Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

"Mmm," Lu Xueqi responded softly.

Jiang Xiaochuan opened the door, walked out, and closed it behind him. The dim light in the bamboo hut was shut out behind him, and the cool moonlight and the sound of bamboo leaves enveloped him once again.

He stood still, his hand pressed against his chest.

Thump, thump.

My heart is still beating, but it seems... slower? And the force is lighter.

He carefully sensed it as he walked out step by step.

The farther I was from my accommodation, the slower my heartbeat became, and the fainter it grew.

After walking a dozen steps, turning past a clump of bamboo, and looking back, the lights were no longer visible.

There was complete silence in my chest.

Only that frantic beating remains in my memory.

He stood there for a while, the night wind was chilly, and he shrank his neck, looking towards the pavilion that Shuiyue and Suru often went to in his memory.

When they found Su Ru in the pavilion by the water, she was talking to Master Shuiyue. Tea sets were laid out in front of them, and tea smoke was rising.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't dare to get too close and stood at a distance.

Master Shuiyue glanced up at him, her gaze like icy needles, sending chills down his spine. He quickly lowered his head.

Su Ru saw it, smiled and said something to Shuiyue. Shuiyue's expression softened, she picked up her teacup, took a sip, and didn't look at him again.

Su Ru got up and walked over, saying gently, "Are you done talking?"

Jiang Xiaochuan nodded and said, "Mm."

"Then let's go back." Su Ru said, turning back to the pavilion and saying, "Senior Sister, I'll take Xiao Chuan back first."

Master Shuiyue hummed in response, without looking up.

Su Ru summoned her immortal sword, and a pale green light shone forth.

The two flew towards Dazhu Peak.

After flying a short distance, Su Ru smiled and said, "That's just how my senior sister is. She actually cares about you and just asked about your injuries."

Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled twice but didn't reply.

Really?

Back at Dazhu Peak, the lights were still on in Shoujing Hall. Tian Buyi sat in front of the hall, holding a scroll in his hand. Hearing the noise, he looked up at the two of them and snorted.

"At least you know to come back."

Su Ru laughed and scolded, "You're so unserious."

Jiang Xiaochuan quickly and secretly slipped back to his room. Only after closing the door did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He took out the bundle of loose hair from his pocket, looked at it, and casually stuffed it under the bed.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling beams. My chest felt cold, but my mind was a jumbled mess.

One moment it was the warmth of Lu Xueqi's hand holding his, the next it was the feeling of her eyelashes as she tied the sword tassel, and then it was that soft "Don't die."

He turned over and buried his face in the pillow.

……

Inside the bamboo hut, Lu Xueqi walked to the table, picked up the small earthenware pot, and examined it under the lamplight.

The delicate pink buds were tightly closed, gleaming softly in the candlelight.

She reached out a finger and touched it very lightly. The petals were soft and cool.

He put down the earthenware pot and picked up a piece of osmanthus sugar. He peeled off the oil paper to reveal the bright orange sugar inside.

She put it in her mouth and slowly held it in her mouth.

The sweetness melts in, and the rich fragrance of osmanthus fills the mouth. It's a little too sweet.

Opening the small porcelain box revealed a bright red rouge.

She leaned closer and smelled it; it smelled wonderful, a rich floral fragrance.

I put the lid on, walked to the wall, and looked up at Tianya.

The azure blade hung silently, with a crooked blue tassel hanging below, its tassel perfectly in place.

She looked at it for a while, then reached out and gently flicked it with her fingertips.

The tassel swayed, creating a small arc.

She looked at the swaying tassels and the corners of her lips curved slightly.

"It's so sweet," she whispered.

I don't know if she was referring to the candy in her mouth or something else...

……

Days flow by like water, passing little by little.

The morning mist of Dazhu Peak, the bamboo shadows and pine waves on the back mountain, and the clanging sound of Zhang Xiaofan chopping bamboo became the background noise in Jiang Xiaochuan's life.

