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

Tian Ling'er kept an eye on the stage out of the corner of her eye.

Seeing Lu Xueqi staring intently at Jiang Xiaochuan, and then seeing Jiang Xiaochuan turn his head away, the jealousy in her heart was completely overwhelmed, and the sourness rushed straight to the top of her head.

She gritted her teeth and suddenly took half a step forward, completely blocking Lu Xueqi's view of Jiang Xiaochuan.

She even slightly raised her chin, like a little animal protecting its cub, with a hint of unconscious provocation.

The line of sight was blocked.

Lu Xueqi looked up and saw only Tian Ling'er's fiery red back and their still tightly clasped fingers.

The dull ache in my heart suddenly turned into a fine, cold, pricking sensation, densely piercing down.

She silently turned her gaze away, looking at the dome of the main hall. Her vision seemed a little blurry, and her jawline was taut.

On the stage, Daoist Cangsong had already stood up and was saying in a loud voice something like "The Righteous Lineage of Qingyun", "Slaying Demons and Eliminating Evil", and "Diligence Leads to Mastery".

The students below the stage stood up straight, their faces beaming with pride.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't hear a word, he only felt his hand was being squeezed painfully by Tian Ling'er.

My palms were sweaty; I didn't know if it was from her or from my own cold skin.

His heart was still pounding wildly in his chest, making him feel restless and agitated.

Next came the drawing of lots.

A large mahogany box was brought up, containing wax pellets and serial numbers.

The Taoist Cangsong announced the rules and the match-up list.

There was a slight commotion in the crowd.

Jiang Xiaochuan was in a daze. He was pulled forward by Tian Ling'er and followed the crowd. He reached into the box and randomly pulled out a wax pellet.

I squeezed it open, and inside was a small slip of paper with a number written on it.

He glanced at it and casually stuffed it into his pocket.

It wasn't until Dao Xuan Zhenren stood up and smiled as he uttered the three words "Six Harmonies Mirror" that the conversation truly began.

Jiang Xiaochuan only came to his senses when the audience erupted in a huge gasp and fervent gazes.

The Six Harmonies Mirror? Oh, that's it.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, still showing little concern.

All he wanted to do now was get out of there as soon as possible and calm this damned heart down.

The lengthy ceremony finally came to an end.

Dao Xuan Zhenren said, "Disperse." The disciples bowed and then, as if granted a pardon, retreated from the imposing and oppressive Yuqing Hall like a tide.

As Jiang Xiaochuan stepped out over the high threshold, the cool air rushed in, and he felt the tightness in his chest ease a little.

Tian Ling'er finally let go.

As soon as my palm was empty, the icy sensation immediately returned.

He subtly moved his fingers, which had been clenched so tightly they were slightly numb. The pounding in his heart was still going on, only less intense now. Lu Xueqi hadn't gone far.

He suddenly remembered something and looked around.

"Where's Little Grey?" he asked Song Daren, who was standing next to him.

Song Daren was also looking around: "They were just wandering around nearby before we entered the hall, and they've disappeared in the blink of an eye. Da Huang isn't here either."

As they were talking, Du Bishu pointed to the end of the square: "Look! It's over there!"

Just then, a big yellow dog came bounding over from the edge of the square, carrying the gray-furred monkey on its back.

Little Gray had one paw wrapped around Big Yellow's neck, while in the other paw it was holding a half-eaten, shiny meat bone, which it was happily gnawing on, with oil stains all over its fur.

Song Daren's expression changed, and he whispered, "Xiao Chuan, that direction... seems to be towards the kitchen where the senior disciples eat."

Jiang Xiaochuan's temple twitched.

This little rascal has gone to steal food again!

He was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth. He strode over, raised his hand, and was about to give it a good whack on the smug look on its head.

But he stopped halfway up his hand. He remembered the monkey's strange habit.

If I slap it, it'll probably cling to my leg and rub against me for ages.

"Sigh..." He lowered his hand, sighed helplessly, and felt his head hurt even more.

Song Daren called out to everyone, "Let's go, let's go to the accommodations we've arranged to rest. Junior Sister Ling'er, you're a female disciple, is it alright if you're arranged to stay with the fellow disciples from Xiaozhu Peak?"

Tian Ling'er nodded, having no objection.

She glanced quickly at Jiang Xiaochuan, her eyes filled with complex emotions. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she turned her head and followed a female disciple from Xiaozhu Peak who came to guide her.

Hundreds of people suddenly flooded into Tongtian Peak, making accommodation scarce.

The remaining eight male disciples of Dazhu Peak were led to a small room.

The room, which was originally meant to accommodate a maximum of four people, was crammed with eight, with four makeshift beds on the floor, before they could barely settle down.

