[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-225":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},2260098,4410,"Chapter 225: Morning Stroll","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-225",225,"\u003Cp>At Mao hour, the sky had only just begun to lighten, and the entire Sages’ Garden lay in complete silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You rose early, washed up, stepped out through the door, and gazed past the layered scenery between the Eastern and Western Gardens, meeting the eyes of the small pavilion across the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the hour was still early, he could already see faint candlelight, and also saw Zhuo Wanqiu approaching with a basin of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuo Wanqiu saw him too, and quietly waved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Junior Mirror Master rose early today, spent a long time choosing a dress, but said nothing about her plans—turns out she was going out with the Young Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You watched Zhuo Wanqiu carry the basin inside, then walked toward the arched gate of Rusheng Garden, passed through the gate tower of the Sages’ Garden, and entered the county seat of Zhongxing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the sky was still dim, with shadows lingering, every shop in the county seat had already opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even some taverns and brothels, having hosted drunken patrons overnight, stayed open all night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhongxing City had grown to its present state solely because of the Heavenly Way Assembly held every five years; for its merchants, toiling for a few months meant wealth for five or six years—staying up late was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped at the only path leading from the Sages’ Garden, found a secluded corner, and sat down to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, he couldn’t help recalling last night—the column of black shadow falling upon that exquisitely beautiful face…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly, arriving early isn’t as good as arriving at the right moment—the position was perfect…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wujiang Realm truly has something to it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the steam from the breakfast stalls began to drift slowly, soon gathering into the clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a light, fluttering step, a slender, compact figure appeared along the southern-to-northern marble path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Junior Mirror Master of Lingjian Mountain had changed out of her immortal robe and now wore a lake-blue brocade dress, with spirit stone-carved ear pendants, three strings of small beads dangling from her hairpins, eyebrows like distant ink, lips the color of cherry blossoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she saw Ji You sitting in the corner, Yan Shuyi seemed to recall something, gently averted her gaze, and her cold face flushed red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been confined to the mountain since childhood, knew little, and no one had ever explicitly told her certain things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after yesterday’s accidental revelation of the “Heavenly Secret,” she finally understood what had always grated against her during every verbal clash since the New Era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, the Junior Mirror Master took a veil from her hand and covered her stunning face, then gave Ji You a look to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last night’s claim that she wouldn’t attend court and would stroll the county seat was, in truth, an excuse to go out with a stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the road gradually filled with passersby, few paid attention to the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the most powerful cultivators remained within the Sages’ Garden, those in the county seat were all of low cultivation; moreover, Yan Shuyi had concealed her heavenly aura and spiritual traces with her Spirit Mirror, so naturally no one noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two went to a breakfast stall, ordered three baskets of buns, two bowls of millet porridge, one dish of pickled vegetables, one of chili oil, and one of fragrant vinegar, then sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you sleep well last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi nodded slightly, then her cold face flushed red again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Ji You could speak again, her chopsticks released a wisp of sword qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was somewhat regretful—last night, she’d instinctively taken his shoes away; otherwise, she could have firmly denied ever returning again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You couldn’t hold back anymore and pushed the millet porridge toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The freshly steamed buns were incredibly fragrant; one bite released a flood of juice, the savory aroma instantly dissolving on her tongue and sliding down her throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi ate the thin-skinned buns coated in red oil like a small beast: “More chili oil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve got quite the appetite for spice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some vinegar too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stood up, prepared another dish for her, and placed it before her: “I forgot to ask last night—how did you explain your injured lips to your family when you returned to the mountain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi looked up at him: “Of course they pressed me repeatedly—who bit you? They’re offering a bounty for that person’s head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That matches what I expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You sipped his porridge and nodded lightly at her answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d been raised for twenty years under her parents’ watch, never left their sight; though lacking in liveliness, at least she’d been safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then one day she vanished without a word, gone for a full month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After agonizingly waiting, she finally returned—only to find her lips bitten open by some brat, revealing she’d been meeting an online acquaintance, being taken advantage of every day for a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this happened to me, I’d kill everyone involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You felt anger rising, then suddenly realized he was the brat himself—he glanced at the Junior Mirror Master: “My head’s still attached. I suppose you didn’t tell them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time you bite, I’ll tell them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi frowned, thinking to herself—this threat sounded like it wouldn’t stop him from biting again at all…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After breakfast, the street gradually grew lively; the two walked along, passing through the thoroughfare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhongxing County had grown solely because of the Heavenly Way Assembly, so nearly every shop catered to cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit stone shops, magic tool shops, weapon shops lined the streets; even common ornaments sometimes concealed hidden secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two wandered along the street, visiting many small stalls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi, having been cooped up in seclusion, was clearly bored—she wandered enthusiastically, carefree, no longer resembling the next abbess of a divine sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever she saw something interesting, she’d lean down, stare intently for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she decided to buy, she’d turn to Ji You, or reach out and tug his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If any of the lords who’d seen her yesterday in Rusheng Garden witnessed this, they’d be stunned—thinking they were looking at twin siblings with identical faces but utterly opposite personalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You also noticed many things—spirit wine, Dao swords, etc.