[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-229":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},2260102,4410,"Chapter 229: Four People, Paired in Twos","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-229",229,"\u003Cp>Qingyun Tian’s banquets come in two forms: communal dining and individual servings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tables outside are all communal, where everyone gathers around one table to eat, but the small Jianzhu’s banquet tonight is individual serving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each person has several small dishes; the food is not extravagant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanying the dishes are sweets, such as niangao, though shaped into squares rather than the usual stick form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the meal, Ding Yao whispered to Ji You, explaining that the Jianzhu had recently developed a fear of stick-shaped objects—she even flinched at fried dough sticks during breakfast…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officials of Qinxian Sect didn’t notice the unusual shape of the food; they ate the entire meal in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never imagined they could dine alongside a leader of such stature, for this was a world ruled by immortals, and only the Emperor of the Great Xia Empire might possess such privilege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet because Yan Shuyi said nothing, the entire meal passed in near silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the meal, she glanced at Wei Rui, then casually studied Ji You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She studied the two princesses, then casually studied Ji You.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She studied Zhao Yunyue, then casually studied Ji You…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yunyue sensed hostility from the Jianzhu toward herself and felt inexplicably anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui chewed with chopsticks in hand, watching Yan Jiejie’s gaze with the air of an amused spectator, and found nothing strange about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hostility is normal—who else would you expect to be jealous when you once tried to have a child with the Jianzhu’s beloved? My Yan Jiejie is a super-sized jealous type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the individual meal ended, night had already fallen, and the courtyard was filled with a sky full of stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yunyue and the Qinxian Sect officials were escorted away, yet still felt bewildered, as if the banquet had been a dream—though they hadn’t forged any connections, the money felt well spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, to the west of Yongqing Garden, near the edge wall at a secluded lakeside, a gentle breeze brushed the air; four figures walked in pairs, spaced far apart along the corridor bridge, bathed in moonlight as they strolled forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You, Kuangcheng, and Wei Rui had exited through the main gate and had agreed to meet the small Jianzhu at the back gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they met, she had already shed her Jianzhu’s immortal robe and donned an orange-yellow, waist-cinched butterfly-silk gown, with osmanthus branches embroidered along the shoulders and sleeves, like an immortal maiden bathed in sunset light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain still had extraordinary influence—Wei Rui, trailing far behind, already wanted to copy her style.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ji Young Master and Jianzhu Jiejie are truly a perfect match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng gazed at the two figures ahead: “Yet countless people in this world will think they’re mismatched.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui spoke softly: “Marriage should be decided by the couple themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng’s heart stirred—he wasn’t sure whether she meant the two ahead or himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi glanced back: “Wei Rui’s gaze is amusing—when she first entered the courtyard, she didn’t dare recognize me. I winked at her, and then she beamed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s never seen you like this—it’s natural to be timid. I’ve never seen you like this either—so imposing, as if you could draw your sword at any moment and ask whether your opponent wants to die or live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi’s face darkened slightly: “I’ve always been this way—how could you not have seen it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small Jianzhu always believed she controlled herself perfectly—before Ji You and Wei Rui, she remained as stern as ever, walking with a brisk wind, never clattering, never cooing, especially using “strange man” with cold distance, radiating authority without even raising her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbeknownst to her, Wei Rui’s first impression was that though she seemed aloof, she was actually fond of pouting, a little whiny, and loved clinging to Ji You—this clashed sharply with her own self-perception, leaving her resentful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You thought: You’re acting well, but you’ve slipped up plenty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, right now—her once steady, unfeeling stride had barely begun before it turned clattering, and her voice even sounded like she had a cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This shows that even those who wield sacred artifacts misunderstand certain aspects of themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi narrowed her eyes, hands clasped behind her back: “Did you meet the people I asked Ding Yao to bring you to see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You nodded: “I met them. Turns out my Tian Shu Academy has the least prestige.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you know I wanted you to damage Tianjian Peak’s reputation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t know—but if something helps you and I want it too, I’ll do it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small Jianzhu stared at him, momentarily stunned, suddenly recalling the sword she had gifted him last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had actually felt a bit down when Zhuo Wanqiu reported back, because she didn’t want strange men to think she was using them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now she felt that even if she hadn’t gone out of her way, if this strange man encountered Yan Hao, he’d still do the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because anything he deemed beneficial to himself, he’d do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi narrowed her eyes: “You, this strange man I’ve only met a few times—could you be scheming to flatter me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t even recall how many times she’d seen him, but she remembered the five times he’d kissed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she couldn’t say “you, this strange man I’ve kissed five times,” so she could only call him “a man I’ve met a few times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You turned to look at the spirited small Jianzhu under the moonlight: “This isn’t flattery—I just want you to feel more at ease. You’re not good at this kind of thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, Wei Rui secretly watched and noticed that the Jianzhu’s posture had suddenly become dignified again, but after a few steps, the clattering returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small Jianzhu’s gaze shifted to Ji You’s head: “Where’s your little crooked