I don't talk about love with my Martial Sister

Chapter 123

Night infiltration of Tianwaitian was something Shang Can was quite accustomed to.

She effortlessly scaled the walls of Tianwaitian and found a secluded spot on a rooftop to crouch down. The security of Tianwaitian was noticeably tighter than the last time she had been there, but it was still not enough to stop her. The front gate was firmly shut, and from her high vantage point, she could see a few scattered lanterns below—probably night patrolling disciples walking their rounds.

It was the hour of the pig (9–11 PM), and the night wind carried a slight chill. Shang Can flexed her fingers, curling them into her palm as if that could slow the fading warmth that had lingered from Yun Duan.

Not good. She was starting to regret leaving, realizing she shouldn't have let herself be so easily teased by Yun Duan before departing. Now, she couldn't shake the overwhelming desire to rush back.

But since she was already here, she had to focus on the task at hand. Shang Can calmed her breathing and quietly crouched for a quarter of an hour, pushing away her distracting thoughts before she finally moved, silently gliding across the rooftops of Tianwaitian like a large cat.

Her mission had a purpose, but it wasn't entirely clear. The behavior of Qinglian-jun during the day had piqued her interest, yet upon reflection, something didn't sit right with her. Still, she couldn't quite pinpoint what. So instead of sitting idly and speculating, she decided to take action and investigate—better than doing nothing. She also carried with her a modified dream-inducing incense, given to her by Wanshao, who suggested she use it on Qinglian-jun if the opportunity arose—breaking in, drugging people—she was starting to feel more and more like a common thief.

The demon-repelling barrier of Tianwaitian was ineffective against a half-demon like her, and while the spirit-sealing barrier was still functioning, its impact on Shang Can was minimal. She mused that under these circumstances, if she really wanted to assassinate Qinglian-jun, she'd probably stand a good chance. With such thoughts swirling, she soon arrived at the residence that once belonged to Pei Chen.

Technically, this place should have been Pei Chen's, not the temporary sect master's, but after Pei Chen had been imprisoned, it had been given to Qinglian-jun. Officially, the explanation was that the sect master's first disciple had previously lived in seclusion deep in the mountains, and now, as the acting sect master, it was more convenient for her to reside here. While this rationale seemed reasonable enough, to Shang Can, it felt more like an excuse for giving someone a place to stay out of thin air.

Ironically, the last time she had come here, it was also by sneaking in—though that time, it had been Yun Duan leading the charge. Shang Can recalled how they had sought out Pei Chen to lead them into the Netherworld, and how she had been absurdly jealous at the time. Now, the passage of time made the whole situation feel distant and strange.

The night patrols were mysteriously far away from here, and when Shang Can looked from a distance, she saw only darkness within the courtyard.

Judging by Tianwaitian's usual routines, the temporary sect master likely retired early. Moving silently, Shang Can dropped into the courtyard and lightly landed on the roof of the main house, pressing her ear to the roof to listen for any movement inside.

But there was nothing—an eerie silence.

Strange. Even a cultivator should still be breathing while they sleep, right?

Shang Can crouched there for as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea, but heard no movement at all. Suspicious, she slipped down, pressed her hand against the door, and felt something that made her pause. Furrowing her brows, she applied a bit more pressure and pushed the door open, slipping inside.