Chapter 2 Extra Chapter 2 (2) The Fox Steals the House: The Green Tea Senior Brother's Ruthless...
In the sword light, the hair that had been relentlessly pursuing her just moments before, like waves cleaved by an invisible blade, curled and became transparent in the vast true energy, suddenly spewing out a burst of black mist.
Oh no! Lu Yuanyuan hurriedly closed her eyes and held her breath, but it was too late. She smelled a very faint, sweet, and intoxicating fragrance.
Soon after, the strange phenomena disappeared, and the surroundings returned to silence.
The corridor lamps swayed, and the surroundings were dim.
If it weren't for the several blood-soaked corpses lying in the garden, Lu Yuanyuan would almost have suspected that it was all a hallucination that was too real for her.
Still shaken, her heart pounding, she suddenly felt her knees buckle uncontrollably. Fortunately, the hand that had been supporting her lower back seemed to anticipate her reaction, quickly rising to catch her elbow and steady her, preventing her from sliding to the ground.
In the damp rain and mist, a cool, fragrant scent of sandalwood wafted on the breeze. The nauseating stench of blood in the air was diluted, and her hazy mind was cleansed.
It smells wonderful... I've never smelled incense like this in the palace before.
Lu Yuanyuan slowly raised her head. She was almost a head shorter than the person who came. Looking at him straight ahead, she immediately saw his neck extending from his clothes.
Its color is as white as snow, and its shape is as slender as jade.
As she slowly ascended, she saw a beautiful face.
He was a young man dressed in a snow-white robe, his exquisitely handsome features obscured by the rain and mist. His dark blue pupils evoked images of shimmering water with shattered ice in winter, exuding a cool and otherworldly aura.
This boy looked to be about the same age as Yue Hong, but gave off a completely different vibe.
If Yue Hong is a renowned weapon forged in flames, then this person is a lone bamboo growing in the snow.
The imperial palaces of the mortal realm possess the world's rarest treasures and most beautiful women. From the Yan Kingdom to the Yong Kingdom, Lu Yuanyuan had seen countless beauties, both men and women. But compared to this person, they all paled in comparison.
As she looked over, the boy also lowered his head, gazing at her, his voice melodious and gentle: "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
His voice is like his personality, as pure as jade and as clear as a spring.
So being beautiful can be impactful. Lu Yuanyuan swallowed hard, tilting her head back slightly and stammering, "N-no."
"That's good." The young man seemed oblivious to her stutter, sheathing his sword with an indescribable grace, and gently reassured her, "Don't be afraid, stay with me, I won't let it come any closer to you."
In a perilous situation, a reliable savior descends from the sky, like a drowning person grabbing onto a piece of driftwood. Her heart, which had been constricted by fear, resumed pumping blood, and Lu Yuanyuan nodded forcefully, a wave of dizziness rushing to her head.
The next instant, she was lifted off the ground and swiftly swept up in someone's arms.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
The other person frowned, scrutinizing her face, seemingly even more nervous than she was. Then, he switched from a horizontal carry to a one-handed hold. Lu Yuanyuan had no idea how he changed his arm; her shoes never touched the ground before her wrist was gently placed on his.
His fingers were long and slender. While many people's hands are darker than their face and neck, his were not; his hands were as fair and even as his neck. The skin on his fingertips was somewhat rough, bearing calluses from years of sword practice.
A strange and gentle spiritual energy flowed into her body from the point of contact; it was invisible and intangible, yet she could feel it.
Is this a medical examination?
Lu Yuanyuan didn't dare to move and interrupt him. After he withdrew his hand, she asked, "Benefactor, have I been poisoned? I just smelled a very fragrant scent."
"Don't be afraid, it's nothing fatal. You might just feel a little dizzy." The young man shook his head, paused, and introduced himself softly: "No need to call me benefactor. My surname is Duan, my given name is Lansheng, and I am a disciple of the Shushan Sword Sect."
Lu Yuanyuan didn't notice that he was subtly shifting his body to the side while speaking. With this slight change in direction, from her angle, the gruesome corpses in the garden were no longer visible.
Just then, a loud shout suddenly came from the end of the corridor: "Duan, Lan, Sheng!"
Lu Yuanyuan was startled and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw that in the pouring rain, the palace gate was wide open, and a man had reined in his horse. The horse neighed and raised its front hooves high. The man jumped off the horse with agile movements. It was Yue Hong.
Shouldn't Yue Hong be in the palace tonight? How come he suddenly appeared here?
And she didn't mishear, did she? Yue Hong actually called out Duan Lansheng's name.
Could these two be old acquaintances?
Compared to Yue Hong, Duan Lansheng's expression was much calmer, seemingly not at all surprised that Yue Hong would come.
Wait a minute... something seems off.
How did Yue Hong and Duan Lansheng become two people?
A wave of dizziness washed over my temples, my eyelids felt like waterlogged sponges, and the people I saw multiplied from one to two, then to three, then to four, a blur of blurry images.
Their conversation seemed to come from the vast, distant mountains, ethereal and indistinct. Every word entered her ears, but she couldn't understand its meaning.
"...I knew it wouldn't be that easy...Let's not beat around the bush, Duan, you're back too, right?"
“Some things can be changed, but some things are predetermined. Rushing to interfere will only backfire and bring even greater disaster. Yue Hong, you know in your heart that she does not belong to the mortal world, and you cannot keep her.”
"Screw you, you can't keep her! Sure enough, you're just like me, this isn't your first time back. You've figured out the pattern and know the limits of change. No wonder you've held back until now to appear before her... So you want to take her away now?"
"You can't stop me from doing what I want."
