Chapter 17: A Brief Romantic Encounter

Thinking of these old matters, Bu Xiwei’s expression turned particularly ugly.
Even the feathers on the little bird dumpling dimmed slightly.

Although Bu Xiwei could understand that those two disliked her out of concern for Yu Xiu’s safety, seeing the not-yet-grown-up Huangfu Hanrui and He Xiuran again in this life… a fleeting thought of getting rid of them still crossed her mind.

The little bird dumpling’s left claw clenched reflexively.

Of course, it was just a thought. Bu Xiwei would never actually do something that would make Yu Xiu completely distance herself from her.

And truthfully, people like Huangfu Hanrui and He Xiuran—who genuinely cared for and worried about Yu Xiu—were the kind of people Bu Xiwei wanted around her.
The more, the better.

Shaking her ultramarine wings, the little bird dumpling flew into a corner of the bamboo house and concealed her aura, making it impossible for Huangfu Hanrui and He Xiuran to detect her presence.

Bu Xiwei acted without hesitation, and Yu Xiu’s brow twitched slightly.

Thinking back carefully, aside from that time they first met—when Bu Xiwei had forcibly transferred her spiritual energy—she had actually been extremely considerate.

She didn’t interfere in Yu Xiu’s affairs, offered her timely assistance, and even proactively avoided causing trouble.

So considerate… it was suspiciously out of character.

Yu Xiu: “…”

In the end, she only gave the bird dumpling in the corner a small, grateful glance, then said to Xing Zan, “Please let them in.”

With Yu Xiu’s permission, Xing Zan headed to the peak’s entrance to fetch Huangfu Hanrui and He Xiuran.

Yu Xiu had already opened the door of the bamboo house.

Huangfu Hanrui, dressed in light pink and with a lovely, youthful face, looked no less excited than Xing Zan had been when she first saw Yu Xiu emerge from seclusion.

She threw herself into Yu Xiu’s arms, hugging her waist tightly.

“Head Senior Sister!”

Behind her, He Xiuran strolled in with his hands behind his head and a wide stride. Dressed in Jinlu Peak’s gold-and-yellow disciple robes, his handsome face carried an unmistakable youthful arrogance.

As a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy, He Xiuran couldn’t exactly throw himself at Yu Xiu the way Hanrui did. He glanced sideways at her clinging to Yu Xiu with some envy, but still called out with bright, undisguised excitement:

“Head Senior Sister!”

Bu Xiwei, watching in secret: “…”

She’s really trying not to shout “Let go of her!” at that girl right now…

Her glossy black eyes flashed with a sharp and cold light as she scrutinized the two newcomers.

Very good. Their gazes toward Yu Xiu only carry the admiration and affection of younger siblings—nothing more. Just like she remembered in her past life.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, another figure surfaced in Bu Xiwei’s mind.

The number of people—men and women—in the immortal and demonic realms who had admired Yu Xiu could only be described as countless.

After all, Yu Xiu’s appearance, temperament, and background were simply too dazzling. Falling for her was only natural.

But most could only secretly long for her. Getting close was nearly impossible.
Those who did get close were usually rejected—either tactfully or bluntly—because of Yu Xiu’s deep commitment to the Path of Emotionlessness.

Still, some people… some fools persisted.

One man, in particular, had shamelessly declared that loving Yu Xiu was his own business and had nothing to do with her. He claimed he didn’t expect anything—he just liked her, that’s all.

When Bu Xiwei heard that in her past life, she’d damn near chipped her teeth from how sour they felt.

What the f*ck? Isn’t that just pestering? And he made himself sound like some tragic, selfless romantic!

Even thinking about it now made Bu Xiwei’s teeth ache.

Even I, who walked through life and death with her, never opened my mouth to confess. I didn’t want to interfere with her pursuit of the Dao!

What gave that bastard the right to cling to her like some lovesick parasite?!

Even though Yu Xiu had always responded to that man with nothing but distance and rejection, his shameless pursuit still became infamous across the entire cultivation world.

Everyone knew the number-one genius of the righteous path had a romantic stalker.

Thankfully, Bu Xiwei recalled that he only became familiar with Yu Xiu after she reached the Nascent Soul stage. Right now, it was still early.

