Chapter 79: Good Girls Shouldn’t Be Betrayed; Bad Girls Shouldn’t Be Wasted.

“So…” Yun Jin began hesitantly, glancing back at the rapidly receding lights of Northfall Snow Mountain as Wangxue  carried them swiftly through the night. “Are we… Are we really just changing plans like this? Shouldn’t we… you know… tell Senior Sister Mo Yuyan or something first?”

Riding on the little flying deer, there was a strange, unnamable thrill mixed with a definite knot of anxiety in her stomach. It felt like she, a good, rule-abiding student her whole life, had just been easily convinced to skip school by the roguish bad boy on a motorcycle.

“Nah, don’t worry about it.” He Yimo said coolly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “At Wangxue’s travel speed, it won’t even take two days. We’ll crash in Xizhou City tonight, probably be back at the sect by tomorrow on time.”

Ahead of them, the sprawling, brightly lit metropolis of Xizhou City was already coming into view, a stark contrast to the darkened, sleepy mountain villages. Big cities were just different. While Northfall Mountain was already asleep, Xizhou City’s nightlife was just kicking off.

Being on the frontier of the Western Regions, far from the central government’s direct control, Xizhou City had a noticeably more chaotic, less orderly vibe. Vagrants and cultivators from various sects milled about the streets, their diverse attire a testament to the city’s cosmopolitan nature. Towering, opulent casinos and lavishly decorated brothels cast a decadent glow, starkly contrasting with the grittier undercurrent of the bustling streets.

“Stay close to me once we land,” He Yimo instructed as Wangxue began her descent on the outskirts of the city. He scanned the passing figures in their varied Western Region attire. “Don’t want you getting snatched by some street ruffian.”

Before he even finished speaking, Yun Jin, without a hint of her previous hesitation, reached out and firmly took his hand. He Yimo glanced at their joined hands, but Yun Jin just nodded earnestly, her expression serious. At least when it came to hand-holding, she’d gotten completely used to it, the initial blushing shyness long gone.

“Wangxue, if you’re tired, you can head back in and rest now,” He Yimo said suddenly as they approached the city gates.

The little deer girl beside him immediately perked up, throwing her hands in the air. “Wangxue isn’t tired at ALL! Let’s go exploring!”

“No, I think you’re tired.”

“Eh?”

Before Wangxue could argue, He Yimo swiftly summoned the golden Sacred Mark on his right hand and, with a flash of light, recalled her into the seal, just moments before the city gate guards might have noticed an undocumented little girl with antlers.

Being sealed away so abruptly, Wangxue immediately started her muffled, indignant `Meeeeeeh!` protests in He Yimo’s mind.

“Silly roe deer!” He Yimo chided her internally, once again resorting to his tried-and-true method of gentle fear-mongering. “What if those guards decided to inspect you? Found out you’re a little girl with no papers, no background? They’d toss you in the dungeon, you know!”

As he finished his internal warning, he and Yun Jin calmly walked through the city gates. The few guards stationed there barely gave them a passing glance, certainly not asking for any identification. That was just how it was in a remote border city like Xizhou. As a major hub connecting the Western Regions to the Central Plains, thousands passed through daily; there was no way the handful of guards could check everyone. Now, if you wanted to pass beyond Xizhou City and enter the core territories of the Central Plains… that’s when the rigorous checks would begin.

`He Yimooooo! You lied to me AGAIN!` Wangxue fumed in his mind. `Those guards didn’t check ANYTHING!`

“I didn’t lie,” He Yimo retorted smoothly. “That’s because we’re human. You, on the other hand, are just a poor, pitiful, silly little deer… Even if you take human form, the boundary field around Xizhou City would see right through your disguise, detect you as a little demon, and then they’d snatch you away.”

`Oh… Um… In that case… Wangxue is feeling a little sleepy all of a sudden… G’night, Master… Zzzzz…` The little deer deflated instantly, thoroughly convinced (and slightly terrified) by He Yimo’s BS. She had no idea that a thriving demon (yao) population was actually one of Xizhou City’s defining characteristics. Past this point, cities in the Central Plains were generally far less welcoming to non-humans.

“Yimooo! I want to eat that!” Yun Jin exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement as they strolled down the lantern-lit main street. The dazzling array of night market snacks had completely captured her attention. As a city on the border of East and West, Xizhou boasted authentic Western Region delicacies alongside a huge variety of traditional Xia-dynasty street foods. Having grown up in the isolated Northfall Snow Village, Yun Jin was naturally fascinated by all the novelties of a big city.

