A gentle voice rang out: “Senior Brother, are you alright?”
Before them stood a girl in a green dress, cheeks tinged with pink, features delicate as a painting, and beneath her left eye a tiny tear-shaped mole. It was unmistakably the heroine of the original story—Ruan Qingtao.
In the novel, because Qu Xiangxiang looked down on Mu Hanzhang, she also despised Ruan Qingtao, who was close to him. Whenever she had the chance, she would cause trouble for them both. Thus, the original Qu Xiangxiang managed to offend not only the male lead but also the female lead—an act of suicidal precision that naturally led to her downfall.
Now, having literally fallen on the heroine’s future Dao partner in front of her, Qu Xiangxiang awkwardly stepped back, wishing she could vanish without a trace and avoid disturbing their “predestined encounter.” That was the novel’s exact wording, though it stung to recall it. She dreaded being remembered with hatred by both of them. She truly didn’t want to raise Mu Hanzhang’s hostility value any further. Though she suspected she had already maxed it out.
“Trying to run?” Mu Hanzhang didn’t spare Ruan Qingtao a glance. His eyes narrowed coldly, fixed instead on the culprit of this farce—Qu Xiangxiang, caught red-handed as she tried to slip away.
Qu Xiangxiang: “…?”
She couldn’t understand. The heroine had already appeared. Shouldn’t the male lead, as per his role, be gazing tenderly at her, leaving this pitiful cannon fodder alone? Hadn’t the author written that their first meeting was marked by an instant spark, eyes drawn to each other?
Where was the spark? Where was the gaze?! They hadn’t even looked at each other!
Worse, if looks could kill, Qu Xiangxiang felt she’d already been riddled with holes under Mu Hanzhang’s glare. She wanted to pound the keyboard and curse the author eight hundred times. This was outright fraud!
Ruan Qingtao drew out a pale green porcelain vial, smiling warmly. “This medicine promotes blood flow and heals bruises. Senior Brother, please accept it, and don’t trouble this junior sister further.”
She had never seen a youth as handsome as Mu Hanzhang. Her cheeks flushed at the sight.
Qu Xiangxiang nearly cried with gratitude. Truly worthy of being the heroine—beautiful and kind-hearted.
Mu Hanzhang cast Ruan Qingtao a faint glance. A strange feeling flickered in his heart but quickly faded. She was only a newly arrived disciple; he had no interest in pondering further. He didn’t reach for the vial, only said: “No need.”
“But…”
“I don’t need it,” he interrupted.
“I only meant well,” Ruan Qingtao murmured, hurt. No one had ever rejected her before.
Qu Xiangxiang rubbed her chin, studying the icy Mu Hanzhang and the lovely Ruan Qingtao. Wasn’t this development a bit off?
In the novel, because Ruan Qingtao was the first to show Mu Hanzhang kindness, he had fallen for her at first sight. Why was he so cold now?
Still, Qu Xiangxiang reasoned: in the story, even before they were together, Mu Hanzhang had risked his life to save her. If she helped them along now, surely once they were united, he would stop holding grudges against her. She forced a laugh and said awkwardly: “Since this junior sister is so sincere, why not accept it?”
Ruan Qingtao looked at him stubbornly. Mu Hanzhang, however, turned his gaze on Qu Xiangxiang, lips curling faintly: “Who injured me?” He clutched his chest, coughing weakly.
Qu Xiangxiang’s forehead filled with black lines.
Don’t think she didn’t know—his demonic aura was awakening, giving him enhanced self-healing. That blow she’d dealt him earlier would heal in less than an hour. And hadn’t he always despised her? Why was he suddenly acting so relentlessly?
*Your wife is right there. Please stop glaring at me like that!*
She lowered her head, muttering. “I didn’t mean to.”
Sneaking a glance at Ruan Qingtao, whose eyes followed Mu Hanzhang closely, Qu Xiangxiang perked up. There was still hope. “But since this junior sister cares so much, why not accept her kindness?”
Mu Hanzhang frowned. “Why should I?”
*Because she’s your future wife!*
Qu Xiangxiang felt exhausted. She tried to hint: “Don’t you think this junior sister is gorgeous?”
Mu Hanzhang’s reply was cold and sharp: “What does that have to do with me?”
Qu Xiangxiang: “…” Her heart sank. If she hadn’t known he’d been bedridden for three days like her, she’d suspect he’d spent that time secretly forging iron to become this stubborn.
Meanwhile, Ruan Qingtao watched the two of them bicker, ignoring her entirely. Hurt and angry, she thought—never in her life had she suffered such humiliation. “Since Senior Brother doesn’t need it, I won’t force you.” She tucked the vial back into her sleeve. “It’s my first day on the mountain. If I encounter trouble later, may I seek your guidance?”
