Chapter 62: In for a Penny, In for a Pound

Yan Shu stepped out of the cave and immediately saw Xiao Jihan quietly waiting for her outside. Remembering her earlier display of bravado, even she, thick-skinned as she was, felt a tinge of embarrassment. After all, she could only rely on her golden-furred companion to put on airs in this secret realm where the highest cultivation was merely the late stage of the Golden Core. Here, she could bluff her way through, but once they left, her tricks would no longer fool anyone.

Xiao Jihan watched her, cheeks flushed, inching toward him, and a faint smile lifted his lips. He cleared his throat and said, "Master, your bearing remains as impressive as ever."

The words made Yan Shu even more mortified. Xiao Jihan might not know about her seal, but he was aware that her spiritual power had only recovered to fifty percent, and her performance was nothing but a bluff. Moreover, what did he mean by 'bearing remains as impressive as ever'? Was that even an apt description for a young maiden? Surely, in his eyes now, she was no different from a mother tiger.

Yan Shu reached his side, head lowered, using her toe to flick the raindrops from the grass beneath her feet, and said awkwardly, "I was just irked by their arrogance. If you want to laugh, go ahead."

"Not at all." Xiao Jihan looked at her quietly, his tone earnest. "I didn't want to laugh. On the contrary, I think you did splendidly."

Hearing this, Yan Shu's eyes lit up, and she immediately looked up at him.

Favorability: 8 (First Acquaintance)

Oh, so even this cautious male lead enjoys a face-slapping plot.

Yan Shu felt she could change her approach and try again!

Xiao Jihan took out a brocade box from his mustard seed pouch, pulled out a piece of silk cloth from inside, and then went to the side of the cave. With his sword, he dug a shallow pit and buried the silk cloth.

Yan Shu could not fathom his actions and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

Xiao Jihan covered the pit with a thin layer of soil and replied indifferently, "This is the brocade box that once held the Hao Yuan Pill. Having stored it for so long, the silk cloth inside is imbued with the pill’s spiritual energy and aura. Since they are fellow cultivators, and they are so eager to obtain the demon core, I thought I’d lend them a helping hand."

Yan Shu: …

What to do, the male lead’s clever maneuver suited her taste perfectly!

Seeing her gaze linger on the buried silk, Xiao Jihan assumed she found the act improper and explained further, "There are many of them, and all have reached the Golden Core stage. Even if the silk attracts a group of demonic beasts, they should be able to handle it. Moreover, once some beasts are drawn to the silk, fewer will come to besiege us."

He hesitated, then added, "If you feel it’s unwise, I can retrieve the silk cloth."

As he spoke, he made to dig out the silk with his sword, but suddenly a slender and fair hand caught his wrist.

Xiao Jihan looked up to see Yan Shu’s almond eyes shining with watery brilliance.

She gazed at him with sparkling eyes and said, "If we’re going to do this, let’s go all the way—let’s bury the brocade box as well."

Xiao Jihan was stunned by her suggestion, quietly watching her. He slowly smiled and nodded, "Alright."

He immediately dug another pit, opened the brocade box, and buried it too.

Favorability: 9 (First Acquaintance)

Seeing the rising favorability, Yan Shu felt a surge of delight—this was the camaraderie of revolutionaries!

With everything settled, the two finally left the spot. Neither was familiar with the secret realm, and upon leaving, they didn’t know which way to go.

Yan Shu proposed, "Let’s leave it to fate. We’ll spin the sword, and whichever way the tip points, we’ll follow."

Though the suggestion seemed frivolous, she had thought it through. Xiao Jihan was the child of fate, Heaven’s favored son, with luck and opportunity on his side. Heaven would never let him down; when in doubt, trust in fate!

Xiao Jihan did not object. He found a stone, placed the sword on it, and spun it.

After a few revolutions, the sword fell, its tip pointing toward the mountain behind the cave.

Yan Shu hesitated; the mountain already gave her psychological trauma.

Xiao Jihan noticed her reluctance and said, "How about we head in the direction the sword’s hilt points?"

"Never mind," Yan Shu gritted her teeth. "If fate wants us to enter the mountain, we enter. If things go awry, you can shatter your jade token and leave the secret realm. When the Brahma Sky Secret Realm opens next, you can come back for your opportunity."

Once he left, she’d lure Heavenly Thunder to strike down all the demonic beasts! In any case, just twenty days or so left to endure, maybe she could use the Heavenly Thunder to sweep through the entire realm for a harvest!

Xiao Jihan glanced at her and nodded, "Alright."

He was no longer in a rush.

The two climbed the rugged mountain path, heading deeper into the mountain. The road was treacherous, and though they were cultivators with spiritual power to assist them, progress was not easy.

After some time, Yan Shu’s profound spiritual mirror suddenly stirred. She took it out and saw that Yu Wenche was contacting her.

