Chapter 37: First Step into Jianghu

Shu Wan was currently idly leaning against the gate of the courtyard, lost in thought. Ge Qing had specifically asked her to step aside. Although she was curious, she would not eavesdrop. However, they had been talking for a long time, and she was starting to feel bored.

When a person felt bored, they tended to think of all sorts of things.

At that moment, Shu Wan was biting her lower lip, reflecting on the incident where she had lost her temper with Yi Chenlan earlier. The more she thought about it, the more regret she felt. Why was she so quick-tempered? Why couldn’t she just speak gently and calmly? Why did she always start acting gruff whenever she got upset?

Senior Brother Ah Lan had clearly looked uncomfortable. She… she had simply been worried, but her concern had caused her to become flustered. When she saw him still wearing so little despite being sick, she had immediately scolded him out of concern.

Shu Wan slapped her forehead in frustration. Indeed, people always seemed to take their temper out on those they were closest to. What a terrible habit. She really needed to work on changing it…

“Ai…” 

Shu Wan sighed deeply, tugged at her hair, and poked at the ground with a small stick. Her thoughts began to wander again—

She needed to figure out how to control her temper. Reflecting on her time since crossing over, whenever she saw something that upset her, she would rush to intervene and express her anger. However, when she thought about it, it seemed that whenever she appeared fierce like that, Senior Brother Ah Lan was always nearby…

But, but every time she saw someone bully him, she became extremely angry. She felt like tearing that person apart. Senior Brother Ah Lan was such a gentle and kind person. Why should he be treated so poorly just because of his background? Ugh, no, that’s wrong. If we were to talk about his background, it was even more unjust that he was bullied!

“Wan Wan.”

Just as Shu Wan was drifting further into her thoughts, already imagining herself beating up various scoundrels, a familiar voice finally interrupted her train of thought.

Shu Wan paused, threw aside the small stick, and rushed over to stand in front of Yi Chenlan. After a brief hesitation, she took a deep breath and said: “Senior Brother Ah Lan… I’m sorry.”

Sigh… Saying sorry really made her feel a bit embarrassed, but she still had to be brave. Her bad temper was meant to be reserved for those scoundrels in Jianghu, not for Yi Chenlan.

Yi Chenlan blinked, not quite following Shu Wan’s train of thought. “Sorry?”

“Mm…” Shu Wan twiddled her fingers, her voice softening. “I didn’t mean it earlier. Please don’t be mad at me.”

“…Mad at you?” Yi Chenlan still didn’t quite understand.

“Right, my attitude wasn’t very good towards you.” Shu Wan said, glancing at Yi Chenlan disapprovingly: “But that’s only because you weren’t being obedient! Running out without shoes—who wouldn’t be angry at that?”

“You—were you just overthinking this the whole time?” Yi Chenlan raised an eyebrow, turned his head, and let out an exasperated laugh. He lightly tapped Shu Wan’s forehead. “You… I really can’t deal with you. What on earth are you thinking?”

“I’m not angry with you, I never will be.” Yi Chenlan said gently, with a soft smile in his eyes. “Wan Wan, come inside. I have something to talk to you about.”

…

As soon as Shu Wan entered the room, she saw Ge Qing looking at her with an expression of sympathy. She touched her face in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing much.” Ge Qing cleared his throat, waving his hand as he walked out. “Let Chenlan talk to you. I need to pack and head back to Zhongshan Sect.”

Chenlan? Shu Wan looked at Yi Chenlan in confusion. Had they become so familiar with each other?

“Don’t mind him.” Yi Chenlan said, leading Shu Wan to sit down on a chair by the table. He gazed at her gently. “Wan Wan, what are your plans for the time being?”

He had expected Shu Wan to say that she wanted to return to Zhongshan Sect, but her answer surprised him.

“Mm… I don’t want to go home just yet. I’m thinking of going to Luo Xian Mountain Villa.” Shu Wan thought for a moment, speaking seriously.

“Luo Xian Mountain Villa? What made you think of going there?” Yi Chenlan asked, surprised.

Shu Wan bit her lip, considering how to answer Yi Chenlan. After all, she had just gotten out of Zhongshan Sect, and now she wanted to try her luck at Luo Xian Mountain Villa. Such a good opportunity might not come again for a long time if she missed it.

“I… I heard that Luo Xian Mountain Villa only accepts female disciples, and their martial arts are graceful and elegant. I’ve always admired them and wanted to see it for myself.” Shu Wan said, making up a reason since she couldn’t tell Yi Chenlan the real reason.

