Chapter 55: The Illusion of Affection

“Oh, Rongrong, why did your mother suddenly stop moving?”

From the viewing platform, Ning Sixteen once again turned her head curiously to ask Hua Xiangrong, who was beside her.

Just as she had observed, Yun Xueshang had just broken through Hua Yan’s illusory formation.

Yet, she suddenly stood motionless, her sword lowered. Across from her, Hua Yan also stood silently, eyes closed, her actions a complete mystery.

“Perhaps, she’s fallen victim to an illusionary art.”

A gentle, aged voice resonated from behind them.

The two young girls immediately turned to look.

“Grandfather Sect Master?” x2

It was rather strange; Ning Sixteen, merely an ordinary Qi Cultivation disciple, actually recognized the old Sect Master before them.

“Indeed.”

Ye Qingyuan nodded at the two girls, then offered a smiling explanation.

“In this situation, it’s highly probable that Hua Yan’er has employed some secret illusionary technique specializing in attacking the spiritual essence. Yun Xueshang, having just broken the formation, inadvertently fell prey to it.”

“As for Hua Yan’er remaining still, it is likely she is concentrating on constructing the illusion, aiming to trap and incapacitate Yun Xueshang in one fell swoop.”

“This is indeed a clever move. Before a sword cultivator can condense their own Sword Intent, they are often vulnerable to various illusionary arts targeting the spiritual essence.”

“However, ordinary illusions cannot possibly trap Yun Xueshang.”

“The outcome of this match will now depend on what kind of illusion Hua Yan’er has constructed, whether she can successfully target Yun Xueshang, and the depth of her own mastery of illusionary arts.”

***

Within the sweet, powdery mist.

“Xueshang… I feel so uncomfortable~~~”

“Will you help me… please~~~”

Beholding the alluring, red-haired maiden before her, Yun Xueshang found her throat unexpectedly tight, and a fine sheen of sweat began to prickle her sword-wielding palm.

Hua Yan seized the opportunity, lunging forward to embrace the arm Yun Xueshang was about to swing. The softness of her body pressed tightly against Yun Xueshang’s entire arm as she leaned into her, yielding and pliant.

“Xueshang… help me…”

The maiden’s soft, delicate voice whispered by her ear, her warm breath carrying a rich, yet not cloying, floral scent that drifted in wisps to Yun Xueshang’s nostrils.

Those slender, soft hands, like a wandering serpent, coiled around Yun Xueshang’s graceful neck, stroking upwards inch by inch.

Yun Xueshang gazed into the pale golden eyes, glistening with moisture, that were now so close. Suddenly, a memory from ten years ago resurfaced.

Ten years prior, on the Yin-Yang Platform of the Joyful Union Sect, it was this very same red-haired maiden, with those same misty, pale golden eyes, who had drawn closer and closer to her, and then—

She had kissed her.

Watching the maiden’s moist, crimson lips draw ever nearer, Yun Xueshang nervously pursed her own. A faint blush subtly bloomed across her usually serene face, typically as placid as an ancient well.

‘If Yan’er were to kiss me here again… would we… have another daughter?’

The radiant face drew closer still, her breath already lightly caressing Yun Xueshang’s cheek. Such a thought, utterly unbidden, sprang into Yun Xueshang’s mind.

‘No, I can’t let her kiss me!’

She hastily pushed Hua Yan away, her expression serious as she looked at the other girl.

“Yan’er, we cannot kiss. Rongrong is still young; if we had another daughter, we wouldn’t have enough energy to care for them.”

“You want me, don’t you…”

Hua Yan, still soft and yielding, pressed against her once more. Yun Xueshang quickly placed both hands on her shoulders, reiterating with renewed gravity:

“It truly won’t do. Moreover, Master once taught me that to casually kiss a woman is to take advantage of her. You and I are not true Dao companions; I cannot treat you so lightly.”

“I feel so uncomfortable…”

Hua Yan repeated the same words, still attempting to draw closer.

‘?’

For some inexplicable reason, as Yun Xueshang looked at the maiden before her, she felt a strange sense of incongruity.

‘Yan’er seems odd… Does she only know these few phrases?’

Despite the scene’s striking resemblance to that moment at the Joyful Union Sect ten years ago, Yun Xueshang acutely sensed something amiss. The maiden before her seemed overly… mechanical?

‘No, this is an illusion!’

Yun Xueshang’s eyes sharpened. She abruptly drew her sword and slashed at the “Hua Yan” before her.

***

Outside the illusion.

