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

Xiaozhufeng.

"Xueqi".

A gentle voice sounded behind her. Lu Xueqi turned around and saw that her master, Master Shuiyue, was already standing not far away, quietly watching her.

"Master." Lu Xueqi bowed respectfully.

Shuiyue walked over, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment before falling on the Tianya sword in her hand, looking at the old sword tassel.

"Did you go to Grass Temple Village with him today?"

"Yes," Lu Xueqi replied softly.

"What did you see?"

"The villagers were grateful for his kindness and built a shrine to worship him."

Lu Xueqi paused, then added, "He was very uncomfortable and almost had his temple destroyed."

Shuiyue's lips seemed to curve slightly, very faintly, and quickly disappeared.

"He is... honest."

Lu Xueqi didn't say anything.

Shuiyue looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Xueqi, you have always been aloof and devoted to the Dao. As your teacher, I have never asked much about your private affairs. However... some things and some people, once you get involved, become entanglements and tribulations. You need to think it through yourself."

Lu Xueqi raised her head and looked at her master's face under the moonlight. Shuiyue's face was calm and profound, with concern in her eyes, but more than that, she had the indifference to let her make her own choice.

"Disciple understands." Lu Xueqi's voice was soft, yet clear.

"I understand." Shuiyue nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

He took a few steps, then stopped without turning back, leaving only the words: "If you want to bring him to sit for a while, that's fine, just don't let it interfere with your cultivation."

Lu Xueqi froze, watching her master's departing figure. Her ears burned slightly. She bit her lip and softly replied, "Yes."

Stepping into the bamboo hut and closing the door, the heat on my face lingered.

She walked to the window, pushed it open, and the night breeze blew in, carrying the fragrance of bamboo leaves. She looked towards the direction of Dazhu Peak, where the lights were scattered and indistinct.

What is Jiang Xiaochuan doing now? Is he asleep? Or is he like her, looking out the window, lost in thought?

She remembered the complex expression on his face when he looked at the clay statue in Caomiao Village today, a mixture of astonishment, embarrassment, and shame; she remembered him squatting by the field, carefully rubbing the mud; she remembered the feigned seriousness yet barely concealed concern on his face when he flicked Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu's foreheads.

This person is sometimes like a child who hasn't grown up—lazy, cunning, and afraid of trouble.

Sometimes he's like an old man who's seen it all, with something deep hidden in his eyes. He's kind to everyone, yet he keeps everyone at arm's length.

Sometimes, the way he looked at her would make her heart race, thinking he was finally getting closer, but the next second, he would look away and retreat back into his shell.

It's so...it makes you both love and hate it.

As night deepened, the peaks of Qingyun Mountain gradually fell into slumber.

Only the back hall of Yuqing Hall on Tongtian Peak was still lit.

Dao Xuan Zhenren sat on a futon, closing his eyes to rest. Tian Buyi sat below him, his chubby face expressionless, but his fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of his teacup.

"Not easy," Dao Xuan said slowly, his voice calm. "You've come today because of your little disciple?"

Tian Buyi nodded, then shook his head: "Sect Leader, I've already inquired about Xiao Chuan's... affair with that Ghost King Sect woman. That woman does indeed have some obsession with him, but Xiao Chuan has absolutely no intention of betraying the sect! He grew up in Qingyun since childhood, and his heart is pure and simple; he would never..."

Dao Xuan raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.

"Of course I believe him."

He opened his eyes, looked at Tian Buyi with gentle eyes, and said, "That child is someone we've watched grow up. He's a bit impulsive, but he values ​​loyalty and has a sense of responsibility. The incident at Liubo Mountain, where he sacrificed himself to bring back Yicai, has already explained everything. The demonic sect members are cunning and adept at bewitching people. Just tell that child to be more careful and don't be too harsh on him."

Tian Buyi breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense shoulders relaxed.

"Thank you for your understanding, Senior Brother Sect Leader."

Dao Xuan smiled, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "As for him and that girl Lu Xueqi from Xiaozhu Peak... I think they have some potential. Xueqi is aloof, it's rare for her to care so much about someone, what do you think?"