braid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You rolled up his sleeve, revealing the flower-string tied around his wrist: “I took it off while bathing—can you tie another one for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi narrowed her eyes, sensing the flower-string looked familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You glanced at the flower-string on his wrist and held his breath—he’d gotten used to it; when he came, he’d taken one from Yuan Caiwei’s braid and casually kept it on his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wondered whether he should lie or just take the scolding, when suddenly the small Jianzhu’s gaze drifted elsewhere, then sharpened on the bushes behind a nearby rockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You couldn’t help but look too—he saw a man embracing a woman, lips locked in a kiss behind a stone wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xianxian Garden was vast, layered with countless landscapes; there were countless rockeries built from thousands of massive stones. Sneaking into any corner for a little affair was extremely discreet—indeed, it carried a unique thrill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they weren’t sure whether this was just the beginning or if it would stop here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging glances, Ji You and Yan Shuyi both held their breath and turned to look behind them at Wei Rui and Kuangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui and Kuangcheng had just strolled up and noticed the movement in the bushes; after one glance, they were stunned, their faces redder than each other’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two utterly different reactions clearly revealed the progression of their romantic relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Ji You and Yan Shuyi, who kissed without reason, it merely seemed bold of them to do such things outdoors—nothing more. But for Kuangcheng and Wei Rui, it felt like the collapse of all propriety, the heavens falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four then slowed their pace, quietly passed by, and only halted once they were out of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You turned to Kuangcheng and Wei Rui: “The four of us wandering together is still too conspicuous—if we’re caught, it’ll be hard to explain. Why don’t we split up and meet again later?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Rui: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi narrowed her eyes, recalling what she’d just seen in the bushes, and gave Ji You a sharp, predatory glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuangcheng actually wanted to whisper some romantic words to Wei Rui, and he was also afraid she’d learn the essence of Yan Xianzi’s temper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t like Brother Ji, whose face was thicker than a wall—if Wei Rui called him “strange man” one too many times, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Kuangcheng pulled Wei Rui away, looked around, spotted a corridor bridge extending from the lake, stepped onto the stone bridge, and walked along it into a pavilion suspended above the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You, meanwhile, led Yan Shuyi forward with solemn composure, asking as they walked: “What does the Xianxian’s Path of Enlightenment look like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi followed silently, glanced at him after hearing the question: “You’re asking the wrong person—I’ve never been there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even you?” Ji You stared at her in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I wanted to go, no one would dare stop me. But that realm is now too fragile to withstand the sacred artifact’s pressure—I can’t bring Ling Jian inside. Yet without Ling Jian, the risk for me is too high—it’s not worth it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason the small Jianzhu of Lingjian Mountain had remained unharmed despite Tianjian Peak’s watchful eyes was, in plain terms, because Ling Jian protected her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So without Ling Jian, it had indeed been extremely risky for her before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since the Xianxian Sacred Ground couldn’t remain open indefinitely—you had to exit at a fixed time, and no one knew what might happen inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianjian Peak’s malicious intent was undeniable, and many others also wished for Lingjian Mountain to lose its lineage—Ji You could understand Yan Shuyi’s choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moonlight now was exceptionally bright, silver radiance spilling across the boundless lake, shimmering everywhere—without spiritual sense, one could hardly tell whether it was a lake or a sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking a while, the two rounded the southern side of the rockery and saw a dark, narrow path densely lined with emerald bamboo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You stopped here, subtly shifting his steps, walking into the dark bamboo grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was much like the place where the couple had just been…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi’s eyes narrowed slightly, then she fell silent for a moment before slowly stepping inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moonlight poured down, shattered by bamboo leaves into scattered patches across the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small Jianzhu walked with hands behind her back, passing through a narrow gap formed by two massive stones, her expression as if she were inspecting Lingjian Mountain—but barely had she crossed the narrow passage between the opposing boulders when Ji You turned and closed in on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi stared expressionlessly at the man so close, as if still annoyed by Ji You’s earlier remark about her lacking authority—she narrowed her eyes at him but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rockeries were full of stones; Ji You found a flat one, reached out, and lifted her onto his lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As her plump rear settled on his thighs, Ji You instantly caught a whiff of a girl’s sweet fragrance, his composure nearly breaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A normal small Jianzhu, even if held in his arms, would remain impassive, feigning icy detachment, seeing him as nothing more than a flesh cushion, utterly unmoved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Ji You’s surprise, today the small Jianzhu blushed instantly upon being embraced, then turned her exquisite face away, her gaze shimmering, cheeks growing redder by the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things, though never taught or understood at first, become clear by age—just by watching, one learns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once learned, the image lodges in the mind and won’t fade—your heart keeps thinking about it, until even the calmness you once felt when simply sitting down is gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Recently afraid of stick-shaped objects—niangao must be square】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You recalled the small Jianzhu’s recent shape bias and unconsciously glanced downward—but his head was instantly yanked up by his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man named Ji You, styled Bochang, was forcibly pulled back to attention, feeling a cool, orchid-scented breath brush his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What were you just thinking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You looked at her: “I was thinking about what you were thinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi blushed, instantly