With Wang Xuanming’s cultivation level, he couldn’t see the anomalies on the wooden plaques. But seeing Fu Juan stare intently at the red strings and plaques, doubt also grew in his heart. He didn’t touch the matchmaking plaques hanging on the peach tree. Instead, he spent twenty yuan at a small nearby stall to buy a wooden plaque and a pen. Walking up to Fu Juan, he shrugged, attempting lightness, “Want to try?”
Fu Juan looked up at his words, her gaze fixed on Wang Xuanming in silence.
Wang Xuanming gave an awkward laugh. Under Fu Juan’s calm stare, his petty thoughts seemed to have nowhere to hide. He coughed lightly to mask his embarrassment. Rubbing the plaque between his fingers, he said, “It’s made of peach wood.” According to the Classic of Arts, “The peach is the essence of the five woods, and has since antiquity subdued evil influences.” It was also called “Dragon-Subduing Wood” or “Ghost-Intimidating Wood,” possessing the effect of suppressing calamities and warding off evil. Many magical artifacts in the Dao Court were made from peach wood.
Fu Juan said coolly, “That’s likely why it was overlooked.” The matchmaking peach wood plaque carried an aura that made her very uncomfortable, but she couldn’t pinpoint why. “Personally testing danger” seemed a good idea, but she had no desire to entangle her fate with Wang Xuanming’s because of this. After thinking for a moment, she also took out her Luopan compass used for surveying Feng Shui and began to detect the flow and change of “Qi” within the Fox Immortal Temple.
Fu Juan’s refusal was within Wang Xuanming’s expectations. Nevertheless, a faint sense of loss and melancholy rose in his heart. Hearing a commotion, he exhaled a breath of impure energy and turned to approach the old men running stalls outside the temple to ask about the “Fox Immortal Temple.”
This temple existed before the founding of the nation, built by a family surnamed “Hu.” The head of that family had once been saved by a “Fox Immortal,” so in gratitude, he had a golden statue made for the Fox Immortal. But by the second generation, they gradually forgot the kindness, neglected the offerings, and naturally, the mountain and temple fell into disrepair. It wasn’t until the economy improved, and busy people were finally willing to pause, that this not-so-remote mountain gradually bustled again. Yet visitors came for the flowers, not to worship the Fox Immortal.
“It’s only you youngsters who believe in love, that sort of heaven-sent romance. Affairs of the heart are clearly won by one’s own efforts.” The old vendor scoffed at the tourists worshiping at the temple. But as soon as tourists drew near, he instantly changed his tune, loudly hawking, “Matchmaking talismans, blessed by the incense of the Fox Immortal Temple, very efficacious! Want a pair?”
Wang Xuanming: “…”
While Wang Xuanming was probing for information about the Fox Immortal Temple everywhere, Fu Juan steered her wheelchair through the peach blossom forest. Whether it was the Luopan compass or her own captivating dark hair and bright eyes, she drew frequent, covert glances from tourists. But Fu Juan seemed oblivious, wholly immersed in sensing the “Qi.” In a temple with flourishing incense, the gathered faith energy would create a purple aura like a canopy. However, this Fox Immortal Temple was different. It wasn’t clear and righteous, yet she couldn’t find even a trace of wickedness either.
Suddenly, a dark shadow crossed Fu Juan’s vision. She lowered her gaze to the trembling compass needle. Performing a hand seal, she followed the direction south. The compass’s abnormality continued until she came face-to-face with two people before ceasing. Fu Juan looked up and met Jiang Yiguang’s gaze, a mix of surprise and faint irritation. But before she could analyze it, that complex look transformed into a pool of limpid spring water, as if expressing tender, sentimental feelings. Fu Juan moved her wheelchair back imperceptibly, putting distance between herself and Jiang Yiguang.
Fu Juan asked, “Did you meet anyone on your way here?” The magnetic field around Jiang Yiguang and Lu Yaotiao was off; they had clearly been contaminated by a trace of Negative Energy.
“Fu Juan, are you… concerned about me?” Jiang Yiguang managed to halt that eerie surge of emotion just in time. The soft, romantic tone of her words became somewhat sarcastic by the last few syllables. She guessed Fu Juan had noticed something. She wanted to talk properly with Fu Juan, but the “love deep, hate deep” feeling controlled by the fate line, deep within her body, was violently tearing at her, as if to rip her in two. Jiang Yiguang hoped the System would appear promptly, using the carrot—or rather, the obvious benefits—to mobilize her “self-awareness.” But the System remained utterly silent, as if it had never existed, leaving her alone to struggle against fate and her “own self.”
Lu Yaotiao looked from Fu Juan to Jiang Yiguang. She was somewhat afraid of that silent, deep, profound gaze, yet she resolutely chose to stand by Jiang Yiguang, pursing her lips and remaining silent.
Fu Juan’s patience for Jiang Yiguang was as tiny as a pinhole. What little concern she had evaporated under Jiang Yiguang’s unrestrained and frivolous gaze. She had no desire to say another word to Jiang Yiguang and began steering her wheelchair to leave. Just then, Jiang Yiguang suddenly reached out and grabbed the push handle. Fu Juan frowned and turned her head, meeting Jiang Yiguang’s eyes—a look of avoidance as if facing a monstrous beast! Completely different from the past’s relentless harassment. Fu Juan frowned, but before she could analyze further, Jiang Yiguang spoke.
“On the way up the mountain, we ran into a woman in a white hoodie. She had a marriage string tied around her wrist with a little fox ornament. Her complexion wasn’t great, a bit pale, like she was sick,” Jiang Yiguang recalled carefully, then added, “She also asked to borrow our phone to make a call.”
