Chapter 053: The Battle to Defend Chastity

She had come for him.

The magic core in his hand suddenly seemed to radiate warmth, burning his palm. Xiao Jihan’s beautiful eyes fixed deeply on her, unmoving. “You came for me?”

He was very close to her, so close that his gaze struck Yan Shu like a blow of beauty; his low voice lingered at her ear, full of temptation.

Yan Shu was utterly captivated, drowning in his good looks and the seductive timbre of his voice. She murmured dazedly, “Yes, I came for you.”

Her gaze was clear and pure; though she stared at him in adoration, he felt no discomfort.

Xiao Jihan’s long lashes trembled slightly. He looked away, turned his face aside, and carefully put away the magic core, coughing lightly. “Then…I’ll keep it for now.”

Favorability: 3 (First Meeting)

Yan Shu raised her brows—she understood! Poor thing, starved for affection, loves to hear sweet words. Fortunately, he loved to listen and she knew what to say.

Yan Shu was about to press her advantage and pledge her loyalty with more honeyed words, when a disturbance sounded from outside.

Xiao Jihan immediately straightened, turning his gaze to her. “Do you still have any Illusion Face Pills?”

Yan Shu didn’t understand his meaning, but nodded. “Yes, I have two left.”

“Use one.” Xiao Jihan glanced outside, frowning. “Don’t let anyone recognize your identity.”

Yan Shu was puzzled as to why she shouldn’t reveal who she was, but seeing his grave expression, she promptly took a pill.

No sooner had she swallowed it than a group of people entered the valley.

Two men and a woman, all with jade tokens from the Windmoon Sect at their waists. The men were handsome, but compared to Xiao Jihan’s breathtaking beauty, they appeared ordinary.

The woman was strikingly alluring, curvaceous with a willow waist—an archetype of seductive maturity.

Yan Shu glanced down at her own chest and felt a pang of envy.

Xiao Jihan happened to look over; instinctively, he followed her gaze downward, then quickly averted his eyes.

The trio noticed Xiao Jihan and Yan Shu, their eyes brightening as they glanced at Xiao Jihan’s jade token. The most seductive woman stepped forward, “Fellow Daoists, are you disciples of the Xuantian Sect?”

Though she addressed both of them, her gaze never left Xiao Jihan’s face, eyes full of hunger as if she wanted to devour him. Xiao Jihan frowned, discreetly stepping back, his expression cold and silent.

The woman paused, then laughed softly, tossing her hair so a delicate fragrance wafted over. The scent was neither strong nor weak, but intoxicating and pleasant.

She continued to gaze only at Xiao Jihan. “We’re disciples of the Windmoon Sect. My name is Yue Yao, and these are my junior brothers, Gan Meng and Cao Shenming.”

Yue Yao and Gan Meng!

Yan Shu smiled, recalling that Yue Yao, one of the female supporting characters who admired the male lead, had also met Xiao Jihan here in the Xuantian Secret Realm.

It was an interesting encounter. Although the Windmoon Sect was a legitimate sect, it was famous not for its cultivation or swordsmanship, but for its dual cultivation techniques.

In the original novel, Yue Yao was attracted to the male lead’s looks. She, with her water spiritual root, had reached the Golden Core stage; after this secret realm ended, she would have to choose her first dual cultivation partner according to sect tradition, and she set her sights on the male lead at once.

Despite his cold demeanor, she followed him for days. When he remained unmoved, she decided to take drastic action. On a dark, windy night, she used her sect’s exclusive aphrodisiac incense, intending to give her first time to him.

Naturally, the pure and chaste male lead remained unyielding.

Due to the rule forbidding cultivators from harming each other within the secret realm, the male lead simply injured Yue Yao, crushed her jade token, and sent her out.

Yue Yao had originally only liked his face, but after being defeated, she fell truly in love and continued to pursue him.

When Yan Shu read this part, she had commented that Yue Yao must be a masochist.

Her impression of Gan Meng was solely because of his name, which, reversed, perfectly embodied the Windmoon Sect’s culture.

Yan Shu looked at Xiao Jihan’s cold, frowning face, then at Yue Yao’s obvious hunger for beauty—she saw another opportunity to gain favor.

What better way to win a beauty’s heart than the classic hero saving the damsel?

Yan Shu stood, flashing Yue Yao a bright smile. “We are indeed disciples of the Xuantian Sect. My name is Yan Tong, and this is my senior brother, Xiao Jihan.”

Xiao Jihan glanced at Yan Shu as she spoke.

Yan Shu pretended not to notice, smiling sweetly at Yue Yao.

“Xiao Jihan.” Yue Yao lingered over his name, her voice full of endless nuance. “It seems fate has brought us together. Why not travel together? My junior brothers and I are all at the Golden Core stage and can venture deeper into the secret realm.”

Perhaps fearing refusal, Yue Yao quickly explained, “The outer circle seems to have been cleared out; we’ve seen few magical beasts and scarce spiritual herbs after days of searching. If we join forces, perhaps we can explore the heart of the secret realm.”

Xiao Jihan: “No need.”

Yan Shu: “Certainly!”

Xiao Jihan frowned, turning to Yan Shu.

Yan Shu gently tugged his sleeve, transmitting a secret voice. “You haven’t fully refined the Haoyuan Pill yet, have you? Neither of us has recovered our spiritual power—if we encounter another situation like last night, it’ll be dangerous. Why not travel with them for two days? Once you’ve refined the pill, we can part ways.”

Xiao Jihan pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

Seeing his agreement, Yue Yao’s smile widened, her gaze growing even more languid as she looked at Xiao Jihan.

Yan Shu smiled as well—Xiao Jihan’s chastity defense battle, begin!

Passing through this valley would bring them to the outer edge of the middle circle.

Yue Yao made no attempt to hide her intentions. No matter how cold Xiao Jihan was, she stuck close by his side, speaking to him in gentle tones. “Brother Xiao, you must be a new disciple of Xuantian Sect? I didn’t see you in the Fantian Secret Realm ten years ago.”

Xiao Jihan: “Mm.”

Yue Yao smiled at his handsome face; cold or not, that only made him more of a challenge.

Her smile grew even more seductive. “Brother Xiao and Sister Yan Tong—did you meet by chance, or did you set out together? You seem very close.”

Xiao Jihan glanced at Yan Shu, then looked away, answering softly, “We are traveling together.”

At this, Yue Yao paused. “Brother Xiao and Sister Yan Tong, are you in love with each other?”