Back at Rongyun Sect, Yu Ce went to the sect leader with a proposal to strengthen the mountain-protecting formation, insisting on overseeing it himself.
The sect leader was puzzled by Yu Ce’s sudden interest in the formation, considering it was usually maintained by the sect leader. He speculated that perhaps Yu Ce was finally thinking about inheriting the leadership of Rongyun Sect.
The sect leader was getting old, and having yet to pass the tribulation phase, he feared that he wouldn’t survive the lightning tribulation as he aged further. Seeing no hope for ascension, he spent his days planning for the future of the sect. The only one in the sect he deemed worthy, Yu Ce, had always been indifferent to power and status, causing the sect leader much worry.
Now, seeing Yu Ce take an interest, the sect leader gladly handed over the formation to him.
Yu Ce meticulously reinforced the mountain-protecting formation, inside and out, to prevent Shen Tanqi from getting hurt again. He even added an extra layer of protection around the Yaoting Pavilion, finally feeling at ease.
With the sect’s grand competition approaching, the training grounds were packed with disciples practicing day and night. Shen Tanqi also started to feel a bit more motivated to train hard.
This newfound determination wasn’t baseless. After being kidnapped by that rascal Xie Chi last time and almost landing in big trouble, even an ancient, seasoned ‘salted fish’ like Shen Tanqi felt a sense of crisis.
In the world of cultivation, without some self-defense skills, it’s hard to get by.
He asked Yu Ce to spar with him, and Yu Ce happily agreed.
In the first few days, Yu Ce went easy on him, but when Shen Tanqi couldn’t stand it anymore and demanded he get serious, threatening to make him sleep outside the pavilion’s corridor if he didn’t, Yu Ce narrowed his eyes and agreed.
For the next few days, Shen Tanqi got beaten up every day.
Every night, he returned to Yaoting Pavilion covered in dust and dirt, all from being knocked to the ground by Yu Ce.
The male lead was indeed the male lead. Shen Tanqi gritted his teeth, wielding the iron sword that Little Black had transformed into, his movements swift and agile, yet he couldn’t even touch a single hair on Yu Ce’s head.
Every time he seemed close, Yu Ce would sidestep effortlessly, causing Shen Tanqi to fall clumsily forward, his behind stuck up in the air, face planting into the ground like a dog chewing mud. Behind him, he could hear Yu Ce suppressing a laugh, commenting sharply, “Senior Brother, your posture is quite indecent.”
Fueled by anger, Shen Tanqi grabbed Little Black, determined to train even harder. He vowed to make Yu Ce cry out for mercy and call him ‘Dad’ one day.
But dreams are beautiful; reality is cruel.
For the umpteenth time, Yu Ce effortlessly grabbed Shen Tanqi by the waist, pulling him forward. Using a round, wooden stick—he never used a sword against Shen Tanqi—Yu Ce poked Shen Tanqi’s chest mercilessly, “Senior brother, you’re too slow.”
“I know.” Shen Tanqi snarled through clenched teeth. It wasn’t that he couldn’t take losing; he just had never felt such determination. Once provoked, Shen Tanqi realized he had a fiery passion within him waiting to erupt.
Brushing the dirt from his face, he stood tall, pushing away Yu Ce’s lingering hand from his waist, and said firmly, “You better watch out. I’m getting serious now.”
Yu Ce liked seeing him serious, enjoyed the stubborn determination in his eyes. It always reminded him of the ten-year-old boy in the illusion. Sometimes, Ah Qi really was like a child—adorable.
He tucked away his gentle smile, his gaze sharpening, treating Shen Tanqi like a true opponent who deserved his full effort. Softly, he said, “Alright, then I’ll get serious too.”
With those words, a sword aura surged from him like the roaring wind of early winter, cold and deadly, instilling fear with just a glance.
Seeing his serious expression, Shen Tanqi felt his throat tighten and couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
“You… you better hold back a bit.” Don’t actually kill me.
Yu Ce murmured a low “Hmm,” then spun with the wooden stick, charging towards him. At that moment, the round tip of the stick seemed like a real sword, slicing through the air, threatening to freeze everything around them into ice.
This was the first time Yuce attacked him; before, he had always been defending against Shen Tanqi’s attempts to break through.
