Chapter Two: Trapped Within the Game, She Had No Control Whatsoever

“Grandmother, aunt… Father?”

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen wore a bright, goose-yellow long dress, its hem swaying as she ran. Her cheeks were flushed, but upon seeing Jiang Zhuoran, whom she hadn’t seen for a long while, her joy turned into a stunned daze.

Father usually stayed away for about half a month—why did he come back so early this time?

Lin Rongyue looked at the slightly dazed girl and smiled warmly. “Aran, why have you returned?”

Since being taken away by the immortal elder from the Inquiry Immortal Sect a month ago, she hadn’t come back. Having never traveled far before, no one knew how she had fared during that month—whether she ate well, slept soundly, or if she had been bullied.

Jiang Zhuoran’s thoughts snapped back, and a bright smile returned to her face. “I said I missed you all, so Master brought me back.”

“Didn’t the immortal elder come with you?” Jiang Wei’an couldn’t help but ask, noticing she was alone.

“Master had some matters to attend to and will come later.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei’an nodded softly, her heart finally settling. It was a relief that the elder’s absence wasn’t because of them.

“Aran, come here.” Song Zhihua beckoned, and Jiang Zhuoran obediently stood by her side. “How are things at the Inquiry Immortal Sect?”

“Grandmother, everything is fine there. Master and my senior brothers and sisters have all treated me very well.”

Jiang Zhuoran’s eyes sparkled as she spoke of them, and anyone with discernment could see that she was comfortable living there.

“Grandmother, who is this little sister?” Jiang Zhuoran looked toward the demure-looking Jiang Zao with curiosity.

“Hello, elder sister. My name is Jiang Zao.”

“Hello, Zaozao.”

Song Zhihua looked on with satisfaction. She had intended to introduce them, but to her surprise, they had already become acquainted on their own.

“Hello, Zaozao.”

“Hello, elder sister Zhuoran.”

The two girls, close in age, exchanged polite greetings while sizing each other up. Unlike the calm and gentle smile of Jiang Zhuoran, Jiang Zao seemed outwardly composed but was inwardly screaming in turmoil, almost on the verge of collapse.

[No way…]

[No one told me the female lead is my half-sister by the same father!]

[As a mere background character, how can I just stumble into the female lead’s family?]

[Who allowed you, author, to set it up like this!]

Jiang Zao felt utterly helpless and distraught, unable to accept the truth. She wished it was just an illusion she could shake off upon waking.

Unbeknownst to her, every word of her frantic inner complaints was heard verbatim by the newly met elder sister.

Is this… her true feelings?

Jiang Zhuoran’s eyes widened in disbelief. She discreetly scanned the others present and found their expressions unchanged, which led her to a tentative guess.

Could it be that only I can hear this?

But why?

Jiang Zhuoran could hardly believe such mind-reading was happening to her. She had only just reached the second level of Qi refinement and hadn’t studied any mind-reading techniques. Besides, such skills were considered extremely taboo and unrecorded.

Their thoughts diverged, and since they concealed them so well, no one else noticed.

“Disciple…” A handsome man with dark hair clad in a black robe entered the Jiang residence’s main hall with a composed demeanor, speaking softly.

Jiang Zhuoran’s ears perked up at the voice, joyfully turning her head and pushing aside the matter of hearing Jiang Zao’s thoughts.

“Master!”

“Greetings, Immortal Elder.”

Jiang Wei’an stood and respectfully saluted the man, Lin Rongyue following suit.

He Mo Bai nodded lightly in return. As the immortal elder of the Inquiry Immortal Sect and Jiang Zhuoran’s master, he was treated with great respect by the Jiang family.

The whole family regarded him as an honored guest. Jiang Wei’an even brought out some treasured spiritual tea to serve him, while Jiang Zhuoran naturally attended to him.

However, noble as He Mo Bai was, accustomed to refined spiritual teas, he barely glanced at the Jiang residence’s humble offering and did not touch it.

Jiang Zao silently observed the poised He Mo Bai and discreetly rolled her eyes.

[Such a pretender!]

But soon she matched him to the figure in her memories.

[The female lead’s master?]

[Wow… He Mo Bai?!]

Jiang Zhuoran’s ears tingled from hearing her thoughts and frowned, puzzled by her excitement over her master.

Also, was the female lead she mentioned referring to herself?

Jiang Zhuoran could not warm to her capricious nature, though only in her heart.

[Honestly… this makeshift elder sister is a pitiful person. From birth, everything was arranged clearly for her; even being accepted as He Mo Bai’s disciple was part of the plan.]

Jiang Zao thought bitterly, her eyes full of pity as she looked at her.

Jiang Zhuoran’s curiosity was piqued by these thoughts, and when she caught that pitiful gaze, she grew annoyed, wanting to retort but held back, knowing these were only her private thoughts.

She couldn’t just confront her without reason.

Unable to express her frustration aloud, she scolded inwardly.

That’s nonsense! I am a living, breathing person, not some toy to be arranged at will. Besides, how could Master harm me?

She refused to believe a single word Jiang Zao said, thinking her delusional and fabricating nonsense.

[Being the female lead without the female lead’s aura, everything she does only benefits others—how ironic.]

[Truly trapped in a chess game, not a bit of control in her hands.]

Such nonsense!

Unaware of Jiang Zao’s mental monologue and the label of hysteria she’d pinned on her, Jiang Zao continued her muttering inwardly.

Jiang Zhuoran’s initial goodwill toward her was completely extinguished by these thoughts.

She had expected this younger sister to be a gentle, polite, and well-mannered girl.

Unexpectedly…

Her mind was so wild, filled with unrealistic ideas.

[Huh? Why does the female lead look so angry?]

[No one seems to have provoked her, either.]

Jiang Zhuoran realized belatedly that her expression had betrayed her feelings. She shyly averted her gaze, cheeks burning.

Jiang Zao found the female lead utterly puzzling—her mood changed in an instant.

A woman’s heart is an unfathomable needle deep beneath the sea.

Jiang Zao didn’t want to overthink her mindset.

“Disciple, do you have anything else to say to your family? If not, we shall depart for the sect.”

He Mo Bai closed his eyes and spoke calmly.

His words left Jiang Wei’an, Lin Rongyue, and Jiang Zhuoran at a loss.

Jiang Wei’an took a deep breath and finally spoke respectfully, “Immortal Elder, why not stay a couple more days in Luoshui County so we may show our hospitality?”

“Yes, Immortal Elder.”

Lin Rongyue added her voice in agreement.

“No need.”

He Mo Bai stood, flicking his sleeve. “If little Ran wishes to return home in the future, I will personally bring her back.”

Though reluctant, the three could only accept this. As the disciple, Jiang Zhuoran could not go against her master.

The happiest by far was Jiang Zao. No matter that the female lead was her half-sister—they could not stop her determination to enjoy her own quiet life.

[Hurry up and leave, pretender!]

[Once you’re gone, my wonderful life begins.]

They would hardly return to the mortal world unless necessary.

Once cultivators come to the mortal realm, their powers are limited by the rules, only manifesting at below the Golden Core level. No cultivator would accept such a drop in strength.

Breaking these rules is impossible, after all, the heavenly laws stand firm; defying them is hard.

Following He Mo Bai, ready to depart, Jiang Zhuoran suddenly turned back upon hearing Jiang Zao’s thoughts, pointed at her, and gently pleaded to him:

“Master, before leaving, I have a request I hope you will grant.”