Chapter 25: This Must Be Fate!

 

【Damn, could the ghost rumors Senior Sister Yun Jin mentioned about the back mountain actually be this elusive fox spirit Jiang Jinyue?】

【If it really is her, then she’s scarier than Gu Wanglan with his ten-bar dual-phase berserk mode!】

He Yimo crouched behind a bush, holding his breath as he mentally complained.

Even with his memories from the original story, he couldn’t fathom why Jiang Jinyue would be in the back mountain’s secret realm in the middle of the night, and on the same path he was taking!

He Yimo felt like no matter where he went, Jiang Jinyue would always appear, haunting him like a ghost!

Damn…

Why not go torment Chen Jianxin instead?

He’s the prophesied chosen one!

He Yimo grumbled inwardly, holding his breath as the girl’s footsteps approached.

 

In the night, the Enchantress’s peach blossom eyes appeared even more enchanting. Though she still wore her sect junior sister attire from earlier, her innate fox demon allure was impossible to hide.

Just catching a whiff of her alluring scent made He Yimo’s body tense with fear, yet his instincts were drawn to her charm.

“It should be around here somewhere. Where did Gu Wanglan hide it…”

 

The girl squinted her enchanting eyes, glancing around in the darkness while muttering to herself.

Her steps were light and leisurely as she strolled along the quiet forest path. Suddenly, a crisp snap echoed beneath her feet.

Crack.

Boom boom boom boom boom—!

He Yimo’s eyes widened as a thick rope attached to a massive iron ball swung towards him.

 

He quickly ducked, the iron ball whizzing over his head and crashing into the forest path with a dull thud against the girl.

Silence fell for a moment.

He Yimo peeked out to see the once-humming fox demon girl now sprawled in disarray across the grass on the other side of the path, sleeping like a baby.

After another moment of silence, the girl on the ground finally stirred—

“Damn it, how many traps did Gu Wanglan set?”

“That hurt like hell…”

She cursed softly, wiping black blood from her mouth as she sat up in disarray.

But before she could take two steps, her left foot snagged on another rope loop.

“What—?!”

Before Jiang Jinyue could catch her breath, the rope tightened suddenly, binding her ankle and hoisting her upside down into the air with a swish.

This time, Jiang Jinyue was hogtied and hanging midair, too angry to even curse.

She bit her lip lightly as fiery fox tails flared behind her, her enchanting eyes growing cold and fierce.

But just then, rustling sounds emerged from the bushes across the path.

“Who’s there?”

Jiang Jinyue quickly suppressed her aura, frowning as she stared at the shadowy bushes.

 

Until a boy holding a lantern parted the bushes, entering Jiang Jinyue’s upside-down view. Her fierce peach blossom eyes instantly cleared somewhat.

Recalling something, Jiang Jinyue hurriedly retracted her fox tails, pretending nothing happened while warily watching the white-clad boy approach.

“Senior Sister Jiang?”

He Yimo feigned surprise.

 

He carefully chose his words before speaking meaningfully: “You scared me—I thought it was some wild boar making noise in the middle of the night.”

“Wild… boar?”

Jiang Jinyue’s lips twitched, unable to retort. But under He Yimo’s gaze, she quickly realized her predicament—her heart raced and face flushed with both nervousness and embarrassment.

After all, Jiang Jinyue hadn’t expected He Yimo to stumble upon her at her most disheveled moment.

 

If not for He Yimo’s presence, Jiang Jinyue would’ve already used her powers to burn away these ropes and free herself.

But with He Yimo standing there now, she couldn’t reveal her true form—she had to pretend to be an ordinary person helplessly hanging in midair.

What puzzled Jiang Jinyue more was—

 

Why was He Yimo in the back mountain’s secret realm in the middle of the night?

“So what are you doing here, Senior Sister Jiang? Some kind of bondage play?”

He Yimo raised an eyebrow, taking charge by questioning her with a hint of disdain.

 

Jiang Jinyue clenched her fists at his words.

She could only be grateful she wasn’t wearing a skirt tonight; otherwise, she’d be utterly humiliated.

 

“Obviously I stepped into a trap!”

