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

Jiang Xiaochuan returned to Dazhu Peak and landed in front of Shoujing Hall.

As dusk fell, a faint glow of red lingered in the west.

He held the jade pendant; it was warm, and the feeling was...not bad?

Just as he was about to go back inside, a fiery red figure darted out from the side and blocked his way.

It was Tian Ling'er, wearing her favorite bright red dress, her little face tense, her cheeks puffed out.

Zhang Xiaofan followed a few steps behind her, glancing at Tian Ling'er and then at himself, but dared not speak.

Tian Ling'er, hands on her hips, angrily said, "Sixth Senior Brother, where did you sneak off to again? Did you go down the mountain to play again?"

Jiang Xiaochuan tucked the jade pendant into his robes, remaining calm, and said, "No, I was just... wandering around and enjoying the scenery."

"Liar!" Tian Ling'er leaned closer to him, wrinkled her nose like a puppy, and sniffed him.

"You smell bad!"

Jiang Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat.

"A...cool fragrance of plum blossoms, and..."

Tian Ling'er smelled it carefully again, and her face suddenly changed.

"There's also a very faint scent... like... Lu Xueqi!"

She then noticed that Jiang Xiaochuan seemed to be holding something in his hand, and her gaze immediately locked onto his fist.

What are you holding in your hand?

Jiang Xiaochuan instinctively hid his hands behind his back and said, "It's nothing."

"Let me see it." Tian Ling'er persisted, reaching out to snatch it.

"Senior Sister Ling'er, stop fooling around." Jiang Xiaochuan stepped aside.

"Who's making a scene! Did you go to meet Lu Xueqi again? And you even accepted her gifts?" Tian Ling'er's voice rose, carrying a hint of grievance and bitterness that she herself was unaware of.

A secret rendezvous? This girl… Jiang Xiaochuan choked on his words.

Jiang Xiaochuan, trying to brush her off, said, "Nothing's wrong. Go back quickly, it's time to eat."

Tian Ling'er became even more anxious. Seeing him dodge, she became even more certain of her guess. Without thinking twice, she pounced on him, determined to snatch the jade pendant from his hand.

"Let me see! What's this good stuff?"

Jiang Xiaochuan was afraid of hurting her, so he could only dodge awkwardly.

Zhang Xiaofan watched anxiously from the side, wanting to offer advice but not daring to step forward.

"Senior Sister Ling'er, Senior Brother Jiang, please don't..."

Tian Ling'er had no such concerns. She was agile and had been used to playing around with Jiang Xiaochuan since childhood. She seized an opening and pounced.

Jiang Xiaochuan instinctively stepped back, but his foot tripped over a stone, and he fell backward.

Tian Ling'er couldn't stop in time and fell down as well, landing right on top of him.

The posture was a bit awkward.

Tian Ling'er was stunned, her face turned red, and he was stunned too.

But Tian Ling'er didn't stop. She took the opportunity to pry open his tightly clenched hand and snatch the jade pendant away.

"Give it back to me!" Jiang Xiaochuan said anxiously.

Tian Ling'er jumped up and held the jade pendant close to her eyes.

The warm, white jade, with the character "川" (river) in the middle, made her eyes sting a little.

She held the jade pendant up to the sunlight and said, "Hmph, it's just a piece of jade, and the carving isn't even that good. I'll take this one; next time, I'll make you a better one!"

As she spoke, she tried to put the jade pendant into her bosom.

The cold, malevolent energy that often lingered in Jiang Xiaochuan's chest because of the Blood-Devouring Bead was suddenly stirred up by this action.

He propped himself up, his voice tinged with coldness: "Tian Ling'er! Give her back to me."

Tian Ling'er was startled by his tone. Her sixth senior brother had never spoken to her like that before.

She paused, turned around and looked at him.

Jiang Xiaochuan's face was expressionless, but his eyes were dark and deep.