Shen Tanqi’s mind was suddenly filled with vivid memories from the original text, particularly the description of ‘Shen Tanqi’ during the sect’s grand competition, where Yu Ce charged at him with a seemingly weightless sword.
[Like a drop of rain into a lake, the long sword pierced his chest, and Shen Tanqi died just like that. Unable to stand firm, he tilted his head back and fell into the Bloodthirst abyss, his body smashed into mud before death, his eyes glaring hatefully at Yu Ce.]
[He died without a corpse.]
“Snap out of it.”
A faint voice sounded in his ears.
Shen Tanqi abruptly snapped back to reality. The round-tipped wooden stick was already at his heart. If it were a real sword, another inch deeper would mean certain death—just like in the book’s scene.
He gazed dazedly at Yu Ce and said somewhat absentmindedly, “Come again.”
Shen Tanqi stepped back half a pace, striving to redirect his focus and concentrate on his own sword.
Yet his mind replayed scenes from the book.
According to the system, if he wanted to complete the plotline and return home, he had to be killed by Yu Ce, the undisputed protagonist, with a cold sword thrust through his heart.
But when that time came, could Yu Ce actually do it?
Could he really bring himself to force Yu Ce’s hand?
The system was right — he was fully immersed in this world now, and he didn’t want to leave at all.
He had to go back, for his brother and sister.
He needed to tell them that in a place that wasn’t exactly pleasant, he had encountered some truly wonderful people.
Yu Ce, and his three lovely children.
He had to go back and tell them what each child was named, what their personalities were like, and how lovable they were, adored by everyone who met them.
He also had to tell them about a person he met named Yu Ce.
He’s great.
Like a ray of light.
Shen Tanqi lowered his eyelids. Just as he was about to move, he heard Yu Ce gently neutralizing the sword in his hand and saying softly, “You lack the will to fight. You won’t win like this.”
Shen Tanqi looked up.
How could he muster up the will to fight against Yu Ce?
“Imagine I’m Xie Chi… or someone you hate the most,” Yu Ce tapped his storage ring and pulled out a black veil hood, concealing his face. He raised his sword and said, “Come on, try again.”
With the hood on, Yu Ce truly seemed like a different person, perhaps concealing his aura with some kind of spell. Shen Tanqi suddenly couldn’t see Yu Ce anymore.
Instead… whoever he hated.
Shen Tanqi stared at him intensely, raising his sword again. The image of Yu Ce now seemed to morph into Xie Chi, with a mocking grin, attempting to choke him to death, or the lecherous Yan Ning calling him ‘Junior Brother,’ or the beastly father locking his sister out in the bitter cold winter.
Whoever it was, he wasn’t the powerless Shen Tanqi anymore.
He had the ability to protect everyone he cared about.
His fingertips brushed over the small black iron sword, inch by inch infusing it with the spiritual energy he had mastered long ago. Shen Tanqi’s eyes narrowed slightly, wielding the sword as he charged at Yu Ce.
Yu Ce effortlessly dodged, the wooden stick almost instantly aimed at Shen Tanqi’s vulnerable heart.
Instinctively, Shen Tanqi stepped back, then viciously kicked Yu Ce’s leg, forcing him half a step back.
Yu Ce seemed surprised, intrigued by this unfamiliar fighting style.
Finally making contact with Yu Ce, Shen Tanqi chuckled and said, “You don’t know this move, huh? It’s called—’Crow Riding a Plane!'”
Yu Ce smiled and said, “Looks more like a little donkey kicking its legs.”
Shen Tanqi retorted, “Who are you talking about?”
He lunged forward, intending to show Yu Ce a bit more, but lost his balance. Yu Ce swiftly reached out, scooped him into his arms with one hand, chuckling softly. “You’ve made progress today. Let’s practice again tomorrow. It’s time to go back.”
Biting his lip, Shen Tanqi struggled in Yu Ce’s embrace. “I think you’re scared. Dare to spar with me again?”
“No, no,” Yu Ce calmly restrained Shen Tanqi’s restless movements. “Senior brother, forgot the important matter?”
At his words, Shen Tanqi hesitated briefly, then obediently allowed himself to be set down, sighing as he followed Yu Ce.
Important matter.
What important matter?
Incubating egg!
Blame Xie Chi, that troublemaker, for forcibly pulling out Sandan from his stomach, which had added a new daily task for him recently — egg incubation.
