Chapter 48: Don’t Even Mention Him, It’s Soo Annoying!

“Ah… Achooo!”

Walking along the bustling main road of the Wuji Sect, thronged with disciples coming and going, He Yimo suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. “Shhhiiiiiver…!”

“Yun Jin! Hey! Wait up!” he called out, grabbing the arm of the girl with the cute ahoge walking ahead. “I-I dunno… I suddenly have this reeeeally bad feeling…” His voice was cautious.

Yun Jin turned, tilting her head with a cute, confused, “Hm~m? Wha’s wrong, Young Master He?”

“Uh… Okay, so… wasn’t Snow Village supposed to be, like, north? A-Are we suuuure we’re going the right way?” He Yimo asked, looking meaningfully towards the imposing Main Hall looming not far off.

But Yun Jin just let out a resigned sigh, “Haaaaah…” Her expression was a little weary.

“Look, we are going to Snow Village, yes, but… Junior Brother, we gotta register at the Immortal Alliance branch in the Main Hall first! Duh! Or else, even if we find the biggest clue ever in Snow Village, pfft! We won’t get any merit points for it!”

“Ehhh… I really don’t think I need those points, though…” The closer they got to the Main Hall, the heavier and more anxious He Yimo felt. Gulp…

Yun Jin sighed again, pulling him along gently but firmly. “Aiiiyahh~! I knooow Young Master He is soooo high and mighty, looking down on these tiny little Alliance rewards… But! These Alliance points matter for, like, future job prospects with all the big cultivation powers! Besides,” she added brightly, “we’re already heeeeeere, aren’t we~?”

“W-Well… Y-Yeah, I guess you’re right…” He Yimo grimaced. But honestly, he couldn’t really come up with a good reason to refuse without looking bad.

Yun Jin holding his hand, the two of them merged with the stream of disciples heading towards the Main Hall.

Today was the day the Immortal Alliance posted the big mission notice, so the entire Hall was practically swarming with young disciples. Some were queuing up to register, others had already signed up and were milling around the lobby trying to form teams or find partners…

He Yimo and Yun Jin joined the very end of a long queue.

Yun Jin, being the designated ‘newbie guide,’ was pretty popular among the younger disciples. Just in the short time they were waiting, several groups came up asking her to team up. But each time, Yun Jin politely refused, using the ever-present “He Yimo” beside her as her convenient excuse. “Heehee~ Sorry, I’m already with him~”

Instantly, dozens of curious, envious, and frankly judgmental eyes zeroed in on He Yimo. It made him, the cannon fodder villain who usually preferred blending into the background, feel super socially awkward. “Gaaaah!

“My head’s pounding…” he muttered internally. “Is it ’cause I held hands with Yun Jin just now? Why’s my heart beating sooo fast? Both my eyelids are twitching too… ugh… this is baad…” He frowned, anxiety coiling in his stomach.

But just as he lowered his gaze, trying to look inconspicuous, a flash of cherry red in a corner of the hall snagged his peripheral vision—a disturbingly familiar, enchanting silhouette.

“Fffffff—dge!” He Yimo swore under his breath. “Okay! Found the reason my heart’s trying to escape my chest! DAMN IT!”

Just like that accursed night in the bamboo forest, seeing her again after several days triggered an immediate, instinctive reaction of pure dread. Panic! He quickly snapped his gaze away, look anywhere else, anywhere else! But fate, that twisted bitch, really seemed to enjoy messing with him.

It felt like mere seconds passed. The cherry-red ponytail girl, who’d been laughing and chatting with a few other young disciples (including, ugh, Chen Jianxin), suddenly seemed to sense something—WHIP!—her head snapped around, her startlingly intense gaze locking onto He Yimo’s desperate attempt to look away.

Crap.

He Yimo jammed his hands into his pockets, jerking his head pointedly in the other direction, whistling nonchalantly (or trying to). “Nothing to see here, folks~”

Instantly, a devilish little grin spread across Jiang Jinyue’s lips, revealing tiny, sharp canines. She completely ditched Chen Jianxin mid-sentence (“Yeah, whatever you were saying, boring~”), and started sauntering—no, stalking—straight towards He Yimo.

