Chapter 25: Why Pretend to Care?

The greatest taboo when refining pills is a restless mind, yet at this moment, Xiao Jihan’s heart was clearly in turmoil. As he watched a wisp of black smoke rise from the blazing furnace, his expression darkened even further.

With an irritable gesture, he lifted the lid of the cauldron, performed the Dust Removal Mantra, then turned to Yan Shu, frowning coldly. “Master, is there something you need?”

Yan Shu glanced at the furnace, then at Xiao Jihan’s impatient face, feeling a faint sense of balance in her heart. So even the male lead has moments of failure, she thought.

She cleared her throat and began, “It’s like this: in a few days, the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm will open. Although you are now already at the Nascent Soul—” Noticing the deepening gloom on his face and recalling this ancestor’s penchant for concealing his strength and slapping faces, she quickly corrected herself, “Oh, I mean, the Golden Core stage—”

“Heh!” Xiao Jihan interrupted her with a cold laugh. “Master knows well what my cultivation is, so why put on this act?”

Yan Shu was speechless.

I have a thousand words of complaint but nowhere to say them! Wasn’t it you who wanted to hide your strength? Now I’m wrong for playing along with you?

But the person before her held her life in his hands, so Yan Shu had to swallow her retort, forcing herself to continue, “Though your cultivation has made great progress, you still lack experience in trials. The Brahma Heaven Secret Realm contains not only spiritual treasures but also a fated opportunity awaiting you.”

“That’s why I specially added your name to the list of disciples entering the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm. Prepare yourself—three days from now, you’ll go with the others.”

At this, the darkness on Xiao Jihan’s handsome face faded somewhat. The Brahma Heaven Secret Realm was indeed a fine opportunity, filled with treasures he needed. However...

He looked at Yan Shu with a trace of suspicion. “How did Master know that my fate lies within the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm?”

Of course, it was written in the book!

But Yan Shu couldn’t say that. After a moment’s pause, she replied, “Naturally, I divined your destiny for you.”

Divining destiny... That not only consumed blood essence but also shortened one’s lifespan. At her words, Xiao Jihan couldn’t help but recall those three sentences: “Let’s live well together,” “All I want is you,” and “I only wish for you.” His annoyance deepened as he gazed into Yan Shu’s phoenix eyes.

He withdrew his gaze, frowning. “I understand. If Master has nothing else, please leave.”

Yan Shu felt thoroughly rejected.

She glanced at the -35 (Disgust) favorability hovering above Xiao Jihan’s head. Perhaps being disliked was only natural?

Silently, Yan Shu wept in her heart. Perhaps she was the most abject transmigrated supporting character in history.

Still, what had to be said must be said, and what favor needed to be gained still had to be gained. Yan Shu cautioned, “Only those below Nascent Soul cultivation can enter the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm. Don’t forget to suppress your cultivation beforehand.”

At this point, their pretense regarding Xiao Jihan’s cultivation was completely cast aside.

He glanced at her with complex eyes and gave a faint acknowledgment.

Yan Shu actually wanted to ask if he’d realized yesterday that her own cultivation was only at the late Golden Core stage. But after thinking it over, she decided to keep quiet. In two months since transmigrating, he’d already tried to kill her three times. If he ha