I don't talk about love with my Martial Sister

Chapter 2

Shang Can came from another world.

She wasn't sure whether to consider herself lucky or unlucky. On the unlucky side, she was hit by a car while walking down the street in her previous life. However, she had the rare chance to cross over into this new world and live another life. On the lucky side, when she first arrived and opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by ruins, with not a soul alive for miles. At that time, her body, which for some unknown reason had shrunk, seemed to be no more than ten years old.

Had she not been picked up and taken to Qingyu by the passing Wangyue just days after arriving, Shang Can might have met her end within the first month of her crossing over.

She was fortunate to possess excellent talent, allowing her to join Qingyu as a disciple. Her cultivation journey had been smooth and uneventful, never encountering any major difficulties. And then, and then—

Shang Can opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

She reached for the pouch by her bedside, her hand rummaging through it before suddenly stopping.

Her fingers tensed slightly, touching something smooth and cool—a jade object quietly nestled in her palm.

Without taking it out, Shang Can knew exactly what it was. It was a simple, unadorned white jade mask, save for the bare minimum of carving. Clean and translucent, no one would ever guess that this was the exclusive item of the fearsome Biluohuangquan demon cultivator, Canzhe.

Knock, knock.

"Hey—why aren't you up yet? It's time—"

An abrupt knock on the door, followed by Wan Shao's voice from the other side, broke the silence. Shang Can closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and calmed herself.

She tied the pouch shut, got out of bed, and answered, "I'm coming."

Today marked the start of the Dao Discussion Assembly, and the streets of Yanyang were bustling with activity. Shang Can and Wan Shao strolled through the streets, listening to the lively vendors advertising things like "Cloud Prince's Sword Pendant" or "Qingyu Yushan's Handwritten Calligraphy," making light comments on the prosperity around them.

"No wonder they don't restrict the Dao Assembly to just cultivators. If they did, Tianwaitian would miss out on a lot of money."

Wan Shao, marveling at the talismans and spirit stones now on display at stalls that used to sell street food, clicked her tongue in amazement. Shang Can glanced over and laughed. "After all, the world reveres immortality. Since cultivation is for the benefit of all living beings, it wouldn't make sense to shut ordinary people out of the assembly."

"I didn't expect you to sound so official, Shang—" Wan Shao stopped herself abruptly, correcting, "—Gong Shang."

"You might want to say it a few more times to make sure you remember it, Zhi Yu."

Wan Shao, pouting in defeat, acknowledged the teasing. Shang Can—now going by the name Gong Shang—squinted her eyes, feeling this whole situation was rather risky.

'Getting that Heart Lotus Seed would be tough if we just tried to snatch it, but we can win it fair and square by becoming the champion of the Dao Assembly, can't we?'

In her memory, Wan Shao had been quite serious, patting Shang Can's shoulder earnestly.

'—From today on, you're Gong Shang of Bi Cang Sect, and I'm Zhi Yu of Bi Cang Sect.'

Truth be told, they were exploiting a loophole in the assembly's relatively loose entrance rules. As one of the leading sects in the cultivation world, Tianwaitian had broad, lenient entry requirements, sending out invitation letters to many sects, large and small. Aside from a strict age limit, there were no other conditions, and each sect could decide who to send.