Chapter 136: This Is What You Call Living

Xiao Jihan did not like hearing that.

The fact that all the suffering was in the past did not mean he had forgotten it, nor did it mean he could not feel the pain. He lowered his eyes, gazing at the stream ahead without answering.

Favorability: 41 (Affectionate)

Yan Shu: "..."

"I didn't mean to suggest you should just let go of your past and become some enlightened saint!"

Seeing he was about to misunderstand again, Yan Shu hurriedly explained: "I meant that your future days will only get better and better. Once you have taken your revenge..."

As soon as the word "revenge" left her lips, Xiao Jihan suddenly looked at her.

Seeing the look in his eyes, Yan Shu faltered, not understanding what she had said wrong to trigger such a strong reaction.

Xiao Jihan gave a faint, mocking scoff. "The dignified Sect Leader of the Xuantian Sect is nothing more than this. He clearly promised my mother that he would not disclose my background to others without my consent, yet he has told you everything."

Hearing this, Yan Shu realized that his background remained a secret, known only to Senior Brother Wen Youhe and Yuwen Che. Yuwen Che had never explicitly pointed it out, other than Xiao Jihan calling him "Great-Great-Grandfather" upon their first meeting, and Wen Youhe had said nothing at all.

Yan Shu’s eyes flickered. "You were the one who said you wanted to return to pay respects to your mother."

Xiao Jihan stared at her. "That only proves I was born into the royal family."

"You... you also called Yuwen Che your great-great-grandfather."

"That only proves I am related to Yuwen Che. How did you know I bore such a blood feud?"

Yan Shu: "..."

Unable to think of a better reason, she silently apologized to her Senior Brother in her heart and resolutely shifted the blame: "Fine, it was Senior Brother who told me."

"Why would he tell you such things?" Xiao Jihan sneered. "To make you stay away from me?"

One lie requires countless others to cover it up. Yan Shu quickly denied it: "No, it was my own curiosity. I wanted to understand you better, and Senior Brother finally told me because I wouldn't stop pestering him."

Hearing this, the coldness on Xiao Jihan’s face faded slightly. He scrutinized Yan Shu’s expression, weighing the truth of her words.

No wonder she had never asked about his past. Even when he called Yuwen Che his great-great-grandfather or mentioned his mother, she had never shown any surprise or curiosity. So, she had inquired about it all along.

That was right. She had been interested in him for a long time; ten years ago, she had declared without hesitation that she coveted him, so naturally, she would be curious and look into his affairs.

But what exactly had she learned? Did she already know that he had nearly been molested by that father and son? Even if it hadn't gone all the way, still...

Xiao Jihan immediately withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and said softly, "What else did you find out?"

Knowing those sordid details were scars on his heart, Yan Shu naturally would not bring them up.

She simply said: "Nothing much. Senior Brother just said the Sima clan was lecherous, lawless, and cruel. You suffered a lot because of your low status, living worse than even a common palace servant, and your mother died under the Sima Emperor's tyranny. It was fortunate he arrived in time; otherwise, you would have been lost too."

Xiao Jihan fell silent upon hearing this. After a long while, he spoke in a low voice: "If you want to know anything in the future, just ask me directly. There is no need to ask others."

Yan Shu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed: "Alright, I will only ask you from now on."

With that, the matter was finally put to rest. Yan Shu let out a long sigh of relief.

After sunrise, crisp birdsong filled the woods, and the silent mountain forest seemed to wake up, brimming with lively, vital energy.

Xiao Jihan retrieved a bottle of pills and handed it to her. "These are Illusion Face Pills I refined. One pill lasts for ten days. You were right; our identities are unique, and it is inconvenient to travel openly. It is better to change our appearances."

Yan Shu: "..."

If you had planned to change our identities all along, what on earth was the point of discussing whether we should sleep in the same bed or not?!

She felt a bit weary. Since his favorability had increased, her treatment—and that of the entire Xuantian Sect—had improved. But the problem was, as his favorability rose, she felt Xiao Jihan was becoming increasingly difficult to please.

In the past, she could at least guess what he was thinking or what he liked to hear, but now his thoughts were as elusive as a needle at the bottom of the sea.

Yan Shu took the porcelain bottle, swallowed an Illusion Face Pill, and checked her reflection in a mirror.

Her face now lacked some of its former cold, ethereal air and had gained a bit of playfulness and spirit. Her overall aura had shifted, and although she looked about fifty or sixty percent similar, no one would think she was the same person.

She raised her eyes to look at Xiao Jihan. After taking the pill, he remained handsome, but his sharp brows and starry eyes appeared more rugged and less striking. Compared to his original, breathtaking appearance, he looked much more plain.

Both of them had toned down their looks, but they remained an attractive pair.

Xiao Jihan stood up. "Let's go. The city gates will be opening soon."

They entered the city. Because it was still early, the only stalls open were those selling breakfast and morning tea.

Yan Shu smelled the aroma and could not stop her mouth from watering. She looked at Xiao Jihan pitifully, signaling for him to take her to eat.

Xiao Jihan said in a low voice: "Bear with it a little longer. There are shops in the mortal realm that specialize in exchanging currency. Otherwise, using spiritual stones to pay is too expensive. We will need a lot of silver on our way to the Yunzhou Imperial City."

Yan Shu understood the logic, but the aroma was truly unbearable. "Actually, we could just go eat first. By the time we finish, the exchange shop will likely be open. You can give me one spiritual stone, and I can stay here while you go. With a spiritual stone and me here as collateral, no one will say anything."

Seeing her eager expression, Xiao Jihan nodded and agreed.

They found a morning tea shop and ordered two bowls of wontons and a steamer of buns. Eating the steaming wontons and fragrant buns, Yan Shu thought, *this* is what you call living!

After eating, they explained the situation to the shopkeeper as planned. To maintain the reputation of the Xuantian Sect, they borrowed the identity of the Qinglei Sect, claiming they had run out of silver and would exchange some as soon as the money-changing shop opened. They left one spiritual stone and Yan Shu as a guarantee.

Xuantian City was located at the foot of the Xuantian Sect, so mortals there had frequent contact with cultivators.

After hearing the explanation, the shopkeeper felt a flash of disdain. Usually, cultivators would just toss him a low-grade spiritual stone. These two looked wealthy and well-fed, yet their pockets were empty and they even needed to exchange silver!

People from small sects were just no good!

Although the shopkeeper despised them in his heart, he bowed respectfully: "The two Immortals may go as they please; it is no trouble for me."

Yan Shu waved her hand: "It's fine. You'll feel more at ease if I stay here, and it won't take long anyway."

The shopkeeper did not try to persuade her further. Xiao Jihan said, "I will return shortly," and then hurried away.

Yan Shu waited for him with peace of mind, even feeling so good that she ordered a bowl of soy milk.

However, after she finished her soy milk and batch after batch of customers had come and gone, Xiao Jihan still had not returned.