...
What are they arguing about?
Lu Yuanyuan's eyelids slammed shut, and her thoughts sank into darkness, fading away into the distance.
The full name of Mount Shu is the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, located amidst a misty, ethereal mountain range and sea of clouds. Golden Core cultivators, who are treated like precious treasures by royalty and nobility in the mortal realm, elixirs capable of healing even the most mutilated flesh, and Qilin, a creature that exists only in New Year's paintings… are everywhere here.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
We met once, and she saved my life; could we barely be considered acquaintances?
According to Duan Lansheng, he had already dealt with the monster that attacked the palace that night, and the place was now safe. However, she had inadvertently inhaled the monster's sleeping potion. Although it wouldn't be life-threatening, the poison could only be neutralized by coming to Mount Shu. Therefore, after discussing it with the Third Prince of Yong, he took her to Mount Shu before the Yong army arrived.
"I see." Lu Yuanyuan listened blankly, then looked down and examined herself. "I'm not dizzy at all now, does that mean I'm alright?"
Duan Lansheng nodded: "Mm."
He stood up and walked outside the screen.
Now that everything was alright, it wouldn't be good to linger any longer. After thanking them, she would suggest leaving. Lu Yuanyuan was diligently drafting her notes when she heard the sound of a porcelain spoon clinking against a bowl, and the aroma of food wafted over.
Um?
Lu Yuanyuan looked up and saw Duan Lansheng walking in carrying a black wooden tray with several exquisite dishes on it.
Sure enough, good-looking people have an exceptionally elegant demeanor when serving dishes.
Duan Lansheng sat back down in his previous seat, placed the food plate on his lap, and lowered his eyelashes: "You haven't eaten all day, have something to eat first."
Lu Yuanyuan looked at the plate and saw that all the food on it was her favorite. However, this must be a coincidence, since Duan Lansheng didn't know her before.
Just as this thought came to mind, she heard Duan Lansheng say, "Since I didn't know what you liked to eat, I picked out a few dishes for you based on my own taste. See if there's anything you don't like, so I can avoid it next time."
“I don’t dislike any of them; they all suit my taste perfectly.” Lu Yuanyuan shook her head vigorously, then suddenly realized something, leaned forward, and exclaimed in surprise, “So, we have very similar tastes!”
Duan Lansheng smiled and looked at her, saying, "Hmm, what a coincidence. This means we're destined to be together."
Because of this accidental discovery, Lu Yuanyuan felt a sense of closeness, and the psychological distance between them unconsciously shortened, making her less reserved. After they finished eating, Duan Lansheng thoughtfully handed her a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.
The handkerchief was clean and soft, with a faint scent of sandalwood, just like the scent on his body.
Lu Yuanyuan wiped her mouth, finally remembering her unspoken farewell. She thanked him again solemnly and said that it was time for her to leave.
To everyone's surprise, Duan Lansheng advised her to stay in the world of cultivation.
"What? You want me to stay in Mount Shu?"
"Indeed. I know you are a princess sent by Yan to Yong for a marriage alliance. Now that the two countries are at war, your situation in Yong is extremely difficult. Although the Emperor of Yong has spared your life for the time being, the emperor's mind is fickle, and his favors and wraths are unpredictable. If one day he goes back on his word, or if he takes his anger out on you because of the setbacks in the war, the Third Prince of Yong may not be able to protect you so easily. Or, would you like to see him use dangerous methods to protect you?"
Duan Lansheng bent down, picked up an orange, and began to peel it, her beautifully shaped, rosy lips opening and closing.
A moment later, a piece of golden fruit blossomed on his fingertip. He handed it to her, smiling slightly, "Since that's the case, why not simply move to a different place and start over?"
The words uttered seeped into my ears.
Lu Yuanyuan held the fruit in her hands, silently pondering his words.
She felt that there was some truth to what he said.
Now, the people of Yong probably all believe that this princess of Yan has died at the hands of a monster, and in such a way that her body is never found. Since she is gone, the emperor of Yong naturally cannot issue another imperial edict to kill a dead person. Yue Hong also no longer needs to take the risk of pleading for her and saving her life once again.
Conversely, if she stays in Yong, she will eventually become a burden to Yue Hong.
Yue Hong has done her a great favor, and she is too busy repaying him to be a burden to him.
Even if they really have to return to the mortal realm, it can't be now, and they can't go back to their former identities. They must confirm the fact that "the princess of Yan is dead."
Time is the best medicine for all problems.
Staying in the mortal realm offered a slim chance of being found, but remaining in the cultivation world was a different story. No matter how powerful the Yong Kingdom was, they couldn't capture her and take her back. Besides, this was Mount Shu. If she could seize this opportunity to cultivate into a Golden Core cultivator, she wouldn't have to passively wait for others to rescue her if she encountered trouble in the future.
However, there is still one problem.
"I am a mortal with no foundation in cultivation. Can I still stay in Mount Shu?"
Just now, Lu Yuanyuan didn't notice that while she was thinking, the person next to her was watching her the whole time, his fingers silently clenching the hem of his clothes.
At this moment, it seemed he had finally received the answer he wanted, a definitive decision. Duan Lansheng's tense body relaxed slightly, and the corners of his lips curled up, looking very happy: "Of course. As long as you are willing to stay, I can help you become a disciple of Mount Shu."
.
And so, Lu Yuanyuan became an outer disciple of the Shushan Sword Sect.
As a mortal woman born and raised in the mortal realm, Lu Yuanyuan was bound to encounter many things she wasn't used to when she first arrived in the cultivation world. She was prepared to make a fool of herself as a country bumpkin.
