After a brief negotiation, the two people who had emerged from the alley stood in silence for quite a while, staring in the direction where Liu Yao had departed.
One of them turned to the other and asked with a hint of doubt, “Why did you bother negotiating with that person? Couldn’t we have just captured her and solved the problem that way?”
“Don’t let her cautious appearance fool you. I’m certain we wouldn’t have gained anything if we tried to stop her. It was better to negotiate her departure; it’s beneficial for both sides.”
“Then how did you know she was looking for that so-called Peach Forest Immortal?”
“Heh, those in the Jianghu only ever want a few things, and the most noteworthy thing around here lately is that ‘Peach Blossom Spring,'” the mysterious man in night-traveling clothes and a thick black mask scoffed.
“… Fine then. By the way, is the information you gave her about the ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ actually real?”
“Of course… it’s not. After all, who can tell the difference between truth and lies when it comes to these rumors?”
“But I only did that to reduce the chances of any accidents. If she really leaves to find that ‘Peach Blossom Spring,’ then all is well.”
“Even if she doesn’t leave, it doesn’t matter. We can just hand her over to the ‘helpers’ within the altar to handle that unexpected variable.”
“… That works. But I’ve been meaning to ask for a long time: Why can’t we talk outside of town or rent a room? Why must we have these secret meetings in some random alley in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”
“… You don’t understand. This is called being a professional.”
‘Are these two really sent by An Shanmu…?’ Liu Yao thought, lying on the roof and listening to the conversation below, unable to stop herself from complaining.
As it turned out, just as Liu Yao was about to leave the sight of the two mysterious men, she had turned a corner and used a swift footwork technique to scale the wall and hide on the rooftop.
‘Hmph… I knew these two weren’t up to any good.’ Liu Yao pouted, her expression clearly saying “I told you so.”
‘Good thing I stayed one step ahead and hid above them to eavesdrop. Otherwise, I would have really been tricked by these two kids.’
‘If the Peach Blossom Spring were really that easy to find, wouldn’t I have found it long ago?’
‘Even though I’m still not used to this female body, there’s no use rushing. Given the Peach Forest Immortal’s personality, he might be intentionally keeping me from finding him so quickly.’
‘Besides, I’ve already planned for a long-term search for the Immortal. Right now, the most urgent priority should be finding the relic my Junior Sister left for me.’
Liu Yao lay on the roof, processing her thoughts while continuing to listen.
The conversation below gradually quieted down as the secret meeting neared its end.
“All right, we just need to wait for the auspicious day. Someone will come to help when the time is right.”
“Let’s leave it at that for now. The date is getting closer, so it’s better if we don’t meet in private for a while.”
“Mm.”
With those final words, the two said nothing more. They neatly adjusted the black cloths covering their faces, gave a slight nod, and turned to go their separate ways.
Liu Yao did not move immediately as she watched their retreating figures.
One of the men returned, lingering at the mouth of the alley to look around in every direction. Only after waiting for a good while did he shake his head and finally leave for good.
Patiently lying still for a bit longer, Liu Yao eventually crawled to the edge of the eaves on all fours and slowly poked her small head out. After taking a single look below, she shook her head triumphantly.
“Little brat, if you want to fight with me, you’re still far too young,” Liu Yao muttered, the corners of her mouth curling into a smug grin.
However, Liu Yao didn’t leave right away. Instead, she stretched her limbs and lay back on the roof, staring up at the dim moon in the sky as her thoughts drifted.
‘Even if those two aren’t people sent from the Capital City to catch me, it’s certain that they aren’t good people. But taking action is a bit difficult right now… entirely because of this current appearance…’
At that thought, Liu Yao expressionlessly began to rub her chest, carefully feeling the texture she had never experienced before.
They were quite bouncy…
‘The reason my chest always feels so tight is probably because of these two lumps of flesh, right?’
The young girl squeezed her eyes shut while rubbing her chest. Without her realizing it, a faint blush spread across her otherwise plain face.