“Bear with it for moment,” He Yimo advised. “Let’s see if Little Aunt’s paper cranes can score us a proper dinner at our destination. If they can, we’ll feast like kings. If Little Aunt’s ‘face’ isn’t even worth a free meal… then we’ll come back here and spend our own money on street food.” He casually jingled the bottle of paper cranes, his tone practical.

Hearing the promise of a potential grand feast, Yun Jin nodded obediently, her gaze on the bottle of cranes now filled with even greater anticipation.

They navigated through the bustling, crowded night market, the cacophony of sounds and smells a vibrant assault on the senses, until He Yimo finally stopped before a building that looked like a rather upscale tavern – the Immortal Alliance Tavern his Little Aunt had mentioned.

Truth be told, He Yimo remembered this place well from his mid-game adventures in his previous life. “Tavern” was a bit of a misnomer; it was actually the Immortal Alliance’s Xizhou City branch, cleverly disguised to blend in with the local atmosphere. In game terms, it was basically the quest hub for all Western Region-related missions.

And as for the “girl named Jinyu” his Little Aunt had mentioned…? Heh. Wasn’t that just the standard NPC receptionist, the ‘poster girl’ who always stood behind the counter greeting players with her programmed lines?

“Welcome, esteemed cultivators! Welcome to the Immortal Alliance Tavern!”

As He Yimo pushed open the tavern door, the familiar, slightly cheesy greeting echoed from within. The tavern was only a single story, not particularly large, feeling more like a cozy coffee shop from his past life than a rowdy drinking den. Still, it was an official Immortal Alliance establishment, a far cry from the decadent, morally questionable ‘pleasure houses’ like the Fallen Immortal Pavilion or Xuanfeng Pavilion.

It was late when He Yimo and Yun Jin entered, so there weren’t many cultivators drinking at the bar. Most sensible cultivators, after a long, hard day of… cultivating… wouldn’t choose a stuffy, official place like an Immortal Alliance branch for their evening relaxation. Not when the Drunken Immortal House and Xuanfeng Pavilion next door were engaged in a fierce price war, offering ‘VIP drink card’ deals that included a ‘complimentary Western Region beauty essential oil back rub’ on the second floor. Who could resist that kind of an offer?

“Greetings, young heroes. We have the latest batch of posted commissions right here. Perhaps you’re interested in…”

Only one young woman was behind the counter, wearing an apron, her hair tied up in a high ponytail.

He Yimo walked straight towards her, completely ignoring her scripted spiel, and placed the bottle full of paper cranes squarely on the polished wooden counter.

“Ah… What’s… this?” Jinyu blinked, slightly intimidated by He Yimo’s rather forceful entrance and direct approach. This young man didn’t look very old, and the ahoge girl with him seemed a bit dazed and innocent… Yet, from the moment he’d stepped inside, he carried himself with a an air of practiced, no-nonsense efficiency, almost like a seasoned prison inmate who knew all the ropes. And… weirdly… Jinyu felt a strange sense of connection, a pull of familiarity towards his face, even though she was sure they’d never met.

“To be honest,” He Yimo began, pursing his lips, finding the whole situation slightly ridiculous himself, “I don’t really know what these are either.” He paused, then added, “But my Little Aunt said… if I give this bottle of paper cranes to you… you’ll take me to see a mysterious, important person.”

“Little Aunt…?” The girl behind the counter visibly started at the keyword, her eyes widening as she looked at He Yimo with renewed intensity. She leaned forward, her gaze fixed on his face, studying his features intently.

He Yimo felt goosebumps prickle his skin. This was new. He’d never known Jinyu, the Immortal Alliance Tavern’s poster girl, to have any dialogue or reactions beyond her standard few lines. This… this was definitely a hidden easter egg, or a massive deviation from his game knowledge.

“Um… Miss… Your neck is… kind of stretching all the way over the counter…” Yun Jin, seeing Jinyu practically mesmerized by He Yimo’s face, finally couldn’t take it anymore. She puffed out her cheeks slightly and waved a hand in front of Jinyu’s face.

