As dusk fell, the fading sunlight dyed the sky blood-red. Yu Manwen, dragging her slightly exhausted body back to Mirror Flower Garden, was immediately greeted by the excited shouts of her hall master.
"Big! Big! Big! BIG!!! Aiya!!!"
Recalling how uncomfortable she had felt all day from forced social interactions, Yu Manwen clenched her fists and stormed inside.
"Hall Master!"
Her furious shout instantly froze the two figures shaking dice cups in the room.
"Ahem..."
Shi Fenglan coughed lightly, turning her face—now plastered with strips of paper—toward Yu Manwen.
"Guardian Yu, you're back. Must've been a long day for you."
Taking a deep breath, Yu Manwen strode up to Shi Fenglan.
"Hall Master, didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t mess around with disciples anymore?"
"I’m not messing around... Just having a little fun. And I listened to you—I didn’t drink today."
Little Duo, standing nearby, barely stifled a laugh. It wasn’t that the hall master had obediently abstained from alcohol—it was just that Senior Brother Jiang’s first rule for playing with her was no drinking. Seeing Shi Fenglan back down, Yu Manwen shot a glare at Jiang Beiran.
"And you! Why are you fooling around with the hall master again? What did I tell you last time?"
Jiang Beiran shook the dice cup twice before slamming it onto the table.
"Big... or small?" he asked Shi Fenglan.
"Tsk..."
Shi Fenglan’s eyes widened in disbelief as Jiang Beiran completely ignored the furious Yu Manwen. She hesitated, unsure whether to respond. When Shi Fenglan didn’t answer, Jiang Beiran lifted his hand from the cup.
"Not playing anymore? Then this disciple will take his leave."
He stood up to go.
"Eh! Wait, wait! I bet big! It’s definitely big this time!"
Jiang Beiran flipped open the cup, revealing dice showing 1, 3, and 5. "1, 3, 5—nine points, small." He picked up a strip of paper and mercilessly stuck it on Shi Fenglan’s face.
"Damn it! My turn to shake!"
Just as Shi Fenglan reached for the cup, an overwhelming pressure erupted behind her, making her heart skip a beat.
"Uh... Manwen, wanna join us?"
Shi Fenglan asked with a forced smile. Ignoring her, Yu Manwen slammed a hand on the table and glared at Jiang Beiran.
"Jiang Beiran, what’s your problem?"
Taking a calm sip of tea, Jiang Beiran gestured to Shi Fenglan.
"Your turn."
Before Shi Fenglan could respond, Yu Manwen stepped right in front of Jiang Beiran.
"Jiang Beiran! I’m talking to you!"
Looking up at her, Jiang Beiran replied, "Oh. I don’t feel like talking to you." Shi Fenglan and Little Duo, utterly lost, huddled together.
"Are... are they fighting?"
Shi Fenglan whispered.
"P-probably," Little Duo nodded.
Jiang Beiran’s blunt response actually cooled Yu Manwen’s rising fury.
"Are you angry about the collaboration between the two halls?"
"Correct," Jiang Beiran nodded.
"I did it for your own good—so you’d have something to show your hall master."
Jiang Beiran smiled faintly and set down his teacup.
"Sure. You can think I’m being unreasonable."
"You—!"
Yu Manwen choked back her anger.
"Fine. I apologize."
"I don’t accept it."
"Why not?!"
"Why should I forgive you just because you apologized?"
Yu Manwen took a long moment to respond.
"But... I didn’t do anything that terrible, did I?"
Jiang Beiran stood up.
"First, I truly appreciate your concern, Guardian Yu. But I’ve already been honest with you before—I want to proceed at my own pace, and you agreed, saying you wouldn’t force anything on me."
"Yet this time, regardless of your reasons, your actions displeased me greatly. And I no longer consider you someone I can confide in."
Though his tone remained calm, his words made Shi Fenglan and Little Duo shiver.
"Gulp..."
Swallowing hard, Shi Fenglan whispered, "Do people usually say things this directly...?" Little Duo shook her head vigorously. Yu Manwen was stunned.
She had agreed to the collaboration partly out of mischief, but also because she genuinely wanted to push Jiang Beiran to excel. She never expected him to react so strongly.
"I..."
Her lips parted, but no words came out. Jiang Beiran had repeatedly emphasized his aversion to the spotlight, yet she hadn’t taken it seriously, always thinking she knew what was best for him. Seeing Yu Manwen fall silent, Jiang Beiran turned back to Shi Fenglan.
"Hall Master Shi, shall we continue?"
Shi Fenglan glanced between Yu Manwen and Jiang Beiran before saying, "F-fighting isn’t good..." Jiang Beiran shook his head.
"This isn’t a fight. Just clearing the air."
"But—" Before she could finish, Yu Manwen spoke solemnly.
"This time, I was too self-centered and betrayed your trust. For that, I apologize."
"I’m sorry."
She continued, "If I make it up to you... could you forgive me this once?"
"Oh, sure."
Jiang Beiran nodded instantly.
"Eh!?"
Shi Fenglan had been ready to plead on Yu Manwen’s behalf, but Jiang Beiran’s unexpected answer left her speechless. Yu Manwen was also taken aback, but soon smiled.
"Good. I’ll prepare proper compensation."
"So... Guardian Yu, care to join us for a few rounds?"
Jiang Beiran picked up the dice cup.
"Yeah, yeah! Play with us!"
Shi Fenglan chimed in. Yu Manwen chuckled before suddenly shouting, "No more playing!"
"Understood. This disciple will take his leave then."
Jiang Beiran cupped his hands toward Shi Fenglan and strode out.
"Hey! Jiang Beiran! Don’t leave me here! Hey!!!"
Listening to Shi Fenglan’s wails, Jiang Beiran chuckled in satisfaction. Truthfully, he had been furious with Yu Manwen. In the Heart Returning Sect, he rarely opened up to anyone, yet she had betrayed that trust.
But her apology had been sincere—no trace of a hall guardian’s arrogance. That softened his stance. After all, what she’d done wasn’t that bad, and it hadn’t caused him any real trouble.
Plus, he was sure she’d finally understand just how serious he was about avoiding attention.
‘And she did promise compensation... Guardian-level compensation. So it’s not that I couldn’t refuse—it’s just that what she offered was too good to pass up.’
PS: This is yesterday’s third update. Though it’s slightly late, I trust my magnanimous readers will forgive me.
(Runs away!)
(End of Chapter)