Yun Cai: “You’re crazy— Mmm—”
Wen Qianshu kissed her lips, smiling indistinctly.
So easy.
It turned out that words weren’t hard to say, and stepping out wasn’t hard either.
Who cares what happens in the future?
Maybe there will be arguments, maybe there will be conflicts, maybe there will be annoyance—
But in her last life, she and Jiang Mingyue made it through, didn’t they?
As long as the shell cracks a little, if you hit that spot hard, you can always shatter it.
Wen Qianshu: “2333, do you have a mosaic function? Don’t look at me and Yun Cai.”
2333: “…”
Wen Qianshu: “It’s fine if you look at me, just don’t look at Yun Cai.”
2333: “…”
Wen Qianshu: “Oh, and don’t completely stop looking. Help me keep an eye on things outside, don’t let anyone come over.”
2333: “Will you ever stop!”
Yun Cai suddenly pulled Wen Qianshu down. She was panting with her eyes open, a look of disbelief on her face.
Her lips trembled as she said, “You, you—”
Wen Qianshu teased her, “Yes, me, me—”
Yun Cai: “Canglan Courtyard, you’re not going to manage it anymore?”
Wen Qianshu laughed in a low voice, “Manage what? I was originally managing it for you.”
“I thought that if I became the head, I could protect you. But if you’re unwilling to like me because of this, then what’s the point of managing it?”
Yun Cai propped herself up, looking straight at her.
Wen Qianshu leaned back, pillowing her head on her arms, and also looked straight at Yun Cai—
Yun Cai was truly beautiful.
Beautiful when angry, beautiful when shocked, and beautiful when shy.
Beautiful when she had a serious, cold face, and also beautiful when she was pretending and deceiving her.
Her long hair was so fragrant, her lips so soft, and she was so well-behaved when kissed.
At this moment, she was looking at Wen Qianshu just like that, her cheeks flushed with a thin layer of red. It was a very light red, lighter than rouge, lighter than fire, as if accidentally brushed by the sunset glow and stained by it.
Under Wen Qianshu’s gaze, that layer of red finally grew redder and redder.
Wen Qianshu’s throat tightened. She thought to herself, I must be crazy.
Probably crazy.
But for her, going crazy was worth it.
Wen Qianshu: “So don’t think about Canglan Courtyard anymore. Think about me, hmm?”
“Do you like me?”
The red on her cheeks finally deepened completely, burning like fire.
Yun Cai: “Yes.”
She averted her gaze and said, “I liked you from the first glance.”
I liked you the moment I first saw you.
I liked you so much.
Ice bow and snow arrows, the patterns on her Canglan robes.
She had appeared so suddenly and dealt the catfish demon a fatal blow.
Shattered ice, raging flames.
The heart-wrenching screams of the catfish demon.
She stood amidst it all, her thin lips slightly pursed, her expression solemn, like the mist rising from the collision of water and fire, or like an unreal dream veiled by the mist.
Frost Under the Moon, paired butterflies.
Yun Cai lowered her head, and Wen Qianshu obediently tilted her head up—their lips touched, their breaths mingling. Wen Qianshu let out a low laugh, reached out to pull off her hair ribbon, and her ink-black hair spilled down, covering her body.
2333 couldn’t bear to watch.
2333 felt that it shouldn’t be here.
Gentle and lingering, craving and fierce.
They kissed, panted, and embraced, as if trying to embed each other into their very bones.
Yun Cai’s elbow pressed against the side of Wen Qianshu’s neck, the fabric brushing against her chin. Higher up, a section of her snow-white wrist was exposed, resting against her cheek. Wen Qianshu was kissing with a restless heart and mind. She couldn’t help but raise her arm, her fingertips stroking through the other’s long, satin-like hair, over the back exposed between the strands of hair, over her delicate figure, down to her thigh—
And then—
With a “thud,” the two of them fell to the ground.
Right, they were originally on a tree branch.
Wen Qianshu: “…”
Yun Cai was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Wen Qianshu: “Stop laughing.”
She feigned fierceness, but was actually laughing herself. Her smile was gentle, her eyes reflecting Yun Cai, as if Yun Cai was the only thing left in the world.
