Chapter 995: The Past of the Carefree Sword Sovereign and Lin Siruo

A colossal city stood majestically on the plains. Large numbers of cultivators were busy expanding it, while teams of cultivators patrolled high in the sky and others set up defensive formations around its perimeter.

Within a secluded courtyard, a three-story azure pavilion stood beside an azure stone gazebo. A graceful young woman in an azure dress sat in the gazebo, occasionally glancing towards the pavilion.

Inside the azure pavilion, a beautiful woman with a cold expression, dressed in a silver gown, sat at a tea table with Sword Saint Xiaoyao. A pot of steaming spiritual tea and pastries sat on the table, but the tea in front of them had already cooled, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Sword Saint Xiaoyao wanted to say something, but seeing the silver-gowned woman's indifferent expression, he swallowed the words he was about to speak.

“What’s wrong?” the silver-gowned woman said coldly. “Now that you’re here, have you nothing to say? Have I wronged you, or is that vixen preventing you from seeing me? If you care so much about her, there’s no need for you to be here; it just makes everyone uncomfortable.” Her tone suggested a past acquaintance with Sword Saint Xiaoyao.

Sword Saint Xiaoyao gave a wry smile and explained, “Siruo, after all these years, you haven’t changed at all.”

“Don’t call me Siruo. Call me Madam Lin,” the silver-gowned woman said with a cold face. “Hearing you call me Siruo disgusts me. Go find your Rou’er. I’ve always been this way; I, Lin Siruo, am not that Ye Rou’er. I can’t be gentle. If you don’t like it, go find her in the South Sea. Your limbs are your own; I’m not stopping you.” Her tone implied a complicated history between her and Sword Saint Xiaoyao.

“Siruo,” Sword Saint Xiaoyao said with a bitter, helpless smile, “it’s been over two hundred years. Won’t you forgive me yet? I haven’t seen her in more than two centuries. It’s not what you think. Why won’t you believe me?”

Lin Siruo rolled her eyes at Sword Saint Xiaoyao and said coldly, “Hmph, if men’s words were trustworthy, our human race wouldn’t be multiplying so fast. Whether you look for her or not is your business; it has nothing to do with me. I heard from Senior Sister Lin that you are here on behalf of the Grand Unity Immortal Sect to discuss something with me. Say what you need to say quickly; I hate people who beat around the bush.”

Sword Saint Xiaoyao gave a wry smile, sighed softly, and after a moment of hesitation, began, “Back then, Ye Xianzi and I truly didn’t…” Before he could finish, Lin Siruo interrupted him: “If you’re here to discuss personal matters, please leave! If it’s official business, get straight to the point and stop dilly-dallying with me.”

Sword Saint Xiaoyao took out a string of blue storage beads, placed them on the table, and said, “These items will be beneficial for your cultivation. Please accept them.” Lin Siruo picked up the blue storage beads and tossed them back to Sword Saint Xiaoyao, saying coldly, “What kind of person do you take me for? I don’t need your charity. Give them to whomever you wish; I don’t need them. Since you have no official business to discuss, please leave! Don’t disturb my cultivation unless it’s important.”

Sword Saint Xiaoyao let out a long sigh, picked up the blue storage beads, and walked out.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, you’re out so soon?” the young woman in the azure dress said with a smile. “You know Senior Sister Lin’s temper; please be more understanding.”

Sword Saint Xiaoyao nodded, took out another string of blue storage beads, and sincerely handed them to the young woman in the azure dress, saying, “Madam Li, I’m troubling you, but please help me give these storage beads to Siruo. She refused everything I offered her.”

“You know Senior Sister Lin’s temper; I’ll do my best!” Madam Li said. “Fellow Daoist Ye, don’t be discouraged. I believe Senior Sister Lin will forgive you eventually.” “I hope so!” Sword Saint Xiaoyao replied. “After all these years, her temper is still the same. I won’t disturb your rest. Farewell.”

No sooner had Sword Saint Xiaoyao departed than the young woman in the azure dress entered the azure pavilion.

Seeing the string of storage beads in the young woman’s hand, Lin Siruo’s expression immediately turned cold. She frowned and said, “Junior Sister Li, why did you accept his things? It makes it look like I’m begging him! If that vixen finds out, she’ll start gossiping again. Hmph, I don’t need their pity.”

The young woman in the azure dress gave a wry smile and sighed, “Senior Sister Lin, even if Fellow Daoist Ye has a thousand faults, if you won’t think for yourself, you must think for Mei’er’s future. Mei’er is about to form her Nascent Soul and will need a large amount of cultivation resources.”

“I will take care of Mei’er myself, Junior Sister Li,” Lin Siruo said coldly. “Let me remind you again, you are not to tell anyone about my relationship with Mei’er. Otherwise, we won’t even be sisters anymore. I can raise my own daughter.”

“You still know Mei’er is your daughter? Since you know she’s your daughter, why would you send her on such dangerous missions?”

“It’s all because of Tang Yunshang. I put so much effort and time into making Mei’er the Grand Senior Sister of the Ten Thousand Flowers Palace. Tang Yunshang, relying on the Palace Mistress’s favor, has been extensively installing her own people. It’s one thing for her to use her position for her family’s gain, but she actually dared to target Mei’er, finding all sorts of excuses to slander her. If I had kept Mei’er at the main headquarters, she would definitely have slandered her again. Although attacking that stronghold is dangerous, the success rate is relatively high. Once Mei’er achieves merit, I can transfer her to the rear to guard supplies.”

The Tang Yunshang Lin Siruo spoke of was a disciple of the Tang family from Chuanyu, and Tang Yunshang was their family’s pillar of support.

“But she has a Heavenly Spiritual Root and is the Palace Mistress’s closed-door disciple, making her very likely to be the next Palace Mistress. You shouldn’t go against her, or you’ll face a lot of trouble once she takes office.”

Lin Siruo scoffed, saying, “We’ll see when she becomes Palace Mistress. As long as she’s not the Palace Mistress, she has no right to tell me what to do. I won’t allow anyone to harm Mei’er.”

A strong vibration sound emanated from her embrace. Lin Siruo took out an azure lotus mirror, cast a magic spell into it, and Liu Mei’er’s face appeared on the mirror’s surface.

“Master, your disciple has returned and wishes to report back to you,” Liu Mei’er said with a sweet smile.

Lin Siruo’s face remained cold as she said, “It’s good that you’re back. Come to my residence immediately; I have questions for you.”

“Yes, Master.”

Soon after, Liu Mei’er appeared before Lin Siruo.

Lin Siruo scrutinized Liu Mei’er from head to toe, frowning slightly. “Why do you smell of Hundred Flowers Paste?” she asked. “Are you injured? Let me see.”

Liu Mei’er quickly turned around and removed her upper garment.

“First, take an Azure Dew Pill. Don’t leave any scars,” Lin Siruo said, taking out an azure porcelain bottle and tossing it to Liu Mei’er.

Liu Mei’er thanked her, poured out an azure pill, and swallowed it.

“Who did this?” Lin Siruo asked with a grim expression. “What exactly happened? Explain in detail.”

Liu Mei’er recounted the entire incident in detail, though of course, she omitted the parts where she provoked Wang Qingshan.

“You, a young woman, are not being discreet enough!” Lin Siruo chastised, frowning. “If this matter gets out, what will become of you?”

Liu Mei’er dared not talk back, appearing like a docile child. Lin Siruo believed that strict teachers produce accomplished students, so she was very severe with Liu Mei’er. As a result, Liu Mei’er both revered and feared Lin Siruo.