Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 306 - 300: Tricking San Xiao into Our Hands [Looking for Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets]_1
Chaos had erupted on both the immortal and Buddhist fronts.
Because.
People from the Sect of Interpretation had arrived at the Flowing Sand River, and the San Xiao Empresses had entered the Flowing Sand River Cave.
Whatever happened inside was unknown to outsiders.
Could it be that Sha Chen had sided with the Sect of Interpretation!?
「Inside the Flowing Sand River」
Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bi Xiao had all entered.
However, Yunxiao and Qiongxiao both displayed strange expressions and shock, their eyes always harboring a trace of vigilance.
Although Sha Chen’s strength was only at the Da Luo level, and they had reached profound heights of power, they were not afraid of Sha Chen.
But still.
Having walked the path of cultivation, they were not weaklings. They knew all too well how many had been trapped and killed by magical tools or formations.
Hence, they remained very cautious.
However.
Upon entering, they found that many formations had been set up within the Flowing Sand River, the largest being an Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation.
Their expertise in the Array Dao was even stronger than Bi Xiao’s, and they could tell at a glance that it was not an Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation, but an Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation.
Moreover, they spotted many flaws and also discerned the positions Sha Chen had placed for each gate.
Additionally, they saw through to the depths of the formations, where there were two patches of farmland—one with Innate Earth and the other with Post-Heaven Earth. Lacking divine vision, however, they could not see the plants within.
They merely knew that something was concealed there.
The locations of every formation throughout the Flowing Sand River, as well as their flaws, were immediately apparent to them.
And they instantly thought of countermeasures.
Consequently, they looked down on Sha Chen, even displaying a hint of contempt.
Because they had spotted Sha Chen’s weaknesses, they felt confident, believing that Sha Chen had arranged these formations specifically to deal with them.
And they were confident enough to easily break through Sha Chen’s formations, making it impossible for Sha Chen to oppose them.
Seeing their expressions and using the Six Ears of All Heavens technique, Sha Chen could easily guess their thoughts and intentions.
Although he could not deduce the specifics, he had a general idea.
A slight smile touched his lips. The more disdainful the San Xiao sisters are, he thought, the more confident they must be, which means I have an even better chance of learning the Array Dao from them. And the Array Dao I learn will be of an even higher level.
Yunxiao said, "Youngest Sister, let us go. Tell us, what exactly is going on here?"
Only after maneuvering them to the table’s edge and pouring them drinks did Bi Xiao release them, her face adorned with a smile.
Then she said, "Sisters, don’t worry. I know what you’re all thinking. I’m not insane, nor have I been threatened."
Yunxiao said, "It’s good that you understand that, Little Sister. Since none of those are the case, I assume you’ve recruited Sha Chen into our Sect of Interpretation."
Qiongxiao also looked at Sha Chen and nodded slightly, her lips curled in a cold, proud smirk of satisfaction. So, you do have some sense after all, she seemed to imply.
But Bi Xiao immediately said, "No, that’s not it. He hasn’t decided to join our Sect of Interpretation."
SLAM.
Qiongxiao immediately slammed the table and stood up, demanding, "Third Sister, have you lost your mind? If he hasn’t joined, why are you so happy?"
Bi Xiao promptly pushed her back down and said, "Second Sister, don’t be angry. Although Brother hasn’t joined, he has gained us as his three younger sisters."
Qiongxiao huffed and sat back down. Then her eyes widened, and she stared at Bi Xiao in disbelief.
Brother!? Younger sisters!? What is this madness!? Could this person not be Sha Chen but Zhao Gongming!?
Yunxiao, too, had been smiling faintly, but her expression suddenly changed to one of utter bewilderment.
She hastily grabbed Bi Xiao and demanded, "Little Sister, what’s going on?"
With a cheery smile, Bi Xiao stood up and announced, "Let me formally introduce you: Sha Chen, the Lord of the Flowing Sand River, is the brother I, Bi Xiao, have acknowledged. And I am his younger sister."
Then, signaling to her sisters, she said, "Sisters, don’t say I didn’t think of you. I’ve included you as well; he is also your brother."
