Chapter 7: What Could He Possibly Understand?

 

After successfully bidding farewell to Mo Yuyan, He Yimo finally felt relieved tonight.

He had reached a betting agreement with Mo Yuyan.

By tomorrow, He Yimo just needed to admit defeat, making everyone think he offended Mo Yuyan, thus avoiding the two death routes in the original story.

“What a perfect plan.”

Walking through the alleys of the Grand Tutor’s residence, He Yimo snapped his fingers and hummed a hometown tune.

Under the agreed peach tree, he saw the long-waiting Lingyuan girl. (tln : lingyuan mean phoenix)

Yuan Xinyao was kicking a shuttlecock under the tree, her golden phoenix-patterned legs glowing in the moonlight, and the red string bells on her jade feet jingling.

“As expected of a Lingyuan in human form…”

“After all these years, she still likes to play with her feet.”

“And she’s been playing with that shuttlecock for seven or eight years, could it be made from her own feathers?”

He Yimo watched from afar, feeling nostalgic.

When he was young, he often hugged his aunt’s long white legs.

 

Back then, he was just a little kid, couldn’t even reach his aunt’s waist, so when Yuan Xinyao taught him martial arts, she didn’t need to use her hands, just moving her legs could easily trip He Yimo.

It was nothing at first, but as they grew closer, Yuan Xinyao developed an interest in teasing He Yimo.

In his memory, his aunt would always lean against the bed, her white phoenix-patterned legs crossed, smiling and telling He Yimo that she didn’t need her hands, just her legs, and if He Yimo could touch her upper body, he would win.

And the loser had to obey one command from the winner at night.

This competition was under Yuan Xinyao’s control from the start.

Although He Yimo was a reincarnator, he was only seven years old, naive, and didn’t understand the world’s power differences. A few words from his aunt made him think he had a chance and he agreed.

As a result, he couldn’t even beat his aunt’s feet.

Yuan Xinyao would always lie on the bed defenselessly, creating an illusion that He Yimo could easily touch her, then suddenly sweep her leg to trip He Yimo when he pounced, wrapping her white silk jade foot around his neck, completing the chokehold easily.

Afterward, she would retract her leg, pulling He Yimo under her, clamping his head with her thighs, and teasingly pinching his little face, asking if his aunt was amazing, if he admitted defeat.

He Yimo was a rebellious kid from the start.

Even with his face clamped by his aunt’s legs, he would still stretch his neck and shout for a rematch.

But as they played, she always made him lose, and He Yimo gradually went from stubborn to a little face full of grievance.

Later, Yuan Xinyao noticed that even in daily life, her nephew’s gaze at her became more introverted.

Yuan Xinyao suddenly felt guilty.

She originally found her nephew cute and interesting, so she teased him, but if it was always her one-sided crushing and teasing, how was she different from those bad kids bullying He Yimo outside?

So, Yuan Xinyao gradually learned some tricks to coax children.

When He Yimo was stubborn, she would continue to tease him.

 

But if she saw He Yimo pouting, his little face gradually showing helplessness and despair, Yuan Xinyao knew her nephew’s confidence was about to be shattered, and she would secretly let him win occasionally, helping him regain the confidence a sunny and cheerful little boy should have.

Then, when He Yimo finally pounced into her arms after much effort, Yuan Xinyao would lift him up, rub his little face, and praise him as her talented disciple.

Such words might be childish to adults, but they were just right for seven-year-old He Yimo.

He was super happy, even more diligent in learning martial arts from his aunt.

In this world, who hasn’t fantasized about having an innate immortal body, being talented from a young age, and growing up to be an immortal hero?

But as he grew older, He Yimo’s understanding of this world became clearer. He deduced his aunt’s demon clan identity from the golden phoenix pattern on her jade legs and realized the harsh reality that he was a cannon fodder villain in “Fallen Immortal” from the details in the Grand Tutor’s residence.

Since then, whether Yuan Xinyao teased or coaxed him, He Yimo just smiled it off.

 

After all, he was mature-minded, no longer the easily fooled child.

Just like now, watching the girl kicking the shuttlecock under the moon, He Yimo no longer had the naive competitiveness and dependence from his childhood.

