Chapter 4: "Are You Serious With That Half-Step Back?"
On the second floor of the Yunlai Guesthouse, Ye Chen lay with both hands behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling as excitement churned in his chest, banishing all thoughts of sleep.
"Old Shi," he murmured, "the opportunity you spoke of… is it something I'll encounter on my way to the Qinglan Sect tomorrow? Perhaps a fated benefactor?"
"No need to wait for dawn," the ancient voice inside his black ring echoed. "Your fated encounter draws near tonight."
"Tonight?" Ye Chen's brows furrowed. "Aren't you being a bit—"
He paused mid-sentence, heart lurching as an eerie pressure coiled through the air. His gaze shot to the window.
Outside, the night had blackened to ink. A thin crescent moon hung overhead, casting a pale and unnatural glow. There was something wrong—something inexplicably ominous.
"No… this isn't right!" Old Shi's voice trembled. "Nine turns of the Fate Wheel… a narrowing crescent… your fortune—it's been disturbed!"
"This is bad. You must leave! Flee Qinglan's domain at once!"
"Flee?" Ye Chen sneered, a mocking tilt lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Old Shi, you know me. In this life, I refuse to cower before anyone. Once I've chosen my path, I walk it to the end—come what may!"
"From the imperial capital of Great Zhou to this remote corner of the Eastern Domain, how many prodigies have I defeated?"
"How many times have I risen from the ashes of adversity? Retreat? Never!"
His eyes gleamed, his youthful face carrying an aura of confidence so absolute it seemed carved from arrogance itself.
And indeed, it wasn't entirely baseless.
Ever since he'd picked up this mysterious ring containing a fragment of some ancient soul, his life had been transformed.
He soared past peers, reaped treasures, crushed enemies. Danger became entertainment, setbacks mere scenery.
Sometimes, he truly believed the entire world revolved around him.
He was, after all, the one and only—Heaven's Favored Son.
But then—
"Who's there?!"
Ye Chen's voice thundered as his instincts screamed. His eyes snapped to the window—just in time to witness a torrent of crimson flame crashing down from the skies.
"Hmph! Courting death?"
His expression chilled. "Eightfold Flame-Crushing Palm!"
He struck with both hands, surging spiritual power erupting forth.
In that instant, Old Shi's voice roared from the ring again—frantic.
"No! There's no need—!"
But it was too late.
Boom!
The flame met his palm strike and erupted, engulfing the room in incandescent fury.
Ye Chen's pupils shrank. The blaze hadn't been a mere technique—it was a living beast.
A Foundation Stage spirit beast, cloaked in flame and fury.
Its aura surged, monstrous and overwhelming, and the technique guiding it was no common craft. Some kind of ancient beast-taming art… refined and deadly.
"Little Marten! Save me!"
For the first time in his life, a chill of genuine fear sank into Ye Chen's bones. It wasn't just the pain—it was the unmistakable premonition of death.
He had never felt this—not even when ambushed by primordial devils under the Empress's command.
A streak of violet flame cut across the night like a falling star, slamming into the enemy beast with thunderous force.
His pet—the Violetflame Ferret—had arrived.
"Don't be afraid, Little Marten! The two of us, side by side—we'll kill this bastard together!"
Ye Chen unsheathed his greatsword and dove into battle.
A claw of flame retreated. The attacker's true form emerged: a beast with the head of a lion, wings of an eagle, and a mane blazing like the sun.
"A Crimsonflame Lion-Eagle? One that's just entered Foundation Stage?" Old Shi's voice trembled again.
"Impossible! These beasts are normally gentle. Why would it attack unprovoked? Unless…"
His voice trailed off.
Because someone else had arrived.
A girl—no more than sixteen—descended from the heavens like a falling blossom.
Slender, doll-faced, dressed in cyan robes—this was no stranger.
Ye Chen's heart clenched.
She was beautiful, yes, but her gaze sent a chill down his spine.
"You—"
He coughed blood, barely managing a charming smile. "Your spirit beast's a bit unruly, don't you think? Luckily, I've tamed it for you."
Behind her calm eyes, Lu Yingying seethed.
Disgusting. Utterly disgusting. That arrogant smirk… the fake mystique.
I must've been blind in the previous timeline to ever fall for this garbage. Compared to my senior brother, he's not even worth the dirt beneath his boots.
But she smiled sweetly, feigning innocence.
"I-I apologize, young master. I am Lu Yingying, disciple of Qinglan Sect's Shenluan Peak…"
Just like last time, she thought coldly. Only this time, I won't let the tragedy repeat.
Ye Chen's eyes lit up. "Ah, so you're a fairy of Qinglan Sect."
Just as he started to play out another line, blood surged again—he coughed violently, staggered.
Lu Yingying watched with inward satisfaction but wore a mask of concern.
"Are you alright, young master? You seem gravely injured…"
"Haha, nothing serious," Ye Chen forced a laugh. "Just teasing you, Lu Fairy. When it comes to beast-taming, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."
—
Meanwhile, halfway up the mountain path, someone was watching it all.
Lin Xiao.
Standing atop a secluded cliff, peering through a spiritual artifact—the Remote Vision Water Mirror—he shook his head in amusement.
"Tsk tsk… old-school male-protagonist behavior never changes. One pretty face and they melt like snow. God, this is pure nostalgia—my youth is restored."
"But… if memory serves, next comes my cue: I'm supposed to catch this guy flirting with my junior sister, lose my temper, and try to poison him…"
He smoothed his white robes, rehearsing his expression.
There could be no more professional villain than him.
Ding!
"System prompt: Second storyline checkpoint reached.
Rewards: +3 Constitution, +10 Comprehension, All-element cultivation techniques +1 level."
"…Huh??"
Even Lin Xiao was stunned.
—
Beneath the moonlight, two silhouettes walked side by side toward the mountain gate.
Ye Chen put on his most tender smile.
"Lu Yingying, you know, I've seen countless beauties in my life—but you… you're different."
But the girl only furrowed her brows and quietly stepped back.
Just a half step.
But that half step was a knife to the heart.
Ye Chen's smile froze. His hand, mid-reach, dangled in the air—awkward, suspended.
"Are you serious with that half-step back?"
It was humiliating. For someone of his birth, his looks, his talent… rejection? From a girl?
He clenched his fists.
"Does the fairy hold some grudge against me?"
Lu Yingying ignored the question. "Young master Ye, you truly wish to join our sect? Tomorrow happens to be our once-in-three-years recruitment ceremony."
"Have you considered which Peak you'll apprentice under?"
She had to make sure. She needed him to join Shénluán Peak, just like in the original script—only then could she stay close, find his weakness, and destroy him for good.
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, about to consult Old Shi, when—
"Yingying! Who is that beside you? You dare bring a stranger up the mountain without permission?"
A shout like thunder rolled from the sky.
A white-robed youth descended, sword beneath his feet, arms behind his back. His gaze was cold, his figure tall and proud—like an exiled immortal, aloof from the mortal dust.
Lin Xiao had arrived.
He'd been watching, waiting, ready for his cue. If Ye Chen tried anything, he was to step out, voice righteous anger, and publicly shame him.
Just as the script dictated.
But the girl's next action caught him completely off guard.
"Senior Brother…"
A single word trembled from Lu Yingying's lips, emotion overflowing.
Tears welled in her eyes.
And then—
She ran forward.
And threw herself into Lin Xiao's arms.
Lin Xiao: (⊙_⊙)
Ye Chen: !!!!!!!