6: Passion and the male lead

The night was deep and quiet.

Jiang Yan washed away his fatigue, and just as he pushed open the familiar wooden door, he suddenly froze in place.

A pale white dress of thin gauze floated gently; her hair was tied low, adorned with a jade hairpin shaped like a Phoenix. That silhouette was all too familiar to him.

Hearing the door open, Liu Ruyan turned around, revealing her pure and ethereal beauty.

"You're back," Liu Ruyan whispered softly.

Jiang Yan stood at the doorway, momentarily unsure whether to enter or not.

He put down the wooden basin and asked in a flat tone, "Why are you here?"

"Can't I come and see you?" Liu Ruyan's expression was unnatural. "I know you passed by that day."

The silent night, coupled with their brief silence, made this Menial Servant courtyard even more desolate.

"This is not where you should be. The mortal bond between us is over," Jiang Yan finally spoke, his tone as calm as water. "If your two Senior Brothers found out, I'm afraid..."

"They don't know I came," Liu Ruyan interrupted Jiang Yan. She took two steps forward, trying to clearly see his expression. "Jiang Yan, do you really not want to see me that much?"

Jiang Yan offered a faint smile, but to Liu Ruyan, it appeared very pale.

"We are now worlds apart. I hope Fairy Liu understands."

Liu Ruyan froze, her expression complex. He had never spoken to her like this before.

But now... "I'm sorry," Liu Ruyan said, her eyes dimming. "I heard you were assigned to Spirit Beast Peak. If you want to work as a Menial Servant on another peak, you can tell me."

"It's all Menial Servant work, there's no need to change," Jiang Yan said mockingly.

"Are you blaming me?" Liu Ruyan pressed.

Jiang Yan’s expression was calm. He looked up at the moonlight.

Blame?

Hardly.

As a Transmigrator, why should he blame her? What right did he have to blame anyone?

If there was blame, it belonged to the dissipated obsession of the original owner!

After all, the original owner's obsession ended the moment he felt the bond between Liu Ruyan and her Senior Brothers, when the Divorce Letter appeared.

"The mortal bond between us is over. You are now a Disciple of a Little Bamboo Peak Elder, while I am merely a Menial Servant. There is no talk of blame," Jiang Yan withdrew his gaze from the moon and said calmly.

Liu Ruyan took two more steps forward, forcing herself to meet Jiang Yan's gaze: "Jiang Yan, I know you feel bad and hold resentment, but I also have my own difficulties. You saw the situation that day; it wasn't what you think..."

Hearing this, Jiang Yan was inwardly shocked.

Good heavens, how dare someone who was 1v5 bring this up?

Moreover, he had already made his stance clear. Wasn't that obvious enough?

What was she trying to do? Was 1v5 not enough, and she wanted to expand the roster?

'Ah, wait, it's 1v2 now. I guess that's not satisfying enough.'

As someone with a modern Soul, he knew well that once certain people experienced a specific thrill, they would seek out even more stimulating pleasures.

"Fairy Liu, I think you misunderstood," Jiang Yan met Liu Ruyan's gaze, his eyes devoid of emotion. "I truly don't blame you, and I congratulate you on becoming an Immortal Dao Companion."

Liu Ruyan looked stunned upon hearing this, opening her mouth as if to speak, but swallowing her words instead.

"Fairy Liu, this is the Menial Servant quarters. I hope the Fairy understands," Jiang Yan spoke again.

His meaning was already very clear: he was telling Liu Ruyan that she could do whatever she wanted from now on, just don't bother him.

Liu Ruyan turned sideways to walk past, but seemed to recall something. With her back to Jiang Yan, she said, "Some things are not as you imagine. I can't explain in detail now, but you must believe me, I have never forgotten the affection between us."

"Affection?" Jiang Yan turned around. "Fairy Liu, you are a cultivator. When you produced the Divorce Letter, that affection was already gone. Furthermore, I am just a common mortal; how can we speak of affection? You and your Senior Brothers are the true Divine Couple, merging your Qi to Cultivate the Immortal Dao Together. I hope Fairy Liu understands."

"Jiang Yan!" Liu Ruyan turned to face Jiang Yan, her voice mixed with distress. "The Yulan Poison, I already explained it. You know clearly that the method to cure the poison was not me..."

"Stop!" Jiang Yan immediately cut her off. "Fairy Liu has no need to explain to me. When you were with them, your expression was normal and your smile was charming. I presume you know the truth yourself. I hope the Fairy respects herself!"

Liu Ruyan's face turned pale, and for a moment, she was rebutted into doubting her life.

She felt that Jiang Yan had changed, becoming unfamiliar, no longer as gentle toward her as before.

Could it be... that they truly couldn't go back?

The small courtyard was silent as water; occasionally, the sound of breathing could be heard from nearby.

