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

She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan with gentle eyes, yet with an undeniable concern.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at the sword, then at Su Ru's slightly red eyes, and felt as if his heart was filled with something, a feeling that was both bittersweet and warm.

He reached out and took the sword. It felt slightly heavy and cold in his hand, and the scabbard seemed to still retain the warmth of Su Ru's palm.

"Thank you, Master's wife," he said in a low voice, his voice a little hoarse.

Tian Buyi curled his lip, not even looking at the sword, and said in a gruff voice, "Nine Heavens Divine Weapon, use it well, don't disgrace our Great Bamboo Peak."

"Yes, Master," Jiang Xiaochuan replied, carefully carrying Mo Xue on his back, crossing it with the God-Slaying Spear.

He turned around and walked towards the outside of Shoujing Hall. When he reached the door, he stopped, turned around, and looked at Tian Buyi and Su Ru standing side by side in the hall.

He stepped back, lifted his robe, and knelt down respectfully before the two of them, kowtowing once.

My forehead touched the ground, the cold stone slab carrying the familiar scent of Shoujing Hall.

Tian Buyi and Su Ru were both stunned. Tian Buyi's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just turned his face away and waved his hand: "Get out, get out, get out of here, don't get in my way."

Su Ru's eyes reddened even more. She turned her head away and dabbed them with a handkerchief.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood up, glanced at them again, turned around, and strode out of Shoujing Hall. The sunlight was bright and somewhat dazzling, so he raised his hand to shield his eyes.

Hongli lazily said in her mind, "It's just going to Fenxiang Valley to save that fox, why make it sound like a life-or-death separation?"

Jiang Xiaochuan twitched the corner of his mouth but didn't say anything.

Why are you ruining the mood?

As for why I didn't see the other fellow disciples, they were all cultivating.

Zhang Xiaofan was also busy cultivating both Buddhism and Taoism, and he was also responsible for the daily meals of Dazhu Peak. He was so busy that he barely had time to rest. Tian Ling'er was also working hard in her cultivation, much more diligently than before.

Lu Xueqi... is still in seclusion. It's been two years, and there's been no news of her. He occasionally goes to Xiaozhu Peak. The sword tassels and maple leaves hanging at the entrance of the bamboo hut are still there, covered in dust, but then blown clean by the wind. He doesn't know when she will come out of seclusion. He just stands at the entrance for a while each time he goes, looks at the bamboo forest, listens to the sound of the wind, and then leaves.

He walked to the open space in front of Dazhu Peak, summoned the God-Slaying Spear, its dark red shaft gleaming with an eerie light in the sunlight, leaped onto it, turned back, and glanced once more in the direction of Shoujing Hall.

The door was open, and Tian Buyi and Su Ru could be seen standing side by side at the entrance, looking at him.

He waved to them, then turned around and activated his spiritual power.

The dark red spear light surged, transforming into a streak of light that shot into the sky and hurtled southward. The wind was strong, causing his robes to flutter and also dispelling the inexplicable dampness in the corner of his eyes.

……

The sun was setting, and light filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow on the damp ground covered with a layer of golden fallen leaves.

Tian Ling'er walked ahead, kicking a round pebble. The pebble rolled far away, hit a thick bamboo, and bounced back. She walked over and kicked it away again. The amber silk ribbon was loosely wrapped around her arm, and the hem of her red skirt was stained with mud.

Zhang Xiaofan followed three steps behind her, carrying an empty wooden bucket with water dripping from the rim. His gaze fell on Tian Ling'er's foot kicking the pebbles, then shifted to the bamboo shoots in front of him, which were dyed golden red by the setting sun.

"He just left like that." Tian Ling'er suddenly spoke, her voice muffled, without turning around.

Zhang Xiaofan hummed in agreement.

"Without even saying hello." Tian Ling'er kicked a pebble again, this time with more force. The pebble hit another bamboo pole with a "crack" and shattered into several pieces.

She stopped, turned around, looked at Zhang Xiaofan, her eyes a little red, but she didn't cry. She just puffed out her cheeks and said, "Do you think he's annoyed with me? Does he think I'm always bothering him?"

