Chapter 33: A Sister’s Resolve and a Family’s Scheme

Lin Shuang offered no rebuttal, for this time, her impulsiveness had truly gotten the better of her.

However, had Su Yun outright condemned her actions, Lin Shuang would have immediately retorted, even if she privately acknowledged her own fault.

“I already know this,” Lin Shuang said, turning slightly. “Next time, I definitely won’t fall for that guy’s tricks. He deliberately provoked me, knowing my impulsive nature, just to force me into a fight and test my abilities.”

She hadn’t arrived at this realization herself; it was Lin Xue who had deduced it.

“That’s good,” Su Yun added. “Where there are people, there are struggles and schemes. As a sect master’s disciple, you bear the responsibility of strengthening Spirit Sword Mountain. You cannot fall prey to the machinations of those with ulterior motives over such petty calculations. If you are currently inferior to this Deng Wenqing, then endure for a while. Once you possess enough strength to defeat him, then let him understand that before absolute power, all schemes and tricks are but illusions.”

Upon hearing these words, Lin Shuang subtly clenched her fists, her face brimming with confidence.

“That’s a given! In ten years at most, I’m confident I’ll completely surpass that damned scumbag. Eh, wait a minute, I deliberately made things difficult for you last time. Why are you here comforting me?”

As Lin Shuang spoke, something seemed to click in her mind. She flipped over, gazing at Su Yun, who was sitting beside her, with a look of utter confusion.

Lin Shuang’s sudden question left Su Yun feeling a little awkward.

Her eyes darted around—a habit from Su Yun’s past life. Whenever she wanted to lie or find an excuse, her eyes would always betray her.

“Don’t roll your eyes! You’re definitely trying to lie and fool me!” Lin Shuang immediately retorted, noticing Su Yun’s shifting gaze.

Su Yun stiffened, then let out a helpless sigh.

“Alright, you deliberately made me lose face last time, and I truly wasn’t pleased. To be honest, once I grow stronger, I’m definitely going to get my revenge. When that time comes, I’ll beat you up. As for why I came to see you, I can only say that I can tell that beneath your fierce, cold exterior and impulsive nature, your heart is still kind. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have fallen for someone else’s provocation.” Su Yun spoke her mind, half-truths interwoven.

Lin Shuang rolled her eyes upon hearing this.

“Hmph! That sounds more like the truth. If you really have the ability to defeat me in the future, then a beating from you would be well-deserved. As for why I made things difficult for you and made you lose face, it was purely out of dissatisfaction with my sister. But seeing as you came to visit me today, I won’t trouble you anymore in the future.” Lin Shuang flipped over again, lying flat on the bed as she spoke.

Su Yun chuckled, then stood up.

“Alright, I just came out of the Sword Comprehension Pagoda and dropped by to see you. Get some good rest.” With that, Su Yun prepared to leave.

Lin Shuang didn’t try to stop her. Instead, she simply watched Su Yun’s retreating figure until she exited her dwelling.

However, Su Yun seemed to have forgotten to close the door. Just as Lin Shuang was about to call out to her, a figure reappeared at the doorway.

“Eh? Sorry, I almost forgot to close the door.” Su Yun gave Lin Shuang a dry laugh, then shut the door, finally vanishing completely from Lin Shuang’s sight.

“Why is this guy just like my brother? Even their way of speaking and some small actions are similar,” Lin Shuang said with a hint of amusement.

Speaking of her brother from her past life, Lin Shuang slowly retrieved the bullet casing and the slightly deformed bullet from her storage ring. She believed her brother was definitely in Moonfall Sect, yet they weren’t disciples of the sect, making it impossible to search for him.

This matter had been a constant source of frustration for Lin Shuang.

****

Meanwhile, Su Yun, after leaving Lin Shuang’s residence, did not return to her own room. Instead, she headed to Blazing Flame Peak with a cold expression.

‘That damned guy, bullying my sister. Just wait until I make him pay,’ Su Yun had made up her mind.

Deng Wenqing’s method of dealing with Lin Shuang, from a normal person’s perspective, was surely just the beginning. Even passersby could see that this was clearly a struggle for power and status.

Such struggles, no matter the world, were always life-or-death battles; they could never be simple.

After all, there was only one position for the Sect Master. For anyone aspiring to that seat, unless they stood out alone and suppressed all rivals, they would have to eliminate any uncertain factors while they were still in their infancy.

