Chapter 29

Lin Mengxian handed the Small Jade Box containing the Nether River Flower to Liuli.

Liuli raised an eyebrow and looked at her. She smiled and said, “Once I’ve gathered enough money, I’ll redeem it from Senior Sister. Until then, I ask Senior Sister to safeguard it for me.”

So sensible! Liuli accepted it without further courtesy and placed it into her Storage Ring.

Danger lurked everywhere in the Secret Realm. It was a rare treat to enjoy a moment of leisure. Sitting on the grass, Liuli laid out the pastries from her Storage Ring one by one and invited Lin Mengxian to eat. She was only halfway through when the earth suddenly trembled violently.

Liuli nimbly leaped to her feet and gazed into the distance. A gigantic beast, resembling a rhinoceros, was charging toward them.

“We can’t be this unlucky!” Liuli gripped her Big Wooden Hammer, intending to strike first against the beast, but then noticed that someone seemed to be chasing behind the rhinoceros giant beast.

“So it’s someone else’s prey.”

Liuli then said to Lin Mengxian, “It’s nothing. Let’s wait for him to finish his fight and continue our picnic.”

Lin Mengxian laughed ruefully. “Senior Sister, the scent of blood will draw other wild beasts. We should change locations.”

“Good point.”

Liuli waved her hand and repacked the items she had laid out. In that brief moment, the bovine-type giant beast let out a tragic roar—it had been killed by the hunter behind it.

The thick, pungent smell of blood assaulted the nostrils. Liuli couldn’t help but step back. “…Brutal.”

The hunter also noticed there were two people nearby. He didn’t pay them much mind and first removed the bull’s horn, sinews, and other materials before turning around. Clad in white robes, as handsome as jade, he happened to be an acquaintance—Liang Tianguang.

Liang Tianguang also spotted Liuli and her companion. His face lit up with pleasant surprise. “Junior Sister Xue! To meet you here—what a coincidence. Junior Sister Lin, greetings.”

“Senior Brother, greetings.”

Liuli glanced at the bull corpse collapsed behind him and frowned slightly.

Liang Tianguang hastily explained, “This wild bull ambushed me first. I only killed it in self-defense when I saw its body had some usable parts.”

Junior Sister Xue is truly kind-hearted.

Liuli cleared her throat lightly and said, “We’re changing locations for a picnic. Are you joining?”

Liang Tianguang’s eyes lit up. “Of course! This Secret Realm is perilous; it’s better to travel together.”

Junior Sister Xue is truly so warm and enthusiastic!

“Very well.” Liuli swallowed a mouthful of saliva. “Go cut some beef and I’ll let you join.”

Liang Tianguang: “…”

Liuli added, “I want the tenderloin and the rib rack.”

…

The group moved to a different location. The Stone Puppet lay on the ground, bereft of life. Liuli personally carried it on her shoulder as they walked.

Feng Xiwu was clearly determined not to make a move. It was also unknown whether she was still possessing the Stone Puppet at this moment.

Liuli had no choice. Fearing that Feng Xiwu’s divine sense might still be inside, she didn’t dare store it in her Storage Ring and could only carry it.

But outsiders didn’t know the reason behind this. Seeing this, Liang Tianguang said, “Junior Sister, why not put it into your Storage Ring to carry?”

Liuli answered serenely, “More contact nurtures the bond. Look after a puppet as you would a child, and communication will be smoother, manipulation more natural.”

Liang Tianguang was struck with awe. “So that’s how it is.”

The picnic continued. With Liang Tianguang’s beef, a new activity was added: barbecue. Liuli suddenly remembered the farewell gift her Junior Sister Liang Tiantian had given her before entering the Secret Realm. She excitedly took it out and flaunted it.

“My younger sister Tiantian prepared this for me. Ah, a little sister is so considerate; I couldn’t stop her even if I tried, hahahaha.”

