As an avid fan of novels spanning ancient and modern times, domestic and foreign, and brimming with twists, entanglements, love, and hate, Lin Qingxu prided herself on being a discerning reader.

However, ever since she became a devoted member of the “Loyal Second Male Leads” fan club, her standards for the female leads and second leads had become impossibly stringent.

Among all the character archetypes, the one she absolutely could not tolerate was the “damsel in distress.”

Thinking about it, Lin Qingxu let out a heavy sigh releasing the frustration pent up in her chest. She leisurely strolled back along the village path, having parted ways with Cui Yuying moments ago. Oddly enough, even the air around her seemed fresher now.

Although Lin Qingxu hadn’t sensed the eerie chill that initially made her spine tingle when she first met Cui Yuying, just recalling Cui Yuying’s delicate image was enough to extinguish any hopes of peaceful coexistence.

Whether Cui Yuying’s soft and pitiful appearance was a front for something more sinister, Lin Qingxu didn’t care to find out. That frail, pitiable act alone was enough to make her steer clear.

A shiver ran down Lin Qingxu’s spine as goosebumps broke out across her skin. The thought filled her with dread—like watching a nightmare come to life!

It had only been the time it took to brew a cup of tea since she sent Cui Yuying off, and Lin Qingxu had expected to return home to Fang Xiu’s warm meals. At most, she might endure a few subtle jabs from her mother but to her surprise, her home was bustling inside and out.

A crowd of people, packed together like sardines jostled for position in front of her house craning their necks but too afraid to whisper among themselves. Each person wore an expression of reverent devotion, their gawking postures as pious as they were exaggerated.

Lin Qingxu immediately guessed: cultivators had arrived!

She struggled to squeeze through the crowd, and when she finally managed to get a close-up view of the harmonious scene unfolding in the courtyard, she smiled faintly. Resting her hand lightly on the rickety wooden fence by her door, she decided to just stand there quietly and watch.

However, her plan crumbled in an instant—quite literally.

Bang! The loud crash of the collapsing fence drew everyone’s attention. The chickens, who had been dozing lazily in a row beside the fence, leapt into the air in a flurry of feathers, squawking and flapping their wings as they fled to safer ground.

Lin Qingxu spotted one particularly plucky red rooster leading the charge, running at full tilt. She pressed her lips together to hide her grin, a glint of amusement flickering in her eyes.

Hehe, she thought to herself. I swear, I’m not laughing at this… not really.

The commotion startled the nearby villagers who all took a cautious step back, darting their eyes around as if pretending not to notice. None of them wanted to risk leaving a bad impression on the esteemed cultivators present. Lin Qingxu, however, found herself at the center of attention. Thanks to the red-feathered troublemaker momentarily stealing the spotlight, she hadn’t moved quickly enough to escape, and now dozens of sharp gazes bore down on her like arrows.

Dumbfounded, Lin Qingxu stammered. “Uh… it’s not my fault!”

She could swear to the heavens—she had barely rested her hand on the edge of the fence, hardly using any force at all!

Unfortunately, explanations were pointless now. In mere seconds, her mother, Fang Xiu had turned as dark as a storm cloud.

Lin Qingxu slowly withdrew her still-hovering hand, her fingers curling back awkwardly. She didn’t dare meet her mother’s steely gaze which practically radiated suppressed fury. Guiltily, she shifted her focus elsewhere, imagining herself as a timid little quail shrinking its head in fear.

“Come inside.” Fang Xiu said, her tone cold and detached.

Lin Qingxu’s legs instantly turned to jelly, wobbling like two overcooked noodles.

Her mother’s temperament was uncannily similar to her modern mom’s. When others were present, Fang Xiu would never openly chastise her family—she’d keep up appearances no matter what. But the tighter her composure, the sharper the storm brewing underneath. And Lin Qingxu could practically feel the tempest coming.

When it came to punishment, her mother’s wrath struck with the force of a thunderstorm!

Lin Qingxu didn’t dare defy Fang Xiu. Keeping her head tucked low like a turtle retreating into its shell, she scurried over to stand obediently by her mother’s side, resolving to play the part of a quiet and well-behaved child.

“This is my elder sister, Qingxu!” The introduction came from Lin Qingwan, her voice as loud and bold as ever, yet carrying an easygoing sincerity.