Actually, it just meant cradling the egg against his body, nurturing him with his spiritual energy, and chatting with him.
Shen Tanqi liked Sandan, but talking to him alone was quite boring.
More importantly, he didn’t feel like the egg enjoyed his company either. Since he was born, he hadn’t shown much response. Occasionally, he moved a bit, looking utterly indifferent, as if he had no energy left to struggle against being disturbed.
Back in the Yaoting Pavilion, the two little ones were nestled on the bed, each wielding a small wooden sword, and playing a game of attack and defense within their makeshift ‘fort’ made of clothes and blankets.
“Daddy, come quick, join my team!” Goldfish’s eyes lit up as soon as he saw Shen Tanqi. The little one crawled out from under the blankets and rushed towards him, exclaiming, “My team is called Orange’s Home. Can we use oranges to smash little brother’s fortress?”
Taro Ball, not to be outdone, also approached and grabbed Shen Tanqi’s other arm, saying, “Daddy, join my team too. Mine’s called Apple’s House. Apples are bigger than oranges, so we can definitely crush big brother’s fortress.”
Shen Tanqi chuckled, about to say something, when Yu Ce walked in behind him, pulling back the curtain quietly. “I’m here. Who wants me to join?”
Goldfish and Taro Ball hesitated for a moment, then quickly retreated to their nests, somewhat disdainfully echoing in unison, “We don’t want you—”
Their father wasn’t gentle, and an orange might leave them bruised and swollen!
Seeing Yu Ce silent, Shen Tanqi laughed even more boldly.
“Stop laughing,” Yu Ce sighed, rubbing his forehead helplessly, then gently handed over Sandan protected by a bubble barrier on the edge of the bed to Shen Tanqi. “Daddy, incubate the egg.”
Shen Tanqi: …
“You do it.”
“Hey, you do it.”
“Don’t be polite, we both have a share in having the kid, you do it.”
“…Fine.”
In the end, Yu Ce compromised and held the egg in his arms, allowing Shen Tanqi to place his palms on it to infuse him with his spiritual energy.
However…
Shen Tanqi looked up and saw Yu Ce’s eyes filled with hidden grievances, as if silently accusing him of something.
He couldn’t help but let out a slight chuckle from the corner of his lips.
The illustrious genius disciple of Rongyun Sect, the favored disciple of the sect leader, the male lead of the entire story, sitting here incubating egg—it was indeed amusing.
As he pondered this, a knock came from outside the door.
“Senior Brother Shen, by the order of the sect leader, there’s an urgent task for you.”
Sect leader’s order? What could the sect leader want with Shen Tanqi?
Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce exchanged a glance, then they both silently agreed to hide Sandan deep in the bedding. Shen Tanqi went to the door to face the visitor.
Outside stood a junior disciple who looked somewhat familiar, likely seen before at the sect leader’s residence. He handed Shen Tanqi a list and whispered, “The Holy Maiden of Feiluan Sect will arrive this afternoon. The sect leader heard Elder Shen mention some old ties with the Feiluan Sect, so he designated Senior Brother to arrange her accommodation.”
Feiluan1Flying Phoenix Sect?
Connected to the Shen family?
Shen Tanqi keenly sensed that the name seemed familiar, but without the system around, he had no one to ask. After thinking it over, he decided to agree for now, “Alright, I understand.”
There was indeed an elder from the Shen family in Rongyun Sect, whom Shen Tanqi had met briefly but didn’t know well.
This elder sending him to receive the Holy Maiden must represent the Shen family’s intentions.
“Feiluan Sect,” Yu Ce frowned slightly. Having traveled extensively outside, he naturally knew about this sect’s origin. “Rumors say they only accept female disciples and have formidable cultivation. They’re one of the top four sects but remain secluded year-round, rarely seen. How did the Shen family get involved with them…”
Yu Ce paused, considering Shen Tanqi, and decided not to finish the sentence.
Suddenly, Shen Tanqi remembered something and patted his clothes, pulling out the string of bronze coins with the phoenix and dragon patterns from his pocket.
The patterns of phoenix and dragon on them… could they be related to the Feiluan Sect?
Wait a minute, this Holy Maiden of the Feiluan Sect, he seemed to recall who she was…
Shen Tanqi looked sharply at Yu Ce, utterly shocked.
“She’s the female lead!!”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