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head slowly and earnestly: "No, Senior Brother Jiang... he's not that kind of person."

"Then why didn't he say anything before leaving?" Tian Ling'er pressed, her voice rising slightly, tinged with grievance.

Zhang Xiaofan paused for a moment, then lowered his gaze to the broken stones on the ground. He spoke in a low voice, each word distinct and clear: "Senior Brother Jiang... he probably couldn't bear to part with them."

Tian Ling'er was taken aback: "You can't bear to part with it?"

"Mm." Zhang Xiaofan nodded, raised his eyes, and looked at her.

"He can't bear to leave his master and mistress, he can't bear to leave Dazhu Peak, he can't bear to leave us... If we say goodbye in person, he's afraid he... might change his mind and not leave."

He spoke calmly, as if stating something extremely simple. Looking at his calm face, Tian Ling'er felt her grievances and anger slowly seep out, as if a small hole had been poked in them.

She bit her lip and asked softly, "Really?"

"I guessed," Zhang Xiaofan said honestly, "but Senior Brother Jiang is soft-hearted; he's always like that."

Tian Ling'er fell silent, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the tassels on her skirt.

After a long while, she snorted and turned her face away, saying, "At least he still has some conscience."

But the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed and curved slightly upwards.

The atmosphere relaxed a bit, and the two walked for a while longer. Then, as if remembering something, Tian Ling'er casually asked, "Hey, Xiao Fan, what level of cultivation have you reached now?"

Zhang Xiaofan paused for a moment before saying, "I've reached the sixth level of Jade Purity."

"ah?!"

Tian Ling'er turned around abruptly, her eyes wide, and looked him up and down.

"Six floors? Really? You were only on the fourth floor two years ago?"

Zhang Xiaofan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, so he looked away and gave a soft "hmm".

"Sure!" Tian Ling'er slapped his arm hard, making Zhang Xiaofan sway.

Her face showed undisguised surprise, and a hint of... barely perceptible resentment at being outdone.

"You've caught up with me! I've trained so hard these past two years, and I've only reached the sixth level. How did you manage to catch up?"

She is indeed very diligent. Ever since that day two years ago, she has been practicing her skills more hard than anyone else.

Tian Buyi didn't say it, but his eyes showed relief. Su Ru felt sorry for her and tried to persuade her several times, but to no avail, so she let her be. She was holding back a strong desire to become stronger, to…

But she never expected that Zhang Xiaofan, who was of average talent and always kept quiet, would also reach the sixth floor without making a sound, just like her.

Zhang Xiaofan's fingers, holding the empty bucket, curled unconsciously.

He recalled countless late nights when his fellow disciples were asleep, while he remained in the open space behind the mountain, practicing his swordsmanship again and again, circulating the Great Brahma Prajna, recalling the stagnation and swelling in his meridians as they were being washed by two different spiritual energies, recalling...

"I... practiced a little longer." That was all he said in the end, his voice dry.

Tian Ling'er stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing. Her resentment subsided a bit, and she patted his shoulder.

Tian Ling'er glared at her and said, "Tell me! Did Senior Brother Jiang secretly give you extra tutoring?"

Zhang Xiaofan shook his head: "No, before Senior Brother Jiang went down the mountain, he only said one sentence to me."

"What did you say?"

“Xiao Fan, cultivation is your own business. Don’t do it for anyone else, just for yourself.” Zhang Xiao Fan repeated, his voice calm. “I’ve remembered.”

Tian Ling'er was stunned. These words... Jiang Xiaochuan seemed to have said them to her before. A long time ago, when she was pestering him, she didn't pay attention at the time and just thought he was just being perfunctory.

Looking at Zhang Xiaofan's calm face, she suddenly asked, "Then... you practiced for yourself?"

Zhang Xiaofan paused for a moment, then nodded: "Mm."

"Liar." Tian Ling'er pouted, but her eyes curved into a smile. "You definitely want him to see this too, just like me."

Zhang Xiaofan neither denied nor admitted it, but simply carried the bucket forward, saying, "It's time to go back, Senior Sister, we still have to cultivate tonight."

……