Lin Qingxu: “…” Of course it’s exactly what I hoped wouldn’t happen.

“Greetings to the esteemed cultivators.” She muttered in a muffled tone. As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Fang Xiu’s hand clenching even tighter at her side. Alarm bells rang in Lin Qingxu’s mind—this was not a good sign!

“There’s no need to be afraid, young lady.” Said a cultivator, his voice calm and warm like a spring breeze. “We’re here today to inform you of our intention to take Qingwan with us in the near future. Please don’t feel pressured.” The speaker wore a light purple robe, appearing to be in his thirties, though his true age was anyone’s guess. His demeanor was kind yet carried an undeniable aura of detachment as if he stood apart from the mortal world.

Standing beside him was Qi Zhi, the familiar cultivator they had met before. With just a little thought, Lin Qingxu guessed this man must be the “master” Qi Zhi had previously mentioned.

As for the others…

Lin Qingxu’s gaze shifted to a few sour-faced individuals nearby. Clearly disgruntled but unable to leave due to the circumstances, they glared with puffed cheeks and twitching brows. Judging by their expressions, they must be cultivators from other sects who had also come to Lotus Village—only to fail in claiming Qingwan for themselves.

It was obvious: they had lost the contest.

The conversation that followed was nothing more than the usual prelude for someone about to step into the world of cultivation. Warnings like, “Once you enter the cultivation world, mortal affairs will become fleeting as smoke. Prepare yourself well,” or, “Cultivation is a barren and tedious path; steel your heart,” droned on endlessly.

Listening to this sermon, Lin Qingxu could barely suppress a yawn. Her attention wandered to the other sect members who were blatantly glaring daggers at the purple-robed cultivator. Amused, she lazily curled her lips into a faint smile.

So much for ‘ethereal grace’ and ‘aloof elegance.’ What nonsense!

He’s just someone who drives others mad without taking responsibility for it.

“I’ve heard that Qingwan’s elder sister, Miss Qingxu has no spiritual roots?” Lin Qingxu stiffened instantly, was her inner grumbling so loud that the purple-robed cultivator had somehow caught wind of it? Seeing as how he had smoothly shifted the topic right onto her.

Shrinking inwardly, Lin Qingxu resolved to stay as silent and inconspicuous as a wooden log.

“Mm, my sister doesn’t have spiritual roots.” Lin Qingwan replied naturally, her tone carrying a faint trace of disappointment.

Lin Qingxu remained wordless.

The purple-robed cultivator nodded with a pleasant smile, fully entering small-talk mode. “Miss Qingxu’s beauty is remarkable, and her age seems just right. Has she been promised to a family yet?”

Lin Qingxu distinctly heard the sound of teeth grinding in frustration from the cultivators nearby.

Lin Qingwan couldn’t respond directly to such a question out of courtesy, so Fang Xiu took over, replying calmly. “Qingxu’s marriage was arranged two years ago with the Su family from the nearby town.”

“Oh?” The purple-robed cultivator raised an intrigued brow, his tone leisurely as he asked. “Would that be the Su family of merchants? I happened to pass through the town earlier and heard of their reputation.”

Fang Xiu nodded. “Yes, that’s correct.”

The purple-robed cultivator gave a slight nod of acknowledgment before finally letting the topic go. “Then it truly is a fortunate match.”

Standing off to the side, Lin Qingxu was utterly speechless. With each word spilling from the cultivator’s mouth, her curiosity about the so-called ethereal world of cultivation plummeted further and further.

When the purple-robed cultivator finally decided to bid farewell, releasing everyone from his relentless chatter, it wasn’t just Lin Qingxu who heaved a sigh of relief—half the people present seemed equally exhausted and grateful.

Back inside, Lin Qingwan was still brimming with excitement and was like an overactive little monkey, unable to sit still. Perched on the edge of the bed, she swung her legs and grabbed hold of Lin Qingxu, eagerly painting vivid pictures of her future.

“Sis, Elder Li Chengji said that with my talent, I could reach the Foundation Establishment stage within ten years! By then, I’ll be able to come back and visit you and Mom!” Li Chengji, of course, was the blue-robed cultivator.

“Oh, really? That’s wonderful!” Lin Qingxu forced a smile in response.

To be honest, hearing “ten years” didn’t fill her with joy. Not one bit.

