Inside the mountain forest, Fox Venerable was rendered speechless by Li Shixue’s questioning.
Looking deeply at the snowy figure before her, she couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.
‘A Love Tribulation… Fine!’
Fox Venerable turned her gaze toward the youth.
“Chu Yuan, as for the rest of the path to the Heavenly Sword Sect, you shall walk it yourself!”
With those words, she turned around. Her figure gradually faded within a permeating purple mist.
As the mist dissipated, the graceful figure vanished without a trace.
Silence returned to the forest.
Li Shixue breathed a sigh of relief.
When she looked back at the youth, his eyes were slightly red, and his clear black pupils shimmered under the sunlight.
He gave her a small smile.
“Thank you for your help, Fairy. My name is Chu Yuan. Might I ask for your esteemed name?”
Watching those strikingly bright eyes, something stirred deep within Li Shixue’s heart.
“Li Shixue.”
The youth repeated it in a low voice. “Li Shixue…”
He smiled.
This time, the smile was more genuine.
“I will remember the kindness of saving my life today. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will surely repay you.”
Li Shixue turned away indifferently.
“There is no need. It was merely a small effort.”
Having said that, she set off once more toward the Heavenly Sword Sect.
The youth followed behind her, causing Li Shixue to frown.
“Master Chu, why are you following me?”
The youth cupped his hands.
“Please do not misunderstand, Fairy Li. I am heading to the Heavenly Sword Sect, and it just so happens to be in this direction. What about you?”
Li Shixue sighed. “Me too…”
The youth was startled.
Recalling her skills, he couldn’t hide his joy. “Could you be a Senior Sister of the sect? I happen to be going there to seek a master this year. I wonder if we could travel together?”
As he spoke, the youth clutched the fluffy little fox in his arms and walked a few steps faster.
Li Shixue originally wanted to refuse, but when she met his clear eyes, she once again remembered her younger sister, who had also been pure.
Wanwan resembles you. She couldn’t help but sigh.
“Suit yourself!”
The youth’s eyes lit up. “Great! Senior Sister, the road of the martial world is long. You and I shall share one heart, going and returning together!”
The sunlight spilled down, giving his smile a sense of warmth.
Along the way, the youth chattered incessantly like a joyful lark.
“Senior Sister, Senior Sister, where are you from? Did you leave the sect this time to visit relatives?”
“Senior Sister, Senior Sister, I heard the Extinction Sword Venerable in the sect is very fierce. Is that true?”
“Senior Sister, Senior Sister…”
Li Shixue wasn’t annoyed. Her mind was filled with the image of her former younger sister.
Perhaps because he resembled her sister, she would look after this Junior Brother a bit more in the future.
And it was precisely because of that extra bit of care that he would become so devoted to her.
However, at that time, her eyes held nothing but the Heartless Path of the Great Dao.
Many years later, she returned to the Immortal Dynasty and reclaimed the throne.
Her sister was cast into the deep palace, awaiting her fate.
That day, the snow fell heavily.
Her sister looked at her face and laughed sorrowfully. ‘Your Majesty, you… in the end, you don’t understand the human heart…’
After saying that, her sister resolutely drank the poisoned wine and leaned against the couch, staring out the window.
At the moment of her passing, her thoughts seemed to return to that snowy day decades ago, her cherry lips murmuring, ‘Sister… while the Grand Tutor isn’t around, take me to play in the snow again, okay?’
***
Time flowed on.
Xuanji City, Gu Manor.
Ji Xuanyuan lowered her head and whispered, “I… in the end, don’t understand the human heart…”
Fang Henian did not understand why she was dazed and asked, “Highness?”
Ji Xuanyuan snapped out of it and said directly, “It’s nothing! According to the City Lord’s words, you want to intentionally create trouble to manufacture an opportunity for a Hero Saving the Beauty scenario?”
Fang Henian replied with a smile, “Exactly. Your Highness is truly brilliant and wise. Everyone encounters a crisis at some point. If your friend can lend a hand then, that person will surely be incredibly grateful.”
It was a classic trope. Such clichés were always clichés, yet they were always effective.
