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

Secrets, one after another, each one enough to shake the heavens and disrupt the balance between good and evil.

After a long time, long enough that even the shadows outside the hall had shifted slightly, Dao Xuan finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant, as if pressed from the deepest part of his chest:

"Jiang Xiaochuan." He called his name, emphasizing each syllable. "Do you know that any one of your words today is enough to cause a massive upheaval within the Qingyun Sect?"

"This disciple understands."

"Then why do you still say it's better to keep it a secret?" Dao Xuan looked at him, his gaze piercing.

Jiang Xiaochuan remained silent for a moment. The sound of the wind outside the hall seemed to subside, leaving only the sound of his own breathing, one breath after another.

Looking into the unfathomable complexity in Dao Xuan's eyes, he suddenly felt very tired, not physically tired, but because the string in his heart, which had been stretched for too long, had finally reached its limit, drooping limply, unable to muster any more strength.

He lowered his eyes, looking at the gleaming gold-brick floor beneath his feet, where his somewhat pale face was vaguely reflected. He heard his own voice, soft and weary, hoarse, as he whispered:

"Because this disciple believes in Master Uncle." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, and uttered the last few words, even softer, yet as if he had exhausted all his strength, "And also because... this disciple is tired."

tired.

Two words, light and airy, carrying little weight, yet to Dao Xuan they felt as heavy as a mountain. He looked at the boy before him, at his downcast eyes, at his tightly pursed, bloodless lips, at the profound weariness on his face that seemed so out of place for his age. Suddenly, he remembered how Tian Buyi had carried this child back to Qingyun Mountain many years ago—a thin, small bundle, neither crying nor fussing, just staring at this unfamiliar world with his dark eyes, his gaze filled with curiosity, bewilderment, and a quiet stillness that Dao Xuan couldn't understand at the time.

In the blink of an eye, I've grown up so much, big enough to carry so many secrets, so many entanglements, so many tangled and inextricable threads of emotion and sin, and walk up to him, calmly laying them all out one by one, and then say, "I'm tired."

Dao Xuan sighed again, this time a heavy and long sigh, as if he wanted to expel all the pent-up frustration in his chest. The sigh echoed in the empty hall, sounding particularly desolate.

"I will carefully consider what you said today," he finally said, his voice regaining its usual composure, but beneath it lay a turbulent undercurrent. "Regarding Zhang Xiaofan, I will negotiate with Tianyin Temple. As for Cangsong... I have my own plans. As for you..."

He paused, looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, his eyes becoming serious, carrying the authority of a sect leader: "Privately learning other sects' techniques, concealing major secrets, and being entangled with a woman from the Demonic Sect, these are multiple offenses, and you are hereby punished with thirty years of confinement in Taiji Cave. Without permission, you are not allowed to step out of Dazhu Peak."

Thirty years.

For ordinary people, it is most of their lives; for those who cultivate the Tao, it is not too long, but it is certainly not short either. It is enough for many things to change, enough for some people to forget, and enough for some things to settle down.

Jiang Xiaochuan paused, then looked up at Dao Xuan. Dao Xuan was also looking at him, his eyes deep and filled with things Jiang Xiaochuan couldn't understand at the moment, but there was no real anger or murderous intent in them.

He suddenly understood that Taiji Cave was located on Dazhu Peak. The so-called confinement was actually just to prevent him from leaving Dazhu Peak at will. This was not a punishment, but clearly... protection, keeping him in a relatively safe place to avoid the impending storm and those complicated troubles.

The heavy weariness in his heart suddenly dissipated, replaced by a complex, bittersweet warmth. He took a step back, straightened his robes, and solemnly bowed deeply to Dao Xuan.

"Disciple... thanks Senior Uncle."

Dao Xuan waved his hand, said nothing more, and closed his eyes again, as if he were extremely tired.

Jiang Xiaochuan straightened up, glanced at Dao Xuan again, turned around, and walked out of the main hall step by step. The sound of his boots stepping on the golden bricks was particularly clear in the silence, tap, tap, tap.

Stepping out of the palace, the sky was bright, the sea of ​​clouds surged beneath his feet, and the distant mountains were like dark eyebrows. A mountain wind suddenly rushed in, making his robes flutter and dispersing the heavy sandalwood fragrance in the palace.

He stood under the eaves, gazing at the vast sea of ​​clouds before him for a long time, and then, slowly and deliberately, exhaled a long breath.

As he exhaled, it felt as if he had released some of the heavy burden that had been weighing on his heart for so long. He felt a little relieved. Although the road ahead was still uncertain and there were still so many troubles, at least... he didn't have to keep it all to himself anymore.

He wielded the God-Slaying Spear, its dark red light piercing through the sea of ​​clouds as it flew towards Dazhu Peak.

Upon returning to Dazhu Peak, he didn't go back to his own room. Instead, he went to the bamboo forest behind Shoujing Hall to find Zhang Xiaofan. Zhang Xiaofan was practicing his sword in a clearing in the forest. The Yuanlei Sword in his hand transformed into streaks of dark blue light. Although it wasn't flashy, each move was steady and carried a solid strength.

