Chen Cha’an broke down. “What do you mean, ‘what’s going on’?! Isn’t it because of the code you changed…”
Yan Huirou only knew that Jiang Xidai had been bound to the old, self-running System, but she had no idea Jiang Xidai had such permissions. Her favorability was bound to her?
Yan Huirou looked at the little box with some apology. It seemed the line of code she had modified had indeed… produced an unexpected effect.
Under Jiang Xidai’s increasingly interested gaze, Chen Cha’an quickly tried to salvage the situation. “Hello, anyone you have interacted with will generate a certain impression, which is the source of favorability. It doesn’t necessarily have to develop into a romantic relationship. In the corrected plot, you should be the only person the female lead develops a relationship with.”
“Is that so. Not bad.” Jiang Xidai: “Last question, can you foresee my ending as you did before? Tell me.”
The little box fell silent. Under Yan Huirou’s urging gaze, it answered, “The plot has been corrected. The ending needs to be chosen by you.”
“I see.” Her words were neither happy nor calm, just a simple sigh of emotion. Jiang Xidai turned around. “No more questions, it’s not interesting.”
The little box disappeared into the void crack, as if a great weight had been lifted. Yan Huirou took the Sect Master’s hand and tugged it gently. “What favorability? You could see my favorability before?”
“Thanks to that thing, naturally,” Jiang Xidai said. “For example, a long time ago, when you insisted on following me to the bath, it would always rise very quickly.”
“This…” Yan Huirou’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“Every time I spoke more to you, accidentally touched you during sword practice, or didn’t refuse your hand-holding… I could hear your favorability increase,” Jiang Xidai smiled.
Yan Huirou was embarrassed on the spot. To think that Jiang Xidai had been observing all these surging inner activities for so long—she hadn’t wanted the System to monitor her, so she modified the code, but she never expected it to bind to Jiang Xidai and completely sell her out.
“There were also some strange times. What were you thinking? For example, every time I scolded you or punished you, why didn’t your favorability decrease, but instead rose even faster?”
“That’s enough, Sect Master, don’t say anymore…” Yan Huirou said. “The human heart is complex…”
“It is very complex,” Jiang Xidai said. “Your favorability for others also rises very cheaply.”
“It doesn’t.” Yan Huirou was even more bewildered. She was very clear that nothing had crossed the line of friendship. How on earth was this calculated?
“This Seat seems to remember your favorability towards Xie Minting.”
Hahahahaha, a love battlefield. Chen Cha’an switched to the reassuring private chat channel.
Yan Huirou: “What was it?”
“Not as high as mine.”
Yan Huirou nodded with satisfaction. “Mmm.”
Jiang Xidai said faintly, “But she spent so little time with you.”
Yan Huirou: “…Hmm?”
Jiang Xidai hadn’t wanted to ask more, but for some reason, once this topic started, it was a bit hard to stop. Fortunately, a loud and fawning voice came through the strong wind. “Sisters, the sun is strong outside. Don’t just stand here talking.”
Jiang Xidai turned her head. Although her expression didn’t change much, she secretly bit her lower lip in annoyance—she sighed inwardly, I shouldn’t have overthought it again, but it’s hard to control.
Alano sensed that there was no surging killing intent from this woman. She blinked and boldly approached. “By the way, I heard about your intentions. My friends also want a piece of the pie. I wonder if that’s possible, is the Shasheng Sect spacious enough?”
Yan Huirou took over the conversation. “Of course. What sects are they?”
“All sorts of riff-raff. After all, I’m very familiar with all the small, rundown sects and wandering clans around here.” Alano smiled. “Some of their leaders have even run off, leaving only the stubborn ones. But don’t worry, these people survived the pursuit of the Immortal Alliance; their foundations should be solid.”
“Will you two sisters be returning tonight? Or will you wait for everyone to gather tomorrow and return with you?”
Yan Huirou glanced at Jiang Xidai’s expression. “No, we’ll return to the Shasheng Sect and wait for you. How about that?”
“Alright.” Alano didn’t mind.
“The Sect Master and Miss Yan weren’t gone for long, and they’re already back. It seems the talks went surprisingly well?” Bi Luo sat on Jiangyun Terrace, gently swinging her legs.
Wen Xianyin: “The Sect Master’s strength is there for all to see. Anyone with a bit of sense would choose to follow her. Besides, they’re just a bunch of strays.”
“The Shasheng Sect will be so lively in the future! We won’t have to always have the same few senior disciples doing everything.” Bi Luo cheered, then, seeing Wen Xianyin remain motionless, felt a little awkward. “Senior Disciple Wen, why do you still look like you have a headache?”
Wen Xianyin: “I don’t know how many people they’re bringing. I don’t know how to arrange them.”
Bi Luo overlooked the entire Shasheng Sect. “What are you afraid of? Isn’t our Shasheng Sect vast enough?”
“Nonsense,” Wen Xianyin said. “Of course, it’s vast. But look closely. Because the Sect Master likes it, the entire Shasheng Sect is planted with maple trees. Her Ladyship likes it clean, so that area is off-limits for living and visiting.”
“In fact, there isn’t much space left that can be allocated.” Wen Xianyin quickly calculated in her mind, murmuring, “If there are too many, we can only fill the Sect Master’s backyard… what would that look like? She definitely wouldn’t be satisfied.”
Bi Luo: “Then… be a bit more decisive, send those who can’t cultivate down the mountain, won’t that free up space?”
Wen Xianyin still shook her head. “If the Sect Master wants some amusement in the future, where am I supposed to find beautiful maids for her on the spot? She wouldn’t be satisfied with that either.”