Wen Qianshu threatened her, “If you laugh again, I’ll kiss you.”
2333: “…”
Yan Shenxing felt that his master had been acting a bit off lately. This “bit off” manifested in a sudden increase in his schoolwork.
He told his junior sister, but his junior sister said, “Master has her reasons.”
His junior sister even spoke up for their master: “It must be that Master felt the previous amount of schoolwork wasn’t enough for us to learn, so she increased it.”
“This is Master’s affirmation of us.”
Yan Shenxing: “But she hasn’t spent any more time teaching us, has she?”
Some of the extra schoolwork was very difficult, and they couldn’t get through it by just grinding away. They couldn’t find their master recently, so they could only timidly go and ask the Head or Yan Qingxi.
He was fine, but Yan Yan was still very afraid of Yan Qingxi. Sometimes, after he finished asking his questions, he would watch his junior sister walk over, her smile gentle and shy, her words respectful and amiable, but in reality, the moment she leaned against the desk, her legs would be trembling underneath. The whole time she was asking questions while being afraid, and it was a wonder Yan Qingxi could still teach her.
Yan Yan said embarrassedly, “It must be that Master feels we have the ability to study these things, and that we can definitely figure out what we don’t understand through research.”
“This shows Master has confidence in us.”
Yan Yan thought for a moment, then reluctantly put the new storybook she had gotten into her book box and took out a book on magical arts to read. “Master is trying so hard, we must not disappoint her.”
Yan Shenxing: “…”
Yan Shenxing: “Huh?”
Wen Qianshu sneezed.
Yun Cai asked, “What’s wrong?”
Wen Qianshu: “Nothing, perhaps my eldest disciple is cursing me.”
Since she was planning to leave Canglan Courtyard, she had to find a good disciple to be her successor, which was why she had increased their schoolwork during this period. Yan Shenxing had good talent but was always fond of playing. If he had a day, he would spend half of it calling on friends, enjoying himself so much he’d forget to return home.
With Wen Qianshu adding homework, he was probably going to be worried.
Wen Qianshu sighed to 2333, “So this is how Yan Qingxi felt back then when he made me copy texts as punishment?”
2333: “Stop insulting Yan Qingxi. He was genuinely trying to improve Yan Chengshuang’s skills.”
Wen Qianshu: “I’m also genuinely trying to improve my disciple’s skills.”
2333: “Heh, then what are you doing right now?”
Wen Qianshu: “Balancing work and rest.”
2333: “…”
Yun Cai rolled over and kissed Wen Qianshu’s earlobe. Wen Qianshu’s hair was damp with sweat, sticking to the side of her neck. She turned her head to look at Yun Cai and heard her say in a low voice, “Sister.”
Yun Cai raised a finger and brushed Wen Qianshu’s hair aside. “Sister is so beautiful.”
After their lovemaking, her cheeks were completely flushed, and her eyes shimmered with moisture, making Yun Cai unable to resist kissing her again.
Wen Qianshu grabbed her descending hand. “Don’t. Let’s just talk, no touching.”
Yun Cai glanced at her without speaking. Just as Wen Qianshu thought she had listened, Yun Cai curled her finger and slowly traced it across Wen Qianshu’s palm.
Wen Qianshu practically shivered. “…”
Yun Cai’s long lashes lowered and then rose again. Her light brown pupils were tinged with desire, turning a color close to amber. She smiled just like that, her eyes holding craving, expectation, and lust.
What else could Wen Qianshu do?
She could only disarm and surrender.
This was a superior room in an immortal sect inn outside Five Spirits Mountain. It was surrounded by arrays, providing excellent concealment. It was originally for the convenience of immortal sect disciples, allowing them to cultivate in peace or discuss matters when they were away from home.
Wen Qianshu’s mind went blank, her eyes staring straight at the ceiling beams. Yun Cai turned to her side, pulled her into an embrace, and buried her head in the crook of her shoulder.
Wen Qianshu: “Are you hot?”
Yun Cai: “No.”