He knew the vast difference between him and Yuan Xinyao.

 

If not for He Yimo having memories of his past life, being sensible from a young age, likable, and knowing how to cling to his aunt…

Otherwise, as a useless and wasteful seventh son, he would never be worthy of Yuan Xinyao’s gentle pampering.

“Why did it take so long?”

“Did that woman named Mo Yuyan do something to you?”

 

Under the moonlit peach tree, Yuan Xinyao saw He Yimo approaching, put away the shuttlecock, and came forward to inquire.

She observed carefully, tiptoeing, her pure face close to He Yimo’s, examining his skin, not missing a single detail, as if afraid her only obedient nephew, raised from childhood, was bullied by Mo Yuyan.

“She didn’t do anything to me…”

He Yimo shook his head.

 

He briefly gathered his emotions, then spread his hands helplessly: “I offended the fairy myself, but going to the Wuji Sect is probably off the table. At most, the elders will know tomorrow and give me a beating, but it’s no big deal.”

“Did she scold you?”

“Is it because I scolded her, and she took it out on you?”

 

Yuan Xinyao’s phoenix eyes suddenly turned cold and resentful.

At the same time, He Yimo felt a chill of pressure.

 

He quickly waved his hand to clear the misunderstanding:

“No, no, it’s not related to you, aunt. Mainly, I’m too useless. The fairy looked down on me, said I lacked the talent and physique, not meeting the Wuji Sect’s standards…”

“Then, I got upset and argued with her.”

He Yimo tried to take all the blame.

 

After all, during the chess game in the courtyard, Mo Yuyan treated him well, and the legendary sword master senior sister wasn’t as aloof and unapproachable as He Yimo remembered from his past life.

Mo Yuyan was patient, so He Yimo should honor the bet.

But even so, Yuan Xinyao’s light golden phoenix eyes still showed some anger.

 

“She must have heard me scold her, so she deliberately said harsh words to humiliate you!”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got, puffing her cheeks, ready to confront Mo Yuyan and clear up the day’s grievances.

Seeing this, He Yimo quickly grabbed the girl’s arm:

“Aunt, please don’t say more. The fairy was just stating facts. I’m a cultivation waste, with a bad reputation in the mortal world…”

“It’s normal for the dignified Wuji Sect senior sister not to want to take me to the mountain and tarnish the Wuji Sect’s reputation.”

His words fell, and Yuan Xinyao fell silent.

 

She stared at He Yimo’s eyes, lightly biting her red lips, finally unable to bear it, shaking off He Yimo’s hand that wanted to settle things peacefully:

“He Yimo, you’re not a waste!!!”

Her voice suddenly rose several decibels.

 

The girl’s phoenix eyes sparkled, and as the anger passed, her cherry-red eyes showed a hint of tearful grievance and unwillingness:

“It’s one thing for outsiders to talk nonsense, but He Yimo, you can’t put these self-deprecating words on your lips!”

“You’re not the waste they say.”

“You’ll always be the genius boy who won first place in Luo City’s martial arts in my heart!”

She was almost crying, as if no one in the world believed her.

 

What truly saddened her was that even He Yimo thought she was coaxing him.

But Yuan Xinyao’s words were all sincere.

The entire peach orchard fell silent.

 

He Yimo was a bit flattered, but he ultimately couldn’t confess to her.

He was touched that in his most down-and-out time, his aunt unconditionally favored him.

 

He Yimo couldn’t repay her, so he silently hugged her. The girl’s body trembled slightly but didn’t break free. She buried her face in He Yimo’s chest, sobbing softly, gradually calming down.

“Aunt always said I was competitive, that’s why she coaxed me when I was young.”

“But now, I don’t care about outsiders’ opinions, yet aunt is more upset than I am.”

“Whose competitiveness is stronger?”

He recalled childhood memories, finding the scene before him so familiar.

 

When he was bullied, he also cried in his aunt’s arms like this.

But now, the roles were reversed.

 

If someone insulted his aunt in front of him, He Yimo wouldn’t swallow his pride either.

“But their words are so harsh, didn’t Mo Yuyan look at you with that kind of gaze?”

Yuan Xinyao’s voice was still choked.

