Chapter 17: Fate is Heaven-Sent, but Success is Man-Made — A Peach Blossom Affair.

Chapter 17: Fate is Heaven-Sent, but Success is Man-Made — A Peach Blossom Affair.

The Thatched Cottage.

Wu He squatted in the corner, biting his nails.

Li Xueke had his hands braced on the wooden window frame, turning back with a weary, gloomy face. "When do I get to go down the mountain? Hey, say something!"

Wu He chewed on his nails rhythmically, his eyes vacant, spaced out.

"Liar! Say something!" Li Xueke hopped over on one foot, yanking him up from the corner like plucking a mushroom. "I still have to go back and run my business!"

Wu He lifted his dark-lidded eyes, glanced at him, and went back to biting his nails.

Li Xueke tried a different tack. "I still need to make offerings to the gods. If I don't go down the mountain, how can I send people to transport spirit stones?"

Wu He finally raised an eyebrow, snapping back to attention.

He tore at his nails a few more times, staring at Li Xueke with utter despair. "Have you ever considered one thing?"

Li Xueke: "What thing?"

Wu He: "What if the person they're after... is us?"

"Huh?!" Li Xueke doubled over laughing. "The one who injured your Patriarch—could that be us?"

Wu He gazed at the sky, his tone hollow. "Yeah... the one who hurt the Patriarch—could that be us?"

Li Xueke waved a hand dismissively. "You're talking nonsense, you've lost it. I'm not talking to you anymore."

He clutched his head, leaned back, and collapsed onto the bedding.

After lying still for a moment, he suddenly sprang up like a jack-in-the-box.

"Wait! That guy I asked the deity to take out in my dream... could he be your Patriarch?" Li Xueke lunged forward, grabbing Wu He's lapel, a look of sheer terror on his face. "I don't care! I paid for it! You have to keep me safe!"

Wu He: "...Heh."

Fu Yu led the team, diligently patrolling the twelve peaks of Qingyun Sect.

She truly wanted to find clues about that "Evil Cultist."

To cover their tracks.

Lu Xingchen spoke up: "Don't overwork yourself. This mission is like finding a needle in a haystack; it's mostly for show, to give an account to the higher-ups and the rank-and-file. Once the Sect Master brings back the immortal artifact, we'll know who the real culprit is."

Fu Yu: "Will that be soon enough?"

Lu Xingchen was puzzled: "In time for what?"

Fu Yu sighed: "You don't understand. That's why you can't lead the team."

Lu Xingchen: "..."

He rubbed his forehead with a bitter smile, strode to catch up with her, making conversation: "How did you know that Xiao Chusheng had a prob..."

"Cousin!"

Lu Xingchen's expression stiffened.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then turned his head—sure enough, it was no mistake. Su Yiner stood on the other side of the mountain path, waving at him.

He hurried over, brows furrowed, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

The atmosphere between him and Fu Yu had finally eased somewhat; why did his cousin have to show up now?

He said in a low voice: "What are you doing here? Go back quickly!"

Su Yiner was hurt by his coldness, her eyes reddening. She raised a hand, pretending to adjust the hair by her ear.

Her sleeve slipped, revealing a scar that flashed before his eyes.

Lu Xingchen's motion to shoo her away halted.

His expression softened. He sighed and patiently explained to her: "There's trouble in the sect; it's not suitable to wander around randomly. I'm busy with official duties here. You—haven't run into any trouble, have you?"

He was genuinely somewhat afraid of Su Jiabao.

Su Yiner quickly shook her head: "No, no, A Bao is very well-behaved now; he won't cause any more trouble for you, cousin. I just made some soup and wanted you to come try it early."

Lu Xingchen shook his head: "No need. You should go back and eat it yourself."

She bit her lip in disappointment: "I made it specially for you, cousin. I simmered it all afternoon..."

Guilt surfaced on Lu Xingchen's face.

"It's fine, it's fine. Cousin, you're busy." Su Yiner forced a smile. "It's okay. I just watched the fire for a very, very long time... feels a bit of a pity... It's fine. Cousin, you should go. Otherwise, Miss Xie might get angry again."

She lowered her head, revealing a slender, fragile neck, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes like a little flower battered by wind and frost.

Lu Xingchen gave a low "Mm."

He turned and walked a few steps, then looked back.

Su Yiner's eyes held tears as she forcefully raised a smiling face toward him, stood on tiptoe, and waved.

Lu Xingchen sighed softly.

Returning to the team, he didn't need to look up to feel the mocking, chilly gaze.

Instinctively, as usual, he looked up and began to explain to her: "My cousin came over just to..."

Their eyes met, and the second half of the sentence stuck in his throat.

