Xianxia: My Girls Are All System User

“Which mangy old dog is this, so blind they dare to touch a disciple of the Misty Spirit Sect?”

As the mist cleared, a loose palace robe draped over a petite figure. Immortal Immortal Yu Ling stretched lazily, her delicate bare feet brushing the ground, as she spoke nonchalantly:

“Don’t hide your face behind that mask like a coward. What are you even supposed to be?”

“Come on, I’ll give you a platform to talk. So, what are you, exactly?”

With her appearance, the black-clad man’s face darkened, while Chen Yin visibly relaxed. He even found the mood to joke along:Immortal Yu Ling

“Careful, Master. What if they aren’t ‘a thing’ at all?”

“Oh, impressive! Turns out they’re not a ‘thing’ at all,” she quipped back.

Their playful banter left Shen Shuanglian, standing nearby, feeling unsure of how to react.

The black-clad man’s gaze lingered on for a long time before he spoke in a low, sinister voice:

“Yu Ling… why are you here?”

“And why shouldn’t I be here? Does where I go concern you?”

Immortal Yu Ling lifted her delicate chin with disdain, her voice youthful and sharp:

“An old mutt dares to search for my disciple to cause trouble, and I can’t come out to smack them down? Do you really think I don’t have a temper? Huh?”

Chen Yin was used to his master’s crude language, but Shen Shuanglian was taken aback. Clearly, she hadn’t expected the famous Immortal Yu Ling to be so… unrestrained in her demeanor.

The black-clad man’s eyes stayed fixed on Immortal Yu Ling, his thoughts inscrutable.

“Yu Ling, do you truly intend to protect these two?”

“What do you mean ‘intend’? If I weren’t here to protect them, why would I even bother showing up? Huh?”

With a petulant huff, she sneered, “I don’t care which old mutt’s house you come from, and I care even less.”

“If you don’t want to leave today, well, you don’t have to.”

The black-clad man squinted his eyes.

—Truth be told, Immortal Yu Ling’s sudden appearance had completely derailed his plans.

Not to mention the risk of exposing his identity, even going all out, he wasn’t confident he could kill those two under her protection, let alone escape unscathed.

If she decided to pursue him, it could jeopardize everything.

Finally, he cast a long, penetrating look at Chen Yin behind her before vanishing into thin air without another word.

“Ran away? What a cowardly old dog.”

Chen Yin snorted, crossing his arms. Yu Ling, on the other hand, gave a dismissive hum, unconcerned:

“Rules of the martial world—if they flee, we don’t pursue. Since he’s gone, I’ll spare his life this time.”

“Anyway, with how many disciples of Misty Spirit Sect, Tianluo Sect, and Wanxiang Pavilion he’s killed, I’m sure they won’t let him off easily. Let’s just enjoy the show.”

Saying this, Yu Ling suddenly turned her gaze sharply toward Shen Shuanglian.

The focus made Shen Shuanglian visibly uneasy, her head lowering slightly in nervousness.

“Gr-Greetings, Immortal Yu Ling…”

“Tsk. I thought Chen Yin was lying to me, but it seems he really managed to bring you along.”

Yu Ling gave Shen Shuanglian a dissatisfied once-over, her tone sulky:

“A perfectly good flower, and you really decided to stick it into a pile of cow dung like him?”

Chen Yin coughed awkwardly and tried to explain:

“Master, you’ve misunderstood. Senior Sister is just—”

“Spare me the explanations; I couldn’t care less.”

Waving her tiny hand dismissively, Yu Ling continued in a mock-serious tone:

“Still, on closer inspection, she’s not bad.”

“Big chest, long legs, round hips. She seems like she’d be good for having kids. Disciple, this one’s approved. You can haul her back to the mountain.”

Chen Yin choked, coughing uncontrollably, while Shen Shuanglian’s face turned bright red.

“Master, we’re cultivators, not bandits. Talking about ‘hauling her back to the mountain’ feels… inappropriate, don’t you think?”

“What’s so inappropriate about it?”

Yu Ling replied carelessly:

“She’s a pretty girl, and if you bring her back, I’ll have something nice to look at too.”

“…You know, suddenly I think it might be better for Xiang’er and me to move out.”

Their unrestrained, teasing exchange left Shen Shuanglian’s ears burning. She sneaked glances at the two of them but quickly looked away.

What kind of bizarre master-disciple pair is this? she wondered.

After a few more exchanges of crude jokes with Chen Yin, Yu Ling finally got down to business:

“Alright, enough fooling around. Let’s talk about the real issue.”

“Shen Shuanglian is, after all, the chief disciple of the main sect. Until you’ve properly married her, it’s best to keep some distance. No need to stir up gossip from the main sect.”

“Speaking of which, with all this commotion, you probably have a lot to report to the main sect, don’t you?”

She gestured at the scene littered with the bodies of fallen cultivators.

Shen Shuanglian’s gaze dropped, her teeth sinking into her lip as she replied in a somber tone:

“Yes, Immortal Yu Ling. Disciple… will take her leave now.”

Before departing, she cast one last lingering glance at Chen Yin.

Chen Yin returned the look, mouthing three silent words:

“Wait for me.”