"Brother is a man of noble character, with an easy-going and magnanimous nature. His heart is vast enough to forgive anything. He has already forgiven our previous offenses and has agreed to acknowledge you as his younger sisters."
Qiongxiao was no longer haughty, her face a picture of confusion.
Yunxiao frowned. Bi Xiao sounds as if she’s been fed some bewitching potion, she thought.
She quickly pulled her closer and whispered, "Little Sister, what on earth is happening? How did you come to acknowledge him as your brother?"
Bi Xiao said, "I admire Brother’s character. He bears no grudges and has even taught me Dao techniques. I felt we were kindred spirits, so I acknowledged him as my brother."
Yunxiao said urgently, "Alas, you’ve been deceived! How can you so lightly acknowledge someone as your brother? This is far too rash."
"You haven’t been here long. How can you know his character? How did you become kindred spirits with him so quickly?"
Bi Xiao said, "Hey, Elder Sister, how long does it take to determine if spirits are kindred? Brother won’t deceive me. If you don’t believe it, ask him yourself."
Then, Sha Chen, who was beside them, added, "That’s right, I won’t deceive her."
Bi Xiao said, "See, Elder Sister? Brother himself said he won’t deceive me."
Yunxiao almost wanted to strangle this clueless sister of hers. How has she managed to survive until now?
She then took a deep breath and said, "You mentioned he has forgiven our recklessness. We came to recruit him; did we really do something wrong by that?"
Bi Xiao said, "But Elder Sister, we came here and, without a word, resorted to threats and violence. Wasn’t that wrong?"
Yunxiao poked her on the forehead and said, "Little Sister, this was your idea in the first place. Why would you go back on your own decision?"
Bi Xiao’s face immediately reddened. She looked at Sha Chen, then lowered her head in embarrassment and said, "Brother, I apologize for our previous rudeness."
Sha Chen said, "I don’t blame you."
Yunxiao’s eyes showed her displeasure.
The usually aloof Qiongxiao then scoffed, "Cut the nonsense. What right do you have to blame us? Little Sister might be easily deceived by you, but we won’t be fooled. You want to be our brother? Are you even worthy?"
Sha Chen said, "I don’t consider myself worthy. It was your sister who insisted that I become her brother."
Bi Xiao added, "Yes, Second Sister! I pressed him so hard that he finally agreed. Don’t worry, Brother will treat us all fairly; he won’t just dote on me, his one younger sister."
Qiongxiao almost choked with anger.
Yunxiao was also infuriated beyond words.
This little sister of mine... I might as well just give up on her! How did that brain of hers survive this long!?
Yunxiao took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "Little Sister, tell us what happened from the beginning. What exactly is going on?"
Then, Bi Xiao recounted everything that had transpired since she arrived. She embellished the story, influenced by her preconceived notions, and lavished praise upon Sha Chen.
It was as if Sha Chen were unique in the heavens and unparalleled on earth—the best person in the world, possessing great character and unique charm. Acknowledging Sha Chen as a brother was, in her telling, a loss for Sha Chen, and she was the one who had benefited.
After listening, Yunxiao also understood the situation, and her expression turned to one of shock.
The Master actually comes here often? she thought, stunned. Good heavens, even the Old Lord visits frequently! Sha Chen truly has such a blessing, to be favored by a Saint and personally recruited as a disciple.
Sha Chen said, "It’s all just good fortune."
Yunxiao’s expression was incredibly complicated. She knew that recruiting Sha Chen into the Sect of Interpretation to become a disciple of the Golden Spirit Holy Mother was now impossible.
He had, after all, even refused the Tongtian Hierarch.
As for killing Sha Chen, that was also out of the question. He clearly had no intention of joining Buddhism, and moreover, his relationship with Bi Xiao was so good.
If I really dared to kill Sha Chen, she mused, my sisters and I would fall out immediately. It wouldn’t be worth it.
Bi Xiao urged them to pay their respects to Sha Chen promptly and to acknowledge him as their brother.
But.
Yunxiao and Qiongxiao were unwilling. They had not personally experienced what Bi Xiao described and thus had no real sense of Sha Chen’s supposed great character and unique charm.
Our sister is simply too foolish, they thought.
Bi Xiao felt they were being disrespectful and was very displeased.