Mu Hanzhang’s patience snapped. “Ask the elders.”
Ruan Qingtao’s face turned pale as paper. She couldn’t understand why this man was so cold toward her. From the very first time she met him, she had felt something strange, as if they weren’t meant to be so indifferent.
“Junior Sister,” as the awkward atmosphere spread, Qu Xiangxiang took on the role of matchmaker, speaking up for the uncooperative man, “that’s just how he is. Don’t take it to heart.”
“Qu Xiangxiang,” Mu Hanzhang frowned, displeased. “Shut up.”
Qu Xiangxiang glared at him, aggrieved. *Stubborn straight man. Serves you right to end up alone. Hmph!*
Even if Ruan Qingtao were naïve, she couldn’t miss the fact that the two of them were flirting. It left her feeling humiliated, as if she were being mocked. She shot Qu Xiangxiang a fierce glare, eyes reddening, then turned and ran off.
“Junior Sister Ruan!” One of the senior disciples who had been watching the drama started to chase after her, then paused, sighing to Qu Xiangxiang: “Junior Sister Qu, everything has its limits.”
Young people—once they have someone, they lose all restraint.
“Wait!” Qu Xiangxiang raised her hand dramatically. No, this wasn’t right. The plot was completely off track. Where was the “predestined encounter” that was supposed to happen? How had Mu Hanzhang managed to drive away his future wife?
And worst of all—why had Ruan Qingtao looked at her and Mu Hanzhang as if they were a shameless pair of illicit lovers?
Qu Xiangxiang was startled by her own choice of words.
Before she could recover, her brother’s voice exploded beside her: “Qu Xiangxiang!”
Startled yet again, poor Qu Xiangxiang nearly jumped out of her skin. “Wh-where did you come from?”
Qu Weiran yanked her to his side, pointing at Mu Hanzhang, his tone harsh: “You’re supposed to be resting, and instead you came to see him?”
Mu Hanzhang’s gaze fell on Qu Weiran’s hand gripping her arm. For some reason, irritation stirred in his chest, and his expression darkened.
Qu Xiangxiang thought he was displeased with her brother’s attitude. Afraid Mu Hanzhang would hold a grudge against him too, she tugged at Qu Weiran’s sleeve with a stiff smile. “No, no, let’s just go back.”
“Go back where?” Mu Hanzhang suddenly interjected.
Qu Xiangxiang blinked rapidly, surprised. He was acting strangely today. He had never cared about her affairs before. Could it be that the Ghost-Faced Spider incident had changed his view of her?
Her eyes lit up, about to ask—but then Mu Hanzhang pressed his chest, coughing theatrically, his gaze toward her speaking volumes.
Qu Xiangxiang: “…” Why did she feel like she was being extorted?
Still, it had been her fault. If she hadn’t been so clumsy with sword flight, she wouldn’t have crashed into him. She sighed and said: “Brother, why don’t you head back first?”
Qu Weiran stared at his sister in shock, furious. “Qu Xiangxiang, have you truly lost your senses?”
“What nonsense?” Qu Xiangxiang clasped her hands together, forcing a sweet smile. “Let’s not talk about that. I want some hibiscus cakes from Zhenshan Hall. Could you buy them for me?”
She didn’t know why her brother was angry, but…
Come on, this was the male lead.
Her survival depended entirely on Mu Hanzhang’s mood. She had no choice but to appease her brother.
Qu Weiran turned away, exasperated, waving his hand. “If you go with him, then if you cause trouble again, I won’t…”
“Thank you, Brother!” Qu Xiangxiang cheerfully ignored the rest, grabbing Mu Hanzhang’s sleeve and dragging him away.
Qu Weiran: “…” So this was what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on your own foot. To be betrayed by your own sister. To realize that once a girl grows up, she can’t be kept at home. He finally understood it all.
“Where are you hurt? Should we ask Elder Wuhua to take a look?” Qu Xiangxiang feigned innocence, asking Mu Hanzhang.
He glanced at her hand clutching his sleeve. Her pale, delicate skin against the coarse black cloth was a striking contrast. He frowned, abruptly shaking her off. “Do you remember asking me to help you deal with Elder Xu?” he asked.
Qu Xiangxiang’s eyes lit up. “You’ll do it?”
“One condition.”
“No problem!”
She felt hopeless—throwing money at him and still so happy about it. But he was the male lead. If spending spirit stones made his life easier and softened his view of her, it was worth it.
“Come with me to Mirror Lake.”
“Mirror Lake?” She knew the place. Remote, often used by young couples for secret trysts. “Why go there?”
Of course, she wasn’t foolish enough to think he wanted to date her.
Mu Hanzhang looked steadily into her eyes, his voice calm. “You’ll know when we get there.”