Liang Tianguang: “…”

Liuli: “Sorry, I forgot.”

Liang Tianguang: “…”

Liuli lowered her head, opened the Food Box, looked inside, and froze. A moment later, she closed the lid as if nothing had happened and said, “I’ve reconsidered. Her heartfelt gesture shouldn’t be wasted just like that. I’ll savor it slowly after we get out.”

Liang Tianguang: “…”

Liuli: “I really wasn’t mocking you.”

.

Outside the Secret Realm, on Parasol Tree Mountain, Liang Tiantian was sharing a meal in Junior Sister Little Feng’s courtyard.

Junior Sister Little Feng asked, “You want to learn how to cook?”

Liang Tiantian: “Yep.”

Parasol Tree Mountain wasn’t like Peach Blossom Mountain. The Phoenix Perch Residence and the disciples’ courtyards were far apart, and there was no dedicated meal hall. It wasn’t good to keep troubling Junior Sister Little Feng.

Liang Tiantian smiled. “Right now, I only know how to steam rice.”

What she had given Senior Sister Liuli was the most successful bucket of steamed rice she had made so far!

She hoped Senior Sister Liuli would have a smooth journey in the Secret Realm and eat her fill!

·

Traveling as a trio deterred many with ulterior motives, but it also made them a larger target, easily attracting the dumb Ferocious Beasts that had lived for years in the Secret Realm without seeing outsiders.

Most of the time, the three could team up and handle them. But occasionally, they encountered troublesome ones.

Take this giant python, for example. It had already developed spiritual intelligence but pretended to be stupid and sluggish, luring the three into underestimating it. Lin Mengxian was momentarily careless and revealed an opening. The giant python immediately opened its blood-filled maw and twisted its head to bite her!

Liuli happened to witness this scene. Without time to think, she swung her Wooden Hammer and blocked the space between the woman and the snake, charging straight into the snake’s mouth. Her hammerhead was so large it jammed the snake’s mouth!

Unexpectedly, the giant python’s cold, orange-yellow eyes turned red. It stopped its action abruptly, opened its mouth, and sprayed venom!

Liuli was startled and hastily shielded her head and face. But in the next instant, she was sent flying by Liang Tianguang crashing into her.

She had saved Lin Mengxian once, and now Liang Tianguang had saved her once.

After spraying its venom, the giant python was utterly exhausted. The three finally killed it. Liuli was someone who repaid kindness. She stuffed her share of the spoils to Liang Tianguang. Lin Mengxian also yielded her portion, giving the entire snake to Liang Tianguang.

Liang Tianguang naturally refused to keep it all for himself. He spoke earnestly to Liuli: “If I were in danger, Junior Sister would surely save me as well. We’re all fellow disciples; why be so distant?”

Liuli said, “You’re really a good person.”

A Good Person Card, delivered!

In the end, the valuables on the giant python were still split equally among the three. Liuli’s favorable impression of Liang Tianguang shot up rapidly, and her words and actions became much more familiar with him.

She was used to modern life and wasn’t so meticulous about customs. Without thinking, she accidentally did something that made Liang Tianguang blush—she punched his shoulder while telling a joke.

When she finished and saw Liang Tianguang’s face instantly go red, she finally remembered that times were different now. This wasn’t modern society anymore. Actions like this could easily cause misunderstandings. She had no choice but to internally warn herself not to repeat this while saying out loud, “Sorry, I got a little overexcited.”

Liang Tianguang: “…”

That didn’t sound quite right. But saying, ‘Sorry, I treated you like one of my girlfriends,’ seemed even worse!

Liuli promptly shut her mouth.

But just then, Feng Xiwu’s voice rang out in Liuli’s mind.

Her tone was flat, devoid of discernible emotion, but Liuli’s intuition screamed that the other party was angry.

Feng Xiwu said, “Do not forget the oath.”

What oath? That oath about following the rules? There’s only one rule right now—dating is forbidden!

