Chapter 468: Retreat to Advance, Fight for Position

“It’s okay, Senior Sister Jinli, we’re evenly matched.”

“Who’s evenly matched with you? I’m much stronger than you. If you don’t believe me, go ask Eldest Senior Sister!”

Xue Jinli can now completely look down on anyone except Eldest Senior Sister and the Sect Leader with her high combat power. It's just that Eldest Senior Sister and the Sect Leader's team are full, otherwise, she wouldn't have joined Xiaoqing's team. Of course, joining Xiaoqing's team isn't without its benefits. After all, everyone here is relatively weak. With her arrival, she goes from being a phoenix tail to a chicken head, which is quite nice.

“I won’t ask Eldest Senior Sister. I saw your performance just now, Senior Sister Jinli. You are indeed much stronger than me, so we need you to join us even more.” Situ Qingqing humbled herself, appearing slightly fawning and trying to please her.

“Yes, Little Jinli, Eldest Senior Sister might not need you, but we really need you!” Ruan Yu'er echoed.

Qin Kewan didn't say anything but gave Xue Jinli a super large spiritual fruit as a bribe.

“Come to our side, Third Senior Sister.” Xu Dongying looked at Xue Jinli, her voice gentle and melodious, like a nightingale.

“Give me some more time to think about it.” Xue Jinli pretended to be reserved, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention, which made her feel particularly comfortable.

On the other side.

Ji Hongluan was holding Yuan Kouxuan down, teaching her a lesson, hitting her hard while saying, “Xuan'er, you were something just now, actually letting this palace…”

Yuan Kouxuan, because she had exerted too much effort, was no match for Ji Hongluan and was pinned down, unable to move. Her originally cold face now showed a hint of blush, but she still maintained relative composure, saying:

“Sister Hongluan, didn’t you not do it later? How can you blame me for something you didn’t do?”

“You still have the nerve to say that? If I had listened to you, I might have fainted again.”

Ji Hongluan glared at Yuan Kouxuan, annoyed.

“So what if you fainted? It’s not a big deal. Surely no one would take advantage of you while you’re unconscious, Sister Hongluan?”

Yuan Kouxuan shouted 'stop thief' while being the thief.

“Of course there is! Last time, weren't you... cough cough, anyway, the person I worry about most is you, and the person I'm most wary of is also you.” Ji Hongluan almost blurted out her embarrassing secret, but luckily, she stopped herself midway, otherwise, all her sisters would hear it, and they would always make fun of her for it in the future. She didn't want that.

Xue Jinli, who was originally entangled with Situ Qingqing, seemed to have caught a whiff of gossip and quickly said to Situ Qingqing, “Whether I join or not can be discussed later, right now, the important thing is what's happening over there.”

“I’m also a little curious about what happened last time. Did Eldest Senior Sister do something outrageous while the Sect Leader was asleep?” Situ Qingqing also nodded, looking at Ji Hongluan and Yuan Kouxuan with eyes full of thirst for knowledge.

Not only Situ Qingqing but also Ruan Yu'er, Qin Kewan, and Xu Dongying, were like curious babies, their eyes bright and fixed on the two who were fighting.

“Xuan'er, look what you’ve done.”

Suddenly being stared at by so many people, Ji Hongluan panicked. And in that instant of carelessness, Yuan Kouxuan found an opportunity and, with a thrust, directly flipped Ji Hongluan to the ground. With a cry of 'ouch,' Ji Hongluan went from being the superior to the inferior.

Yuan Kouxuan grabbed Ji Hongluan's arm, pinning her down firmly, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes, saying:

“Sister Hongluan, were you wrong or not?”

Ji Hongluan struggled for a while but couldn't break free, her face flushed as she said:

“I wasn’t wrong, what did I do wrong?”

“You're still not wrong? You actually bullied me!” Yuan Kouxuan held Ji Hongluan's two hands with one hand, and then used her other hand to pat her thigh, the sound was heavy and crisp, indicating that she had used force.

“Xuan'er, you…” Ji Hongluan's eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe that Yuan Kouxuan would actually dare to teach her a lesson, especially in front of so many sisters. Where was her face as the Sect Leader to be put? So, she struggled violently for a while, but Yuan Kouxuan sat on her, as steady as Mount Tai, and she couldn't flip her over at all.

Xue Jinli and the others watched this scene, amazed in their hearts. Eldest Senior Sister was indeed Eldest Senior Sister, even the Sect Leader could be easily suppressed, and she even dared to hit her, just like she usually hit them.

At this moment, Eldest Senior Sister's image in their hearts was undoubtedly elevated a lot.

“What about me?” Yuan Kouxuan said calmly, “Sister Hongluan, are you not convinced?”

