Chapter 2

Chapter 2

In Song Fuyao’s second year at the Demon-Slaying Bureau,

my brother, Li Mutian, often brought her along to practice swordplay.

Before long, she was allowed to enter and leave the Scripture Depository as she pleased.

Li Mutian smiled and said, “She’s every bit as good as you were back then. I remember you were also able to enter the Scripture Depository after just one year. But her talent is even higher than yours. Maybe she’ll surpass you soon, and then your position as Deputy Commander of the Demon-Slaying Bureau will have a successor.”

Song Fuyao had Heaven-grade Talent.

I was Earth-grade.

And my brother was Profound-grade.

He had started cultivating earlier than I had.

I caught up from behind and competed with him for the position of Commander of the Demon-Slaying Division.

The Bureau Chief said that whoever came out of the secret realm first would become Commander of the Demon-Slaying Division.

I came out first.

He came out after me, injured.

He smiled at everyone.

“It is only right for an older brother to protect his younger sister. Congratulations, Sister, on becoming Commander of the Demon-Slaying Division.”

Everyone offered their congratulations.

Their voices drowned out my attempts to refute him.

Later, people said I would stop at nothing to win, that I had even harmed my own brother and forced him to become the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.

The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion handled logistics and could hardly be considered an important department of the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

But no one mentioned that every time I went to slay demons and stopped by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion to collect supplies, I would always be stonewalled. They were either short of this or missing that.

I smiled and said, “She can go to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion has been missing things lately. If she goes, perhaps she can help you handle that problem. Brother, with your Profound-grade Talent, it took you three whole years to enter the Book Repository. Compared to Little Junior Sister, you’re far worse. The one you should be worried about is yourself.”

My brother stopped smiling.

He said, “Naughty girl.”

I gave a soft laugh. “Brother, you’re old now. You can’t even be naughty anymore. What a pity. Your cultivation hasn’t improved much either.”

Ever since he became Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, he had probably been able to eat pills without restraint. He no longer cultivated as diligently as he used to, and by now, my cultivation had already surpassed his.

Everyone knew that cultivation built up by popping pills was brittle.

He no longer dared to fight me directly. All he could do was suppress me in other ways.

My brother shot me a sidelong glance, then looked at Song Fuyao.

“The talismans you were short of last time have arrived. Little Junior Sister, come with me to get them.”

Song Fuyao blushed faintly and followed him.

My brother paused to wait for her, and soon the two of them were walking side by side, chatting and laughing as they left.

When Song Fuyao returned, her cheeks were flushed crimson.

I took the talismans she handed me and said knowingly, “What do you think of my brother?”

“The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is naturally a very good person,” Song Fuyao said shyly.

I burst out laughing.

“Little Junior Sister, I’ll take you to practice swordplay tonight. Don’t sleep too deeply.”

That night, I went to knock on Song Fuyao’s door.

Though she was puzzled, she did not ask much. She took her sword and followed me.

Together, we went to the rear garden of the Demon-Slaying Bureau and headed toward the towering Cloud Mountain in the garden. We had only made it halfway up when we heard a man and a woman speaking.

The woman’s voice was soft and coy.

“Pavilion Master, between me and Song Zhi, who do you like more?”

“Can’t I like both?”

It was Li Mutian’s voice, loose and lecherous, nothing like the upright gentleman he pretended to be during the day.

“No. You have to choose one.”

“Then I choose you.”

“Why?”

“Because you… are wild… and you call me husband…”

Their sticky, low laughter drifted into my ears, irritating and embarrassing to hear.

Li Mutian’s Red Thread was a tangled mess.

He sowed affection everywhere he went.

I thought that in his past life, he must have spent time at the South Wind Pavilion.

Song Fuyao’s expression changed.

I leaned close to her ear and whispered, coaxing her like a devil:

“Little Junior Sister, my brother is no worthy match. Don’t be fooled by his surface.”

“He doesn’t just like you. He likes every beautiful woman except me.”

“Don’t think he’s a good person just because he taught you swordplay.”

“His kindness has a purpose. If you weren’t beautiful or clever, he wouldn’t even bother with you.”

Song Fuyao looked at me.

“Then what about you? Why are you telling me all this?”

Tears shimmered in her eyes, and there was, inexplicably, a hint of hatred in them.

I knew some people had neither the courage nor the ability to seek revenge on the person who hurt them.

Instead, they would resent the person who brought them the bad news.

I didn’t care.

She was young. I would allow her to be stupid for a while.

“Ha. Of course I don’t have good intentions either.” I looked at her frankly. “I’m afraid you’ll be too stupid. Afraid you’ll be bewitched by his love and come make trouble for me for no reason, delaying my cultivation.”

The throne of number one in the Demon-Slaying Bureau was mine to hold. No one was allowed to take it from me.

She could make mistakes if she wanted.

But if she delayed my cultivation, I would be very angry.

Song Fuyao bit her lip, not knowing what to say.

I gave a soft laugh, turned, and left.

The night was black as ink, the moon curved like a hook, tugging people’s thoughts into chaos.

But I was in a very good mood. I even felt like singing.

So since I wanted to, I did.

With my sword on my back, I sang as I walked, startling the people on the mountain.

“Who is it?” Li Mutian barked, hurriedly jumping to his feet.

He did not see me.

But he did see Song Fuyao.

“Fuyao!” Li Mutian sounded a little panicked.

Song Fuyao ran down the mountain in distress, her face cold as frost.

And so, there was one more heartbroken person in the world.