Chapter 29: “I Can Be the Immortal’s Attendant!” p1
Li Yu felt neglected.
This neglect might have been unintentional, but it was definitely not an illusion.
If only Mu Tao were the only one with her today.
She knew, she had always known, that unless the relationship between three people was equally close, one person would inevitably feel left out.
But she never imagined that person would be her.
She had been too narcissistic, imagining, before leaving the inn, that today would be a battle for her favor between two young women.
Wasn’t that how similar situations played out in the original story?
Was it because of the lack of romantic interest due to their same gender? Was there no jealousy without a man involved?
That wasn’t right either. Even without romantic jealousy, they should still pay more attention to her!
Li Yu thought the problem was her age.
More accurately, it was her seniority.
She was an “elder” and couldn’t blend into the younger generation’s circle, especially when it came to having fun.
She could try to fit in. After all, she wasn’t even thirty, had never been in a relationship, so why wasn’t she considered young?
Although work had drained her energy, she could still be lively and energetic when not working, especially when something made her happy.
Everyone had a youthful heart.
But her character compatibility wouldn’t allow her to act like a youngster. She had to maintain the original owner’s aloof persona, like an elder accompanying children, present but not participating.
This was so boring!
She would have rather stayed in the inn and counted money.
Or she should have dragged Mo Yichu along.
He definitely couldn’t fit into the girls’ world either. If he were here, she wouldn’t be the only one feeling awkward.
Misery loves company.
Unfortunately, hindsight was 20/20. Li Yu silently followed them around all day.
Yes, all day.
She thought they would return to the inn as evening approached, but Qin Yuan insisted on visiting the night market.
Qin Yuan said the night market in Yanyang was very lively and it would be a shame to miss it.
So, they went to the night market in the southern part of the city.
By the time they returned to the inn, the moon was already high in the sky.
Passing by Zhao Xianchen’s room, Li Yu heard lively chatter inside.
Candlelight flickered, illuminating six or seven figures talking and laughing, with food and wine.
They were discussing spells, artifacts, and demons.
These technical discussions were beyond Li Yu’s understanding, but she recognized a familiar voice.
What a wonderful day.
Even the blockhead had company, while she had been alone and lonely all day.
Li Yu sighed and returned to her room, her steps heavy.
Seeing the room filled with treasures instantly lifted her spirits.
That night, she packed all the valuable and portable trinkets into her spatial pouch, leaving the less valuable and bulkier items in a corner of the room.
The next day, Qin Yuan wanted to take them out again, but Li Yu refused.
Shopping was fine, but not with three people.
Qin Yuan was disappointed.
After a moment, she turned to Mu Tao and asked if she wanted to go out.
Mu Tao’s eyes lit up, but she replied, “If Master isn’t going, I’m not going either.”
Qin Yuan pouted.
Seeing Mu Tao pour Li Yu a cup of tea, an idea struck her, and she hurried out of the room.
About an hour later, a shadow puppet troupe arrived at the inn, quickly setting up a small stage on the first floor.
“Immortal, Young Immortal Mu, come and watch the shadow puppet show! I’ve reserved seats for you!”
Qin Yuan took Mu Tao’s hand and pulled her downstairs.
“Master!” Mu Tao looked back at Li Yu, relieved when she saw her following.
The inn became lively with the arrival of the troupe.
Many guests emerged from their rooms, and passersby, hearing the commotion, came in to join the fun.
Since Qin Yuan had hired the troupe, the stories they performed were naturally to her liking.
Qin Yuan, obsessed with immortals since childhood, loved stories about gods and deities.
Today’s story was about an ancient god, resentful of his fading power and impending death, succumbing to his inner demons, creating a formation to gather resentment and attempting to rewrite the laws of heaven, only to be defeated and slain by other gods and immortals.
In the end, the gods and immortals protected the world, and the fallen god received his just punishment, his name forever tarnished.
The shadow puppets danced, gods and demons clashing in a sea of darkness, the story reaching its climax.
The audience cheered as the gods and immortals triumphed.
With resentment and demonic calamities plaguing the human realm, even the people living in Yanyang, protected by imperial cultivators, still yearned for gods and immortals to descend and save them.
Such stories resonated deeply with them.
After the performance, the audience dispersed.
Mu Tao, still excited, clutched a handful of sunflower seeds and enthusiastically discussed the story with Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan, enjoying this feedback, decided to keep the stage and have the troupe perform two more stories in the afternoon and evening.
By the end of the day, the way they addressed each other had changed.
Qin Yuan now called Mu Tao “sister,” completely ignoring their actual age difference.
Mu Tao also readily accepted this, calling her “elder sister” in return.
Li Yu, listening, felt a slight headache.
But then she thought, wasn’t this what she wanted?
Two nice girls becoming friends, what was there to be unhappy about?
Yes, she was happy!
How wonderful, the little protagonist was happy, she had entertainment all day, and her previously boring days were now fulfilling.
The favored princess truly knew how to enjoy life.
