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

The backyard of Shanhaiyuan was very quiet in the early morning.

Birdsong drifted in from outside the eaves, crisp and clear, carrying the scent of dew.

Outside the window paper, the sunlight was a thin layer of bluish-gray, not yet bright.

Jiang Xiaochuan stared with his eyes open at the blurry canopy above him; he hadn't slept well all night.

He lay in bed for a while longer until he heard light footsteps in the corridor outside, the sound of the shopkeepers getting up early to clean.

He slowly got up, dressed, and tied his hair, his movements somewhat sluggish. The water in the copper basin was icy cold, splashing on his face and jolting him awake. The water rippled, reflecting a pale face with faint dark circles under his eyes.

As he pushed open the door, Zeng Shushu happened to peek out from the next room. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she opened her mouth to speak, but then she caught a glimpse of the door to the west room opening as well. Lu Xueqi came out.

She changed into a light blue dress; the material was ordinary, but it looked different on her.

Her hair was loosely tied up with a plain silver hairpin, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears.

Her face was bare of makeup, and her skin was as white as fine porcelain in the morning light. Her eyebrows and eyes were cool and aloof, but her gaze... seemed brighter and softer than usual.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't dare to look closely and looked away.

Zeng Shushu swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, gave a dry laugh, pulled his head back, and gently closed the door.

The four of them walked to the main hall one after the other. Qi Hao was already waiting there. Seeing them arrive, he nodded, his face as calm as ever: "Are you all up? After breakfast and settling the bill, let's set off. Kongsang Mountain is still three thousand miles away, a long journey. We need to get going early so as not to delay our business."

No one objected. The shopkeeper had already prepared congee and side dishes, which were served piping hot. Jiang Xiaochuan didn't have much of an appetite, so he scooped up the congee and sipped it slowly, his eyes fixed on the grains of rice in the bowl.

"Didn't sleep well?"

The sound was very soft, coming from the side. Jiang Xiaochuan paused, the porridge spoon tapping against the rim of the bowl, making a faint sound.

He looked up and saw Lu Xueqi sitting to his left, about a fist's distance away, looking at him.

"...Hmm." Jiang Xiaochuan mumbled a response and lowered his head to continue drinking his porridge.

"sorry."

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback, then looked up at her. Lu Xueqi was also looking at him, her eyes serious, her lips slightly pursed.

"It's none of your business," Jiang Xiaochuan said instinctively, his voice a little dry, "It was my own fault..."

"I'm sorry," Lu Xueqi interrupted him, her voice still soft but clear, saying each word clearly, "You'll do it again next time."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "...???"

He opened his mouth, looking at Lu Xueqi's face, which had little expression but clearly revealed a faint, almost "righteous" look, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Only one thought remained in her mind: Had she... learned bad habits from Sister Hongli?

After Lu Xueqi finished speaking, she stopped looking at him, lowered her head, and sipped the porridge in her bowl. Only the corners of her mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly. She quickly pursed her lips again.

After paying the bill, we left Shanhaiyuan. The streets of Heyang City were not yet fully awake in the morning, with only a few pedestrians and steam rising from the breakfast stalls. The air was filled with the aroma of noodles and oil.

Once they reached a secluded spot outside the city, Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu summoned their immortal swords. Jiang Xiaochuan remained standing still. He glanced at Qi Hao's Frost Sword, then at Zeng Shushu's flamboyant Xuanyuan Sword, and finally, his gaze settled on the Nine Heavens Divine Weapon at Lu Xueqi's waist.

"Um..." He cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound as natural as possible: "Senior Brother Qi, Shushu, I... can I ride your swords today? Last night... uh, Senior Sister Lu's sword flight was a bit... too exciting, I haven't recovered yet."

Qi Hao's gentle smile froze for a moment. He didn't answer immediately, but instead quickly glanced at Lu Xueqi beside him.

Lu Xueqi stood quietly, her hand gripping the hilt of the Tianya Sword. She didn't speak, but her gaze... was clear and sharp as she looked over. Qi Hao felt a chill run down the back of his neck.

"Junior Brother Jiang is joking," Qi Hao coughed lightly, his tone extremely sincere, with just the right amount of apology:

"With my meager skills, I can manage to fly on my sword, but if I were to take Junior Brother Jiang along, I fear my spiritual energy would be insufficient. If I were to exhaust myself halfway and fall, I would truly be doomed. It would be safer for Junior Brother Jiang to ride with Junior Sister Lu. Junior Sister Lu's cultivation is profound, and she will surely protect you." He spoke flawlessly, and after finishing, he gave Jiang Xiaochuan a knowing look.

Zeng Shushu nodded hurriedly, bobbing his head like a chicken pecking at rice: "Yes, yes! Old Jiang, Senior Sister Lu's Tianya is a divine weapon from the heavens! It's fast and steady! My broken sword bounces around so much, I hope it doesn't shake your breakfast out! Senior Sister Lu is so good, so good!"

As Jiang Xiaochuan watched the two of them working together, his last bit of hope vanished with a snap.

