Chapter 111: This Time, It

Bai Ru’s body is healthy; he can probably take one sword strike.

Ban Yangshu’s realm is profound; he can likely take about two sword strikes…

Ji You silently calculated, walked into the room, then performed a flashy move—using spiritual energy to propel a firestone, igniting a spark that lit the oil lamp.

Why not cultivate the Fire Dao instead of using such a cumbersome method?

Oh, a mere Tian Shu Academy student—still at Tongxuan, not yet merged with a Dao.

Yan Shuyi watched him in silence, then saw him step forward and extend a claw-like hand toward her.

Dare you pinch my face again? She waited silently, motionless, as the hand suddenly dropped, casually picking up the teapot before the door, calling out to the innkeeper for a fresh pot.

“Damn Tian Shu Academy student…”

“?”

Hearing the little Jianzhu murmur, Ji You wasn’t sure how she felt.

In truth, Yan Shuyi wasn’t sure of her own feelings either—her lovely face carried a faint chill, yet her pink toes beneath the tea table couldn’t help wiggling.

She hadn’t seen him in a long time; she missed him a little.

But in her original plan, she was to summon the Tian Shu Academy student to Xuan Jian Peak as Jianzhu, then have him kneel at her feet while she scolded him haughtily.

But her uncle’s tea gathering disrupted this plan, dragging it out for a full day.

Frustrated for half a day, and spurred on by Zhuo Wanqiu, she got carried away, then dashed down the mountain to seek him out.

But now that she’d actually seen him, she felt awkward about her status, unsure how to begin.

Was he the stranger she’d met twice, whose beauty made her want to draw near—or the solemn Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain?

If he was just the stranger she’d met twice, whose beauty made her want to draw near, she’d naturally speak more coquettishly.

But they were at the foot of Lingjian Mountain, and the man before her was one who came to challenge her sect’s prestige; as Jianzhu, she couldn’t be too soft with him.

Yet if she played the role of the solemn Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain, she was the one who’d come to his room—this felt like pretense.

Lost in thought, Yan Shuyi suddenly saw a hand offer her a peeled pumpkin seed; she instinctively opened her pink lips and swallowed it.

People of Lingzhou love roasted pumpkin seeds as snacks; they’re sold everywhere in town.

Delicious.

After chewing it for a moment, the little Jianzhu frowned slightly, then narrowed her eyes again: “Tian Shu Academy students really are bolder than I imagined—don’t you know this is the foot of Lingjian Mountain? How dare you be so reckless?”

Ji You understood the persona she was playing, and immediately bowed: “I am Ji You, paying respects to the Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain.”

“Why aren’t you kneeling before me?”

“If I kneel now, what’s left for me to aspire to?”

Yan Shuyi stared at him by candlelight for a moment, realizing he looked noticeably more handsome—her gaze flickered with confusion.

This third-time stranger had always carried a scholarly air, elegant and poised; after several days apart, his physique seemed stronger, his skin even fairer and smoother.

The tea table provided by the inn was small, only half a foot wide.

Sitting face to face, leaning forward, they were extremely close.

Yan Shuyi still wore the stern expression of the Jianzhu, yet her pale foot beneath the table was suddenly seized—her delicate nose wrinkled, but she didn’t strike him.

This wasn’t because Ji You was brazen enough to dare assault an empress.

It was mainly because this girl’s face was cold, her tone sharp, yet her feet kept wiggling beneath the table.

The joy of their reunion seemed to flow entirely from her feet, making Ji You restless—so he simply grabbed them.

Her plump, round toes were like finely carved jade—cool and soft; once unruly, they now lay still in his palm.

“Though the Qingyun Realm speaks of seeking the Dao, no one in a thousand years has dared do as you do—coming so openly to my mountain gate, aren’t you afraid you won’t leave alive?”

Yan Shuyi didn’t kick him—she seemed to tacitly permit the bold Tian Shu student to touch the Jianzhu’s feet.

Ji You sat up straight: “I had to come.”

“The Tian Shu Academy is indeed stubborn—even its students are so powerless.”

“Actually, the Academy didn’t force me—I simply missed Lingjian Mountain a little, so I wanted to come see it with my own eyes.”

Yan Shuyi paused, then, feeling the warmth of his palm, slightly pursed her lips before feigning composure: “You’ve heard the Jianfeng tea gathering is being held, inviting disciples from Wenda Sect and Shanhai Pavilion—Wenda has long wanted to kill you. Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Ji You rubbed her cold foot for a long while: “Jianfeng did this? No wonder—I knew the upright, kind Xuan Jian Peak wouldn’t dream up such a vile trick.”

“Little Tian Shu student, you speak pleasantly.”

“Before the Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain, I dare not conceal anything—every word I speak comes from my heart.”

Yan Shuyi kicked his palm twice: “I came down the mountain today intending to kill one or two Tian Shu students, to show you what Lingjian Mountain’s sword means. You keep saying sweet things—how am I supposed to strike?”