—picked them up, examined them at length; quality varied, but prices were similar, roughly double those in ordinary places—none of it fooled the poor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After wandering, Yan Shuyi returned and saw Ji You fiddling with a box at a magic tool stall; she stepped close: “What’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A magic tool, probably fires needle-like projectiles as hidden weapons.” Ji You manipulated the iron box in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buy it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You set it down and patted his hands: “Everything here is overpriced—designed to cheat fools. Outside, you’d get it for half the price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi looked at the pile of items in her hands and narrowed her eyes slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You paused: “Your purchases don’t count—you’re beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi glanced at him: “That sounds like Hongshazi .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, let’s go see over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already been over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi had intended to go to the other side, but he took her hand and pulled her over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his warm, large hand envelop hers, the Junior Mirror Master sighed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she refused to admit kissing him, always calling it “tongue fighting,” she couldn’t deceive herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If lips could be pressed together, holding hands was nothing—she couldn’t act up anymore, so she obediently followed him to the west side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Zhongxing County, built solely for cultivators, lacked the liveliness of Shengjing City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Junior Mirror Master of Lingjian Mountain, Yan Shuyi had seen countless magic tools and spirit treasures; most stall goods barely caught her eye—only strange, unusual items truly intrigued her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet for any rod-like objects, the Junior Mirror Master often ignored them entirely, glancing and quickly moving away, as if afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such as iron rods, scrolls, twisted dough, roasted corn, hitching posts…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within a mere hour, the Junior Mirror Master bought many pretty but useless items, while Ji You spent silver on things both pretty and useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a thousand taels couldn’t buy her happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You truly didn’t mind spending silver on Yan Shuyi—he just began pondering how to develop customers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the Junior Mirror Master sat on a stone bench, holding the flowered rope she’d just bought, and turned to look at his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next half hour, Ji You led Yan Shuyi to the end of the long street, found the inn whose address Cao Jingsong had left him, and went inside to take a look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inn was remote and shabby, much like the one where Kuangcheng had stayed when he came to the capital for the imperial exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, across from them wasn’t a brothel shouting “Master, come play all night!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet this humble room perfectly matched Cao’s lifelong lack of ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You wasn’t sure when they’d arrive, so he wrote a note saying he was staying in Rusheng Garden and handed it to the shopkeeper: “In two days, a guest named Cao Jingsong will come—a fat man. Please give him this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shopkeeper nodded, then glanced at the crooked braid tied askew on Ji You’s head: “Sir, your hairstyle… is truly unique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the compliment…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You chuckled twice, then turned toward the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi stood at the inn’s entrance, arms behind her back, feigning to inspect the long street; sensing his gaze, she turned and gave him a cold look, her eyes brimming with haughty indifference—as if the braid had nothing to do with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An hour passed quickly; dawn slowly spilled across the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In another half hour, the street would swell with crowds; then, with so many eyes, accidents would be hard to avoid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the two strolled back slowly, walking much slower than before, occasionally ducking into alleys, emerging with reddened lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Way Assembly was still long; they had plenty of free time to wander—perhaps even a movie with three people—no need to rush now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the two reached the secluded corner where they’d first met; Ji You paused, pulled a pair of plain white socks from his sleeve, and handed them to her. Yan Shuyi fell silent. Before Ji You could speak, she punched him—his lip swelled slightly, though far less than her own cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi was of the Wujiang Realm; she departed swiftly, ahead of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You looked at his hand—giving a moody ghost white socks, his hand still fragrant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited on the street for a long time, returning to Rusheng Garden only at Chen Shi San Ke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, in the faint morning light of the Eastern Courtyard, He Lingxiu and Yu Shiliu sat facing each other at a tea table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d risen early, sipping tea while watching Lingjian Mountain disciples practice swordplay, their expressions tinged with solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Ji You returned bathed in morning light, He Lingxiu turned to him, her eyes filled with curiosity: “Younger brother, why are you up so early?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Probably because of the new environment—I slept poorly and woke early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just came back from outside? Hey, what happened to your lip?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You touched his slightly swollen lip: “Nothing—slipped while strolling in the county seat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu glanced at his crooked braid, then quietly picked up a tipped-over teacup: “Would you like some tea? The kind the Qiu family sent last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You considered a moment, then sat down: “Thank you, Senior Sister. Do you know when the competition roster will be released?