The room was immediately filled with the smell of sweat, dust, and the heat unique to young men.

"This is so crowded!"

"Even turning over is difficult..."

"My foot! Who stepped on me!"

Complaints were constant.

He Dazhi had just finished making his bed on the floor when there was a loud banging on the wall of the next room. An impatient voice came through the wooden partition: "Hey! You from Dazhufeng! Can you keep it down? Is that thunder?"

The room fell silent for a moment, then a few low, resentful murmurs rang out, but no one made a loud noise afterward.

Little Gray, carrying its prize, skillfully slipped into the house, found a corner, lay down, and continued gnawing.

Big Yellow squeezed in too, lay down next to Little Gray, and stuck out its tongue.

It got dark.

Outside, one could faintly hear the excited chatter and footsteps of young disciples from other branches, marveling at the novel scenery of Tongtian Peak.

But as night deepened, these sounds gradually faded away and eventually fell silent.

All that remained were the sounds of heavy, uneven breathing in the room and the faint grinding of teeth by one of the senior students.

Jiang Xiaochuan lay on the hard floor, his eyes open, staring at the dark beams.

It was crowded, hot, and filled with a mix of smells, along with the constant snoring of my fellow students.

He rolled over, the wooden plank creaking slightly. Then he rolled back over.

I really can't sleep.

He quietly got up, tiptoed, carefully walked around his fellow disciples who were lying haphazardly on the ground, pushed open a crack in the door, and slipped out.

The night breeze carried a chill and instantly enveloped him.

The Cloud Sea Square was deserted. The huge white jade ground gleamed with a cool, hazy light under the moonlight. The clouds that had swirled around during the day had thinned considerably, and wisps of them flowed slowly along the ground like rivers in a dream.

He wandered aimlessly, taking deep breaths of the crisp, cool air, trying to suppress the inexplicable restlessness in his chest. As he walked, his feet involuntarily moved towards the Rainbow Bridge.

Then, without warning, the coldness in my chest gave me a slight, throbbing sensation.

Jiang Xiaochuan stopped in his tracks and looked up.

At the end of the square, the rainbow bridge spanning the deep valley, flowing with colorful rays of light, reveals a tranquil and magical beauty under the moonlight.

At the bridgehead, a slender figure could be vaguely seen.

The light blue dress almost blended into the hazy night and the shimmering light flowing across the bridge, indistinct yet so clearly visible.

It's Lu Xueqi.

She actually couldn't sleep either.

The scene in Yuqing Palace during the day—their tightly clasped hands, Tian Ling'er's back as she stood in front of them, and Jiang Xiaochuan's averted gaze—revolved in her mind like a revolving lantern.

The dull pain and bitterness in my heart did not dissipate with time; instead, they clung to me more and more tightly.

When Senior Sister Wenmin returned, she casually mentioned that the eight male disciples of Dazhu Peak were crammed into a small room, and they probably couldn't sleep well.

As she listened, a slight thought stirred within her.

Will he... also have trouble sleeping? Will he come out for a walk? Will he... end up at Rainbow Bridge?

Once the thought took hold, it could no longer be suppressed. She came, stood at the bridgehead, and waited for a long time.

Looking towards the square, a mix of anticipation and inexplicable nervousness welled up inside me, like vines quietly growing in the dark.

Until that familiar figure actually appeared in the empty square and walked towards them.

A glint flashed quickly in her cool eyes, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at the figure and sighed inwardly. There was no way to avoid it now.

He steeled himself and slowly walked over. His footsteps were exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

As they got closer, they could see Lu Xueqi clearly in the moonlight.

She seemed thinner than during the day, her face almost translucent in the moonlight, her long eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow under her eyelids.

Her light blue dress swayed gently in the wind, making her look as if she were sculpted from moonlight and cold jade—unrealistically beautiful and unrealistically cold.

"Senior Sister Lu," Jiang Xiaochuan greeted her dryly, his throat a little tight.

The bead in his chest, which had been still for a while, began to throb restlessly again, thumping and pounding against his nerves.

Lu Xueqi raised her eyes and looked at him. Her eyes shone brightly in the moonlight, like two pools of clear, cool spring water.

"Senior Brother Jiang, you...can't sleep either?"

"Ah, yeah." Jiang Xiaochuan scratched his head, awkwardly changing the subject, his tone slightly complaining, as if he had found an outlet for his frustration:

"The room is too cramped. Eight people are sleeping on the floor, and it's hard to even turn over. And my senior brother is snoring... I have to say, the sect leader is really something. If he had known that so many people would be coming to the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, he wouldn't have built a few more rooms beforehand..."

He kept rambling on and on, speaking rather quickly, as if trying to mask the subtle atmosphere of being alone at that moment.

