What To Do If The Heroine Escapes From The Book - Chapter 291: Spring In The Mountains

The cold plum blossoms are exhausted in the snow; with the arrival of spring, they return to the willow tree in the breeze.

Unbeknownst to her, more than ten days had passed. Xuan Ji walked up the mountain, humming a song while stepping on the creek. The snow had gradually melted, and the plum blossoms drifted along with the water. The winter daphne flowers by the roadside were budding, and the fresh spring breeze carried the melodious sound of a flute from the mountaintop, gentle and delightful.

It was as if the flute’s music was coaxing the flowers to bloom.

Her junior martial uncle was playing the flute again.

Clearly, the celestial melody from the flute has a profound artistic connotation, but it makes Xuan Ji want to laugh when she hears it. She could even guess what her junior martial uncle was doing at the moment. He’s definitely not trying to act like a cultured immortal; he’s just being pitifully forced by the Sect Master to practice the flute.

Where was the silence from before? The mountain was only truly a cultivation mountain when her junior martial uncle wasn’t around. Whenever he was here, the mountain suddenly became lively. He was either being dragged by the Sect Master to practice swordplay or being scolded by the Sect Master for playing some absurd tune. He’s constantly on the run, and it’s like a comedy.

There was no more silence.

Despite getting scolded every day, her junior martial uncle continues to smile and laugh. The Sect Master’s stern face seems to be melting like snow, and day by day, she looked at him with more smiles. Sometimes, it was hard to tell whether she was angry or not when she scolded him. Xuan Ji occasionally thought of the word “coquetry” but quickly shook off the idea, afraid to entertain it further.

Nevertheless, her chances of coming to the main peak in the future would be rare. She wouldn’t witness the fights and arguments between the Sect Master and her junior martial uncle anymore. Today, she had come to bid farewell.

She had unknowingly advanced to the Golden Core stage, which was a considerable achievement in the mortal realm. There was no reason for her to keep assisting like an errand girl. Inside the sect, it was often said that, aside from the mysterious and unpredictable junior martial uncle and the genius Chu Tiange, she was the fastest to reach the Golden Core stage.

Did that mean Xuan Ji was a genius?

No, Xuan Ji knew deep down that this progress was all thanks to her proximity to her junior martial uncle.

Every time she watched him do something, she seemed to gain insight, whether it was in swordplay, playing the flute, or even laughing while reading a colorful book, it all had an inexplicable sense of profoundness. And then, she’d make a breakthrough.

However, wasn’t her junior martial uncle still not at the Golden Core stage himself? It was quite strange.

As she ascended the mountaintop, she immediately spotted her junior martial uncle standing on the cliff, playing the flute. The Sect Master was in a nearby pavilion, sitting by a stone table, painting.

It wasn’t those peculiar little character paintings; it was an expansive landscape painting.

In the painting, her junior martial uncle was playing the flute. The person in the painting, with a jade flute and long robe, seemed ready to ride the wind away.

Xuan Ji glanced at it briefly and didn’t dwell on it. She whispered, “Sect Master…”

She dared not speak too loudly, afraid of disturbing the melodious sound of the jade flute.

Qiu Wuji replied calmly, “Golden Core achieved?”

“Yes…” Xuan Ji sniffled and couldn’t help choking up a bit. “Disciple… Disciple has come to bid farewell. The administrative hall will continue to select an outstanding disciple to serve the Sect Master…”

Qiu Wuji chuckled softly, “A Golden Core expert, yet crying like a child. You really are a little kid.”

Xuan Ji sobbed, “I’ll miss the Sect Master… and I’ll miss junior martial uncle too.”

Qiu Wuji thought to herself, I’ll miss you too. With you here, we had a bit of a secretive affair going on, and that guy also dared not be too audacious. If you leave, he might get even more arrogant…

Well, we can find someone else to play the role of a third wheel. But this little girl is very strict in her words; she probably noticed some of our indiscretions here. It’s been a while, and there have been no rumors from the outside. I wonder if the replacement will be as obedient…

As she pondered these thoughts, Chu Ge, who had been forced to practice the flute to boost the mood, finally found an opportunity to stop playing. He interjected, “If you’ve reached Golden Core, does that mean there’s a mission to be assigned?”

Xuan Ji hurriedly replied, “It could be an external mission or an internal duty; the Elders haven’t decided yet.”

Qiu Wuji gave Chu Ge a stern look and kindly asked Xuan Ji, “What type of duty do you want?”

“I really don’t know. Actually, I still want to serve the Sect Master.”

“…You don’t mean what you say.”

“I’m serious! If I lie, my mouth will rot!”

Qiu Wuji pondered for a moment. “There might be a major battle on the horizon shortly, and the situation will be very different from the usual extermination missions or training expeditions. The danger will be multiplied. All those below the Nascent Soul stage should retreat to the sect, especially not go on external missions at this time. You should take on an internal duty within the sect instead…”

The Cloud Horizon Sect was vast, with numerous internal positions and external industries. It was exceptionally prosperous, and Qiu Wuji could be considered one of the wealthiest individuals in this world. However, she maintained an appearance of cultivating purity, concealing her status as a wealthy woman. Well, you could actually tell from the various treasures on the mountain range…

So, the basic idea was to assign Xuan Ji a lucrative position with minimal responsibilities. They thought she would be thrilled, but to their surprise, Xuan Ji hesitated for a while and then said, “Can I continue staying here?”