 

She was sensitive to those condescending, disdainful gazes towards lower-class people.

And Mo Yuyan was like that during the day.

 

The more Yuan Xinyao recalled, the more heartbroken she felt. She didn’t want her childhood shadow to make her beloved nephew experience it again.

But she was powerless to change the situation, so she could only hold the boy in her arms tighter.

 

“Alright, alright.”

He Yimo helplessly comforted the girl in his arms.

Although his aunt’s tears were touching, He Yimo now felt a bit guilty.

 

He certainly remembered Mo Yuyan’s disdainful expression when she first saw him.

 

But… that was the path he chose.

For years, playing the role of a “wasteful playboy,” He Yimo was used to being coldly treated by those around him.

He thought that as he grew older, his aunt would gradually distance herself. But now, everyone else alienated He Yimo, except Yuan Xinyao, who favored him more than when he was a child.

Sometimes, her favoritism was regardless of right or wrong, purely protective.

 

He Yimo could only persuade his aunt to calm down. If he really let her confront Mo Yuyan, it would only make He Yimo’s side more unreasonable.

“No matter how Mo Yuyan evaluates us, isn’t our ultimate goal to stay in the Grand Tutor’s residence?”

“Now it’s pretty good. Offending Mo Yuyan tonight, even if the elders apologize tomorrow, she definitely won’t take me to the Wuji Sect.”

He Yimo’s gentle whispers in the girl’s ear were reminiscent of his aunt coaxing him in childhood.

Gradually, Yuan Xinyao stopped sobbing.

She suddenly calmed down, broke free from He Yimo’s embrace, and took two steps back. Her turned red side face made it hard for He Yimo to see her expression—

“Let’s forget about tonight.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to explain things to the elders.”

“Originally, it was those Wuji Sect cultivators who looked down on us, why should we suffer in silence?”

“By then, you stand behind me, and I’ll see who dares to touch a hair on you!”

 

She turned her face, rubbed her eyes, her voice not loud but exceptionally firm.

After tidying her appearance, Yuan Xinyao turned around, a bit unsure, muttering softly: “And also, you can’t tell anyone about what just happened! Otherwise, the elders will misunderstand!”

 

“Misunderstand what?”

He Yimo feigned ignorance, blinking.

But his puzzled gaze made the girl’s blush spread to her ears.

 

Yuan Xinyao felt wronged, wanting to get angry, clenching her fists to hit him, but every time she saw the boy’s innocent expression, she was speechless.

After all, He Yimo was just a sheltered young master, raised in ignorance by the elders, never even holding another girl’s hand! Even when He Yimo later learned to go out for fun, he was always monitored by her people, only daring to drink tea, not daring to touch women…

He didn’t even have a girl he liked, he didn’t dare touch the dancers sent to him, Yuan Xinyao had to lift her leg to his hand.

What could he possibly understand?

Thinking of this, Yuan Xinyao lightly bit her red lips, hiding the unspeakable blush in her heart forever.

“No… it was nothing, I was just overthinking.”

“Alright, it’s late! You idiot, go back and rest!”

She pushed He Yimo’s back, urging him to go home and sleep.

Watching He Yimo leave, the blush on Yuan Xinyao’s face gradually faded.

She leaned against the peach tree, her phoenix eyes gazing at the full moon above, her jade hand clutching her skirt hem, struggling for a long time.

After a long silence.

The girl suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly.

She took a mask from her leg ring, gracefully stepping under the moon with her jade leg, a playful curve on her cherry lips under the spirit fox mask:

“That’s right.”

“What am I worried about? He’s just a little fool who obediently follows even when deceived.”

……

……

……

In the hazy night, clouds veiled the moon.

With a cherry-red shadow flickering, the red-tailed spirit fox transformed into a red-dressed girl, lightly standing on the Grand Tutor residence’s beam.

Her blood-red eyes scanned the surroundings, finally locking onto a boy who had just fallen asleep through the window.

“Grand Tutor’s  seventh son, He Yimo.”

“What a pity for such a good-looking face~”

“Let me think, how can I make your sacrifice in this boring and clichéd cannon fodder role more valuable?”

Her red lips curled up, her charming eyes reflecting a playful demonic light.