The one sneering at him wasn't Fu Yu, but the Foxtail Grass Spirit beside her.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit pinched its nose: "Just to wash her hands and make soup for you~"

Lu Xingchen quickly scanned the area, not seeing Fu Yu, and his heart tightened: "Where's Fu Yu? Is she angry again?"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit stared at him gloomily for a moment: "Whether she's angry or not, does it interfere with your sweet romance with your cousin? Liking someone like you must be the worst luck in eight lifetimes... no, dumping someone like you is truly blessed by fortune stars, bringing joy and auspiciousness!"

Lu Xingchen's brows furrowed tightly.

He really wanted to get angry, but seriously arguing with a brainless spirit creature was truly pointless.

Having been around Xie Fuyu for so long, it had picked up some of her shadow.

He said coldly: "In my actions, I have a clear conscience."

He strode forward in pursuit and saw Fu Yu standing under a tree, directing the squad member Hua Lang to rob a bird's nest.

"Egg... egg... egg... Huh?"

Hua Lang reached back and grabbed, pulling a fluffy little spirit kitten from the nest.

Hua Lang's eyes lit up: "Isn't this the spirit pet our Peak Master's wife lost three days ago? Senior Sister Xie, thanks to you, our Peak Master won't have to kneel on the washboard anymore!"

Fu Yu: "No big deal."

Lu Xingchen squeezed forward and called to her softly: "Fu Yu, I was talking with my cousin. You're not angry, are you?"

The surroundings fell silent, and the squad members all gave him odd looks.

"Lu Xingchen," Hua Lang asked, "Do you get the feeling you're out of place in this team?"

Throughout this patrol, they had recovered many lost items and resolved several clandestine brawls.

They even caught a senior elder having an affair with someone else's wife.

The squad members were fired up, full of fighting spirit, and were in awe of Fu Yu.

Except for Lu Xingchen.

He showed no interest in the mission, absent-minded from the start, occasionally interjecting with nothing but discouraging remarks, just getting in the way.

Everyone had long been sick of him.

Lu Xingchen frowned: "Hua Lang, what do you mean?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the other three had similar looks.

Lu Xingchen's heart sank.

He belatedly realized something—the people the Sect Master had selected for this task were precisely the most outstanding among the new generation of disciples. Except for himself, who came from humble origins, all the others were children of the sect's peak masters and elders.

They shared the same background as Xie Fuyu.

Only he was out of place.

Lu Xingchen's expression turned ugly: "Hah, don't bully..."

The Foxtail Grass Spirit quickly chimed in: "Don't bully the young for being poor, don't bully the middle-aged for being poor, don't bully the old for being poor."

Lu Xingchen: "..."

A breath caught in his throat.

He pursed his lips, clenched his palms, and walked alone to the side, his gaze flickering slightly.

It had been a long time since he had felt such humiliation.

Although these people wouldn't step on him, kick him, or stuff mud into his mouth like those lackeys back then, their contemptuous eyes were like blades, stabbing repeatedly at his threadbare self-respect.

He shook his head lightly, silently trailing behind the others.

"Senior Brother Lu!"

A familiar outer sect disciple came running from the other end of the suspended walkway.

Lu Xingchen's eyelids twitched.

The outer sect disciple approached, wearing a look of utter despair: "It's bad, Senior Brother Lu. Your cousin sent me to find you, saying..."

He lowered his tired eyes, every strand of hair exuding the weariness of a laborer.

Ever since Su Yiner had moved into the guest courtyard, she would frequently send him to look for Senior Brother Lu. Oh, and he was also the one who went to the town to pick up Su Jiabao.

Su Yiner often complained about her own hard life, but the outer sect disciple felt he was the one truly suffering.

Senior Brother Lu was probably already sick and tired of him.

Lost in thought, the outer sect disciple finished listlessly: "...Su Jiabao is missing."

Worried he'd take his frustration out on him, he didn't dare look Senior Brother Lu in the eye.

Unexpectedly, Lu Xingchen said in all seriousness: "That's no small matter."

The outer sect disciple was confused: "Huh? Oh, oh."

Lu Xingchen brushed past him and strode toward Fu Yu.

"I have to go back and help search for him," he said gravely. "It's getting dark. A child in the mountains and forests would be in danger."

He was eager to leave this place, to go somewhere else...

Where he would be looked up to.

Fu Yu looked at Lu Xingchen, her gaze pausing slightly.

She saw that within the darkened spot between his eyebrows, an unclean shade of peach-pink had appeared.

Fu Yu smiled and kindly reminded him: "Search the rooms thoroughly."

Lu Xingchen instinctively frowned: "What are you being suspicious about again?"

The squad members were stunned.

Hua Lang couldn't help but burst out: "I say, Lu Xingchen, hasn't it been thanks to Senior Sister Xie's 'suspicions' that we've solved cases all day? What are you howling about now?"