He remained silent for a moment, then slumped his shoulders and slowly moved to a spot a step behind Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi hummed in agreement and summoned Tianya. A brilliant blue light flowed out, and the sword broadened. She stepped onto the sword, turned to the side, and looked at him.

Jiang Xiaochuan resignedly climbed up. This time, without waiting for Lu Xueqi to speak, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist.

He pulled his arms closer, holding her a little tighter. His face instinctively leaned against her back. The familiar, crisp scent of pine needles immediately filled his nostrils, mixed with a very faint, indescribable cool fragrance.

Even through the fabric, I could feel the slenderness of her waist and the warmth of her body beneath.

Jiang Xiaochuan's mind was filled with those chaotic thoughts from last night, and his face flushed slightly. He composed himself and suddenly had a mischievous idea. He gently pinched her waist with his fingers, not too hard, not too soft.

It was a form of revenge, he thought to himself.

He felt Lu Xueqi's body stiffen almost imperceptibly for a moment.

Then, the Tianya Sword moved. There was no sudden acceleration as expected, nor any jolting.

The sword rose steadily, transforming into a smooth blue light that soared into the sky and merged into the pale blue morning sky.

The wind whistled in my ears, but it wasn't fierce. It felt cool on my face, carrying the chill of the high altitude, which was very comfortable.

Jiang Xiaochuan was initially on edge, afraid she would do something again. But after flying for a while, he found that today's flight was almost...pleasant. His tense body slowly relaxed.

I barely slept last night, and waves of drowsiness kept washing over me. The waist in my arms was warm and soft, the breath on my nose was crisp and pleasant, and the sound of the wind in my ears was like a lullaby.

He was half asleep when he rested his head against Lu Xueqi's back. His cheek pressed against the cool, smooth fabric of her clothes, and he could feel the shape of her shoulder blades underneath.

He shifted closer, finding a more comfortable position, and slowly closed his eyes. He fell asleep.

Lu Xueqi stiffened. She hesitated for a moment, then reached back with her left hand, gently supporting his head and pulling it closer to her shoulder. This position made him more stable, but it also meant that half of her body was nestled in his embrace.

As Lu Xueqi rode her sword in front, she could clearly feel the even, long breaths coming from behind her. The warm breath brushed against the back of her neck, causing a slight itch.

And his arms around her waist were heavy, carrying a sense of complete trust and reliance.

She didn't turn around, nor did she speed up.

The light of the Tianya Sword smoothly traversed the clouds, leaving a long and graceful trail across the azure sky.

The corners of her mouth curved upwards in a very slight, gentle arc. She didn't even notice it herself.

Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu, who were flying behind, looked at the blue light in front of them and the two figures that were almost touching each other on the blue light. They looked at each other and saw a complicated expression on each other's faces.

Zeng Shushu covered her mouth with her fan and lowered her voice, "Senior Brother Qi, do you think... Senior Sister Lu's sword-riding speed is a little too... leisurely?"

Qi Hao coughed lightly and looked away: "Junior Sister Lu knows what she's doing."

After flying for a while, Jiang Xiaochuan unconsciously stirred in his sleep, tightening his arms around her and burying his face in the crook of her neck. His nose brushed against her skin, his warm breath spraying around her collarbone.

Lu Xueqi's hand trembled, and the Tianya sword swayed slightly. She quickly steadied herself and took a deep breath.

But the breath brushed against her skin like a tiny flame licking her, burning her heart.

She glanced down at the hands wrapped around her waist, their fingers long and slender, their knuckles distinct. Her heart began to race. She closed her eyes, then opened them again, suppressing her wandering thoughts.

But the boy behind her, lost in a dream, mumbled something indistinctly, nuzzled his face against her neck, and found a more comfortable spot. His lips brushed against her skin unintentionally.

Lu Xueqi trembled and almost fell off the sword.

She bit her lower lip hard, her fingertips digging into her palm. The light of the Tianya sword trembled violently a few times, but she managed to stabilize it with force.

She remained frozen in place, afraid to move. But the sensation lingered on her skin, like a brand, impossible to shake off.

She suddenly remembered the book wrapped in blue cloth in her arms.

There seemed to be a similar pose in those paintings... no, it seemed even more... Her face flushed, and she shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off those messy images.

Her heart was still racing, pounding painfully. She didn't know what was wrong. He had only touched her, how could this be...?

She took a deep breath and forced herself to look ahead. The sea of ​​clouds stretched endlessly, the sky and earth vast and boundless. Yet the warmth and touch behind her were clearer and more unmistakable than the vast expanse of sky.

After flying for another half an hour, Jiang Xiaochuan woke up.

He groggily opened his eyes and found himself almost hanging on Lu Xueqi, his face buried in the crook of her neck, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist. Lu Xueqi stood ramrod straight, motionless, only her ears were bright red.

He was startled, abruptly released his grip, and shrank back: "I'm so sorry! I fell asleep, I didn't mean to..."

Lu Xueqi didn't turn around, but simply gave a soft "hmm." Her voice was a little hoarse.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her bright red ears, and the embarrassment he felt turned into something else entirely.