Fang Henian did not forget to offer more advice. “Highness, let me give an example. For instance, there are demonic beasts appearing near Qingmang Mountain, which would serve as an excellent testing ground. Moreover, with the Divine Grade Auction approaching, it’s also time for the Demon Path Alliance to cause trouble.”
“If the plan goes smoothly, after this Hero Saving the Beauty incident, the other party will at least lower their guard a bit. Coincidentally, Xuanji City will be hosting a festival temple fair soon; you can invite a few of his friends to go out together.”
“At that time, you can use the casual conversation to find out the other party’s hobbies and then cater to them. Over time, as feelings grow day by day, you will surely be able to move his heart.”
Fang Henian’s continuous words caused Ji Xuanyuan’s heart to stir.
She remembered her previous life, how her Junior Brother had warmed tea and steamed cakes for her, sought medicine and blocked injuries for her, and even in the end…
He never spoke; he only acted.
And at that time, she never cared.
Perhaps now, she could learn to be like her Junior Brother.
Not speaking, only doing, starting as friends.
This way, he would know that there was someone in this world willing to move mountains for him.
As for that Demon Path Alliance…
Ji Xuanyuan frowned. “City Lord Fang, you say the Demon Path Alliance often appears inside and outside the city? What is going on?”
Fang Henian replied, “Highness, as an alliance of various evil cultivator sects, the Demon Path Alliance is pervasive. Especially since this Divine Grade Auction will surely have many good items, it isn’t strange for them to disguise themselves as cultivators to enter the city.”
“Every year during this period, I strengthen the city patrols, so they won’t act rashly easily. However, outside the city, it’s a different story. In the past few days, we have already received many reports of cultivators being robbed.”
Hearing this, Ji Xuanyuan had to take it seriously.
The Demon Path Alliance, as the strongest force she had faced in her previous life, had harmed countless living beings.
If her Junior Brother hadn’t entered the fray himself, the birth of the Black Dragon Emperor back then would have surely caused chaos for thousands of years.
Now that she lived again, she had to guard against it in advance, and take the chance to kill two birds with one stone.
But if she really wanted to implement this plan, Ji Xuanyuan knew she had to stay hidden to prevent Chu Yuan from noticing.
In that case, she would have to…
Ji Xuanyuan pondered for a long while before coming up with an idea. “I see. The City Lord truly has a good plan! Speaking of which, the 10 million reward that should be given to Master Chu Yuan, you haven’t given it to him yet, right?”
Fang Henian cupped his hands. “Correct, Highness.”
Ji Xuanyuan set down the cold teacup in her hand and instructed, “I order you to personally give him the reward today. While you’re at it, see if he has any interest in going out to suppress bandits. If he does, the reward is negotiable.”
Fang Henian instantly caught the underlying meaning and said solemnly, “Understood! Highness, I will see to it immediately.”
With that, he took his leave and began to walk out.
“City Lord!”
Before he could take more than a few steps, Ji Xuanyuan called out to him.
Fang Henian turned back and cupped his hands. “Highness, is there anything else?”
He looked up and saw the red-haired Crown Prince’s face flush. She opened her lips guiltily. “The matter of me giving Master Chu Yuan a reward… has absolutely nothing to do with my friend’s matter! City Lord… do not overthink it.”
Fang Henian was stunned for a moment, and then his face broke into a smile that said ‘I understand, I totally understand.’
“But of course! Highness, your friend’s business and the task you are entrusting to Master Chu now are two completely different things! I do not have even the slightest misunderstanding!”
Hearing his emphasis, Ji Xuanyuan realized she was protesting too much, and her face turned even redder. “Go on!”
“Yes!”
With that, he bowed and left the West Courtyard of the Gu Manor where the Highness was temporarily staying.
In the corridor, Fang Henian encountered a familiar, graceful figure.
“Fairy Gu?”
Gu Qingwan gathered her skirts and performed a greeting. “Greetings, Lord City Lord!”
Seeing the pale face of the fairy before him, Fang Henian asked with concern, “Fairy Gu, your complexion looks a bit poor! Are you alright?”