She considered it. No matter how arrogant the disciples of the Primordial Sect or Dan Zhiqing were, Yu Wenche had always treated her sincerely. Since she left, she owed him an explanation, so she activated the mirror.

Yu Wenche’s refined and elegant face appeared instantly.

He didn’t ask why she left, but went straight to the point: "Junior Yan, where are you and Xiao Jihan now?"

Yan Shu looked around and told him their location. Upon hearing, Yu Wenche said, "Wait for me a moment, I’ll come find you."

"You’re coming to find us?" Yan Shu asked, somewhat surprised. "Just you, or…"

"Just me." Yu Wenche gave her a gentle smile. "They’ve always relied on me, but now it’s time for them to face things alone. Besides, Xiao Jihan hasn’t refined the Hao Yuan Pill yet, and I’m worried about you."

He said "you," not "you all."

Yan Shu was no naive girl; she immediately caught the nuance and her ears grew warm.

His reasoning was sound, so she had no grounds to refuse, but she glanced at Xiao Jihan, silently seeking his opinion.

Xiao Jihan lowered his gaze to the mirror, looked at Yu Wenche’s face, then, after a moment’s silence, nodded.

Yan Shu cleared her throat and told Yu Wenche, "Come then. We’ll wait for you here. Hurry—the sky’s getting dark."

Yu Wenche’s smile blossomed, "Alright, I’ll be there soon."

In fact, not long after Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan left, Yu Wenche had returned to the cave, so they weren’t far apart. Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan waited less than a quarter hour before he arrived.

Yan Shu asked, "Is it really alright to leave them behind?"

After all, the silk cloth and brocade box were still buried at the cave entrance!

Yu Wenche smiled at her, "It’s fine. They’re all at the Golden Core stage and numerous in number. Even in the inner circle, or the heartland, they’ll be safe. Besides, the secret realm is meant as a trial—if they can’t handle it, they’ll shatter their jade tokens and leave. If greed gets the better of them and they refuse to leave, any consequences are their own doing."

Yan Shu found this reasoning sound and let the matter rest.

She was just a little concerned for Yu Wenche, "Will Sect Master Dan punish you when you return?"

Hearing this, Yu Wenche’s smile grew even gentler. He said softly, "Don’t worry. I only respect the master’s orders out of regard for her. If I didn’t, I’d simply ignore them."

Yan Shu nodded. As she thought, as the financial backer, Yu Wenche certainly had his own dignity.

Xiao Jihan stood to the side, watching Yan Shu and Yu Wenche converse so familiarly. His phoenix eyes dimmed, and he averted his gaze.

Yu Wenche noticed, but feigned ignorance, continuing to speak with Yan Shu, "Where are we heading now?"

"No idea," Yan Shu admitted. "We spun the sword, and followed where the tip pointed."

Yu Wenche: …

He was speechless for a moment before saying, "Junior Yan, you truly follow your heart. Very well, let’s go."

The three continued climbing toward the summit. The path was slippery; Yan Shu suddenly lost her footing and nearly fell.

Steadying herself, she patted her chest, and upon raising her eyes, saw two outstretched right hands before her.

No need to look; one belonged to Xiao Jihan, the other to Yu Wenche.

Uh…

Why did she suddenly feel like she was in a love triangle?

Yan Shu looked at the two, coughed awkwardly, "Thank you, but I can manage on my own—it’s just a mountain path, nothing serious."

Both Xiao Jihan and Yu Wenche withdrew their hands, saying nothing, and turned to continue walking ahead. Yan Shu quietly patted her chest, feeling once more that she truly had the fate of a supporting character—relying on herself was always more reassuring.

The sky grew darker. After the rain, the heavens appeared especially clear; a bright moon climbed high above, and the once tranquil forest began to echo with howls and movement.

Demonic beasts emerged.

Yu Wenche suddenly halted, turning to Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan, "Run! Use your fastest speed to reach the summit!"

His expression was grave; Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan hurried after him toward the mountain top.

Channeling spiritual power, they rose slightly off the ground and rushed without pause.

After a while, Yan Shu realized what was happening—the whole mountain was trembling, as if every demon was converging upon them.

She could already sense the presence of demonic beasts behind.

Damn it! All this for a Hao Yuan Pill?

Yu Wenche and Xiao Jihan had drawn their swords, Yu Wenche leading the way, Xiao Jihan shifting behind Yan Shu.

At this moment, Yan Shu could no longer care about maintaining composure; she summoned her Nine-Segment Thunder Whip, transforming it into a slender dragon that enveloped the three of them.

Yu Wenche was briefly startled by the dragon, wanting to speak, but swallowed his words—now was not the time for conversation.

Ahead, demonic beasts blocked their path. Yu Wenche raised his hand, sending a surge of sword energy straight toward the creatures!