Chapter 119 – Hell Hath No Fury
The next morning, Shen Ruolan rose earlier than usual and prepared herself for the day. She moved with deliberate care, with each movement and gesture made with single-minded intent to make herself look her best.
Her long, blue-black hair shimmered in the sunlight as though it had been spun from threads of silk. She combed it slowly and patiently until it gleamed, not stopping until not a single strand was left out of place.
Shen Ruolan’s makeup was subtly applied, but flawless as it enhanced the brightness of her eyes and the soft curve of her lips without overwhelming or marring her natural beauty. A faint touch of colour warmed her cheeks and highlighted her full lips.
When she finally slipped on her Outer Sect Disciple robes, she adjusted them carefully. She tugged the folds and ties until they fell just right around her hips and shoulders. The way she wore them accentuated her figure without appearing overly bold, adding to her allure.
Shen Ruolan turned slightly from side to side in front of her large, bronze mirror, which she carried in her storage pouch, studying herself with a keen eye for the slightest imperfection.
By the time she stepped away from the mirror, Shen Ruolan looked every inch the composed, confident beauty that she wanted others to see. But anyone in the know would understand that all of her effort had been for someone in particular.
Shen Ruolan’s steps were light and purposeful as she made her way down the corridor outside her room; the only sound was the swishing of her robes against the floorboards as she walked. She had rehearsed her greeting in her mind, already picturing Jun De’s expression when he saw her.
‘Oh, good morning, Jun De! You think I’m the most beautiful woman you have ever seen? How sweet of you to flatter me so boldly!’
Her footsteps hurried as she imagined what Jun De would say, and how his eyes would widen as he stared at her. Then, he would scoop her into his arms and…
Shen Ruolan blushed a bright red and had to breathe deeply to calm down.
But, just as she reached the turn in the corridor near Jun De’s door, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Lin Yue stood there.
The other woman’s usual twin buns were gone, and her dark-golden brown hair flowed loosely all the way to her waist, resembling amber in the morning sunlight. Her makeup was pristine, subtly applied like Shen Ruolan’s own in order to highlight her features to give her a fragile, ethereal look.
Adding to her appearance were her robes, which were more tightly fitting than normal, tucked and folded to enhance her delicate figure.
Shen Ruolan’s eyes narrowed as she frowned.
‘So, that’s her game.’
Her lips pressed together into a thin line as her gaze swept Lin Yue from head to toe. Her intention was unmistakable; this wasn’t the ordinary Lin Yue who trailed behind her with shy words and earnest smiles, this was a Lin Yue dressed to catch someone’s eye.
‘And I know exactly whose eye it is.’
The air between them grew taut and strained in an instant.
Lin Yue let out a quiet sigh, the kind that was both resigned and determined. She shook her head gently, causing the dark, golden brown strands of her hair to sway like silk. Frustratingly, the woman had the nerve not to look the least bit guilty!
“Sister Ruolan, we can’t continue like this. If we keep bickering and glaring at one another, we’ll only waste our chance. Someone else might step in and spend time with Senior Brother Jun De while we’re busy quarrelling. We must settle our differences here and now, this morning.”
Lin Yue’s voice was soft, but it held a firmness that Shen Ruolan wasn’t accustomed to hearing in her friend and rival. She drew herself up straighter, and she folded her arms as she raised her head haughtily.
“Very well.” Shen Ruolan replied after a long pause, and her own tone was clipped and short, but decisive.
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“Then, we will speak plainly to one another as sisters should. Jun De is my husband, that much is beyond dispute.” Shen Ruolan stated proudly, and her eyes narrowed as she studied Lin Yue carefully. It was obvious that Lin Yue wasn’t going to accept that and would fight her every step of the way.
So, Shen Ruolan’s next words made it seem as though she were offering a concession from a place of superiority.
“You, Sister Yue, are suitable to be his concubine.”
Lin Yue’s face stiffened at once, and her delicate features hardened into resolve as her Qi within her stirred, rippling through the corridor in a sudden wave.
While Shen Ruolan had reached the 5th Stage of Qi Condensation, Lin Yue was at the peak of the 4th and showed signs of breaking through at any moment.
‘Why is she so talented in Cultivation? She told me that, when she joined the Sect, her talent was nothing special. What happened for her to show such improvement!?’ Shen Ruolan thought.
“Concubine? How dare you!” Lin Yue said, her voice coming out as a hiss.
Shen Ruolan’s eyes flashed in response, and for a moment, the two women’s auras pressed against each other as the tension rose. Then, with a sharp exhale, Shen Ruolan relented.
