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

Qingyun Mountain, Xiaozhu Peak.

Night had fallen, and the bamboo forest rippled in the wind, rustling like the tide. Shuiyue stood under the eaves, gazing at the deep night in the distance, her brows slightly furrowed. Su Ru came out of the house, holding a cloak, and gently draped it over Shuiyue's shoulders.

"Senior sister, it's chilly at night."

Shuiyue hummed in agreement and didn't move. Su Ru followed her gaze and looked in the distance. The direction of Tongtian Peak was hidden in the night and couldn't be seen clearly.

"How long has Xueqi been in seclusion?" Shuiyue suddenly asked.

"It's been almost two years and three months," Su Ru said softly.

Shuiyue remained silent. Su Ru, noticing her expression, hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is Senior Sister worried about Xiaochuan?"

Shuiyue didn't deny it, only saying, "That child has been down the mountain for almost three months, and there's still no news of him."

"No news is good news," Su Ru comforted him. "Xiao Chuan is clever and has Mo Xue protecting him, so he'll be fine."

"Clever?" Shuiyue snorted.

Su Ru fell silent. The news of the strange events at the Xuanhuo Altar in Fenxiang Valley had already spread throughout the world, and Qingyun Sect had naturally received the news as well, although the specific details were unclear.

The two stood under the corridor for a long time. The night wind rustled the bamboo leaves like rain. In the distance, there were the light and steady footsteps of disciples patrolling at night. Everything was the same as usual, but Shuiyue could not shake off the unease in her heart.

"Where is Ling'er?" Shuiyue asked again.

"She's also in seclusion," Su Ru said. "Ever since Xiao Chuan came down the mountain, she's been cultivating with all her might, saying that when Xiao Chuan comes back, she'll make him look at her with new eyes."

Shuiyue sighed and said nothing more.

……

Fox Ridge Mountain, Ghost King Sect.

Youji, carrying a tray, gently pushed open the stone door. The stone chamber was empty, containing only a stone bed and a futon. Biyao sat on the futon, closing her eyes to regulate her breathing, a faint blue light flowing around her. She had lost some weight, her chin was more pointed, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.

Youji put down the tray, which contained a bowl of congee and two plates of meat. She didn't say anything, just stood quietly to the side. After about an incense stick's time, Biyao slowly opened her eyes. The blue light in her eyes faded, and she returned to clear black.

"Aunt You." She stood up, her voice a little hoarse.

"Take a break," Youji said, pushing the porridge towards her. "Your father sent me to check on you."

Biyao walked to the table and sat down, picked up the porridge and sipped it slowly. The porridge was warm, neither too hot nor too cold, just right for her to drink. She drank it very slowly, as if counting the grains of rice. Youji looked at her and sighed in her heart. Although she had cultivated before, she still had the liveliness of a young girl. Now she was so quiet that it was heartbreaking.

"Yao'er," Youji said softly, "Cultivation is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it cannot be rushed."

Biyao hummed in agreement, without looking up.

Knowing she couldn't persuade her, Youji stopped trying. She watched as the girl finished her porridge and ate some meat before clearing away the dishes. As she was leaving, she turned back and said, "Your father said he'll take you to the Southern Frontier in a few days."

Biyao paused, then looked up: "Southern Xinjiang?"

"Hmm." Youji nodded. "The Incense Valley is not peaceful. Perhaps... it will be beneficial."

Biyao was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

Youji then left the stone chamber and gently closed the door. The moment the door closed, she heard a very soft sigh coming from inside.

……

Tianshui Village, Inn.

As dawn broke, a bluish-gray light shone through the window paper.

Xiaobai woke up first. She turned to her side and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan sleeping on the floor. The boy was lying on his side facing her, the blanket covering his chest, one hand sticking out, his fingers slightly curled. He was sleeping soundly, breathing evenly, his eyelashes casting a light shadow under his eyes.

As she watched, Xiaobai's heart stirred. She made a hand gesture, and silently, a fluffy, snow-white tail emerged from behind her. The tail swayed gently and quietly reached out, its tip brushing against Jiang Xiaochuan's nose.

Jiang Xiaochuan frowned in his sleep, unconsciously raised his hand, waved it in front of his nose, and then retracted his tail. When he put his hand down, he reached out again and swept his cheek.

Jiang Xiaochuan waved his hand again, this time with more force, muttering something indistinctly. His tail dodged away, and after he quieted down, it came closer again, this time brushing his ear.

After several attempts, Jiang Xiaochuan was finally woken up. He groggily opened his eyes and saw a large white tail wagging in front of him. He was stunned for a few seconds before he realized what was happening, grabbed the tail, and threw it aside forcefully.

"Stop messing around..." he mumbled, turning over, still wanting to sleep.

The tail came closer again, this time not sweeping, but poking his waist with the tip. Jiang Xiaochuan was ticklish, his body trembled, and he woke up completely. He sat up and glared at Xiaobai, who was squatting innocently by the bed, and the tail behind her that was still wagging.

