard this news yet, he felt that this event might be triggered earlier due to the butterfly effect.
In the Shadowmoon Sword Sect plotline, players could choose three paths, corresponding to the three Yun sisters, leading to three different endings. These endings didn’t significantly impact the main storyline but greatly influenced the fate of the Shadowmoon Sword Sect and the rewards the players received.
The three endings were: “One dies,” “Two die,” “All three die.” Who died depended entirely on which storyline the player followed.
Most players chose to let “Yun Jiujiu” be the last one standing because that ending provided the best rewards. However, among the three sisters, “Yun Xi” was the most popular. It seemed contradictory, but given that most players prioritized game strength, this outcome was understandable.
In the game, players had to follow the pre-set paths. But this world wasn’t a game. From both a profit and an empathy perspective, Ye Anping wanted to achieve a perfect “all survive” ending.
Moreover, a “full survival” ending would likely positively impact the main storyline later on.
The Chi Dragon Mansion incident proved that he could deviate from the standard plot and choose shortcuts, using the knowledge in his mind to develop a more perfect strategy.
However…
“Tsk…”
Ye Anping frowned deeply. After running through dozens of plans in his mind, he realized that he lacked a crucial ally to implement these strategies. He needed someone to cooperate with him, ideally a man who was shrewd, adaptable, and could flawlessly execute any command given to him. This person also needed to be strong enough, with a cultivation level of at least mid-Foundation Establishment.
Most importantly, this person needed to be absolutely obedient and loyal, incapable of betrayal.
…
Ye Anping mentally scanned his acquaintances from the past year but realized that they were all not willing to follow his command, with Zhuang Hu being the only one who are willing to do his bidding,
Zhuang Hu met most of the criteria, but when it came to “obedience and loyalty,” Ye Anping had to put a question mark.
——Do the job for money; if the money’s not enough, he’ll slack off.
Given the stakes with the Shadowmoon Sword Sect, Ye Anping didn’t dare use Zhuang Hu.
He scribbled names on the paper, but after dozens of tries, he crossed them all out with a single ink stroke.
“Sigh~~ does someone from the Shadowmoon Sword Sect’s three daughters have to die? But who? In terms of benefit, sacrificing Yun Xi yields the most. So… should it be Yun Xi?”
Muttering to himself, Ye Anping frowned deeply, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt.
It was as if his Dao heart was interrogating him:
—Do you really have the right to decide the fate of others?
He couldn’t answer this question.
At that moment, he felt his spiritual energy surge through his meridians, and his chest tightened. Instantly, he realized:
—No!
—Dao heart deviation!
—Something’s wrong!
Ye Anping tried to clear his mind, but it was too late.
In the next moment, excruciating pain erupted from his dantian.
He gritted his teeth, recalling the methods to handle inner demons.
“…Hiss—”
Just then, a pair of hands wrapped around his neck from behind, trying to pull him up from the chair.
Pei Lengxue’s voice whispered in his ear:
“Senior Brother, go to sleep~~~ You can finish this tomorrow~~~”
Hearing her voice, Ye Anping’s expression steadied. Suddenly, the pain in his dantian vanished, replaced by the choking sensation of being strangled.
“Ah…”
Pei Lengxue had somehow climbed out of bed and was now hanging onto his back, trying to pull him to bed.
“Junior Sister, stop pulling; you’re going to break my neck. I’ll sleep now!”
Pei Lengxue frowned, insisting seriously:
“Not later, now!”
“Alright, alright! I’ll sleep now! Right now…”
Ye Anping couldn’t help but laugh, feeling both amused and relieved. His Junior Sister’s strangling had indeed cleared his mind.
The sudden scare and choking had effectively disrupted his thoughts.
After hearing his promise, Pei Lengxue released her grip and returned to bed, pulling the quilt over herself. She then patted the bed and pouted:
“Hurry! Hurry!”
“Mm…”
Ye Anping glanced at the strategy guide on the desk, flipped it over, and pressed it under some miscellaneous books. He then walked to the bed, took off his shoes, and lay down.
Without a word, Pei Lengxue pulled the quilt over him and snuggled into his arms.
“Been waiting a long time.”
“How long?”
“I silently recited ‘Ye Anping’ twelve hundred times,” Pei Lengxue pouted. “And you were still sitting there…”
Relaxing, Ye Anping used a sword finger gesture to extinguish the candle on the desk. He then slipped his arm under Pei Lengxue’s shoulders and held her close.
“Sleep.”
“Mm… Senior Brother, did the Sect Master and Mistress say anything today?”
“Say what?”
“About… me and Senior Brother sleeping together. Do they agree?”
“Silly girl.”
Ye Anping shook his head, understanding why Pei Lengxue had been so anxious today. She was worried that Ye Ao and Kong Yulan wouldn’t allow her to be with him.
It seemed Junior Sister always felt inferior, coming from a humble farming family, unlike her golden-spoon-fed Senior Brother.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ye Anping asked:
“If they don’t agree, what will you do?”
“If they don’t agree, we’ll do it secretly. If they agree, we’ll do it openly.”
“…Pfft—”
Ye Anping couldn’t help but laugh at her words.
But Pei Lengxue didn’t laugh, looking at him with watery eyes, asking:
“So… do we have to do it secretly?”
Ye Anping gently pinched her cheek:
“Don’t worry, we can marry openly.”
“Mm… hehe~~~”
“Now, go sleep, good night.”
“Night.”