It's okay, this isn't the first time she's moved to a different place. Every difficulty has its own challenges.
As it turned out, life in Shushan was not as difficult as she had imagined.
Duan Lansheng is a direct disciple of the Sword Sect.
In Mount Shu, cultivators from various peaks occasionally recruit exceptionally talented mortals into their sects. It is said that she was the first and only person Duan Lansheng brought back to Mount Shu. Perhaps for this reason, she felt that Duan Lansheng treated her exceptionally well, like a mother hen protecting her first chick.
In their daily lives, Duan Lansheng was incredibly attentive and accommodating towards her, always granting her every request. After arriving at Mount Shu for a while, Lu Yuanyuan learned that outer disciples like her could exchange serving as servants to direct disciples for opportunities to gain experience, cultivation resources, and spirit stone subsidies. Of course, such opportunities were usually rare, and not every outer disciple could be selected.
Duan Lansheng always kept her by his side, and outsiders probably assumed she was his servant. But in private, the situation was quite the opposite. She didn't have to do any work. Duan Lansheng took care of everything for her: clothes, food, shelter, transportation, and even pocket money. All she had to do was follow him around like a little tail.
He not only paid for everything, but also personally inspected all the items to make sure there were no problems before handing them over to her.
He not only took care of her daily life, but also her cultivation and studies. She was an outer disciple of the Sword Sect to which Duan Lansheng belonged. Before, she had no experience with sword cultivation and often made mistakes and couldn't keep up. After class, Duan Lansheng would teach her swordsmanship hand in hand, patiently correcting her techniques. He seemed to really hope that she would form her golden core as soon as possible.
At first, Lu Yuanyuan wondered if it was because Duan Lansheng was so capable that he didn't want the person he brought back to be weak. But she soon discovered that even if she performed poorly, Duan Lansheng never got angry and would often praise her earnestly, making her inferiority complex evaporate like dew before sunrise, before it could even spread.
"I'm so tired." Lu Yuanyuan put down her sword and squatted down on the ground in a bit of frustration. "Do you think I'm not suited to be a sword cultivator? Everyone else memorized the mental incantation in just one day, but I'm the only one who's progressing so slowly."
"How could that be?" Duan Lansheng also put down his sword, squatted down in front of her, wiped her sweat, looked into her eyes, and said seriously, "They just set off earlier. It doesn't mean you're stupid, nor does it mean they can go further."
"What if I never get the hang of swordsmanship? You've been teaching me for so long, won't you get annoyed? Won't you feel frustrated?"
Duan Lansheng spread out her fingers and examined them as he pressed his sore finger roots: "Then you're just not quick to learn. I'm more annoyed if you don't eat on time or kick off the covers and catch a cold."
Lu Yuanyuan looked at his eyelashes, blinked, and remained silent.
Duan Lansheng raised his head, and she glanced away again, then rallied her spirits once more: "No, I think I still need to cultivate properly."
A warm touch on the top of his head; a hand had patted him. Duan Lansheng's voice was tinged with amusement: "Not giving up is also wonderful."
...
After getting to know Duan Lansheng, Lu Yuanyuan learned that he wasn't purely human. His mother was a powerful nine-tailed fox, and his father was human. In the cultivation world, demon blood was always discriminated against, and even those with only half-human blood weren't well-regarded. Duan Lansheng, however, was an exception. He had reportedly broken the sect's fastest speed record and become a direct disciple of the Sword Sect. He was handsome, talented, gifted, and possessed high spiritual power. He appeared aloof, but surprisingly, he was well-liked and got along with many eccentric people, as if he had already figured out their personalities. In Shu Mountain, he wasn't discriminated against; in fact, he was highly admired. Even she, an outer disciple under Duan Lansheng's protection, benefited from his influence.
However, according to the younger disciples, Duan Lansheng was quite strict with them during his teaching and never went easy on them.
Lu Yuanyuan had some doubts that the Duan Lansheng they were talking about was not the Duan Lansheng she knew.
Because Duan Lansheng loved to praise her. Not only when she was practicing swordsmanship, but even if she just had a good appetite and ate an extra bowl of rice, Duan Lansheng would praise her so much that she was completely overwhelmed, as if it were something extraordinary.
Besides these, there are many other things about Duan Lansheng that remain unsolved mysteries for her.
For example, Lu Yuanyuan was always curious about how many tails Duan Lansheng had.
His mother, Nine-Tails, has nine tails. Does he also have nine tails? Or is it because he has human blood that he only has half of nine tails?
Did Duan Lansheng have fox ears?
Can he completely transform into a fox?
...
Of course, Lu Yuanyuan only dared to be curious in secret. After all, it seemed too presumptuous to go and ask Duan Lansheng if she could see his ears and tail.
She didn't expect that her curiosity would be satisfied so soon.
The incident occurred six months after she arrived at Mount Shu.
The disciples of Mount Shu would periodically descend the mountain to carry out missions, and Duan Lansheng was usually the one leading the team. She, being a half-baked cultivator who hadn't even formed her Golden Core yet, wasn't qualified to join the demon-slaying missions. Every time Duan Lansheng returned to Mount Shu, he would immediately come to find her, bringing her many delicious and fun things.
Unexpectedly, this time, Duan Lansheng not only returned three days later than the team, but also locked himself in his room as soon as he got back.
As soon as Lu Yuanyuan heard that he had returned, she ran to find him.
Duan Lansheng's courtyard was quiet, and a faint light shone from inside the house, but no sound could be heard.
Lu Yuanyuan ran up the steps in a few strides and called out through the doorway, "Duan Lansheng, are you back?"
