Chapter 2: Cow Talk

“Ao Tian, you’re awake!”

The yellow-haired pet was also yellow-haired.

Ji Shiyu cradled her longest companion, the contracted spirit beast, lost in thought.

“This kid isn’t simple.”

“I think so too!”

Ji Shiyu wholeheartedly agreed.

“I don’t know if it was my imagination, but just now he seemed to have noticed me.”

Ao Tian flapped its wings, tiny eyes full of confusion. Its silly, chubby appearance hardly suited such a fierce name.

“How could that be? You’re already a Second Realm Feng Ling, comparable to a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. He’s still at the Refining Qi Ninth Stage like me—oh wait, maybe he’s already dropped to the eighth, or even seventh?”

“Who knows? That kid’s soul is exceptionally strong, maybe not beneath mine at all. He’s nothing like a sixteen-year-old Qi Refinement brat.”

Ji Shiyu was startled. She knew Ao Tian’s background well, what sort of Human Race could compare to a Phoenix Hatchling of the Nine Heavens?

“Are you serious? The soul is far harder to strengthen than cultivation. It can only grow through time and tempering. Without rare treasures or miraculous encounters, it’s impossible. Unless…”

“Unless he’s the Child of Destiny of East Pole Province!”

Ao Tian’s words made Ji Shiyu’s eyes shine with excitement. But after a while, she shook her head.

“Impossible. That would be way too unlucky. What kind of Child of Destiny would have their Qi Sea destroyed?”

“It’s hard to say. The Fortune of the Nine Provinces is mysterious beyond measure—blessing and misfortune are intertwined. A smooth path is rarely a good thing; sometimes, misfortune brings fortune.”

“Then my luck is too good. I just arrived and already found Destined Fortune!”

“You’re also the Heavenly Fate Girl of Star Isle. You’ve always had great luck. Don’t forget, Messengers of Fate are naturally drawn to each other!”

The yellow-haired duo chimed in, eyes sparkling and drool nearly flowing.

Fortune in the Nine Provinces was priceless to them. Better to kill by mistake than let it slip away!

“This time we’ve really struck gold. Both of them are extraordinary. One has the supreme Talent of the Flame God, the other’s divine sense is monstrous with Dao Heart Clarity. Both are worth observing. Let’s watch a while longer, if Yun Liu can survive this ordeal, he’s definitely not ordinary. He might even be the one you’re searching for!”

Ji Shiyu’s journey to East Pole Province was not only for further studies at Shenhua Sect, but also to seek out the prophesied Destined Fortune. The Main Quest was clear.

Ao Tian had sensed something from Xiao Xinran before, but now wasn’t so sure.

At this moment, someone remained completely oblivious to the yellow-haired duo’s scheming, not only did they have their sights on the heroine, even the unfortunate one wasn’t spared!

***

In Evergreen Courtyard, Yun Liu sat alone on the Stone Platform, meditating to regulate his breathing.

He focused inward, spirit sense scanning his meridians.

His Qi Sea now had a gaping crack, and the hard-earned spiritual energy was constantly leaking away.

If Ji Shiyu was the Heavenly Fate Girl, then Yun Liu was the Heaven’s Retribution Boy. Ever since he encountered Feng Aotian, nothing good had happened.

Qi Sea ruined, mindset shattered, everyone’s attitude changed.

He was ridiculed by fellow disciples, expelled from the Inner Sect, and even his fiancée threw herself into another’s arms.

In the end, only because his Master owed the yellow-haired one a huge favor did he manage to beg for a Reversion Pill to save Yun Liu’s life.

But by then, Yun Liu had already fallen back to Refining Qi First Stage. Dao Heart Shattered, cultivation destroyed, spirit broken. Even if healed, there was no hope of returning.

Meanwhile, Ji Shiyu and Xiao Xinran both reached Foundation Establishment, gradually revealing the brilliance of Heavenly Fate Girls.

The difference was like heaven and earth. A single “I’m sorry” dissolved the engagement.

Originally, the unfortunate one was just a tool for the plot, a senior Inner Disciple guiding the two girls to Shenhua Sect.

After that, his cultivation and status plummeted. He obediently wore the green hat, kicked out of the main cast, reduced to a Background NPC at Shenhua Academy.

To Ji Shiyu, the fallen youth was just a side quest to increase Xiao Xinran’s and the other heroines’ affection, nothing more.

Now things were different.

With this group, anything was possible, as long as it didn’t involve a certain someone. He didn’t want to be part of their play.

Judging by the information at hand, it wasn’t all bad news.

Yun Liu’s soul, fused from transmigration, seemed to bring an extremely powerful sea of consciousness.

Focusing his senses, he could perceive everything around him, overlooking the entire city.

Though he didn’t know the true level of his divine sense, refining a third-grade spirit pill following the guide should be no problem.

Right?

After all, the heroines from his 100% perfect collection save file were all painstakingly raised by him, triggering all sorts of hidden quests and encounters. Even without protagonist’s luck, he was a master of every support class.

***

In the afternoon, just as Yun Liu was about to leave, a pleasant voice called from behind.

“Brother Yun, where are you going?”

A golden-haired girl appeared out of nowhere, smiling sweetly.

“Just going for a walk.”

“You just got out of bed, it’s good to get some fresh air. How about I accompany you?”

Ji Shiyu patted her chest, volunteering enthusiastically.

If she wanted to confirm which of the couple truly held Heavenly Fate, she still had to probe a little deeper and further.

