Chapter 10: It’s One Thing for Me to Bully You Myself

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Jiang Yuanshan’s flying magical artifact was a gilded scepter tablet, said to be used by celestial officials when appearing before the Jade Emperor in the heavenly court. When not in use, it was stored in a pouch and could transform into the artifact, capable of carrying four or five people without issue.

Only Jiang Lingyi sat upon the scepter tablet. She watched the two figures conversing below—Jiang Yuanshan’s lips never ceased moving, while Xie Lin kept his head bowed, speaking scarcely. Eventually, he reluctantly nodded.

She propped her chin on her hand, raising an eyebrow in thought. Why did Xie Lin nod? Was Jiang Yuanshan instructing him to go easy on her during the monthly examination duel?

The two men approached from below, and Xie Lin took a seat beside her on the flying artifact. Jiang Lingyi and the feigning sickly Xie Lin sat facing each other, locking eyes. He glanced at her once before lowering his gaze, his tight lips betraying his disdain.

It was understandable—losing to her in public was something Xie Lin could never accept. The original story wrote that he only participated in the monthly exam to find his enemy, yet it turned out he cared about winning and losing quite deeply.

Jiang Lingyi dared not imagine how fiercely competitive Xie Lin was. When the exam came, she not only planned to break his spirit sword but also to trample on his chest and scold him openly in front of everyone.

That scene... Even if Xie Lin had only one breath left, he’d surely leap up and stab her to death with his sword.

Feeling guilty, Jiang Lingyi lowered her head silently, pretending to meditate and regulate her breath. The two remained silent all the way to the foot of the Xuyang Sect’s mountain gate.

As evening approached, the orange-red sunset clouds stretched across the sky, casting the lush forest in a warm golden hue. The dying sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the stone stele at the foot of the gate. Three bold characters danced across its surface: Xuyang Sect.

This was the largest sect in the novel, its continuous mountain peaks rich with spiritual energy. Standing at the base, one could not see the summit, shrouded in clouds, inspiring awe.

The inner disciples lived on several of the middle peaks. To the west were the Elders’ Pavilion and the Discipline Office; to the east lay the beast park for raising spirit beasts and the medicinal garden for cultivating spirit herbs.

Below the mid-mountain peaks were the outer disciples, generally of average talent and modest cultivation, mostly engaged in alchemy, forging, talisman-making, and treasure hunting.

Flying in mid-air was prohibited within the gate. The gilded scepter hovered just above the ground. Jiang Lingyi squinted and stealthily glanced at the person opposite her. Xie Lin, who had been feigning sleep, caught her gaze and caught her red-handed.

Unashamed, Jiang Lingyi smiled softly, playing her part as someone who liked him. “You’re really handsome.”

Xie Lin shut his eyes again.

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At this hour, everyone was practicing. Before reaching the mountain, the clamor of voices reached Jiang Lingyi’s ears, instantly reminding her of her university days when dormmates shared a close bond.

Suddenly, she recalled that the disciples’ living quarters in Xuyang Sect were much like university dorms—several disciples shared a room. The malicious secondary antagonist in the novel was none other than Xie Lin’s roommate.

This character had quite a presence in the original story. Even after the death of the beloved white moonlight, he survived. Jealous of Xie Lin because of his secret crush on Jiang Lingyi, he bullied and framed him within the sect, exploiting his higher cultivation.

Both being malicious antagonists, Jiang Lingyi felt it was necessary to learn a thing or two from this fellow.

She climbed the final stone step as dusk deepened and the last orange hues withdrew from the woods. The surrounding air grew cool.

Entering Xuyang Sect was where the true story began.

Many in the sect disliked Xie Lin. He was about to face the darkest phase of his life, while Jiang Lingyi herself was the most malicious secondary antagonist, though not by choice.

Jiang Lingyi kindly said, “A-Lin, if anyone bullies you within the sect, you can come to me for help.”

I’ll bully you myself and call it even.

Jiang Yuanshan walked ahead, his figure fading into the twilight. Xie Lin gave a respectful grunt.

Jiang Lingyi stared at his swaying hair ends. The young man tied his hair high and, still in mourning, wore plain black clothes. His figure was swallowed by the night, save for the dark red “Departing Fire” embroidery along the edges of his clothes flickering gently with his steps, marking his position.

“I’m serious, not just making polite talk.” Jiang Lingyi drew close and smiled again, her softened voice tinged with bashful sweetness. “What can I do? I like you.”

“Master! Eh? Sister Senior?”

Before Xie Lin could respond, a clear, urgent voice called from ahead, followed by her father’s raised tone: “Senior Sister, senior sister! All you think about is your senior sister! Not even giving me a lantern, expecting me to stumble back in the dark!”

Jiang Lingyi only knew the characters from the book, not their appearance or voices. Footsteps approached amid a trembling yellow glow. The person carrying the lantern arrived in front of Jiang Lingyi within a few strides.

He looked innocent and gentle, with a pair of loyal, puppy-like eyes. When he smiled, his eyebrows curved in warmth, revealing two sharp tiger-like fangs. His speech and actions were brimming with youthful vigor.

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“Senior Sister, why didn’t you send a sound transmission before arriving at the mountain foot? I could have come down to meet you... both of you. And this is...?”

Jiang Lingyi looked at the unfamiliar young man and wanted to ask: who are you?

She pursed her lips and smiled, playing the role of the gentle and kind senior sister from the original story. She took Xie Lin’s arm and introduced, “This is Xie Lin, the son of a close friend of my master. His family suffered a misfortune, so my master brought him back to the sect for upbringing.”

Xie Lin nodded in acknowledgment. The young man lowered his gaze briefly at Jiang Lingyi’s hand resting on Xie Lin’s arm, then looked up and smiled at Xie Lin.

“I’m Pei Zheng.”

The brief introduction made Jiang Lingyi swallow nervously.

Not because this guy was pretentious, but because Pei Zheng was the very malicious antagonist who caused chaos in the original story!

No, you’re so sunny and handsome, clearly a loyal golden retriever type—how could you bully your roommate?

Jiang Lingyi froze for a moment, then forced a laugh to stay in character. “Although master hasn’t formally accepted him as a disciple, he’s cared for Xie Lin as one of the sect’s own. By that logic, you could say you’re his senior brother.”

Pei Zheng smiled silently, squeezed between the two while holding his lantern. His movements were natural and swift, clearly experienced in inserting himself as the “third party.”

Looking at Jiang Lingyi obediently, he said, “Senior Sister, let’s go. It rained on the mountain this morning; the path is slippery. Watch your step.”

The lantern made of luminous insects cast a soft glow before Jiang Lingyi, lighting up the stone path clearly. Yet Pei Zheng’s eyes remained fixed attentively on her feet, as if afraid she might slip.

Poor boy, still thinking she was the gentle and mild white moonlight, unaware his beloved had already changed.

It remained to be seen whether Pei Zheng would continue to like Jiang Lingyi after recognizing her new persona. If he stopped liking her, he might no longer sabotage Xie Lin, which could impact the main storyline and her mission.