In The Tale of Lin the Cultivator, the protagonist returned to Lotus Village in her seventh year of cultivation, only to find the surrounding area desolate—every living being within miles had perished.

Although Lin Qingxu no longer treated novel as her sole benchmark for reality, the future remained an unpredictable and ever-shifting unknown.

Lin Qingwan who had been shaking her sister’s arm enthusiastically, suddenly paused. Her brows furrowed so tightly they could have pinched a passing fly to death. “Sis, why don’t you look happy? Is ten years too long? How about I work even harder? Maybe I can shorten the time!”

“It’s not that.” Lin Qingxu replied, shaking her head as she decided to set aside her worries for the moment.

She tapped Lin Qingwan lightly on the forehead, smiling as she said. “I was just imagining that when our Wanwan comes back as a powerful cultivator, the villagers might crowd around just like today. And if they end up knocking down the fence again, I wonder if Mom would still keep her cool or lose her temper this time!”

Lin Qingwan rubbed her reddening forehead, imagining the scene. She burst into laughter, flopping onto the bed in a fit of giggles. “But, by then, Mom wouldn’t dare scold me anymore! The unlucky one would definitely be you, Sis! Hahaha!”

Lin Qingxu stared wordlessly at her younger sister, who was rolling around on the bed, glowing with happiness. She opened her mouth, ready to dampen Lin Qingwan’s soaring enthusiasm with a few teasing words, when a cold voice suddenly cut through the moment.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Fang Xiu stood silently at the wide-open doorway, her sharp gaze fixed on the two sisters, both now frozen mid-motion.

Lin Qingwan with her survival instincts kicking in, sprang up straight like a carp leaping out of water. “Hehe, Mom! My sister and I were just joking around! Come on in and sit down—it must be tiring to stand there, right?”

Fang Xiu’s gaze swept over the two of them, ignoring Lin Qingwan’s attempts at appeasement entirely.

Lin Qingxu’s heart instantly sank.

“If you’re so free, fix the fallen fence this afternoon. If you don’t have enough tools, go borrow some from Hei Niu’s house—I’ve already spoken to your Uncle Hei.”

Lin Qingxu and Lin Qingwan exchanged pained glances before lowering their heads in unison. “Understood.”

Without sparing them another glance, Fang Xiu waved her sleeve and left with a practiced elegance.

Lin Qingxu was left with nothing but a sense of desolation, her inner world crumbling into a wasteland of despair…

Meanwhile, Fang Xiu headed straight for the kitchen where she began preparing lunch.

As the flames in the stove crackled and the dry wood caught fire, the light flickered across her face, revealing an unusual tension beneath her usually calm and composed exterior.

Elder Li Chengji’s casual questions about Lin Qingxu earlier that day seemed harmless on the surface, but Fang Xiu had sensed something deeper hidden in his words.

After Lin Qingxu’s memory had returned, Fang Xiu had adamantly refused to entertain the idea of breaking her engagement. Outwardly, her stance was firm and unwavering, but in her heart, doubts had quietly begun to take root.

The engagement with the Su family had indeed been initiated by her, but the reason behind it was because the Su family was paying too much attention to Qingxu.

When Fang Xiu explained the reasons for Lin Qingxu’s engagement, there was a mix of truth and half-truths.

Fang Xiu had known about the Su family’s special interest in Qingxu, yet she still proposed the engagement, harboring the hope that her dull-witted eldest daughter could live out her days in comfort. Even though the Su family had their secrets, the Su family’s matriarch and patriarch had promised her with firm words that they would never harm Lin Qingxu.

But now, with her eldest daughter having awakened to her own mind, Fang Xiu found herself hesitating over the decision she had made.

……

As Li Chengji and his disciple Qi Zhi walked down the road alone, free from the prying eyes of the villagers and the other sect members, Li Chengji resumed his usual carefree demeanor.

With a casual kick, he sent a pile of rocks flying off the side of the road.

Qi Zhi, his face dark with annoyance, quickly used his spiritual power to reduce the rocks to dust, making sure they didn’t cause trouble for anyone else.

When he saw that his master had suddenly taken an interest in a nearby mound of dirt, Qi Zhi quickly interrupted.