“Of course I’m not convinced. You’re just a disciple of Purple Cloud Peak, and I’m at least the Sect Leader. How can me bullying you be called bullying?” Ji Hongluan strongly objected. If she continued to be bullied, she would have no place to hide her face.

“Regardless of our identities outside, once we enter this door, I am the eldest sister, Sister Hongluan. You agreed to this before.”

Yuan Kouxuan said with reason and evidence.

??

Xue Jinli and the others seemed to have heard something incredible, looking at each other, seeing the shock in each other's eyes. They didn't expect it, they really didn't expect it, Ji Hongluan, the dignified Sect Leader, actually gave up competing with Eldest Senior Sister for the position of the first wife.

They didn't know the reason that led Ji Hongluan to give up the position of the first wife, but they only knew one thing, that Eldest Senior Sister's position as the first wife was completely stable, so stable that it would be difficult for any sister to challenge Eldest Senior Sister's position in the future.

They found this matter easier to accept because, both publicly and privately, they were no match for Eldest Senior Sister and were not qualified to compete for the position of the first wife. When the gap between the two was very small, the latter might try to catch up, but when the gap was too large, there was no need to catch up, because it was destined to be unattainable, so it was better to give up directly.

Before today, Situ Qingqing still had some thoughts about the position of the first wife, but after today, she extinguished this thought in the cradle. There was no way, you had to be strong yourself. Learning crooked ways would not greatly increase her combat power but would instead turn her into a unit of measurement.

“I…” Ji Hongluan was suddenly speechless. She thought about it and felt that she was somewhat at a disadvantage in this matter, but being at a disadvantage was one thing, she couldn't lose face. She bit her silver teeth and said:

“Xuan'er, I really shouldn't have held you down and beat you just now. I apologize to you, but you shouldn't have let me do those things just now. I suspect you harbored evil intentions, am I wrong?”

“No.”

Yuan Kouxuan released Ji Hongluan's hand, helped her up, her movements were very gentle, her face apologetic, saying:

“Sister Hongluan, I was too concerned about Master's safety just now, that's why I let you do those things. If I made you misunderstand, I also say sorry to you.”

Huh??

Xuan'er apologized so easily? Could it be a trick!

Ji Hongluan stared at Yuan Kouxuan, her phoenix eyes blinking gently. Seeing that the other party's eyes were clear and did not contain any other thoughts, she felt that she might be thinking too much:

“In that case, then I forgive you too.”

“Sister Hongluan is generous, Xuan'er really admires you.” Yuan Kouxuan smiled.

“Likewise.” Ji Hongluan almost came to her senses. Although the other party's apology was not a trick, it was a strategic retreat, indicating that although she was the first wife, she would not use her status as the first wife to bully her sisters. If she did something wrong, she would also apologize. This move was to lower the sisters' guard!

“Xuan'er, Xuan'er, you have such deep scheming, no wonder I can't beat you!” Ji Hongluan thought, she helplessly looked at Yuan Kouxuan, feeling a little discouraged by her performance, and at the same time, she was slightly convinced by Yuan Kouxuan.

Yuan Kouxuan didn't know what Ji Hongluan was thinking. If she knew, she would probably laugh it off, because she didn't think of that at all. She completely felt that she should admit her mistakes if she made them, and she acted with a pure heart, without too much scheming. But if she had to talk about scheming, she did have quite a deep scheming.

Xue Jinli was a little disappointed when she heard this. Originally, she wanted to hear some more exciting gossip, but in the blink of an eye, the two sides reconciled and became loving sisters again.

She curled her lips, feeling a little unhappy that she didn't hear any gossip. However, just then, her peripheral vision suddenly saw her master's eyelids twitching:

“Wait, wait, Eldest Senior Sister, Sect Leader, Master seems to be waking up! I just saw his eyelids move!”

“I saw it too.”

Tu Shan Xinya, as the person involved, had been silent, not expressing any opinions, until now she began to speak.

Yuan Kouxuan and Ji Hongluan, hearing this, directly threw the previous dispute to the back of their minds, approached Xu Yang, and softly called out:

“Master (Xu Lang)?”

Ji Hongluan didn't call Xu Yang 'evil disciple' like before, because she thought that she still had to save some face for this evil disciple in front of everyone. She could call him whatever she wanted in private.

Xu Yang, as if hearing the call, moved his eyelids several times. After a while, he opened his eyes, looked at the women who were all lightly dressed around him, and quickly recalled everything in his mind, remembering everything. He sat up, looked at everyone, and said apologetically:

“I’m sorry, I made you worry!”

“You know that!” Ji Hongluan glared at him, but her tone didn't seem to be complaining, but more of fear and worry.

“It’s good that Master is okay.” Yuan Kouxuan's voice was soft.

