Feiluan Sect originally intended to stay at Shuoxia City, but upon hearing some unfavorable rumors about disturbances caused by malicious spirits, they changed their plans and settled in an inn at the foot of Rongyun Sect’s mountain in a small town.
The sect’s grand competition was set to begin in two days, and they couldn’t afford any mishaps at such a critical juncture.
Compared to their sect’s residences, this inn was quite simple and crude.
“Sister Tanjiu, do we really have to stay here for a while?” A delicate girl of about sixteen or seventeen wrinkled her nose in disdain, covering her mouth and nose while sweeping the dust from the corners of the room with a duster.
Lin Tanjiu sat on a soft couch, slowly opening her eyes to gaze at the girl. Her voice was cool and composed as she replied, “Of course.”
The girl put down the duster with a hint of disappointment and approached her, leaning on her chin with her hand. “If only we had drawn Feiluan back then, we wouldn’t need to travel all the way to Rongyun and stay in such a dilapidated place.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Tanjiu lightly lifted her arm and tapped the girl’s forehead with her curled fingers, saying, “Xiao Yu, mind your words. We’re representing Feiluan outside, so don’t be too presumptuous.”
Xiao Yu blinked and smiled, “I know, Sister Tanjiu. It’s just that you’re so strict, that’s why you still haven’t found a husband.”
At these words, a faint blush tinged Lin Tanjiu’s fair cheeks, and she pretended to be annoyed, “You little brat, mocking your senior sister.”
A husband…
She had dreamt of that too—of the wandering cultivator with a serene and jade-like presence who had rescued her from the clutches of the demon clan in the southern lands, leaving without even a few words.
She wondered when she would see him again.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that someone from the Shen family is supposed to come and assist Sister.” Xiao Yu pouted in annoyance, “This Shen family really doesn’t handle things well. They still haven’t arrived until now.”
Upon hearing her words, Lin Tanjiu’s expression softened a bit. “The Shen family must have their own difficulties too. Who did they send?”
Xiao Yu, with a hint of disdain in her voice at the mention, replied, “It’s your cousin from the Shen family, named Shen Tanqi. I asked around and heard he’s just a dandy, causing trouble in Shuoxia City and Rongyun Sect, bullying the weak and innocent. Despicable!”
She had asked a friend about him, though the friend no longer lived in Shuoxia, so the information might be somewhat outdated. But one thing was certain—this Shen Tanqi was definitely no good.
“I see.” Lin Tanjiu frowned slightly, feeling somewhat troubled. She disliked dealing with such people the most. She knew the Shen family intended to send someone to build connections, probably to support Shen Tanqi with more influence.
Shen Tanqi was her aunt’s only child before her death. Ignoring him completely wasn’t ideal; after all, they were of the same generation.
Well, she would meet him and then decide.
Just as she made up her mind, there was a knock on the inn door.
Lin Tanjiu and Xiao Yu exchanged a glance. Xiao Yu immediately cautiously drew her sword and stood in front of the door, asking, “Who is it?”
A clear and youthful voice replied from outside the door, “We are from Rongyun Sect, sent to welcome the honored guests staying here.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu slowly opened the door a crack, peeking outside cautiously. With just one glance, she froze in place.
Outside the crack of the door stood a slender youth dressed in light red clothes. He exuded a proud and confident demeanor, with a touch of casual elegance. His features were handsome and his smile gentle, causing Xiao Yu’s mind to go blank.
What a handsome brother.
Her voice stuttered, “W-what’s your name?”
The youth scratched his cheek, looking a bit puzzled. “Shen Tanqi. ‘Tan’ as in sandalwood, and ‘qi’ as in lacquer.”
Those obsidian eyes were indeed as black as ink, clear like water in a too pristine pool, so clear that no other color could be discerned.
But if the person before her was Shen Tanqi—
Xiao Yu’s breath hitched, dubious.
This was completely different from the arrogant and pretentious young master she had imagined, decked out in gold and silver!
She hastily pulled open the door, only to see beside Shen Tanqi another figure. Her breath caught again, feeling like she couldn’t even breathe properly.
The entire inn seemed to brighten with the presence of these two figures. Not to mention Shen Tanqi, but the swordsman standing next to him was breathtaking. His brows were like distant mountains, eyes like flowing water, and his demeanor resembled a carefree pine and bamboo, lazily leaning against Shen Tanqi with an aristocratic elegance akin to a mountain of jade in decline.
Rongyun Sect, Rongyun Sect actually had such good-looking people. Sister Tanjiu might have a chance at marriage!!