“He Yi-mo-jiiii~!” Her voice dripped with playful menace. (“There~ You~ Are~!”) “This Miss finally waited long enough fooor you~♡!” Hmph! She gave a little huff, biting her lower lip lightly, her cute face contorting into a distinctly mischievous, almost predatory smirk.

She wasn’t just walking—she broke into a run, heading right for him!

“Noooooo… Are you kidding me?! What kinda freaking auto-targeting system does she HAVE?!” He Yimo felt a wave of cold dread wash over him. He risked a tiny, cautious peek over his shoulder.

Bad! Idea!

His eyes met hers, and it felt like time froze—or maybe sped up into terrifying hyperdrive. The enchanting fox girl who’d been chilling in the corner just moments ago now looked like she had laser beams shooting from her eyes, hurtling towards him like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey. “AIIIEEEEE!”

“Uh! Y-Yun Jin! You hold our spot, okay?! I—I suddenly really need the little boys’ room! Like, right now!” He Yimo stammered, desperately trying to fabricate an escape.

But just as he tried to bolt, Yun Jin grabbed his arm firmly, her voice soothing and gentle, but damn it, unwavering. “Aiyaaa~! C’mon, Young Master, can’t you just hold it a teeeensy bit longer~? We’re almost at the front!”

“No, I really gotta go! It’s an emerge—oof!”

“Eeh? Junior Brother Yimo,” Yun Jin suddenly tilted her head, pointing. “Look! Over there! Isn’t that a really pretty girl in a red dress… calling your name?”

“Gulp… N-No… I think… Pretty sure she’s got the wrong guy…” He Yimo insisted weakly, feeling sweat prickle his forehead.

“Huh? Junior Brother Yimo, why are you sweating so much? Are you okay?” Yun Jin’s expression shifted to genuine concern, her innocent round face furrowed with confusion. “Maybe… maybe if you really have to go that badly, y-you should go ahead…?”

He Yimo let out a long, suffering sigh, pressing his palm to his forehead. “Haaaaaaahhh… Forget it. It’s… it’s too late…”

“Eh? …Wait… T-Too late for… what?” Yun Jin’s eyes widened. Her gaze flickered downwards towards He Yimo’s… uh, groin area… and an adorable blush instantly bloomed on her cheeks. “O-Oh no…!”

She froze, completely unsure how to react, looking utterly flustered. But before she could process anything further—WHOOSH!—a red-clad figure burst out of the crowd, and the next second—THUMP!—launched herself at He Yimo, grabbing him firmly.

“Junior Brother Yimo~! Goood Morning~! ♡♡♡” the girl chirped, her smile radiating pure, unfiltered energy. She gave his shoulder a hearty slap.

“Seriously~! You got here but didn’t even say hiiii?!” she pouted playfully. “Don’t stand here queuing like a loser! This Little Sister was sooo thoughtful, I came super early this morning and registered for you already~♡!”

Jiang Jinyue’s peach-blossom eyes were practically sparkling, curved into sweet crescent moons. She tilted her chin up proudly, puffing out her chest slightly, clearly expecting lavish praise for her magnificent good deed. If she were in her fox form right now, her tail would definitely be wagging uncontrollably.

He Yimo, however, felt zero joy.

He gave Jiang Jinyue a deeply suspicious head-to-toe scan. But… damn it… as his eyes traveled down, they inevitably got snagged by those legs—smooth, pale skin squeezed enticingly by the tops of white, over-the-knee stockings. Guh…

This depressingly familiar scenario, combined with the involuntary leg-staring… it gave He Yimo a profound sense of déjà vu, like his fate was cruelly, irrevocably pre-ordained. Sigh…

“Jiang… Jin… Yue…” He Yimo forced the words out through gritted teeth, his lips barely moving. “Thank… you… so… much.”

“No need to thank meeee~! Teehee~♡ Aren’t we the bestest friends in the whole wide world? We faced life and death together, remember~?!” Jiang Jinyue batted her enchanting eyelashes, eyes gleaming. Compared to her usual sly, scheming smirk, her expression now held more genuine, pure excitement and anticipation for the unknown adventure ahead.

She giggled, then, meeting He Yimo’s conflicted gaze head-on, she deliberately lifted her skirt just enough to prominently display the expanse of thigh above the stocking, the ‘absolute territory’ squeezed by the white silk.