Lu Xingchen's face was cold as frost. He snorted coldly and strode away.

Everyone watched his retreating figure disappear.

"Senior Sister Xie, you're still not planning to break off the engagement?"

"Yeah, Senior Sister Xie, how can you tolerate this?"

"He and his cousin are practically making eyes at each other; sooner or later they'll roll into bed together!"

The Foxtail Grass Spirit nodded gently: "Yes, Master, that's right, Master, exactly so."

"Enough," Fu Yu waved her hand. "I still have a task to assign."

The four immediately straightened up to receive orders.

Fu Yu said: "Tonight, each of you find a way. By this time tomorrow, I want to enter the forbidden area and see the Patriarch."

Hua Lang and the other three: "Huh?"

Fu Yu squinted. "Something's happened to the Patriarch. If we don't investigate him, then who? Can't you handle a simple thing like this?"

The four exchanged glances.

"I'll try asking my master."

"I'll go find my second uncle."

"Then I'll take Lucky Pillow to visit my grandma."

"I'll talk to my dad."

Once they'd decided, the four split up and left.

When Lu Xingchen arrived at the guest courtyard, Su Yiner was already weeping, her face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain.

Seeing him, she immediately rushed over. "Cousin, if something happens to A Bao, what would I do?"

Lu Xingchen reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll help you find him."

"Mm!" Her eyes brightened as she looked up at him, gazing at him like he was a god. "Cousin, I'm counting on you."

Lu Xingchen felt a warmth in his heart.

Just as Su Yiner was about to lead him outside, he suddenly remembered Fu Yu's offhand comment.

"Search the house more thoroughly."

Frowning slightly, he gently brushed aside Su Yiner's hand and turned toward the room.

"C-Cousin?!" She hurried after him. "How could A Bao be in there? I've already searched. D-Don't you trust me?"

Lu Xingchen looked down, meeting her pitiful, pleading eyes.

He didn't insist further, turned, and walked out the door, taking to his sword to carry her over the mountain forest.

"A Bao! A Bao!"

Leaning against him, she called out repeatedly.

"A Bao—"

"Cousin, please call for him too."

"Su Jiabao— Su Jiabao—"

Not far away, Fu Yu and the Foxtail Grass Spirit watched their performance quietly.

Two hours later, the two returned empty-handed.

Stepping into the guest courtyard, Su Yiner gently comforted Lu Xingchen. "Maybe he'll come back on his own when he's tired from playing. Cousin, you should rest for a bit."

"Oh, right!"

As if remembering something delightful, she clapped her hands. "Cousin, I've kept some soup warm on the stove. You must be tired from flying for so long. Sit down, I'll go get it for you!"

Lu Xingchen's breath was indeed somewhat ragged.

Maintaining his cultivation at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage was already extremely difficult for him.

He grunted in acknowledgment, sat down in the room, and silently regulated his breathing.

"Cousin, here it is... Ouch!"

She brought the hot soup, her scalded fingers pinching her earlobes as she looked at him expectantly.

Lu Xingchen opened his mouth, then lowered his head, picked up the spoon, and drank it sip by sip.

"I'll go help you look again."

As soon as he stood up, he suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded.

"Cousin, you stood up too quickly."

Su Yiner hurried over to support him.

Lu Xingchen frowned, his body trembling slightly as if struck by an electric current.

After flying on the sword for half a day, both of them had worked up a sweat. Now, her warm breath kept seeping into his skin, one wave after another.

Numbness, itchiness, an indescribable heat.

Like a drunkard, he slumped against her.

"Cousin..." Su Yiner exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing? Are you sleepy? Should I help you to the bed to rest?"

Lu Xingchen's mouth and throat felt parched.

"You..."

"Ah! Did you accidentally touch some poisonous plant in the mountains? Cousin, lie down quickly."

Staggering, he was pulled by her toward the bed.

Outside the room.

The Foxtail Grass Spirit stared blankly. "Master, Miss Su drugged him. Surely he'll realize what kind of person she is this time?"

Fu Yu smiled. "He's getting what he wants; why would he regret it?"

She strode toward the side chamber.

Pushing the door open, she indeed saw Su Jiabao lying inside, fast asleep and snoring.

Fu Yu tilted her head, signaling the Foxtail Grass Spirit to step forward.

In the other room, Lu Xingchen pressed his forehead, frowning as he half-lay on the bed.

His cousin worriedly drew closer, her warm, fragrant, soft body pressing against him.

Sweat beaded on his brows from the heat. He wanted to push her away, but even before their damp skin touched, it felt like an electric shock.

His breathing grew heavier.

Unaware, she leaned over to check his forehead.

Just as their skin was about to touch.

*BANG!* The door burst open with a loud crash, and Su Jiabao let out a strange howl as he came flying in!