“What’s wrong?” Shen Tanqi’s voice was like the clear ring of broken jade, momentarily stunning Xiao Yu.
She stood with her mouth open, her face turning red. Finally, she called into the room, “Sister Tanjiu, um, people from Rongyun Sect are here!”
Lin Tanjiu had naturally heard their conversation long before. However, she was in the midst of quiet cultivation and didn’t want to interrupt. She had hoped Xiao Yu could dismiss them with a few words.
Since that wasn’t the case, Lin Tanjiu sighed lightly, sheathed her sword, and walked to the door. In that moment, her gaze suddenly froze.
“It’s you…!”
Lin Tanjiu could hardly believe her eyes. The person standing right in front of her was actually here, alive and real. Was this a dream?
She suppressed the surge of emotions in her heart. Just as she was about to speak to the indifferent swordsman, another voice interrupted her abruptly, filled with excitement.
“Little sister!!!”
Shen Tanqi’s eyes nearly welled up with tears as he pounced forward, embracing Lin Tanjiu tightly as if a starving tiger had pounced on prey. He hugged Lin Tanjiu tightly, almost squeezing her. “Is it really you? It’s really you!”
The three present were stunned like solid rocks.
Lin Tanjiu looked at Shen Tanqi in shock, forgetting even to push him off her, “You…”
Was this her supposed cousin from the Shen family?
How could he be so warm and affectionate? Had they met before?
Yu Ce’s face immediately darkened with clouds, extending his hand to gently pull Shen Tanqi back by his collar, bringing him closer. “Senior brother, you’re overstepping.”
Next to them, Xiao Yu finally snapped out of her daze. The image of Shen Tanqi she had in her mind shattered completely upon seeing his behavior towards Sister Tanjiu. This Shen Tanqi, revealing his true colors so quickly upon seeing Sister Tanjiu, what a hypocrite!
She was furious, raising an eyebrow and pointing at Shen Tanqi’s nose, “How dare you behave so frivolously towards people of our Feiluan Sect! It seems I must report this to Rongyun Sect and let their sect leaders discipline you properly!”
Shen Tanqi, still held by Yu Ce by the collar, could only gaze eagerly at Lin Tanjiu.
This was his little sister, without a doubt, right here in front of him!
He really wanted to ask how she had crossed over here, but seeing the furrowed brow on Lin Tanjiu’s face, Shen Tanqi’s heart sank. He heard Yu Ce apologizing softly for his senior brother’s rudeness, “I apologize for any offense. My senior brother is always warm-hearted and hospitable, with no ill intentions. I hope both of you can forgive him.”
A slight pressure on the back of his neck, a gentle yet unmistakable warning, made Shen Tanqi’s spine tingle. His mind immediately cleared.
—The person in front of him wasn’t his little sister; she was just someone who looked remarkably like her in the book.
But why did this character have to be the female lead?!
Was their family in conflict with this book? Always using their family members’ faces as character models.
Shen Tanqi felt dejected. She wasn’t his little sister, just someone who looked a lot like her…
As Yu Ce held him, he felt like a scolded puppy, wronged and helpless.
Watching this scene unfold, Lin Tanjiu pondered quietly.
Indeed, it had been a long time since she had seen this wandering cultivator. She hadn’t known he was from Rongyun Sect either. A swordsman of such profound cultivation should be traveling freely, so why would he willingly stay confined in Rongyun Sect?
Moreover, the relationship between him and his senior brother didn’t seem simple.
While Shen Tanqi was still lost in his thoughts, Yu Ce spoke up on his behalf, “By the order of our sect leader, we have come to inquire if there’s anything you two friends need so we can prepare accordingly.”
Upon hearing his voice, Lin Tanjiu’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at him, feeling like she was still trapped in a dream. She murmured softly, “Yes, the day after tomorrow is the sect’s grand competition, and I lack someone to practice swordsmanship with me.”
Both Xiao Yu and Shen Tanqi were taken aback. Xiao Yu scratched her head in confusion and said, “Sister Tanjiu, are you dissatisfied with me?”
Normally, it was her who accompanied her sister in sword practice. Why did she suddenly need someone else?
Lin Tanjiu smiled and tapped the dimple on her cheek gently, saying, “No dissatisfaction at all. It’s just… since it’s an inter-sect competition, isn’t it more appropriate to practice with someone from another sect?”