After a while, a familiar voice came from inside: "...What is it?"
It was less aloof than usual, but had a subtle, indescribable quality to it.
He seemed a little off. Lu Yuanyuan asked worriedly, "Are you feeling unwell?"
She raised her hand, touched the door, and found that it wasn't locked at all; it opened with a push.
How could he forget to lock the door?
The room was filled with a rich fragrance, unlike the usual sandalwood. The screen blocked her view, but she heard a muffled thud from the other side of the bed.
What was that sound?
Lu Yuanyuan closed the door and tiptoed behind the screen. As soon as she turned around, her gaze fell on the bed, and she froze in surprise.
The gauze curtains filtered out the bright light of the candlelight, revealing a person lying on the disheveled bed, propped up on their elbows. Sensing someone approaching, they slowly raised their heads, their upturned eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight, their dark hair falling loose, and their snow-white fox ears perking up.
A fox-like appearance.
These four words vaguely appeared in Lu Yuanyuan's mind.
Their eyes met, and after what seemed like an eternity, Duan Lansheng slowly lowered his head and asked, "Aren't you afraid?"
"What do I have to be afraid of? Fox ears aren't scary." Lu Yuanyuan took a deep breath and walked to the bedside: "What happened to you? How did your ears suddenly become like this?"
"Hmm, I've run into some trouble. I've overexerted myself and am starting to lose my human form... hiss."
As he gasped, Lu Yuanyuan felt herself step on something soft and furry. It wasn't clothing or a belt; the thing was thick and warm. As she stepped on it, it suddenly curled up and wrapped around her ankle.
Oh no, she accidentally stepped on Duan Lansheng's tail!
"I'm sorry! I didn't know your tail was there too. It was too dark here, I couldn't see it clearly."
Lu Yuanyuan apologized repeatedly, squatted down, and searched in the dark. Sure enough, she found a fluffy tail.
She had seen cats and dogs jump up with a yelp when their tails were stepped on before. It seemed the fox spirit was no different. Its fragile tail, suddenly being crushed, must have hurt quite a bit.
Lu Yuanyuan was extremely annoyed. She wiped the spot on his tail where she had stepped with her sleeve, and blew a few breaths on his tail: "Did I hurt you? Does it still hurt?"
This was the first time she had ever touched a fox demon's tail. The fox fur was snow-white and fluffy, without any stray hairs, yet it had a certain firmness and felt warm. On a cold winter's day, having this tail coiled around her would surely be very warm.
As soon as she finished blowing air, she felt the tip of the tail in her hand tremble, and suddenly it hooked and wrapped around her wrist.
Oh no, it seems she didn't get Duan Lansheng's permission before she started.
Do monsters think that humans who touch their tails are lecherous?
Lu Yuanyuan let go of her hand: "Should I not have touched your tail so casually?"
Duan Lansheng took a slight breath, his voice lower than when he entered the room: "No, it's just that I was stepped on and hurt at first. Like just now, I'll feel better."
Lu Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief and said happily, "Then I'll give you another massage."
She pinched and pinched Duan Lansheng's tail from top to bottom, while studying his expression: "This is the first time I've seen you lose control of your form. Why don't I go to Danqing Peak and ask Daoist Qi Chang to come and take a look at you?"
"No need," Duan Lansheng refused immediately, gently touching his brow with his fingertip and saying softly, "I'm just a little dizzy, can I lean against you for a while?"
"It'll only take a short while?"
"Um."
Such a simple request was nothing she couldn't agree to. Lu Yuanyuan nodded, and her shoulder was put under her arm as Duan Lansheng rested his head on her shoulder.
As they got closer, his fox ears gently pressed against her neck, the snow-white fur at the tips brushing against her chin—warm, ticklish, and looked and felt wonderful.
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she heard a soft voice say, "Would you like to touch my ears?"
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
Does this guy have mind-reading abilities? How does he always know what she's thinking?
Lu Yuanyuan hesitated for a moment, torn between satisfying her curiosity and politely declining: "May I touch it?"
Duan Lansheng lifted his eyelids: "As long as it's you, of course it's possible."
Duan Lansheng's fox ears were supported by cartilage, making them less flexible than his tail, but the fox fur there was softer, and when it passed through his fingers, it felt like brushing against a cloud. At first, Lu Yuanyuan only dared to touch it lightly, but seeing that he did not show any discomfort, she dared to touch it more boldly, murmuring, "I thought that demons would not let others touch their ears and tails."
Duan Lansheng said casually, "That depends on who is touching it."
Suddenly, perhaps triggered by the scene, Duan Lansheng sat up straight, stared at her seriously, and said, "Yuanyuan, remember this: if you ever encounter a monster of unknown origin that deliberately shows you its tail, it must be a bad person."
Duan Lansheng also said that those who offer unsolicited kindness are either up to no good or are thieves. If she ever encounters such a monster in the future, she should never pay it any attention.
Also, don't trust handsome, flamboyant men; they're all two-faced and love to deceive innocent, kind, and helpful girls like her. She's naive and her judgment isn't mature enough, so in the future, she should let him see every new friend she meets.
Lu Yuanyuan nodded obediently, but in reality, she didn't take these words seriously.
In all her years, she's only known one demon, Duan Lansheng. How could she possibly have the chance to meet another demon with a tail? As for flamboyant, handsome men... do flamboyant men really exist in the world?
Duan Lansheng is overthinking things.
Since it was the first time Lu Yuanyuan had seen Duan Lansheng in this condition, she was a little worried. The next morning, she rushed to see him before her early class.
