Chapter 5

Jiang Yiguang stared unblinkingly out the window.

Making the System’s choice didn’t hinder her thoughts from wandering. The emotions that often lingered in her heart in the past were now almost foreign to her. Yet it was precisely this “foreignness” that spread like an irresistible tide in her heart. She couldn’t fathom the reason for that person’s attack on Fu Juan, but this thought was quickly overwhelmed by a “violent storm”—she had to admit there was another voice in her head, for instance, hoping this “humiliation” would intensify, so she could appear before Fu Juan at the perfect moment, thereby having a sufficient reason to take her home and lock her forever in the cage she had created for her.

“Not going to help?” Lu Yaotiao asked. She knew how much Jiang Yiguang cherished Fu Juan, but she also knew the “vicious streak” rooted in Jiang Yiguang’s nature. The fact she could become friends with Jiang Yiguang meant she wasn’t a good person either. Stirring her coffee, she continued in a tone of watching a spectacle, “Is it not the right time yet?”

“Again—” The words “wait a moment” hadn’t even left her mouth before Jiang Yiguang stopped herself abruptly. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her mind and turned to Lu Yaotiao with a smile, “She doesn’t need my help.”

Lu Yaotiao said lightly, “Before, I didn’t see you respecting her wishes.”

Jiang Yiguang shrugged, forcing a relaxed smile, “As you said, that was before.”

Lu Yaotiao raised an eyebrow, “Are you possessed?”

Jiang Yiguang: “…” She couldn’t be bothered to entertain Lu Yaotiao’s teasing and continued watching the commotion outside. With Fu Juan’s abilities, how could she possibly be bullied by an external staff member of the Xuanzhen Dao Court? However—when she glimpsed a familiar figure striding towards Fu Juan, Jiang Yiguang lost control of her emotions, shooting to her feet. Her gaze was fierce, as if containing a blazing fire.

Had Fu Juan gone out to meet Wang Xuanming?

Was her “cold-eyed observation” meant to create space for the male and female leads to interact?

“Jiang Jiang?” Noticing Jiang Yiguang’s suddenly darkened expression, Lu Yaotiao called out with concern.

Jiang Yiguang kept staring outside, suppressing the urge to march out, until the group surrounding Fu Juan dispersed, leaving only her and Wang Xuanming. Only then did she let out a long sigh, pressing her temple. Her smile was strained, “It’s nothing.” Her attitude towards Fu Juan was very strange. After the System appeared, she couldn’t confirm whether that emotion was imposed by the “world’s will,” or if she was inherently a “moth” destined to fly towards Fu Juan.

“Are they well-matched?” Jiang Yiguang heard her own somewhat unreal voice ask.

“Not well-matched.” Lu Yaotiao thought for a moment, then explained, “Fu Juan is too cold, from the inside out, like…” She pondered for a while, struggling to find a fitting descriptor, “the Abyss.” Her intuition told her that Fu Juan was a repressed, dangerous person who wouldn’t end up with anyone. Wang Xuanming wasn’t worthy, and Jiang Yiguang… that was even more impossible. Fu Juan at least spoke civilly to Wang Xuanming, but towards Jiang Yiguang—not spitting venom was considered restraint on her part.

“I think so too.” Jiang Yiguang nodded in agreement. Her eyes were clear and bright, utterly devoid of the obsessive, crazed infatuation for Fu Juan from the past.

Lu Yaotiao glanced at her in surprise but didn’t ask further. Jiang Yiguang’s whimsical changes of heart weren’t a new phenomenon. She’d mentioned “giving up on Fu Juan” before more than once.

–

At the square.

Wang Xuanming’s hand landed on the back of Fu Juan’s wheelchair, but upon catching her cold gaze, he abruptly pulled his hand back. Having known Fu Juan for quite some time, he more or less understood her temperament. He didn’t ask about the matter with those people earlier, but instead glanced at the café’s sign and asked, “Discuss things over coffee?”

Fu Juan gave a faint “Mm.”

Seeing her attitude soften, a flash of joy crossed Wang Xuanming’s face. He was naturally handsome, with bright eyes and elegant brows, imposing and charming. His smile was even more refined and romantic. However, his “charismatic” aura had no effect on Fu Juan. In a blur, Fu Juan had already wheeled herself forward, not giving him a single extra glance. Wang Xuanming felt a bit dejected, but soon he rallied and quickly caught up to Fu Juan.

His mood was good, but this lightheartedness came to an abrupt halt when he saw Jiang Yiguang inside the café. He was extremely concerned about Fu Juan’s situation and had more or less learned of Jiang Yiguang’s “persistent harassment” of her. Yet he had no grounds to interfere. This helplessness and indignation intertwined into a boiling fury, turning into two piercing swords aimed straight at Jiang Yiguang.

