Chapter Six: Sorry About This, But You’re No Saint Anyway

Su Jian glanced at Su Henli with an impassive expression, and immediately dismissed the first two options in his mind. For a question with no real choice, anyone with half a brain would pick the third. A woman like that was not one he wished to tangle with.

The reward offered in this mission happened to be the one he hadn’t chosen the last time. It seemed his earlier speculation was correct—those golden opportunities he passed up before would come around again.

[Mission accepted. Time limit: six months. Good luck.]
[Reward received: Dual Cultivation Partner Link Mode unlocked.]
[Detailed explanation: In the spirit of aiding the host to find true love, the chosen partner cannot inflict any form of harm on the host.]
[Failure to complete the mission will result in immediate loss of this reward. Please choose your partner from the following candidates:]
[Zhao Qianxue]
[Shen Qingyan]
[He Hansu]

Su Jian was momentarily taken aback. Had the competition among systems become this cutthroat? Even the delivery of rewards was ahead of schedule—he hadn’t even prepared himself yet. And who exactly were the last two women? He’d never heard of them—were they some obscure nobodies? There wasn’t even a basic introduction; at the very least, they could show him a portrait! Damn system—a negative review for you!

He did not rush to choose. Instead, he decided to first investigate the identities of the latter two, and then make his decision. The thought that he was about to save himself three thousand years of struggle filled him with unprecedented relief. Su Jian threw another covert glance at Su Henli.

Senior Sister, forgive me, but you’re no saint either. This time, let your handsome junior brother sacrifice you for the greater good! Besides, this system was rather humane; even if he failed the mission, it was no great loss—he’d only lose the chance to ever obtain this reward. What he truly loathed was becoming a puppet manipulated by the system, a fate that filled him with deep resentment.

If he had any other choice, Su Jian would rather die than go against his will every time. Yet this system seemed tailor-made for him. It was a pity the system had no physical form—otherwise, he’d be tempted to grab it and give it a fierce kiss.

...

At that moment, Zhao Qianxue also felt stifled, unable to voice her anger. With her intelligence, she could hardly miss Su Henli’s intentions. After all, the other had higher cultivation, but rank alone was no guarantee of sustenance. What’s more, the Biyou Divine Palace had already been destroyed. While the other might still call her “Master’s Wife,” at any moment she could become a mere prisoner.

For a moment, the room fell into a slight silence.

Su Henli glanced at the blood pooling on the floor, a trace of distaste flickering across her beautiful brow. She instructed the man who had been following her: “Go call Xiao Nu to deal with the corpse.”

The man answered weakly and slipped out of sight.

Su Jian was surprised; he hadn’t expected that even Su Henli’s random attendant would have the cultivation of a Nascent Soul stage. He’d thought the man was nothing more than a pampered companion, and one whose vitality was so depleted that he seemed unlikely to live much longer.

Zhao Qianxue now harbored misgivings, unsure of what to say to Su Henli.

Su Jian thought for a moment and decided to use the death of his cheap “Master” as a starting point, hoping to steady the situation. Now was not the time to fall out with Su Henli; she was at least at the Soul Formation stage.

With deep emotion, Su Jian said, “Senior Sister, Master died so horribly, his bones crushed and scattered by that damned Righteous Alliance. You must avenge him—now Master can rely on no one but you!”

Su Henli’s smile faded, and in an instant her face transformed to one of poignant grief. She choked out, “I know all about Master’s tragedy, but Junior Brother, you mustn’t belittle yourself. If Master favored you, you must be extraordinary indeed.”

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, the picture of overwhelming sorrow. Her gaze flicked, deliberately or otherwise, to Su Jian’s lower abdomen.

Su Jian, face full of gratitude, replied, “To receive your praise, Senior Sister, is the greatest honor of my life. I shall rely on your guidance from now on.”

Though he had always despised these empty courtesies, the martial world was not merely about killing and bloodshed—there was etiquette, too. Lies or insincere flattery, it made no difference now. And as for Su Henli—what a waste she wasn’t an actress.

A true loss for the city’s pleasure districts!

Through these simple tests, Su Jian had gained a preliminary understanding of Su Henli’s attitude. She most likely had no intention of avenging his “Master” Chen Luo; otherwise, her response wouldn’t have been so evasive, her words so deflecting.

At the side, Zhao Qianxue felt rather slighted—Su Jian had never treated her so politely. She wasn’t lacking in any way, so why had he never tried to ingratiate himself with her? Instead, he’d actually snapped at her more than once. Infuriating.

The grief in Su Henli’s expression faded. She wiped her tears and smiled faintly. “Junior Brother, you and Master’s Wife may stay here. As long as I have a bite to eat, you’ll not go hungry.”

Su Jian was even more moved. “Your generosity is boundless, Senior Sister!”

For a moment, Zhao Qianxue could no longer tell if Su Jian’s performance was genuine or not.

Su Henli’s beautiful eyes narrowed in a sigh. “Master’s Wife, accept my condolences. What’s done is done—we must look ahead. However, there’s one matter I hope you’ll forgive my impertinence in raising. Before Master met his end, did he entrust you with anything? Such troublesome objects would be safer with me; otherwise, should the accursed Righteous Alliance come after you...”

She left the sentence hanging, knowing that sometimes less was more.

Zhao Qianxue was taken aback, then hurried to reply, “We fled in such haste, I didn’t even see him one last time. Even if he’d wanted us to take something, I doubt there was any chance.”

Su Henli was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “But I heard the Righteous Alliance didn’t get what they sought. Master’s Wife, think carefully—perhaps Master gave it to you long ago?”

Zhao Qianxue thought for a moment, then shook her head. “There really isn’t anything—don’t worry, Henli.”

Su Henli forced a smile. “In that case, I can rest easy.”

But Su Jian felt a chill at his ankles...

He was now nearly certain that this Senior Sister likewise harbored ill intentions toward them. At their first meeting, Su Henli had not seemed surprised by their arrival—it was only the beginning. It wouldn’t be long before her fangs were fully bared.

As they spoke, the attendant who had left returned, bringing with him a rather peculiar-looking middle-aged man. The man had a gleaming, bald forehead, and the character for “slave” was tattooed in blood-red across his scalp.