Between Sheng Yuhong and Wei Yunqing, there was always someone in the middle—Wei Yunqing's younger sister, also Sheng Yuhong's Junior Sister. Taking advantage of the love and favor shown by the sect master, she constantly created trouble and friction between the two, attempting to drive a wedge between them, because she herself was fond of Sheng Yuhong.
Sheng Yuhong could not recall if he had ever explicitly refused his Junior Sister, only that she always hovered around him, seeking every possible way to please him.
Whenever he needed rare materials to improve his cultivation or precious ores to upgrade his life sword, his Junior Sister would keep them in mind, helping him locate or track them. Reluctantly accepting her help inevitably drew Wei Yunqing's displeasure.
To avoid misunderstandings during resource hunts, whenever the Junior Sister joined, Sheng Yuhong would invite Yun Qing along. After a few attempts, Yun Qing grew increasingly unhappy and requested that they go alone, without her sister.
After careful consideration, Sheng Yuhong agreed to his lover's request. However, on one exploration of an ancient cultivator's cave, they gained nothing, suffered severe injuries, and his life sword nearly got destroyed. It was only the sect leader's protective talisman that preserved their lives.
Upon returning to the sect, they both secluded themselves. Only they knew how much more difficult things had been without the Junior Sister. Only then did they realize that she was not a burden, but an asset, saving them from many complications, while they had once been annoyed by her.
From then on, Sheng Yuhong and Wei Yunqing reached an unspoken understanding: when venturing out for experience or seeking rare materials, they would deliberately or casually reveal their whereabouts to the Junior Sister. If she requested to accompany them, they no longer refused.
With the Junior Sister joining, they rarely returned empty-handed. Sometimes, they even traded for better items through her. Over time, Sheng Yuhong found it difficult to show displeasure toward her, and their relationship gradually grew closer.
As Sheng Yuhong and Wei Yunqing advanced to the Golden Core stage, subtly surpassing the Junior Sister, Wei Yunqing made it clear she no longer wanted her sister involved. She began speaking ambiguously to other disciples, leading them to believe the Junior Sister had interfered in their relationship.
Sheng Yuhong, slightly annoyed, went to find Wei Yunqing.
"Yun Qing, your sister has done nothing wrong."
Yun Qing's face was incredulous: "Brother Sheng, how can you say that? Can't you see my sister's feelings for you?"
Sheng Yuhong frowned: "I've already made it clear to her. My heart belongs only to you."
Yet as soon as he said it, a sense of weariness crept in.
Wei Yunqing pressed on: "Then what is wrong with me acting this way? I wanted her to recognize her awkward position and completely abandon thoughts of you. Or have you developed feelings for her?"
"Yun Qing, she is my Junior Sister. What you're saying is unreasonable!"
"I am not unreasonable. She has caused enough trouble between us. Just because she has a single spirit root and is your Junior Sister, I have been patient. Am I supposed to hand you over to her as well?"
"Yun Qing, you know why I treat her kindly. Besides being fellow disciples, she has helped us many times. Isn't that clear to both of us?"
Wei Yunqing had no rebuttal this time, as she too benefited. Still, she pressed her lips together and said softly: "Brother Sheng, when this secret realm trial ends, we will become Taoist partners. I want to stand openly by your side and, as your partner, advise my sister to let go."
Sheng Yuhong hesitated at the hopeful look in her eyes. A small voice in his heart warned him not to agree, that this would be a mistake.
Wei Yunqing saw his hesitation. This time she did not argue, quietly wiping her tears, looking at him deeply before turning to leave.
For the next month, Wei Yunqing did not seek Sheng Yuhong, leaving the "seclusion" sign in place until the secret realm opened. The three of them reunited at the sect plaza.
Sheng Yuhong frowned, listening to his Junior Sister chatter beside him. When he saw Wei Yunqing, he wanted to greet her but was completely ignored.
Soon after, the sect's Yu Feng Zhēnjūn led a team, piloting flying ships to take the disciples entering the secret realm away from the sect. Sheng Yuhong was constantly entangled by his Junior Sister and had no chance to speak with Wei Yunqing. The surrounding disciples looked on with strange expressions.
For reasons he did not understand, Sheng Yuhong did not try to explain to Wei Yunqing. Once they were randomly teleported to different parts of the secret realm, he began training alone, not deliberately seeking Yun Qing or his Junior Sister.
One month into the secret realm, Sheng Yuhong received a message through a flying sword from fellow disciples: his Junior Sister had turned evil and was killing other disciples in the realm. The message included her location.
Sheng Yuhong felt this did not fit her character. He immediately rushed to the spot but initially found nothing. Then he discovered markings left by Wei Yunqing, a secret only the two of them knew. Alarmed, he followed the trail.
A day later, Sheng Yuhong finally heard fighting in the distance. He dashed toward the noise and emerged from the forest to see his Junior Sister stabbing Wei Yunqing.
Without thinking, Sheng Yuhong instinctively swung his sword, gravely wounding his unsuspecting Junior Sister. Yet when she fell backward, he sensed something was off, but Wei Yunqing's weak call interrupted his thoughts.
"Brother Sheng."
"Yun Qing, are you alright?"
He rushed forward, scooping her up from the blood-stained ground, urgently probing her body with a thread of spiritual power. Moments later, his expression changed drastically. Yun Qing's Golden Core had shattered, and even her spiritual root was riddled with cracks, her foundation severely damaged.
Yun Qing looked at him with a bitter smile: "Yun Xi framed me, using my cultivation technique to kill fellow disciples. When others discovered it, I started tracking her. You saw it yourself. She would not listen and even tried to kill me.
She said that if I died, you would belong to her alone. This is the consequence of not stopping her. I warned you, but you didn't listen. I also underestimated her malice toward me."
After speaking, Wei Yunqing fainted completely.
Sheng Yuhong only managed to feed her a Great Restoration Pill to stabilize her life, then bound his Junior Sister with a Immortal Binding Rope. This matter needed an explanation to the sect.
At that moment, the secret realm began to tremble. He led both of them out, leaving his Junior Sister to face the sect's Enforcement Hall investigation.
Back at the sect, Wei Yunqing refused to see Sheng Yuhong, clearly disappointed.
Yet Sheng Yuhong knew her injuries could not wait. Just as he felt helpless, the Wei clan's Ancestor sought him out.
"Sheng Yuhong, do you want to save Yun Qing?"