Chapter 2: Qin Heart, Sword Soul – Chu Youwei
The moment Lin Xiao's fingers brushed against the soft, still-warm ice-silk stockings that belonged to his beautiful Master, he found himself entranced.
As though moved by an unseen hand, he lifted them closer for inspection, gazing at the delicate weave and faint pearlescence with unnatural focus.
A warm, lingering fragrance surged forth, subtle yet arresting, enveloping his senses like a perfumed mist.
"This… this must be the scent of the Eastern Domain's number one immortal fairy…?"
A dazed ripple spread through Lin Xiao's heart.
In that instant, his mind conjured an image—his Shizun's peerlessly long, snow-pale legs, elegantly shaped and utterly unblemished.
And in that flash of momentary delusion… he thought he began to understand the original Lin Xiao.
Pah!
What's there to understand?!
A degenerate is a degenerate—nothing more!
Such fetishes were nothing but repulsive!
Ding!
"Congratulations, Host! You have successfully completed the current plot arc!"
"You have received the following rewards: +30% physical constitution, +30% enlightenment rate, and automatic advancement of your [Inferior Wood Spirit Root] to a [Innate Yimu Spirit Root]!"
Just as his thoughts spiraled, the familiar mechanical chime echoed through his mind, followed by a stream of system text.
Immediately afterward, a swirl of profound, elusive energy erupted from his lower dantian, rushing outward into his limbs and bones, refining every corner of his physique.
Within seconds, Lin Xiao felt it clearly.
His spiritual sea had become crystalline and clear, his meridians open, his body in perfect harmony with the surrounding ambient qi.
His connection to heaven and earth had never felt so natural, so fluid.
This sensation—
Indescribable!
"Wait a second… didn't the system say I'd only receive the final reward after finishing the entire villain arc and meeting my scripted end?"
"Why the hell am I being rewarded in the middle of the plot?!"
"Don't tell me… this thing's trying to tempt me into going rogue and stealing the protagonist's thunder?"
"System! Get out here and explain yourself!"
Lin Xiao's thoughts roared.
Ding!
"Dear Host! This system is a refined product derived from the will of the Heavenly Dao! Lovingly crafted with rich inner content and countless hidden features, waiting for you to discover\~\~ ╰(￣▽￣)╯"
Useless!
That explanation meant nothing at all!
Lin Xiao rubbed his temples in frustration.
But whatever.
The arc had been completed. All he needed now was to wait for Ye Chen to appear at noon tomorrow—ready to get his face slapped and steal the spotlight.
"Until then… might as well stay in character and help my Master tend the flowers."
With that, Lin Xiao stepped out of the room, casting a simple Wind Blade technique as he began clearing the overgrown weeds around the courtyard.
Meanwhile, within the soft-pink floral cottage behind him, atop the bed draped in sheer gauze curtains—
From behind a screen, a single snow-white, perfectly sculpted leg stretched into view.
"Xiao'er," came a low, sultry voice, "since you harbor such affection for your Master, why not have said it sooner?"
"If it's what you desire… not just a pair of stockings, but even… even…"
Her voice trailed off, her long lashes trembling as a faint blush colored her otherwise icy-beautiful face.
"Forget it. From this moment on, I've already glimpsed the threads of fate. I will give everything to raise you—yes, you—to become a true Immortal Emperor."
"As for that wretched Ye Chen…"
"Tomorrow marks the day that so-called 'Son of Destiny' arrives. But fear not. I, Xiao Hongling, shall ensure that this parasite tastes a fate worse than death!"
"In my eyes, there exists no one in this world more perfect, more radiant… than you, Xiao'er."
—
After returning from Tiannü Cliff, Lin Xiao paid a visit to the Sword Practice Terrace, where he casually berated a few outer sect juniors.
On the way past the junior sisters' bathing quarters, he discreetly planted a memory stone—doing his part, as always, to fulfill the role of a scoundrel.
He had no choice. This was essential groundwork for the eventual "despised by all, cast out by many" plot thread to unfold.
What he hadn't expected… was another system reward for his efforts.
+1 Constitution, +2 Bone Structure.
Ridiculous.
But whatever. All Lin Xiao cared about was finishing the plot and claiming his cosmic severance package.
By the time he returned to the senior disciples' dormitory, night had deepened.
After a hot bath, he lay down on his bed, ready to get an early night's rest—
When a soft, delicate voice drifted in through the door: "Senior Brother, are you still awake?"
"Hm?"
Third Junior Sister? Why is she here, so late at night?
His mind tensed.
In the original novel, there was no mention of this happening!
Chu Youwei, third junior sister, was the one with the Qin Heart, Sword Soul, and a pure affinity for music and the sword.
