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

He didn't finish speaking; he just looked at them.

The three of them were stunned for a moment, then they understood. This was to ask for "apology money".

The leader looked rather grim, but after glancing at Mo Xue behind Jiang Xiaochuan and recalling the Tai Chi symbol from earlier, he gritted his teeth, pulled out a small purse from his pocket, and handed it over.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation, Brother Jiang, please don't refuse. Consider it... payment for the tea for you and your wife."

Jiang Xiaochuan took it, weighed it in his hand, and nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you very much then."

He put away his money pouch, grabbed Xiaobai's hand, turned and left. After a few steps, he turned back, smiled at the three of them, and said, "By the way, please ask Master Yun for me. Tell him that Jiang Xiaochuan of the Qingyun Sect is passing through this place and will definitely pay him a visit another day."

After saying that, he left quickly without lingering.

Once they left the village and went up the mountain road, Jiang Xiaochuan finally breathed a sigh of relief when no one was around. He released Xiaobai's hand and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"That scared me to death," he muttered. "I thought a fight was going to break out."

Xiao Bai looked at him, her eyes full of laughter: "Weren't you quite calm? You even asked for the money back."

"Why not take it if it's free?" Jiang Xiaochuan said matter-of-factly. "They suspected me first, so what's wrong with me taking some compensation for emotional distress?"

Xiaobai laughed out loud. She walked up to him, looked at him, and said with a smile, "Hey, I just said I'm your wife, aren't you happy?"

Jiang Xiaochuan glanced at her, annoyed: "What's there to be happy about? If this gets back to Qingyun, Lu Xueqi will skin me alive."

"oh--"

Xiao Bai drew out her words, leaning closer, her breath brushing against his ear: "So you're afraid of your senior sister, huh? What about Bi Yao? Did she skin you alive too?"

"They're both scared," Jiang Xiaochuan said honestly. "One used a sword to scratch, and the other used a Heartbreak Flower. It hurts for both of them."

"And what about me?" Xiaobai looked at him, her voice softening, a mix of coaxing and probing, "Are you afraid of me?"

In a moment of impulsiveness, Jiang Xiaochuan didn't think twice and slapped her on the butt.

A soft "snap" sounded particularly clear on the quiet mountain road.

It feels nice and is elastic.

The moment this thought crossed Jiang Xiaochuan's mind, he felt an immense force rushing towards him!

He didn't even see how Xiaobai moved before he was sent flying, arcing through the air before crashing into a big tree with a "bang," then sliding down and falling to the ground.

His back ached terribly from the impact, and he saw stars before his eyes. He lay on the ground, coughed twice, and felt as if his internal organs had shifted.

Xiaobai appeared above him. She squatted down and looked at his grimacing face. Her face was expressionless, but her ears were a little red.

She reached out and gently helped him up.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice sounding quite sincere. "You suddenly touched me, it startled me, it was a conditioned reflex."

Jiang Xiaochuan was helped to sit up, panting, and glared at her: "You...you went too far!"

"Who told you to touch me like that?" Xiaobai said righteously, but her ears turned even redder. She paused, then added softly, "Next time you want to touch me... tell me in advance, don't just do it suddenly."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "...Who wants to touch it anymore!"

Seeing his exasperated expression, Xiaobai suddenly smiled. She reached out and gently rubbed his sore back, asking lightly, "Does it still hurt?"

"Nonsense!" Jiang Xiaochuan said irritably.

Xiao Bai stopped talking, but helped him stand up and patted the dirt off him.

The two continued walking forward, the atmosphere a little awkward. Jiang Xiaochuan didn't speak, nor did Xiaobai; only the sound of footsteps and the wind blowing through the trees could be heard.

After walking for a while, Jiang Xiaochuan suddenly asked, "Isn't there a place in southern Xinjiang called Tianshui Village?"

Xiao Bai nodded: "Yes, it's not far from here, about two or three days' journey east."

"There's also Qilidong?"

"Yes. Further in, there's Qilidong, a place inhabited by the Miao people."

Jiang Xiaochuan thought for a moment and said, "Take me to Tianshui Village. I've heard it's a lively place, and I'd like to go see it."

Xiao Bai turned her head to look at him: "What are you going there for?"

"Just having some fun," Jiang Xiaochuan said casually. "I've got nothing else to do anyway. Traveling around southern Xinjiang is better than being stuck in Qingyun Mountain."

Xiao Bai looked at him for a moment, then nodded: "Okay. I'll take you there."

……

Two days later, at Tianshui Village.

The village was much larger than the previous one, built on a flat area between two mountains, with a river running through it. The river water was murky and yellowish.