A thin morning mist enveloped the courtyard. Not knowing if Duan Lansheng was awake, Lu Yuanyuan took a few steps up the steps, and as she approached, she heard voices coming from inside.
Has someone come to visit Duan Lansheng so early?
The door was closed, but the window was slightly ajar. Lu Yuanyuan peered through the crack and found no one else in the room. Duan Lansheng was facing a mirror, with a soft pillow resting against it.
Suddenly, he seemed to feel dizzy, frowned slightly, and leaned back on the pillow.
Lu Yuanyuan: "?"
What is he doing?
The air was quiet, and Duan Lansheng, so focused, seemed not to notice that she was outside.
He remained leaning against the pillow, his eyelids slightly lifted, glancing at his reflection in the mirror out of the corner of his eye, as if examining his expression. After a while, he seemed dissatisfied, muttering to himself, "It seems a bit deliberate."
Duan Lansheng stood up, pondered for a while, rearranged the pillow, walked to his right side, adjusted his expression, and leaned back against the pillow again.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
She felt that Duan Lansheng was alright, just not fully awake yet, so she decided not to disturb him for now.
.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Yuanyuan had lived in Shushan for more than half a year.
Mount Shu is so vast that even after being here for so long, she still hasn't figured out every corner, and sometimes she even gets lost by accident.
That day, Duan Lansheng went out on business. After Lu Yuanyuan finished her morning lessons, she happened to run into Qi Chang Daojun of Danqing Peak coming down the mountain path.
It turned out that Danqing Peak had recently been organizing the accumulated scriptures in the library and discovered that some Sword Sect scrolls were mixed in. Qi Chang had come up today intending to ask Duan Lansheng to borrow a few Sword Sect disciples to help organize them, but he was disappointed to find no one there.
Lu Yuanyuan rarely went up Danqing Peak, nor had she ever been to its library. Upon hearing this, she volunteered to help. Qi Chang readily agreed.
A group of several people arrived at the library of Danqing Peak.
Organizing the books wasn't difficult, and Qi Chang didn't rush them. Lu Yuanyuan moved a small stool and picked through the books while reading, which was quite fun. In the blink of an eye, a day had passed.
As dusk settled in, the sky darkened.
Danqing Peak was shrouded in a beautiful glow. Lu Yuanyuan stood up, stretched, and stretched her neck. Through the window of the library, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a corner of a house high up on the cliff, hidden by the shadows of many branches.
Lu Yuanyuan pointed to the courtyard and asked curiously, "What is that place? It's so high up."
The person tidying up the books with her was a junior disciple named Fu Luan. He glanced at it and said, "That's the residence of our senior sister Danqing Peak."
"Senior Sister..."
As soon as Lu Yuanyuan finished speaking, Fu Luan, who was sitting at the top of the ladder, gently patted her head with a scroll and corrected her, "You are not a direct disciple of Danqing Peak, so you can't call Senior Sister Senior Sister. You have to call her Yuanjun."
After joining the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, Lu Yuanyuan didn't have any close friends besides Duan Lansheng. However, she knew that the Shu Mountain Sect Master had a daughter who was the senior disciple of Danqing Peak. She had never met this senior disciple, though she'd heard she didn't spend much time at Shu Mountain.
Of course, it's normal that we haven't met. We're not disciples of the same lineage, and our study schedules and cultivation levels are different. Mount Shu is so vast that many people don't even see each other for several years.
However, seeing Fu Luan's proud and admiring expression, Lu Yuanyuan's curiosity was piqued for once: "What kind of person is Yuanjun? How long has it been since she returned? Have you seen her?"
"Of course I've seen her. Yuanjun is like a fairy. Let me think, Yuanjun left the sect when she was about your age, so she must be about twenty-one or twenty-two now."
When this senior sister was mentioned, Fu Luan's eyes lit up, and he recounted everything he knew in detail. Before long, the image of a perfect senior sister—powerful, gentle, kind, beautiful, and noble—was established in Lu Yuanyuan's mind.
Lu Yuanyuan asked, puzzled, "Has she not come back even once in all these years? Doesn't she miss home?"
“I…” Fu Luan hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “I only said that because we get along well! Come closer.”
Lu Yuanyuan understood and leaned in to listen.
"Back then, I heard that Yuanjun and Master Xugu had some conflicts. After Yuanjun left, Master Xugu went into seclusion until now. I don't know the specifics of the conflicts. But since then, she has rarely returned to Mount Shu."
Master Xugu?
Lu Yuanyuan knew this person; she was a personally taught disciple of the sect leader of Danqing Peak, and had a very high seniority. In terms of seniority, she was the senior sister's uncle.
What's this all about? Did an irreconcilable conflict arise between a junior and a senior, leading to one leaving and the other going into seclusion?
Something feels a little off...
As the sun set, Duan Lansheng, bathed in the last rays of the setting sun, arrived at the library to take her back.
Skipping along the mountain path, Lu Yuanyuan told him what she had done that day. Naturally, the conversation eventually turned to Fu Luan: "By the way, Lan Sheng, have you met the senior sister of Danqing Peak, also known as Yuan Jun?"
"..."
According to the timeline given by Fu Luan, the year Duan Lansheng entered the sect was exactly the same year his senior sister left the sect.
"I heard a lot about her from Fu Luan today. Fu Luan said that she left Mount Shu to travel around several years ago. Do you know her? What kind of person is she?"
"..."
Duan Lansheng was never impatient with what she said; even the most boring or whimsical questions, he could always respond. But today was strange. After Lu Yuanyuan asked her question, he didn't hear a reply for a long time. Not only that, Duan Lansheng stopped in the middle of the road.