“Hss — “
“In the past, I was afraid of straining my balls. Now, I have to worry about straining my chest. Where is the logic in that?” Liu Yao paused her movements and joked with a laugh.
Liu Yao stood up and bent over to brush the dust from the roof off her clothes. Looking at the empty street, she fell into deep thought.
‘With my current appearance, if I step in to stop them, I might reveal my identity and attract pursuers. But if I don’t… the people here might be left at their mercy.’
The cicadas of the night played their symphony, and the evening breeze blowing through the streets provided the harmony.
As the cold wind brushed past, the girl’s troubled thoughts suddenly froze, and the street scene before her eyes seemed to flicker.
In a similar summer, a young boy with a tender face was sprinting down a mountain path.
He ran until he was out of breath, his bangs stuck to his flushed cheeks by sweat, but there was no exhaustion in his eyes. There was only a bright, vivid excitement that seemed ready to overflow.
The mountain wind filled his slightly oversized sleeves. In that moment, there were no elders behind him to supervise, and no teachings echoing in his ears.
There was only the youth’s longing and expectation for the future.
As he ran, he waved the sword sheath in his hand wildly, the sword tassel swaying in the setting sun, making it appear even more vibrant.
The boy stopped at the edge of a cliff, his face flushed red, looking as if hot blood was boiling in his chest.
Looking out at the world beneath his feet, he couldn’t help but shout at the top of his lungs.
“Liu Yao of the Yunming Sword Sect! I descend the mountain today! I will use the sword in my hand to purge the evil before me! Everyone, watch me!”
The ringing tone of his own voice in his memory seemed to overlap with the chirping of the cicadas. The cold wind brushed against her face again, and the memory receded like a tide.
“Use the sword in my hand to purge the evil before me…”
Liu Yao unconsciously murmured the phrase before exhaling a long, heavy breath.
“Ha — why am I overthinking so much?” She suddenly shook her head, her voice regaining its familiar clarity. “Hesitating and looking back isn’t my style. If I want to do it, I’ll just do it!”
Once her thoughts were cleared, her expression brightened. The gloom between the girl’s brows vanished, replaced by a sharp sense of determination.
She instinctively reached out to grasp a sword sheath, but her hand caught only empty air.
“I forgot.” Liu Yao stared blankly for a moment, then shook her head and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
She wasn’t upset; instead, she took the opportunity to twist her now-slender waist. The corners of her mouth slowly curled up into a smile that mixed nostalgia with the resignation of passing time.
‘It really brings back memories… How high-spirited I used to be… Back then, I was a handsome young man. As for now…’
The corners of Liu Yao’s mouth twitched subtly. Her hand instinctively pressed against her now-different, graceful waistline, and a wave of inexplicable, subtle discomfort washed over her heart.
“Forget it! Don’t think so much. It’s late; I should go back and get some sleep first.”
The girl clapped her hands. Her toes tapped against the tiles as she prepared to leap down from the roof —
But just as her body was about to move, she suddenly paused.
Perhaps because the memories were too overwhelming, they had stirred up a long-lost itch for excitement. Crouching on the edge of the eaves, Liu Yao blinked as a thought suddenly occurred to her.
‘Speaking of which… how long has it been since I’ve run around on someone else’s roof?’
The night wind blew the hair near her temples, and it also stirred the reckless spirit that had once belonged to “Liu Yao.”
Her eyes curved into a smile. No longer hesitating, she twisted her toes and exerted force, taking flight like a night bird. In the blink of an eye, she had flown to the other side of the building.
“Haha — this feels great!”
Liu Yao’s crisp laughter echoed across the rooftops.
“Ho ho, I didn’t expect these old tiles to feel so solid under my feet.”
Unfortunately, this carefree joy did not last long.
Just as she leaped toward a section of the roof that appeared flat, a loose tile beneath her feet suddenly let out a distinct —
*Crack!*
Caught up in her pride, Liu Yao was completely unprepared for the mishap. Her foot slipped, and her balance was instantly shattered.
“Dammit!!!”
Silence returned to the rooftop, leaving behind only a fresh hole as “evidence” of the crime.