“Yes, as long as Master is okay, we can do anything.”

“I still have to be there in the future. Relying on Xiaoqing alone won't work~”

“Senior Sister Yu'er, do you think you and Xiaoqing are enough? Forget it, for Master's sake, I'll wrong myself and lower my status, sacrificing myself to accompany you!”

“Master, you scared me to death just now!”

“Master, how is your body now? Is there any place that's uncomfortable?”

Situ Qingqing was the last to speak, her face showing shame and guilt, saying: “It’s not Master’s fault, it’s all this disciple’s fault, this disciple was being stubborn…”

Xu Yang reached out and touched Situ Qingqing's head, and said softly: “Qing'er, didn't Master already say that this matter is not your fault.”

“Yes, Xiaoqing, don't feel guilty, blame your master, who told him to not know the severity, not know what's good for him…” Ji Hongluan pretended to be angry and looked at Xu Yang.

How could Xu Yang not hear the good intentions in Ji Hongluan's words, he directly reached out and hugged her in his arms and kissed her, saying: “Little Hongluan, I made you worry.”

“This palace is not worried about you… there are so many sisters here!” Ji Hongluan twisted her shoulders, struggling symbolically, and then let Xu Yang kiss her.

“What's wrong with that? I'll kiss you one by one later.” Xu Yang laughed.

“You're thinking beautifully.” Ji Hongluan stood up from Xu Yang's body and rolled her eyes at him again.

“It is beautiful.” Xu Yang opened his arms and said: “Who's next?”

“I'm not coming, let Little Jinli come first!” Ruan Yu'er pulled Xue Jinli over.

Xue Jinli also stepped back, shook her head and said: “I don't want to either, Xiao Wan, you go, don't you like eating big spiritual fruits the most?”

Qin Kewan stretched out her hand and shook the spiritual fruit in her hand: “I have it.”

Xu Dongying pursed her lips and said: “There are so many senior sisters, and the sect leader, and Aunt Yaoyao, it's not good for me to go before them.”

Xu Dongying said it more tactfully, but the implication was almost a rejection.

Tu Shan Xinya looked at Xu Yang helplessly, and said: “Brother Xu, I entered the sect relatively late, so…”

How could Yuan Kouxuan not know that the sisters were giving her the position, and she naturally accepted the sisters' kindness:

“Since…”

Before she could finish speaking.

Xu Yang put his arm around her waist, and his gentle voice spread in her ears: “Xuan'er, you've worked hard, Master was actually very clear-headed just now, Master saw everything you did!”

'Pop!'

Then, Yuan Kouxuan was kissed by Xu Yang.

Hearing her master's words, Yuan Kouxuan's heart was jumping happily. She didn't occupy Xu Yang for too long, but took the initiative to give up her position, and said to the remaining sisters:

“Okay, it's your turn.”

Situ Qingqing said without hesitation: “I was the first to enter the sect, so let me go first, isn't that too much!”

“What's not too much, the truth is revealed in the combat power, you have to be ranked last, if you're eating at a banquet, you have to sit at the children's table!” Ruan Yu'er took the lead in front of Situ Qingqing and mercilessly attacked her weakness.

“……”

Situ Qingqing's pretty face turned red, and she was speechless.

“If we're talking about combat power, Senior Sister Yu'er, you may not be stronger than Xiaoqing, so let me go first!” Qin Kewan slowly ate the spiritual fruit into a core, and said to Ruan Yu'er.

“Actually, we're all about the same.” Although Xu Dongying didn't grab a position, she also expressed her opinion.

“If we have to rank according to combat power, I suggest letting Sister Xinya go first!” Xue Jinli cast the most critical vote. It wasn't that she was selfless and had no selfish intentions. If she was ranked according to the order of entry, she would be the eighth, so she had to pull an ally first. Eldest Senior Sister and the Sect Leader were both relatively strong, and she couldn't pull them at all. Only Aunt Yaoyao was innocent, in the neutral camp, not relying on anyone or helping anyone. Therefore, Xue Jinli was willing to sell her this favor.

Tu Shan Xinya was flattered, not expecting to be called on her, pointing her finger at herself and saying: “Me?”

“Yes, it's you.” Xue Jinli nodded slightly.

"In that case, Sister Xin Ya, go ahead!" Situ Qingqing's mind raced. She recalled how she had previously given her treasured books to Tu Shan Xin Ya, and it wasn't even at the latter's request; she had offered them willingly. This gesture, coupled with her speaking up for Tu Shan Xin Ya this time, meant that when it came time to compete for a spot, Tu Shan Xin Ya would surely remember their friendship and help her out, right?

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PS: Jiang Jiang didn't update yesterday because I took a leave of absence (｡•﹃•｡)!!!