Lu Yuanyuan had already walked a few meters when she realized he hadn't followed, and turned back in confusion: "Lan Sheng?"
"That person is not a good person."
Lu Yuanyuan opened her mouth, somewhat shocked.
Duan Lansheng actually spoke ill of others. More importantly, this was the first time she had ever seen such a mixture of vigilance, coldness, and intense disgust on Duan Lansheng's face.
Could it be that he has some kind of grudge against his senior sister?
He seemed to have a lot of opinions about the senior sister, and didn't like her at all.
Why do you say that?
"...This person will never return to Mount Shu, nor will he have the chance to see you again." Duan Lansheng turned his head away, seemingly unwilling to tell her too much about the other person.
Um?
Why did Duan Lansheng say "see you again"? She must have misspoke; she'd never met her senior sister before.
Before she could think it through, Duan Lansheng paused for a moment before walking up to her, taking her hand, kneeling down to be at eye level with her, staring intently at her, and said seriously, "But if one day you still see him, remember, do not believe him, and do not say anything to him."
Lu Yuanyuan couldn't understand the dark look in his eyes, but she subconsciously agreed, "Okay, I'll remember."
Duan Lansheng wouldn't make baseless accusations.
Since he said that, he must have his reasons.
"Then repeat what I said?"
“Yuanjun is not a good person. Even if she comes back to Shushan, don’t get close to her.” Lu Yuanyuan paused and said, “However, you said she won’t come back to Shushan, so I probably won’t have a chance to get to know her.”
It seems the truth from back then was even more serious than the gossip Fu Luan revealed. That senior sister probably had more than just an irreconcilable conflict with Master Xu Gu; there must be other unspeakable reasons behind it all. Otherwise, why wouldn't she even go home anymore?
Duan Lansheng finally revealed a smile: "Yes, you're right, I won't let you see him alone. Alright, let's go back, I brought back some braised pork from down the mountain."
"Um!"
.
The Heavenly Treasures Gathering is held in the outer area of the former Ghost Realm, an area now known as the Spirit Treasure Secret Realm. Every ten years, various sects of the cultivation world gather in groups, taking their Golden Core disciples there for training, while also taking the opportunity to kill some overly dangerous demons and monsters.
Lu Yuanyuan's first year in the cultivation world coincided with this grand gathering, which can be considered quite opportune. Since she hadn't yet formed her Golden Core, she shouldn't have been able to join the group.
However, some direct disciples in Shu Mountain would also bring their own servants. In other words, if Duan Lansheng wanted to include her on the list, he could bring her along as well.
Lu Yuanyuan naturally didn't want to miss such a rare opportunity and wanted to see it for herself.
However, Duan Lansheng ruthlessly rejected her request, saying that she had not yet formed her Golden Core and he could not take her into the Spirit Treasure Secret Realm. If he did take her there, the two of them would inevitably have to split up for several hours.
Lu Yuanyuan argued logically: "Then let's split up. I'm not a three-year-old. I'll stay in the camp, and you don't need to watch over me all day long. You can go and do your own thing, and I can make some new friends and broaden my horizons."
Lu Yuanyuan felt that her reasons were very valid, but for some reason, Duan Lansheng seemed even more determined after hearing them, and directly pulled his sleeve away from her hand: "No means no."
Lu Yuanyuan gritted her teeth.
She and this Duan Lansheng are simply incomprehensible!
Normally, Duan Lansheng takes care of a lot of her affairs. They already see each other every day, and when they go out, it's even more extreme. As soon as he steps out of the Shu Mountain gate, he stays by her side without leaving her side for a moment.
This time, the cultivator camp was full of powerful beings. Even the most formidable monsters wouldn't dare to venture in and court death. With her among these people, what could Duan Lansheng possibly worry about? It was as if he feared that while he was away, some great monster would take advantage of the situation, trick, coax, and snatch her away.
...
Before we knew it, it was the day before our departure.
That afternoon, Lu Yuanyuan quietly slipped into Duan Lansheng's study.
She still wanted to make one last attempt. She'd heard that Duan Lansheng had a list of attendees from the Sword Sect, and she wanted to find that list to see if any disciples who hadn't yet formed their Golden Core were accompanying them as servants. If so, it would prove Duan Lansheng was worrying unnecessarily, and she would have even more reason to persuade him.
The study was empty; Duan Lansheng seemed to be in the backyard, which suited her just as well.
Lu Yuanyuan swaggered into the room and started rummaging through the things on the table.
Duan Lansheng was a clean freak; his bookshelves and desk were spotless, his writing implements were neatly arranged, and a slightly higher chair was placed next to hers for when she needed tutoring. To make her more comfortable, a cushion was also placed on the chair.
I searched my entire desktop but couldn't find the list.
Is it in a drawer?
Lu Yuanyuan plopped down in the chair, opened the drawer, and a booklet wrapped in silk came into view.
Sure enough, the list is here!
Lu Yuanyuan was overjoyed and pulled out the list, inadvertently bringing out something underneath.
There were several folded pieces of paper, which floated lightly on the ground.
What is this? Notes? A letter?
Let's not look at it; it's Duan Lansheng's stuff.
Lu Yuanyuan originally only intended to pick it up, fold it neatly, and put it back in the drawer. However, halfway through tidying up, she suddenly realized that the handwriting on it looked familiar. She unfolded the letter and took a closer look.
Isn't this the letter she asked Duan Lansheng to deliver to Yue Hong?!
After arriving at Mount Shu, Duan Lansheng told her that cultivators should not interfere with the fate of nations in the mortal realm. She could not and could not interfere with the war between the Yan and Yong kingdoms.
