[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-195":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260068,4410,"Chapter 195: Just a Battle of Lips and Tongues","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-195",195,"\u003Cp>As wisps of cooking smoke rose, the rice cakes in the steamer baskets had become soft and fluffy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dusting of toasted sesame seeds spread their fragrance everywhere; Wei Rui went to the kitchen to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You entered the room and sat facing Yan Shuyi, their eyes locking as if the battle of their kiss the day before had never ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One reason for this atmosphere was their personalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night, when they kissed, she had been too soft—her gaze had gone misty, her whole body melting into the arms of a stranger—and today she wanted to chill herself back with the aura of the Little Mirror Master of Jianjian Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another reason was that her jealousy over the tail had not yet faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things are like that: when you pretend not to know, you can remain calm, but once you ask, no matter how the other side defends themselves, the jealousy takes a long time to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, Ji You’s knee was kicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The foot, clad in a pale moon-colored boot, radiated pride—the pride of a Mirror Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji the Bandit glanced at her, thought for a long moment, then let out a soft “pop,” making Yan Shuyi instinctively touch her veil, then clench her pink fist, her eyes brimming with killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a kiss—just a battle of lips and tongues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wei Rui brought the dishes to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng also came in, dividing the steamed cakes into baskets, carrying them to the main hall—one for Ji You, one for Wei Rui, and another to be delivered to the Orphanage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So much? That’s inappropriate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng stared at Ji You in disbelief: “I never thought I’d hear those words from Brother Ji.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like I’ll be eating rice cakes until the New Year. This stuff gets tiring after a while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You turned to Yan Shuyi and saw her ponder for a long while before reluctantly nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she really planned to stay for the New Year—she was seriously considering whether eating rice cakes every day would bore her, even though this morning she’d felt embarrassed about being kissed and stubbornly claimed she wanted to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui finished arranging the dishes and whispered to Kuangcheng: “Why isn’t Miss Yan saying a word to Young Master Ji today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng couldn’t help but smile faintly: “It’s the jealousy of a second concubine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi glanced at Kuangcheng, and he instantly held his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling her Ji You’s second concubine had upset her, but not speaking to her beloved at all was something Wei Rui shouldn’t learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t as bold as Brother Ji—he simply couldn’t handle a woman like Miss Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You watched Kuangcheng and thought: You really don’t care if I die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch, the four carried the filled baskets out onto the street, heading toward the Orphanage in Xicheng. Along the way, they saw carriage after carriage rolling past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some carried officials traveling to the capital, others were Immortal Clan visitors coming to see relatives, and several Immortal Villages from the Tian Shu Academy’s affiliated prefectures were ascending the hierarchy to secure next year’s resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time of year, merchants in Shengjing made the most profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, visiting relatives always required fine wine and delicacies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the four passed a winehouse on Linjie Street, a servant rushed down the stairs and bowed to Ji You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Ji, Miss Lu invites you upstairs for a chat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, please thank Miss Lu for her kindness, but I’ll pass today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You looked up to the second floor, where Lu Qingqiu and Lu Hanyan were smiling gently from the left side of the pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him wave them off, Lu’s younger sister nodded slightly, her gaze inevitably falling on the woman beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You, a Tian Shu Academy inner disciple raised as a self-taught cultivator from the countryside, was poorly regarded within the academy—but as a man, he was still highly sought after in Shengjing’s marriage market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that a woman appeared beside him, even with Kuangcheng and Wei Rui accompanying him, he still drew attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That woman looks familiar from last year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qingqiu couldn’t see the woman’s face, but the figure seemed identical—she turned to her sister and said: “Last year, a woman came to the Tian Shu Academy looking for Ji You, around the New Year season—I just don’t know which family she’s from.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, besides the Lu sisters, other senior disciples from the Tian Shu Academy waved at Ji You, inviting him upstairs for a drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You politely declined each one with a wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short stretch from the city center to Xicheng now felt like one obstacle after another—each step seemed to want his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui pulled her small jacket tighter: “Why does it get windy wherever we go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng lowered his voice: “That’s sword qi—I’ve seen it on Brother Ji before…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess of Changle, along with other Immortal Clan youths visiting Shengjing, hosted a banquet and greeted them as they approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the greeting wasn’t for Ji You—it was for Wei Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yunyue didn’t want Wei Rui to interact too much with the Imperial Cultivation Supervision, so she invited her up to meet several talented young cultivators—but Miss Wei waved her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Sister Yunyue, but Rui’er has other matters