My fingertip got pricked again.

Jiang Xiaochuan hissed and gasped, then raised his hand in front of him.

It was a tiny cut, no bigger than a pinhole, but not a drop of blood came out.

Before the blood could even flow out, it was sucked back in by that thing on my chest.

Jiang Xiaochuan pursed his lips, wondering if it would be better if blood sugar could be measured...

He shook off his thoughts and held the ball of moon-white silk thread in his hand up to the lamp.

It's smoother than the last blue one, and the color is more even, like frost that forms at night.

His fingers were clumsy, but he was patient, wrapping and twisting little by little.

The phrase "Next time, make it look better" keeps echoing in my mind.

"Make it look better..." He sighed, looking at the barely formed tassel in his hand.

That's alright, it's still better than that dog-chewed mess from last time.

Three months, neither long nor short.

One day, Tian Buyi suddenly felt like wandering to the back mountain, probably wanting to see how Zhang Xiaofan was progressing.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaofan was struggling with a black bamboo when he saw Tian Buyi. His hand trembled, and he almost dropped his wood-chopping knife.

"Master, Master!"

Tian Buyi hummed in agreement, his eyes sweeping over Zhang Xiaofan before asking, "How's your training going?"

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head, fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, and replied, "Master, this disciple is dull... I am still... still sensing the spiritual energy."

Tian Buyi's brow twitched, and he said, "Feel it? Hold out your hand."

Zhang Xiaofan cautiously extended his hand.

Tian Buyi placed his finger on it and probed it with his spiritual energy.

Upon hearing this, his face froze instantly.

The spiritual energy flowed through Zhang Xiaofan's meridians with remarkable sluggishness.

This is hardly the result of three months of cultivation! Even the most mediocre disciple should be able to draw in Qi and circulate it through their body for three to five cycles within three months. But Zhang Xiaofan…

Tian Buyi released his grip, said nothing, and just looked at Zhang Xiaofan.

Jiang Xiaochuan watched from the side, pondering how to come up with an excuse.

Zhang Xiaofan lowered his head even further.

Jiang Xiaochuan cleared his throat, leaned closer, and said to Tian Buyi, "Master, perhaps... Xiao Fan is just accumulating knowledge and experience before unleashing his full potential."

Tian Buyi turned his head and glanced at him.

"A late bloomer after years of hard work?"

He shook his head, put his hands behind his back, didn't look at Zhang Xiaofan again, and turned to leave.

Zhang Xiaofan was still frozen there, his fingers clenched tightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan went over and took his hand.

Zhang Xiaofan slowly opened his palm.

……

At night, Jiang Xiaochuan knocked on Zhang Xiaofan's door.

The room was dark, and Zhang Xiaofan sat on the bed in complete darkness.

Jiang Xiaochuan sat down on the edge of the bed and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"

In the darkness, Zhang Xiaofan sniffed and said softly, "...I've embarrassed...Master."

Jiang Xiaochuan scoffed and said, "What's so embarrassing about it? Old Tian's face is thick-skinned; he won't lose face."

Zhang Xiaofan remained silent.

Jiang Xiaochuan lowered his voice and said, "Do you remember I told you that it would be very slow at the beginning, as slow as a tortoise?"

Zhang Xiaofan's voice was muffled.

"But I... but I'm not even as good as a tortoise."

Jiang Xiaochuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Bullshit, you're a turtle, the turtle with the hardest shell. Just wait, there will be a time when you slap Old Tian in the face, a slap that will make him regret his behavior today."

Zhang Xiaofan raised his head in the darkness, his eyes brightened for a moment, then dimmed again.

"Really? Senior Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Xiaochuan stood up and said, "When have I ever lied to you? Go to sleep, we still have to chop bamboo tomorrow."

The door closed, and Zhang Xiaofan sat in the darkness for a long time before slowly lying down.