Chapter 48: The Beast Hunt Trial and a Bold Confession

Lin Shuang, usually so bold, seemed to shrink back when faced with the actual ‘battlefield.’

“Little rascal,” Lin Xue scoffed, glancing at Lin Shuang, whose face was barely visible above the water’s surface.

Crouching in the pond, Lin Shuang’s large eyes darted left and right, her small face flushed with an undeniable shyness.

Just then, Su Yun materialized beside Lin Shuang.

“Hey! I don’t even mind. Why are you looking so conflicted?” Su Yun nudged Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang’s entire body jolted before she turned to Su Yun. When she saw Su Yun staring at her with wide, exasperated eyes, her face flushed crimson, as if she had downed a potent drink.

“Ah! Bro, don’t just touch me like that! I’m still not used to interacting with you like this!” Lin Shuang shrieked, leaping out of the pond in fright.

Su Yun watched the flustered Lin Shuang, then instinctively looked up. The sight made her instinctively cover her eyes; the ‘view’ was simply too much to bear.

Lin Xue, witnessing the scene, likewise rubbed her forehead in resignation.

Lin Shuang had always yearned to be Su Yun’s woman, yet now that their relationship was deepening, she seemed to harbor a strange resistance. It was the kind of resistance Lin Xue had once described in her previous life, suggesting that Lin Shuang’s affection for her ‘brother’ wasn’t truly a love between a man and a woman.

For Lin Shuang, transitioning from brotherly affection to romantic love would undoubtedly take time.

Su Yun shook her head with a helpless sigh, while Lin Shuang moved to a different spot, resuming her daze in the pond.

“Right, my dear, you didn’t just bring me out here to bathe and relax, did you? There must be something else,” Su Yun asked, swimming over to Lin Xue.

Finally, it was time to discuss serious matters.

“Indeed, there is something else. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have gone all the way to Artifact Forging Peak to find you,” Lin Xue confirmed with a nod.

What could it be? Their chance to eliminate Deng Wenqing had arrived. A week from now, Spirit Sword Mountain was hosting an event called the Beast Hunt Trial—a competition focused on hunting demonic beasts.

Its destination was Lingyuan Mountain, a training ground under Spirit Sword Mountain’s control. This area, exclusively for Spirit Sword Mountain disciples, was home to numerous demonic beasts and an abundance of natural treasures.

Though usually closed to disciples, it opened once every few years, allowing them to gain experience, enhance their combat prowess, and acquire additional benefits.

While elders oversaw the activity, Lingyuan Mountain’s vastness made accidents inevitable, especially with Golden Core Realm demonic beasts lurking within its depths.

Thus, Lin Xue and Lin Shuang believed this was the prime location to eliminate Deng Wenqing. If executed discreetly, his death could easily be attributed to demonic beasts, as casualties were unavoidable in every Beast Hunt Trial.

Any battle against demonic beasts carried inherent risks, and with only a handful of Golden Core Realm experts in Spirit Sword Mountain, they couldn’t possibly protect everyone.

Furthermore, each team would be led by an experienced Foundation Establishment Realm disciple. As long as they avoided provoking overly powerful demonic beasts, the danger wouldn’t be too great. Still, it was always better to be safe than sorry.

“Is that so? This is indeed a good opportunity. If executed flawlessly, it’s far better than simply finding a secluded spot outside to kill him,” Su Yun acknowledged with a nod.

Killing him in a random outdoor location would likely be deemed a malicious assassination.

It would also raise suspicions that an insider from the sect was responsible. An investigation into Deng Wenqing’s potential enemies would quickly narrow down the suspects.

However, dying during the event could easily be dismissed as an accident. After all, the activity itself carried inherent risks. If others died, why couldn’t he? That would be their justification.

Moreover, Su Yun knew Jiang Shengming also wished for Deng Wenqing’s demise and would surely help them conceal the truth.

“So, you agree to eliminate him during this event?” Lin Xue asked.

“Yes, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we cannot miss. It’s decided then. You and Shuang’er should find a time to spread the news about your participation in the Beast Hunt Trial. I’m certain Deng Wenqing will have ideas,” Su Yun said with a smile.

And so, they resolved to act during the Beast Hunt Trial.

“Look, isn’t she being rather sneaky?” Lin Xue suddenly gestured towards Lin Shuang’s location, drawing Su Yun’s attention.

Su Yun paused, then looked towards Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang was secretly peeking at Su Yun and Lin Xue, an utterly comical sight.

Su Yun took a deep breath, then swam towards Lin Shuang.