Fu Juan’s expression grew solemn. She asked, “Did you lend it to her?”
“No,” Jiang Yiguang shook her head. Lu Yaotiao might have been soft-hearted, but she wasn’t. If she were a warm-hearted person, her Chivalry Points wouldn’t be stuck at “1.”
Lu Yaotiao added, “We helped her call the scenic area management staff at the foot of the mountain.”
Fu Juan hummed thoughtfully.
Jiang Yiguang, observing her expression, couldn’t help but ask, “Are you going down the mountain to look?”
Hearing this, Fu Juan’s face darkened slightly. Her icy gaze swept over Jiang Yiguang’s face as she said coldly, “Yes.”
Jiang Yiguang stared at Fu Juan intensely, her heart practically leaping to her throat. Her face was tinged with a flush, mirroring the brilliant, rosy peach blossoms. She said nothing, but anyone could read her heart from her fervent gaze.
Lu Yaotiao guessed Jiang Yiguang wanted to follow Fu Juan down the mountain and couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
Coming to this Fox Immortal Temple was running headlong into ill-fated ties.
Contrary to all expectations, Jiang Yiguang released the push handle. She slowly backed away, putting distance between herself and Fu Juan, and waved to her, “Then goodbye.”
Fu Juan pressed her lips together. A flicker of confusion surfaced in her eyes.
But ultimately, her impatience with Jiang Yiguang won out. She had no leisure to ponder Jiang Yiguang’s recent unusual behavior.
Jiang Yiguang watched Fu Juan leave.
Lu Yaotiao rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, looking at the somewhat eerie Jiang Yiguang. “Jiang Jiang, are you… are you possessed by something dirty?” Would she give up a chance to be alone with Fu Juan, to “take care” of Fu Juan? This was seriously supernatural.
Jiang Yiguang defended herself, “Don’t you think she’s dangerous?” If the System was telling the truth, then in the novel, her fate was to fall into a Ghost Cave and die without an intact corpse, while Fu Juan merely watched coldly from the side—just imagining such a scene sent chills down her spine. Knowing that this ending was “deserved retribution” was one thing; accepting it without any resentment was another entirely.
“Now you know fear? That’s really something.” Lu Yaotiao clicked her tongue in amazement. She had long advised Jiang Yiguang, but those heartfelt words fell on deaf ears. To preserve their friendship, she had chosen silence, never expecting Jiang Yiguang would suddenly have an awakening. “Something must have happened at home those few days, right?” Lu Yaotiao suddenly thought of the wound on Jiang Yiguang’s forehead. Could it be she didn’t fall herself, but rather Fu Juan finally erupted like a volcano?
Jiang Yiguang glanced sideways at Lu Yaotiao, “Don’t let your imagination run wild.” She dusted the fallen petals from her sleeve and walked along the stone steps towards the Fox Immortal Temple. Although she hadn’t learned her mother’s skills, she still remembered her mother’s instructions: never worship at “illicit shrines” encountered on the road. In the eyes of the Mystic Sect, places like the Fox Immortal Temple were considered such.
“Quite a lot of people,” Lu Yaotiao was also mostly curious about the Fox Immortal Temple. Watching the comings and goings, she suddenly chuckled softly, “If someone brought a different person here every day to pray, would they still get matched?”
Jiang Yiguang: “…” She lightly patted Lu Yaotiao, “Miss, reign in your wild ideas.”
Lu Yaotiao grabbed Jiang Yiguang’s hand instead, the excitement on her face undiminished, “There are wooden plaques to hang over there.” Jiang Yiguang had no desire to join her in such an easily-beaten-up activity. Amidst their pushing and pulling, a clear, cool voice sounded from behind.
“Are you two here to pray for romance?”
Jiang Yiguang shivered and turned around, somewhat puzzled, to look at the long-haired woman standing three meters away, her appearance vaguely familiar.
Lu Yaotiao let go of Jiang Yiguang. She was well-acquainted with the newcomer and flashed a sweet smile upon seeing her, answering, “Yes.” After a pause, she added, “Senior, no classes today?”
This call of “Senior” finally jogged Jiang Yiguang’s memory. The nameless stranger’s face was re-labeled with the name “Xie Qingdu.”
“No classes,” Xie Qingdu replied succinctly, her gaze fixed on Lu Yaotiao, who stood very close to Jiang Yiguang.
Being watched with such intense focus, and remembering what she saw in the car, Lu Yaotiao felt an inexplicable sense of unease. She secretly pinched Jiang Yiguang, hoping she would say something to break the silence. Jiang Yiguang pursed her lips, explaining, “We’re just here observing the excitement. Yaotiao has sealed off her heart and locked away love; she’s not seeking romance.”
Lu Yaotiao: “…”
Xie Qingdu stared unblinkingly at Lu Yaotiao, taking in the little interactions between her and Jiang Yiguang. Her lips curved slightly, lifting into a faint smile. “The peach blossoms in March are blooming quite nicely.”
Lu Yaotiao’s eyelid twitched. An ominous premonition suddenly arose in her heart, as if the wind blowing in her face had turned cold and sinister. She quietly pressed closer to Jiang Yiguang, forcing a smile. “They really are beautiful.”
Jiang Yiguang’s heart was pounding, yet her expression remained calm and unchanged.
She took over the conversation, asking, “Is the senior here alone to admire the flowers? Where’s your girlfriend?”
Xie Qingdu’s smile deepened, even her cold, clear voice softening slightly. “She’s here.”