Bi Luo sighed. “Oh, she’s so hard to please…”
“Is that so?” A familiar, faint voice sounded.
The two turned around in shock to find Jiang Xidai standing behind them, holding her embroidered umbrella, her eyes half-closed, as if she had been standing there, listening to their conversation for a long time.
Bi Luo jumped in fright. “Sect-Sect-Sect Master, why are you here?!”
Wen Xianyin turned and bowed. “Do you have any orders?”
“Dig up half of those maple trees. The extra people can be thrown there.” Jiang Xidai turned slightly, her gaze falling on the maple forest, a slight frown on her face.
Wen Xianyin observed her expression. “Since you feel it’s a pity, there’s no need. It’s better to follow Bi Luo’s suggestion and clean out the disciples with poor aptitude. It won’t harm the Shasheng Sect.”
“No need. In this Seat’s eyes, the aptitude of all mortals is poor… They’ve been loyal enough all these years; let them stay,” Jiang Xidai said.
Wen Xianyin nodded. “The Sect Master is benevolent. The backyard of Qionghua Hall has a large empty space; how about putting them there?”
“No, absolutely not.” Jiang Xidai said faintly, “That place will be empty from now on. No one is to be placed there. Especially near Bright Moon Pavilion, understand?”
“This disciple understands.” Wen Xianyin lowered her head obediently.
After Jiang Xidai left, Bi Luo quietly asked Wen Xianyin, “Why can’t people be placed there? Is the feng shui bad?”
“It’s obvious,” Wen Xianyin tapped her. “The Sect Master doesn’t want Miss Yan to run into a bunch of strangers as soon as she steps out. You know Miss Yan’s social skills are quite good. Have you forgotten? She used to find those few dogs an eyesore. Of course… it’s much better now.”
Bi Luo nodded thoughtfully.
The next day, the gates of the Shasheng Sect were wide open, welcoming fresh blood for the first time. Yan Huirou had gone out, looking very busy. Jiang Xidai disliked dealing with such trivial matters, so she remained in Qionghua Hall, not leaving her room.
Crimson Illumination’s fierce reputation preceded her. The newcomers knew Qionghua Hall was her residence and didn’t dare to approach. This area was very quiet; all the hustle and bustle had nothing to do with her.
Jiang Xidai immersed herself in meditation. Mainly because she was tired of playing with the beads, and Yan Huirou hadn’t returned, so she had nothing to do. Once she quieted down, she thought about the “two Systems.”
Had it really been updated? Jiang Xidai’s thoughts traced the matter, but she couldn’t find many clues. If all of this was true, then it was naturally very good. She had to seize this opportunity to test it. For example, she could try to use her sword on the male lead and see how this world reacted. If everything went smoothly, that boy, without his divine artifact, wouldn’t be able to withstand a single blow from her.
A long-standing problem was suddenly solved, giving her an unusual sense of displacement.
Her memory returned to the yellow sand and blazing sun. Yan Huirou cupped her face, “Aren’t you a protagonist too?” Jiang Xidai remembered the feeling of her cheeks being squeezed, her peripheral vision completely blocked. She could only look forward, only look at Yan Huirou. Yan Yan’s eyes were slightly curved, her expression gentle, making the mole under her eye seem much more vivid. It should have been a surprised and easygoing tone, but coming from her mouth, it didn’t quite sound like that.
What would it be then?
Unfortunately, it was only much later that Jiang Xidai figured it out. —That sentence was more like a “blessing.”
At that time, Jiang Xidai had circled around the issue. Although she felt something was wrong, she still subconsciously believed her. Yan Huirou would never harm her. So Jiang Xidai allowed her to do anything. She didn’t stop her, just observed and thought.
At this moment, the gate of Qionghua Hall creaked open. Jiang Xidai thought it was Yan Huirou and looked up, only to see a white furball sneak in.
“Xue Nunu? Don’t run around…” Two hands with sharp nails suddenly reached out from the crack in the door and pinned the Persian cat. “If you run again, I’ll make you into a rug.”
The woman was startled and quickly slipped in through the crack—along with Xue Nunu.
“Aiyo…” Alano rolled a few times with great skill, conveniently landing by Jiang Xidai’s leg. Her black curly hair spread out like clouds on the ground. She held a cat in her arms, seemingly unconcerned about whether the ground was clean, and instead comfortably narrowed her eyes, her golden pupils shining brightly. She continued to fawn, “Sister~ Your rug is so big and soft.”
“…” Jiang Xidai frowned.
The woman knelt up, leaned forward, and prostrated on the ground, her cheek almost brushing against Jiang Xidai’s leg. She leaned against Jiang Xidai’s leg and gracefully changed her address. “Sect Master, from now on, we’ll be seeing each other every day at the Shasheng Sect. What is Miss Yan’s relationship with you?”
Seeing her not answer, the woman’s eyes curved into a smile. “Are you planning to unify the cultivation world?”
Jiang Xidai suddenly summoned her “A Ten-foot Soft Red.” A sword shadow flashed, and in an instant, it was pressed against her outstretched neck.
“Get lost. Disgusting thing.”
“As a powerhouse of such a realm, to have only one person by your side is truly rare.”
Once the soft sword was out, Alano immediately became honest. She looked up at Jiang Xidai pitifully. Seeing the sword tip not move for a long time, she became eager to try again. Her gaze on Jiang Xidai gradually became heated, her eyes filled with unconcealed ambition.
“Now that our two sects have merged, my strength is also not bad. Dual cultivating with me is better than with that little girl. One more isn’t too many, right? Consider it? Sister?”
