Chapter 46: Did You Forget I

Cultivators have keen senses—that was Ji You’s experience after beginning cultivation, so he spoke those words in an extremely low voice.

But he didn’t realize that the Upper Five Realms were called the Laws Realms precisely because cultivators at these realms could wield the principles of Heaven’s Dao, and sensing wind and discerning sound was the most basic ability.

Ji You’s heart trembled; he feigned indifference and turned his head back: “Have you eaten, Brother Kuang?”

“Not yet…”

“My teacher Cao is treating—want to come?”

Kuang Cheng shook his head after hearing this: “I’m not close to Master Cao; better not.”

“Hey!” Ji You waved his hand. “What’s the worry? He won’t even show up.”

“?”

Kuang Cheng blinked, puzzled—how could someone invite you to a meal and not come? “What kind of etiquette is that?”

Ji You set down his teacup: “I’ll just pack him a portion to take home—he hates spice, we can’t eat the same thing.”

Kuang Cheng still waved him off: “No, you’ve got companions—I won’t intrude. Let’s meet again after you return safely to the capital.”

“Are you afraid of getting beaten?”

“I just… can’t stand blood.”

Ji You chuckled inwardly—he’d only get kicked a few times; she’d never draw her sword.

Soon after, the two parted ways, and Ji You left the secluded residence with the young master of Lingjian Mountain.

As he expected, Yan Shuyi didn’t draw her sword to trouble him; she simply walked stubbornly ahead, her left hand behind her back, the other resting on her sword, silent, expression cold—as if trying to prove she wasn’t adorable.

But she didn’t know that the more she acted this way, the more adorable she seemed to Ji You.

In fact, he’d forgotten that this girl was actually Lingjian Mountain’s next sect leader, and that she was also the strongest direct disciple of the Yingtian Realm.

The two soon arrived at a restaurant called Dengyingju. Compared to Hongding Tower and Xihé Tower, it was obscure—but rumored to have the best braised bones.

Yet braised bones weren’t exactly ladylike fare, leaving Yan Shuyi unable to eat; she kicked him twice under the table.

“I’m leaving soon—where are you headed?”

Yan Shuyi tossed the bone into her dish: “I’m leaving tomorrow too—heading to Qingzhou. Several Lingjian Mountain disciples went missing there; I came for that. Seeing you was just a detour.”

Qingzhou lay between Lingzhou and Shengjing—not remotely on the way—but she still insisted on emphasizing it.

Ji You frowned upon hearing this: “Lingjian Mountain disciples have gone missing too?”

“They’ve been missing for days. Before I left the mountain, I sent nearby disciples to investigate—by now they should have some leads.”

“Earlier, the Tian Shu Academy also lost disciples, linked in countless ways to the demonic seeds. Take care of yourself.”

Yan Shuyi nodded obediently after hearing his final words.

After eating, dusk had already fallen; night crept in slowly with the fading horizon.

The two returned along the alley, the stubborn cold-faced young master still walking ahead.

They followed each other step by step, gradually approaching a guesthouse in the alley—a place popular among cultivators in the capital, where most Lingjian Mountain outsiders stayed.

The night before last, a disciple had even reserved an extra room downstairs—but it remained empty all night.

Yan Shuyi reached the door, glanced back once, then pretended not to have seen anything and walked toward Nishan Tian Shu Academy.

Ji You followed behind; as he passed Hengfeng Guesthouse, he too glanced over, a faint smile on his face.

But before he could think further, he suddenly frowned and turned back toward the alley they’d just passed.

Since leaving Qionghua Pavilion, he’d felt someone had been trailing him—but his spiritual sense had detected nothing.

Only just now had he caught a trace of energy—but now it had vanished completely.

The energy held no malice, yet for some reason, it had kept following him.

Ji You walked back a few steps, stared long at the empty alley, frowning—until Yan Shuyi’s voice came from behind, prompting him to turn and return to the Tian Shu Academy.