Yi Chenlan smiled faintly and said softly: “But things have been a bit unsettled in Jianghu lately. If you want to go, I’ll accompany you in the future, alright?”

“What’s been happening in Jianghu recently?” Shu Wan’s heart tightened, and she quickly tried to recall where the story was at this point. After thinking for a while, she couldn’t remember any significant events in Jianghu.

Yi Chenlan reached out to touch Shu Wan’s head, kneeling in front of her, bringing their gazes level. “Wan Wan, it’s better if you don’t wander around for now.”

“Then… should I go home?” As Yi Chenlan moved so close to her, his handsome face became even clearer, and Shu Wan, feeling nervous, stammered for a moment.

Yi Chenlan frowned slightly. After hesitating for a while, he still couldn’t bring himself to say: “You can’t return to Zhongshan Sect anymore.”

Even though he suspected that the Wan Wan before him might have changed, it was still just his suspicion. If he told the truth, perhaps she would be hurt. He wasn’t sure if she could handle the fact that Shu Qi was after them.

“Senior Brother Ah Lan?” Shu Wan could tell that Yi Chenlan was struggling with something. After a brief moment of contemplation, she suddenly had an epiphany—

Senior Brother Ah Lan must not want to stay here for too long. Having finally escaped, he would likely want to visit his “biological father.” Yi Heng, at Snowy Night Mountain. In her original plan, after helping him escape, she had intended to find a chance to reunite with him and take him to Snowy Night Mountain.

Although Snowy Night Mountain was also a perilous place, it was still a hundred times safer than Zhongshan Sect. Moreover, it was where Yi Heng’s unparalleled martial arts, the Snow Mountain Technique, and various poisons were stored—things that rightfully belonged to Yi Chenlan. She didn’t want Yi Chenlan to dominate the martial world, but she just hoped that no one would ever again have the audacity to treat him as lesser.

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, actually, I’m not in a hurry to go home or to Luo Xian Mountain Villa. How about I first take you to Snowy Night Mountain? I know you must want to go there.” Shu Wan said, feeling quite understanding. Since Senior Brother Ah Lan’s martial arts had temporarily waned, it would be far too dangerous for him to go to Snowy Night Mountain alone. With her there to protect him, he would be safe.

Moreover, when they reached Snowy Night Mountain, there was much she needed to explain to him, to prevent him from suffering the same hardships as those in the books.

Yi Chenlan was momentarily stunned. His clear, phoenix-like eyes widened slightly, and an unmistakable joy spread across his face. His eyes, naturally cool and ethereal, now gleamed with an exceptionally bright light, making them even more captivating.

He hadn’t expected that in such a short time, Shu Wan’s thoughts had already shifted, and she seemed to have misunderstood his hesitation. However, this turned out to be in alignment with his own considerations. He naturally continued: “Yes, I do want to go to Snowy Night Mountain.”

Only Snowy Night Mountain could perfectly counteract Shu Qi’s Jianghu influence.

And only there could he grow stronger, gaining the power to protect those he cherished.

Shu Wan, feeling a bit embarrassed by Yi Chenlan’s sudden joy, still smiled brightly as she realized she had guessed correctly. “Senior Brother Ah Lan, you could’ve just said so. Why were you being so hesitant? I wouldn’t refuse you.”

Her brows arched in a cheerful smile, her pale, jade-like face glowing with happiness. Yi Chenlan’s gaze momentarily froze, and he took a discreet deep breath. Standing up, he stepped back slightly, his fingers curling imperceptibly at his side.

It was too warm. He almost couldn’t resist holding her in his arms just now.

Perhaps it was better to keep some distance. Otherwise, the one who would lose control would be him. Wan Wan had already agreed to go to Snowy Night Mountain with him, hadn’t she? He could take things slowly.

He gradually surrounded her, not giving her a chance to leave.

“Wan Wan, after breakfast, we’ll set off.”

Shu Wan was taken aback and stood up blankly. “We’re leaving so soon? But you’re still sick, Senior Brother Ah Lan. You should rest for a couple more days.”

Yi Chenlan smiled. “No need, I’ll recover soon. The earlier we leave, the safer we’ll be.”

“But…”

“Wan Wan, be good.” Seeing that Shu Wan still wanted to say something, Yi Chenlan stepped forward and gently coaxed her: “Why don’t you touch my forehead and see? My fever has mostly gone down.”

Shu Wan was worried and didn’t think too much. Without hesitation, she reached out to feel Yi Chenlan’s forehead. The moment her hand touched him, she felt a burst of joy—sure enough, he wasn’t as hot as before.

