Chapter 023

Called by Zhaoyang’s voice, Zhaoxue’s first reaction was actually to want to run away.

She didn’t like seeing others angry at her, serious, or disappointed—that made her very uneasy.

Especially when it was Zhaoyang.

“Big sister…”

She called weakly.

Holding the handrail, she slowly and reluctantly stepped down the stairs.

Lowering her head, she came in front of Zhaoyang.

Zhaoyang pulled out a chair for her. “Sit down.”

“…”

“Sit and talk.”

Zhaoyang patted the chair.

Only then did Zhaoxue dare to slowly sit down.

She kept her head down, pretending to be very interested in a fold of cloth on her sleeve.

“Do you want to know how I found out you and Senior Brother went out last night?”

“I heard the sounds.”

Zhaoxue’s voice was very soft.

“The sound of your footsteps going up and down the stairs—I recognized it as soon as I heard it.”

Zhaoyang said, “At first, I was wondering what you were going to do— but when I heard Senior Brother following you, I didn’t go out to stop you.”

“…”

“Later, I heard you return close to dawn. When you were going upstairs, your footsteps sounded wrong, so I knew you were hurt. I wanted to go out then, but I guessed you must have been extremely tired, so I didn’t call out to you at that time.”

Zhaoxue slowly clenched her sleeve. “…There won’t be a next time, I promise.”

Her big sister had actually waited for her the whole night.

“Why do you need to promise me?”

Zhaoyang was silent for a moment, then sighed. “Zhaoxue, it seems like you’re very afraid of me being angry or disappointed? Why would you think that? If something went wrong, wouldn’t the one getting hurt still be you?”

“…”

Yes, that should be the case.

But why? Zhaoxue was so afraid of seeing the angry face of those around her.

Her heart would instinctively tighten, as if afraid of losing something.

“Your body belongs to yourself. Why should you try to please others?”

Zhaoyang frowned tightly. “The person you should promise most is yourself. Why can’t you treat yourself the way you treat Taxue?”

Zhaoxue was stunned.

…Treat yourself the way you treat Taxue.

Zhaoxue had never thought about this before.

So, why not? Could it be because she felt her life was as short and unloved as a flower about to wither?

While she was lost in thought, Zhaoyang finally sighed.

She gently touched Zhaoxue’s cheek, “I’m just worried about you. Fortunately, it was Senior Brother who was with you last night, if it weren’t for him, even I couldn’t guarantee your safety…”

She didn’t continue speaking but softened her tone:

“Does it still hurt?”

Zhaoxue clenched her palms, placed them side by side on her knees, and shook her head hard.

Meanwhile, the system in her mind was completely stunned.

In just a short minute, it had only now sorted out the current situation.

System: 【……】

System: 【???】

System: 【Host, what exactly have you done? Why has Ji Xueshou’s favorability exceeded 80!?】

System: 【Also, why did Zhaoyang agree to let you join the demon hunt…? And why does she look like she’s scolding you now! Wait… what did you do last night? How did you get injured? You went out with Jiang Lingfeng? Aren’t you two on bad terms!?…】

Zhaoxue lowered her head weakly: “…Shut up.”

Her head was about to explode from the noise, almost making her unable to hear what her big sister was saying.

“Senior Brother rarely praises anyone. But yesterday he praised you, said you’re decisive and logically clear in your actions. However, even so, that’s not a reason for you to risk your life.”

Zhaoyang finally fully softened her expression, then squatted down and gently massaged Zhaoxue’s ankle. “Does it hurt? Are you really okay now?”

Zhaoxue grabbed the edge of the chair. “I-I’m okay now.”

She quietly glanced at the others. They had tactfully left as soon as she came downstairs. Jiang Lingfeng was by the counter drinking tea, his brows lowered, as if seriously observing the tea leaves drifting in the cup.

…A person like him—does he even praise others? Could it be that big sister made it up to comfort her?

But what did she need comforting for? She should have been scolded.

Yet big sister didn’t get angry or scold her, instead, she thought she needed comfort…

Zhaoxue didn’t understand. But she felt uneasy, a heavy discomfort lingering like dark clouds in her heart.

“Let’s go out to have fun with your Junior Martial Aunt Fang this afternoon.”