“I see. Who’s so wicked to set traps in the mountains? Are they trying to catch wild boars?”

 

He Yimo feigned serious analysis while inwardly laughing gleefully.

He deliberately stalled for time to savor this rare sight of the Enchantress bound up—a scene never seen in the original story.

“Are you obsessed with wild boars or something…”

Jiang Jinyue seriously suspected he was doing this on purpose.

 

He Yimo circled around her before stopping in front of Jiang Jinyue with an enigmatic smile: “Need any help, Senior Sister Jiang?”

“If you could cut that rope for me.”

Jiang Jinyue suppressed her impatience and spoke politely.

 

She knew how to ask for help graciously.

But even so, she sensed an unmistakable hint of malice in He Yimo’s cold gaze—

 

“I’ll help you—but what’s in it for me?”

His tone was suggestive; greed and cunning evident without needing words.

Hearing this made Jiang Jinyue’s face pale instantly.

 

She felt an unprecedented pressure from He Yimo—as if he were a completely different person tonight!

“Just kidding—I’ll get you down now.”

He Yimo sighed before casually drawing an iron sword and slicing through the rope suspending Jiang Jinyue with one swift motion.

 

He had no ulterior motives scaring Jiang Jinyue—just indulging his wicked humor by enjoying seeing the Enchantress flustered and uneasy.

If only he were stronger now—he wouldn’t just be joking with Jiang Jinyue…

“W-wait!”

As the rope snapped—Jiang Jinyue realized another serious problem.

She was still hogtied with thick ropes!

 

Had she known He Yimo would act so quickly—she would’ve hypnotized him beforehand with illusions…

Now falling from midair left no time for illusions…

 

To break free from these ropes required revealing her true fox demon form…

 

But revealing that would expose her identity to He Yimo—and killing him afterward would become troublesome due to Mo Yuyan’s protective token!

Yet if she didn’t break free—she’d crash onto the ground next…

In desperation—Jiang Jinyue could only grit her teeth and close her eyes…

 

She’d rather hit the ground than expose herself before He Yimo—triggering Mo Yuyan’s protection mechanism would ruin years of effort building influence within Wuji Sect!

Thud—!

With a dull thud—Jiang Jinyue landed softly into an embrace…

 

Opening her eyes—she met He Yimo’s deadpan gaze…

Though surprised by his princess carry—there was no blush or heartbeat; only indifference…

 

Come on…

I’m Jiang Jinyue—the beloved junior sister at Wuji Sect—does holding me really disgust you that much?

Jiang Jinyue wanted to retort but couldn’t find words; she lay obediently in his arms until he set her down gently before cutting away her ropes…

“Senior Sister Jiang—why is your face red?”

He Yimo severed the last rope—looking at her flushed face with an intriguing gaze…

 

“Is it…”

Still dazed by events—Jiang Jinyue blinked blankly…

But then He Yimo teased: “Could it be you’ve fallen for me?”

“——!”

At those words—all thoughts vanished from Jiang Jinyue’s mind…

 

Her peach blossom eyes cleared significantly as she pouted slightly at him…

But she didn’t deny it; instead dusting herself off while pointing towards a nearby stream to change topics—

“Thanks for helping me out earlier.”

“My clothes got dirty—would you mind accompanying me to wash up by that stream?”

“……”

Hearing this froze He Yimo’s playful smile…

 

As his schadenfreude faded away—he faced another problem: being alone with this Enchantress in a secluded forest!

“You go ahead—I don’t think it’s appropriate for me as a guy; I’ll wait here.”

He stood calmly hands behind back closing eyes like gentlemanly figure…

In truth though—he planned escaping while she washed up by stream…

 

After all now freed from bindings staying longer meant risking falling into disadvantage again…

Who knew if she’d use illusions again?

 

“What are you thinking! I’m not bathing naked—just washing dirt off my face!”

She covered mouth giggling sweetly while grabbing onto his arm swiftly…

Trying pulling away failed as she clung tightly onto him…

 

Under moonlight—the girl looked pitifully cute like little girlfriend…

 

But in He Yimo’s eyes—Jiang Jinyue definitely had ulterior motives; determined not letting go tonight!

