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

"Grandpa," she tugged at Zhou Yixian's sleeve, her voice even softer, "why don't we... go on our way? Brother Tanghulu wouldn't lie to us."

"Where are you going!" Zhou Yixian glared.

"Since we're already here, and besides, this kid is now a member of the Qingyun Sect, of course he'll help them clear the area. One less person means one less share of the treasures. Girl, don't listen to his nonsense. Grandpa has an ancestral poison-repelling sachet, it'll keep you safe!"

Jiang Xiaochuan frowned. This old man was still so stubborn.

He said no more. With a thought, the God-Slaying Spear appeared out of the void and hovered beside him, its tip glowing with a dark red light.

He stepped forward and extended his hand to Zhou Xiaohuan: "Xiaohuan, come here."

Zhou Xiaohuan looked at him, then at Zhou Yixian, bit her lip, and walked over to his side.

"Hey, what are you doing, kid? Trying to kidnap my granddaughter!" Zhou Yixian jumped up and down in a panic.

Jiang Xiaochuan ignored him, put his arm around Zhou Xiaohuan's waist, and said to Zhou Yixian, "Mr. Zhou, please forgive me."

With his other hand, he grabbed in mid-air, and a gentle force enveloped Zhou Yixian. Zhou Yixian cried out "Ouch!" as he was pulled over against his will.

The God-Slaying Spear blazed with crimson light, enveloping the three of them. Jiang Xiaochuan gave a low shout: "Rise!"

A crimson light shot into the sky, skimming over the dense treetops at the edge of the swamp, and hurtled back the way it came. The wind whistled in its ears, and the scenery rushed past beneath its feet.

Zhou Yixian screamed in fright and grabbed Jiang Xiaochuan's arm tightly. Zhou Xiaohuan closed her eyes, feeling the strength of the arm around her waist and the refreshing scent of a young man coming from her nose. Her face burned.

In a short while, they had moved away from the edge of the gray, misty swamp and landed on a relatively dry high ground.

Jiang Xiaochuan released his grip, and the God-Slaying Spear was sheathed.

Zhou Yixian's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground, leaning against a nearby tree to catch his breath: "You...you brat, you're lawless!"

Zhou Xiaohuan steadied herself, her face still flushed, and looked up at him: "Candied Hawthorn Brother..."

"It should be safe here now." Jiang Xiaochuan interrupted her, took out two candied hawthorns from his pocket, bright red and covered with a glistening sugar shell, and handed them to her.

"Take this, eat it on the way. Hurry up and go with your grandfather, don't go any further towards the Dead Swamp."

Zhou Xiaohuan took the candied hawthorn, the cool bamboo skewer in her hand, the sugar coating glistening in the sunlight.

She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan and suddenly asked, "Brother Tanghulu, are you... going inside?"

"Um."

"It's dangerous, isn't it?"

"right."

"Then...you must be careful." Zhou Xiaohuan's voice was very low. She looked up at him with clear eyes. "Sister Biyao...is here too. I saw her in Dawang Village a few days ago."

Jiang Xiaochuan's smile faded slightly. He was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I understand, thank you."

Zhou Xiaohuan looked at him, then suddenly asked, "Brother Tanghulu, if... if I want to find you in the future, where should I look?"

Jiang Xiaochuan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "If fate allows, we will meet again."

"Pah, pah, pah!" Zhou Yixian interjected from the side.

"What unlucky talk is this, brat? My granddaughter wants to find you? Do you think she needs to wait for fate? Tell me, where are you looking for her!"

Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled, thought for a moment, and said, "Heyang City, Shanhaiyuan. If I'm not there, leave a message and I'll know."

Zhou Xiaohuan nodded seriously: "Yes, I've got it."

She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Brother Tanghulu, does the Qingyun Sect...accept female disciples?"

Jiang Xiaochuan's eyes lit up: "You're willing to come? You have excellent aptitude. If you join Qingyun, your future will be limitless."

"What a load of crap!" Zhou Yixian was so angry that his beard stood on end.