Yi Chenlan lowered his gaze, concealing the deep emotion in his eyes. Feeling her warm little hand on his forehead, he couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly.

“It really has improved a lot.” Shu Wan said happily, rubbing her hands together. “But I’ll still go decoct another portion of the medicine. If you drink it, you’ll get better even faster.”

After saying that, she ran out cheerfully. Yi Chenlan followed her with a few slow steps, his expression growing softer.

…

“Here, this is fifty taels. No matter where you decide to go, this will be enough if you spend it carefully.” Brother Ge Qing took out a money pouch. After a moment of hesitation, he finally handed it to Shu Wan. “Junior Sister Shu, you take it. Girls are usually more careful with money, right? Oh, and it’s not a gift. Remember to pay me back in the future.”

Since he said that, Shu Wan did not refuse. She accepted it with a smile and said: “Got it. Thank you, Brother Ge.”

Brother Ge Qing gave a nasal “mm” and looked at Yi Chenlan meaningfully before asking: “…Did you tell her?”

Yi Chenlan gave a barely noticeable shake of the head. “Not yet.”

“I figured.” Brother Ge Qing was not surprised at all. “Take your time then. There’ll be plenty for you to worry about in the future.”

“What are you two talking about? Why do I not understand any of it?” Shu Wan stood at the side, completely confused.

“Oh, nothing. Little girl, don’t ask so many questions. Xiao Ba! Come over!” Brother Ge Qing brushed off Shu Wan’s curiosity and waved at the driver waiting in the distance.

A middle-aged man named Shen Ba immediately drove the carriage over. He was tall and thin, dressed in a set of dusty gray clothes, and gave them a slight nod.

Brother Ge Qing pointed at him and introduced: “This is Shen Ba. He used to be my father’s bookboy—very trustworthy. He’ll take you to Yunzhou City. After you arrive, he’ll return on his own. Wherever you go afterward, just hire another carriage. That way, no one will know your whereabouts.”

Just as Shu Wan was about to ask why they had to be so secretive, she heard Yi Chenlan say: “Many thanks. We’ll set off now. Take care on your way back.”

Brother Ge Qing replied: “Got it. You two better get going.”

“Wan Wan, let’s get on the carriage first.” Yi Chenlan spoke softly and led Shu Wan by the hand onto the carriage.

Brother Ge Qing gave a few instructions to Shen Ba. Seeing that he only nodded silently, he couldn’t help but remind him: “Why are you so quiet today? I’ve never seen you this silent before. Stay sharp on the road, take good care of them, and come straight back after dropping them off. Don’t dawdle, and don’t ask questions.”

“Yes.” Shen Ba answered in a low voice without lifting his head.

…

Not long after the carriage set off, Shu Wan couldn’t hold back any longer. She had been holding in her curiosity for a long time. Now, lowering her voice and speaking with great secrecy, she asked Yi Chenlan: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, did something big happen in the Jianghu recently? Is there a killer on the loose? Or a flower thief? Or some other villain? Was that what you and Brother Ge were talking about this morning?”

She had racked her brain trying to guess, going through all the possible villains she had read about in books, but still couldn’t figure out what kind of trouble had stirred things up to the point where they had to act so low-key. The curiosity was practically clawing at her.

“Mm… It’s like this. The Sword Debate at Jing River is about to begin, and there are more Jianghu people traveling about. My identity is somewhat special. If someone recognizes me, it might bring unnecessary trouble, so it’s better to be cautious.” Yi Chenlan explained while tucking a soft cushion behind Shu Wan’s back.

Although he didn’t give the real reason, his explanation wasn’t entirely untrue.

Ah… so Senior Brother Ah Lan was worried about this matter, afraid that once they went out, people might pick on them. Everyone here had shown hostility toward Yi Chenlan, and upon seeing him, never failed to sneer or mock. His concern was indeed reasonable.

However… she was so strong! Though young, she was absolutely a first-class martial artist. Who dared to run their mouth at them? And if they really couldn’t win, couldn’t she just take Senior Brother Ah Lan and escape? There was no reason to let people bully them. Shu Wan’s heart swelled with a strong urge to protect, and her dark, shiny eyes looked over with a trace of tender concern.

Yi Chenlan couldn’t help but laugh at her gaze. He reached out and ruffled her hair. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Shu Wan pursed her lips and said seriously: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, you don’t have to overthink. Even if we walk openly on the streets, so what? If someone recognizes you and tries to cause trouble, I’ll rush up and smash his head in.”