3. What’s So Great About Her?

Although He Yimo called Yuan Xinyao “Aunt” due to family hierarchy, in reality, she was only a few years older than him. In the years following his reincarnation, Yuan Xinyao felt more like an older sister whose leg he clung to for support and a mentor who taught him cultivation.

In the original novel Fallen Immortal, Yuan Xinyao barely paid any attention to He Yimo. But now, under her doting care, He Yimo’s life had completely diverged from the original timeline.

The reason? Yuan Xinyao had already given it earlier—ever since seven-year-old He Yimo gifted her the first-place bell, her perception of him had changed entirely. Over time, he became an integral part of her life.

Of course, this also led to situations where Yuan Xinyao would catch him in compromising moments and make him serve her by washing her feet. Even her coming to Pin Feng Lou to bring him home was a ripple effect caused by his reincarnation.

—

“Auntie…”

“I’m not a child anymore.”

“When I was seven, you told me I had talent but was just waiting for the right opportunity. I believed you.”

“When I was ten, I believed the opportunity would come eventually.”

“At thirteen, I still looked up enviously at my older brothers and sisters who were refining their Qi, building their foundations, and even forming their cores… hoping my chance would arrive.”

“But Auntie, I’m sixteen now. The other noble kids my age have already reached Core Formation and are venturing out of the city in teams to hunt demon clans.”

He Yimo spoke with frustration and helplessness.

He knew Yuan Xinyao wasn’t lying about his hidden potential. His mother’s unique background meant he carried demon blood in his veins. One day, if fate allowed, his sealed bloodline might awaken, and he could rise from being a failure.

But the problem was whether He Yimo could survive until that day.

In the original story, he didn’t live long enough to see that opportunity. Now reincarnated as a cannon-fodder character, He Yimo trusted his knowledge of Fallen Immortal’s plot far more than any so-called destiny.

—

“Alright…”

“So you really don’t want to go to Wuji Sect.” Yuan Xinyao sighed as her phoenix eyes lowered slightly.

But in truth, she was acting.

Her concern for He Yimo was genuine, but her disappointment and regret were entirely feigned. From the moment He Yimo expressed his reluctance, she couldn’t hide the slight curve of joy at the corners of her lips.

After all, this meant He Yimo could stay by her side!

She could drag him along for shopping trips, make him her dining companion, or even have him pretend to be her boyfriend to fend off those annoying suitors arranged by the family elders…

Sometimes, when He Yimo got caught doing something mischievous, she could use it as leverage to make him obediently serve her tea or wash her feet.

Over the years they spent together, He Yimo had become an inseparable part of Yuan Xinyao’s life!

The thought of him going to an immortal sect and being bullied by others genuinely upset her. At least in the Grand Tutor’s residence, she could protect him. At most, people might gossip behind his back but wouldn’t dare push their luck too far.

When the elders decided on sending He Yimo to Wuji Sect, Yuan Xinyao had wanted to argue against it. But she calmed herself and refrained from letting her personal feelings get in the way of what could be a valuable opportunity for him.

She had always assumed that He Yimo’s pride would drive him to prove himself one day. After all these years of being labeled “the useless seventh young master,” surely he would jump at the chance to change his fate!

But instead, He Yimo didn’t want to go at all!

This suited Yuan Xinyao perfectly!

—

“If you ask me, those elders at Wuji Sect aren’t necessarily better teachers than Auntie…” Seeing that his aunt’s resolve was softening, He Yimo quickly adopted a gentle tone and added with admiration: “At least those aloof cultivators won’t be as kind and patient as you. All these years, everyone else has looked down on me, but only Auntie has never given up on this so-called cultivation failure!”

His words were filled with affection. Under the quiet moonlight, it seemed as though Yuan Xinyao was the only family member he could truly rely on.

If he were still eight or nine years old, he might have clung to her leg and cried for comfort.

But now that he was sixteen, He Yimo retained a shred of masculine pride.

This was enough to deeply move Yuan Xinyao.

Her phoenix eyes shimmered with golden light under the moon as she bit her lip softly, overwhelmed by emotion. Unable to contain herself any longer, she lifted her jade leg adorned with the phoenix-patterned tattoo and kicked the peach tree with force—

“Exactly!!”

“Those stinking cultivators from Wuji Sect—what’s so great about them?”

“In my opinion, those blind elders in our residence are the real fools! I’ve been teaching you cultivation since you were little, yet they decided to send you off to some immortal sect without even consulting me first!”

“It pisses me off! They’re just a bunch of self-righteous old geezers!”

“He Yimo! Am I right or not?”

She gritted her teeth in anger as her phoenix eyes gleamed with unprecedented fury under the moonlight.

He Yimo was startled by this sudden outburst.

He couldn’t understand why Yuan Xinyao had suddenly lost her composure and started yelling so loudly.

In his memory, Yuan Xinyao always acted sweet and innocent in front of the family elders. She only revealed her mischievous side when teasing him with a playful smirk.

But this dark and resentful version of her—he hadn’t even seen it in his past life while playing Fallen Immortal!

—

“And another thing!”

“That woman named Mo Yuyan—what’s so great about her? She’s cold and emotionless, sitting there like an ice block with a face that looks like everyone owes her money!”

“She hasn’t even met my nephew yet! Just based on hearsay, she dares to call you a playboy? What kind of righteous fairy is that? All these so-called righteous human cultivators are just snobs who look down on others!”

“He Yimo!”

“Don’t you think so too?”

After venting all her grievances, Yuan Xinyao finally turned to look at He Yimo.

He had been completely dumbfounded by her rant.

But when his aunt directed her question at him in such a heated moment, he had no choice but to nod repeatedly in agreement.

“Yes, yes! Auntie is absolutely right… but maybe we could lower our voices just a bit…”

He tugged at Yuan Xinyao’s hand and whispered nervously into her ear.

From the moment she yelled “stinking cultivators,” He Yimo had been sweating bullets.

Her voice was way too loud!

The guest rooms of the Grand Tutor’s residence were just next door!

And most likely staying there was none other than Wuji Sect’s senior disciple—Mo Yuyan herself.

If she overheard this… He Yimo was sure he’d be blacklisted for life!

—

“Afraid of what?”

“Are you scared of those stinking cultivators too?”

“They were the ones badmouthing you in front of everyone earlier today!”

“If it weren’t for not wanting to ruin your chance at an immortal sect, I wouldn’t have tolerated those stinking cultivators for even a second!”

Yuan Xinyao had been holding back all day for He Yimo’s sake. But now that she knew he didn’t want to go to Wuji Sect anyway, she felt free to vent all her pent-up frustrations.

The problem was… He Yimo was panicking!

Despite all his precautions since reincarnating, he never expected to offend Mo Yuyan in such a roundabout way!

Don’t be fooled by her cold elegance—when provoked, that fairy could turn into a merciless killer without batting an eye!

—