Chapter 13: Aunt, What Are You Doing?

 

“Is Mo Yuyan taking me up the mountain just for those Go manuals?”

“What other secrets are hidden beyond the main storyline of ‘Fallen Immortal’?”

 

Back home packing his luggage, He Yimo once again felt suspicious of Mo Yuyan’s strange behavior.

 

During their chess game last night, he was already curious, but knowing they’d part ways soon, He Yimo didn’t bother worrying about others.

But now…

He Yimo found himself being recruited into the Wuji Sect because of chess.

 

He couldn’t help but keep this matter in mind.

 

“These are the Go manuals I read when learning with the elders at the Grand Tutor’s residence.”

“But with Mo Yuyan’s level, these should keep her busy for a few months.”

 

He Yimo sighed, stuffing a few old Go manuals from the corner of his bookshelf into his bag.

 

Meanwhile, there was another knock on his door. He Yimo looked up to see his aunt standing in the doorway, dressed in a light skirt.

With her back to the sunlight, half of her beautiful face was in shadow, and the golden phoenix pattern on her jade legs was particularly striking.

 

“He Yimo.”

“Though I don’t know what happened last night, congratulations on being chosen by Mo Yuyan.”

The girl approached, her smile radiant in the sunlight.

 

He Yimo hesitated, feeling guilty. He thought his aunt would be disappointed that he was so easily swayed by a jade pendant.

“Why are you worrying about your aunt now?”

 

Yuan Xinyao’s tone was slightly resentful. She approached, lifting the boy’s face to meet her eyes.

She ruffled He Yimo’s hair as usual, then laughed:

“Stupid, I’m not angry!”

“I was just helping you gain some bargaining chips with that bad woman!”

The girl’s lips curled up, her phoenix eyes squinting like a little money-grubber, full of pride.

He Yimo was taken aback; he hadn’t expected this angle.

 

“Is that even possible?”

“Why not? Isn’t a free jade pendant nice?”

“But didn’t you say you didn’t want me to leave?”

“Of course, I don’t want you to go, but I never said you couldn’t leave!”

Yuan Xinyao smiled meaningfully.

 

Seeing He Yimo still confused, she stood up, hands behind her back, her phoenix eyes reflecting warmth and subtlety in the setting sun: “Phoenixes aren’t meant to be caged. I never intended to keep you by my side forever… I refused last night because Mo Yuyan had a bad attitude as your guardian. But today, she’s changed her view of you, hasn’t she?”

“So I’m being adopted…”

 

He Yimo muttered sarcastically, continuing to pack his luggage.

Yuan Xinyao laughed at his comment.

Seeing He Yimo seemed troubled, she hugged him from behind, reaching under his arms to pinch his cheeks—

“Why so unhappy?”

“Is it because you’re sad about leaving your aunt and want to cry in her arms?”

She teased playfully in his ear.

“Come on, I’m not a kid anymore.”

He snorted, waving his hand dismissively.

The girl’s phoenix eyes softened from playfulness to tenderness.

She opened her arms to He Yimo, smiling forgivingly:

“Stop pretending. If you want to cry, just cry. After today, you won’t have the chance to act spoiled with your aunt anymore~”

“……”

He Yimo turned back, unsure of what to do, but Yuan Xinyao pulled him into her embrace.

“Still a tsundere idiot!”

She patted his head, humming smugly.

He Yimo basked in his aunt’s warmth, his only defiance left in his words: “I’m just worried you’ll be bored alone at the Grand Tutor’s residence without me.”

“That’s true.”

At some point, Yuan Xinyao’s smile faded, even her hand stroking He Yimo’s head slowed.

But after a moment of melancholy, she chuckled:

“Without He Yimo, I won’t know who to bully anymore~”

“Tsk, then I’d better leave quickly.”

He Yimo sighed dramatically, using the opportunity to snuggle deeper into his aunt’s embrace.

Truthfully, going to the Wuji Sect was daunting for He Yimo.

To him, the Grand Tutor’s residence was a safe beginner’s village. Going to the Wuji Sect was like switching to a hell-level main storyline where he’d face the protagonist directly.

The protagonist was every villain’s inevitable fate.

Though gifted and full of potential, the protagonist wasn’t invincible.

The bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish.

 

Going to the Wuji Sect now meant facing a newly initiated junior brother protagonist. Perhaps he could use Mo Yuyan’s pendant or his past life memories to nip the protagonist in the bud.

That’s why He Yimo agreed to go with Mo Yuyan up the mountain.

But these thoughts couldn’t be shared with Yuan Xinyao; he could only savor his aunt’s warmth one last time before parting.

 

“He Yimo, why aren’t you crying?”

After a long embrace, Yuan Xinyao might have realized she was being taken advantage of and pushed He Yimo away with puffed cheeks.

She felt emotionally hurt; she thought He Yimo would cry in her arms but he didn’t shed a tear. He just wanted to snuggle…

“I didn’t cry because my feelings are in my heart.”

He Yimo turned away, wiping his nose with a hint of blush on his face.

Seeing him blush made Yuan Xinyao’s face flush too.

