The Abused-Novel Female Lead Holds a Mad Brush - Chapter 19
Chapter 19: Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep
“…In the Hongmeng Scroll trial, disciple Xuan Yeyang was the first to step off the Hongmeng Scroll, ranking top candidate.”
Chi Luzhi, who had come to announce the competition results, smiled softly.
With a gentle wave of her hand, a seven-foot-long jade desk painted with landscape art floated up beside her.
Atop it were set immortal dew and jade nectar, exuding the sweet aroma of osmanthus.
“Fellow cultivators, you have worked hard. Why not rest here for a moment? The items on the desk can restore your mind and body. Please feel free to enjoy them to your heart’s content, recuperate your strength, and quietly await those behind.”
Toward the very end of the first trial, Yu Jiaxue had conveniently given a fellow female disciple a hand along the way, thereby falling half a beat behind and finishing second.
Had it not been for that, given the circumstances at the time, Xuan Yeyang—whose mental state had been on the verge of total collapse—could never have caught up to her.
There were still scattered disciples below who hadn’t made it up yet, so those who stepped off the Hongmeng Scroll first inevitably had to wait a while.
After all, having endured a barrage of dodges, everyone coming up from the Hongmeng Scroll was more or less injured.
Exhausted in body and mind, being able to get something to eat was indeed a welcome relief.
Yu Jiaxue stared at the items on the long desk for a few seconds.
Before she could reach out to make a choice, someone beside her raised a hand and presented a crystal cup.
“This is our Guipo Peak’s famous brew, Osmanthus Fall. Our Guipo Peak has osmanthus blossoms in season all four seasons round. This brew is made by selecting blooming flowers from early spring, midsummer, late autumn, and late winter respectively, plucking and crushing their stamens, combining them with the fullest flower buds, and crafting the mixture using a secret method.”
Chi Luzhi explained to Yu Jiaxue in a soft, gentle voice as she handed a cup of Osmanthus Fall to her, simultaneously passing over the jade token recording her rank.
“Would Little Cultivator Yu care to try some?”
Whoa, this crafting process is almost comparable to those absurdly intricate Cold Fragrance Pills from that famous classic novel!
(T/N: The “famous classic novel” refers to Dream of the Red Chamber, one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels. The line refers directly to the famous Cold Fragrance Pills (Lěng Xiāng Wán) taken by the character Xue Baochai to cure her mysterious internal illness. In the novel, the recipe for these pills is infamous for being practically impossible to make because it relies on precise timing and natural luck.)
So particular! Truly a peak of exquisite taste!
Yu Jiaxue had always been one to yield to soft persuasion rather than tough force. Chi Luzhi had a wonderful attitude, and her words put one’s mind entirely at ease without sounding the least bit like bragging. Combined with their earlier encounter, Yu Jiaxue held quite a good impression of her.
She obediently accepted the crystal cup and took a sip. Her previously sore and limp limbs instantly relaxed, and even the burn marks on her wrists began to heal.
Good stuff!
Yu Jiaxue’s eyes lit up, and she looked up eagerly at Chi Luzhi, asking, “Can I get a refill?”
As time passed, more and more disciples made their way up around them.
As the chief disciple of an inner main peak, Chi Luzhi coming over to chat had already drawn many eyes. Hearing Yu Jiaxue’s casual and direct attitude now made many people click their tongues in secret.
Although they also held admiration for Chi Luzhi and Du Shuangxiao—the two inner disciples who had read the rules earlier—many harbored an underlying sense of inferiority.
They only dared to admire them from afar, not even daring to step forward and utter a single word for fear of committing a sacrilegious offense.
Who could have guessed someone would be so bold?
To demand a refill of Osmanthus Fall so directly—she wasn’t being polite at all!
Wasn’t she afraid of being deemed “overly greedy” and provoking disgust from the elders behind the Water-Moon Mirror?
Chi Luzhi let out a soft laugh, saying, “Of course you can.”
She paused, raising her voice slightly as she added, “The Osmanthus Fall placed here is meant for all fellow cultivators to take as they please. Everyone, please do not stand on ceremony; rest well to prepare for the next trial stage.”
Chi Luzhi’s words left those disciples who had been overthinking earlier stunned for a moment.
A few thin-skinned ones flushed bright red, feeling deeply embarrassed.
Chi Luzhi paid no further attention to the others.
Looking at the young girl before her—who was holding her second cup of Osmanthus Fall in silence, her entire face practically written with ‘Don’t talk to me’—she just found it inexplicably hilarious.
Just a moment ago, this little girl had single-handedly stirred up a storm, causing the elders of the Seven Peaks behind the Water-Moon Mirror to almost start debating the Dao over her.
Who could have known she would now sit like an old monk in meditation, slowly sipping her Osmanthus Fall?
Noticing that although Du Shuangxiao beside her kept silent, his gaze darted over several times, Chi Luzhi raised an eyebrow secretly and asked softly, saying, “Little Cultivator Yu, what made you think of helping others?”
“If you hadn’t gone through all that trouble, with your uniquely creative way of passing the stage… who’s to say the top candidate spot wouldn’t have been yours this time?”
Du Shuangxiao instantly pricked up his ears.
The reason was simple: among the two disciples Yu Jiaxue had stepped in to help, the one named Du Piaopiao happened to be his blood sister.
Same father, same mother, genuine beyond a doubt.