“Fine. If you aren’t content with that, you may be Jun De’s second wife.” Shen Ruolan muttered, clearly not happy with the statement.
Lin Yue’s Qi slowly receded, her frowning expression smoothed into something more composed. She gave a small shake of her head.
“We can discuss that later, but for now, what matters is that when we see Senior Brother Jun De, neither of us should try to block or impede the other.”
Shen Ruolan’s lips curved into a smile that was more about the certainty of her position than agreement with Lin Yue.
“Very well, I won’t stand in your way as long as you stay out of mine. After all, I already know that I’m first in Jun De’s heart.”
A slight edge of tension remained between them, but they managed to conceal it as they moved together down the last few steps of the corridor to Jun De’s door.
Shen Ruolan raised her hand, intending to gently knock, but the door slid open before her knuckles could touch the wooden surface.
Lin Yue and Shen Ruolan took a step back in surprise as they saw that, rather than Jun De, it was Mu Yanyu standing in the entryway. The Elder stepped gracefully into the corridor, shutting the door behind her as she did so.
Mu Yanyu was as perfectly composed as ever, with her dark hair fastened upright with a pale jade pin. Her blue robes trimmed in gold were immaculate, the crisp folds gathered around her figure in flawless order to emphasize her features.
But the observant Shen Ruolan caught the fact that Mu Yanyu’s skin had a faint, unmistakable flush, and there was a vigour and renewed energy that seemed to radiate from her being.
For a long moment, the corridor was utterly still as Shen Ruolan’s eyes narrowed, matched by Lin Yue’s serious expression. Mu Yanyu, on the other hand, was almost chillingly cold toward the two Disciples, as the door latched shut with a click, sealing Jun De off from the outside.
“Elder Mu, what are you doing here so early in the morning?” Shen Ruolan asked at last, her tone holding a hint of a threat along with frustration and anger. There wasn’t a shred of respect in her voice toward the Elder.
Lin Yue, normally the gentler of the pair and unwilling to cause a disturbance, radiated displeasure as she crossed her arms and stared daggers at Mu Yanyu.
Mu Yanyu’s eyes flicked between the two young women, and the faintest hint of surprise appeared on her face at finding them here so early in the morning. She inclined her head slightly, maintained her serenity and forced herself to remain unhurried.
“I have been assisting Jun De with his cultivation and training.” Mu Yanyu replied coldly. Her tone was brisk, but still carrying the weight of her authority within the Sect and as a Core Formation cultivator.
Her tone was final, leaving no space for either of the two women to ask any more questions. Before either could say anything more, Mu Yanyu passed by them, her steps elegant and unhurried until her figure vanished down the corridor.
Shen Ruolan’s hands curled into fists at her sides as she strode toward the door that had barely latched and opened it without any hesitation. She didn’t even bother to knock.
She found Jun De inside, sitting at the table in the center of the room, with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. His posture was relaxed and comfortable, but his eyes widened in surprise at her sudden entrance.
“Ruolan?” Jun De asked, so startled that he set the cup down after spilling some of his tea.
Shen Ruolan stepped inside, with Lin Yue following behind her a moment later. Her expression was angry as she walked toward Jun De, who was wiping tea from his fingers.
“Jun De. Why was Elder Mu here so early in the morning? What was she doing to you?!” Shen Ruolan demanded.
Jun De blinked, taken aback by the force of her words. He opened his mouth to answer, but tears were already forming in Shen Ruolan’s eyes. She bit her lip, and when she spoke, her voice cracked and faltered.
“Am I so easily set aside? You know how much I care for you, but you spend your time with Elder Mu while I…” Her voice broke, and she turned her back to Jun De as if she were too hurt to look at him directly.
Lin Yue, who was standing behind her, looked at her friend and rival in confusion as she noticed something off about Shen Ruolan’s performance.
But Jun De, oblivious as always, only saw that he had upset Shen Ruolan. He rose from his chair as quickly as possible, ignoring the tea that stained the sleeve of his robe.
“Ruolan, it isn’t like that. Don’t cry, please. I’ll spend the day with you, every day if you want. Is that alright?” Jun De said earnestly.
After hearing his words, Shen Ruolan turned slightly to peek at him. She nodded slightly before turning back toward Lin Yue and wiping her eyes with her sleeve. While she did so, she gave Lin Yue a triumphant look before turning back to Jun De and hugging him tightly.
‘You may have gotten your way this time, but this is far from over!’ Lin Yue thought.
