Xiao Jixue's Affection

After returning to Purple Dawn Peak from the Council Hall, Xiao Jixue found Tang Yan lounging beneath a peach blossom tree in a rocking chair he had brought outside.

He held a copy of the Complete Guide to Spirit Medicines and Plants, reading with rapt attention.

At the sight of the scene before him, as beautiful as a painting, a flicker of awe crossed Xiao Jixue's eyes.

Tang Yan wore a dazzling red robe, his black hair loosely tied behind his head with a red ribbon.

His face was luminous, his beauty as exquisite as an immortal's.

A breeze swept past, sending peach blossoms fluttering down into his black hair and onto his red robes.

They only made him more dazzling, lending his peerless grace the brilliance of the stars.

Watching from afar, Xiao Jixue's heart began pounding fiercely again for no apparent reason.

He pressed a hand to his exuberantly thumping chest, his mind once again filling with questions.

In the first twenty-odd years of his life, all he had done was cultivate, instruct his junior brothers and sisters, and leave the sect to gain experience.

There had been nothing else for him to do.

His life had been calm and uneventful, lonely and dull.

Never before had merely seeing someone inexplicably sent his heart racing and his emotions surging like this.

So what exactly was going on?

Was he ill?

But he was an alchemist. He knew his own body perfectly well, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Xiao Jixue thought so hard his head nearly started smoking, yet he still failed to reach a conclusion.

[Ding—Xiao Jixue's affection +10. Total affection: 138]

The instant the system notification sounded, Tang Yan looked up from his book at the young man standing in a daze some distance away.

Tang Yan was puzzled every time.

He had done nothing, yet this man kept inexplicably increasing his affection for him.

When he asked the system, it said there were no abnormalities.

Seeing Tang Yan look his way, Xiao Jixue's pounding heart abruptly settled. He put everything out of his mind and walked toward Tang Yan.

As he walked, he could not help thinking to himself.

A-Yan seemed especially fond of red robes.

It looked like he would have to prepare more red enchanted robes from now on.

"Are you reading the Complete Guide to Spirit Medicines and Plants?" Xiao Jixue asked.

Tang Yan's lips curved upward. "Mm. Back when I still had my cultivation, I practiced alchemy on the side. It's been so long since I read anything about it that my mind feels a little rusty."

"Since I can't cultivate right now anyway, I thought I'd brush up on the theory of alchemy and study it a little."

Tang Yan spoke casually, calm and composed.

Yet somehow, Xiao Jixue heard a trace of strained bitterness in his words.

A sudden ache pierced the young man's heart, and his gaze filled with deep concern and tenderness as he looked at Tang Yan.

"A-Yan, I already asked Huo Zeyu, Si Yu, and the others to keep an eye out for cultivation methods suitable for you. Don't worry. I'll make sure you can cultivate again."

[Ding—Xiao Jixue's affection +20. Total affection: 158]

Tang Yan, noticing the deep concern in Xiao Jixue's eyes, was speechless. "..."

[What strange things has Eldest Senior Brother imagined this time?]

"Mm-hmm. Thank you for going to so much trouble, Eldest Senior Brother."

A faint, indulgent smile curved Xiao Jixue's lips.

"Artifact Peak is holding a small competition today. It should be lively. Would you like to go have a look?"

Tang Yan's eyes lit up. "Yes!"

Xiao Jixue's smile deepened. "Then let's go."

The two left Purple Dawn Peak and headed toward Artifact Peak.

Along the way, they passed quite a few peaks where disciples lived.

When those disciples saw Senior Brother Xiao heading toward Artifact Peak with Junior Brother Tang, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect's greatest source of juicy gossip, in tow, they took notice.

Quite a few pairs of eyes suddenly lit up.

One after another, they could not resist trailing behind Tang Yan, their walking treasure trove of gossip.

Artifact Peak.

Quite a few disciples had come to take part in the small competition that day.

They had been waiting listlessly for the competition to begin.

Then an unmistakably familiar, dazzling flash of red entered their sight, and the disciples instantly grew excited.

Hahaha! Junior Brother Tang was here!

That meant juicy gossip was here too!

"Hehe! Good thing I planned ahead!"

A woman took two small flasks of wine and several plates of side dishes out of her Sumeru Ring. The dishes looked quite delicate, but most importantly, there was a plate of deliciously fragrant roasted peanuts.

"I brought some too!" A man took out Spirit Melon Seeds, peanuts, and sweet, juicy spirit fruit.

The other disciples, who had failed to plan ahead, thought, Damn! These two are going too far!

As usual, Tang Yan sat beside Xiao Jixue.

Seeing the man and woman nearby taking out all kinds of snacks, he thought they hardly looked like they had come for a competition.

They looked more like they had come for a picnic.

He could not help sighing inwardly. [The disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect really know how to enjoy themselves. They even bring all kinds of snacks to watch a competition. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were here for gossip and drama.]

Xiao Jixue noticed Tang Yan giving those two several extra glances.

Assuming he wanted something to eat as well, he unhurriedly took several plates of pastries, several plates of spirit fruit, and two flasks of richly fragrant Peach Blossom Wine out of his Sumeru Ring.

"I prepared these especially for you, in case you got bored."

As he spoke, he poured Tang Yan a cup of Peach Blossom Wine.

Tang Yan stared unblinkingly at Xiao Jixue's large hands, their well-defined knuckles utterly alluring.

A faint flicker of reminiscence passed through his eyes.

Images, some faint and some vivid, but all deeply etched in Tang Yan's memory, flashed through his mind one after another.

Back in the modern world, during his school days, a certain someone had been just as thoughtful and attentive.

Later, after entering the entertainment industry, Tang Yan had treated him as a rival, though the hostility was entirely one-sided.

Yet he had continued to treat Tang Yan exceptionally well, just as he had when they were young!

Coming back to himself, Tang Yan smiled softly, took the cup, and had a small sip.

The rich fragrance of peach blossoms mingled with a faint medicinal aroma. The moment the wine entered his mouth, he felt a surge of abundant spiritual energy washing through his entire body.

After drinking it, he felt pleasantly warm all over. It was wonderful.

His eyes brightened. "This is delicious. Did you brew it yourself?"

Tang Yan was so certain because he had also tasted Peach Blossom Wine brewed by Xiao Jixue in the modern world. It had tasted exactly the same.

Xiao Jixue's lips curved as he poured himself a cup as well.

"Mm."

Tang Yan offered his sincere praise. "It's really excellent!"

The curve of Xiao Jixue's lips deepened. "I brewed plenty. I'll give you a few more flasks when we get back."

He had brewed that Peach Blossom Wine when he was fifteen.

His second junior brother and third junior sister had begged him for some for ages, but he had never been willing to spare any for them.

Tang Yan smiled. "All right."