 

“You’re right—it is late at night; I worry about your safety alone.”

He forced smile pretending concern…

 

From moment encountering Jiang Jinyue tonight—he knew fate had trapped him… Running away would arouse suspicion; helping would entangle further… As she’d once said about fate that night—no matter what he did tonight there was no escaping Jiang Jinyue!

“Thank you then; let’s chat while we walk~”

She pulled him along warmly since being rescued seemed even more gentle and affectionate now…

If anyone else saw—they might think she’d fallen for him…

 

But He Yimo knew better than anyone what lay beneath this fox spirit’s facade!

Reaching streamside—Jiang Jinyue crouched down washing face clean removing dirt along with bloodstains from earlier iron ball hit…

He crouched beside feigning curiosity asking:

“So why were you hanging there so late at night?”

“I-I was…”

Turning back towards him—the reason for coming here flashed through mind making enchanting eyes blink rapidly…

 

She couldn’t admit following prophecy into back mountain secret realm searching for nine-colored deer imprisoned by Gu Wanglan right?

 

After brief thought—she deflected question back:

“But why are YOU here? If I recall correctly—isn’t it forbidden for disciples below Foundation Establishment stage entering back mountain secret realm?”

 

“Well, shamefully lost my way…”

Scratching head—the answer slipped out naturally…

 

Having observed long enough from bushes earlier prepared lies well beforehand anticipating possible questions from Jiang Jinyue…

“Last night after watching entrance exam—I wanted explore Wuji Sect familiarizing myself with future surroundings…”

“But after visiting Pill Pavilion and Blacksmith Shop—I somehow got lost wandering through bamboo forest…”

“Hearing strange noises nearby thought maybe wild boars—but found you hanging instead!”

By end—even he struggled maintaining composure without laughing aloud…

 

“Seems like wild boars really are unavoidable topic tonight?”

Listening quietly by streamside—but hearing mention again made veins pop on previously composed face…

Clenching small fists tightly yet unable fault anything said despite irritation rising within chest…

 

Ultimately sighing resignedly:

“Actually—I came because I heard rumor about Wuji Sect…”

She spoke softly sitting down beside stream…

Amidst conversation removing sandals embroidered socks rubbing rope-marked ankles soaking feet into flowing water…

His gaze had been drawn initially towards rippling water around delicate feet submerged within stream…

 

But hearing mention of rumor reminded him of ghost stories Yun Jin shared last night prompting question: “Rumor?”

“Yes.”

Under moonlight—the alluring girl adorned with cherry blossom hairpin glanced back smiling slightly: “Junior Brother Yimo mustn’t know yet having just arrived at Wuji Sect?”

“Would you like hear about rumor concerning back mountain?”

“……”

Expressionless silence fell over him…

 

With atmosphere building like this—it felt like stepping unwittingly into long-winded side quest dialogue within Fallen Immortal game unable skip through lengthy plot once triggered!

Clearly realizing refusal came too late now…

 

“Fine—let’s hear it then.”

“Recently—I heard from disciples guarding mountains…”

Raising finger recalling details vividly while recounting tale:

 

“For past week—in forest depths every midnight eerie cries resembling deer calls echo hauntingly!”

“They say…”

“These cries emanate from dilapidated mountain temple!”

 

“And within temple resides ancient god who once ruled land centuries ago—a deity rumored favoring children… Allegedly these cries aren’t real deer but rather spirit infants’ wails transformed into deer-like sounds…”

“So after hearing rumor—I decided investigate back mountain myself checking truth behind temple and cries.”

“But…”

“Didn’t expect someone setting traps throughout bamboo forest!”

 

Ending tale abruptly dispelling ghost story atmosphere smiling sweetly casting grateful glance towards him: “Luckily Junior Brother saved me—or else I’d be hanging until dawn!”

“Pure coincidence…”

“No way—it means we’re fated!” She blinked playfully full superstition…

“Sorry—I don’t believe in fate.”

He dismissed nonchalantly brushing off sentimentality…

 

In truth still pondering over rumor just shared by Jiang Jinyue…

Because story about mountain temple and cries matched one dungeon he’d come seeking tonight…