All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 477 - Two Hundred and Eighty-five_1

Chapter 477: Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty-five_1
The sunlight slanted through, and all around was silent, with only that wisp of silver appearing and disappearing from time to time.
The scent of mustard floated up, faintly lifting the spirits.
As she passed by Xiao Ruoching, Mo Li paused slightly, her eyes lowered and her gaze averted,
"Do you have to turn away?"
"Is there a problem with your head?"
Without responding to Mo Li’s words, Xiao Ruoching turned her back to her and reached out to gently tidy the Sword Maiden’s clothes, seriously advising,
"If anything upsets you in the future, don’t suffer alone."
"Although Ninth Uncle may seem cold, he will certainly take care of you."
"Do you understand?"
The Sword Maiden bit her lip, nodded, and looked down at her toes, her head drooping.
Xiao Ruoching sighed and hugged her, "Don’t be afraid to trouble others. If Master were here, he would never allow them to act this way."
"..."
Then, as if she hadn’t seen Mo Li, she let go of the little hand she was holding and walked towards the solitary confinement room on her own.
Mo Li watched everything calmly, watched Xiao Ruoching leave, and then went over to the Sword Maiden. Seeing her lowered head, she said lightly,
"Third Martial Sister."
Her voice sounded somewhat stern. The Sword Maiden, on the verge of crying, still lifted her head to look up at her, panicked like a frightened little bird.
Mo Li gazed at her unblinkingly, then reached out for the Longsword at her waist.
CLANG—
The Longsword was already unsheathed.
The Sword Maiden’s heart leapt in an instant, and she took a step back.
Mo Li flicked the Longsword’s edge with her finger, observing the blade tremble slightly, and then her gaze hardened as she spoke,
"Spine is something you earn for yourself."
"And this—"
As she spoke, she resheathed the Longsword and turned calmly to say,
"Is your spine."
The cool breeze could not lift the hem of her skirt, and sunlight reflected on the vista before her eyes—half green peaks, half snow.
Her voice gently echoed in the Sword Maiden’s ears, "I hope next time you retrieve your dignity by yourself..."
"..."
The Sword Maiden bit her lower lip, holding the Longsword tightly in her hand, her face flushed red.
Watching the two martial sisters disappear, something seemed to grow within her.
Perhaps it was a sense of belonging.
Xiao Ruoching followed the disciples of the Enforcement Hall to the door of the solitary confinement room. She stood quietly under the puzzled gazes of the Enforcement Hall disciples, not entering.
After a while, footsteps came from behind.
Was the person she had been waiting for finally here?
But she didn’t turn around or look at the person making the footsteps. The two exchanged no words.
Mo Li caught up with Xiao Ruoching, stopping behind her. After a long moment, she slowly turned her head and said softly,
"Thank you, Elder Sister."
A gust of wind arose, lifting the black cloak and scattering the silver hair, which fluttered lightly.
After speaking, she turned and left without hesitation in her steps.
Xiao Ruoching’s lips curled into a half-smile as she pushed the door open and entered.
「...」
「The setting sun slanted to the west.」
Dan Wulan sat quietly inside the room as sunlight kissed her cheek and brushed against the purple and peach gown, her jade-like hands gently pulling at the silk scarf draped over her legs. She lowered her head; two strands of her white hair curled and swayed, resting upon her fragrant shoulders.
Her face remained undisturbed, but deep in her eyes, there was a touch of regret that seemed like mist hanging over a clear lake.
Sister, did I do something wrong?
Am I not fit to be his woman? Have I always been so selfish?
I even failed to protect his disciple.
...
Dan Wuque blinked, her cowlick swaying gently. Then she stepped forward, tenderly wrapped her arms around Dan Wulan’s shoulder, kissed her forehead, and playfully tweaked her cute nose,
"Little sister, you’ve done nothing wrong!"
"How could you possibly be selfish? Mother once said that feelings alone cannot be judged as right or wrong..."
"You’ve done very well!"
Dan Wulan paused, then lay in Dan Wuque’s arms and closed her eyes.
She had vowed as a child to always protect her sister, yet in the end, she was the one who had been protected by her, time and again.
Her sister wasn’t truly naïve; she had only become so for her sake.
How many times, while sewing clothes for him, had she looked up to see her sister silently staring at the candlelight? Perhaps, rather than herself, it should have been her sister sewing those garments for him.
Thus, she reached out to stroke Dan Wuque’s protruding cowlick.
Dan Wuque’s eyes widened in an instant, and then she cuddled up like a little kitten, enjoying the gentle strokes.
"Little sister, let’s cuddle."
Dan Wulan smiled lightly, biting her lower lip. Then, under Dan Wuque’s disbelieving gaze, she leaned her small face closer.
Without her previous coldness, disdain, or reserve, in that moment, they seemed to have returned to a time hundreds of years ago.
On that night, a storm raged outside. Their parents were not home; only the two of them remained in the house.
As thunder roared outside the window, she softly parted her lips, just as she had in their childhood, and said,
"Sister, Wulan likes you most..."
"You also like Senior Brother, don’t you?"
Dan Wuque stopped nuzzling her, hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond.
Dan Wulan stood up, as if she had made a decision, and looked seriously into her eyes.
「...」
「Time passed, a long, long time, until the half-moon cast its slanted light and the stars shone brightly.」