I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 142

The Maiden's Floating Life

Amidst the misty rain, the Zhuangyuan Tower across the lake resembled an ink-wash painting. The willow trees by the shore drooped their tender branches, trembling with each raindrop. A boat drifted lazily on the lake, its oarsman rowing so slowly that the sight alone brought a sense of tranquility.

Hearing her junior sister's words, Xu Shulou smiled and reached out to catch a golden lovebird fluttering toward her. She carefully wiped the rainwater from its feathers with a handkerchief before untying a small note from its leg.

Xu Shulou unfolded the note: "The Joyous Sect has received your request for a visit. You are welcome anytime."

Bai Roushuang poked the lovebird, a tiny creature no larger than a palm, adorable and charming in appearance.

The bird hopped a couple of times, as if preparing to fly away, but Xu Shulou stopped it. "It's raining. We'll take you back with us later."

The lovebird nuzzled her palm in agreement, then extended a claw to point at the fruit on the neighboring table, signaling its desire for a snack.

Bai Roushuang's lips twitched. "You really don’t hold back, do you?"

Xu Shulou chuckled and kindly ordered some fruit from the waiter. Sitting down, she broke the fruit into small pieces and fed it to the golden bird, which turned its backside toward Bai Roushuang, pecking contentedly in Xu Shulou’s palm.

Once full, it flew to her shoulder, tucked its head under its wing, and fell asleep.

Afraid it might fall, Xu Shulou gently cupped it in her hands before turning to her junior sister. "Let’s go."

Bai Roushuang nodded. The two walked away under their umbrellas, choosing not to fly on their swords—lest the owner of the Immortal Sword Pavilion spin another wild tale based on their departure.

To enter the Joyous Sect, one had to dive into a vast mountain lake. Just before Xu Shulou stepped into the water, the golden lovebird woke up, refusing to share their hardship, and fluttered away on its own.

"…" Bai Roushuang frowned. "Was it pretending to sleep?"

Xu Shulou shook her head with a smile and plunged into the lake. Swimming deep into the water, guided by memory, she finally glimpsed a faint light. When they emerged, several Joyous Sect cultivators were already waiting by the shore to greet them—among them, the sect’s maiden, Luo Fusheng.

Over a decade had passed since their last meeting. The young girl had blossomed into a breathtaking beauty, her every movement exuding an enchanting grace.

Though Bai Roushuang had braced herself, the sight of Luo Fusheng’s face—identical to that of her counterpart from another world—still made her gasp.

"Sister Xu, Sister Bai, you both look just as radiant as ever," Luo Fusheng greeted them. The golden lovebird, having flown much faster, was already perched on her shoulder.

"Maiden Luo…" Xu Shulou’s voice trailed off as she noticed Luo Fusheng’s robes, realization dawning. With a quiet sigh, she corrected herself, "No—it’s Sect Leader Luo now."

Luo Fusheng nodded. fгeewebnovёl.com

Bai Roushuang was stunned. "But… how could we not have heard any news of this?"

The Joyous Sect’s cultivation techniques were coveted by many. The transition of leadership from the formidable Luo Hongtang to the young Luo Fusheng should have sent shockwaves through the cultivation world.

"Mother… has passed away," Luo Fusheng replied, her smile tinged with sorrow. "Before her death, she instructed us to keep it secret. She wanted her lingering authority to continue protecting the Joyous Sect."

"…" Bai Roushuang felt a surge of respect, mingled with sadness. She hadn’t known the late sect leader well—only spending a brief time at the Joyous Sect years ago, where she had learned sword flight. Yet the abruptness of this farewell, the realization that their last parting had been final, weighed heavily on her.

Xu Shulou, sensing her emotions, gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Under normal circumstances, the Joyous Sect wouldn’t allow outsiders in right now," Luo Fusheng continued. "But Sister Xu once saved my life."

Xu Shulou spoke solemnly. "I swear I will never reveal what I see or hear today."

"I know. You’re both good people. Come inside." Luo Fusheng led them forward. "I was delighted when I heard you were visiting. Strangely enough, I dreamed of you two recently."

Xu Shulou paused. "What did you dream?"

"I don’t remember. When I woke, all the details were gone," Luo Fusheng admitted. "Only the lingering feeling of loss remained."

"…"

Instead of sitting at a table, the three settled by the lakeside in a quiet spot. A swing still hung over the water, just as it had years ago.

A servant brought them cups of spirit honey, placing them beside the trio before withdrawing. Bai Roushuang smiled wryly—even after all these years, the Joyous Sect still adhered to their tradition of consuming only spirit honey and herbs, avoiding mundane food.

"Actually, we… also dreamed of you," Bai Roushuang said. "That’s why we wanted to see how you were doing."

"What a coincidence," Luo Fusheng laughed. "I’m doing well, though I still struggle to fill my mother’s shoes as sect leader."