He touched his nose, sat up straight again, this time behaving properly, his hand loosely resting on her waist, without hugging her tightly.

But after flying for a while, he felt sleepy again.

His eyelids drooped heavily. He tried to hold on, but his head kept nodding. Finally, he couldn't hold on any longer, and his head tilted to the side, resting against her back.

They traveled by day and rested by night for seven consecutive days.

They travel during the day and rest in remote places at night.

Jiang Xiaochuan seemed to have resigned himself to his fate. Every day when he flew on his sword, he would obediently hold Lu Xueqi's waist. Sometimes he would fall asleep while talking to her, his head resting on her shoulder.

Lu Xueqi never woke him up, but simply kept the speed of her sword flight even more steady. Occasionally, when he fell into a deep sleep and his arms loosened, she would gently pull his wrist to make him hold on tighter.

Once, it landed in a mountain forest and spent the night there.

Zeng Shushu and Qi Hao went to gather firewood and fetch water. Jiang Xiaochuan sat on a large rock, staring blankly at the setting sun. Lu Xueqi walked over and sat down beside him, about a foot away.

Neither of them spoke. The forest was quiet, save for the occasional flapping of wings by birds returning to their nests.

"Here you go." Lu Xueqi suddenly pulled out a small oil paper packet from her bosom and handed it over.

Jiang Xiaochuan took it, opened it, and found several pieces of amber-colored, glistening maltose. He picked one up and put it in his mouth; the sweetness melted on his tongue, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus.

"Is it sweet?" Lu Xueqi asked.

"Sweet." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded and took another piece.

Lu Xueqi watched him eat, and after a while, she also picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

Then, quite naturally, she picked up another piece from the oil paper package in his hand and held it to his mouth.

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback and looked at her. Her eyes were clear and bright, with no particular expression, as if this was the most ordinary thing in the world.

He opened his mouth and took it in. His fingertips brushed against his lips, feeling slightly cool.

"You..." Jiang Xiaochuan's voice was a little muffled, his mouth full of candy, "Why aren't you eating?"

"Watching you eat," Lu Xueqi said, her gaze falling on his slightly puffed-out cheeks. "It looks good."

Jiang Xiaochuan's face flushed, and he turned his head away, refusing to look at her.

His heart was pounding a little fast. He reached out and pressed his hand to his left chest, where it was still eerily cold, but beneath his skin, it seemed... not so cold anymore? Was it just his imagination?

On the seventh day at dusk, the four finally arrived at the territory of Kongsang Mountain.

They descended from the clouds and landed on the ground. The sight before them startled all four of them.

For miles around, everything was barren. Only one mountain stood alone beneath the twilight sky.

The mountain is steep and towering, with jagged rocks, as if it had been haphazardly cleaved by a giant axe.

There was hardly any greenery on the mountain, only some withered thorns and short, twisted, strange trees trembling in the howling wind.

The setting sun, like blood, hung on the horizon, its dim yellow light casting a shadow that, instead of bringing warmth, gilded the entire mountain with an eerie and sinister hue.

The area at the foot of the mountain was deserted; there was no sign of human habitation, not even a bird or beast in sight.

"This...this is Kongsang Mountain?" Zeng Shushu exclaimed, forgetting to wave the fan in his hand.

Qi Hao frowned, gazing at the rapidly darkening sky, and said in a deep voice, "It seems we won't be able to find anyone to stay with nearby. Why don't we head up the mountain immediately, searching for traces of the 'Ten Thousand Bats Cave' while also looking for a suitable place to rest and spend the night?"

Zeng Shushu nodded: "Brother Qi is right, we can't just camp out in the middle of nowhere."

Jiang Xiaochuan stared at the mountain before him, which in the twilight resembled a colossal beast ready to devour its prey, and alarm bells rang wildly in his mind!

He clearly remembered the enormous, bloodthirsty bats that swarmed everywhere in the original story! Going up the mountain at night would be like delivering goods to his doorstep.

"Wait! Senior Brother Qi! Shushu!" he hurriedly called out.

"I think this mountain is really eerie! It's getting late, so why don't we...why don't we find a sheltered spot at the foot of the mountain to spend the night? We can go up the mountain tomorrow at dawn! What if there's something on the mountain...like lots of bats or something? Wouldn't it be more dangerous at night?"

Upon hearing this, Zeng Shushu waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "Old Jiang, you're being too cautious! With Senior Brother Qi and Senior Sister Lu around, what's there to be afraid of even if there are a few bats? Don't you trust Senior Sister Lu's abilities?"

As he spoke, he winked at Lu Xueqi.

Lu Xueqi stood silently, her cool gaze sweeping over Jiang Xiaochuan's worried face before turning to the precipitous mountains shrouded in twilight. Then, she took a step.

The pale figure stood out sharply in the dim light, walking straight toward the winding, rugged mountain path. No words were spoken; actions spoke volumes.

Jiang Xiaochuan watched her retreating figure, opened his mouth, but the words "There really are bats on the mountain, lots and lots" stuck in his throat. He ultimately swallowed them back. He sighed helplessly and resignedly followed. Qi Hao and Zeng Shushu followed suit.