She then apologized to Sha Chen, who dismissed it as unimportant and suggested that everyone should eat and drink first before discussing things further.
Yunxiao and Qiongxiao were already very wary of Sha Chen.
However.
They wouldn’t truly disregard their sister’s feelings, so they agreed to sit down for the meal.
After several rounds of wine and numerous dishes had been served, they were no longer as resistant as they had been initially, but they still had no intention of acknowledging him as their brother.
Yunxiao said, "Sha Chen... River Lord, we are very grateful that you taught our sister the Quasi-Saint Chapter of the Qingping Scripture, and we thank you for forgiving our earlier rudeness. But you know, we are Quasi-Saints, and you are a Daluo Golden Immortal. For us to acknowledge you as our brother is really..."
She did not finish, but everyone knew what she meant: they wanted to renege on the idea.
Bi Xiao immediately flared up, "Elder Sister, what do you mean? I have already acknowledged him as my brother! Are you trying to break us apart?"
The ambiguity in your words is infuriating! Yunxiao fumed internally. Silly little sister!
Bi Xiao declared, "Elder Sister, even if you two don’t acknowledge him, you can’t stop me!"
Yunxiao was momentarily at a loss for words.
Nearby, Qiongxiao was also finding it difficult to maintain her aloof demeanor. She, too, valued loyalty highly, and her experience of the world and its complexities was far less than that of her elder sister, Yunxiao.
Yunxiao had reached her current level, surpassing her two sisters, precisely because she had experienced more and lived longer.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Qiongxiao also began to sense Sha Chen’s sincerity, his ’great’ character, and his magnanimity.
She started to develop a somewhat favorable impression of Sha Chen.
However, she wasn’t as direct as her younger sister.
And she still didn’t feel that Sha Chen was qualified to be their elder brother.
A glint flashed in Sha Chen’s eyes. I knew this would be tricky, he thought, but I didn’t expect it to be this difficult. It seems I’ll need to employ some specific methods and perhaps take a few risks.
His avatars, Chen Sha and Yunyao, were at their side, trying to persuade Yunxiao and Qiongxiao. Qiongxiao was already beginning to waver.
Only Yunxiao remained resolute. She was grateful for Sha Chen’s guidance to Bi Xiao and his hospitality towards them, but she showed no sign of intending to acknowledge him as their brother.
Sha Chen then stood up and said, "Bi Xiao, I think your eldest sister... cough, I mean, Fairy Yunxiao is somewhat resistant to me, probably thinking I’ve tricked you. I must clarify things."
Bi Xiao, anxious and somewhat blaming her elder sister, immediately sought to comfort him, "Brother, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for not handling things better."
Sha Chen said, "Don’t blame yourself."
"My intentions towards you are selfless. From the moment you entered until now, I have made no demands nor asked for anything in return; I have only given."
"Including when I acknowledged you as my younger sister—it was you who wanted to acknowledge me, and I reluctantly agreed. My conscience is clear."
Bi Xiao immediately felt that Sha Chen must have been deeply wronged to speak such words. Brother must be truly hurt!
Her unhappiness with her elder sisters, Yunxiao and Qiongxiao, grew, and she shot them a reproachful glare.
Sha Chen patted her shoulder and said, "Sister, it’s okay. We are kindred spirits, and it’s enough that you and I are brother and sister. You are still their younger sister."
"And if I cannot become their elder brother, we can still be friends, can’t we?"
He smiled at Yunxiao and Qiongxiao. "Isn’t that so? We can be friends. Moreover, I can expound on the Dao for you. The Enlightenment Tea I gave your sister, I can also share with you. However, since you are not my younger sisters, I can only give you half the amount, because I dote on my own younger sister more."
WOW!
Yunxiao remained composed, but Qiongxiao, at that moment, was utterly dazzled by Sha Chen’s perceived magnanimity and brilliance.
I finally understand what Little Sister meant by his great character! she thought. He’s too kind!
They had treated him so poorly, yet Sha Chen was still being so generous, willing to lecture them on the Dao for free and even offering them Enlightenment Tea.
Yunxiao, however, frowned deeply. I’m not so easily fooled, she thought. Just some Enlightenment Tea and a lecture, and he thinks he can win us over?!