Gentle in nature, kind as a lotus blooming in still water—she had always been as innocent as unmarked snow.
Though Lin Xiao had "taken liberties" with her repeatedly in the original text, she had never once grown to hate him.
Even in the later arcs, when he was disgraced and imprisoned by Ye Chen, with other sisters clamoring for his execution, she alone pleaded for mercy on his behalf.
To her, no matter how licentious or cowardly Lin Xiao became, he was still the same caring elder brother from childhood.
She was, by all accounts, a "treasure girl" in modern terms.
So…
"After tomorrow's duel with Ye Chen, her image of me will shatter. Might as well… see her one last time."
After brief hesitation, Lin Xiao rose and opened the door.
Standing outside was a young maiden clad in a soft azure dress, a guqin slung across her back. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks tinted with the glow of moonlight.
"Yoh. Long time no see! Come here, let your senior brother give you a health inspection."
Lin Xiao forced out a lecherous grin, his hand gliding naturally toward her slender waist—a villain's routine honed over more than a decade.
At this point, even he wanted to punch himself.
And yet…
To his shock, Chu Youwei didn't dodge as she always did.
In fact… she leaned forward—pressing her dainty waist subtly into his grasp!
A jolt of electricity shot through Lin Xiao's heart. He immediately withdrew his hand and took a step back.
This isn't right.
In the novel, Chu Youwei's cultivation and movement techniques already surpassed his. Every time he tried to lay a hand on her, she would escape with ease.
But now?
Not only had she not dodged, she even blushed faintly—her expression caught somewhere between shyness and enjoyment.
Something's very wrong.
Then, without warning, she looped her arm through his.
"Senior Brother," she said softly, eyes shimmering, "could you help me with… a small favor?"
"What… what is it?" Lin Xiao's eyebrow twitched. A ripple of unease spread through his gut.
He couldn't afford any deviation in the script right now.
"Well, yesterday while I was practicing Tianyin Arts, I accidentally snapped a string on my Thousand-Feather Qin," she explained, lowering her gaze.
"That guqin… was my mother's keepsake. I planned to head down to Chìfēng City at first light tomorrow to have it repaired by a smith, but… I'm not familiar with the city."
"I hoped… maybe you could come with me?"
As she spoke, her lips pouted slightly, her eyes wide and imploring.
Lin Xiao's spine tensed like drawn wire.
What the hell was happening? Since when did this gentle, shy junior sister learn how to flirt?
"I can—but not tomorrow. I have important matters to attend to."
His voice was firm, decisive, and cold.
Are you kidding? Tomorrow was face-slapping day!
Ye Chen would arrive. The duel would occur. Lin Xiao would fall. The plot would progress.
"I… I understand," Chu Youwei murmured, eyes dimming, disappointment clear in her expression.
She opened her mouth to say more, but Lin Xiao had already shut the door with a sigh.
"It's late. Junior Sister should return and rest. Don't delay morning training."
—
Back inside, Lin Xiao collapsed onto the bed, heart still pounding.
Her behavior was wrong. Deeply wrong.
In the original novel, there was no such side story. No late-night qin repair. No attempt to lure him away.
If such an event had existed, knowing the original Lin Xiao's lecherous personality, he'd have gone without hesitation—and missed the entire first act of Ye Chen's rise.
"But now that I think about it…"
"I did see her Thousand-Feather Qin just now. One of the strings was genuinely broken."
"And in the novel, that instrument was her late mother's most treasured gift. She'd never damage it carelessly."
Lin Xiao frowned.
Nothing made sense.
"I just hope everything proceeds as planned tomorrow."
"Ye Chen, you bastard, don't mess this up for me. This is my finale—don't waste your chance!"
—
At that same moment, outside the dormitory.
Chu Youwei stood beneath the eaves, her fingers lightly tracing the snapped string of her guqin. Her lips moved in a whisper.
"Senior Brother… I once believed this instrument was the most precious thing in my life."
"But ever since that day… when I saw the future in my mind's eye… I realized the one who truly cares for me…"
"Was always you."
"I broke this string on purpose… because I wanted to take you away from this place. Away from that cursed fate."
"Don't you understand? According to the script, that demon Ye Chen will arrive tomorrow."
Her eyes burned, no longer soft—but sharp, resolute.
"I must act first. I won't let that bastard destroy you."
[Inferior Wood Spirit Root : A low-grade, weak spiritual root aligned with the Wood Phase; poor cultivation potential, slow progress, and limited talent. Often considered trash-level—barely able to cultivate and mocked in most sects.
Yǐmù Spirit Root: Sign of refined talent—favored by sword cultivators, alchemists, or beast tamers with high spiritual resonance.]