She pouted, a mixture of grievance and inexplicable anger swirling within her. She tossed the jade pendant into his arms and said, "I'll give it back! It's just a broken jade pendant, who cares?"

After saying that, her eyes reddened, she stomped her foot hard, turned around and ran away.

Jiang Xiaochuan caught the jade pendant, and the warm, smooth touch startled him, bringing him back to his senses.

Was my tone too harsh just now?

Zhang Xiaofan then leaned closer, looking in the direction Tian Ling'er had disappeared, then at Jiang Xiaochuan, and cautiously asked, "Senior Brother Jiang, are you... alright?"

Jiang Xiaochuan exhaled and held the jade pendant tightly in his hand; the warmth seemed to dispel the coldness and irritability in his chest.

He forced a smile, ruffled Zhang Xiaofan's hair, and said, "What could possibly be wrong with me? Let's go back and see what we're having for dinner tonight."

……

That night, Jiang Xiaochuan still went to Tian Ling'er's house.

He stood there for a moment, then raised his hand and knocked on the door.

A muffled voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"I."

There was a moment of silence inside, then the door opened.

Tian Ling'er stood in the room, having changed into her nightgown. Her hair was loose, and her eyes were a little red, but the anger from earlier in the day was no longer visible on her face.

"What?" she asked, her tone curt.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood outside the door, looking at her, and said, "Bai Tian... I'm sorry."

Tian Ling'er was taken aback: "What do you mean, 'sorry'?"

"I was too harsh."

Tian Ling'er blinked, then suddenly burst out laughing, her previous tough demeanor vanishing instantly.

"Fool, just for this? You think I'm that petty?"

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her with suspicion, his eyes clearly saying: Isn't that right?

Tian Ling'er blushed under his gaze, somewhat annoyed: "What are you looking at? I said it's true, so it is!"

Jiang Xiaochuan shook his head, disbelieving.

"I'm really alright!" Tian Ling'er emphasized, then paused, her voice lowering, "It's just... it's that jade pendant..."

"What happened to the jade pendant?"

"The carving... is alright." Tian Ling'er turned her face away and muttered softly.

"It's better than mine."

Jiang Xiaochuan laughed: "You can carve jade too?"

Tian Ling'er glared at him defiantly: "You'll learn it after a little practice!"

Then, remembering something, her face turned even redder. "Hey, what are you doing standing at the door? Won't you come in and sit for a while? We used to be..."

"Ahem." Jiang Xiaochuan quickly interrupted her, feeling a little embarrassed.

"That's an old almanac from so many years ago, I was still young then..."

"Besides, who knew who was who back then? Alright, alright, it's getting late, I'm going back to rest. Senior Sister Ling'er, you should go to sleep early too."

Before Tian Ling'er could speak again, he turned and left, his steps a little fast.

Tian Ling'er leaned against the door frame, watching his hurried departure. She bit her lip, muttered under her breath, "Coward." Then she gently closed the door.

……

The next day, Jiang Xiaochuan found a secluded spot deep in the bamboo forest behind the mountain, sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate the Tai Chi Xuanqing Dao.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my forehead.

He opened his eyes, and a pine cone rolled to his feet. Looking up, he saw a small gray monkey perched on a tall pine branch, grinning at him and holding another pine cone in its hand.

Three-eyed monkey? Little Grey?

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned for a moment.

Isn't it Zhang Xiaofan's... pet?

How could this be...?

He wasn't interested in taming the monkey and waved his hand, saying, "Go away, go play somewhere else."

Little Gray squeaked, but instead of leaving, it became even more energetic and smashed the pine cone in its hand down again.

Jiang Xiaochuan turned his head to dodge, a little impatient.

"Are you looking for a beating?"

He got up, intending to shoo the annoying monkey away.

Little Gray was very agile, darting among the branches and occasionally dropping pine cones or twigs.

It made squeaking noises, as if it were mocking him.