‘Goodness, I can’t believe I had to resort to charm techniques against this Yun Xueshang…’

Hua Yan, her face flushed, withdrew her consciousness from the constructed illusion and swiftly popped a recovery pill into her mouth.

‘Thankfully, the disguise artifact I obtained from the Joyful Union Sect back then contained the memories of charm techniques, and I’ve refined them over the years when I had nothing else to do. Otherwise, I truly wouldn’t have been able to use this move today.’

‘However, can an illusionary puppet, generated solely by the illusion, truly deceive Yun Xueshang?’

Hua Yan, using a charm technique for the first time in her life, regulated her spiritual energy, a hint of trepidation in her heart.

After all, in her usual shy and strong-willed manner, even within an illusion, she would never readily make such seductive advances. Her pride would never allow her to be so ‘shameless.’

Thus, ever since the “Hua Yan” appeared in the illusion, everything had merely been the charm technique’s phantom calculating and unfolding along its predetermined path.

‘Never mind, thinking about it is useless. She’s already trapped in the illusion. I should seize this opportunity and win the match; that’s what truly matters!’

Hua Yan shook her head, no longer hesitating. She flipped her hand, producing a slender sword with an intricately carved hilt. Her figure shot forward, dashing straight for the motionless Yun Xueshang!

But just as the sword tip was about to make contact, the white-haired maiden’s crimson eyes snapped open!

“Clang—!”

The awakened Yun Xueshang reacted with astonishing speed, sweeping her sword horizontally to narrowly parry the surprise attack! The collision of their weapons sent a powerful shockwave, instantly forcing both combatants back several feet, separating them swiftly.

‘Ahhh, damn it! I even used such a humiliating move! Why can’t I still win against her?!’

‘This wretched charm technique is utterly useless!’

Hua Yan was now thoroughly enraged, abandoning all concern for spiritual energy consumption or tactical combinations.

‘Damn it! I’ll lose anyway if I keep this up, so I might as well go all out!’

“Yun Xueshang! Take this!”

The red-haired maiden let out a clear cry, channeling all her remaining spiritual energy. The slender sword in her hand danced like the wind, its shadows carrying scorching fire spiritual energy. The lingering light outlined a vividly blooming red flower, dazzling and mesmerizing—

“Flower Sword, Spitting Flame!”

Yun Xueshang’s expression tightened. She, too, activated all her spiritual energy, her aura surging dramatically. The Autumn Water Sword in her hand seemed to transform into a mountain, pressing forward with the weight of a thousand jin, steady and resolute!

—Carefree Sword Art, Fourteenth Form, Heavy Sword Without Edge!

“Clang—!!!”

Terrifying spiritual energy exploded with a roar in the center of the martial arena. The resulting shockwave, several times more violent than before, swept out in all directions.

One red and one white figure collided fiercely in mid-air, blade lights intertwining, spiritual explosions blinding, making it impossible for onlookers to discern the reality within.

The light gradually dispersed.

Hua Yan, her spiritual energy almost depleted, slumped to the ground, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. The figure in white robes and white hair, however, walked step by step towards her.

‘Sure enough… I still lost.’

Hua Yan looked up at Yun Xueshang, who was walking towards her. The other woman stood backlit, and Hua Yan’s vision was blurred by sweat, making it impossible to discern the expression on her face.

Yet, for some reason, as she watched the white-clad figure approaching, she suddenly recalled that defeat ten years ago.

“You lost.”

Then, she had also been so powerless, nearly collapsing. The other woman had gently rested her sword at Hua Yan’s neck, her tone flat. Those crimson eyes were cool and indifferent, as if victory was a matter of course, causing no ripples.

“Yan’er, are you alright?”

She snapped back to reality, her eyes still meeting those crimson ones. Yun Xueshang had now stepped out of the backlighting, and Hua Yan could clearly see the faint concern and worry on her usually cool face.

Reality replaced memory, and tenderness supplanted indifference, causing Hua Yan to pause in slight astonishment.

“Yan’er? Do you want me to help you up?”

Yun Xueshang called out to her twice more, extending a fair, slender, and distinctly jointed hand to the maiden on the ground.

Time seemed to quietly stand still at this moment. The clamor from the surrounding viewing platforms suddenly receded, leaving only this one person in her eyes—her expression cool, her words gentle.

…

Hua Yan grasped that hand.

“N-next time… you just wait…”

The red-haired maiden, her face burning, allowed the other to pull her up, her heart pounding wildly.

“Next time, I-I definitely won’t lose again!”