“Master, why did you suddenly ask about the Lin family’s eldest daughter’s spiritual root?” Qi Zhi scratched his head, trying to distract Li Chengji. “For a moment there, I thought you were planning to take her under your wing and break tradition!”

“What do you know?” Li Chengji paused, his leg still raised as he looked at his disciple.

Qi Zhi immediately leaned in, pretending to be intrigued by Li Chengji.

Li Chengji, annoyed by his disciple’s foolish expression, arrogantly lifted his chin.

Qi Zhi couldn’t help but feel a mental eye-roll.

“Let me just say, you haven’t mastered your skills properly. Can’t you tell that girl has a Yin-body constitution?” Li Chengji’s voice was low, but he spoke with an air of detached pride. Seizing the moment when Qi Zhi was distracted, he kicked up a cloud of dust with a casual motion.

It was only then that Qi Zhi realized, looking at the field now covered in a layer of dust, that he regretted it instantly.

In a good mood, Li Chengji continued explaining. “That’s why I asked if she was already engaged. With her constitution, she wouldn’t be easily accepted into the cultivation world, and we certainly can’t let her fall into the hands of the demon clan. But if it’s the Su family, that won’t be a problem.”

However, Qi Zhi remained skeptical of Li Chengji’s words.

A Yin-body constitution was a rare phenomenon, occurring only once every hundred years, and always in women. Those with a Yin-body have no spiritual root and appear ordinary making them prime targets for the demon clan. If the demons were to mate with them, it would significantly boost their magical power which was why they’re sought after.

Given that Qi Zhi was in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm, he should have been able to detect such a unique constitution.

Moreover, the two elders from the other two sects who had come with them to the courtyard earlier hadn’t noticed it either, had they?

Qi Zhi doubted that his master was fooling him… after all, this wasn’t the first or second time it had happened.

Li Chengji shot a sideways glance and immediately picked up on the full distrust in his disciple’s eyes.

Unable to hold back, he gave Qi Zhi’s annoying head a punch.

“Ah, Master, why do you always do this?! This is my head, not a ball! tsk, tsk, tsk, aren’t you afraid you’ll turn your disciple into an idiot?!” Qi Zhi cried out in pain.

Li Chengji nonchalantly pinched his fingers, shooting Qi Zhi a look that clearly said. “It’s all in a day’s work for a master.”

Qi Zhi reluctantly sighed. “…Fine, so why is it the Su family, then?”

Despite his doubts, Qi Zhi considered that while his master’s cultivation might not be extraordinary, his other abilities were certainly capable. Perhaps what his master said was true. He looked up at the sky, trying to console himself.

Li Chengji patted Qi Zhi’s shoulder, his eyes glowing with that ‘I’m about to tell you everything’ expression. “Well, that young lady has a magical barrier protecting her, deliberately concealing her constitution. I could tell it was the magic of someone from our own faction. That’s why I asked whether she was already betrothed.”

Li Chengji paused for a moment, his tone becoming more serious. “Do you remember the Immortal of the Void?”

Qi Zhi was taken aback. “Are you talking about the solitary cultivator in the Out-of-Body stage?”

Reaching the Out-of-Body stage signifies that a cultivator was not far from ascending through the tribulation, and once a cultivator surpasses the Nascent Soul stage, they can be called an immortal.

In the current cultivation world, there were fewer than three individuals who have just entered the Out-of-Body stage. The Immortal of the Void was famous not only for his cultivation strength but also for his free-spirited personality.

The Immortal of the Void once openly declared that he had no intention of undergoing the tribulation to become an immortal!

Li Chengji thought of that person and couldn’t help but feel a sense of contemplation. “If one day I, your master, reach the Out-of-Body stage, maybe I’d also prefer to stay away from that corner of the immortal realm. Who knows, maybe the world above isn’t as good as the one below!”

Qi Zhi’s forehead twitched.

Hey, wasn’t it you who kept saying you’d flaunt in the mortal realm once you ascended to the immortal world?

Qi Zhi’s complaints were so obvious that Li Chengji couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Ahem, let’s get back to the topic! The reason I brought up the Su family is because they are currently under the protection of the Immortal of the Void. The magic around that girl must have been placed by him…”

Li Chengji added with a hint of superiority: “So, you guys, with your pitiful magical abilities, couldn’t possibly detect such advanced power!”

Qi Zhi: “…”

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