“AH! Oh! My apologies! So sorry!” Jinyu jolted as if waking from a dream, blinking rapidly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. She quickly straightened up, cleared her throat, and when she spoke to He Yimo again, her tone was noticeably warmer, more… personal. “My sincerest apologies, Young Master! C-Could I please take a look at that bottle of paper cranes?”

Just as He Yimo had instantly recognized Jinyu, Jinyu now, almost instinctively, addressed him with the respectful honorific ‘Young Master’ (Shàoye).

“…….” He Yimo raised an eyebrow. That felt… odd. Even the girls at Phoenix Cry Pavilion in Luoyang City usually called him ‘Young Master’ (Gōngzǐ), a more general term for a young nobleman. ‘Shàoye’ was typically used by servants addressing the young master of their own household. But, nitpicking aside, ‘Shàoye’ did emphasize the guest’s honored status, and there wasn’t a strict rule saying only one’s own retainers could use it. Maybe Western Region customs were just different from the Central Plains?

“Be my guest,” He Yimo nodded curtly.

Jinyu carefully took the bottle, gently twisted open the cap, and drew out a single paper crane, holding it up to the light. Under the tavern’s dim, yellowish lamplight, the material of the crane seemed to shimmer with tiny, starlike flecks. Jinyu took a deep breath, her cheeks flushing an even deeper red with nervousness or excitement. She carefully placed the bottle back on the counter.

“So it is you! Pavilion master is always talking about you! You’re the little s—!” She blurted out, then clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes shining as she stared at He Yimo, a wide, excited, and incredibly friendly smile spreading across her face. She looked like she’d just found a long-lost puppy.

He Yimo was completely lost. From the moment he’d produced that damn bottle of cranes, Jinyu’s expressions and dialogue had gone completely off-script from his game memories. Honestly, he had no idea who this “Pavilion Master” she was referring to even was.

“Pavilion Master?” He Yimo asked, genuinely curious now.

Jinyu was about to nod enthusiastically, but she quickly caught herself, covering her mouth again, her eyes darting around as if checking for eavesdroppers. “Ah! Uh, yes! That’s right! The Pavilion Master! Your… Your Little Aunt… she and our Pavilion Master are very good friends! So, when the Pavilion Master heard that Young Master you might be coming to Xizhou City, she gave me very specific instructions about you… a long time ago…”

“So… which Pavilion Master are we talking about?”

“Young Master, the Pavilion Master explicitly told me… I… I can’t tell you that! I’m so sorry!”

“So you’re a riddle-man too, huh? Great.” He Yimo sighed, rubbing his temples. Jinyu’s convoluted, evasive explanation was giving him a headache. After his experiences as a ‘sentient camera’ in his past life in “Fallen Immortal,” he had developed a severe psychological aversion to characters who spoke in cryptic riddles and withheld information.

“Riddle-man? What does that mean, Young Master?” Jinyu blinked, tilting her head with an expression of pure, innocent confusion.

He Yimo’s lip twitched. Looking at Jinyu’s bewildered face, he was suddenly hit with a strong sense of déjà vu – it was exactly like meeting the ‘newbie guide’ Yun Jin for the first time, with her adorable, clueless innocence. In a way, their roles in the original game were pretty similar.

What truly made He Yimo’s head throb, though, was the realization dawning on him. Yun Jin had her hidden plotline with the Nine-Colored Deer. And now, it seemed Jinyu also had some kind of secret connection to his Little Aunt and this mysterious Pavilion Master. This familiar, frustrating feeling… it was just like when he first discovered Mo Yuyan’s secret passion for playing chess. `Seriously?! Did I really grind for 100% completion in “Fallen Immortal” for NOTHING?!` It was one thing for a high-tier main heroine like Mo Yuyan to have her own hidden life and secrets. But newbie guides and generic NPC receptionists?! Why did they all suddenly have these elaborate, hidden plotlines too?! Argh!

“Never mind…” He Yimo sighed again, waving a dismissive hand. “You’re just an employee, I get it. If you can’t tell me who she is, fine. But you will take me to see this legendary Pavilion Master, right?” He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling a migraine coming on. In the original game, Xizhou City was a map that only unlocked in the mid-to-late game stages. The current timeline was still far from the “Demon Abyss” story arc that heavily featured the Western Regions. He Yimo really didn’t want to get entangled with characters he wasn’t supposed to meet yet.

He’d already accidentally ‘kidnapped’ one clueless newbie guide; he really didn’t need to drag the quest-hub receptionist into his mess too. That would just screw up his predictions for future plot events even more.