Yun Liu hesitated for a moment, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Ji Shiyu pursed her lips and smiled.

“Xinran isn’t here, so let me take care of you in her place. You’re still injured, how can we let you go out alone? What if you run into demonic cultivators again?”

Wait, why did this line sound so familiar…

[Don’t worry, Brother Yun, I’ll take care of them for you!]

What kind of nonsense is that!

A chill ran down Yun Liu’s spine.

“If anything happens, I’m not responsible.”

“Relax, I’m very capable!”

What could possibly happen on a walk?

The two set off together, strolling down the street.

The youth was handsome, dressed in a moon-white Shenhua Uniform, though his face was pale and he looked terribly weak.

The golden-haired girl was even more striking—her delicate face and extraordinary aura drew countless glances. The villagers had never seen such an ethereal beauty.

Everyone knew the Xiao Family’s prospective son-in-law, raised before their very eyes.

Blessed by fortune, with no shortage of admirers.

Usually, the one at his side was the Xiao Family’s Young Miss, but today she’d been replaced by an even more dazzling maiden. How odd.

Times had changed. Word was that this boy was now a cripple, his path to immortality severed.

Whether Shenhua Sect would expel him was still unknown, and he was no longer a match for the Xiao Family’s daughter.

The two passed through the market, walking by the largest intelligence network in the Nine Provinces. Idle market women glanced over, whispering and gossiping about the supposed third party.

Ao Tian snickered under his breath.

“Tsk tsk, what a pair of golden girl and jade boy—no, adulterous couple.”

“Weren’t you the one who told me to get closer to them, to befriend my future senior brother?”

Ji Shiyu cursed inwardly. Did he think she wanted to cozy up to men?

“Who are you talking to?”

Yun Liu glanced at the girl’s thick golden hair—sure enough, the Phoenix Hatchling was there.

It was the protagonist’s talisman.

“N-nothing! I was just saying, Brother Yun is really popular—everyone seems to know you!”

“Good news never leaves the house, bad news travels a thousand miles. In a tiny place like this, even the stray dogs know when something happens.”

Yun Liu curled his lip. Most were probably here to watch the spectacle.

Ji Shiyu quickly changed the subject, not wanting Yun Liu to dwell on unhappy memories.

“I heard your father and mother are also graduates of Shenhua Academy?”

“That’s right.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Wonderful how?

Yun Liu shot Ji Shiyu a look.

The Ao Tian in the game wasn’t this chatty, was she trying to interrogate him?

Damn, could this cow even spare married women?

Was she going to put a green hat on his father too?

That would really be a laughingstock!

The youth shuddered, cold sweat pouring, afraid one day he’d mistake a thief for “father.”

“To be honest, Shiyu has admired the Yunhai Sword Cultivators since childhood. After meeting Brother Yun, I admire you even more. I’ve decided to join Xinran in this year’s entrance exam. I hope Senior Brother will look after us!”

The golden-haired girl gave a graceful bow, her smile as radiant as a flower.

She had no doubt she’d soon become an Outer Disciple at Shenhua Academy.

Such pleasantries might fool others, but Yun Liu wasn’t buying it.

For a highborn lady to deign to study at Shenhua Sect was already a huge favor.

“Mm, alright.”

“Mm… alright?”

That’s it?

Ji Shiyu’s mouth twitched. She’d rarely been brushed off so coldly.

“What did you expect me to say, ‘good luck’? Or maybe the polite ‘greetings, future junior sister’? Don’t be silly. With your strength, you could easily pass the Inner Disciple selection.”

Yun Liu shrugged, speaking only the truth.

A fifteen-year-old about to reach Foundation Establishment before even joining, unheard of.

“Well, that’s true… but I’m still a little nervous. If Brother Yun could share some experience, that would be even better!”

Ji Shiyu lifted her chin, eyes shining with sincerity.

But Yun Liu’s brows furrowed, goosebumps rising.

Calling him so sweetly, “I”, ugh.

Didn’t he know what a drama queen protagonist was like?

Feng Aotian was the best at playing dumb, hiding her strength, and scheming.

The real queen of the sea!

Yun Liu replied blandly, “Whether it’s privately teaching sect manuals or leaking Academy exam questions, both are serious crimes. At best, you’re confined in the back mountain for ten years. At worst, your spiritual roots are abolished and you’re expelled. What grudge do we have?”

“Eh? I… didn’t… mean it like that…”

Her warm face met a cold shoulder. Ji Shiyu’s face flushed purple, as if she’d swallowed a fly, and she waved her hands frantically.

Her plan to befriend her future senior brother had backfired—spectacularly.

“Good, then.”

Yun Liu walked on ahead, hands behind his back, heading for the city gates.

Rejected right from the start, Ji Shiyu almost bit through her back teeth. She’d never seen such a dense guy.

Ao Tian was already laughing so hard he nearly fell over. “Kekeke, so this is your routine? The tricks you use on others are useless on this kid!”

“Damn it, if it weren’t for me, he’d be dead already! Never mind, Shiyu, don’t stoop to the level of these stinky men!”

Ji Shiyu clenched her fists, silently comforting herself.

She had no idea someone was watching all this from the shadows.

At the street corner, a girl in red looked on with suspicion and amusement.

With the new school year approaching, Yun Liu and Xiao Xinran would soon head to Shenhua Academy.

But now, with the sudden appearance of the yellow-haired one, the three of them naturally formed a team for the entrance exam.

But this time, it seemed the plot had shifted in some subtle, irreversible way?