Chapter 29: Sparrow Severs the Flying Dragon (Part 5): Even Though You’re Not Here, Standing Here Keeps the Rain Off

Mu Qian Tan said, “…Even if he discovers me, what can he do to me?”

She appeared in this scene that fundamentally did not require her presence only to serve as Li Biyuan’s observation perspective. If discovered, it would actually be a good thing. She would not have to hold back her irritation watching kids talk childish romance like elementary schoolers and could simply kill her way out.

Shang Shan scratched her chin. “Then wouldn’t your plan be ruined?”

Mu Qian Tan said, “My plan has already been ruined.”

Shang Shan was stunned. “When?”

Fifteen- or sixteen-year-old kids loved to run and jump, with fast-flowing blood and high body temperatures. This brain-damaged dragon was even worse—like holding a hot branding iron in her arms. Mu Qian Tan pushed her outward a bit. “Get up.”

The newly captured Tan Que was still whimpering, trying to roll over but failing. Thud—she crashed into the wall. Shang Shan twitched her ear tips, used that push to climb up, and walked toward the girl while rubbing her chest.

Jiang Yuanqi asked, “Are you okay?”

Shang Shan waved her hand. She reached the adjacent cell, stuck her hand through the bars, and yanked the rag from Tan Que’s mouth. A torrent of curses flooded out like a dam breaking.

“Dao Liangduan! Miao Cunfu! You two shit out kids without assholes!” She propped herself up with her head, flipped over, sat cross-legged on the ground, and kept cursing. “What the fuck business was it of yours that we were playing by the water? Hearts blacker than a dog’s shit—might as well rip out your guts and hang yourselves, fuck your mothers…..”

Perhaps from often living deep in the mountains, her voice was extremely loud and piercing, stinging the eardrums. Her words weren’t perfectly clear, but the momentum made them understandable—pure rustic filth that made hearts tremble. Just hearing it once felt like incurable pollution.

Li Cheng was bombarded by the barrage, shocked to the point that his lips flapped open and shut. He even forgot to shut her up.

By the time he reacted, the girl had finished cursing, much relieved, and paused for now.

Shang Shan, closest to the fray, now stared blankly. She felt like that flood had rinsed her brain clean, with wind whistling straight through her ears.

She still remembered not long ago, how pleasantly they had chatted. She had been so gentle then… but now…

After cursing, Tan Que felt refreshed. Seeing her standing there dazed, she remembered to give thanks. “Thanks, friend! We meet again so soon!”

Shang Shan snapped back to her senses. “No need….”

Tan Que said, “But you all got caught too. What do we do? These scummy thieving bastards are totally lawless!”

As she spoke, she shook subconsciously and gaped wide. Shang Shan saw she was missing a front tooth but didn’t whistle air through it. She couldn’t help but feel deep respect.

Jiang Yuanqi asked from behind, “Are you from the village?”

Tan Que said, “Yeah, I am. They snatched me from Frog Village—my sister too! Lingdang! Don’t know what the fuck they want. Bunch of dog-fucked rotten thieves.”

The unabashed filth made a vein twitch at Li Cheng’s temple. He smacked the cell door with his saber hilt. “Quiet!”

Tan Que’s lips twitched, on the verge of another flood. Shang Shan quickly clapped a hand over her mouth and pointed to her own ears. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Tell me softly what happened, and I’ll relay it to the sister over there.”

Jiang Yuanqi said, “It’s a brother, actually.”

Tan Que didn’t know why they had to be so careful, but she lowered her voice and spilled the whole story anyway. Shang Shan listened, then turned and relayed it word-for-word to Jiang Yuanqi’s cell.

The original book detailed this segment: In the vast mountain forest opposite Flying Dragon Cliff lay a demon village full of big green frogs, complete with a beloved Frog Princess.

Though these frogs were powerful demons, they lived peacefully without strife. Gentle by nature and friendly to humans, they had once saved the injured Miao Cunfu after he wandered into the village and even gave him a stalk of spiritual grass to nourish his body.

Humans and demons coexisted in harmony—a beautiful tale. But Miao Cunfu was no grateful soul; he was a snake biting the hand that fed him.

With Flying Dragon Stronghold cornered on the cliff and unable to escape, while officers grew in number and tightened the noose, he panicked. He schemed to harness demon power: first slaughter the officers, then have the stronghold bandits loot every nearby village clean.

