Chapter 344: Sisterly Love

Ye Qingchen nodded. He had a rough understanding of the situation but didn’t interrupt, allowing Liang Xiong to continue.

Liang Xiong lifted his teacup, drained it in one gulp, and slammed it back down on the table. "My wife usually keeps to herself, so only a handful of people can get close to her. I’ve investigated each one and ruled them out, leaving only Lin Lanxin as a suspect. Moreover, Lin Lanxin visited frequently in the days leading up to my wife’s illness. After she fell ill, however, she never showed up again. I am now one hundred percent certain that Lin Lanxin is the one who cursed my wife!"

Hearing this, Ye Qingchen shook his head. Some sworn sister she was, not visiting even once after the illness struck. It seemed there really was a problem with Lin Lanxin.

Liang Xiong sighed and continued, "I just don’t know what her motive could be. Could it be that she flew into a jealous rage out of humiliation because I rejected her for Ruo Li?"

Ye Qingchen pursed his lips, clearly skeptical of Liang Xiong’s guess. However, he now understood one thing for certain: Lin Lanxin was undoubtedly the one who had cursed Xiao Ruoli. This meant that in his future decisive battle against the Huanyue Sect, Thunder Valley might not be an ally, but they would definitely not be an enemy.

***

Meanwhile, an infuriated Lin Lanxin had returned to the Huanyue Sect. Upon seeing Huan Yuehua, she snapped, "I can’t believe Liang Xiong is so ungrateful! He actually dared to move against us for the sake of Chen Yue Pavilion!"

Huan Yuehua frowned. "Thunder Valley’s strength is on par with ours, and both Chen Yue Pavilion and Chen Qingye must be eliminated. It seems we have no choice but to ask our backers to take action."

Lin Lanxin shook her head. "Those people are only willing to help us because they want us to obtain the Wordless Jade Bi for them. Now that we haven’t gotten it, I’m afraid they won’t get involved in this matter."

Huan Yuehua sighed as well. That was the crux of the problem. If those people were to act, not just Chen Yue Pavilion, but even Thunder Valley would be crushed with ease.

Lin Lanxin’s eyes flickered with an idea. "It’s not hopeless," she said to Huan Yuehua. "Give the method for acquiring the Wordless Jade Bi to Xi Jianwei. I’ll take him to Thunder Valley to see my dear ’sister’!"

Huan Yuehua paused. "Are you sure about this?"

"Don’t worry. My sister is the most soft-hearted person I know. As long as I ask, she’ll certainly agree to let Xi Jianwei observe the Wordless Jade Bi. Once we secretly obtain it, all our problems will be solved!"

***

Lin Lanxin went to Thunder Valley with Xi Jianwei in tow and was warmly received by Xiao Ruoli.

"Sister, it’s been a while since you last came to see me. I’ve missed you dearly," Xiao Ruoli said, taking Lin Lanxin’s hand. The two sat closely together, the picture of intimacy.

Lin Lanxin smiled back. "Sister, I was away recently helping my husband gather medicinal herbs, but I was worried sick about your condition. I even asked Huan Yuehua to send Elder Xi to diagnose you, though it’s a shame he wasn’t much help."

Xiao Ruoli waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense, sister. I appreciate the thought. Elder Xi did come to examine me, so your kindness was not in vain. But this time, I truly have Mr. Chen to thank. If he hadn’t intervened, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have survived."

At Xiao Ruoli’s words, Lin Lanxin’s eyes hardened.

This Xiao Ruoli really has nine lives! Such a potent gu-insect couldn’t kill her, yet she somehow survived long enough for that bastard Chen Qingye to treat her!

On the surface, however, Lin Lanxin acted overjoyed for Xiao Ruoli, and the two sisters chatted away with apparent delight.

Having just recovered from a major illness and being accustomed to a reclusive life, Xiao Ruoli was especially delighted by the arrival of her sister, whom she hadn’t seen for many days. However, she was puzzled by the faint trace of melancholy that seemed to hang on Lin Lanxin’s face. Xiao Ruoli had long considered Lin Lanxin a true sister, so seeing her unhappy, she couldn’t help but ask, "Sister, you seem to have something on your mind."

Lin Lanxin sighed. "It’s better if you don’t ask, sister. I’m too ashamed to even speak of it."

Her answer only made Xiao Ruoli more curious. "Sister, why are you being so formal with me? Tell me what’s wrong. If there’s anything I can do to help, I won’t let you suffer alone!"

Lin Lanxin sighed again, a conflicted expression on her face. "Since you insist, sister, I’ll be direct. After Elder Xi examined you last time, he gained new insights. He’s now on the verge of breaking through to become an Eighth Grade Pill King."

Xiao Ruoli patted her hand. "But that’s wonderful news! What could you possibly be worried about?"

Lin Lanxin shook her head. "The problem is, Elder Xi just can’t seem to take that final step. My husband says this might be his last chance. If he fails to break through this time, he’ll likely never become an Eighth Grade Pill King in this lifetime."

Xiao Ruoli paused, understanding dawning in her eyes. She had a good idea of why Lin Lanxin had come, but the matter was too important for a hasty reply. She decided to wait and see what else her sister would say.

Noticing Xiao Ruoli’s silence, Lin Lanxin pressed on. "Sister, you know our Huanyue Sect was built upon our foundation in elixirs. The importance of an Eighth Grade Pill King to our sect goes without saying. That’s why Huan Yuehua implored me to come and beg you for a favor: to give Elder Xi a chance to go before the Wordless Jade Bi and comprehend the Alchemy Dao!"

Lin Lanxin’s voice was laced with sincerity, and she occasionally dabbed at the corners of her eyes, where invisible tears seemed to well up.

Seeing her sister’s beautiful, tear-streaked face, Xiao Ruoli’s heart softened. Seeing this, Lin Lanxin immediately stood and made to kneel, but Xiao Ruoli quickly caught and held her up.

Xiao Ruoli let out a long sigh. "I’m only agreeing to this because it’s you, my sister. But he will only have one chance. Whether Elder Xi can seize this opportunity will depend entirely on his own fate."

Hearing this, Lin Lanxin was overjoyed and thanked her profusely. She then arranged for Xi Jianwei to be led by a Thunder Valley Elder into the cave where the Wordless Jade Bi was kept.

Lin Lanxin couldn’t have cared less whether Xi Jianwei actually broke through to become an Eighth Grade Pill King. As long as he could bring out the Wordless Jade Bi, her mission would be a success.

However, Xi Jianwei, thrilled to hear he could comprehend the Wordless Jade Bi, had made thorough preparations. As soon as he entered the cave, he sat down cross-legged and began to channel his Soul Power into the Wordless Jade Bi.

To his surprise, no matter how much Soul Power he channeled, the Wordless Jade Bi showed no reaction whatsoever.