Deng Wenqing’s aptitude was inferior to that of the Lin Shuang sisters. If he wished to become the Sect Master of Spirit Sword Mountain, he would undoubtedly seek opportunities to kill Lin Shuang and Lin Xue, or at least cripple their ability to compete with him.

Regardless of the path chosen, harm would inevitably come to Lin Shuang and Lin Xue. This was unavoidable.

“Yo, you’re out of seclusion? My heavens, my good disciple, you—you’ve actually reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement? A genius, truly a genius!” Just as Su Yun was walking and pondering, Lei Yan’s booming voice rang out again.

The moment Su Yun entered Blazing Flame Peak, Lei Yan sensed her presence and discovered her breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement.

It hadn’t even been a month.

Lei Yan instantly teleported to Su Yun’s side.

“Ah, Master, that’s enough. Stop shouting ‘genius, genius’ all the time. I find it quite embarrassing,” Su Yun said, rolling her eyes at Lei Yan.

Lei Yan chuckled.

“I can’t help it. Who told you that you truly are a genius? At this rate, you might even reach the Foundation Establishment Realm before you’re twenty, catching up to Lin Shuang and that girl Lin Xue,” Lei Yan praised.

Su Yun had initially not wanted to discuss this matter, but since Lei Yan had brought up the two sisters, she couldn’t help but ask.

“Master, what are your thoughts on Deng Wenqing of Blazing Flame Peak injuring Senior Sister Lin Shuang?” Su Yun inquired.

Su Yun’s question was abrupt, catching Lei Yan off guard for a moment. He didn’t understand why she suddenly asked, as the matter had nothing to do with Blazing Flame Peak.

“You know about this too, huh? Haha, what can I say? Sect disputes are unavoidable in any sect, and they are trials that cultivators must overcome on their path. Those two young girls still have a long way to go,” Lei Yan said indifferently.

After hearing Lei Yan’s reply, Su Yun continued walking forward.

“But if the elders all know about it, won’t they intervene? Aren’t they afraid of someone dying?” Su Yun pressed further.

Lei Yan paused again. He carefully observed Su Yun’s expression, noting that she seemed quite concerned about the matter.

“In the cultivation world, people die every day. Being a genius doesn’t guarantee success; only those geniuses who *can* succeed are truly talented. If this world were full of people who didn’t fight or vie for anything, letting everything take its natural course, then people wouldn’t be people, would they?” Lei Yan replied.

By now, Su Yun knew what Lei Yan wanted to say. She had already reached the door of her refining room.

“Master, I still have things to do. You go attend to your own matters.” Su Yun said, then stepped into the refining room. Lei Yan was about to follow, but the door slammed shut, causing him to collide with it.

“Eh? Little girl, why have you suddenly become so unlovable?” Lei Yan pinched his nose, then returned to his own refining room, looking utterly bewildered.

Once back in her refining room, Su Yun’s first task was to create molds, then select materials. It seemed she was about to forge something.

****

Meanwhile, at Blazing Flame Peak.

The entire sect knew about Deng Wenqing injuring Lin Shuang, but the higher-ups didn’t seem to take the matter seriously.

As for Deng Wenqing, after testing Lin Shuang’s abilities, he had been consumed by anxiety, unable to eat or sleep. He could see that Lin Shuang would undoubtedly surpass him in the future, and once she did, things would become troublesome.

After several days of contemplation, he finally went to see his great-grandfather.

Outside a scorching stone chamber on Blazing Flame Peak, Deng Wenqing arrived.

“Great-grandfather, your grandson has an urgent matter and seeks an audience.” Deng Wenqing knelt before the stone door.

Immediately, a deep, resonant voice of an old man emerged from within.

“Hmm, I’ve guessed your purpose. Are those Lin family sisters causing you sleepless nights?” the Old Man asked.

The speaker was Second Elder Deng Taiyan, a cultivator at the late-stage Core Formation Realm.

“Indeed. These two sisters will surely surpass your grandson within ten years. Once they do, our Deng family’s plans, and your plans, Great-grandfather, may become impossible to execute,” Deng Wenqing stated gravely.

Deng Taiyan immediately fell into deep thought. Who wouldn’t understand this principle?

However, some actions, once taken too far, left no room for retreat.

“What do you intend to do?” Deng Taiyan asked, his voice tinged with hesitation.

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Deng Wenqing’s eyes, and killing intent surged.

“Either kill them or cripple them. There is no other way,” Deng Wenqing declared, giving his answer.

This matter was certainly not as simple as it sounded, and Deng Taiyan found it difficult to make a decision immediately.