However, she felt it was still appropriate to let Yuehong know she was safe, so she didn't properly say goodbye to him that day.
Therefore, she picked up her pen and wrote a letter, detailing her recent situation and inquiring about Yue Hong's well-being. Since she couldn't go to the mortal realm for the time being, she entrusted the letter to Duan Lansheng to deliver it on her behalf.
But as long as Yue Hong sees the contents of the letter, he will know that she wrote it.
When Duan Lansheng returned from the mortal realm, she asked him if Yue Hong had read the letter and how he was doing. What did Duan Lansheng say at the time? He clearly said without changing his expression that Yue Hong had received the letter and was doing well.
As a result, her letter was still buried deep in Duan Lansheng's desk drawer and never reached Yue Hong's hands!
Enraged, Lu Yuanyuan crumpled the letter in her hand and rushed to the back to confront Duan Lansheng.
At noon, a clean cloth was laid out on the backyard corridor. Duan Lansheng knelt on one knee on the ground beside it, rolled up his sleeves, and patiently spread out the freshly picked herbs to dry.
The weather has been unpredictable lately, with several autumn rains. Yesterday, Lu Yuanyuan casually complained that her throat felt a little uncomfortable when she woke up. He had some free time in the afternoon, so he picked some medicinal herbs, dried them, and then boiled them into a decoction for her to drink.
Before you see him, you hear his voice.
Duan Lansheng paused, stopping what he was doing. Soon, the owner of the voice stormed into his field of vision. He saw her holding several crumpled pieces of paper, her eyebrows raised, and her face flushed.
However, what first caught his attention was not her expression or what she said.
Duan Lansheng's gaze fell downwards, and his eyebrows furrowed.
It rained last night, and everything was damp. When I woke up this morning, I could clearly feel that it was colder. She was still wearing the same shoes she usually wore in the summer, but there was a dark patch on the toe, probably from stepping in puddles on the road and getting them wet.
In just a short while, Lu Yuanyuan had rushed into the corridor, angrily throwing the crumpled paper at his chest: "Liar!"
Duan Lansheng wasn't angry when she hit him; he said, "Let me see the shoes."
"Hey...!"
Lu Yuanyuan felt as if she had punched a ball of cotton. In her haste, she hadn't even noticed her shoes and socks were wet. This guy, however, had sharp eyes; to prevent her from losing her balance, he had her step on his knees.
No, she clearly came here to confront him, so why was she distracted by Duan Lansheng and led by the nose?
Lu Yuanyuan forcefully pulled her leg back, her body swayed, and she lost her balance. Fortunately, Duan Lansheng didn't let go, so she didn't fall on her butt. Instead, Duan Lansheng was the one who took the force and fell backward to the ground.
Having barely regained her balance, Lu Yuanyuan noticed that Duan Lansheng was still holding her ankle, and her foot was pressing down on his chest. It was as if she had deliberately kicked him down.
The superior perspective fueled her desire for revenge. Lu Yuanyuan snorted coldly, deliberately and slowly stepping on him and rubbing against his chest.
She didn't believe Duan Lansheng wouldn't be angry at being bullied and trampled on like this.
It's right to be angry. He lied to her first, so he deserves to be trampled on.
Surprisingly, despite being humiliated like this, with her clothes being pulled open and disheveled, Duan Lansheng did not resist at all. He pursed his lips and let her tread on his chest to provoke him, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed.
Why didn't he resist?
Lu Yuanyuan felt a little suspicious. Before she knew it, she couldn't stop herself and slipped heavily to the ground.
Duan Lansheng suddenly grabbed her ankle, preventing her from exerting any more force, and a thin blush spread across her cheeks and earlobes.
Lu Yuanyuan was stunned.
She felt like she had stepped on something.
As she looked in the direction of the light, she gradually realized what was happening, and her cheeks instantly turned a deep purplish-red.
...Shameless!
Duan Lansheng is utterly shameless. How can he be so shameless as to be trampled on like that...
.
Because of this unexpected incident, Lu Yuanyuan avoided him for a day.
The next morning, Duan Lansheng knocked on her door before setting off. As if he knew she was awake but pretending to be asleep, he quickly stopped knocking, apologized for lying to her, and coaxed her in a rather humble voice, telling her to wait for him to return in Shushan, and that he could accompany her wherever she wanted to go afterward.
The sounds outside the door only ceased when they had no choice but to leave.
Lu Yuanyuan turned over listlessly.
The Heavenly Treasures Gathering was attended by almost every cultivator with some skill. With so many people leaving Shu Mountain all at once, it was incredibly boring.
Sigh, everyone else can go, why can't she be one more?
This is a rare and grand event, so don't stay in bed, go and join the fun. The next one won't be for another ten years.
Lu Yuanyuan washed her face, changed her clothes, and headed towards the sect.
Every time the Heavenly Treasures Gathering takes place, the Golden Core cultivators of Mount Shu would travel to the Spirit Treasure Secret Realm by White Crane Boat.
The white crane boat is a hundred meters long, without oars or sails, and flies by relying on a magic array. Such a magic array requires a large amount of spirit stones to maintain its operation, and not every type of spirit stone is suitable, just like gasoline and peanut oil are both called oil, but they are not interchangeable.
In other words, ordinary immortal sects simply cannot afford such treasures; only wealthy and powerful immortal sects can feast their eyes on them.
By this time, several white crane boats have already set sail. She should still be able to catch the last one.
Lu Yuanyuan hurried down the stone steps, intending to take a shortcut, when suddenly a disciple darted out from the road and hurriedly stopped her: "What are you doing here? We're about to leave."