Ji You looked up at him: “You Yu Buyu is downstairs—I know he’s in Room Jiazi. Want to go?”

“Are you a traitor to the Tian Shu Academy?”

“Not at all—just a personal grudge. He’s despised me since the journey began, always can’t help cursing me—I’m sick of it.”

Yan Shuyi, hearing Yu Buyu’s name, suddenly remembered something: “You stopped by Yu Danzong on the way and stayed overnight—were you having so much fun you forgot your mission?”

Ji You knew she’d ask this—he answered calmly: “Your Majesty, Tian Shu Academy is on good terms with Yu Danzong, so when we passed Liangzhou, we paid a courtesy visit.”

“Yu Danzong has been arranging a husband for Caiwei-jie—heard a certain Ji You suits her tastes?”

“That Ji You fellow is stunningly beautiful—countless women covet him, but it’s not his fault.”

Yan Shuyi snorted: “Tian Shu Academy is full of lechers—this talk of betrothals everywhere probably isn’t false. Even if I kill one or two, I won’t incur any wrongful grudges.”

This wasn’t empty words—Ji You felt guilty, pondered a moment, and had no reply, so he picked up a pumpkin seed and fed it to her.

Testing how strong her jealousy ran.

The little Jianzhu glanced at him, fell silent for a long while, then spoke: “I want that hand…”

“Do you dislike your own feet?”

“Bold Tian Shu student…”

Ji You switched hands and fed her another pumpkin seed; she chewed slowly, her empress-like aura beginning to soften.

It was natural—no proper Jianzhu would sneak into a Tian Shu student’s room at night; her “intimidation” was baseless, so one bite of seed exposed her.

Thus, under this gentle moonlit night, everything seemed to return to that small room in the Tian Shu Academy during winter.

Yan Shuyi leaned forward on the table, quietly chewing pumpkin seeds, her hair spilling over the edge.

As night deepened, the moonlight outside grew brighter, illuminating her delicate face—flawless, skin whiter than snow.

She gazed silently at her own Cloud-Peak Palace, and felt herself becoming strange.

Every time they met, she deliberately looked down on him with pride—but looking back, she realized she always let him charm her.

That initial visit to the Tian Shu Academy out of boredom was a mistake.

Because I was too kind then, I can look down on the entire world—but before him, I can’t be proud at all. How frustrating…

Women are like this—once they act, they become passive.

Ji You watched her bent over the table, slender waist curved, and quietly narrowed his eyes.

Did I just get away with it?

She didn’t ask about what happened on Danshan—I escaped a disaster. Should’ve been less cautious…

Women walking naked through the streets? What a pity.

But as his thoughts returned to her, he found the scene strangely surreal.

The Tian Shu Academy stormed here to challenge Lingjian Mountain, got turned away, and now everyone’s tense inside.

Yet here, the little Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain is slumped before him, chewing pumpkin seeds, her jade foot held in the Tian Shu student’s hand—docile as a cat dozing off.

If anyone saw this, they’d think they were dreaming.

Ji You sat beside her, pouring tea and peeling pumpkin seeds, watching the night deepen until the moon shone bright and stars thinned.

Unable to think of a more authoritative question, Yan Shuyi glanced at the late hour.

“I’m going back.”

“Little Tian Shu student, you’re quite polite. Though your challenge to Lingjian Mountain was disrespectful, I understand you’re bound by your sect’s orders—you’re not to blame. I’ll spare your life.”

“Tomorrow on the mountain, you won’t be so lucky. Mind your own conduct.”

Yan Shuyi suddenly sat up, yawned, pulled her warmed jade foot back, stood, and slipped on her shoes, stepping twice.

Ji You was pouring tea—he knew the runaway girl was returning to her senses, and spoke: “You just arrived—won’t you sit a while longer?”

“What business is it of yours what I do? Mind your own life.”

Yan Shuyi spoke, then before leaving, lifted her teacup and drank two sips, and snatched three pumpkin seeds Ji You had peeled.

Her parents knew she’d left—she couldn’t possibly stay overnight with a Tian Shu student. He’d have to climb the mountain tomorrow anyway; tonight’s visit was just to see him once ahead of time.

Ji You wanted to see her to the door, but she turned back and stepped on his foot again.

I should’ve told her that Yuan Caiwei beat her to seeing the thing I’d reserved for her first—see if she’d still act so mighty.

Yan Shuyi had reached the middle of the corridor, glanced back at him, then masked her aura and vanished.

Night deepened; the inn was silent—except for Room Jiazi downstairs, where spiritual energy surged violently.

Yu Buyu sat on his bed, intensely refining his Immortal Dao, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Though he considered himself strong, being beneath Lingjian Mountain made him nervous—so he trained with unusual diligence.

But suddenly, a fierce aura burst through the door, slamming him off his bed.

“Who?!”

Yu Buyu snapped open his eyes, instinctively filled with fear.

(End of Chapter)