to attend to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Princess didn’t press, but her gaze drifted to Ji You, then to the woman beside him, tinged with resentment: “As the ancients said, birds of a feather flock together. Sister, keep your eyes open—don’t let your heart be wasted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Wei Rui could reply, she felt another surge of qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Lingjian Mountain disciples upstairs turned their gazes toward Yan Shuyi, their expressions uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ling Jian could conceal aura and obscure heavenly fate—even a Linxian cultivator couldn’t pierce it. They only felt the silhouette was vaguely familiar, but couldn’t confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yunyue sat back down, her brow slightly furrowed, her thoughts troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the Xia Empire’s authority was subordinate to Immortal Power, as a Xia Princess and heir to Lingjian Mountain, her status was far from low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the women she’d met, only Lu Qingqiu could match her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet both had failed in their attempts to become Ji You’s Dao Companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d assumed Ji You’s ambition was great—that he coveted the eldest daughter of Yu Danzong, hoping to become a son-in-law in Danshan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But recently, at banquets, Tian Shu Academy disciples told him a woman with no spiritual energy had moved into Ji You’s courtyard—she’d been there nearly ten nights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This strange behavior made Zhao Yunyue feel humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if someone were saying her multiple identities meant nothing compared to a mere mortal woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Junchi spoke up: “Sister Yunyue, have you found out what I asked about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve confirmed—the Yu Danzong caravan will arrive in a few days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will there be Qianyuan Pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably. But you know—these pills are scarce. Even with money, they’re nearly impossible to buy; they’re usually reserved before ever reaching the market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Junchi frowned: “Sister, you must help me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only recently entered Rongdao Upper Realm—his combat strength and heavenly Dao comprehension still lagged, requiring long cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since the Heavenly Dao Assembly is next year, he wants to rank high and enter the Ancestral Awakening Grounds to cultivate—so long-term seclusion isn’t possible. That’s why he needs a Qianyuan Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Yu Danzong can brew these pills—they’re miraculous for stabilizing realms, enhancing Heavenly-Human resonance, and deepening Dao comprehension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Immortal Sects each receive annual Qianyuan Pill quotas—Lingjian Mountain is no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as they arrive, elders usually claim them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if a few remain, they’re pre-ordered by noble families with marital ties to the sects—hardly ever reaching disciples who truly need them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So his main reason for coming to Shengjing, besides inquiring about the Snowland Demon Stones and meeting Princess Changle, was this pill—he’d asked Zhao Yunyue to keep an eye out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xia Empire maintained and repaired all Qingyun’s imperial roads and operated the relay stations—tracking Yu Danzong’s movements wasn’t difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yunyue looked at Liu Junchi’s earnest gaze and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past few days, under Prince Chong’s guidance, they’d been interacting frequently and were quite satisfied with each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this early stage, being asked to do favors still made Zhao Yunyue feel used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Qingyun was like this—sincere intentions were rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Brother—when Yu Danzong arrives, I’ll invite the brother and sister to my banquet. You can buy from them, but whether you get any depends on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Junchi bowed: “Thank you, Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yunyue smiled faintly, then remembered the rumors about the Yu Danzong eldest daughter and Ji You—and suddenly felt something amusing might unfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the rumors were false, it’d still be amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they were true, it’d be even better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Ji You’s courtyard now housed a mortal woman—who knew what rumors would spread then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Ji You’s group of four had delivered the rice cakes to the Orphanage and taken a few children to Xishi Market to buy them shoes and socks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You, returned from Snowland, was now a wealthy man—obviously a prime target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Little Mirror Master of Lingjian Mountain bought many things, but the money came from Ji You’s pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had plenty of money—vast amounts—but she refused to spend it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Young Master Kuang says Young Master Ji is stingy—over the years, only Miss Yan and children have ever made him willingly open his purse without a trace of regret.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi fell silent for a long while, then nodded: “I know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, above her bed hung a sword others deemed unworthy of him—but she treasured it deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui picked up a small box from the stall: “Do you have any with osmanthus scent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi turned to look: “Salt?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Sister, would you like some?