After a long silence, Liu Ruyan regained control of her expression and said gently, "I didn't come here today to argue with you. It's just that lately, I keep thinking about our past in the village. Although we were poor then, we were happy, only..."

"Only you weren't as carefree and happy as you are now!" Jiang Yan smiled, the sarcasm in his words stinging like needles.

"Jiang Yan, you..." Liu Ruyan became agitated, and mist gradually appeared in her eyes.

Jiang Yan seemed oblivious to her affected behavior. To deal with this kind of White Lotus, all he had to do was ignore her, and he wouldn't get hurt.

"It's late. Fairy Liu, please return," Jiang Yan issued the order to leave again. "If anyone saw you, it might affect the Fairy's reputation."

Liu Ruyan stood rooted to the spot, still unable to believe that he was so heartless.

At this moment, Jiang Yan was getting impatient. He didn't want to wade into this mess, but unfortunately, she wouldn't leave.

'Seriously, she's absolutely nuts!'

"Jiang Yan," Liu Ruyan's expression was very strained, and her voice was almost inaudible. "I... miss you."

Huh?

'What kind of tactic is this?'

Jiang Yan's nerves tightened, and he looked at Liu Ruyan warily.

Illuminated by the moonlight, Liu Ruyan's white gauze dress seemed bathed in lunar radiance.

Her gaze was filled with complex emotions, as if something was taking hold of her.

The moonlight shone on her face, making her flushed cheeks look like summer peaches dripping with honey.

'Holy cow, something isn't right!'

'Is this the Cultivation world's version of the "hit-and-run" scam?'

Jiang Yan nervously took two steps back. He definitely didn't want to get involved with Liu Ruyan, after all, who knew if her size forty-two shoes had gotten bigger!

"I'm telling you, I didn't touch you, don't come closer," Jiang Yan quickly distanced himself.

Liu Ruyan's voice was like a buzzing mosquito: "My... Yulan Poison hasn't cleared up. It's about to flare up..."

"Huh?"

Just as Jiang Yan was momentarily stunned, the Jade Phoenix Hairpin on Liu Ruyan's head flashed a green light, which immediately flew toward the night sky.

'Is this the Cultivation version of a flare gun?'

The green light burst open, and in less than two breaths, two figures quickly landed in the small courtyard. The arrivals were none other than Li Chunsheng and the other person.

Yan Jun's expression was stern. He quickly approached Liu Ruyan, took a Medicinal Pellet from his waist, and had her swallow it.

"The Yulan Poison has flared up again. Quickly detoxify Junior Sister," Yan Jun said, swiftly pulling Liu Ruyan into his embrace.

Li Chunsheng glanced at Jiang Yan, then at the Menial Servant quarters: "There's no time. Let's do it here."

Yan Jun nodded, completely ignoring what Jiang Yan might be thinking, and quickly carried Liu Ruyan into the room.

Li Chunsheng approached Jiang Yan, his tone chilling: "What did you say to her? Why did her emotions fluctuate?"

Before Jiang Yan could answer, Yan Jun shouted from inside the room: "Senior Brother, hurry and come in! First, suppress the Lust Poison for Junior Sister."

Li Chunsheng snorted coldly at Jiang Yan: "Stand guard for us. We need to detoxify Junior Sister Ruyan."

Jiang Yan's expression was dumbfounded.

'Son of a gun, sleeping with my ex-wife and making me keep watch?'

He desperately wanted to go in and chop the three of them up, but reason told him that if he dared to make a move, he wouldn't survive the night.

'Damn it, I'll guard your mother!'

He spat, turning to leave.

But before he could walk out of the courtyard, the sound of splintering wood suddenly came from the room.

'Holy crap, my bed collapsed!'

Listening to the faint gasps and moans, Jiang Yan was speechless and indignant. Turning around, just as he stepped out of the small courtyard, he saw Steward Pang and others perched on the top of the wall.

Seeing such a spectacular sight, Jiang Yan's eyelid twitched.

'Good heavens, this is how eavesdropping on the wall originated, right?'

"Little Jiang, what's going on?" Steward Pang asked, feigning curiosity.

"Haven't you been listening the whole time?" Jiang Yan said with a half-smile. "I presume you know better than I do."

"Ah, what are you talking about? We just came out to pee and happened to pass by," Steward Pang quickly explained.

Heh.

In fact, Jiang Yan had heard the surrounding breathing sounds long ago, but he hadn't expected so many people to be watching.

Just as Steward Pang and Jiang Yan were talking back and forth, Zhu Gan let out an exclamation: "Holy cow, that position is amazing!"

Everyone looked at the three silhouettes projected onto the window paper, secretly envious of the two Senior Brothers inside.

Jiang Yan curled his lip: "It means nothing if you're not the Male Protagonist."

Watching Jiang Yan's retreating figure, Steward Pang scratched his head: "What is a Male Protagonist?"