leaning in: “I’ll bite you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say it straight if you want to bite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You thought he really ought to find a mirror for her—to show her how she looked right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where was that cold, aloof Jianzhu? She was now impossibly delicate, her cheeks as if dripping with dew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Xianxian Garden, all was quiet, save for the constant chirping of insects and the fluttering of wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi’s gaze suddenly caught a grasshopper; she reached out, caught it in her palm, studied it for a moment, then released it into the air, falling silent. She thought, Why hasn’t the fight started yet? Then, unconsciously, she glanced at Ji You—and found him watching her intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Ji You now saw Yan Shuyi through a new lens, because in recent days he had seen the true, exalted Xiao Jianzhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold, noble, expressionless, commanding respect without raising her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That demeanor was entirely different from the one she put on for him to save face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially earlier, in the Yongqing garden’s rear courtyard, when she sat beneath the osmanthus tree and lifted her eyes with such sovereign disdain—it truly showed him a different Yan Shuyi, so when he held her, he was slightly tense, instinctively looking up to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond this reverence, Ji You also wanted to test whether, if he stayed perfectly still, this girl would initiate combat against him herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after waiting a long while, she sensed the person in her arms growing impatient; a killing aura began to brew around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first kiss had carried a killing aura; now, even a slow kiss carried one…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You couldn’t help but sigh softly, stepped forward, and pressed his lips to a full, cool curve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi still kept her eyes open, lips slightly parted, silently dueling with him—but her eyes kept darting around, and even as their breathing grew heavier, she caught another grasshopper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, doing something else while kissing meant she hadn’t deliberately kissed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You gradually noticed these small gestures; his brow furrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi didn’t notice, because their foreheads were too close for her to see clearly—but just then, she heard a sharp “snap,” a buzzing sound by her ear, her shoulder trembled, and she felt a searing sting on her rear—she froze completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she came to her senses, the Xiao Jianzhu was already preparing to cause trouble—but quickly realized she was rising higher…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had been equal teasing had become a kiss from above; her eyes slowly widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Yan Shuyi finally closed her eyes, yet her hands gripped his clothes tightly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xianxian Garden was vast, and its most remote corners should have been empty—but two figures emerged along the emerald bamboo path beside the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman faced the lake breeze, her rosy cheeks cast in shadow; upon closer look, her cold expression seemed tinged with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You leaned against the stone railing by the lake, savoring the feel of his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, both unconsciously turned toward the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the direction they had just come from; across the shimmering lake, they could see a pavilion, where the two figures within still indulged in romantic trifles, leaving the pair in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like two different worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Ji You had to judge which was better, he still thought theirs was superior—because romantic chatter couldn’t produce children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are they always like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji You nodded: “Always like this. I don’t see the point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi turned her icy gaze toward him and couldn’t resist raising a fist toward the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two returned the way they came and met Xiang Kuangcheng and the others: “Brother Ji, uh… where did you and Miss Yan wander off to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To catch grasshoppers,” Ji You replied without expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The layout of the Xianxian Garden was labyrinthine; Rui Sheng Courtyard lay in the exact east, while Taiping Garden was in the southwest—not on the same route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yan Shuyi still wore her usual haughty expression and insisted on walking ahead of Ji You, tonight she was noticeably clingy—she didn’t mention returning first to avoid being seen, but instead led him along the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when they reached the outer wall of Rui Sheng Courtyard did the Xiao Jianzhu lightly tap her toe, vanishing amid rippling spiritual waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhuo Wanqiu and Ding Yao were seated on the second-floor balcony, guessing whether the Jianzhu would return tonight; though the Xianxian Garden was crowded, the county town was full of inns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, they had brewed tea for the Jianzhu and kept it warm on a small stove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Xiao Jianzhu’s habit: after returning from outside, she always drank tea first, then bathed, then cultivated or slept—never skipping one, for over a decade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the room filled with the scent of tea, they heard a sound—and saw the Jianzhu glide onto the second-floor wooden floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xianxian Garden was the most luxurious estate; even the bathtub carried a constant-temperature artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi’s butterfly-silk gown drifted down in the room, then her shoes were kicked off; soon, the sound of splashing water rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jianzhu’s clothes were washed exclusively by Cui’er; seeing her mistress had entered the bath, Cui’er began gathering the gown, silk robes, skirt hem, undergarments, belly wrap, silk pants…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cui’er tidied, a question flickered in her eyes: “Jianzhu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are your undergarments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bathroom fell silent for a long while: “I’ll wash them myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui’er: “?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Shuyi was now submerged in the tub, scattered with petals, slowly sinking deeper into the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would kill her…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2950,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.422Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f580d0c1fa3b465e9b849bc04aecb095f1a911df9f39428793b4faff30578384","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-230","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-228",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]