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, the list should arrive today, probably after the Gathering Immortal Banquet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gathering Immortal Banquet? What’s that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It has no special intent—just an ancient custom, held every year. In the past, cultivators would jointly offer thanks to Heaven’s grace, but now it’s mostly mutual banquets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Ji You nodded, beginning to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was essentially what one might call a business banquet, primarily for networking and conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, occasions when the Seven Immortal Sects and the Nine Provinces’ noble families gather so fully are rare. Even those not competing came—not merely for the spectacle, but because they saw it as a chance to build connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like yesterday, when the heads of southern noble families all came to pay respects to Yan Shuyi; in ordinary times, they’d never have such an opportunity to meet so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, another sound of a door opening echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three turned to see the residence on the southeast side open its door. Shi Junhao, a direct disciple candidate, stepped out onto the open ground before his house, scratching his head and ears incessantly, his hands too busy to keep up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he scratched, he shuffled toward the latrine, muttering curses under his breath, clearly furious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu had been about to call him over for tea, but seeing this, she frowned in confusion: “Shi Junhao… how did he get bitten so badly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are more mosquitoes here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But his room has mosquito incense burners—it shouldn’t be this bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You lifted his tea cup without expression: “Probably just unlucky O-type blood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shiliu didn’t know Ji You well, so she said nothing, continuing to watch the Lingjian Mountain disciples practice swordplay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she watched, her eyes suddenly froze: a small mistress in the Jianzhu Immortal robe appeared before the window, casting a cold glance toward their eastern courtyard, then quickly pulling her face away in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yu Shiliu could confirm whether she’d imagined it, Ji You picked up his stone stool and stepped back half a pace, putting distance between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did Master Brother sit over there? Can you even reach your tea now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can reach. I’m long everywhere—my arms too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before He Lingxiu could speak again, Yu Shiliu tapped her shoulder and pointed toward the small pavilion across the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Lingjian Mountain’s small mistress was famously reclusive—everyone knew that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before reaching the Yingtian Realm, she had always imprisoned herself atop Xuanshan Peak, diligently cultivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from very few who had seen her, nearly everyone across the Nine Provinces had only heard her name or seen her heavenly-beautiful portrait, never glimpsed her true face, nor heard of her descending the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was, in fact, a form of protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though she had been chosen by the Lingjian, she was still too fragile then—like a porcelain doll, unable to withstand potential threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only in the past two years, as she fully harmonized with the Lingjian, did rumors about her begin to surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, the Sacred Son of Wenda Sect went to congratulate her on breaking through; or that she once led disciples to visit the Chen Shixian Clan to pay respects to the mountain; or the whispers of her recent efforts to consolidate power within Lingjian Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had become more active, few had actually seen her—perhaps because her status carried such weight that maintaining mystery was necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this morning, in Rusheng Garden, He Lingxiu and Yu Shiliu felt they’d seen too much…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, twice, three times, four times…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mysterious small mistress of Lingjian Mountain kept appearing briefly before the window—mostly in profile, but occasionally full-face, and even once from behind, lingering longer, her snow-white skin glowing like carved jade in the sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lingjian Mountain’s small mistress seems awfully busy…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps she has something on her mind, pacing back and forth before the window.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stepped back again, glancing at the fleeting profile at the window, feigning ignorance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingxiu, however, noticed his gaze and couldn’t help smiling: “Master Brother, why do you look like you want to see but dare not? Why are you avoiding it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You sat up straighter: “I didn’t expect Sister to notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Lingjian Mountain’s small mistress has divine grace, like a goddess descending to earth. People everywhere… are much the same. Just one distant glance satisfies the heart—that’s admiration. Master Brother needn’t hide it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m mainly afraid that if such an immortal is etched into the heart, one can never forget. Day and night thoughts will disrupt the Dao heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, He Lingxiu and Yu Shiliu’s expressions changed, their hearts sinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rusheng Garden was indeed large, but at this distance, if the small mistress had been paying attention, these words would not have escaped her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given her status, admiration alone would not offend her—but such bold speech and admiration were entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daydreaming was one thing, but nightdreaming—what exactly did one dream of at night? If overheard, it might invite ten thousand swords to pierce the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Brother, watch your words!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister is absolutely right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You nodded lightly, sipped his tea, then noticed the figure inside the window twitch slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, footsteps echoed through the courtyard. The three turned to see an official from the Si Xian Jian approaching, stopping before them and delivering roughly twenty invitations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These invitations were the Gathering Immortal Banquet He Lingxiu had mentioned, hosted by the Great Xia Imperial Court, inviting all Immortal Sects to attend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After delivering the invitations, the official turned and headed toward the western courtyard, then handed another stack to Lingjian Mountain’s disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You was studying his invitation when Shi Junhao drifted over, his gaze sharp as a blade fixed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Ji Bochang immediately adopted a calm, indifferent expression, appearing utterly unafraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his demeanor, Shi Junhao frowned, beginning to doubt his entire night’s reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Ji You inexplicably entering his room and asking strange questions, no one else had ever entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he couldn’t figure it out, the more he sought to confirm his theory through Ji You’s expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O-Senior Brother keeps staring at me—is there something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Requesting monthly votes; also, those who won monthly vote prizes, please remember to register your address.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2991,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.422Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0260c7524a6a44f75d97e39b18546d544b9a9fa2120cd9b2cdd5dd0c59cfeba1","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-226","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-224",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]