In the stillness of the night, Jiang Beiran walked briskly toward the Blue Heart Hall. Along the way, he looked up at the sky, where countless twinkling stars adorned the heavens like scattered grains of sand. This starry nightscape never gets old.
With an inward sigh of admiration, Jiang Beiran took a swig of "Jade Flower Dew" from the wine flask hanging at his waist. His steps light, he soon arrived at his small dwelling. But just as he was about to open the door, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.
"Senior Brother."
Turning around, his sharp night vision immediately spotted Lin Yuyan hiding on the small slope opposite his house.
"What is it?"
Jiang Beiran replied using the secret voice transmission technique.
"I just got back from Southwatch County and brought you some local specialties. I left them in the usual spot."
"Thoughtful of you. Thanks."
As he spoke, Jiang Beiran lifted the lid of a nearby water vat and retrieved an exquisitely wrapped brocade box.
"Then I’ll take my leave, Senior Brother. Good night."
Watching Lin Yuyan’s figure swiftly vanish into the darkness, Jiang Beiran—already accustomed to such scenes—turned and pushed open his door. Placing the brocade box on the somewhat worn wooden table, he gently lifted the lid. Nine-leaf Mica Ganoderma...
How on earth did she manage to find this? Gazing at the faintly glowing purple mushroom inside, its cap thickly dusted with spiritual powder, Jiang Beiran couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. He already knew what his next alchemy batch would be.
After resealing the box, he pondered what gift he should return to his junior sister in due time. As someone who had once triggered options starting from the lowest Yellow Grade—marking her as a "top-tier beauty"—Jiang Beiran had initially been quite wary of this junior sister. Yet her intelligence and enthusiasm had taken him by surprise.
She’s getting better and better at avoiding system triggers. Meanwhile, Lin Yuyan, having just met Jiang Beiran, walked away in high spirits, her eyes shining with a light even the night couldn’t obscure. Senior Brother spoke seven whole words to me today!
And he took out the gift I gave him right in front of me—this must be mutual affection, right!?
Ahh!
At this thought, she slapped a nearby camphor tree in excitement, sending leaves fluttering down in a rustling cascade. Over the past four years, through cautious long-distance observation and meticulous analysis, she had gradually deciphered her senior brother’s likes and dislikes.
She knew she couldn’t approach him when others were around, couldn’t call out to him in public, and most importantly, couldn’t suddenly rush out to surprise him—no matter how confident she felt. Otherwise, he would fix her with a terrifying glare. To avoid this, she had painstakingly practiced the secret voice transmission technique for an entire year.
But it was all worth it! With a determined fist pump, she brushed off the leaves clinging to her robes and silently repeated ten times: "The hour of the Ox is one of Senior Brother’s best moods."
Only after firmly committing this to memory did she continue on her way. --- The next morning, Jiang Beiran went to the Blue Heart Pavilion as usual to pay his respects to Hall Master Cheng and play a few rounds of chess with him. After delighting Hall Master Cheng with laughter, Jiang Beiran rose to take his leave.
But the moment he opened the door, he saw Junior Brother Junyu standing outside.
"Senior Brother, the Hall Master sent me to summon you."
Jiang Beiran sighed inwardly before replying, "Alright, lead the way." Following Junior Brother Junyu to the Purple Radiance Garden within the hall, they stopped before a sandalwood door and knocked.
"Ah, it’s Beiran. Come in."
Hearing Zhang Heqing’s voice from inside, Jiang Beiran pushed the door open and entered.
"Greetings, Hall Master."
Seated at a crescent-shaped table, Zhang Heqing poured a cup of Green Snail tea and beckoned to Jiang Beiran.
"No need for formalities. Come, sit and have some tea with me."
"As you wish."
After sitting opposite Zhang Heqing, Jiang Beiran accepted the offered teacup. But as he took it, his peripheral vision caught sight of a jade cup placed on the redwood shelf behind Zhang Heqing—one he was certain hadn’t been there during his previous visits. Could it be...
Jiang Beiran instantly recalled that Guardian Yu had been served from this very jade cup during her last visit. And he was ninety-nine percent sure it hadn’t been washed since then...
Hall Master!
You can’t be serious!!! Screaming internally, Jiang Beiran maintained a calm facade as he accepted the cup.
"Thank you, Hall Master."
Watching Jiang Beiran finish his tea, Zhang Heqing refilled it himself and said, "Beiran, how’s the progress on that matter I asked you about?" Realizing why the Hall Master was being unusually attentive today, Jiang Beiran nearly spat his tea back out. I see now—you’re truly desperate!
Though Zhang Heqing had entrusted him with many tasks, given the context, Jiang Beiran understood immediately: this was about whether he had approached Guardian Yu. But it’s only been a day! After a torrent of silent complaints, Jiang Beiran replied, "Hall Master, wouldn’t it be too abrupt for me to seek out Guardian Yu without knowing what to say?"
"Didn’t we discuss this already? Strengthening the ties between our halls for mutual development."
Hall Master...
I didn’t teach you that phrase for you to use it like this... Forcing a smile, Jiang Beiran continued, "But our hall specializes in chess, while the Water Mirror Hall excels in music. How can the two develop together?"
"Why not? Both are refined arts—there must be common ground. And we could always exchange martial techniques. The Water Mirror Hall’s Myriad Dances is well worth learning."
"Hall Master, but—" "Enough."
Cutting him off, Zhang Heqing went straight to the point.
"Consider this a personal favor. If you succeed, didn’t you mention wanting to apply for another cultivation site in the back mountain? I’ll approve it."
This is blatant abuse of authority!!! In the Heart Returning Sect, every disciple coveted a cultivation site in the back mountain due to its abundant spiritual energy, ideal for training. Jiang Beiran’s interest, however, lay in using that energy to nurture his herbs and "little pets."
Naturally, he found his current space insufficient. But each time he applied, the Hall Master would scold him, saying granting him one site was already an extraordinary exception—how dare he ask for a second? Jiang Beiran had assumed he’d only get his wish when the opportunity he’d been waiting for finally arrived.
But now...
Simp—no, love truly is something else. Though Zhang Heqing’s offer was undeniably tempting, the thought of those junior sisters in the Water Mirror Hall—each capable of triggering Earth-Grade options at the drop of a hat—made Jiang Beiran steel himself to refuse. But just as he was about to speak, three options appeared before him.
[Option 1: Refuse Zhang Heqing again. Reward: Heavenly Fire Divine Seal (Mysterious Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 2: Change the subject to poison gu. Reward: Soaring Seal (Yellow Grade, High Tier)] [Option 3: Agree to Zhang Heqing’s request. Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1)] Sigh...
I knew it. Seeing the inevitable system trigger, Jiang Beiran sighed deeply in his heart.
(End of Chapter)