The Protector Has Seen Through Your Thoughts

This script is all wrong!!!

Jiang Beiran was dumbfounded. He had clearly picked the simplest option, number three! Why had he still fallen into a pit in the end!?

From the moment he realized the visitor was Yu Manwen, Protector of Water Mirror Hall, Jiang Beiran knew this had to be another consequence of what Liu Zijin had stirred up yesterday. He had thought the system options would help him get through this trial again, but who would have thought it would circle right back around?

Becoming Liu Zijin's Iron Seal had been an Earth Grade Middle Rank option!

No, no, the script definitely hasn't reached its last page yet. The system wouldn't screw me over this badly.

Hearing Jiang Beiran react so strongly, Yu Manwen's phoenix eyes widened as she asked, "What? You're unwilling?"

Just as Jiang Beiran was about to answer, three options appeared before his eyes.

[Option One: "Thank you very much for Protector Yu's trust, but this disciple truly has important matters occupying him lately and cannot leave Blue Heart Hall." Completion Reward: Dragon Severing Burst (Mysterious Grade High Rank)]

[Option Two: "It is not that this disciple is unwilling, but that during this time, this disciple has gained a new understanding of blocking from chess manuals. Thus, this disciple wishes to remain on the mountain and play a few more matches with the Ceremony Hall, so as to thoroughly comprehend it." Completion Reward: Lotus Profound Skill (Yellow Low Grade)]

[Option Three: "Of course not. This disciple is merely overwhelmed by the favor." Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1]

It really is trying to shove me into a pit!!

Although Jiang Beiran had lived with this system day and night for five years, and could usually make sense of the options it presented, there were still times when he encountered choices like these that left him completely at a loss.

After quickly analyzing the three options, he concluded that option one meant if he brushed off Protector Yu too carelessly, the Mysterious Grade High Rank reward indicated that a considerable amount of trouble would arise afterward.

Option two meant that if Jiang Beiran could explain his reasons clearly, it would be much better than brushing her off, but there would still be a certain degree of risk.

Yet what Jiang Beiran found most incomprehensible was that agreeing to become Liu Zijin's Iron Seal was actually the best choice. But yesterday clearly...

Thinking of everything that had happened yesterday, a flash of white light suddenly streaked through Jiang Beiran's mind. He understood!

The reason choosing to become Liu Zijin's Iron Seal yesterday had yielded an Earth Grade Middle Rank reward was not because her trial was so difficult. Rather, if he had chosen to help her, that Senior Brother Kong who had descended from the sky yesterday would likely have come looking to make trouble for him.

And that Senior Brother Kong was probably the reason this option awarded an Earth Grade item.

So if I agree to Protector Yu here, will some reason prevent that Senior Brother Kong from holding a grudge against me?

Having roughly finished his analysis, Jiang Beiran chose option three. Cupping his hands toward Protector Yu, he said, "Of course not. This disciple is merely overwhelmed by the favor."

[Option task completed. Reward: Musical Rhythm +1]

The reason Jiang Beiran had analyzed the options so carefully this time, instead of mindlessly choosing the simplest one like before, was that repeated experiences had taught him that once an option with an Earth Rank reward was triggered, he had to handle everything that followed with extreme caution. Otherwise, an incident like the Junior Sister Incident could occur, where even the simplest option led not to Attribute Points, but to a high-difficulty event.

That was the outcome he least wanted to see!

"Mhm~" Yu Manwen nodded in satisfaction. "Then it is settled. The day after tomorrow, I will bring the disciples of my hall to find you."

"Yes, this disciple shall obey Protector's orders."

Hearing Jiang Beiran agree so readily, Yu Manwen was greatly pleased. After all, she knew Liu Zijin had been in low spirits last night because she had surely been rejected before.

So just now, she had been somewhat worried that Jiang Beiran might be unwilling to take this assignment and make up some baseless excuse to brush her off. If that happened, she would have had to think of a way to spur him on.