Word of demons massacring a village would draw hordes of cultivators for demon exorcism, making the area unlivable.

After the looting, the bandits could haul all the treasures away and relocate, escaping the deadlock entirely.

But how to force the demons to attack the village?

He knew just the way: Kidnap the village’s most beloved Frog Princess and threaten the frog villagers. If they didn’t butcher every last mountain-foot villager, they would burn the princess alive—body and soul to ash.

To save her life, they would do anything.

The plan was simple. Capturing her? Even easier.

Frog Village harbored no suspicion toward humans. When Miao Cunfu and Dao Liangduan arrived, the frogs even croaked in welcome. No one noticed their princess vanish right under their noses.

Unfortunately for the stronghold, Tan Que existed.

The mountain-foot village chief’s daughter hated village life and loved burrowing into the mountains. She had befriended the Frog Princess by chance. Unable to speak the same language, human and demon connected on a spiritual level, becoming inseparable shadows whenever she had free time.

Originally, Miao Cunfu had planned to kill the Frog Princess outright and frame the villagers. That way, no need for negotiation—they would see the body and rage into vengeance on their own.

But when he nabbed her, he spotted Tan Que—a mountain-foot villager living among them. Who knew if others lurked? To play it safe, he switched to the threat ploy. They were relocating anyway; no fear of demon revenge later.

That was the scheme Miao Cunfu had just pitched.

Tan Que went on endlessly about Frog Village. Shang Shan absorbed it all. Once it got too much, she clapped her hands over her ears. “Don’t panic. I can only hold this much for now. Wait till I relay it, then come back.”

As if terrified the memories might spill from her ears, she kept them covered to steady her head. Only at Jiang Yuanqi’s cell did she release them and recite everything.

After several such trips, Jiang Yuanqi heard their full capture story and asked a few questions. Shang Shan shuttled back, got the answers, and returned to report.

Mu Qian Tan’s gaze followed her movements as she became the messenger between the two cells. Gradually, her eyes shifted outside the prison.

Li Cheng saw the scene and looked helpless. In the end, he turned away and stopped interfering.

Jiang Yuanqi pondered aloud. “Let me guess: They grabbed the Frog Princess to threaten Frog Village. But to do what? Have the demons attack the villagers? Pit others against each other and reap the benefits—truly vicious.”

With his breakdown, Tan Que grasped the horror. She shouted anxiously, “These two beast-hearted dog bastards! I’m gonna kill them myself!”

Jiang Yuanqi said, “So Vice Miao is Miao Cunfu, the vice stronghold chief. That makes at least three to deal with now.”

The rain poured harder outside, the sound of droplets lashing leaves growing louder. The cells were dark and stifling, the hour growing late. Damp earth scent seeped from the soil, and the straw beneath grew slightly soggy.

A massive thunderclap boomed from the horizon, lightning crackling. A stronghold bandit splashed over. “Brother Li, the chief wants you!”

Li Cheng glanced at the talisman on the cell door and followed the bandit away.

“No waiting for a summons. We break out now.” Jiang Yuanqi stood, leaned against the cell door, and glanced back. “Will that immortal lord make a move? Or keep spectating?”

Anyone who could serve as a master at Tianyu Sect had to be formidable. Yet she had let herself get captured on purpose. Even after her thoughts were overheard, she stayed—probably putting on an act to temper her disciple.

Still, worth asking. If she agreed, they could end this easily.

The woman stayed sunk in darkness, ignoring him. Jiang Yuanqi already knew her answer. Instead of asking more, he reached for the talisman on the cell door.

The instant he touched it, purple lightning lashed out from the symbol—a curse ward to stop non-talisman cultivators from tampering. But anyone who knew the inscription could dispel it easily.

Unable to crane his head out for a look, Jiang Yuanqi pondered. Shang Shan handed him an iron basin. “Use this to reflect it.”

Jiang Yuanqi took the basin and smiled. “Good idea. You’re smart.”

Shang Shan planted hands on her hips. “Of course.”

She rubbed her nose and sneaked a sidelong glance back. The woman showed no reaction—like she was asleep.