“Hey? Don’t come over! I… I’m shy,” Lin Shuang hastily retreated.

Su Yun rolled her eyes, standing up directly in front of Lin Shuang. At that moment, Lin Shuang surely saw everything.

“Ah!” Lin Shuang shrieked again, covering her eyes.

“Please, I’m just like you now. What’s there to be afraid of? Look, I’m not afraid of you,” Su Yun said, exasperated.

Lin Shuang immediately peeked at Su Yun through her fingers. The young girl’s mind was flooded with memories of Lin Xue and Su Yun’s past life together, images that must have profoundly impacted her.

However, after a few careful glances, she suddenly realized that her ‘brother’ now seemed to be just like her. She hadn’t seen what she remembered from her past life.

“Huh? It doesn’t seem to be the same as what I saw in my mind,” Lin Shuang said weakly, lowering her hands.

That sentence almost made Su Yun spit blood.

“Are you an idiot? I’m a woman now, do you understand? The same gender as you! What in the world are you thinking about?” Su Yun was truly at her wit’s end with Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang’s small face turned scarlet.

“H-how can you blame me? It’s not my fault I have memories of you and Sister doing *that*. Every time I think of that scene, I get chills. So, men and women can actually… do that,” Lin Shuang stammered, her face burning.

Su Yun, too, became incredibly awkward at her words.

After all, her private secrets with Lin Xue were almost entirely exposed to this girl’s eyes. It was like a couple entering the bridal chamber with a young girl wide-eyed, watching the show.

“You… you’re invincible, you brat. I told you last time, once we acknowledge each other, I’m going to spank you,” Su Yun said menacingly, suddenly pouncing on Lin Shuang.

Since she had no privacy left in the eyes of her past-life sister, and she had accepted things she couldn’t accept before, Su Yun’s attitude towards Lin Shuang changed much faster than Lin Shuang’s towards Su Yun.

“Ah!” Su Yun hugged Lin Shuang tightly, while Lin Shuang struggled and shrieked repeatedly.

“Sister, save me! Bro is being a pervert!”

Lin Xue, standing nearby, completely ignored Lin Shuang’s pleas.

“Hmph, you brought this upon yourself. I couldn’t care less. Husband, teach your little wife a good lesson. Make her understand her current place!” Lin Xue added fuel to Su Yun’s fire.

Su Yun, holding Lin Shuang and teasing her, immediately flashed a mischievous grin.

“Alright, you brat, call me ‘Husband’ quickly!” Su Yun said unceremoniously, giving Lin Shuang’s small bottom a smack.

For them to deepen their relationship with Lin Shuang, someone had to be more proactive. Su Yun, after all, had experience, while Lin Shuang had none. She had to take the initiative.

As for Lin Xue, having Lin Xue’s memories didn’t mean she had experience. Lin Shuang was a classic example of someone with desire but no courage.

“Ah! Help!” Lin Shuang shrieked.

“Go on, scream all you want. No one will come to your aid even if you shout yourself hoarse!” Su Yun had let go of all inhibitions, treating Lin Shuang just like Lin Xue, as the two were practically one.

Lin Xue, standing nearby, also couldn’t help but blush, feeling a phantom sensation of being smacked on her own bottom.

“Call me ‘Husband’ quickly!” Su Yun pressed again, delivering another smack.

“No, I can’t, it’s too embarrassing!” Lin Shuang was too stunned to move, limp in Su Yun’s embrace. Only her mouth remained defiant.

Seeing her stubbornness, Su Yun’s eyes twinkled.

“Fine, I won’t force you. I’ll just keep treating you as my sister then,” Su Yun said, releasing Lin Shuang and preparing to go to Lin Xue. But the moment Lin Shuang heard those words, she hastily grabbed Su Yun’s leg.

“No, don’t! I… I said I’m embarrassed! Why do you have to force me, you mean brother, bad brother!” Lin Shuang was torn between wanting it and lacking the courage.

However, after a moment of hesitation, she very softly uttered a single word.

“Husband.”

Su Yun undoubtedly heard it, but she pretended not to.

“Huh? What? I didn’t hear you.”

This single sentence completely shattered Lin Shuang’s wall of shyness.

“Husband! Husband! Husband! There, are you happy now? Damn it, I’m going to fight you!” After shouting a few more times, Lin Shuang tackled Su Yun into the pond, and before Su Yun could react, she actively kissed Su Yun’s lips.

Su Yun was momentarily stunned. Their relationship had undergone a complete qualitative change.