Fairy, Don't Be Afraid, I Am Blind

Chapter 296 - 176: I Want Both Sisters, No Exceptions (Part 2)

In the end, regardless of her intentions, the fact that she was consorting with her brother-in-law couldn’t be denied, and she could never truly stand tall before Ji Lingruo.

"Why?" Di Yongming asked curiously.

Unlike his friends who only skimmed books, he was very familiar with the plot of "Ms. Bai".

"That’s because the problem isn’t with the ending but with the beginning! This new adaptation of Ms. Bai is trash from start to finish!" Ji Lingruo said emotionally.

Even though Di Yongming was usually clueless, he sensed some tension. The atmosphere between these two women, drawn swords and tense, didn’t seem like they just met as book friends...

"Why do you say that, miss?"

"In the original story, if the snake Xu Xian saved was actually Xiaoqing, but then Bai Suzhen deceived her by pretending to be her sister and took away the love that rightfully belonged to her. Not only that, but they reunite only because of the sister’s help. If that’s the real story, do you think the new ending is right?"

It seemed like Ji Lingruo was asking Di Yongming, but she was actually insinuating this question to her sister.

Ji Xueruo felt a bit embarrassed being questioned by Ji Lingruo and had to sip tea to ease the awkwardness.

"If that’s the case, then Bai Suzhen is indeed someone who steals love from others. Beneath her dignified appearance, she has a heart of a viper." Di Yongming sighed, unaware that this "Bai Suzhen" is indeed a snake both in and out of the story.

Ji Xueruo frowned. She had been strong-willed for eighteen years and wasn’t willing to be overshadowed by her sister, so she asked:

"Then may I ask Mr. Di, if according to this young lady’s words, is all the help and care Bai Suzhen gave Xu Xian fake? If they truly loved each other, wouldn’t Xiaoqing be the one who wedges in awkwardly and steals love with ill intentions?"

Hearing this, Ji Lingruo slammed her teacup onto the table with a "bang," startling everyone.

She burned with anger inside, "So, you two really are in love, huh?"

Unconsciously, Di Yongming’s objective shifted from pleasing Ji Lingruo to discussing plots with fellow book enthusiasts. After seriously pondering, he gave what he thought was the most reasonable answer:

"If that’s the case, then Xiaoqing and Xu Xian are truly fated. Even if she was impersonated by her sister, she has been silently giving. Seen this way, Xu Xian absolutely shouldn’t let down Xiaoqing in the end."

As he finished speaking, the sisters’ expressions shifted differently—Ji Xueruo bit her lip, hesitant to speak, while Ji Lingruo held her head high in a victorious manner.

But then Di Yongming continued, "Yet, Bai Suzhen’s actions must mean she truly loves Xu Xian. They’ve been through thick and thin, supporting each other; their bond is genuine. If Xu Xian were to discard her in the end, it wouldn’t be fair. After all, he’s not the kind of person who is unfeeling or ungrateful in the story."

Di Yongming’s analysis was thorough, but it was getting on the nerves of the two women listening.

"Then what do you say he should choose in the end?" Ji Lingruo asked bluntly.

Di Yongming drank his tea, then happily stated:

"Of course, he should have both the sisters! Wouldn’t that be a happy ending for everyone?"

Among the crowd sitting in the teahouse, the majority were men, most of whom had read the ’classic’ Ms. Bai. Hearing Di Yongming’s words, they applauded in agreement, wishing they could be Xu Xian and enjoy a blissful life.

Seeing so many agreeing with him, Di Yongming felt that he had given a perfect answer, standing up proudly and proclaiming:

"How could a man of great ambition only have one woman in his heart? I say, just having the sisters isn’t enough; Xu Xian should find a few more, enough for multiple wives and concubines!"

Just as Di Yongming was about to bask in the praise from his male peers, he first felt two white snakes coiling around his ankle, followed by the cold gleam of a sword in front of him.

With a loud crash, before he knew what hit him, Di Yongming had shattered the tea table behind him and coughed up two mouthfuls of blood.

"What do you mean by this!"