Lu Yuanyuan asked blankly, "What team?"
"The Heavenly Treasures Gathering, you're on the list, why are you just standing here like an idiot?"
Lu Yuanyuan was even more confused: "My name is on the list?"
The disciple gave her a strange look: "Of course."
Lu Yuanyuan didn't believe it, so she snatched the list from his hand and saw that her name was indeed registered at the very end of the Sword Sect's list.
What's going on?
Duan Lansheng absolutely refused to take her along, didn't he?
Who wrote her name down?
This is the Sword Sect's file; no one would be so bored as to joke about something like this, right?
Could it be that there was a mistake in the registration?
It was supposed to be someone else, but they wrote it wrong, saying it was her?
No, that's not the point. The point is, now that she has a good opportunity to travel with the team, she might as well go with the flow. She wonders what kind of expression Duan Lansheng will have when he sees her at the Lingbao Secret Realm camp.
As long as she returns safely from the camp to Shushan this time, Duan Lansheng will no longer worry unnecessarily or be anxious.
Besides, she hadn't yet settled accounts with Duan Lansheng for lying to her.
She hates being lied to the most, so why should she continue to listen to him?
...
…………
The white crane boat that Lu Yuanyuan boarded didn't only carry disciples of the Sword Sect; it also carried people from other lineages. The servants, who didn't have Golden Core cultivation, were mostly bound to the direct disciples. She, who boarded later, was an exception.
Things went smoothly on the first day of the trip.
But from nightfall onward, problems arose one after another. The spirit stones needed to maintain the magic array had clearly been plentiful at the start, enough to ensure a smooth journey to the destination. However, halfway through the journey, they discovered that the consumption was far exceeding the expected speed. They had no choice but to send disciples off the ship to several nearby towns to purchase and barter for more spirit stones to use as fuel.
This kind of thing wasn't something the direct disciples needed to do; it was all left to their subordinates. Lu Yuanyuan had never been to such a far place outside of Shu Mountain before, so naturally she went along to do the shopping as well.
Things started to take another turn from here.
In the blink of an eye, she got separated from her companions on the street. As if she were bewitched, the people who were just behind her disappeared into the crowd on the street in an instant.
The key issue is that all her belongings are on the White Crane Boat, and she doesn't have much silver left, which she has already exchanged for the bag of roasted melon seeds in her hand. She also hasn't learned how to fly on a sword yet. How is she going to get back?
No, don't panic. Her companions will likely turn back to look for her when they realize she's missing. If she wanders off, she'll only miss them more easily.
Lu Yuanyuan decided to wait where she was.
They waited until it got dark.
Unlike the foot of Mount Shu, this small town has few residents and few people on the streets. At this hour, the street vendors have long since closed. Lu Yuanyuan sat on the stairs in front of a restaurant, having long since finished eating her melon seeds, but her companions still hadn't returned.
To make matters worse, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
Lu Yuanyuan: "…………"
It seems like it's not a good day to go out.
She rested her chin on her knees, idly counting the cracks in the bricks. If they didn't appear soon, she'd have to find another way; she couldn't stay in this desolate place forever.
With a rustling sound, a pair of unfamiliar boots stopped in front of her.
"Oh... I'm sorry."
Lu Yuanyuan didn't even look up. As if she was blocking the way, she moved aside to make room for more space.
The people in front remained motionless.
Finally noticing something was amiss, Lu Yuanyuan straightened up from her lap.
Her first thought was, "This person is so tall." She had to tilt her head back to see the other person's head.
The person held an oil-paper umbrella, keeping the misty drizzle out of the ink-wash painting. The shadow under the umbrella fell on the snow-white skin, and the long hair was tied up with a jade hairpin.
Lu Yuanyuan was stunned.
At first, judging from the proportions of her legs to her height and her slender figure, she thought she was a man. However, upon seeing her beautiful face, manicured eyebrows, rosy lips, and the women's clothing she was wearing, she became certain that she was a woman in her early twenties.
The other person spoke, their voice carrying the gentleness of an elder: "It's already this late, why aren't you, a young girl, home? Why are you sitting here?"
Moreover, for some reason, she couldn't sense any malice from this person towards her.
So Lu Yuanyuan answered softly, "I'm waiting for my companions to come back and join me."
The other person responded with a soft "Oh, I see."
Lu Yuanyuan saw her walk up the steps, close her umbrella, and raindrops rolled down the folds of the umbrella and dripped to the ground.
The hand on the umbrella handle was a pale white, but the knuckles and fingertips were pink, whether from the cold or from birth, it was hard to tell.
The woman closed her umbrella and brushed past her, leaving a faint fragrance in the breeze. She lifted the curtain at the tavern entrance, about to go in, when suddenly, as if remembering something, she stopped: "Have you eaten?"
"What?"
The other person remained in the position of lifting the curtain, looking down at her. The lamplight, like a snake, slowly moved within her deep brown eyes.
Behind me, the tavern was filled with the warmth of burning charcoal stoves and bright lights.
The man smiled slightly and said, "My friend stood me up. He ordered a whole table of food and drinks, but I can't finish it all by myself. Would you like to come in and have some with me?"
Author's Note: [Minor Ideas/Mini-Drama]
Duan Lansheng: It wasn't bullying.
Fox is well aware of the fact that he rose to power through his looks.
After being reborn, he practices facial expression management in front of the mirror every day, refines his skills in seducing his wife, and occasionally engages in fox ear and fox tail play, diligently maintaining his assets.
However, those who steal from others will always be stolen from. ︿(￣︶￣)︿
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