Tian Buyi was taken aback, not expecting Dao Xuan to suddenly bring this up.

He thought for a moment and said carefully, "As for the children... let nature take its course. Xueqi is an excellent junior sister, but... Xiaochuan, that rascal, is sometimes a bit dim-witted and may not understand."

Whether you understand or not, when the time is right, you will understand naturally.

Dao Xuan put down his teacup and said casually, "As long as they don't make any mistakes and it doesn't hinder their cultivation, let them be. The Qingyun Sect should have some good news to celebrate."

Tian Buyi nodded thoughtfully.

After sitting for a while, Tian Buyi took his leave. Dao Xuan watched his departing figure, the gentleness on his face gradually fading, and his eyes becoming deep.

After about an incense stick's time, Xiao Yicai quietly entered through the side door, bowed, and greeted, "Master."

"Yicai, sit down." Daoxuan gestured for him to sit down. "You've worked hard on the matters of Kongsang Mountain and Liubo Mountain."

"It's my duty as a disciple." Xiao Yicai sat down, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Master, about Junior Brother Jiang and that woman from the Ghost King Sect..."

"I understand," Dao Xuan said calmly. "That woman is the only daughter of the Ghost King Wanrenwang, named Biyao. She seems to have fallen deeply in love with Xiaochuan. What is your opinion on this matter?"

Xiao Yicai pondered for a moment and said, "Junior Brother Jiang is resolute and should not be bewitched by the Demonic Sect. However, that woman has a special identity and is deeply obsessed with Junior Brother Jiang, which may cause trouble. I think we should remind Junior Brother Jiang to keep his distance to avoid future problems."

Dao Xuan shook his head and smiled: "Yicai, you are calm and thoughtful, which is good, but the word 'love' is the most difficult to understand. Xiao Chuan may seem lazy, but he is actually very perceptive. If he is truly indifferent to that woman, he will handle it properly. If he is interested..."

He paused, a complex and unfathomable look flashing across his eyes. "That was also his destiny, his calamity."

Xiao Yicai hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Master, Biyao is, after all, the Ghost King's only daughter. If Junior Brother Jiang truly... develops feelings for her, how will he handle the future conflict between the righteous and demonic factions? And will the Ghost King take advantage of this relationship...?"

Dao Xuan slowly twirled the prayer beads, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Yi Cai, you always see things too 'realistically'."

Xiao Yicai was taken aback: "Please enlighten me, Master."

"Ghost King Wanrenwang is a man of great talent and ambition, with a deep and cunning mind. If he truly intended to use his daughter to control Xiaochuan, he wouldn't have released her so easily at Liubo Mountain, much less allowed Biyao to publicly express her feelings, thus giving others a handle against her," Daoxuan said calmly. "There are only two possibilities for his actions: either he dotes on this daughter to the extreme, letting her run wild, or..."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "He has other plans. Perhaps he wants to use the word 'love' to plant a seed in Xiao Chuan's heart. A seed that, at a crucial moment, might influence Qingyun and the situation between the righteous and the demonic realms."

Xiao Yicai's heart skipped a beat: "Master means... the Ghost King is plotting something?"

"It may not be a strategic plan, but it must have been carefully considered."

Dao Xuan smiled, a smile tinged with the wisdom of someone who had seen through the ways of the world: "The word 'love' is the most unpredictable and the most sharp. If used well, it can be worth a thousand armies. The Ghost King is a wise man; he must understand this principle."

He looked at Xiao Yicai and said earnestly, "Therefore, we don't need to stop him or push him. We can just wait and see. Xiao Chuan is a simple and honest child, but he has his own destiny and composure. As his elders, we can just watch over him, protect him, and give him a hand when he goes astray. That's enough. As for whether the future will be a blessing or a curse... that depends on his own choice."

Xiao Yicai seemed to understand, then bowed and said, "This disciple understands."

He left the inner hall, his heart heavy. His master had seen too far and thought too deeply.

As for Junior Brother Jiang… He recalled the fleeting complexity in Jiang Xiaochuan’s eyes when he looked at Biyao on Black Wind Cliff, and the silence when he answered “Is there any true feeling?”

That seed may have already been planted, but who knows what it will grow into?