Several wooden bridges span the river, bustling with people. The village houses are densely packed, mostly wooden buildings, some quite old, their wood a deep brown hue. The streets are paved with stone slabs, worn smooth by countless footsteps, and crowded with vendors selling all sorts of things: mountain produce, medicinal herbs, animal hides, salt, cloth, food...

The air was filled with a mixture of various smells, so strong that it was almost pungent.

There were many people, men and women, young and old, dressed in all sorts of clothes. Some carried baskets on their backs, while others led livestock. They walked crowded together on the street, their voices, the sounds of bargaining, children crying, and livestock bleating all blending into a buzzing cacophony.

Jiang Xiaochuan and Xiaobai were walking on the street.

Even after changing into that indigo dress, Xiaobai's slender figure and outstanding appearance were still undeniable. Walking in the crowd, she attracted many glances—some of admiration, some of curiosity, and some of ill intent. She didn't care; she simply smiled slightly and calmly scanned her surroundings.

She held Jiang Xiaochuan's hand, her fingers long and warm, gripping it tightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan tried to pull out, but couldn't. He turned to look at her, and Xiaobai was also looking at him with a smile in her eyes, her fingers tightening their grip.

"Stop fooling around," she said softly, her tone as natural as if she were commenting on the nice weather.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at the two holding hands, then at the stares from all around, and sighed inwardly. He resigned himself to his fate; he couldn't shake them off anyway, so he might as well let them hold hands.

The two walked slowly through the crowd, hand in hand, watching vendors hawk their wares, children play, and old people squatting in the corner smoking. Jiang Xiaochuan would occasionally stop to buy a skewer of candied hawthorn or a bag of roasted chestnuts, sharing half with Xiaobai. Xiaobai would take it and eat it in small bites, her eyes crinkling with happiness.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the crowd suddenly parted to make way for three men who staggered over. They were dressed in gaudy clothes, their chests were open, revealing their hairy bodies, and their faces reeked of alcohol. Their eyes were red, and they were glancing around erratically in the crowd.

Upon seeing Xiaobai, the three of them's eyes lit up immediately.

"Hey, where did this pretty young lady come from? She's quite the beauty." The leader, a burly man with a face full of scars, grinned, revealing yellow teeth. He swaggered over and reached out to touch Xiaobai's face.

Xiao Bai shrank back slightly, leaning against Jiang Xiaochuan, her voice soft and timid: "Husband..."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a chill run down his spine.

The man paused for a moment upon hearing the word "husband," then his gaze fell on Jiang Xiaochuan. Seeing that he was a handsome young man, not very tall, he immediately sneered, "Him? That skinny guy, can he be your husband? Little lady, why don't you come with me, I'll guarantee you a life of luxury..."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand again.

Jiang Xiaochuan sighed, released Xiaobai's hand, stepped forward, and blocked her way. He didn't look at the man, but calmly looked ahead, raised his right hand, and made a grabbing motion in the air.

The Mo Xue sword flew out from behind him and landed in his hand. The sword was not yet drawn, but its clear and cold aura had already spread.

The surrounding crowd fell silent instantly, stepping back to make way for a larger open space. The three men were also taken aback for a moment, but emboldened by the alcohol, they didn't back down.

"Kid, you want to fight?" The burly man grinned maliciously, drawing a machete from his waist. "Grandpa's going to..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Jiang Xiaochuan made a move.

With a flick of his wrist, Mo Xue thrust out from its sheath, the blade transforming into a streak of azure light, so fast that its trajectory was obscured, aiming straight for the man's crotch!

The man was shocked and tried to dodge, but the sword was too fast. He only felt a chill in his crotch. Looking down, he saw that the tip of the sword had cut a gash in his groin. It felt cold, but his skin was not broken.

The sword tip stopped an inch below his crotch and remained motionless.

Jiang Xiaochuan gripped his sword, looked at him calmly, and said indifferently, "Get lost."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chill.

The man's face turned pale, and he sobered up considerably. He looked down at his crotch, then at the sword tip pressed against him, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel down. His two companions behind him were also terrified and stood frozen in place.

"I...I'm leaving, I'm leaving!" The man's voice trembled as he backed away, not caring that his pants had fallen down to his ankles. He scrambled away, and his two companions followed, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

Silence fell over the surroundings. Everyone stared at Jiang Xiaochuan with awe in their eyes. To be able to control a sword, and with such incredible speed, he must be a cultivator; someone not to be trifled with.

Jiang Xiaochuan retrieved Mo Xue, put it back on his back, sheathed his sword, and without even looking at them, took Xiao Bai's hand and left.