—I will.

After replying so with her eyes, with a few light leaps, Shen Shuanglian’s blue figure disappeared into the distance.

Chen Yin gazed wistfully at Shen Shuanglian’s departing figure and sighed, “This Heavenly Beauty Summit turned out to be far more chaotic than I anticipated.”

“You brat. I sent you out to gain experience, not to stir up this kind of mess. If I hadn’t rushed over without rest, you’d have been joining your little sweetheart as a pair of tragic lovers on the run today.”

Yu Ling stood still, her back to Chen Yin, not sparing him so much as a glance.

Chen Yin, ever the opportunist, smiled cheekily, trying to butter her up. “Isn’t it because I had you, Master, backing me up that I dared to be so bold? You should’ve seen it—the way those arrogant elders and cultivators fled in terror at the mere mention of your name.”

Yu Ling seemed unimpressed by the flattery.

“Speaking of which, I was surprised by how lenient you were today. Letting that guy go just like that?” Chen Yin teased. “I thought, knowing your temper, you’d at least rip off that old dog’s mask, stomp on him a few times, and maybe even spit on him.”

Before he could finish his sentence, the petite figure before him suddenly wobbled and collapsed backward in silence.

Chen Yin’s eyes widened in alarm.

<+>

When Yu Ling regained consciousness, the sky was already dimming. She rubbed her eyes with her chubby little hands and took in the ramshackle wooden hut around her, just about to get up.

“Stay down,” came a male voice from beside her—gentle but firm, brooking no argument.

Yu Ling pouted in dissatisfaction. “Hey, brat, I’m your master, you know. Show some respect.”

“If you can give me a reasonable explanation for your injuries, I’ll gladly listen,” Chen Yin replied, calmly stirring herbs over a small fire. He glanced at her, unperturbed.

Yu Ling was silent for a moment before puffing up her cheeks like a child. “It’s not as serious as you make it sound—”

“You and I both know how serious it is,” Chen Yin cut her off, wiping his hands before offering her a bowl of herbal decoction. “Drink this. It won’t heal your injuries, but it’ll help stabilize your energy flow.”

Yu Ling whined and protested but eventually drank the bitter concoction with a grimace.

“Ugh, brat, what kind of awful brew is this?”

“It’s medicine, not a gourmet meal. Of course it tastes bad.”

Still pouting, she handed back the bowl. Chen Yin set it aside and fixed his gaze on her.

“Now, who did this to you?”

“Brat, is this concern I hear?” she asked with a sly grin. “Impressive. Have I finally managed to raise you into a filial disciple?”

“But what good will your concern do?” she continued lightly. “If someone could injure me to this extent, what could you possibly accomplish by knowing? Are you planning to throw your life away?”

“How will I know unless I try?” Chen Yin’s tone remained steady.

Yu Ling’s playful expression gradually faded, and she closed her eyes in silence.

“Don’t worry,” she said at last. “Focus on your own matters. There’s no need to concern yourself with mine.”

“You’re lying there, injured, and you still think I shouldn’t worry?” Chen Yin retorted. “This time, you collapsed in front of me. What about next time?”

“Will I even know where to find your body?”

Yu Ling giggled despite herself, her eyes glimmering. “You brat. Can’t you say something more auspicious?”

Chen Yin simply looked at her, unyielding.

Under his steady gaze, she eventually sighed and softened her tone. “Fine, fine. I admit you have a point.”

“But don’t underestimate me,” she added with a hint of pride. “My ‘Record of the Forgetful Blossoming Heart’ isn’t so easily broken. Give me a month, and I’ll be as good as new.”

She moved to get up, but Chen Yin blocked her way.

“Where are you going?”

“And since when is that any of your business?”

“If it’s back to the place that left you in this state, then I’m absolutely not letting you go,” Chen Yin stated firmly.

Yu Ling tilted her head, smiling slyly. “What if I insist?”

“Then don’t blame me for being an unfilial disciple,” he replied, gripping his sword tightly.

Yu Ling fell silent, her eyes narrowing.

The air between them grew heavy with tension.

Finally, she sneered. “I take back what I said earlier.”

She chuckled coldly. “An ungrateful whelp is still an ungrateful whelp. You’d even draw your sword against your master?”

“You don’t need to provoke me,” Chen Yin said, unfazed. “No matter what you say, I’m not letting you leave.”

“Until you’re fully healed, you’re staying put.”

“Are you giving me orders now?” she asked, raising her chin defiantly.

“No.”

Chen Yin’s voice softened. “I’m begging you.”

Yu Ling froze.

“I only have you and Xiang’er left,” Chen Yin said, his tone earnest.

“I saved one. I don’t intend to lose the other.”

The sincerity in his eyes left Yu Ling momentarily speechless.

After a long pause, she closed her eyes, weariness washing over her.

“Fine. Rest assured,” she murmured.

“The matter is resolved. I’m only going back to Yushan Mountain to recuperate. I won’t wander around for the next year or so.”

“Really?” Chen Yin pressed.

“Silly boy.”

Yu Ling broke into a grin, flashing her small tiger-like teeth. “Someone as righteous and upright as me would never lie.”