Wen Qianshu raised her finger and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Yun Cai’s gaze followed her fingertip, finally stopping on Wen Qianshu’s eyes. She heard Wen Qianshu say softly, “Wait for me a little longer. Once everything is settled, I’ll come find you.”
Yun Cai: “Okay.”
2333 had never seen Wen Qianshu be so efficient—
No, it should be said that it had never thought Wen Qianshu could be efficient at all.
This person’s back no longer ached, her legs were no longer sore, and she didn’t even want to sleep anymore. She relentlessly tormented her two disciples. When Yan Shenxing rested, she would instruct Yan Yan, and when Yan Yan was tired, she would switch back to Yan Shenxing.
When both of them couldn’t take it anymore, she ran off to find Yun Cai.
Wen Qianshu: “As expected of cultivators. Their stamina is great, and it doesn’t matter if they don’t sleep. It’s really fantastic.”
2333: “?”
That’s not what you said when you first came to this world.
The sun and moon flew like a shuttle, time like an arrow.
Some more years passed. Wen Qianshu watched as Yan Han firmly established her position as the Snake King, as Yan Chengquan brought the five sects under control, and as Yan Yan and Yan Shenxing improved daily, acting with increasing maturity…
Wen Qianshu finally couldn’t resist knocking on Yan Chengquan’s door.
“Come in.”
Yan Chengquan looked the same as she had years ago, her hair in a high bun, dignified and majestic. She was reading a letter, and Yan Qingxi was standing beside her. Hearing the door open, he looked up.
Wen Qianshu performed a salute.
Yan Qingxi nodded to her, then said to Yan Chengquan, “I’ll be leaving now.”
Yan Chengquan didn’t move or even speak. She was holding the letter up as she read, so the paper covered half her face. The pair of eyes that were visible looked at no one, staring only at the paper.
Yan Qingxi was silent for a moment, then said again, “Sister.”
His voice was still very cold, just as it was when Wen Qianshu first met him. “I’ll be leaving now.”
Yan Chengquan did not answer.
Yan Qingxi lowered his eyes and turned to leave. He glanced sideways as he passed Wen Qianshu, but in the end, said nothing.
Wen Qianshu watched him leave and close the door, keenly sensing that this departure was no ordinary one.
As expected—
After hearing what Wen Qianshu had to say, Yan Chengquan smiled and asked softly, “Are you also here to bid me farewell?”
Wen Qianshu was taken aback. “Martial Uncle, he…?”
Yan Chengquan held the letter between two fingers, offering it halfway to Wen Qianshu. Wen Qianshu took it and realized it was a letter from Yan Han—it said that the demon race was willing to make a pact with the immortal sects, to restrain the lesser demons within their race, and to coexist peacefully with the immortal sects.
Wen Qianshu: “Master’s intention is?”
Yan Chengquan: “Sign it.”
Wen Qianshu sighed inwardly.
Yan Han was not satisfied with the position of Snake King; she wanted to be the king of the entire demon race. Just as Yan Chengquan was not satisfied with controlling the five sects; she wanted to completely twist the five sects together and merge them into a single sect.
They both needed time.
They both needed time to develop and grow stronger, and then tear up the agreement and turn their butcher’s knives on each other.
Of course, Yan Qingxi disagreed. In his view, this was no different from rearing a tiger to one’s own detriment, a decision that would surely bring disaster to future generations.
“Isn’t it enough? All five sects already obey your command, isn’t that enough?” Yan Qingxi asked. “If we don’t take advantage of the demon race’s current division to eradicate the snake clan—”
“And what if we annihilate the snake clan?” Unlike Yan Qingxi’s raised voice, Yan Chengquan’s was still soft and gentle. “A stronger enemy will always appear. If we don’t take this opportunity to reorganize and merge Five Spirits Mountain, one day, it will become the ashes of history, a stepping stone for others.”
Yan Qingxi: “What if you lose the gamble? What if no one can control the demon race in the end?”
Yan Chengquan: “Then we’ll have lost the gamble.”
Yan Chengquan smiled, even her eyes were smiling. It was so gentle, yet it made Yan Qingxi feel a chill all over. “What I want is for Five Spirits Mountain to prosper forever, not for the human race to remain unscathed.”
