Chapter Sixteen: Reborn as the Eldest Daughter of the Immortal Sect

Early the next morning, Bai Ruo rubbed her sleepy eyes, still able to catch the lingering scent unique to Zhong Li on her quilt. She inhaled softly—lotus. Her mood was inexplicably bright.

[Oh, oh, oh, Master, that’s the sour scent of love~]

[Hmph!]

What sourness? It was clearly sweet, just a jealous little spirit.

On the table lay last night's jade hairpin. Bai Ruo casually twisted her hair into a bun, pinned it in place, and gazed into the mirror. Her skin glowed like polished jade, her beauty in full bloom.

Bai Ruo’s looks truly were captivating. She wondered what on earth Bai Li Ce was thinking!

[Oh no, Master, something’s happened!]

[What?]

[Bai Li Ce has been missing in the Immortal Sect for three days now, and his soul sword is still in his room!]

[Why didn’t you say so earlier!?]

[I just heard you mention him, so I checked. I didn’t know until I looked into it—and it scared me half to death…]

Bai Ruo was so exasperated she didn’t know what to say. Bai Li Ce was a key figure, and yet he’d vanished in the vast Immortal Sect?

Just before closing the door, she stepped back inside to retrieve her own soul sword. Though she’d need a little trickery to wield it, in the current situation, it might prove useful.

Meanwhile, more disappearances cropped up in the Immortal Sect—not just here, but also in Yunmeng and the Spirit Sword Sect. All the male disciples with strong cultivation and outstanding looks had vanished without a trace.

The impact was enormous. The three sects were forced to convene a council of elders in the Immortal Sect, requiring attendance from all senior members.

With more and more disciples missing, others began to paint themselves in garish makeup, hoping to avoid disaster. Yet for those with even minor flaws, the effect was humiliating.

The handsome disciples now traveled in groups, even sleeping two or three to a room.

Inside the Immortal Sect’s main hall.

“Recently, the disappearances of male disciples have left everyone rattled. Does anyone have a way to catch the mastermind?”

The elders discussed endlessly, but arrived at no conclusion. The Spirit Sword Sect’s leader sighed:

“All the attractive disciples have been taken. There’s not even bait left—how can we catch the fish?”

The Yunmeng leader couldn’t help but lament:

“My last disciple, renowned for his looks, was taken too. It’s clear the perpetrator’s cultivation must be unfathomable.”

After much debate, still no effective solution emerged.

When Bai Ruo arrived at the hall, she found all the elders sighing in frustration.

“Esteemed elders, I have an idea. I don’t know if it will work.”

“Quick, tell us!”

Bai Ruo’s words were like a lifeline, and everyone listened intently.

“I recall there’s a kind of elixir that can transform a woman into a man, concealing even the voice and all feminine traits.”

“And?”

“Why not let me act as bait—disguised as a male—to lure out the mastermind?”

“No! This matter must be considered carefully—the enemy’s cultivation is high!”

“But is there any more effective or timely method at present?”

For a moment, no one objected further.

“Sect Master, Bai Ruo, the Immortal Sect’s chief disciple, requests to act as bait for this mission. Please grant approval!”

The Sect Master looked troubled but ultimately agreed. Though Bai Ruo was no longer his own daughter, after a year together, this kind and lovable girl had become like his adopted child.

Ignoring the elders’ protests, he consented to Bai Ruo’s request. After all, Bai Ruo had been sent by the gods—the gods surely wouldn’t abandon her.

A last resort among last resorts.

Bai Ruo, with permission granted, took Elder Su’s treasured gender-changing elixir and departed.

Watching Bai Ruo’s retreating figure,

“This girl will achieve greatness one day!”

The Sect Master remained silent.

After taking the elixir, Bai Ruo’s soft facial features grew more angular, her robes suddenly much looser. She tied her hair high, removed the lotus jade hairpin, replaced it with a simple hair crown, and whether viewed from afar or up close, she looked like a delicate young man—though somewhat frail and short.

Dressed in men’s clothing, Bai Ruo rode the wind to the main hall once more.

All the elders and sect leaders, upon seeing her, nearly dropped their jaws. Handsome, yes—but with a touch of feminine softness.

“Ahem!”

The Sect Master’s gentle cough pulled everyone’s minds back from distraction.

“Since that’s settled, let’s make preparations. Bring several disciples of strong cultivation and set up an ambush. We’ll catch the culprit in the trap!”

“Yes!”

For this moment, the three sects stood united, forgetting all past grudges, determined to rescue their lost disciples.

The difficulty of this mission was unknown; the enemy had breached the three sects’ protective barriers, proving their ruthlessness.

To lower the enemy’s guard, Bai Ruo opted to remain alone in the outer disciples’ dormitory.

Though it appeared the key targets were guarded inside the sect, in truth, many skilled disciples had disguised themselves and wandered outside. If anything happened to Bai Ruo, help would be close at hand. Moreover, since outer disciples were considered weaker, the enemy might relax their vigilance.

Bai Ruo, in her male guise, stayed in the outer sect for more than half a month.

At night, as usual, she lay in bed feigning sleep when sounds came from outside.

It was the paper door being pierced, followed by a gust of soporific smoke blowing in through a small hole. Bai Ruo quickly held her breath and closed her eyes, pretending to have succumbed.

Perhaps the enemy trusted their drug too much; without checking, they stuffed Bai Ruo into a sack and dragged her away.

Inside the pitch-black sack, Bai Ruo’s head spun from the jolting, her scalp tingling.

Outside, they took only small paths, the ground littered with stones. The person moved quickly, stumbling all the way.

Hiss—

Bai Ruo’s knees throbbed with pain; the perpetrator seemed to dump her onto the ground.

“Roar—roar, roar—”

“All right, you may leave now!”

Bai Ruo frowned. A woman’s voice. And a beast. From their conversation, it seemed the beast obeyed the woman absolutely.

“Shh… shh, shh…”

Coming closer?!