Volume 1 Chapter 6: The Protagonist Arrives
Tn: Edited at 5 / 15 / 2025
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Pei Lengxue lay curled on the bed, while Ye Anping sat cross-legged with his back to her, quietly meditating to keep watch.
Her senior brother's back wasn't particularly broad—after all, he was only fifteen. But even so, that slender back gave her a deep sense of security.
She had been a little nervous when they first arrived, but after everything that happened, she now believed his words wholeheartedly:
As long as she followed her senior brother's instructions, even a Core Formation demonic cultivator would be like a catfish stuck on a glue board—doomed no matter how it flopped.
Ye Anping had always been strict with her, but she knew he would never harm her.
The very fact that she'd survived from age three to fourteen was the best proof.
Soon, drowsiness swept over her, and she closed her eyes, ready to drift off.
…But the moment she shut her eyes, a name popped back into her mind.
—Xi Yue. Who the heck is that?!
—Where does she live?
—How old is she?
—What's her cultivation?
—Is she prettier than me?!
That night, Pei Lengxue didn't sleep a wink.
At the break of dawn, Ye Anping got up and walked over to wake her—only to find her still wide-eyed, her pupils red with fatigue. He figured she was probably still shaken by the demonic cultivator encounter.
So, to ease her nerves a little, he took her out to wander the streets of Martial Creek Town.
They browsed clothing stalls, picked out cute little trinkets and accessories, watched a street opera, and even went fishing by the riverside.
And the days that followed were much the same.
Aside from slipping away to set up a few formations in the forest behind town—carefully arranged in advance to deal with Wu You—most of their time felt like an autumn sightseeing trip, idly exploring the streets of the town.
Finally, the day arrived.
The day the protagonist would meet Wu You.
…
On a mountain path just outside Martial Creek Town—
A young woman sat sideways atop a horse, a bamboo leaf-flute in her hand made from fresh lychee leaves.
The tune she played was gentle and meandering. Birds perched on nearby branches chirped along with her music, forming a natural duet.
From beneath her wide bamboo hat, a few silver strands of hair fluttered in the breeze.
Her name was Feng Yudie.
Her parents had been caught in a war not long after her birth. With no other option, they placed her in a basket and set her adrift downriver. A reclusive old cultivator happened upon her and took her in as her adopted daughter.
Half a year ago, that elder finally exhausted her lifespan and passed away, leaving behind a recommendation letter for her.
She instructed her to bring it to the Profound Star Sect, and continue her cultivation there.
As her tune came to a close, Feng Yudie flicked the leaf aside and raised a hand to steady her hat. Her gaze turned down the road ahead.
With a faint sigh, she grumbled, "Ahh—Xiaotian, how much farther is it to the Profound Star Sect?"
No one was beside her.
But the moment she asked, a tiny, golden-glowing figure popped out from between her eyebrows.
The little figure was doll-like, legless, no taller than her palm, and looked a bit like a tiny, glowing puppet.
It waved one stubby arm, and a floating map appeared in front of her.
『Still a long way. At least five hundred li left. There's a small town ahead—we can rest there.』
"Five hundred li?!" Feng Yudie groaned. "We've been on the road for a whole month now. I wonder if there are any pretty senior sisters at Profound Star Sect…"
Xiaotian gave her a deadpan stare and scolded:
『You're not even curious about handsome senior brothers, and you're already thinking about pretty senior sisters? What kind of logic is that?』
Feng Yudie pouted. "Master always said to be careful of men. All men are bad news."
『She said to be careful of them. She didn't say go chasing women instead!』
"Okay, okay! Let's just hurry up. We're almost in town, and I really want some roast chicken."
『You are hopeless.』
"Hyah!"
Feng Yudie tugged the reins and gave her horse a gentle kick. With a loud snort, it galloped off toward the town in the distance.
Soon, she passed under the Great Victory Gate and entered Martial Creek Town.