If only these days could last forever.
But that was impossible.
The Third Princess’ hospitality stemmed from her own desires.
So, on the morning of the fifth day, after breakfast, Qin Yuan got straight to the point.
“Immortal Li Yu, after these few days of rest, are you ready to depart?”
Her directness made it difficult to refuse.
Thus, the blissful days of being pampered by a wealthy benefactor came to an end.
Mu Tao once again shouldered her large bundle.
But this time, the bundle was even bigger.
The girl hadn’t seen many nice things before. Before leaving, she went to Li Yu’s room and rummaged through the items Li Yu had discarded, adding them to her own luggage.
Qin Yuan’s jaw dropped when she saw the enormous bundle and quickly called for Zhao Xianchen to help.
Mu Tao: “It’s heavy; I can carry it myself!”
Qin Yuan: “No way, I promised to have someone carry it for you!”
Zhao Xianchen took the bundle from Mu Tao’s shoulder.
He had seen her carrying it around effortlessly before and assumed it was just bulky, not heavy. He hadn’t been careful when taking it.
His carelessness almost made him drop the bundle, but he quickly steadied it with his other hand, narrowly avoiding embarrassment.
The moment the bundle was in his hands, he looked at Mu Tao with a newfound respect.
This seemingly small and frail Young Immortal, with her low cultivation, was incredibly strong!
As expected of someone from the immortal mountain!
Eager to put the bundle down, Zhao Xianchen hurried ahead and carefully placed it on the carriage.
Li Yu followed, settling into the carriage that would once again subject her to days of bumpy travel.
Just as she was about to open the curtain to bid farewell to Qin Yuan, the princess squeezed into the carriage after Mu Tao.
Qin Yuan: “Immortal!”
Li Yu: “…”
Qin Yuan: “It’s my greatest honor to travel with you, Immortal!”
Li Yu: “…”
Wait, did Qin Yuan go to the City of the Undying with the protagonists in the original story?
If she remembered correctly, the princess wasn’t involved in that incident. The protagonists even returned to Yanyang to report to her after completing the mission.
Why was Qin Yuan now so smoothly joining them?
“My father doesn’t want me to go to such a dangerous place. If I travel in my own carriage, I’ll be stopped before we even leave the city.” Qin Yuan said, taking a translucent veil from her robe and handing it to Mu Tao. She then turned around and said, “Sister Mu Tao, can you help me put this on?”
“Oh, oh!” Mu Tao nodded and helped Qin Yuan put on the veil.
Here it was, the plot point that had puzzled Li Yu for so long, finally appearing.
Could such a thin veil really conceal someone’s identity when their clothes and attire were unchanged?
She could recognize Qin Yuan instantly.
The princess had distinctive features; how could she possibly hide with just a veil?
“Will this really work?” Mu Tao couldn’t help but ask.
Qin Yuan touched her veiled face and asked nervously, “Is it still obvious?”
Mu Tao nodded.
Qin Yuan: “Then what should I do? My father has increased security at the city gates today, specifically to prevent me from sneaking out…”
Li Yu: “In that case, Princess, you should…”
Qin Yuan: “I’ll just have to force my way through!”
No, no, that’s not what I meant! I meant, don’t come with us!
Qin Yuan took a deep breath, touched the sword at her waist, and said seriously, “The city guards can’t stop me. But if I force my way out, I’ll definitely be scolded when I return…”
Was this girl really that determined?
To the point of barging through the city gates?!
Mu Tao: “Then what should we do?”
Qin Yuan: “It’s fine, Sister Mu Tao. It’s just a few hours of kneeling; I don’t mind, as long as I can be with you!”
“Kneeling?!”
“Yes! It’s so painful!” Qin Yuan gritted her teeth. “I hate kneeling the most. They don’t even let you eat, and your legs feel like they’re not yours afterwards… Not just my father, but I was also punished this way when I made mistakes at the immortal sect!”
She then asked, “Sister Mu Tao, Immortal Li Yu hasn’t punished you like that, has she?”
Li Yu suddenly felt a sharp pain in her knees and turned away, facing the curtained window as if in silent reflection.
Mu Tao opened her mouth, unsure how to answer.
After a moment of thought, she said firmly, “If I make a mistake, I deserve to be punished. No matter how Master punishes me, it’s for my own good!”
Qin Yuan: “Sister Mu Tao, you’re so understanding! No wonder Immortal Li Yu cares for you so much!”
Mu Tao blushed and lowered her head.
Li Yu, however, felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this.
Understanding? This was self-gaslighting…
This poor girl, already seriously injured, punished to kneel in the snow without food or water for three days and three nights, yet still defending her master so resolutely.
She, born and raised in the modern world, had never been punished by kneeling.
The only times she had knelt were during funeral rituals.
The rituals weren’t long, but they still made her legs ache.
Ancient people had it rough. Even princesses couldn’t escape the fate of kneeling as punishment.
Kneeling for hours without food, just the thought was painful.
Maybe she should help?
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