There weren’t many people in the café at this hour. Jiang Yiguang’s seat was by the window, also close to the door, so she naturally saw Fu Juan and Wang Xuanming. A swirl of displeasure and resentment stirred within her, but she forcefully suppressed it from showing. She looked away and chatted easily with Lu Yaotiao, but Lu Yaotiao just wouldn’t let it rest.

“Jiang Jiang, look at Wang Xuanming’s eyes. Doesn’t it look like he wants to kill someone?” Lu Yaotiao whispered.

“If the Xuanzhen Dao Court didn’t have rules and regulations restraining him, he might actually want to curse us.” Jiang Yiguang speculated with deep malice.

Lu Yaotiao’s eyelids twitched upon hearing this. Wang Xuanming was a direct descendant of the Wang family. Even if his stubborn insistence on joining the Xuanzhen Dao Court had alienated him from the Wang family, he wasn’t someone ordinary people could afford to offend, especially families like theirs with minor ties to the Mystic Sect. “Leave me out of this one.” Lu Yaotiao murmured teasingly.

Jiang Yiguang snorted, “What happened to sharing hardships now?”

“When disaster strikes, we each fly our separate ways, right?” Lu Yaotiao giggled. Her gaze fell on Fu Juan’s unapproachable, icy face. She added, “Wanna switch seats?”

Jiang Yiguang shook her head, “We can leave now.” She seemed sober, yet also as if indulging in a dream. She feared that staring at Fu Juan for too long would cause her to lose control momentarily and do something disgraceful. As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Yiguang was impatient to drag Lu Yaotiao away. But passing by, she couldn’t resist looking at Fu Juan. As luck would have it, their eyes met.

— Her eyes are truly beautiful.

Jiang Yiguang’s mind filled with this sentence. An inexplicable sweetness arose in her heart, as if she’d been thrown into a honey jar.

Lu Yaotiao didn’t notice Jiang Yiguang’s expression. She had just perceived a sense of urgency in Jiang Yiguang’s words and actions. Now, reaching the doorway, the roles reversed—she was the one pulling the suddenly immobile Jiang Yiguang away.

Fu Juan’s vigilance didn’t drop until Jiang Yiguang’s figure was completely out of sight.

Although she wasn’t afraid of Jiang Yiguang, she had no desire to become a public spectacle with her.

Jiang Yiguang’s behavior had been abnormal the past two days. Was it truly a change of heart, or the calm before the storm? She lowered her lashes, pondering deeply, until the waiter brought the coffee over. Only then did she pull her thoughts out of her inner world, politely saying, “Thank you.”

“She… didn’t cause any trouble, did she?” Wang Xuanming’s voice was very soft, tinged with a trace of concern that was hard to detect.

Fu Juan knew exactly who he meant: Jiang Yiguang. But this was her personal matter, and she had no intention of confiding in anyone. “I saw the thread on the forum,” Fu Juan raised her eyes, meeting Wang Xuanming’s gaze, and stated calmly, “The number of people successfully matched keeps rising. Everyone says their wishes came true.”

“When things are abnormal, there must be demons at work. If it’s a demon causing trouble, then these are twisted, ill-fated relationships.” Wang Xuanming frowned, pondering for a moment, then added, “I checked the Dao Court’s registry. All registered Fox Demons in Shen City have proven their innocence regarding the Fox Immortal Temple. It’s highly probable it’s an outsider, or perhaps—”

Before Wang Xuanming could finish, Fu Juan finished his thought, “A newly awakened one.”

In the past decade, Shenzhou’s spiritual energy had become far more abundant than before. The Dao Court termed this “Spiritual Energy Revival.” In the era when spiritual energy was scarce, talent depended on bloodlines inherited through families, making the Four Great Families the mainstream of the Mystic world. But as the spiritual tide surged, more and more ordinary people were stepping foot into this world previously unseen and untouchable. The Xuanzhen Dao Court was the special institution directly under state authority, managing such individuals.

The “Spiritual Energy Revival” also brought new changes to the world: originally slumbering Great Demons awakening, plants and animals gaining sentience, a hundred ghosts walking the earth at night… It was hard to say whether this was ultimately good or bad.

Wang Xuanming added, “Since the Dao Court has issued this task, the danger level is low. We should figure out a way to make contact with it and register it in the Dao Court’s records. How about we go tomorrow at noon?”

Fu Juan nodded gently.

Wang Xuanming sighed in relief. He continued to detail the Fox Immortal Temple matter while carefully watching Fu Juan’s expression, afraid she might show the slightest dissatisfaction.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yiguang, having been dragged outside by Lu Yaotiao, felt her mind clear considerably once away from Fu Juan.

“Jiang Jiang, we still haven’t discussed the Fox Immortal Temple.” Lu Yaotiao smacked her own forehead, staring at Jiang Yiguang with wide, round eyes, and said, “Strike while the iron’s hot. Let’s just go tomorrow. What do you think?”