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qingyan was fine salt powder, low in graininess, ideal for cleaning the mouth and teeth—sometimes mixed with mint leaves, dried osmanthus, or cooling herbs to remove plaque, kill bacteria, and freshen breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi had her own preferred Qingyan and had no need to buy more—but after thinking, she couldn’t help asking: “Do you have any with chili flavor—but that doesn’t make your mouth spicy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui froze, her eyes filled with confusion: “Then who does it make spicy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The lecher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui and Kuangcheng hadn’t even held hands yet—they couldn’t grasp the image in the Little Mirror Master’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi couldn’t possibly buy such strange blue salt, so she left the stall and walked up to Ji You: “Ji You, I want to eat candied fruit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You pulled out a fragment of silver from his pocket and placed it in her hand: “Buy more. Keep it at home for the New Year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We also need to buy some roasted sweet potatoes and charcoal—there’s none left at home. I heard Wei Rui say the vendors will take a break in a few days, and the East and West Markets will become lantern streets, and then you won’t be able to buy them anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Charcoal… no rush. I’ve been poking around the Five Halls these past two days. As for sweet potatoes, I’ll check the vegetable market nearby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Ji You spoke, he thought the girl’s jealousy seemed to have eased—hopefully no tail-raising cat would pop up now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Ji You left the stall and headed toward the vegetable market, Yan Shuyi clutched the candied fruit and returned toward Wei Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng had already returned with the children from the Orphanage, having bought them shoes, socks, and cotton coats. Besides Wei Rui, two women stood before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One bowed her head, chest caved in—clearly a maid. The other wore a green cloud-and-water robe and stood like a young lady, yet she was still a Microillumination cultivator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On her way back, Yan Shuyi noticed the young lady staring at her intently, as if deeply interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Fang, aren’t you planning to return home for the New Year? Will you stay at the Heavenly Book Academy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I intend to close myself off in seclusion for a while. Besides, there are several banquets among fellow sect members. Though cultivators value detachment from worldly things, some face must still be kept.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Ruoyao smiled faintly and replied to Kuangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daughter of the Yuyang County Magistrate, she entered the academy through her brother’s military merit quota, yet even now remained stuck at Microillumination, unable to advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, she refused to accept it. Before Pei Ruyi left, she had asked her: “Sister, weren’t you the one who said my talent was excellent back in Yuyang County?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ruyi told her: “Yes, quite good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, she had half-accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That half was the realization that her cultivation talent was simply poor—not just compared to students in the Outer Court, but even to merchants in Shengjing who had slight cultivation from family connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when facing Kuangcheng, Wei Rui, and this unknown woman—all mortals—she still carried a faint, haughty immortal bearing in her posture and speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Fang Ruoyao looked at Kuangcheng and remembered the half of fate she had not accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that half was Ji You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her former fiancé had established a manor in Fengzhou, joined the envoy, slashed through the General of Soldiers, and convinced the Demon Emperor. Though the Inner Court disliked Ji You, they could not deny his extraordinary talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that original marriage contract was the half she could not let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Fang Ruoyao glanced again at Yan Shuyi, her gaze unconsciously falling to her abdomen. She stared for a long time, then her face slowly paled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Ji You returned with the sweet potatoes, Fang Ruoyao had already left. Yan Shuyi now narrowed her beautiful eyes, like a cat that had been sucking vinegar everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The docile sweetness she had shown when buying candied fruit now seemed never to have existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Another tail-raising cat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng, having just recovered from his shock, looked at Ji You: “We just met Miss Fang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s lips twitched—he remembered today’s endless obstacles: “I should’ve checked the almanac before stepping out today. Major mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not important, Brother Ji! What matters is the heir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng grew excited: “Miss Fang just asked me to convey her congratulations—you’ve conceived! Only then did I realize—Brother Ji, you truly are Brother Ji!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui arrived from afar, cradling a pair of exquisitely crafted tiger-head shoes, her excitement no less than Kuangcheng’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You froze, turned to Yan Shuyi, and saw the Little Mirror Master blinking innocently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew Princess Changle and Lu Qingqiu wanted to marry him; she knew he once had a fiancée named Fang Ruoyao. Even if she couldn’t recognize them at a glance, she could tell from their conversations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, the stranger’s ex-fiancée had stared at her belly, clearly trying to confirm whether she was already pregnant with his child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Microillumination cultivator—her spiritual sense couldn’t extend far—and yet she probed toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet for reasons unknown, the Little Mirror Master did not block that weak spiritual probe. Instead, she gave her the illusion of a baby in her womb—a trivial matter for one of her Heaven-Responding realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You’s cultivation far surpassed Fang Ruoyao’s—he naturally saw through it. He silently muttered, thinking: This Little Mirror Master of Lingjian Mountain is truly a bit slyly wicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the return trip from Shengjing to the Heavenly Book Academy, the stove in their quarters was lit again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the lacquered red cabinet sat several kinds of candied fruit bought earlier; in the corner stood several burlap sacks filled with vegetables and sweet potatoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now the Little Mirror Master sat coldly atop the stranger’s lap, lips slightly parted, tongue teased, her gaze calm and composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this angle, she could see the cloth dolls she had bought earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frog, a