 

Yuan Xinyao glared at He Yimo with embarrassed anger but ultimately sighed without saying anything.

Thinking about it, he was at an age where emotions stirred…

 

Yuan Xinyao huffed lightly and said:

“Aunt has something good for you; maybe it’ll be useful when you’re out in the world.”

She handed him a bottle of paper cranes.

He Yimo took the bottle of handmade origami, examining it in the sunlight with confusion.

He didn’t remember such an item from his past life; if only it were like a game where he could check item descriptions.

“What is this… paper cranes? For good luck?”

“Think of it as good luck.”

The girl’s lips curled mysteriously.

 

But soon she worried it was too cryptic and He Yimo wouldn’t take it seriously. Clearing her throat, she seriously added:

“If you encounter difficulties at the Wuji Sect in the future, take this bottle of paper cranes to West State City at Mount Wuji’s base. In the city’s Immortal Alliance Tavern, find a girl named Jinyu…”

“Show her this bottle of paper cranes and she’ll take you to meet an important person.”

“That person is an old friend of mine who owes me many favors. Each paper crane represents one favor. You can trade them for treasures or ask for help; she’ll agree unconditionally for my sake!”

Finally, Yuan Xinyao poked He Yimo’s cheek to see if he was listening.

He nodded with vague understanding.

 

【Another plot and item not in the original story…】

Gazing at the bottle of paper cranes, He Yimo sighed inwardly.

 

But he didn’t ask more because he knew his aunt’s identity was special and many secrets wouldn’t be revealed even if he asked.

For the rest of the time, Yuan Xinyao didn’t disturb him. She sat on the bed, swinging her jade feet while watching him pack silently.

Once everything was ready, she stopped jingling her bells with her feet.

 

“Are you leaving?”

The girl blinked innocently.

Memories from sixteen years flooded back; for a moment she saw that little guy running home crying and clinging to her again.

But in a blink, the boy stood at the door with his bag packed.

 

His silhouette grew taller, blocking the sunlight and hiding Yuan Xinyao’s reluctant face.

“So fast.”

“In no time at all, my nephew who wasn’t even as tall as my leg ten years ago is finally becoming an independent cultivator.”

Her smile was forced but she still teased with small feet and playful words.

 

But as He Yimo walked away, Yuan Xinyao couldn’t help biting her lip and tears welled up in her eyes.

She couldn’t sit still anymore; jumping off the bed she quickly chased after him.

But just then He Yimo turned around—

 

“I’m not leaving; I’m just getting a bucket of water.”

“Ah!”

Yuan Xinyao moved quickly; when he turned suddenly she stumbled into his arms.

He held her securely without any awkwardness.

 

“I thought you’d leave without saying goodbye!”

Realizing it was a misunderstanding made Yuan Xinyao pout slightly annoyedly.

She suspected He Yimo did it on purpose but had no proof.

Yuan Xinyao freed herself from his embrace wiping tears from her eyes then curiously eyed the wooden bucket he held:

“What are you getting water for?”

“This might be our last meeting for ten years…”

 

He Yimo said sheepishly lowering his gaze “I wanted to wash your feet one last time before leaving as thanks for all your care over these years.”

His sincerity caught Yuan Xinyao off guard widening her phoenix eyes in surprise

 

“I didn’t expect you’d be so proactive…”

Yuan Xinyao found it unbelievable; she remembered always bullying He Yimo into washing her feet using leverage against him

And young He Yimo always begrudgingly crouched by the bucket grumbling but ultimately obediently washed Yuan Xinyao’s feet

This was Yuan Xinyao’s first time having He Yimo willingly offer foot washing!

 

“If you’re uncomfortable we can skip it.”

He Yimo shrugged blushing slightly

After all he wasn’t a child anymore; shame had matured

 

Yuan Xinyao stared blankly at him hesitating briefly before nodding repeatedly smiling:

“Why would I mind? You’ve been washing my feet since childhood!”

She feigned pride hands on hips but beneath playful cheeks lay slight blush

 

Shame was mutual

When young He Yimo didn’t understand things Yuan Xinyao naturally had no guard

But now seeing He Yimo blush first made Yuan Xinyao’s thoughts wander

 

After all…

The last time he washed her feet was two years ago; boys like him changed drastically in two years

Ultimately Yuan Xinyao told herself not refuse overcoming shame

 

After all this was He Yimo’s first voluntary foot washing offer proving years of pampering hadn’t gone wasted!

“Hurry up! And remember to add herbs!”

Blushing more with each thought Yuan Xinyao urged him on

 

Once sending him off she returned to his room sitting on his bed humming swinging jade feet

In idle moments Yuan Xinyao touched bed sheets beneath skirt

 

Then…

Looking down at scented hands she fell into contemplation

Long silence

Finally Yuan Xinyao raised palm sniffing lightly

 

“As expected there’s scent…”

“But that’s expected… after all he’s reached that age…”

Murmuring cheeks flushed beautiful eyes unfocused

 

Just then He Yimo entered carrying hot water—

 

“Aunt what are you doing?”