Chapter 6: This Is the Advantage of a Regressor!

Illuminated by the soft glow of red candles, the room exuded an intimate ambiance, casting gentle shadows. Now, only Su Youwei and the jade rabbit remained within its confines. Seated against the wall, Su Youwei rested in a curled-up posture. Strangely, she had no inkling of fleeing, not solely due to her adoptive father and aunt's lives resting in Bai Lian's hands, but also because she recognized the futility of escaping from the jade rabbit. Despite its innocuous appearance and the current herb-nibbling demeanor, Su Youwei estimated that even with 180 additional legs, she'd still struggle to outpace the rabbit's swiftness.

"Haw."

What an eventful night!

Su Youwei pondered the bewildering circumstances of Bai Lian's sudden appearance in Gray Wind Town after her rebirth. Claiming to be her Martial Sister, Bai Lian's behavior was incongruent with her previous memories, unsettling Su Youwei further.

Despite Bai Lian's temporary cessation of her malevolent intentions, Su Youwei remained vigilant. After all, Bai Lian hadn't been designated as the next sect leader of Duxian Sect during this period. According to her fellow disciple, Bai Lian was an esteemed role model within the sect—a stark contrast to the darkness that concealed beneath her exterior.

"Are you trying to deceive me?" Su Youwei's fist clenched beneath her sleeve, her suspicions mounting.

A sudden realization dawned upon her—Bai Lian likely altered her approach due to her recognition as a Martial Sister. Su Youwei concluded that Bai Lian aimed to feign camaraderie, luring her into submission through apparent benevolence.

However, Su Youwei wasn't as naive as she appeared. Once renowned as a "Shura," she was impervious to such simple tactics. She comprehended that Bai Lian, despite her elaborate stratagems, remained oblivious to the fact that Su Youwei was privy to her ruse.

Confident in her deductions, Su Youwei devised a plan. She'd feign cooperation with Bai Lian, patiently awaiting the opportune moment to escape with her adoptive father and aunt. Crucially, she couldn't permit Bai Lian to discern her awareness of the charade, lest her actions escalate to violence.

As Su Youwei contemplated her next steps, her gaze shifted toward the jade rabbit, which regarded her curiously.

"..."

Could this rabbit peer into her thoughts?

Su Youwei clutched a corner of the quilt, whispering, "Are you Bai Lian's pet?"

"Haw!"

The jade rabbit responded with a happy nod, presenting her an untouched Star Spirit Herb—a twenty-year-old specimen.

Su Youwei's excitement soared. This herb possessed the potential to elevate her cultivation to the Eighth Floor of the Qi Refining Period upon successful refinement.

Suppressing her enthusiasm, Su Youwei realized the need to maintain her facade. She could exploit Bai Lian's resources to mend the Ten Thousand Poison Pearl and extricate herself from Bai Lian's threat.

"Thank you," she accepted the herb from the jade rabbit, observing its innocent eyes. The creature remained oblivious to its master's malevolence.

Ultimately, Su Youwei refrained from immediately refining the Star Spirit Herb. She required certainty of Bai Lian's genuine intent to rescue her adoptive father and aunt before initiating her plan. Thus, she intently stared out of the half-opened window, awaiting her opportunity.

Time crawled by, accompanied by an uneasy stillness. Su Youwei's restlessness grew until a clanging noise resonated as the crescent moon emerged from behind clouds.

Without delay, Su Youwei sprung from the bed, forgoing her shoes.

Ka, ka.

A flash of white darted past.

Before her stood Bai Lian, cradling two figures. Su Youwei's heart raced as she recognized her aunt and adoptive father's faces.

"Aunt, adoptive father!" Su Youwei's joy was tempered by a stern glare directed at Bai Lian. "What have you done to them?"

Bai Lian reassured her, "Don't worry, they're temporarily unconscious. Time was of the essence, leaving me no opportunity to explain. It was the only option."

Su Youwei assessed their rhythmic breathing, concluding that Bai Lian spoke the truth. She felt a surge of relief, convinced of her family's well-being.

Yet Bai Lian's next words dashed Su Youwei's expectations.

"We might need to delay our departure from Gray Wind Town."

Su Youwei's eyebrows knitted. Had Bai Lian changed her mind yet again?

Bai Lian elaborated, "The main route out of Gray Wind Town has been discreetly blocked."

Concern gripped Su Youwei as she inquired, "Have we been exposed?"

Bai Lian shook her head, alleviating Su Youwei's fears. "It isn't related to us."

The situation unfolded as Bai Lian explained. A girl Su Youwei had observed earlier had engaged in a conflict with a vendor selling cotton tree shells. This altercation, occurring less than half a day prior, prompted Red Moon Sect to intervene.

Bai Lian refrained from intervening, anticipating an adverse outcome. Task rewards indicated that the girl likely aggravated Red Moon Sect further.

Annoyed at her own inexperience, Bai Lian mused how she might have handled the situation differently—silently eliminating the vendor to evade detection. This incident confirmed her hypothesis: the girl possessed another transgression provoking Red Moon Sect's wrath.

Frustrated, Su Youwei fumed at the mention of Red Moon Sect, her hatred evident.

"Calm yourself!" Bai Lian swiftly redirected Su Youwei's focus, lamenting the dire consequences if her unbridled hostility persisted.

Reflecting upon this, Bai Lian harbored concerns. She'd initially worried about the second Martial Sister's passivity, yet now faced the opposite dilemma with the third Martial Sister's aggressive disposition.

Perceiving the potential danger of her fury, Bai Lian dreaded the possibility of the third Martial Sister's vengeful actions. An unsettling thought materialized—what if Su Youwei targeted her with the same ferocity?

Bai Lian sank onto the bed, heaving a sigh. "It's going to be a long night. Let's find a way to pass the time, Martial Sister."

Su Youwei's bewilderment was palpable, sensing Bai Lian's puzzling intentions.

"Not now," Su Youwei thought, recognizing that her adoptive father and aunt's presence precluded any hasty actions.

Intriguingly, Bai Lian produced a Go board.

"Shall we play a game of Go?"

Puzzled, Su Youwei exclaimed, "Go?"

"Gobang," Bai Lian reiterated.

"Huh?"

"Gobang!"

Su Youwei was momentarily flabbergasted.