"You brat! I knew you were up to no good. You think you can just kidnap my granddaughter because she's pretty? Let me tell you, no way! Xiao Huan is the only heir of the Zhou family, destined to inherit the true essence of our family's physiognomy skills. Why would she go to Qingyun Sect?!"

"Grandpa!" Zhou Xiaohuan stomped her foot, her face turning even redder. She secretly glanced at Jiang Xiaochuan and saw that he was just smiling and showed no sign of anything amiss. She breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little disappointed.

She grabbed Zhou Yixian, "Don't talk nonsense! The candied hawthorn brother meant well!"

"Kindness? I think he has ulterior motives!"

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't take it seriously and said to Zhou Xiaohuan, "No rush, take your time to think it over. Cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao is a big deal, think it through before you speak."

Zhou Xiaohuan hummed in agreement and tightened her grip on the candied hawthorn.

"Let's go." Jiang Xiaochuan said no more, nodded to her, and the God-Slaying Spear reappeared. He stepped on it, transformed into a red light, and shot back in the direction he came from.

Zhou Xiaohuan stood there, watching the red light disappear into the horizon, motionless for a long time. The candied hawthorn in her hand shone brightly in the sunlight.

"Still looking? They're nowhere to be seen!" Zhou Yixian came over sullenly, glanced at the candied hawthorn in her granddaughter's hand, swallowed hard, and then put on a stern face.

"This kid, looks all respectable, but I didn't expect him to be married. Tsk tsk, saw that tall woman standing next to him just now? That's his wife, from the Qingyun Sect. She's fierce, don't be foolish!"

Zhou Xiaohuan didn't speak, she just looked at the horizon. They got married... No wonder, she felt different.

She took a bite of the candied hawthorn. The sugar coating crumbled in her mouth, a sweet and sour flavor intertwined with the soft flesh of the hawthorn. As she chewed slowly, she suddenly realized that this candied hawthorn didn't taste as good as she remembered.

……

Back at the edge of the swamp, the Qingyun Sect members were still waiting in the same spot. Lu Xueqi stood still, not moving. When she saw him return, her gaze fell on his face, then slowly shifted away, looking at the distant mist. Her lips were pursed, and the corners of her mouth turned down slightly.

Jiang Xiaochuan walked over and naturally reached out to take her hand again, but she gently pulled away when their hands touched.

He was taken aback and looked up at her. She was still looking at the fog, her profile slightly cold.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice lowered.

Lu Xueqi remained silent.

Beside him, Zeng Shushu fanned himself, gazing at the sky, muttering, "Ugh, the wind in this Dead Swamp smells sour..."

Standing not far away, Tian Ling'er heard this, her fingers curled up, and she turned her face away to look at the wild grass swaying in the wind.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at Lu Xueqi, then at Zeng Shushu, and suddenly understood something.

He wanted to laugh, but felt his jealousy was inexplicable. After thinking for a moment, he took out a candied hawthorn from his "pocket" and handed it to her.

"Here, this is the last one, I saved it for you."

Lu Xueqi glanced at it; it was bright red, with a glistening candy shell. She turned her face away, her voice stiff: "I don't want it. It's sour."

Jiang Xiaochuan pretended to be puzzled, took a small bite himself, and found the flesh plump, the sugar coating crisp and sweet, with just the right amount of sourness.

"It's not sour, it's quite sweet," he mumbled, pushing the candied hawthorn closer to her lips.

"Want to try some?"

Lu Xueqi turned her head and stared at him for two seconds. Suddenly, she reached out, grabbed the candied hawthorn, stuffed it into her mouth, took a big bite, her cheeks puffed out slightly, and chewed hard.

Jiang Xiaochuan couldn't help but smile as he looked at her.

He leaned closer and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said with a hint of a smile, "My dear wife, how old are you this year? Why are you arguing with a little girl?"

Lu Xueqi paused, slowly turned her head to look at him, still chewing, her eyes narrowed.

Jiang Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was wrong.

Sure enough, Lu Xueqi swallowed the candied hawthorn, then suddenly reached out and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing him tightly against her.

She lowered her head, her warm breath brushing against his ear, her voice low, carrying the sweet aroma of candied hawthorn and the cool scent of bamboo emanating from her.

"You think I'm too old?"