They complained about the cramped accommodations, the unpalatable food, the troublesome lottery system, and the uncertainty of their opponents for tomorrow's martial arts competition...

Lu Xueqi listened quietly without interrupting.

Occasionally, during his pauses, she would softly hum "hmm" or briefly say, "It is a bit inconvenient," to show that she was listening.

Her gaze fell on his face, noticing his slightly furrowed brows and listening to his somewhat irritated complaints. Strangely, the bitterness that had been lingering in her heart subsided a little.

At least, he would still say these things in front of her.

Unbeknownst to them, the two were slowly walking along the Rainbow Bridge.

The colorful bridge flowed silently beneath my feet, with bottomless void on either side. The night wind blew up from the deep valley, carrying a chill.

Strangely enough, as Jiang Xiaochuan spoke, the inexplicable irritability and embarrassment he felt gradually dissipated.

These trivial, insignificant complaints seemed to wash away the complex and indescribable emotions of the day.

After walking for a while, Jiang Xiaochuan stopped, took a deep breath, turned to Lu Xueqi and smiled, "Alright, I'm done complaining, I feel much better now. It's getting late, Senior Sister Lu should go back and rest early too, there's a competition tomorrow."

He waved his hand as he spoke, preparing to turn around and walk back.

"Senior Brother Jiang," Lu Xueqi called out to him.

Jiang Xiaochuan turned around.

Lu Xueqi stepped forward and suddenly reached out, grabbing his wrist that was hanging by his side.

It was ice-cold to the touch. Colder than she had imagined.

The chill ran up her fingertips and instantly made her heart tighten slightly.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked, instinctively trying to pull his hand away, but she held it tightly.

Lu Xueqi didn't speak, but just lowered her head and looked at the hand that was holding his wrist.

His wrists were thin, with distinct knuckles, and the skin was icy cold. The moonlight shone on them, almost revealing the pale blue veins beneath. She held them for a while, feeling that the coldness seemed impossible to warm up.

Many thoughts flashed through my mind.

I wanted to ask him what happened between him and Junior Sister Tian during the day. I wanted to ask him why his hands were always so cold. I wanted to ask him if he hated me touching him. There were so many things I wanted to say, but when the words reached my lips, I felt that none of them were appropriate, each one would make me seem too…caring.

Silence spread between the two, with only the mournful sound of the wind sweeping through the deep valley.

Jiang Xiaochuan was caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to leave or stay. He could only stand there, his heart pounding faster than ever before, almost echoing in the quiet night.

It felt like a long time had passed, or perhaps just a moment. Lu Xueqi suddenly released his wrist.

Then, before Jiang Xiaochuan could react, she took a step forward, opened her arms, and gently hugged him.

A very light hug. Her arms were around his shoulders, and her chin almost touched the top of his head.

Her light blue sleeves, carrying her unique, crisp pine needle scent, enveloped him. Her body was somewhat stiff, and her embrace was not warm at all, even carrying the same chill.

But Jiang Xiaochuan was struck like a bolt of lightning, instantly freezing into a puppet.

My mind went blank with a "boom." All the blood seemed to rush to my head, and my ears were ringing.

The bead in his chest seemed to have gone mad, pounding wildly and without any order. The force was so great that his vision blurred and his breathing suddenly stopped.

He... was hugged by Lu Xueqi?

Why?

What happened?

CPU overload, ineffective cooling. System crash.

He stared wide-eyed at the light blue fabric texture so close to his eyes, his nose filled with its cool, refreshing scent.

then……

His body went limp, and he fell straight backward.

Lu Xueqi was immersed in a complex mix of resolute and panicked emotions when she suddenly felt the person in her arms sink down, their weight pressing down on her completely.

Startled, she quickly tightened her arms to prevent him from falling.

Looking down, Jiang Xiaochuan's eyes were closed, his face was pale, and he had actually... fainted?

Lu Xueqi was completely dumbfounded.

She held his limp body, standing in the center of the moonlit rainbow bridge, the night wind making her dress flutter. Only one thought remained in her mind: What to do?

She knocked him unconscious? No, she just hugged him...

What's wrong with him? Did his old injury flare up again? Or was he just too tired during the day?

What to do now? Leave him here? No. Take him back to that small hut on Dazhu Peak that's crammed with eight people? That doesn't seem quite right either.

Lu Xueqi bit her lip, looked at the unconscious person in her arms, and then looked in the direction of the female disciples' residence on Xiaozhu Peak in the distance.

A clear look of helplessness appeared on his usually cool face.

She hesitated for a long time, then gritted her teeth, bent down, and somewhat clumsily carried Jiang Xiaochuan on her back.

Then, carrying no one on her back, she walked towards the courtyard where the disciples of Xiaozhu Peak lived.