Her reasoning made sense. Shen Tanqi, eager to try, spoke up, “Then I…”
But Lin Tanjiu ignored him and looked directly at Yu Ce, speaking firmly, “I wonder if this friend would be willing. Both of us are at the Spirit Transformation stage, and practicing swordsmanship would benefit us both.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Tanqi’s lips drooped again. He had wanted to spend more time chatting with this person who resembled his little sister. What if she really was his sister?
But clearly, that wasn’t the case. The female lead only wanted to practice swordsmanship with the male lead.
Well, they were at the Spirit Transformation stage, while he was just a Nascent Soul cultivator. What business did he have joining in?
Sighing inwardly, Shen Tanqi didn’t really care who Yu Ce practiced swordsmanship with. Though he couldn’t quite explain why, he just knew Yu Ce wouldn’t have any romantic inclinations towards Lin Tanjiu.
Maybe… was it because they already had three kids?
He nudged Yu Ce and raised his voice, “Hurry up and agree. Don’t keep people waiting.”
Yu Ce’s eyes had already changed color when he heard Shen Tanqi eagerly suggest accompanying Lin Tanjiu to practice swordsmanship. He stared at him deeply and said, “Senior brother, don’t you need me to practice swordsmanship with you?”
Shen Tanqi figured two days wouldn’t make much difference. Anyway, sooner or later, according to the plot, the male lead would eventually confront the female lead at the sect’s grand competition. It would be a good thing to compare and test the water. One must know oneself and one’s enemy to win every battle.
So, despite the probing gazes of Lin Tanjiu and Xiao Yu, Shen Tanqi replied nonchalantly, “No need. You go accompany her, I’ll find other disciples to practice with.”
Yu Ce’s fingers tightened slightly.
Very well.
Ah Qi was indeed willing to hand him over to someone else.
Why did Ah Qi care so much about a woman he had just met?
Taking a deep breath, Yu Ce had initially intended to refuse directly. Now, with the words at the tip of his tongue, he paused briefly.
For some reason, Yu Ce smiled and answered Lin Tanjiu, “Of course.”
Shen Tanqi paused slightly, feeling inexplicably that the smile on Yu Ce’s face was both annoying and amusing.
Could this silly dragon be intentionally trying to make him jealous? This tactic seemed too much like the tricks he had seen in those melodramatic dramas from his childhood. Such tricks of teasing and letting go were too childish.
He didn’t understand any tactics at all. Wasn’t he letting Yu Ce go to test Lin Tanjiu’s skills before the sect’s grand competition?
Ungrateful brat…
With all three kids born, how could he possibly be jealous like this? Besides, his heart hadn’t skipped a beat for Yu Ce, and he didn’t like him either.
It was only later that Shen Tanqi realized he had indeed watched quite a few dramas, but he hadn’t fully grasped them. He was simply interpreting love based on the templates from those dramas. But that’s a story for another time.
At this moment, constrained by Lin Tanjiu and Xiao Yu’s presence, Shen Tanqi could only pretend that nothing had happened and swallowed the words he wanted to retort to Yu Ce.
Punk, I’ll show you who can hold out longer.
However, in the quiet room, Xiao Yu suddenly cleared her throat awkwardly and spoke up, “Since Sister wants to practice with him, then I guess I’ll reluctantly practice with you.”
The little girl extended her hand, pointing towards Shen Tanqi.
As her words fell, Shen Tanqi slowly lifted his head, meeting her gaze with surprise, pointing to himself in disbelief, “Ah, me?”
In an instant, the entire inn seemed to plunge into an icy cave, filled with a chilling atmosphere.
Even the easygoing Shen Tanqi felt that something was off.
Yeah, seriously off—his back was starting to feel cold!
Yu Ce narrowed his eyes, his previous smile freezing on his lips. He let out a dangerous and icy breath, softly saying to Xiao Yu, “Sorry, my senior brother doesn’t have the time.”
Xiao Yu wrinkled her nose in displeasure. “How come you have time and he doesn’t?”
Shen Tanqi was about to step in to smooth things over, trying to ease the tension, “I do have ti—” Before he could finish his sentence, Yu Ce decisively pulled him behind him. His face still held a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes, his voice cutting like icy snow.
“Because I’m practicing swordsmanship with this fellow Daoist here, and there’s no one at home to take care of the children.” He lowered his gaze without remorse, his eyelashes casting a shadow, as if feeling somewhat wronged, explaining, “My senior brother’s third child is still in swaddling clothes. I hope you both understand.”
Shen Tanqi: ? Could you clarify who gave birth?
He looked at the two shocked faces across from him, suddenly feeling like he had become the unfaithful husband who pushed his wife out to be mistreated.
Damn you, Yu Ce, tarnishing my reputation!
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)
