Chapter 083: Trying to Make Me Jealous?

Yan Shu’s gaze remained fixed on Rolling, and when she saw its stubby tail twitch, her heart melted. She feigned indifference and remarked, “Rolling, is this your spirit beast?”

Qiao Yue Ru smiled awkwardly. “Yes, it is. I found it not only round and chubby, but always rolling about, so I gave it that name.”

Yan Shu moved her restless fingers, striving for composure. “It’s certainly a fitting name.”

At this, Qiao Yue Ru grew even more embarrassed and hurried to defend Rolling. “Don’t be fooled by how silly it looks, Yan Shishu. It’s actually very clever and has impressive combat strength. Ordinary demonic beasts can’t withstand even one swipe from it.”

How could it not be strong? In China, it was once said to be the legendary mount of the god Chi You.

Suppressing the urge to pet Rolling, Yan Shu nodded. “I’ve heard of it.”

Once Qiao Yue Ru set aside Yan Shu’s identity as a rival, she was left only with admiration and awe for her. Hearing Yan Shu acknowledge Rolling, her cheeks flushed.

In the entire cultivation world, only she treated the iron-eating beast as a spirit beast. If Yan Shishu said she’d heard of it, did it mean her spirit beast had some reputation after all? Or perhaps, just as Yan Shishu said earlier, Junior Brother Xiao often mentioned her in Yan Shishu’s presence?

The thought made Qiao Yue Ru blush even deeper.

Having a giant panda so close, and yet being able to only look and not touch, Yan Shu endured with great difficulty.

Her thoughts were all on Rolling, and she paid no heed to Qiao Yue Ru’s unusual behavior.

She may have missed it, but Xiao Ji Han did not. He glanced at the blushing Qiao Yue Ru, then at Yan Shu whose attention was solely on Rolling, and pressed his thin lips together.

He Qiu noticed nothing strange among the three. His thoughts were consumed by finally seeing the legendary Yan Shu.

Unable to resist, He Qiu spoke to Yan Shu, “Yan Shishu, you must be in the middle stage of Nascent Soul, right? Why did you come to the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm this time?”

The Brahma Heaven Secret Realm, apart from the unknown place that sealed Yu Yun and the forbidden ground of the Medicine King’s legacy, held things only useful for cultivators below the Golden Core stage. Yan Shu, as a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, seemed out of place here.

Moreover, she had never left the Xuan Tian Sect.

Hearing this, Yan Shu tore her gaze away from Rolling and glanced at Xiao Ji Han…

Favorability: 7 (Acquaintance)

When did her favorability drop?

Seeing her remain silent, He Qiu thought he had asked something inappropriate and grew embarrassed. “If… if it’s inconvenient for Yan Shishu to answer, then never mind.”

“It’s no inconvenience.” Yan Shu returned to herself and looked at He Qiu. “I divined Xiao Ji Han’s fate and found his opportunity lies in this secret realm. It’s his first time venturing out, so I came along to keep an eye on him.”

He Qiu immediately felt envious. “Yan Shishu is so good to Senior Brother Xiao.”

Favorability: 8 (Acquaintance)

Yan Shu raised her brows imperceptibly. “It’s merely a master’s duty.”

Favorability: 7 (Acquaintance)

Yan Shu: …

Qiao Yue Ru watched Xiao Ji Han closely. When one’s heart is wholly invested in another, every emotion is magnified.

She could clearly sense that, when He Qiu expressed envy towards Xiao Ji Han, though his expression was calm, he was in a good mood. But when Yan Shu said it was only a master’s duty, he was obviously displeased.

Qiao Yue Ru glanced at Yan Shu, then at Xiao Ji Han, and the bitterness in her heart returned, leaving her spirits low.

The three each nursed their own thoughts, while He Qiu remained oblivious, occasionally seeking to converse with Yan Shu.

Yan Shu maintained her aloof persona, speaking little, but responded to every word He Qiu said.

Yet she soon noticed…

Favorability: 6 (Acquaintance)

Favorability: 5 (Acquaintance)

Favorability: 4 (Acquaintance)

Appalled, Yan Shu promptly fell silent. She couldn’t provoke this kindergarten child!

After she stopped talking, He Qiu also realized he’d been too chatty and gradually ceased speaking.

Yan Shu then observed her favorability instantly jumped back to 8 (Acquaintance).

She let out a long sigh of relief inwardly.

A kindergarten child, making friends for the first time, was far too possessive. This wouldn’t do; she needed to find a way to teach him to change. However, with the favorability so low now, Yan Shu dared not act rashly. She resolved to go along with him for now, and once the favorability reached fifty, she would have a proper talk about how friends ought to interact.

The group pressed on in silence toward the heartland.

The demonic beasts of the outer and middle rings mostly appeared at night and in groups, but in the heartland, the beasts were sixth or seventh rank, solitary, and no longer afraid of sunlight.

It was merely habit that made them sleep by day.

Though their numbers were sparse, wherever they dwelled, spiritual treasures were sure to be found.

He Qiu and Qiao Yue Ru alone would never dare confront heartland beasts; their unlucky start had teleported them to the inner middle ring, where they had hunted and killed what they could, finally forced deeper.

If not for Xiao Ji Han’s earlier contact, their plan had been to join forces with other sects to tackle the heartland beasts, but now, with Xiao Ji Han and Yan Shu present, that was unnecessary.

Passing several monsters’ lairs, He Qiu tried repeatedly to suggest attacking them, but Qiao Yue Ru cut him off each time.

After two attempts, He Qiu caught on to her intentions and stopped bringing it up.

Qiao Yue Ru walked in silence, bitterness gnawing at her heart. Sometimes she thought Xiao Ji Han and Yan Shu weren’t that sort of relationship; other times, even if Yan Shu wasn’t, Xiao Ji Han clearly had feelings for her.

She tormented herself for quite a while before finally turning to Xiao Ji Han. “About ten days ago, when you contacted me, what happened to that junior sister who was with you?”

Xiao Ji Han didn’t immediately recall who she meant and frowned. “Which junior sister?”

Qiao Yue Ru glanced at Yan Shu, then risked it all. “The pretty junior sister who greeted me—I even spoke with her. She said you praised me for being beautiful and kind-hearted.”

Hearing her say that, Xiao Ji Han remembered.

That junior sister was Yan Shu, who had taken the Illusion Beauty Pill.

Not only did Xiao Ji Han recall, Yan Shu did too. Ordinarily, she could simply admit she was that junior sister, but her current persona was quite different from the previous one, so she didn’t know how to answer.

Xiao Ji Han noticed her guilty look and almost imperceptibly curved his lips. “That junior sister has already left the secret realm.”

“I see,” Qiao Yue Ru said, a touch of disappointment on her face. “I had wanted to see her again.”

Yan Shu looked at Qiao Yue Ru, sensing something was amiss.

After a while, realization dawned—Qiao Yue Ru had purposely mentioned a pretty junior sister, and deliberately brought up how the junior sister said Xiao Ji Han praised her for being beautiful and kind-hearted. Was this…

Trying to make her jealous?!