“Of course!” Jinyu beamed, her earlier nervousness gone, replaced by cheerful efficiency. “Our Pavilion Master is right next door! In the top-floor private room of Xuanfeng Pavilion!”

“If Young Master takes my jade pendant, and shows it to one of the black-clad sisters there, they’ll let you in to see the Pavilion Master!” She smiled knowingly, reaching up to her chest, from beneath her apron, and unfastening a milky-white jade pendant intricately carved with golden lines. She held it out to He Yimo.

He Yimo took the pendant, his expression momentarily stunned. He looked down at the jade in his hand, confirming with dawning disbelief that it was, indeed, one of Jinyu’s most important, iconic (and in the game, completely unobtainable) personal items. Then he looked back up at the cute girl behind the counter, who was watching him with a happy, expectant expression.

“Young Master? Is something wrong?” Jinyu blinked, tilting her head curiously.

“Nothing… It’s just… this jade pendant… I should probably return it to you afterwards, right?”

“Ah! Yes, that’s right! This pendant is very, very important to me! So please, Young Master, after you’ve met with the Pavilion Master, please be sure to return it to me!”

“Wait a minute, ” He Yimo frowned, feeling a growing sense of unease. “You’re just… giving it to me? Like that? Aren’t you worried I won’t give it back?” This was all wrong. Why did it feel like he’d somehow maxed out Jinyu’s affection meter on their very first meeting in Xizhou City? In the game, this white jade pendant with gold filigree was always displayed prominently on Jinyu’s chest. If you tried to click on it, she’d cover it protectively, smile awkwardly, and politely inform you that the pendant was a priceless personal memento, not for sale at any price, and perhaps the esteemed cultivator would like to browse the other available rewards in the Immortal Alliance shop… Her character profile only vaguely mentioned it as a “memento of her hometown,” with no further details or associated quests. Basically, even the pendant’s description in the game was a damn riddle.

And now, Jinyu was just… handing this incredibly precious, supposedly unattainable item to him, a complete stranger she’d just met?

“It’s alright! I trust Young Master!” The girl behind the counter beamed, clasping her hands behind her back, her smile sweet and utterly genuine.

Faced with her inexplicably trusting and affectionate gaze, He Yimo took a sharp breath. He managed, with great effort, to suppress the burning curiosity gnawing at him, the urge to unravel this new mystery. He just nodded curtly, turned, and started to lead Yun Jin out of the tavern.

He’d only taken a few steps when Jinyu’s soft voice called out again. “Oh! By the way, Young Master… How did you know, the moment you walked in, that I was the ‘Jinyu’ your Little Aunt mentioned?” She blinked, the question seemingly just occurring to her.

He Yimo paused at the doorway, glancing back at her. He let a beat of silence hang in the air, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, before replying with an equally cryptic, deliberately meaningful line: “It was destiny, of course.”

“Destiny?”

“My Little Aunt told me… that Miss Jinyu and I… are fated to meet. So, she said, the moment I stepped into the Immortal Alliance Tavern… the very first person whose gaze I met, the one who made my heart beat faster… that person… would undoubtedly be the Miss Jinyu I was searching for.”

“Eh…? EHHHHHHHH?! Yu’er… Yu’er and Young Master… share such a deep, fated connection?! Oh my goodness~!♡”

…

Leaving the flustered, blushing Jinyu behind, He Yimo and Yun Jin stepped back out into the bustling night. Yun Jin walked beside He Yimo, her lower lip jutting out in a pronounced pout, a distinctly sulky expression on her face. She felt a sour, unfamiliar pang in her chest – jealousy. It was the first time in her life Yun Jin had ever experienced such a specific, unpleasant emotion.

As they pushed open the ornate doors of the Xuanfeng Pavilion next door, Yun Jin finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. “He Yimooo,” she muttered accusingly, “Do you… Do you flirt with every girl you meet like that? Hmph!”

He Yimo glanced down at her, a faint, unreadable smile touching his lips. “Of course not.”

“Th-Then… Then why did you just—!”

“You see, Yun Jin,” He Yimo interrupted smoothly, his voice low and confidant, “I’m only ever so gentle and charming with good girls. Bad girls, on the other hand… they get a very different kind of treatment from me. A much less… gentle… kind of treatment.”

Yun Jin: “Huh~?????”