butterfly—both without tails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides these two dolls, the lacquered red cabinet held a pair of tiger-head shoes—bought by Wei Rui on false rumors and specially gifted to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This reminded her of when Ji You, bold as a dog, had asked her how many children she wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it, Yan Shuyi suddenly began gently nibbling his lips again. After several bites, Ji You slowly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his eyes, the Little Mirror Master instantly sharpened her gaze, looking down at him like a blade, forcing him to close his eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi smelled sweet—not heavy with cosmetics, but like a subtle floral fragrance that was refreshing and invigorating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scent was usually known only to her personal maid. Yet now, the one who understood it best was this stranger, Ji You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, her sweet, fragrant lips were released. Ji You looked at Yan Shuyi, panting, yet her expression remained calm—only a fine sheen of sweat on her nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ji You, your taste in fiancées is truly terrible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, she’s not my fiancée. Besides, I didn’t choose her before the engagement was broken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi wiped her small red lips: “Does it matter to the Mirror Master? I’m not the one marrying. In the end, you’re the one who suffers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You leaned down, drawing closer. The Little Mirror Master obediently tilted her long, jade neck, her rosy lips slightly parted in breath, her tongue faintly peeking out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Ji You halted his kiss and sat upright again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Little Mirror Master’s toes curled slightly. She punched him lightly and spoke coldly: “If you ever find another fiancée, remember to call me to vet her. Women know women’s hearts best—far better than your terrible taste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You said: “I believe you, ghost.” “You have a problem with Fang Ruoyao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her character is abysmal. Stuck at Microillumination, yet still puts on airs before old friends. Her envy is extreme. When she saw me, she carried a resentment wishing me dead. Exactly the kind of woman I despise. If I were choosing for you, she’d be a thousand times better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stared at her flushed, lovely face for a long time, thinking: Your abacus beads are about to fly into my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whether he said yes or no now, he’d likely get a hole punched in his chest. He understood this kind of deceptive denial all too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially after learning she had faked pregnancy and turned Fang Ruoyao’s face white with jealousy, Ji You now had a brand-new understanding of her sly wickedness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Little Mirror Master now watched him silently, waiting for his reply. Her amber eyes, deep and boundless, revealed no hidden emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet before he answered, she saw the stranger lean down again, pressing close to her cheek, sealing her lips—making her long lashes tremble slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Ji You didn’t open his eyes to watch her expression. He kissed her deeply, utterly absorbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Yan Shuyi couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his neck. Her brocade sleeves slipped to her elbows, revealing pale, warm arms. Her breathing grew heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winter hibernation is like this—you always need something to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hopscotch, beat the tiger, chicken eats bugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hopscotch, beat the tiger, chicken eats bugs, kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hopscotch, kiss, kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiss, kiss, kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You still dared not do anything else—he felt his current body couldn’t withstand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at the General of Soldiers as the benchmark: a Heaven-Responding cultivator could still crush him utterly. Prolonged like this would be pure waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, this quiet winter hibernation began extending beyond the courtyard. Sometimes Yan Shuyi would conceal her aura, veil her face with gauze, and let the stranger take her out for walks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they encountered women from the Heavenly Book Academy, Yan Shuyi would look down and ask him whether he liked this one, as if truly selecting his fiancée—seemingly forgetting she had just been kissed for a long time in the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You gave each one a point-by-point critique, listing how they fell short of the Lingjian Mountain Little Mirror Master—beauty, figure, grace—gliding smoothly past every pitfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dusk, when the sky blazed with crimson clouds, Yan Shuyi received a message from Zhuo Wanqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been away from the mountain a long time; Yan Jingxiang came daily to Yun Ding Palace to inquire. Zhuo Wanqiu relayed his question: When would she return?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “visiting family” suggestion had originally come from Zhuo Wanqiu, but now, as time passed, she had grown fearful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t afraid for the Mirror Master’s safety—after all, the current Mirror Master was protected by the Ling Jian, and even a perfected Upper Five Realm cultivator would struggle to harm her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What she feared was whether one day the Mirror Master would return cradling a fat baby boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi had just returned from strolling with Ji You. After reading the message, she fell silent, thinking for a long time—sometimes frowning, sometimes pursing her lips, her gaze heavy. It took her a while to remember who Zhuo Wanqiu was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll stay here for the New Year. I won’t return for a long while.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Please vote for monthly tickets; also, friends who won prizes in early month, remember to register your address.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3550,"2026-06-19T15:28:39.995Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","44cd551a75bdadc1565bca9ec49abff224c95d0edc7c7174e8379426b583e5ff","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-196","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-194",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]