Qiu Wuji blinked her eyes, secretly thinking, If you have set your eyes on your junior martial uncle, it’s not a matter of staying or leaving. I might have to toss you down…

But Xuan Ji, feeling embarrassed, added, “I know it may be inappropriate, but Sect Master, I am also cultivating. This place, this place is actually the best cultivation spot…”

Qiu Wuji’s gaze became somewhat uncertain. So, this girl is the true cultivator who wholeheartedly pursues the Dao, while I’m the worldly one with worldly desires?

Seeing Qiu Wuji’s strange expression, Xuan Ji mustered up some courage and said, “Sect Master, I won’t speak recklessly!”

With a whoosh, the young girl was arranged into a cross-legged sitting position and thrown out of the mountain.

Chu Ge: “…”

Qiu Wuji blushed and clenched her teeth. “It’s all your fault!”

“I didn’t say anything…” Chu Ge chuckled. “By the way, let’s keep her here. We’ve gotten used to her. Having a new person might indeed bring many issues… Hey, speak nicely, don’t be jealous for no reason.”

Qiu Wuji pouted. “Who’s jealous…”

Chu Ge just looked at her with a sidelong glance, saying nothing.

Qiu Wuji felt embarrassed and said expressionlessly, “Am I the kind of person who gets jealous? If we bring in a new person and there are many issues, should I be afraid of what people might say?”

Chu Ge whispered, “Don’t pretend. Even in front of Xuan Ji, we have to hide. If it’s someone else, even the act of hiding itself would be… Let’s just keep a familiar face.”

Besides hiding their relationship, their daily interactions didn’t resemble those of a master and disciple at all. Regarding the painting of Chu Ge playing the flute that she had drawn, even if someone else saw it, they’d be puzzled.

Qiu Wuji sniffled, reluctantly admitting that she had already fallen to the point where she needed a familiar face to maintain her dignity as the headmaster…

“Xuan Ji!”

Xuan Ji flew back with a whoosh from outside the mountain and cautiously observed the Sect Master’s expression.

“In the future, you will continue to serve…” Qiu Wuji paused for a moment, then added, “Spring has arrived, take good care of the flowers. There are some peculiar ones here, and I’m not confident in entrusting them to a newcomer.”

Xuan Ji was overjoyed. “Yes, Sect Master! Disciple will definitely take good care of them and make them flourish!”

“Alright, go now, don’t disturb me while I’m painting,” Qiu Wuji said with an air of resignation.

Xuan Ji happily left.

Qiu Wuji watched the young girl’s joyful departure and sighed, “It’s all because of you, tarnishing my reputation… How am I going to face people in the future…”

Chu Ge, ignoring her little pout, just stared at the painting with a smile on his face.

Upon closer inspection, the painting was quite stunning. The figure in the azure robe, playing the jade flute with his long hair swaying in the wind, looked very handsome. Even modern short hair and traditional clothing couldn’t match this charm.

Especially with the background of the celestial mountain, shrouded in mist, its depth hidden from view. In the faint distance, you could see a corner of a rooftop, partially obscured by blossoms, leaving much to the imagination.

Calling this a painting of an immortal wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Is this me?

Chu Ge felt a bit dazed for a moment, then looked at Qiu Wuji, whose eyes were filled with nostalgia.

Back when they had their first photograph taken in the modern world, had Qiu Wuji said something like this? That kind of curtain-covered fairyland backdrop is fake.

When they would be able to take a photo in the midst of the Cloud Horizon Mountain, that would be the real thing.

Looking back now, that seemed like such a long time ago… He couldn’t even remember what he had felt at that time.

“We’ve achieved it,” Chu Ge whispered.

They hadn’t discussed the topic explicitly, but Qiu Wuji knew exactly what he was referring to. Her cheeks reddened slightly, and she softly responded, “Mmm.”

Chu Ge gently held her hand and said in a low voice, “I’ll write about you, and you’ll paint me. We’ll be the main characters in each other’s works. Does that count as settling the score?”

Qiu Wuji was momentarily stunned, finding this idea quite interesting. She chuckled, “We’ll talk about it when I can control you.”

Chu Ge blushed and said, “You can control me now. When you want me to practice swordsmanship, I’ll do that; when you want me to play the flute, I’ll do that.”

“Can they really be the same thing? When you’re controlling me…” Qiu Wuji started to respond but stopped midway and said, “Did you practice swordsmanship today? Continue practicing! Even Xuan Ji is ahead of you in cultivation. It’s embarrassing.”

Chu Ge just smiled and didn’t say anything.

Qiu Wuji’s face became even redder, and she hastily cleared the papers and pens from the table before leaving the pavilion and returning to her wooden house, ignoring him.

Inside her room, the spring breeze wafted through, causing the pages of the books on the table to rustle. Qiu Wuji looked over, and with just one glance, she saw an illustration in the book that made her blush.

She angrily grabbed a paperweight and pressed it onto the pages.

What a lousy book.

What a lousy wind.

It was making her flustered and restless.

Spring had arrived…

Qiu Wuji turned to look at her bed curtain, the spring breeze gently swaying it.

The spring breeze knows no acquaintance, why does it enter the silk curtains?