Zhaoyang saw her expression and said, “Relax a little. We’ve finished this mission and will soon be leaving Yuxian Town. This time might be the last time we come here.”

“…Mm.”

Finally, after Zhaoyang left, the system suddenly shouted anxiously in her mind:

【It’s a mess! Everything’s a mess!!】

【The plot is completely different from the original direction. From now on, the story is almost impossible to predict!】

Zhaoxue was annoyed: “You wanted me to complete the mission. If I don’t change the original plot, do you want me to just repeat the old path again?”

【No, it’s just…】

“Although I’m grateful you saved me during the crisis… but right now, I really don’t have the mood to talk with you. Please, stop nagging in my mind.”

After saying that, Zhaoxue went back to her room.

She collapsed onto the bed. After a long while, the system slowly spoke up,

【Sorry, Zhaoxue. I didn’t know what had happened during this time. I just roughly understood what went on…】

Zhaoxue turned over.

【You’re much more capable than I imagined. Even without me, you can handle so many things on your own.】

“…”

【Even without pretending to please those people, you still managed to make the situation develop surprisingly smoothly. Maybe you’re right—I’ve been too old-fashioned.】

Only then did Zhaoxue speak slowly, “During the time you were offline, nothing bad happened, right?”

【No!】

The system was somewhat surprised that she cared about it, 【I promise you, I won’t suddenly go offline and disappear again.】

Zhaoxue responded with a hum, “That’s good.”

She exhaled deeply and slowly sat up from the bed. “I still remember. System, you once said our original mission was to avoid tragedy—to let me replace the ending where Big Sister and Zhaolan died, right?”

【Yes.】

“So, it doesn’t necessarily mean I have to follow what you said, to win over those people—by sacrificing myself to the demons.”

“Besides…” Zhaoxue lowered her eyelashes, as if recalling something, “Those people might not have been demons by nature.”

【…】

“I just want to try my best to see if I can prevent them from becoming that way… If it doesn’t work, then forget it.”

Zhaoxue pressed her lips together. “Then just pretend I never said this today.”

To her surprise, the system didn’t argue.

【If you want to try, then go ahead. I will support you.】

“…Eh?”

【Because Zhaoxue, you have really changed my perspective a lot. I’ve never met a host like you, so I think maybe trying to trust you once isn’t such a bad thing.】

The system said, 【I don’t honestly know what would happen with others, but with you, Zhaoxue, maybe it really can work. Also, I will do my best to help you.】

Zhaoxue was stunned for a moment:

“Thank you for trusting me.”

Being trusted like this, Zhaoxue had only ever experienced it once before—with Ji Xueshou.

This was the second time.

No… this thing probably isn’t even human.

Zhaoxue was lost in thought while walking down the road, when suddenly a face enlarged right in front of her.

She jumped in fright and saw the owner of the face stroking his chin, smiling warmly as he looked at her: “Ah, Sister Zhaoxue, you really are still cutest just the way you always were.”

Zhaoxue touched her chest and said, “Junior Martial Aunt Fang, don’t scare me like that all of a sudden.”

“Sorry, sorry, hehe,” Fang Lian looked at her expression and asked, “Are you still thinking about what Zhaoyang told you at noon?”

“…”

“You didn’t even come down for lunch, you must be starving. That Zhaoyang is really not right—how could she treat our Sister Zhaoxue like that?”

Fang Lian said indignantly, “As the second sister, I just can’t stand it!”

Zhaoxue: “…”

Chen Ying rolled his eyes, flipped a page quietly, and muttered, “Getting addicted to acting, huh.”

Before the page landed, a heavy pat hit his back: “Hey, eldest brother, why don’t you say something!”

Chen Ying struggled to steady the book in his hands: “I don’t really have anything to say.”

Fang Lian: “Huh?”

Chen Ying cleared his throat, mustering courage.

Alright, I’m scared of you sword cultivators.

“Zhaoxue, your big sister wasn’t scolding you like that. She just wants you to learn to cherish your body. Um… actually, I think she’s just scared—scared that something might happen to you. It’s also because she feels her own strength isn’t enough to protect you better, and she’s frightened by that. She feels lucky you’re safe, but she also blames herself for always being unable to do more when it matters… ugh ugh!”

