Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

He was struggling against the snoring and his inner remorse when suddenly there was a loud thud on the wall. A roar, filled with anger and deep sleep, came from next door:

"Hey! Do all the people from Dazhu Peak snore this loudly at night?! Can't a person get any sleep?! We have a competition tomorrow!"

The room fell silent for a moment, even the snoring paused. Then, the people who were pretending to be asleep couldn't help but let out low laughter, and even Song Daren's snoring quieted down a bit.

Jiang Xiaochuan lay on the hard floor.

Listening to the symphony of snoring, rising and falling, in all its variety, that resounded in my ears.

Smelling the mixed odors in the air, feeling the coldness of the floor and the cramped feeling, I felt utterly hopeless.

He missed his own bed on Dazhu Peak, which, though not wide, was clean and soft, and... cough.

No, I can't stay here any longer!

He sat up abruptly, pulled on his coat, and decided to go outside for some fresh air. The room was too stuffy and noisy; he needed to calm down.

Tongtian Peak is much quieter at night than during the day.

Most of the disciples had already rested, conserving their energy for tomorrow's competition.

Only a few scattered lights remained lit, and in the distance, night patrol disciples walked by carrying lanterns, their shadows swaying.

The night wind was chilly, carrying the unique crispness of the mountains. It blew against my face, finally dispelling some of the gloom in my heart.

Jiang Xiaochuan wandered aimlessly along the path near the accommodation area. The cold moonlight cast a long shadow on him.

His mind was a jumble of thoughts, one moment Lu Xueqi's embrace and words from earlier that day, the next Tian Ling'er's red-rimmed eyes, then the lottery number he'd drawn, then the "Six Harmonies Mirror"... and then that strange gaze from Luoxia Peak.

Before I knew it, I had come to a relatively secluded open space near the edge of the cliff.

There are several large, flat stones here, which are probably where the disciples meditate or chat on ordinary days. Now it is late at night, and there is no one around, only the moonlight shining like quicksilver, illuminating the stone surfaces with a frosty white glow.

Jiang Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief, walked to a large rock and sat down, wanting to be alone.

However, he had only been sitting down for a short while when he heard light footsteps behind him. They were very soft, but his cultivation level was not low, so he could hear them clearly. His heart skipped a beat, and he turned around warily.

Under the moonlight, two figures walked one after the other from different directions along the path, stopping at the edge of the open space almost simultaneously.

On the left, wearing a moon-white Taoist robe, with flowing black hair, exuding a cool and aloof aura, is Lu Xueqi.

She didn't seem to be asleep either, or... did she come here on purpose?

On the right, dressed in fiery red, with a frosty expression on her pretty face and wide-open almond eyes, is Tian Ling'er.

She was probably feeling down and came out to clear her head, but she never expected...

The three of them looked at each other in the cold moonlight.

The air froze instantly.

Even the night breeze seemed to pause for a moment.

Tian Ling'er was the first to react. She looked at Lu Xueqi, then at Jiang Xiaochuan sitting on the rock, who looked stunned. Her eyebrows shot up, and she pointed at Lu Xueqi, her voice trembling with anger:

"You, Lu Xueqi! I knew it! I knew you were up to no good! You wouldn't come during the day, so you sneaked over at night! What are you trying to do?!"

Lu Xueqi looked at Tian Ling'er, her face expressionless. She didn't even bother to defend herself against Tian Ling'er's accusations, simply nodding calmly, even with a hint of self-righteousness, her voice cold and unwavering:

"So what if it is? I was just worried and came to check. Is that not allowed?"

This brazen, almost shameless attitude left Tian Ling'er speechless, her face turning pale with anger, her fingers trembling.

"You, you... shameless! Unscrupulous!"

Lu Xueqi raised an eyebrow slightly, ignoring her insults, and turned her gaze to Jiang Xiaochuan, who was still sitting dumbly on the rock. Her eyes softened instantly, and she looked at him with a questioning expression.

Looking at the two people who were locked in a fierce confrontation, and then at the cold moonlight and the quiet, deserted environment, Jiang Xiaochuan felt his scalp was about to explode!

Good heavens, are you kidding me?!

He just wanted to be alone! Why did he have to bring these two troublemakers here again!

"Um, that..."

He chuckled dryly and slowly slid down the rock, trying to ease the tension.

"What a coincidence, you guys are out too... moon-gazing? The moon is quite round tonight... Um, you guys keep chatting, I... I'm a little sleepy, I'm going back to sleep now!"

After saying that, he turned and tried to slip away. This chaotic situation was none of his business; he wasn't going to play along!

"Jiang Xiaochuan! You dare to leave and try!" Tian Ling'er's angry shout, choked with tears, rang out from behind.

Jiang Xiaochuan paused, inwardly groaning.

Lu Xueqi didn't speak, but just looked at him quietly, but the meaning in her gaze was very clear.

To go, or not to go?

This is a problem.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood frozen in place, his back to the two of them. The moonlight cast his long, bewildered shadow on the ground.

The night wind blew across the cliffs, bringing with it the distant rustling of pine trees, like a helpless sigh.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood frozen in place, his back to the two figures facing off in the moonlight. Hearing Tian Ling'er's angry shouts behind him, her voice trembling with tears, he felt his temples throbbing. An indescribable weariness and irritability tightened around his heart like vines.

He'd had enough.

I've had enough of this inexplicable pulling, enough of this awkward dodging and weaving, enough of being treated like an object to be fought over, and having to endure countless inquisitive, gossipy, and even pitying glances from those around me.

He just wanted to participate in a competition peacefully, why is it so difficult?

Lu Xueqi, Tian Ling'er, and Xiao Bai, who's hiding somewhere and whose thoughts are hard to fathom... What kind of mess is this?!

What exactly do they want? Did they cut him into three pieces?

A nameless anger suddenly surged up, making his head spin.

Screw caution, screw guilt, screw fear of hurting someone! I'm done!

He turned around abruptly, his face expressionless, even somewhat numb. His gaze swept over Lu Xueqi's calm face and Tian Ling'er's flushed face. His voice was dry and emotionless, as if he were stating something unrelated to himself.

"I have a headache, I'm going back to sleep. You guys can do whatever you want, chat for as long as you want, even until dawn. Just don't follow me."

Having said that, he didn't even glance at the two men's instantly changing expressions. He turned around, strode off, and walked without looking back towards the way he had come—the direction of the Great Bamboo Peak disciples' dormitory. His steps were slow but steady, carrying a resolute air of "what's the use of trying?"

The moonlight cast a lonely yet resolute shadow on his back.

Tian Ling'er was stunned; she hadn't expected Jiang Xiaochuan to react this way.

It wasn't panic, it wasn't explanation, it wasn't trying to coax her; it was just this... a cold, impatient, even slightly annoyed, walk away.

A tremendous sense of grievance and panic overwhelmed her instantly, even more so than her previous anger.

She couldn't let him just leave like that!

Especially in front of Lu Xueqi!

"Jiang Xiaochuan! You stop right there!"

She screamed, her voice particularly piercing in the quiet night.

At the same time, she flicked her wrist, and the amber brocade at her waist shot out like a living snake with a "whoosh," transforming into a bright red light that swiftly coiled towards Jiang Xiaochuan's waist, trying to forcibly pull him back.