Liuli felt so wronged. She couldn’t just shout out, Shizun, I didn’t! She could only indirectly prove her innocence by saying to Liang Tianguang, “I only see you as a friend. Really.”

The smile on Liang Tianguang’s face was about to crack.

Feng Xiwu, however, said, “Liang Tianguang has already developed feelings for you. You should keep your distance.”

Liuli: “Ah??? Liang Tianguang likes me?!!”

Liang Tianguang’s face instantly turned bright red. “Junior Sister, I… I…”

Liuli looked at him in disbelief. “What the hell, now that you mention it, I think I vaguely remember something.”

“What?” Liang Tianguang didn’t understand and only assumed she meant she had discovered it long ago.

Although the timing seemed a bit off, since his feelings were already exposed, he might as well confess! So Liang Tianguang gathered his courage. “Junior Sister, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time…”

Liuli suddenly clapped her hands. “I remember now. You’re so unlucky.”

Liang Tianguang: “???”

“Don’t like Xue Liuli.” Liuli said with heartfelt sincerity, “You’ll end up very miserable.”

In the original novel’s plot, there was a male cannon fodder character who didn’t appear much. This cannon fodder was tall, rich, and handsome, and he liked the first heroine, Xue Liuli. During the period when Long Jingxing left the Heavenly Martial Sect alone, he “pestered” Xue Liuli and was killed by Long Jingxing.

Afterward, the male cannon fodder’s family sought revenge and were slaughtered. Their relatives sought revenge and were slaughtered again. Truly, the entire family met a miserable end.

Liuli’s expression slowly turned grim again. “Could Tiantian be…”

Yes, the male cannon fodder had a younger sister, a minor female side character. She was the only survivor of the male cannon fodder’s family. Later, due to excessive shock, she lost her memory. And even later, for some forgotten reason, she actually cast aside her blood-deep hatred and became one of Long Jingxing’s harem members!

Liuli fiercely smashed a large boulder nearby and roared, “He didn’t even spare a loli! Utterly depraved!”

Thank goodness she remembered now. In the future, she absolutely had to keep Tiantian far away from Long Jingxing, best if they never even exchanged a single word!

While worrying about Tiantian over here, the matter of Liang Tianguang’s feelings seemed trivial by comparison. Liuli waved her hand dismissively and said, “Cultivation is the real priority. Why talk about romantic entanglements? Senior Brother, you’ve just interacted with too few girls normally. That’s why you blush upon contact and mistake that shyness for feelings.”

Liuli offered some advice: “Why not go out and train for a few years? With distance, you’ll calm down. Alright, don’t overthink it. Being fellow disciples and friends is great. No need to do anything unnecessary!”

Liang Tianguang hung his head. “I’m serious.”

Liuli grabbed Lin Mengxian and pulled her over. “I’m serious too! Look, is there any difference between how I treat you and how I treat Little Meng? I’m even gentler with Little Meng. The two of us are truly impossible. Hurry and lay those feelings to rest.”

If this didn’t work, she’d just split off and travel alone next, to save him from getting the wrong idea.

Lin Mengxian bit her pale lower lip. “Senior Sister…”

Just at that moment, Liuli suddenly shouted, “I did not!”

Immediately, she wilted, let go of Lin Mengxian, stepped back twice, and looked utterly dejected. “I think I’d better go alone.”

“Why?” Lin Mengxian quickly said, “Traveling alone is dangerous. How about I go with Senior Sister!”

“You? No.”

Why? Simply because Feng Xiwu had just said something subtly in her mind:

“Even if it’s a woman, you are not permitted to harbor feelings.”

Liuli: I am not! I did not! Don’t talk nonsense!!!

As a face-connoisseur, even if she were to feel something, she’d like the best-looking one, right? With Feng Xiwu right in front of her… Pah, pah! No disrespect allowed! Liuli lightly slapped her own mouth.