This Protector Has Seen Through Your Thoughts

'This script is wrong!!!'

Jiang Beiran was stunned. He had clearly chosen the simplest option, three!? How did he still fall into a pit in the end!?

From the moment he realized the person who arrived was Protector Yu Manwen from Water Mirror Hall, Jiang Beiran knew it was definitely a follow-up to what Liu Zijin had caused yesterday. Therefore, he thought the system options should continue to help him overcome this tribulation. He never expected it to loop back again.

One had to know that becoming Liu Zijin's Iron Seal was an Earth Grade Middle Rank option!

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

Hearing Jiang Beiran's sudden strong reaction, Yu Manwen glared with her phoenix eyes and asked, "What, you're unwilling?"

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

[Option One: "I am very grateful for Protector Yu's trust, but this disciple is currently swamped with important matters and cannot leave Blue Heart Hall." Completion Reward: Dragon Severing Burst (Mysterious Grade High Rank)]

[Option Two: "It's not that this disciple is unwilling, but during this period, this disciple has gained a new understanding of 'blocking' in chess. Therefore, I wish to stay on the mountain and play more games with the Hall of Rites to thoroughly comprehend it." Completion Reward: Lotus Profound Skill (Yellow Low Grade)]

[Option Three: "Of course not, it's just that this disciple is a little overwhelmed by the favor." Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1]

'It's really trying to push me into a pit!!'

Although Jiang Beiran had been living with this system day and night for five years, and he could generally analyze the meaning behind the options it gave, there were still times when he encountered options that completely baffled him.

After quickly analyzing the three options, option one indicated that if he was too perfunctory with this Protector Yu, then the Mysterious Grade High Rank reward would mean that considerable trouble would arise later.

Option two indicated that if Jiang Beiran could explain his reasons clearly, it would be much better than being perfunctory, but there was still a certain risk.

But what Jiang Beiran couldn't understand the most was that agreeing to be Liu Zijin's Iron Seal would be the best choice. Yet yesterday...

Thinking of everything that happened yesterday, a flash of white light suddenly crossed Jiang Beiran's mind, and he understood!

The reason why he received an Earth Grade Middle Rank reward yesterday for choosing to help Liu Zijin was not because her trial was difficult, but because if he had chosen to help her, then Senior Brother Kong, who had descended from the sky yesterday, would likely have come looking for trouble with him.

And this Senior Brother Kong was probably the reason why this option would reward an Earth Grade prize.

'So if I agree to Protector Yu here, will there be some reason that Senior Brother Kong won't resent me?'

After a rough analysis, Jiang Beiran chose three and cupped his hands towards Protector Yu, saying, "Of course not, it's just that this disciple is a little overwhelmed by the favor."

[Option Mission Completed, Reward: Melody +1]

The reason Jiang Beiran had to analyze the options so carefully this time, instead of mindlessly choosing the simplest one like before, was because his repeated experiences had made him realize that once an option with an Earth Grade reward was triggered, he had to be extremely careful with all subsequent handling. Otherwise, it would lead to a high-difficulty event like the Junior Sister Incident, where even the simplest option wouldn't reward attribute points.

That was the outcome he least wanted to see!

"En~" Yu Manwen nodded with satisfaction. "Then it's settled. I will bring the disciples of my hall to find you the day after tomorrow."

"Yes, this disciple respectfully obeys the Protector's command."

Yu Manwen was quite pleased that Jiang Beiran agreed so readily. After all, she knew that Liu Zijin's bad mood last night was definitely because she had been rejected before.

So she had been a little worried just now that Jiang Beiran might refuse the task and make up some excuse to fob her off. If that had been the case, she would have had to find a way to push him.

But judging by his behavior, this disciple still respected her as a Protector.

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

"Beiran, I see you are not only proficient in Melody but also Talented. Furthermore, you are a disciple of Blue Heart Hall, so your Chess Skill should also be excellent, right?"

"Protector Yu flatters me. This disciple has only dabbled a little and cannot be considered proficient."

"No need to be modest. I understand your thoughts. Do you feel that you can't break through in cultivation, so you plan to achieve something in other fields?"

Seeing Yu Manwen looking as if she had seen through him, Jiang Beiran went along with her words. "Protector indeed has sharp eyes. My little thoughts have all been seen through."

"Haha, Beiran, you really know how to talk. This is not sharp eyes; anyone with eyes can see it." After speaking, Yu Manwen lightly patted Jiang Beiran's shoulder and looked at him with gentle eyes, encouraging him. "Actually, you don't need to despair about cultivation so early. I've heard of many masters who encountered various difficulties when they first practiced Qi, but eventually soared after breaking through their Bottleneck! Becoming a powerful figure."

"Thank you for your encouragement, Protector. This disciple will keep it in mind."

"En, I'm telling you this because I hope you won't invest all your time in elegance. Spend more time practicing the Returning Heart Skill, and if you have any questions, come to me. I will teach you well."

'This...' Jiang Beiran wasn't sure if he should thank her. After all, within the Returning Heart Sect, the boundaries between halls were quite clear. If a Blue Heart Hall disciple like himself sought guidance from a Water Mirror Hall Protector, wouldn't that be slapping the faces of many high-ranking officials in Blue Heart Hall?

Seemingly sensing Jiang Beiran's hesitation, Yu Manwen asked with a smile, "Tell me honestly, did Zhang Heqing come to test your power?"

Jiang Beiran shook his head. "The Hall Master has not come, but Protector Feng tested me once."

"What did he say?"

Jiang Beiran replied with a smile, "Protector Feng said that everyone has their own strengths, and doing what one is good at will yield twice the results with half the effort. This disciple finds this saying very reasonable, so..."

"He let... cough." Yu Manwen coughed lightly and shook her head. "No wonder you've been a Registered Disciple in Blue Heart Hall for five years. It seems Feng Yulong represented the higher-ups of Blue Heart Hall to test you and directly denied your path of cultivation."

"Protector Feng was also kind. After all, I had been three years..."

"Sigh~" Before Jiang Beiran could finish, Yu Manwen interrupted him. "Protector Feng's words are indeed reasonable, but not entirely correct. You are only 20 years old. I've heard of people who broke through to become Mystic Practitioners at 30 and later became overlords. Believe me, you still have plenty of opportunities."

Without giving Jiang Beiran a chance to reply, Yu Manwen continued, "If you truly want to cultivate properly, just come to me. I'll take responsibility for anything that happens. At worst, I'll directly take you into my Water Mirror Hall, and I doubt your Hall Master Zhang would say anything."

Jiang Beiran quickly waved his hands after hearing this. "Actually, the stewards in the hall take good care of me. It's just that I'm more interested in the Path of Chess right now, so..."

"No need to say more." Yu Manwen shook her head at Jiang Beiran. "I know these are just your protective colors. The lost look in your eyes when you mention cultivation can't fool me. You're just using studying Chess Skill to numb yourself, aren't you?"

Seeing Yu Manwen looking as if she had seen through him again, Jiang Beiran really wanted to shout.

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