Di Yongming’s injuries weren’t serious, but the sudden fall from pride to disgrace left him feeling incredibly embarrassed. He stood up, determined to demand an explanation for himself.

"What nonsense! The Xu Xian you envision doesn’t deserve the affection of Xiaoqing and Bai Suzhen at all!" Ji Lingruo, hands on her hips, appeared indignant.

The surrounding guards and onlookers began to gather. Ji Xueruo frowned at her sister; she only intended to use some tricks to make Di Yongming lose face, but didn’t expect her sister to react so strongly to the suggestion of sharing a husband, taking direct action instead.

Ji Lingruo also felt a bit awkward, glancing sheepishly at her sister. Originally at odds, the sisters united in the face of a common challenge.

Ji Xueruo shook her head helplessly, transforming back into her original shape, exuding a noble and proud aura.

The onlookers were amazed by the identical beauty of the sisters.

Ji Xueruo, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, took out an ancient token with a snake pattern from her pocket, saying blandly:

"I am the Clan Leader of the Snake Race, this was just a misunderstanding."

...

In a special room on the Divine Feather Ship reserved for esteemed guests, a white and a green girl sat facing each other in an indescribable silence.

After Ji Xueruo revealed her identity, Di Yongming lost interest in pursuing the matter further. Although the Snake Race was declining, they were better off than the completely fallen Diting Race.

Ji Xueruo provided some simple compensation to smooth things over, yet in the end, no one could guess what act the sisters were putting on before, nor understand why they acted so abruptly.

"Did you get the Lotus Heart...?"

The silence was first broken by Ji Lingruo.

Ji Xueruo was slightly surprised but nodded.

After the commotion earlier, Ji Xueruo easily realized her sister might have known for a while about what happened between her and You Su. Their shared perception was the key her sister used to start questioning.

"Give me your hand," Ji Lingruo demanded decisively.

Ji Xueruo hesitated but then reached out her hand, and Ji Lingruo gently grasped it, scanning Ji Xueruo’s Demon Pill with Profound Qi.

This new Demon Pill was not the light green one taken by her sister before, but was nearly pure white, flowing with a sacred light.

Ji Lingruo snorted coldly, thinking to herself that her guess was indeed correct:

"Ji Xueruo! What do you mean by this! Not only did you steal my Demon Pill, but now you’re going to steal my man too!? Weren’t you the one claiming all human cultivators were no good? You’re simply going too far..."

Ji Lingruo poured out her anger and confusion, years of accumulated resentment seeming to spill out onto the one who started it all.

Ji Xueruo just remained silent, quietly listening, her head lowered in acceptance.

By the end, Ji Lingruo’s words had taken on a sobbing tone, her harsh accusations becoming muddled.

If the one stealing her man was a stranger, Ji Lingruo was confident she could scold her until she couldn’t lift her head. But the adversary was her sister, the one she’d depended on all these years, leaving her heartache unable to fully cut ties.

Seeing the tears in her sister’s eyes, Ji Xueruo couldn’t bear it either. She didn’t feel indebted to any Snake Race member, but she owed it to her sister.

"Lingruo... it’s not what you think it is with him..."

Ji Lingruo wiped away tears from her eye corners; it was the first time she’d seen her proud sister speak so softly to her, which actually gave her more confidence:

"Not what I think, then what is it? Didn’t you say Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen truly loved each other?"

Ji Xueruo was suddenly at a loss for words; she hadn’t expected this brief literary detour to catch Ji Lingruo’s notice, nor did she anticipate how her original fault shouldn’t have led to an argument.

Seeing her sister speechless, Ji Lingruo became more aggressive:

"Ji Xueruo! You must give me an explanation!"

Ji Xueruo was initially shocked, then frowned. For seventeen years, no one had ever spoken to her in such a tone; she didn’t want to continue lowering her stance, taking a more assertive role:

"Lingruo, how dare you speak to the Clan Leader this way! You’ve been away from the clan for three years, not staying long on your first day back, and you’re willing to abandon the clan for a man, is that it?!"