But judging from this series of reactions, this disciple still respected her, a Protector, very much.

Combined with the pity she had felt for Jiang Beiran earlier, Yu Manwen now found him more and more pleasing to the eye.

"Beiran, I see that you are proficient in musical rhythm and gifted with flowing literary talent. And since you are a disciple of Blue Heart Hall, your Chess Skill should be quite excellent as well, right?"

"Protector Yu overpraises me. This disciple has merely dabbled in it a little and cannot be called proficient."

"There is no need for modesty. I understand your thoughts. Do you feel that you cannot make a breakthrough on the path of cultivation, so you intend to make something of yourself in other fields instead?"

Seeing Yu Manwen wear the expression of someone who had already seen through him, Jiang Beiran followed her lead. "Protector truly has eyes like blazing torches. Even this disciple's small thoughts have been seen through."

"Haha, Beiran, you really know how to talk. What blazing-torch eyes? Wouldn't anyone with eyes be able to see it?" As she spoke, Yu Manwen lightly patted Jiang Beiran on the shoulder. Looking at him with eyes gentle as water, she encouraged him, "Actually, you need not despair over cultivation so early. This Protector has heard of quite a few Experts who encountered all kinds of difficulties when they first began Qi Refining, only to soar into the heavens after breaking through their bottlenecks and become powerful figures in their own regions!"

"Thank you for Protector's encouragement. This disciple shall remember it well."

"Mhm. I say this only because I hope you will not pour all your time into elegant pursuits. Spend more time practicing the Returning Heart Skill. If there is anything you do not understand, come find me. I will certainly teach you properly."

This... Jiang Beiran did not know whether he should thank her. After all, within the Returning Heart Sect, the boundaries between halls were quite distinct. If he, a Blue Heart Hall disciple, went to seek instruction from a Water Mirror Hall Protector, would that not be slapping the faces of Blue Heart Hall's many higher-ups?

As though she had seen Jiang Beiran's hesitation, Yu Manwen smiled and asked, "Tell this Protector honestly. Has Zhang Heqing ever come to test your Cultivation Power?"

Jiang Beiran shook his head. "Hall Master has never come, but Protector Feng tested me once."

"What did he say?"

Jiang Beiran answered with a smile, "Protector Feng said that everyone has their own strengths, and only by doing what one excels at can one achieve twice the result with half the effort. This disciple felt those words made great sense, so..."

"He's full of... Ahem." Yu Manwen gave a light cough and shook her head. "No wonder you have remained a Registered Disciple in Blue Heart Hall for five years. It seems Feng Yulong represented Blue Heart Hall's higher-ups in testing you, then directly denied your path of cultivation."

"Protector Feng meant well too. After all, at that time, I had spent three years..."

"Aiya~" Before Jiang Beiran could finish, Yu Manwen interrupted him. "Protector Feng's words do make sense, but they are not entirely right. You are only twenty years old, after all. I have even heard of people who did not break through to become Mystic Practitioners until they were thirty, yet eventually became overlords of a region. Believe me, you still have plenty of opportunities."

Without giving Jiang Beiran a chance to answer, Yu Manwen continued, "If you truly wish to cultivate properly, then come find me whenever you like. Whatever happens, I will cover for you. At worst, I will simply take you into Water Mirror Hall. I doubt your Hall Master Zhang would dare say anything."

Jiang Beiran hurriedly waved his hands after hearing this. "Actually, the several stewards in the hall have all treated me quite well. It is merely that I myself am more interested in the Path of Chess now, so..."

"Say no more." Yu Manwen shook her head at Jiang Beiran. "I know this is all your protective coloring. The disappointed look in your eyes whenever you mention cultivation cannot deceive me. You are merely using your study of Chess Skill to numb yourself, are you not?"

Watching Yu Manwen put on that all-seeing expression again, Jiang Beiran truly wanted to shout.

"I'm not! I didn't!"