The little girl who once caught insects with them was now leading an entire sect.

Bai Roushuang glanced at Xu Shulou, expecting a shared moment of reflection—only to find her poking at a passing caterpillar.

Well, Bai Roushuang thought, Luo Fusheng may have grown up, but Sister Xu remains Sister Xu.

The Joyous Sect’s caterpillars were plump and harmless. Xu Shulou wasn’t afraid of them, but the golden lovebird on Luo Fusheng’s shoulder, mistaking her actions for an attempt to feed it, waited eagerly—only to sulk when she let the caterpillar go.

"Is ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍there anything we can do to help?" Bai Roushuang asked, concerned. "The Joyous Sect’s future…"

"The future?" Luo Fusheng’s gaze sharpened. "Relying on Mother’s legacy won’t last forever. I’ve decided we can no longer hide from the world. If we possess rare treasures, we can’t just keep evading those who covet them."

Bai Roushuang was taken aback by her resolve.

"The Joyous Sect will ally with Black Tortoise Tower, providing resources to help Gao Ming seize power. This is our chance to claim a place in the cultivation world," Luo Fusheng explained. "You’ll hear the news soon enough, so there’s no point hiding it."

"…" Bai Roushuang was nearly speechless. She had carried a rigid impression from the other world—where Luo Fusheng had seemed fragile, almost breakable—and had unconsciously expected traces of that here.

But this Sect Leader Luo Fusheng carried an undeniable ambition in her every expression.

"Are you… confident in this?"

"Nothing is certain, but we must try," Luo Fusheng replied without hesitation. "Success means joining the ranks of the great sects. Failure means retreating to the mountains."

Xu Shulou remarked, "Striking first."

"Exactly," Luo Fusheng agreed. "Once word spreads of Mother’s death, the Joyous Sect will be vulnerable. We must act before others do."

Bai Roushuang glanced at her senior sister, who said nothing more but clearly agreed with Luo Fusheng's reasoning.

It made sense—this was someone who spent every day swinging her sword at others, never passively waiting for enemies to come knocking. Naturally, she would favor such a "strike first" approach.

"The Harmony Sect has wealth but no influence, and that’s dangerous. I want lasting peace. I want evildoers too afraid to approach. I want the Harmony Sect to stop hiding in the shadows. I want to hold a proper funeral for my mother—openly and without fear!" Luo Fusheng flicked her sleeve, the authority in her gaze already undeniable. Given time, she might truly grow into a worthy sect leader, a ruler capable of leading the Harmony Sect to rise from obscurity.

"Your mother…" Bai Roushuang initially wanted to offer comfort, but her words turned into genuine admiration. "She would be proud of you."

Luo Fusheng's expression softened slightly. "The Harmony Sect’s spirit mines and ancestral techniques will always attract greed. Last time, it was only because you exposed Gao Zhang that we avoided disaster. Who knows if we’ll be so lucky again? I don’t have my mother’s profound cultivation to shield the sect as she did. This move is my last resort—a fight with my back against the wall."

"Sect Leader Luo, your determination is admirable," Bai Roushuang said sincerely. "Then I wish you success in achieving your goals."

———

"Wow!" As they left, Bai Roushuang mouthed exaggerated surprise to her senior sister. "Two worlds, and the same person can be so different!"

"Aren’t you the same?" Xu Shulou chuckled.

"Me?" Bai Roushuang paused. "Well, yes, we’ve all changed a lot… But then again, I don’t really know the Luo Fusheng of that other world. Maybe she was just as ambitious but never got the chance to act on it."

"Feeling reassured now?" Xu Shulou gave her a knowing half-smile.

Bai Roushuang laughed sheepishly. "So you knew what I was thinking?"

"I understand. You needed to see them walk completely different paths before you could be at ease."

"Senior sister knows me best," Bai Roushuang said, linking arms with Xu Shulou. "If I didn’t see it for myself, I’d always be wondering."

"Where else would you like to go? I’ll accompany you."

Bai Roushuang hesitated, about to tease her, when a sudden premonition made her heart sink. "Senior sister, are you…?"

Xu Shulou nodded. "I’ve gained some insights from the other world. Soon, I’ll likely enter seclusion again."

"Congratulations," Bai Roushuang forced a smile. "This time, when you emerge…?"

Given Xu Shulou’s rapid progress, what level would she reach after seclusion at the Tribulation Transcendence stage? Bai Roushuang didn’t need to guess—she already knew.

"I’m not certain," Xu Shulou said softly. "But this seclusion may take a long time. There are people I need to bid farewell to."

People she might never see again after turning away.

Bai Roushuang walked beside her in the rain, silent for a long while before finally speaking, her gaze fixed on the misty curtain of rain ahead. "I wonder if the immortal realm has… rainy days you’d like."

Xu Shulou smiled. "There must be."

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freew𝒆(b)novel.c(o)m Only