Jiang Yuanqi thrust the basin out the door. By thunderlight, he glimpsed the talisman’s fuzzy reflection on the basin’s bottom, memorized it, then set the basin down. He lifted his robe hem, peeled off a pre-sewn sheet of talisman paper, bit his finger, drew a dispel ward, and slapped it on the door.

The wards shredded and broke. He channeled spiritual power and kicked the cell door open, then unlocked the other two as well. Everyone filed out one by one. Shang Shan untied Tan Que’s bonds. Mu Qian Tan rose calmly and brushed the dust from her clothes with the back of her hand.

Tan Que shook off the ropes. “I’m off to find the princess!”

Jiang Yuanqi said, “No rush. Treasure Vault first.”

Tan Que said, “What if we’re too late!”

Jiang Yuanqi said, “You’re just a mortal. You might not even beat Miao Cunfu, let alone that big immortal. Go now and you’ll just get recaptured. We grab weapons from the vault first, then go with you. Deal?”

Ordinary stronghold bandits were no trouble. But he had just learned a cultivator—Heaven-Flipping Mirror—was here too. Better safe: gear up first.

Tan Que burned with anxiety but knew her limits. She nodded frantically. “Deal!”

Rain had turned the ground to muck. Gale winds shredded the forest, shrieking everywhere. New Year’s Money bounded from the underbrush, shook its tail, and leaped onto Jiang Yuanqi’s shoulder.

He soothed the water-fearing kitten, recalled the stronghold map, and dashed toward the Treasure Vault.

He had assumed Li Cheng’s summons was routine chief business. Yet as their group moved through the stronghold, not a soul stirred. It seemed every last bandit had been mustered somewhere.

Not a good sign, by his guess. Jiang Yuanqi said, “We need to hurry.”

The Treasure Vault lay outside the stronghold proper, atop a separate hilltop connected by rope bridge to the cliff. When they arrived, a bandit stood guard on the opposite peak.

With everyone else called away, he alone drew guard duty. He had been happily eating dinner under an umbrella when he spotted figures on the far cliff—not stronghold folk. Shock and terror hit him.

He dropped his umbrella and food, snatched the longbow at his side, and loosed arrows. Panic ruined his aim; they thunked into the bridge.

Jiang Yuanqi saw and charged straight across. Two steps in, the bandit panicked fully and hacked the ropes.

Jiang Yuanqi leaped back to the cliff edge. The bridge snapped and plummeted, slamming the cliff wall and dangling. The cliffs were too far apart—no wings, no crossing for now. The bandit calmed, nocked another arrow.

This one flew true, straight for Jiang Yuanqi’s heart. But a pale blue spiritual power barrier blocked it, freezing the shaft midair.

Jiang Yuanqi plucked the arrow and hurled it back. It punched through the bandit’s heart. He toppled headfirst into the abyss.

Reaching the vault required crossing the entire stronghold, so guards were light—just the one bandit. Their biggest problem now: severed bridge, and none of them could fly on artifacts yet.

Shang Shan caught on first. She spun and ran to the woman. “Master, can I borrow your immortal crane…”

Mu Qian Tan refused flatly. “No.”

Shang Shan blinked. “Why?”

Mu Qian Tan said, “Don’t look to me. Head over there and figure it out yourselves.”

In the original, they had other ways across. But with her here, Shang Shan came running straight to her. Mu Qian Tan thought, ‘Otherwise, should I skip the main line next time? She keeps watching me—won’t that mess up the plot?’

Her real intent was slacking off—no more tagging along, no touching the male and female protagonists’ luck. Plus, having power but unable to use it, stewing in frustration. But she phrased it nicely, out of some conscience.

Afraid of being overheard, Li Biyuan muttered very softly, ‘No way, no way. You’re my only viewpoint. Skip you, and I’ve got nothing to see.’

Mu Qian Tan crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. ‘You could just flatten the whole stronghold. Instead, I’m playing the fool and taking shit. Ever thought about my feelings?’

Li Biyuan soothed her. “After all, this is the human realm arc. It’s normal for it to be a bit boring. The Cat Dragon is still just a mortal who hasn’t even fully opened her qi apertures, so of course we can’t match her with enemies that are too strong right now. It’ll be fine once her qi apertures are fully open. After that, the main action will be in the Immortal Realm, and you definitely won’t find it boring.”

