Chapter Five: Yan Wuqiu

Whether it was good or bad, Jiang Zao could still tell. This place was obviously safer than that little wooden hut; she would have been foolish to refuse Jiang Zhuoran’s invitation. In this unfamiliar world, what if someone from the Immortal Sect deliberately targeted her? It was better to take good care of her own life—being bullied to death would be utterly humiliating. Hmph, she appeared docile but was actually a seasoned liar. Jiang Zhuoran snorted quietly, though she wasn’t truly angry with her; it was just that her inner voice was truly infuriating.

“Sis…” Jiang Zao gently shook her arm, thinking she was upset with her. The soft, sweet voice was one Jiang Zhuoran had never heard before, leaving her momentarily at a loss. A faint blush crept up her ears from shyness.

“It’s not like I said you couldn’t stay,” Jiang Zhuoran stammered softly, then broke free from Jiang Zao’s grasp and ran off. Jiang Zao watched her flee with a slight smile. “Having a sister isn’t so bad after all.”

Thus, the issue of Jiang Zao’s lodging was settled. After obtaining Jiang Zhuoran’s consent, she successfully moved into the room next door. That night, with her safety fully assured, Jiang Zao slept soundly.

In the bamboo courtyard, a figure clad in black strode straight toward the wooden hut, a silver longsword in hand gleaming coldly under the moonlight. Standing by the window, the figure peered inside. The bedding was neatly arranged, showing no signs of disturbance. Frowning in displeasure, the figure muttered, “Why is no one here?”

“If not here... then where?”

Originally thinking a mere mortal wasn’t worth the trouble, the figure had unexpectedly come up empty-handed and returned without success. “I underestimated you.”

“Hope you have such good luck next time as well.”

With a resentful parting remark, the figure vanished in an instant. The wind rustled through the bamboo leaves, bathed in pure, silver moonlight—mysterious and elegant.

…

“Knock knock knock—”

“Little junior sister, are you there?”

A gentle, pleasant male voice came from outside. Jiang Zhuoran, who had been meditating on the bed, slowly opened her eyes.

“Second senior brother!”

“You’re back from your trial!”

Jiang Zhuoran opened the door and looked up to see a warm and handsome face, her eyes shining with surprise and excitement. Yan Wuqiu was so charmed by his adorable little junior sister that he nodded and joked, “Little junior sister, won’t you invite your senior brother in for a seat?”

Jiang Zhuoran smiled awkwardly and stepped aside to let him in. “Senior brother, please come in.” She had been so excited she forgot he was still outside.

Yan Wuqiu smiled gently, softly stroked her head, and followed her inside. “I brought you a gift, hoping you’ll like it.”

He pushed a delicately wrapped box toward Jiang Zhuoran. It was a hairpin he had seen in the mortal world during his descent—a popular item among many girls. He thought she would like it and had bought it for her. Besides that, he also prepared spiritual fruits and plants from his trial to aid her cultivation and increase her power.

“Thank you, Second senior brother.” Jiang Zhuoran’s eyes curved with delight as she eagerly unwrapped the package. Inside lay an exquisitely carved white jade hairpin, smooth and translucent, seemingly glowing—truly breathtaking.

“What a beautiful hairpin.”

She held it carefully, afraid to damage such a magnificent work of art.

“I had a protective formation set on this white jade hairpin,” Yan Wuqiu said softly as he set down his teacup, “It can block fatal attacks from cultivators below Nascent Soul stage.”

Jiang Zhuoran held it tightly, reluctant to part with it. At that moment, it was no longer an ordinary hairpin but a magical artifact. To block fatal blows from cultivators below Nascent Soul… who would dare to end their own life?

Yan Wuqiu chuckled softly, relieved. It seemed his taste perfectly matched the little junior sister’s aesthetic.

“As long as you like it.”

“Sis… I’m hungry.” An untimely voice shattered the atmosphere. Jiang Zao looked at Jiang Zhuoran with a plaintive gaze full of accusation.

[You promised to take me to eat after your meditation. Now that you’ve finished, not only have you not taken me to eat…]

[You’re chatting away with a strange man as if nothing else matters. Though he is indeed handsome, you can’t just ignore your own little sister!]

[So love really does fade away, huh?]

Jiang Zhuoran listened helplessly to her dramatic inner voice, realizing she had underestimated the extent of her theatrical nature. If she hadn’t been able to hear her thoughts, she would surely have been fooled by her appearance.

“Little junior sister, who is this?” Yan Wuqiu suppressed his emotions and asked curiously, his gaze probing Jiang Zao. Had he just heard her inner voice?

“Second senior brother, she’s my little sister, Jiang Zao,” Jiang Zhuoran replied, catching on.

“Zao Zao, come sit here.” Jiang Zhuoran invited her to sit beside her.

“Zao Zao, this is Yan Wuqiu, the Second senior brother of Jade Spirit Peak.”

[Oh my, Yan Wuqiu!]

[My eternally gentle, thoughtful, and dearly beloved white moonlight!]

Upon hearing Yan Wuqiu’s name, Jiang Zao’s inner thoughts exploded with expletives, but she forced herself to suppress her excitement to avoid arousing their suspicion.

“Hello, Senior Brother Yan.”

“Hello, Zao Zao.”

[Baby, how can you be so gentle?]

[Don’t worry, this time with me around, you’ll live a long life.]

She had always admired Yan Wuqiu’s delicate and gentle nature while reading—he was forever tender to those he loved. Even as an outsider to the story, she couldn’t help but be immersed in his gentleness. Yet such a kind soul had not been treated kindly; he was cruelly betrayed and killed by their unscrupulous master, He Mobai.

When she read about his tragic death, Jiang Zao wished she could storm in and kill that hypocritical He Mobai. The disciple reveres their master, but the master treats the disciple as a mere pawn in his scheme. Now that she had become a character in the story, she was determined to change his fate and ensure the white moonlight lived a long life!

Unaware that her inner voice was fully known to both of them, their attitudes toward her varied. Hmph, with me, it’s “trapped in the game, without a say,” but with senior brother, it’s “live a long life”… what an ungrateful little wretch. Jiang Zhuoran was secretly displeased by Jiang Zao’s differential treatment and even felt a bit jealous.

Yan Wuqiu observed her closely, hearing her voice without speaking—confirming it was indeed her inner thoughts. Though he didn’t understand why he could hear her thoughts, it seemed not to be a bad thing. But… why did she say he would die early? Could it be a prophecy?

“Sis, can we go eat now?” Jiang Zao rubbed her stomach and looked at Jiang Zhuoran pleadingly. She wanted to chat with them, but… her stomach was really growling. She hadn’t eaten a bite since last night and was about to collapse.

Yan Wuqiu couldn’t help but laugh at Jiang Zao’s plight, then asked, “I know a tavern in the mortal world with very good food. Would you two like to try it?”

“Sure!” Jiang Zao jumped up excitedly. Seeing the other two still seated, she asked, “Aren’t we going now?”

“Yes, let’s go right now.”

…

On the mortal street, the three of them disguised themselves so well that they looked no different from ordinary people. Jiang Zao held a candied hawthorn stick, darting left and right with curiosity. She had only ever seen ancient markets in novels or TV dramas and never imagined she would see one with her own eyes.

“Scoundrel! Stop right there!”