As yesterday, beneath the deep night, the two sat as usual in the Zhi Room, lighting a brazier, gazing out the window with calm ease.

The sweet potatoes from yesterday had been roasted, but Ji You still had peanuts stored; he added them to the pot.

The young master seemed to have adapted to this life in just one night—after entering, she watched him stoke the fire, her delicate face lit by the rising flames.

“I feel like I forgot to bring someone food…”

“Never mind. Irrelevant.”

Ji You pulled a stool from the corner and placed today’s cushion on her seat.

The young master smoothed her skirt and sat, then slipped off her moon-white boots edged with green, revealing tiny, jade-like feet, slowly warming her soles by the fire.

Her bedroom was carpeted thickly; she disliked wearing shoes and always went barefoot on the mountain.

When they first met yesterday, she’d been shy—but now she didn’t seem to care anymore; her pink, smooth toes curled slightly in the firelight, savoring the warmth seeping in.

Soon, the peanuts in the pot were done.

Ji You reluctantly tore his gaze away, poured the peanuts into a basket, let them cool a little, then handed them to her.

Yan Shuyi picked up a peanut, peeled it, and popped it into her mouth—then suddenly remembered seeing this scene once in a town below the mountain.

It was a poor peasant household, with bare walls.

The woman mended clothes indoors every day; the man worked odd jobs by day, and at night they sat by the fire chatting aimlessly.

Back then, Yan Shuyi hadn’t thought it was anything special—but now, for some reason, her heart felt as if it had melted.

Cultivators didn’t need daily sleep; the two sat by the brazier all night.

Ji You told her about his past in Yuyang County, and also mentioned who that extremely familiar scholar was today.

Yan Shuyi told him about life on the mountain—soft whispers, occasional complaints about being tired of the mountain scenery, her tone gentle and playful, nothing like herself.

Thus, word by word, dawn gradually broke outside the window.

At the Chen hour of the next day, Yan Shuyi packed her things and stood in the courtyard outside the Zhi Room, looking gloomy.

She hadn’t expected this—she’d only planned to meet once and leave, then wander the world with her cold face, retrieving the missing disciples.

Yet somehow, she’d ended up staying two days, growing accustomed to the dull routine of roasting fires each day.

Only now, as she realized this, did she remember that this man was someone she’d met for the first time.

“Keep my cushion.”

“And my bedding—that’s mine.”

“And the cup with gold thread—keep it safe, don’t let dust settle on it.”

Before leaving, Yan Shuyi earnestly instructed Ji You—she didn’t say “I love coming” or “I’ll come again,” but clearly, she wanted to.

Ji You stood at the Zhi Room door watching her: “Already packed. You mentioned it last night.”

Yan Shuyi fell silent, about to suggest staying one more day—but the moment the thought arose, her sect jade pendant glowed with dark light.

She’d told Ji You yesterday that Lingjian Mountain’s disciples had been missing in Qingzhou for days; she’d sent nearby disciples to investigate secretly—now it seemed they’d found leads.

“Ji You, when you pinched my cheek and called me adorable, did you forget I’m Yingtian Realm?”

“?”

Yan Shuyi smiled, and suddenly, dark light erupted around her like a raging tide—far greater than any pressure Ji You had ever felt.

In that instant, the young master of Lingjian Mountain vanished from her spot, leaping a thousand li, dissolving into the wind.

She disliked farewells—she believed if you left, you left fast; now she shot across the clear daytime sky like a meteor.

Ji You stared at the swirling wind left behind, holding his breath.

Yesterday, when food was right before him, he’d been lucky not to act on impulse—he truly couldn’t beat this generation’s strongest direct disciple.

But to show off right before leaving? That was just a little too adorable.

(Young Master doesn’t exit—enters via another thread. Please follow, please vote. Following is crucial—we’re close to unlocking an event. Please, everyone, flip through occasionally… or2)

(End of Chapter)