"What are you doing?" His voice was hoarse from just waking up, and filled with resentment.

"I was just trying to wake you up," Little White said matter-of-factly, retracting its tail and disappearing. "The sun's already high in the sky."

Jiang Xiaochuan glanced out the window; it was just dawn. He lay back down on his makeshift bed and pulled the blanket over his head: "It's still early, I'll sleep a little longer."

"Wake up, get up and eat, let's go shopping." Xiaobai protested, reaching out to pull the blanket off him.

After a few tugs of shove, Jiang Xiaochuan gave up, got up, and dressed with a resentful look on his face. Xiaobai sat on the edge of the bed, propping her chin up and looking at him with her eyes crinkled.

"Did you have a dream last night?" she suddenly asked.

"I did it," Jiang Xiaochuan said irritably.

"What did you dream about? Did you dream about me?" Xiaobai's eyes lit up, and she leaned closer.

"I dreamt about it," Jiang Xiaochuan said casually as he finished tying his belt. "I dreamt I slept with you."

Xiaobai was taken aback, then her cheeks flushed slightly. She leaned closer, sniffed him, and then pouted, "Liar, I don't smell like that."

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't react for a moment: "What's that smell?"

"It's...that smell." Xiaobai's eyes darted around, her ears turning even redder. "The smell a man has after he finishes dreaming."

Jiang Xiaochuan's ears burned, but he forced himself to remain calm: "I took a shower."

"Even a shower can't get rid of the smell," Xiaobai looked up at him, her eyes mischievous. "Jiang Xiaochuan, you're no good."

Jiang Xiaochuan choked on his saliva, his face turning red.

She rested her chin on her hand and looked at him, her voice soft:

"But it's okay, I don't mind."

Jiang Xiaochuan stared at her for a long while before saying, "Xiaobai, are you crazy?"

Do you have medicine?

"I don't."

"That settles it then," Xiaobai said with a smile.

The two went downstairs for breakfast and then strolled around the streets. Tianshui Village was more prosperous than the previous village, and there were many more things for sale on the streets. Xiaobai found everything new and interesting, looking at this stall and touching that stall. Jiang Xiaochuan followed behind her, occasionally taking out money to buy some trinkets.

Around noon, the two found a restaurant to eat. Xiaobai ordered a bunch of dishes and ate with great relish. Jiang Xiaochuan watched her eat happily and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved up.

After finishing their meal, they continued strolling around. The afternoon sun was strong, making them feel dizzy. The two found a tea stall, sat down, and drank tea. Xiao Bai took small sips, her gaze lingering on the people coming and going on the street, somewhat lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked.

Xiao Bai snapped out of her daze and smiled, "It's nothing, I just think... it's fine this way."

"What?"

"That's it." Xiaobai looked at him, her eyes bright. "Go shopping, eat, sunbathe, without thinking about escaping, without thinking about revenge, and without being locked to the edge of lava."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her without saying anything. He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found the tea to be bitter, but with a slightly sweet aftertaste.

The two sat at the tea stall for an entire afternoon, watching the sun gradually set, the number of pedestrians on the street dwindle, and the outlines of the distant mountains gradually blur in the twilight.

Back at the inn that night, in the same room, Jiang Xiaochuan slept on the floor while Xiaobai slept on the bed.

The two chatted casually, about the scenery of the southern border, trivial matters of Qingyun Mountain, and the past of the fox clan. As they talked, their voices gradually lowered until only the sound of their even breathing remained.

Days passed by like this: shopping, eating, drinking tea, and sightseeing during the day; returning to the inn at night, one person slept on the bed, and the other slept on a makeshift bed on the floor. We would chat for a while and then go to sleep. It was a mundane, simple, and even a little...boring experience.

The two explored the entire village, then went to the back mountain to see the waterfall. Water cascaded down from a height of hundreds of feet, crashing into a deep pool with a thunderous roar. The mist was thick, soaking their clothes. Xiaobai stood by the pool, gazing up at it for a long time. Jiang Xiaochuan asked her what she was looking at, and she replied, "The water. What's so interesting about water?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked again, and Xiaobai said, "Water is free; it goes wherever it wants, and no one can stop it."

They also went to the market. Every month on the fifteenth, there was a market outside the village. People from all the villages came to sell all kinds of things. Jiang Xiaochuan once bought a cow horn comb and gave it to Xiaobai. Xiaobai didn't say anything at the time, but just took it and rubbed it in her hands for a long time. When Jiang Xiaochuan woke up at night, he saw her sitting by the window, combing her hair by the moonlight, combing it stroke by stroke for a long time.

They also went to see a Nuo opera, a village festival. Masked shamans danced eerie steps, the drumbeats were rapid, and the firelight flickered. Xiaobai watched intently, but Jiang Xiaochuan found it noisy and pulled her away early. On the way back, Xiaobai said that the dance steps contained the ancient shaman's prayers—for rain, for a good harvest, for peace. Jiang Xiaochuan asked, "Lingyao?" Xiaobai smiled but didn't answer.

