Chapter 501 470: Shang Miaoyan: Lu Ruoxi, Since You Are Unjust, Don't Blame Me for Being Treacherous

"You should get some rest too, Junior Brother. I'll be leaving now."

"Take care, Senior Sister."

The night wind swept through the corridor, making Lu Ruoxi's clothes flutter gently. A hint of loneliness in her retreating figure stirred an inexplicable ache in Pei Yuhang's heart.

After Lu Ruoxi had gone, Pei Yuhang had just closed the door when a resentful whisper came from behind him.

"Pei Yuhang, you really do have a *wonderful* senior sister, don't you~"

Pei Yuhang turned around to see "Fan Xuan" sitting on his bed with a resentful expression. Though a smile played on her lips, her eyes held an unthawable chill, like a thin layer of ice on a lake in early spring.

Remembering how his Senior Sister had called "Fan Xuan" a "wild woman" full of wicked intentions, and realizing "Fan Xuan" had been in his room and heard everything, Pei Yuhang suddenly felt a bit awkward.

"My Senior Sister just has my best interests at heart, so her words might have been a bit harsh. Xiaoxuan, please don't take it to heart."

"Pei Yuhang, how could I not take it to heart?"

Shang Miaoyan suddenly sat up straight. The collar of her dress dipped, revealing the snow-white cleavage of a Fairy.

Her fingertips pressed against her heart, her slender brows knitting into an aggrieved arch. "Did you see the way your Senior Sister looked at me? It was like she was guarding against a home-wrecker."

"It's a good thing you had me hide and didn't let me run into that tigress. Otherwise, she definitely would have tried to pick a fight with me~ So annoying."

Shang Miaoyan narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in her amber pupils.

'Lu Ruoxi… How dare you speak ill of me to Xiaohan behind my back.'

'Since you're going to be ruthless, don't blame me for being vicious!'

As Shang Miaoyan plotted her mischief, she turned to Pei Yuhang with a radiant smile, propping her chin lazily on her hand.

The candlelight danced on her porcelain-white face, making it impossible to tell if her petulance was real or feigned.

"Pei Yuhang, don't you think your Senior Sister is overstepping her bounds a bit? If it were Fairy Ye who thought of me this way, I'd have absolutely no complaints.

After all, Fairy Ye is your official Dao Companion~"

She tilted her head slightly, a lock of hair falling to her shoulder. Her gaze shifted, landing on him with an ambiguous stare.

Pei Yuhang's breath caught, and he subconsciously avoided her gaze, but Shang Miaoyan was relentless.

"But who is this Lu Ruoxi? Does she really think she's the mistress of the Cold Palace Sword Mansion? Does every woman who comes to see you need her approval? It's ridiculous~"

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang pursed his lips. "Xiaoxuan, there might be some misunderstanding between you and my Senior Sister…"

"What misunderstanding? You make it sound like I'm the one targeting her, but she's clearly the one who targeted me first."

Shang Miaoyan lightly tapped her own heart with a fingertip, her tone mournful.

"Think about it. Doesn't Lu Ruoxi always badmouth me in front of you?"

Pei Yuhang fell silent for a moment, not refuting her.

Seeing this, a triumphant smile curved Shang Miaoyan's lips.

She rose and walked toward Pei Yuhang, her voice growing even softer, an enchanting whisper. "And think again… Why is she so intent on eliminating any rivals?"

Shang Miaoyan stood on her tiptoes, her red lips almost brushing against Pei Yuhang's ear. Her breath was warm, yet it sent a slight chill down his spine—

"She must want you to have… no other Fairies around you."

"That way, you'll have no one to rely on but her~"

"Your Senior Sister…" A flash of derision crossed Shang Miaoyan's eyes as she murmured, "She must be an incredibly controlling… weirdo, right?"

"Pei Yuhang, don't tell me you were actually happy living with such a controlling, twisted woman in the past?"

Hearing that last sentence, Pei Yuhang frowned slightly, his mind flashing back to many unpleasant memories with Lu Ruoxi.

He turned his face away, avoiding Shang Miaoyan's gaze, his voice slightly hoarse.

"That's enough, Xiaoxuan… As for what my Senior Sister said, I apologize to you on her behalf."

He raised a hand to press his brow, his tone laced with exhaustion. "It's getting late. You should go back and get some rest."

