Chapter 73: Clearly Not a Normal Person

Xiao Jihan entered the kitchen and, with practiced ease, steamed rice, chopped vegetables, and stir-fried the dishes. Before long, three steaming hot dishes, a soup, and a bowl of rice were brought to the table.

Yuer exclaimed, “Father is the best!” She happily went to fetch the bowls and chopsticks. Though she was small—looking no more than four or five years old—she was well-mannered, first setting the table for Xiao Jihan and ‘Yan Shu’ before sitting on her own stool to wait for the meal.

‘Yan Shu’ gazed at the spread, her eyes shining, and did not forget to praise Xiao Jihan, “Husband, you’re amazing!”

A faint smile played on Xiao Jihan’s lips as he looked at the two of them. He picked up his chopsticks and said, “Let’s eat.”

At his words, ‘Yan Shu’ and Yuer immediately began their meal. Xiao Jihan ate very little himself, quietly savoring his food. From time to time, he would glance up at the big and small figures playfully vying for dishes, the faintest of smiles always lingering on his lips.

It was a warm and ordinary family meal for the three of them.

After the meal, Xiao Jihan, like a true father, inquired about Yuer’s studies and guided her in the arts of alchemy, talisman crafting, refining tools, formations, and cultivation.

Yuer seemed unfazed by these lessons, but ‘Yan Shu’ at the side grew drowsy, nodding off until, by the time Xiao Jihan and Yuer had finished their discussion, she had already fallen asleep on the tidied table.

Yuer clicked her tongue softly. “Mother is still so clueless!”

Xiao Jihan glanced at ‘Yan Shu’, sleeping soundly on the table, and smiled. “Quiet now. Don’t let your mother hear; she’s very proud.”

Yan Shu: …

Was her mediocrity so obvious, even in this illusion? Was there no escape for her? Did she not deserve a little dignity?

In her previous life, she had been a straight-A student! She had scored first in the whole city on her college entrance exams!

Now she was only suffering because of the original host. Besides, they weren’t even from the same world; if she wanted to understand talismans, formations, and such, she would have to start from scratch. It was a massive undertaking and certainly not something that could be changed overnight!

Yan Shu fell silent. It seemed she would have to resume her studies in formations and alchemy. She couldn’t be looked down upon by her own child, could she?

What child! She was still single!

In the illusion, Yuer smiled softly, leaned over, and planted a gentle kiss on the sleeping ‘Yan Shu’s cheek. In a low voice, she murmured, “Mother, Yuer loves you the most.”

Xiao Jihan reached out and ruffled Yuer’s hair. His voice was gentle. “All right, go cultivate now. The sooner you reach Foundation Establishment, the sooner your mother can stop worrying about you every day.”

Yuer replied sensibly and skipped away.

Xiao Jihan looked at the sleeping ‘Yan Shu’ and called her name softly, “Shuer?”

‘Yan Shu’ grumbled and shifted position, continuing to sleep.

With a helpless shake of his head, Xiao Jihan picked her up and carried her back to the master bedroom.

In the illusion, the master bedroom was clearly modeled after Yan Shu’s quarters on the Supreme Peak, though what had once been a room for one was now arranged for two. The bed was larger, and there were now two cushions by the table, every detail speaking of a life shared.

After gently placing ‘Yan Shu’ on the bed, Xiao Jihan settled onto a cushion and began to meditate.

After a while, ‘Yan Shu’ woke up. She crept quietly from the bed and tiptoed over to the meditating Xiao Jihan, her face full of mischief.

Just as she was about to pounce, Xiao Jihan, eyes still closed, suddenly reached out and caught her, pulling her into his arms with a smile. “Awake?”

‘Yan Shu’ pouted, clearly displeased. “It’s no fun. You catch me every time.”

At this, Xiao Jihan smiled faintly, set her down on the cushion, and took out a jade slip from his storage bag. “Since you’re awake, let’s start learning alchemy and talisman crafting.”

At these words, ‘Yan Shu’ let out a wail, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears as she looked at him. “Brother Xiao, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Isn’t this the time to do something more meaningful?”

Xiao Jihan glanced at her, seeming to hesitate, then nodded. “Shuer, you have a point.”

‘Yan Shu’s face immediately lit up. She batted her lashes at him sweetly and was about to speak, when he produced a cauldron from his storage bag. “Let’s make pills. It’s more meaningful to practice yourself.”

‘Yan Shu’: …

Yan Shu: …

The male lead really wasn’t normal!

No matter how much Yan Shu complained, the Xiao Jihan within the illusion began teaching with utmost seriousness. After being forced to practice alchemy all day, ‘Yan Shu’ lost all other thoughts and spent the night hurriedly cultivating to restore her spiritual power.

The next day, everything repeated.

The family of three ate together; after the meal, Xiao Jihan instructed Yuer in her studies, and then spent the evening putting ‘Yan Shu’ through her paces before they cultivated together. And so it went, day after day.

Monotonous, yet brimming with happiness.

The only changes were the occasional delivery of spirit rice or vegetables, and the ever-evolving lessons.

Day by day, time passed, and Yuer grew older. She had long since reached Foundation Establishment, but the family meal remained a cherished routine.

Later, when Yuer grew up, she announced she wanted to explore the world of cultivation. With a trove of gifts from Xiao Jihan and ‘Yan Shu’ and dreams in her heart, she left Supreme Peak.

With Yuer gone, only ‘Yan Shu’ and Xiao Jihan remained atop Supreme Peak.

‘Yan Shu’ was sad and worried for a while, but soon returned to her cheerful self, skipping over to Xiao Jihan’s side, taking his arm, and saying with a smile, “Wonderful! The little brat is finally gone. Now we can enjoy our world of two!”

Xiao Jihan said nothing, simply gazing at her.

In those beautiful eyes, there was nostalgia and reluctance, as well as a trace of confusion.

‘Yan Shu’ was startled by his intense gaze. Pouting playfully, she asked, “What’s wrong, Brother Xiao?”

Still, Xiao Jihan did not answer. If not for the occasional flutter of his lashes, one might have mistaken him for a statue.

Yan Shu’s heart began to race with unease as she turned to the demonic woman outside the illusion. “What’s wrong with him? Don’t tell me he’s going to kill his wife for enlightenment already?”

The woman was equally surprised. “That shouldn’t be. According to my design, he shouldn’t face the test of killing his wife for enlightenment until he reaches the Tribulation Stage in over a hundred years—”

She had not finished her sentence when, within the illusion, Xiao Jihan moved. A sword appeared silently in his hand, and without hesitation, he drove it into ‘Yan Shu’s heart.

A dull sound rang out—the blade piercing flesh.

‘Yan Shu’, still smiling sweetly with love and affection in her gaze, had not even had time to withdraw her feelings.

Gone was the warmth and indulgence Xiao Jihan had shown when Yuer was present. Now, clutching the sword embedded in ‘Yan Shu’s chest, his handsome face was cold and unfeeling—a stark contrast to ‘Yan Shu’s overflowing affection, making the scene all the more cruelly ironic.