It was lunchtime. The whole town was filled with the mouthwatering smell of roast duck and grilled chicken. Every food stall was packed, locals slurping noodles and sipping tea.
Feng Yudie led her little white horse through the busy town streets, eyes darting from stall to stall. Everything looked tempting—skewers, buns, candied fruits—and she wanted to try them all. Unfortunately, her coin bag was painfully light, and Xiaotian reminded her more than once to budget carefully.
In the end, she settled for a humble inn and ordered just a single roast chicken.
The inn was lively and crowded. Servers bustled about, towels slung over their shoulders, shouting orders over the din. The shopkeeper sat behind the counter, working an abacus with a practiced flurry of clacks.
Feng Yudie found a small table in the corner and sat down to wait for her meal. Her gaze swept across the room, idly observing the other diners. To her surprise, she noticed that quite a few of them were cultivators.
"Xiaotian, there are a lot of cultivators in this town," she remarked curiously.
『Not surprising. This place isn't far from the Hundred Lotus Sect. Anywhere near a sect is bound to have its fair share of cultivators.』
"Hundred Lotus Sect?" She scrunched her brows, trying to recall. "Isn't that a small sect?"
『Mm. Founded less than a hundred years ago. The sect master is named Ye Ao, currently at the Core Formation Realm. He has a son with decent talent—dual spiritual roots. Not bad, but not amazing either.』
Feng Yudie rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head. "Xiaotian, you really do know everything, huh?"
Xiaotian puffed out its chest, arms akimbo:
『Of course! I'm the spirit of the Heavenly Dao Scriptures. Hmph! There is nothing in this world I do not know!』
"Is that so…" Feng Yudie smiled slyly and pointed toward another table nearby. A young girl sat there with a boy, both seemingly around her age. "Then tell me, what's that girl's name?"
『…』
Xiaotian's expression twitched. It followed her finger toward the pair.
The boy was at the third layer of the Qi Refining realm. The girl beside him had already reached peak Qi Refining, likely siblings out traveling together. But that was all it could gather.
With a dismissive snort, it answered:
『How would I know her name?』
Feng Yudie giggled behind her hand. "Didn't you just say there's nothing you don't know?"
『Hmph. I said I know everything that matters. Those two are clearly nobodies—not worth remembering!』
"Sure, sure." Feng Yudie shrugged. "Still, that girl's really pretty. I want to ask what her name is."
Before Xiaotian could object, she was already on her feet, waving a server over. "Bring my roast chicken to that table," she instructed, then walked straight toward the pair.
Stopping beside them, Feng Yudie clasped her hands in greeting with a bright smile. "Fellow Daoists, may I share your table?"
The girl glanced up at her, a faint crease forming between her brows. Then she turned to the boy next to her. "Senior brother?"
The boy she called "senior brother" looked Feng Yudie over, then nodded. "Sure."
Feng Yudie beamed, quickly pulling over a stool and sitting down. "Thank you. I'm Feng Yudie, a humble wandering cultivator. May I ask your names?"
"Ye Anping, disciple of Hundred Lotus Sect," the boy replied courteously. He gestured to the girl beside him. "This is my junior sister, Pei Lengxue."
As he said this, Xiaotian—hovering beside Feng Yudie's head—suddenly furrowed its tiny brows.
For just the briefest moment… it felt like Ye Anping had glanced directly at it.
As though he could see it.
Since its creation, only those chosen by the Heavenly Dao could perceive him.
One was the former Immortal Emperor.
The other… was Feng Yudie.
『...Was that just my imagination?』
Xiaotian narrowed it eyes suspiciously. Just to test it, it floated right in front of Ye Anping's face and made two exaggeratedly childish faces.
『Bleh~!』
Ye Anping showed no reaction whatsoever. Calm as ever, he picked up his chopsticks and began eating.
Xiaotian sighed in relief.
That confirmed it. It's just its imagination.
How could a boy with average dual spiritual roots possibly see the spirit of the Heavenly Dao Scriptures?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!