Days passed by, uneventful yet lively.

Neither of them seemed to find it boring. Xiaobai was always smiling and interested in everything. Although Jiang Xiaochuan complained that she was annoying, he didn't show any impatience when accompanying her shopping and eating.

Occasionally, Xiaobai would tease him, calling him "Little Husband" or "Little Chuan Chuan." Jiang Xiaochuan went from initially resisting to becoming numb, and now... he's gotten used to it. Sometimes when Xiaobai calls him, he'll even say "hmm" naturally, as if it were his duty.

There was a strange tacit understanding between the two. When Xiaobai teased him, he would complain verbally, but he would never really get angry. He would occasionally pinch her or flick her forehead, and she would not be annoyed. She would just smile and glare at him. They were like two playmates, or like... a young couple who had been together for a long time.

They slept in the same room, but in separate beds. No matter how much Xiaobai teased him, he would at most glare at her with a red face, but he would never cross the line.

Xiao Bai wasn't in a hurry. She just stayed with him, teased him, and watched him slowly get used to her presence.

Another morning.

It was still dark inside the room before dawn. Xiaobai woke up and turned to look at Jiang Xiaochuan on the floor. He was sleeping facing her, the blanket had slipped down to his waist, revealing his lean waist and a small section of his back. He was breathing evenly and sleeping soundly.

Xiao Bai's fingers twitched, and its tail peeked out again, gently brushing against his cheek. Jiang Xiaochuan frowned in his sleep, unconsciously reaching out to try and swat the tail away. But this time, his hand paused in mid-air, and then suddenly stretched forward and grabbed the tail.

It wasn't a sweep away, it was a grasp, a very tight grasp.

Xiao Bai was taken aback.

Before she could react, Jiang Xiaochuan suddenly pulled her hard! Caught off guard, Xiaobai was pulled off the bed and fell into his arms.

Hongli suddenly exclaimed excitedly in her mind, "Here it comes! The classic scene! An instinctive embrace in their sleep! According to the script, what should happen next is—"

The floor mat wasn't big, and the two rolled around in a ball. Jiang Xiaochuan's eyes were still closed, but his arms were tightly wrapped around Xiaobai's waist, holding her close in his arms. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, nuzzled her, mumbled something indistinctly, and then his breathing became heavy again.

Xiao Bai froze completely.

She could feel the boy's warm body pressed against her, his arms strong, making it hard for her to breathe. His breath brushed against her neck, warm and damp from just waking up, along with his clean scent, carrying a hint of grass and sunshine.

Her heart was beating a little fast, not from fear, but something else...

Hongli: "Yes, yes, hold me tighter, wait, your hand is in the wrong place, it should be moved down three inches—"

She looked up at Jiang Xiaochuan's peaceful sleeping face, so close to hers. His eyelashes were long, casting soft shadows beneath his eyes. His lips were slightly parted, and his breathing was even.

As if guided by some unseen force, she leaned over and gently touched his lips.

Very light, very fast, and separated at the touch.

Like a feather brushing across the water.

Hongli gasped, "What did I just see? A sneak attack! This is a sneak attack! Where's the referee? This doesn't count... wait... she seems to be the referee. Never mind, kid, wake up! Counterattack! Hold her down and kiss her back, let her know who's the top!"

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't wake up, but unconsciously smacked his lips, tightened his arms around her, pulled her closer, rubbed his face against her neck, found a more comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep again.

Hongli lamented his misfortune: "...You're hopeless. You won't even eat the meat that's offered to you. You deserve to sleep on the floor for the rest of your life."

Xiaobai was held tightly in his arms, unable to move. She listened to his steady breathing and felt the rise and fall of his chest. The panic in her heart slowly subsided, replaced by a strange, gentle sense of peace.

She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to him, her tail retracting at some point, and her arms gently encircling his waist.

The two of them embraced and fell asleep.

The sun was high in the sky, and sunlight streamed through the window paper, shining brightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan woke up.

He was awakened by the heat. There was a warm, soft body in his arms, pressed tightly against him, with arms wrapped around his waist, face buried in his chest, breathing evenly, fast asleep.

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned for a few seconds, his mind slowly clearing, and memories of last night flooded back.

He seemed to... have a dream? What did he dream about? He couldn't remember, only that he grabbed something, and then...

He looked down at his chest.

Xiao Bai was still asleep. Her indigo dress was a little disheveled, and the neckline was slightly open, revealing a small section of her fair collarbone. Her long hair was spread out on the pillow, with a few strands sticking to her sweaty cheeks. She was sleeping soundly, her cheeks flushed with a faint red, and the corners of her mouth were slightly curved, as if she was having a sweet dream.

Jiang Xiaochuan's mind went blank for a moment.

How could he be sleeping with Little White in his arms? And on a makeshift bed on the floor? What happened last night?!