Upon seeing Jiang Xiaochuan arrive, Zhang Xiaofan sheathed his sword, wiped the sweat from his brow, and greeted him with a simple, honest voice, "Senior Brother Jiang."

"Practicing?" Jiang Xiaochuan walked over, picked up a bamboo stick, and scribbled it a few times on the ground. "Come on, sit down, I have something to tell you."

Zhang Xiaofan sat down as instructed, looking at him with some confusion.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't look at him; his eyes were fixed on the messy lines drawn on the ground by bamboo branches, as if he was organizing his thoughts.

After a while, he spoke, his voice low, and slowly recited the words and phrases from the first volume of the Heavenly Book again. He recited them very slowly, while unconsciously writing on the ground with a bamboo stick as he did so.

Zhang Xiaofan was initially a little confused, but as he listened, his gaze gradually became focused. Those profound words seemed to carry some strange power, and they subtly resonated with the Great Brahma Prajna True Qi that was silently circulating within his body. There was no conflict or repulsion, but rather a kind of... indescribable, as if they originated from the same root.

"The reason why heaven and earth can endure is that they do not live for themselves, therefore they can endure..." Zhang Xiaofan murmured, repeating the sentence, his brows slightly furrowed, as if trying to understand.

"Don't overthink it." Jiang Xiaochuan stopped, tossed aside the bamboo stick, and patted the dirt off his hands. "This stuff is deep, and I only have a rough idea of ​​what it is. Just remember it, and figure it out yourself when you cultivate in the future. Maybe... it will be of some use to you."

Zhang Xiaofan nodded vigorously, his eyes shining: "Yes! I've got it, Senior Brother Jiang!"

Jiang Xiaochuan smiled at his serious expression and ruffled his hair: "Practice hard. If I ever fall on hard times, I'll be counting on you to protect me. I'll be clinging to your coattails."

Zhang Xiaofan blushed and quickly shook his head: "Senior Brother Jiang, you must be joking. I... how could I..."

"Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore." Jiang Xiaochuan stood up, patted his clothes, and said, "I'm going back. You keep practicing."

He turned and walked towards Shoujing Hall. When he reached the hall, he saw Tian Ling'er sitting on the steps, her hands supporting her cheeks, her cheeks puffed out, looking at him angrily. Her bright red dress stood out against the dusty stone steps.

Jiang Xiaochuan paused for a moment, then walked over and sat down next to her.

"Oh, who made our young lady angry?" He tilted his head to look at her.

"You!" Tian Ling'er immediately turned to glare at him, her eyes wide and round. "You came back and hid in the house, then ran off to Tongtian Peak, and now you're looking for Xiao Fan! You're just ignoring me!"

Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled, shook his head, reached into his pocket, pulled out a small oil paper packet, and handed it to her: "Here, as an apology."

Tian Ling'er glanced at it but didn't take it immediately. However, her eyes had already turned to Jiang Xiaochuan. He opened the oil paper package, which contained a few milky white candies, round and smooth, emitting a faint sweet fragrance.

Tian Ling'er snorted, then reached for the oil paper package, picked up a piece of candy, and put it in her mouth. The sweetness melted on her tongue, carrying a milky aroma, and went straight to her heart. Her expression softened a little, but she still wouldn't let it go: "Hmph, you only know how to coax me with candy. It won't work next time!"

"Then I won't coax you next time." Jiang Xiaochuan pretended to take back the remaining candy.

"Hey!" Tian Ling'er immediately hid the oil paper package behind her back, glaring at him. "Once it's given to me, it's mine! You're not allowed to take it back!"

Jiang Xiaochuan smiled as he watched her guarding her food, but as he smiled, he felt a pang of sadness. He looked away, gazing at the distant, rolling green hills and swirling clouds, and said nothing more.

Tian Ling'er looked at his profile, watching the smile on his lips slowly fade and turn into a calmness she couldn't understand. Suddenly, the candy in her mouth didn't taste so sweet anymore.

She bit her lip and asked softly, "Xiao Chuan, are you... leaving again?"

Jiang Xiaochuan turned to look at her and shook his head: "I'm not leaving. The sect leader has punished me with confinement for thirty years. I can't leave Dazhu Peak. From now on... I'll see you every day. Isn't that annoying?"

Tian Ling'er was stunned.

Confinement? Thirty years? She blinked, looked at Jiang Xiaochuan's calm face, and quickly lowered her head, mumbling, "Annoying...so annoying, who wants to see you every day?"

But the fingers gripping the oil paper package were very tight.

The news of the confinement quickly spread across Dazhu Peak. The fellow disciples were somewhat taken aback, but looking at Jiang Xiaochuan's calm demeanor and then at their master Tian Buyi's expressionless chubby face, they understood the gist of it.

No one asked any questions. Du Bishu patted Jiang Xiaochuan on the shoulder and said, "That's good, it'll be quiet." He Dazhi handed him two newly found miscellaneous books. Song Daren smiled and said, "Tell your senior brother what you want to eat." Zhang Xiaofan didn't say anything, but he practiced his sword even more diligently.