Wen Qianshu: “And then?”
Yan Chengquan said, “And then your martial uncle suggested leaving Five Spirits Mountain for a while to calm down.”
Wen Qianshu thought for a moment, then asked, “Master, aren’t you afraid he’ll speak of this to others?”
“He won’t. That’s your martial uncle, after all.” Yan Chengquan averted her gaze, her eyes devoid of emotion. “He’s too sentimental.”
And what about you?
Aren’t you sentimental?
If you didn’t care, why would you tell me about this?
In the end, Wen Qianshu stepped forward and gently hugged her. “Master, don’t be sad anymore.”
Yan Chengquan froze. She sat in her chair, not saying a word.
Wen Qianshu crouched down and looked up at her. “Everyone has their own aspirations. Master, you chose this path, so you are destined to walk a lonelier road.”
Yan Chengquan looked at her, as if with expectation, and also with regret. “Shuang’er, you don’t blame me?”
Wen Qianshu: “‘I’ also cherish Five Spirits Mountain, but I could never do a better job than Master.”
If you knew that in the original world, your most beloved disciple was already dead.
Your most trusted younger brother killed himself.
You would be even sadder, wouldn’t you?
This life is already so much better.
But Wen Qianshu was not Yan Chengshuang, after all, and the one she loved most was not Yan Chengquan.
She had originally stayed to provide shelter for Yun Cai, but if Yun Cai didn’t care about it, then she naturally didn’t need to continue wasting her time here, scheming and plotting.
Wen Qianshu sighed and said, “This disciple is unfilial and can no longer accompany Master.”
Yan Chengquan looked at her steadily, then said, “Go.”
“I can see that your heart isn’t here.”
“It just so happens that the demon race will be peaceful for a while, and there isn’t much to do recently. It’s a good time to let the juniors practice and take over your duties.”
“Yes.” Wen Qianshu looked up at her and added, “Master, take care.”
Yan Chengquan averted her gaze and looked out the window. “Go.”
Wen Qianshu: “Yes.”
She walked out with her back to the room, closed the wooden door, and saw her two disciples.
They were outside the door looking at her, as if they wanted to say something but didn’t know how to begin.
Wen Qianshu smiled, ruffled Yan Yan’s hair, then saw Yan Shenxing and pinched his cheek.
Yan Shenxing: “…”
Yan Yan couldn’t help but start crying, her eyes red, tears streaming down her face.
Wen Qianshu patted her. “Don’t cry. In the future, when Master is not around, if you cry again, people will just think your senior brother is bullying you.”
Yan Yan was stunned. She stopped crying for a moment and even hiccuped.
She said softly, “How could that be? Senior brother can’t even beat me.”
Yan Shenxing: “…”
For a moment, Wen Qianshu seemed to see that little girl again.
She saw that little girl stubbornly reading, writing, learning magical arts, and speaking in a soft, sweet voice.
According to the rumors, the youngest daughter of the private tutor in Yan Family Village, wearing the finest brocade clothes in the village, climbed over the high wall of her home and ran all the way out. She ran across the ridges of the fields, through the mud, over the deep and shallow country paths, and ran before Yan Qingxi in the dead of night, trembling as she said, “I… I also want to be… be an immortal.”
That little girl, she was always crying, but she was also always getting stronger.
In the past, she hadn’t survived the demon race’s encirclement, but in this life, the swallow had flown out of its home and was flying towards a higher, more distant sky.
Canglan Courtyard has a successor.
Wen Qianshu laughed heartily, waved her hand, and said, “I’m off.”
Her two disciples had rarely seen her smile, let alone laugh out loud.
While they were stunned, Wen Qianshu flew away.
Wen Qianshu had long since tidied up Yan Chengshuang’s room, arranging it to look just as it did when she first arrived.
Exactly the same, only missing the book box she had burned.
That was Yan Chengshuang’s style, Yan Chengshuang’s room.
Wen Qianshu thought that, if nothing unexpected happened, she would probably never come back.
She had pretended to be Yan Chengshuang for so many years; it was time to be Wen Qianshu again.
Author’s Notes:
2333: “In the end, I’ve become a tool system…”
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