She still had plenty of time—and plenty of ways—to keep that guy the hell away from Yu Xiu.

Yu Xiu, who suddenly felt a wave of intense killing intent from behind: “…”

She didn’t fully understand what Bu Xiwei’s feelings for her were, but this time, her emotional fluctuations were… particularly intense.

Huangfu Hanrui and He Xiuran, of course, were completely oblivious to all this.

Yu Xiu gently pushed Hanrui off and invited the two of them to sit at the only bamboo table in the room.

Huangfu Hanrui, He Xiuran, and He Xiuran’s two senior brothers—all personal disciples of Jinlu Peak—were capturable characters in Five Elements Immortal Domain.

But to Yu Xiu, they were just younger siblings she had watched grow up.

Even though He Xiuran’s two senior brothers weren’t much older than her, Yu Xiu would still address them as “Senior Brother.” But deep down, with her two lifetimes of experience, she still saw them as juniors.

The only person in the Five Elements Sect Yu Xiu could genuinely call “Senior Brother” with full sincerity was Jiang Hanxing.

He was, in every sense, a worthy Head Senior Brother.

As Yu Xiu, Hanrui, and Xiuran sat down, Xing Zan efficiently poured hot tea for all three.

“I haven’t had Chiyang Peak’s tea in forever!” Hanrui exclaimed. “I haven’t visited since you went into seclusion.”

He Xiuran looked at the teacup in front of him. His eyelids twitched several times, as if the bitterness was already stabbing his tongue before the tea had even touched it.

Still, Chiyang Peak’s tea was a rare and precious thing—not something to waste. He Xiuran didn’t want to seem picky in front of Yu Xiu either.
So he braced himself and picked up the cup.

Yu Xiu let out a quiet laugh at the sight and glanced at Xing Zan.

“Next time Senior Brother He visits, just pour him plain water.”

She really only had tea and plain water here anyway.

Before Xing Zan could reply, Huangfu Hanrui pouted.

“Head Senior Sister, stop spoiling him! Chiyang Peak’s tea is such a rare treasure, and he just can’t appreciate it! What a waste!”

He Xiuran glared at her. “Who are you calling a wild boar?”

Yu Xiu smiled at her two bickering juniors, a warm sense of familial affection rising in her chest.

As they exchanged barbs, He Xiuran suddenly remembered something and mentioned to Yu Xiu that his two senior brothers were on a mission outside the Five Elements Sect, which was why they hadn’t come along today.

Among the Five Great Peaks, there were currently only five personal disciples in total.

Jinlu Peak had three. Yu Xiu from Chiyang Peak and Jiang Hanxing from Cangling Peak were the other two.
The Peak Masters of Tianshuang and Xuanji Peak hadn’t accepted any personal disciples.

These five were the most outstanding talents of their generation—elite cultivators of the Five Elements Sect.

They all shared a good relationship, and among them, Yu Xiu was especially close with the others.

Even Jiang Hanxing—cold, proud, and aloof—regarded Yu Xiu as his closest peer.

After not seeing them for two years, Yu Xiu examined their cultivation progress.

Huangfu Hanrui had finally achieved Foundation Establishment. He Xiuran was approaching the late stage of it.

With a look of satisfaction, Yu Xiu praised their growth, then chatted with them casually, catching up on the sect’s more significant happenings over the past two years.

Hanrui, who had been holding back this whole time, suddenly couldn’t resist anymore and blurted out, “Quick, quick! Take out the treasure map!”

He Xiuran looked exasperated. “…Weren’t you the one who said not to tell Head Senior Sister yet? Said we should give her a surprise after the preparations were done?”

Hanrui blinked, stunned for a moment. Then her expression cracked into a sheepish grin.

“Ah? Ah—oh, right, right, right! Hehe!”

Since the surprise was already out, there was no point hiding it now.

With a glare at Hanrui, He Xiuran let out a “hehe,” flipped his hand, and pulled out a worn, folded map from the storage bag at his waist.

The map was clearly very old. Even though it was made from spirit beast hide and far from ordinary, the wear and tear were still visible.