Hmph~♡ Jiang Jinyue let out a soft, smug little hum. Leaning forward, she reached out, tilting He Yimo’s mesmerized chin up with one delicate finger. Those peach-blossom eyes swirled with faint, hypnotic crimson patterns. “Who knew~? Turns out Benefactor doesn’t only like black… Looks like white can whet Benefactor’s appetite just fine too~♡”

(Meanwhile, on the second-floor balcony overlooking the Main Hall…)

“Tsk. Ridiculous.”

“That idiotic fox…” the white-haired fairy muttered, her cold eyes narrowed in confusion. Her expression flickered between disdain and weary resignation. “Is SHE the one using enchantment arts on He Yimo, or is HE the one who bewitched HER? Why does she act completely mesmerized EVERY single time she sees him?!”

Ever since the ‘Organization’ sent Jiang Jinyue to the Wuji Sect from the Western Regions, Mu Yanran had worked with her on missions before. This wasn’t their first rodeo.

But…

Normally, Jiang Jinyue was ruthlessly efficient. Her illusions hit hard and fast, her methods clean and decisive. She treated everyone—man, woman, old, young—with the same mocking amusement, never wasting breath on pleasantries.

Except… this time. For some unfathomable reason, the usually sharp and decisive Heavenly Fox Maiden was utterly fixated on this… this small fry, this cannon fodder destined to die according to the prophecy!

So what if he got lucky and dodged fate once? The prophecy said he’d die, it was just a matter of a few more days anyway! What could Jiang Jinyue possibly see in him? What’s the appeal?!

She just had to chat him up during the entrance exams…

She just had to drag him along when searching the mountain temple…

And now, at this critical juncture with the 【Snow Village Mission】, Jiang Jinyue had once again completely forgotten her own objectives the instant He Yimo appeared, her entire focus immediately sucked towards him!

“Is she part puppy or something?!” Mu Yanran grumbled under her breath. “Smells her owner from a mile away and instantly runs over wagging her tail? Pathetic!”

“How did such a foolish fox become one of the Heavenly Emissary’s trusted agents?! Honestly!”

“Does she even KNOW who the TRUE Child of Destiny is in this prophecy?! Ugh!”

The more the white-haired fairy thought about it, the worse her headache became. Siiiiigh… She felt like her hair was turning whiter by the second from sheer stress (even though it was already pretty darn white).

“Fiiine. Whatever. I’ve already contacted the people from the Miyue Sect anyway. I wasn’t really counting on her to begin with.”

With that thought, a sharp, cold light flashed in the fairy’s eyes. Done wasting her time observing the infatuated, foolish fox, she turned and strode away from the balcony, leaving the Main Hall and heading directly towards the path leading out of the sect—towards Snow Village.

“Yuyan?”

“Ah—Yes, Senior Sister Mu.”

Mu Yanran paused just outside the main entrance, her eyes meeting the black-clad fairy approaching from the opposite direction.

“Well, well… Over all these years, aside from obligatory missions from Master or the Sect elders, it’s certainly a rare sight to see our infamous homebody, Junior Sister Yuyan, willingly stepping outside…” The white-haired fairy arched a delicate eyebrow, her tone teasing, but her eyes held a softer, genuine concern for her introverted junior sister.

Mo Yuyan’s beautiful face remained cool and impassive, her gaze lowered slighty. “Hmph. Actually… Yuyan was thinking of taking a look at Snow Village this time…” she admitted quietly.

As she spoke, she glanced back into the bustling Main Hall, instinctively searching for a certain troublesome youth… only for her eyes to land squarely on the sight of a certain Mr. He currently (ahem) fondling a certain girl’s white-stockinged thigh.

Instantly, whatever Mo Yuyan was about to say next died on her lips. The faint hint of a smile on her face froze, becoming stiff and unnatural. Twitch.

“Snow Village?” Mu Yanran repeated, still looking puzzled. “Whatever possessed Junior Sister to develop an interest in such a desolate, remote place?”

But Mo Yuyan wasn’t really listening anymore. Her expression had darkened considerably, her cheeks puffing out slightly in clear annoyance, her voice turning cold and sharp. “Ugh! Don’t even mention it! Just thinking about that little pervert Master insisted I take as a disciple makes me so annoyed I could spit!”

“L-Little… pervert?” Mu Yanran echoed, blinking in surprise.