Her fingertip tapped lightly on the crook of her arm. Mu Qian Tan did not respond to that and instead asked, “Have you investigated the Male Protagonist’s abnormality?”

Li Biyuan’s voice dropped even lower. “I did, but I couldn’t find the reason. I asked the other colleagues too, and none of them have run into this kind of situation where someone can hear heart voices.”

Mu Qian Tan said, “Fine then. You’re the unluckiest.”

Recalling certain painful memories, Li Biyuan groaned. “Aaaah, don’t bring it up again. Skip the chapter, please!”

“Right.” She perked up a little. “Seriously, though—can’t you be gentler with Little Dragon? Even as the Vicious Female Supporting Character, you don’t have to get so into character. She calls you Master over and over and even blocked injuries for you. Aren’t you moved at all? I’m touched!”

Mu Qian Tan removed her mask and hooked the thin cord with her fingertip. She chuckled coldly. “Why should I be moved?”

Fine threads of rain fell on her hair and clothes, sapping her body heat, but it remained within tolerable limits. There was no need to waste spiritual power just to block the rain.

She raised her gaze slightly. “So-called kind nature is just one of the character traits the creator assigned to the role. She’s like that with everyone, just like a pre-programmed setting. Would you be moved if your sweeping robot cleaned the floor for you?”

“I’ll be frank, Sister Tan…”

The earpiece crackled as if adjusted. Li Biyuan took a deep breath before saying slowly, “Those paper figurines in your eyes—they’re fake, artificially crafted, without independent consciousness. They’re not worth paying much attention to. But in reality, they don’t even know they’re just characters. Their emotions and impulses come from genuine hearts, and their thoughts and personalities are no different from people in the Modern World.”

“For such existences, you’d better not ignore or belittle them. Otherwise, you might really regret it someday.” There seemed to be a note of warning in her words.

This was not the first time she had said something like that. She repeated it again and again, so there must have been some purpose. But Mu Qian Tan could not see why it was so important and said with slight impatience, “If it’s advice, no need to repeat it. I won’t listen. If it’s a threat, I’ll listen even less. Just do your own job.”

“Fine, fine, I won’t say it anymore.” Li Biyuan spun her chair and tore open a pack of instant noodles. “But next time, don’t reject her so bluntly. At least give some explanation—don’t hurt our Cat Dragon’s tender little heart. As the Female Protagonist’s mom, it pains me to see her unhappy!”

Mu Qian Tan said irritably, “You’re really nagging.”

Over there, the rejected Shang Shan had already returned to the other two’s side. After staring down the cliff for a moment, Tan Que bellowed in a loud voice, “I got a way! I’ll call my friend!”

With that, she plucked a leaf, bent it slightly, put it to her lips, and blew a shrill, piercing whistle that cut through the wind and rain toward the distance.

The rain grew heavier and heavier. It would take some time for that friend to arrive, and by then, all three of them were soaked through. Shang Shan tilted her face to gauge the raindrop intensity, glanced around, then walked over to Mu Qian Tan again. She tugged at her sleeve, trying to pull her toward the nearby dense woods.

Mu Qian Tan fastened the mask back on her head and allowed herself to be pulled along. Once they stood steady, she said, “Don’t keep coming to find me. Just pretend I’m not here. When the hands appear, I’ll remind you myself.”

“Oh, okay.” Shang Shan released her hand and pressed down on the mask atop her head. She smiled up at her. “You just stand right here then.”

Wet strands of hair clung to her cheeks. Mu Qian Tan lowered her eyelids. “Why.”

“Looks like we gotta wait a bit more.” Shang Shan wiped the wetness from her face. Her eyes shone bright in the pitch-black rainy night. “Although you’re not here, standing here means no rain falls on you.”

Only then did Mu Qian Tan realize that no rain threads were hitting her body anymore. She looked up instinctively. Right overhead protruded a slab of rock, like an umbrella, sheltering her from every raindrop.

When she looked down again, Shang Shan had already dashed back into the curtain of rain. She waved her arms wildly by the other two, seemingly asking when the friend would arrive.

Li Biyuan slurped some instant noodles. “Dear, I was just joking. My sweeping robot at home wouldn’t worry about me getting rained on.”

Mu Qian Tan said, “…Shut up.”