But Shang Miaoyan was persistent. Her slender fingers tugged gently at his sleeve as she tilted her face up, her eyes shimmering.

"Just tell me first~" Her voice was soft and sweet, a charming sound like a Sea Demon luring sailors into an Abyssal Pit. "What I said… does it make sense?"

Pei Yuhang closed his eyes, suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart. "You're overthinking it," he said flatly.

With that, he placed his hands on her fragrant shoulders and began to push her toward the door, leaving no room for refusal.

"I need to rest. You should head back early too, Xiaoxuan."

Shang Miaoyan, being pushed out, still hadn't given up. She glanced back with a smile.

"Pei Yuhang~"

"You can't lie to yourself, you know?"

She drew out her words, her expression halfway between a smile and a smirk.

Pei Yuhang didn't respond, simply pushing her out the door in silence and murmuring, "Good night."

SLAM—

The door shut heavily in her face.

Shang Miaoyan stood outside, staring at the closed door, her red lips slowly curving into a meaningful smile.

The night wind rustled, causing the hair at her temples to flutter. She had already reverted to her original, world-bewitching appearance, and the bright Moonlight made her exquisite face look even more demonic and enchanting.

"Heh… once the seed of doubt is planted, it's not so easily removed."

"Lu Ruoxi, you pathetic woman. To think you could dream of returning to Xiaohan's side—keep dreaming! I won't let you succeed~"

Shang Miaoyan chuckled softly. A dark light swirled in her eyes, like a viper flicking its tongue, or a hunter watching prey fall into a trap—

"Xiaohan can only be mine."

She gave Pei Yuhang's door one last glance before turning to leave, her swaying skirt and figure gradually melting into the night.

「...」

「...」

"Junior Brother, you are mine~"

"You can never leave your Senior Sister, understand?"

"You must keep your Senior Sister in your heart forever, forever…"

"Don't do this, Senior Sister—!!"

Pei Yuhang shot up in bed, his chest heaving violently. When he came to his senses, he realized that a cold sweat had soaked through his thin sleepwear, and Lu Ruoxi was nowhere beside him.

'Was it a dream? Because of what Xiaoxuan said last night...'

Pei Yuhang pressed his hands to his throbbing temples, his Adam's apple bobbing with a difficult swallow. Fragmented images from the dream still flashed through his mind—

'Senior Sister's drunken eyes, the tea she used to hypnotize me, and those enchanting whispers...'

'What happens in dreams isn't real… I shouldn't overthink it. I still have to escort Senior Sister back to Dan Yun Pavilion later.'

Pei Yuhang muttered to himself and grabbed the cold water on the table, gulping it down. The icy liquid slid down his throat but couldn't extinguish the strange heat burning within him.

A moment later, once he had donned his pristine white robes, he had returned to his usual cold and otherworldly demeanor.

His long hair, held up by a jade coronet, cascaded down like a waterfall, accentuating his handsome, jade-like features.

No one could have guessed that this ethereal White-clothed Sword Immortal had just been trapped in the throes of a terrible nightmare.

Pei Yuhang had just pushed open the door when he saw a Cyan-skirted Fairy in the morning light, her back to him, standing under the pear tree in the courtyard.

Hearing the sound, Lu Ruoxi turned around. Her skirt fluttered in the morning breeze, and the jeweled hairpins she wore chimed softly.

"Junior Brother Pei, you're up a little late today."

Lu Ruoxi walked over with a gentle smile, giving Pei Yuhang an affectionate wave.

However, Pei Yuhang subconsciously took a step back.

"..."

The smile on Lu Ruoxi's face instantly froze.

"Junior Brother, you…"

Sensing the sudden tension in the air, Pei Yuhang snapped back to his senses.

He gave a light cough to cover his gaffe, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear as he forced himself to remain calm.

"My apologies, Senior Sister. I didn't sleep well last night, perhaps because my Divine Soul was too depleted. That's why I woke up late."

"Is it just that you didn't sleep well?"

Lu Ruoxi keenly sensed the change in Pei Yuhang's attitude toward her.

'It's only been one night. Why has Junior Brother Pei become so wary and reserved toward me again? This is too abnormal. Everything was fine last night!'

Her pearly teeth bit down on her lower lip, unease rising in her heart.

"Junior Brother Pei, did… did someone say something bad about me to you?"

"Do you still suspect me?"

Lu Ruoxi clenched her fists, looking at Pei Yuhang nervously.