He turned his head and glared at Fang Lian: “You made me say that!!”

Fang Lian laughed and shoved a candied hawthorn stick into his mouth: “Shut up, eat more. Give me the money tonight.”

Chen Ying: “?!”

You make me pay for what you force-feed me!?

Fang Lian then put her arm around Zhaoxue’s shoulder: “Sister Zhaoxue, come on, let’s just ignore him.”

She led her through the crowd as her voice echoed softly in Zhaoxue’s ear:

“Sister Zhaoxue, actually, I’m not trying to say those boring things like ‘Zhaoyang is doing it for your own good.’ Everyone must have heard that enough growing up in the noble families. It’s just that I believe your big sister never blamed you from beginning to end, so please don’t feel guilty because of it.”

There was always a hint of a smile in Fang Lian’s voice, as if she never had any worries. But Zhaoxue knew that wasn’t true. How could a child growing up in such a noble family have no worries?

“What Zhaoyang means is simple—she just wants you to love yourself the most.”

Fang Lian said this, then recalled, “Speaking of that ‘Taxue’—is that the name? I heard Zhaoyang mention before that you really like this cat. When you’re in danger, would you let the cat go ahead and test the enemy?”

“No, right? Then why not try using your own body like that cat?”

Fang Lian smiled brightly and patted her shoulder.

“That’s what Zhaoyang was trying to say, something simple like that, haha! Sister Zhaoxue, don’t overthink it.”

In front of them was a bustling crowd, flowing continuously, coming and going, noisy and busy.

But Zhaoxue felt as if time slowed down, and the sounds near and far gradually quieted.

“Mm.”

Her voice was a little dry. “…I understand. Thank you.”

“That’s good! Sister Zhaoxue, look around—anyplace you want to visit, or anything you want to buy? We’re leaving tomorrow, don’t be shy, your big sister will pay!”

“…”

They wandered from afternoon into almost evening.

Before heading back, Zhaoxue saw the small stall with jade carving that Zhaoyang had mentioned before.

Although it was a very small stall, Zhaoxue immediately noticed a precious piece of jade displayed there.

Precious jade stones aren’t rare, but this one was exceptionally clear and translucent, making Zhaoxue think of Zhaoyang as soon as she saw it.

Her big sister had been a pure and shining person since birth, attracting everyone’s attention everywhere.

“Huh, Sister Zhaoxue, did you see something?”

Fang Lian asked curiously as Zhaoxue stopped in place.

“Mm. I saw something I want to buy and give to my big sister,”

Zhaoxue nodded. “Martial Aunt, you guys can go ahead first.”

Fang Lian understood immediately: “Got it, got it, we’ll go first then.”

Trying to ease the mood, huh. It’s really nice to have a thoughtful little sister.

Watching Fang Lian and Chen Ying’s backs gradually fade away, Zhaoxue walked over to the small jade carving stall.

“Can you carve a sword tassel?”

“Of course,” said the stall owner, an elderly lady with graying hair but lively spirit, smiling warmly. “Young lady, are you planning to give it to your sweetheart?”

Zhaoxue quickly shook her head. “No, no, I want to give it to my big sister.”

She picked up the jade piece she had originally chosen: “This one, please carve it into a sword tassel. The tassel should be cyan, and please carve on it…”

But before she could finish,

A slender, well-proportioned hand pressed down on the jade she had just picked up. The fingers were delicate and pretty, with only a thin callus on the middle finger, and the touch was cool.

A young and arrogant voice rang overhead, dragging out the tone,

“Grandma, didn’t you say yesterday that a new batch of jade would come in for me to pick first? Hmm?”

Zhaoxue froze and looked up.

It was a young man only about four or five years older than her. He wore a high ponytail, had a strikingly handsome face, sharp and arrogant eyes, with a tear mole just below his right eye adding a touch of innocence. But looking down at his lips when he spoke, a faintly visible little tiger tooth showed he was quite a troublesome guy.

—Yet somehow the one who most wins the elders’ favor.

Seeing Zhaoxue look up, he didn’t even bother to look directly at her, just tilted his head slightly and smiled with narrowed eyes:

“Hey—kid, do you know what ‘first come, first served’ means?”