One had to realize that when he discovered Du Piaopiao had actually come to take the trial, the normally steadfast Du Shuangxiao had lost his composure for the first time, nearly snapping his natal brush in two.
As for the other “new disciple” who received assistance…
He was even more extraordinary.
Not just Yu Jiaxue—everyone who noticed the commotion on her side held their breath, quietly awaiting Yu Jiaxue’s reply.
Some disciples even realized what was going on, feeling a deep sense of regret while simultaneously unable to stop green envy from rising in their hearts toward Yu Jiaxue.
This was during the trial! Perhaps the elders of the Seven Peaks—or even Sect Master Xihe-jun—were watching!
Some of the petty ones exchanged glances, their eyes turning so red with jealousy they were practically dripping blood.
Who knew what kind of good luck this girl named Yu possessed to pull off grabbing attention again and again? If nothing went wrong, as long as her ranking was relatively high in the upcoming trials, forget becoming an inner disciple of a medium peak—even being taken in as a disciple by an elder of the Seven Peaks wasn’t out of the question!
Dammit! How come all the good things were claimed by her?
Yu Jiaxue was currently drinking her Osmanthus Fall, her eyes narrowed in absolute bliss.
[Little ancestor, you’d better tone it down a bit. Don’t forget your ‘angst novel female lead’ buff—you’re the easiest target for jealousy and secret sabotage. Watch out for flipping the car,] the system couldn’t resist speaking up to remind her.
It would never admit that it only hated seeing someone so relaxed because it had been working overtime bouncing between two worlds!
What’s there to fear?
Yu Jiaxue wasn’t scared in the slightest.
Only mediocrities escape jealousy.
However, before she could reply to Chi Luzhi’s question, a voice from behind interrupted her—
“The Immortal’s words are quite mistaken.”
That voice deliberately drew out its tone.
Though using the title “Immortal,” there was a distinctly obvious arrogance in it.
Her conversation interrupted, Yu Jiaxue turned her head toward the sound.
The person who had spoken wore a golden dragon crown, cloud-patterned silk robes, and a gold-thread pendant at his waist.
Even the borders of his robes featured intricate hidden patterns that shimmered under the light, looking exceptionally luxurious.
He was in his youth, looking to be around eighteen or nineteen years old.
Strikingly handsome, he wasn’t at all overwhelmed by the extravagant attire.
The three parts of natural romantic arrogance between his brows highlighted his extraordinary nature even more.
In short—
[Ssh! A living, breathing Long Aotian!]
(T/N: “Long Aotian” is often used to describe an overpowered protagonist or favored son of heaven in Chinese novels… hehe…)
The system marveled on Yu Jiaxue’s behalf, hastily adding: [Hold on! This system will look up his background for the host right away!]
Just as the system was marveling, Brother Aotian issued another declaration.
Curling his lips into a cold, haughty smile, he said, “In my opinion, even if she hadn’t stepped in to help others, she still could not have surpassed me to claim the top spot!”
Chi Luzhi blinked, looking at Yu Jiaxue with a smile as she asked, saying, “What does Little Cultivator Yu think?”
Glimpsing the laughter in her eyes, Yu Jiaxue understood instantly.
She had felt the sect trial looked familiar earlier but hadn’t been able to think of a fitting analogy.
Now it suddenly hit her!
Wasn’t this just like those “audition talent show livestreaming programs” from her past life?!
Manufacture conflicts: check!
Hijack trending topics: check!
See how contestants resolve drama: check!
Look at that crowd of disciples who had made it up—their hands didn’t hurt, their feet weren’t sore, and they weren’t even drinking Osmanthus Fall anymore.
They were staring straight at their camera angle, their faces practically screaming “Fight! Fight!”
Feeling that she had already cracked the routine, Yu Jiaxue pondered for a moment.
Amidst the excitement of the melon-eating crowd, she slowly spoke—
“Brother Aotian, what did you say your name was again?”
This is a living, breathing Long Aotian!
Yu Jiaxue was thrilled beyond measure; she just had to remember his name!
Xuan Yeyang, saying, “???”
His face instantly darkened, saying, “Woman, are you playing with me?”
Holy crap!
He even launched a ‘Woman’ attack at her!
Yu Jiaxue had never imagined in her wild life that she would hear such a cliché dialogue in the flesh.
Filled with a unique thrill amidst her shock, she couldn’t help speaking up, saying, “Aotian, can you perform that again?”
Xuan Yeyang had originally been filled with fury and primed for a showdown. At this moment, however, he was caught off guard by Yu Jiaxue’s wildly excited yet absurdly sincere expression.
His train of thought was dragged completely off course, and he subconsciously followed her words, asking, saying, “Perform what?”
Yu Jiaxue said anxiously, “The one just now!”
Xuan Yeyang grew even more confused, saying, “Which one just now?”
“Just that line—”
Yu Jiaxue paused, resting a hand against her chin. She lowered her gaze, dropping her tone to speak in a deep voice, saying, “‘Woman, you have successfully ignited my fury’!”
With those words spoken, Yu Jiaxue raised her head, her tone instantly shifting to lighthearted, bouncing excitement as she said with full anticipation, “Can you say it one more time?”
Under normal circumstances, Yu Jiaxue would never have such a good temper, but who could blame her this time!
This was Long Aotian!
A living, breathing Long Aotian!
Yu Jiaxue’s tone was simply too sincere—without a trace of mockery, brimming entirely with the pure, unadulterated expectation of an innocent heart.
Even though Xuan Yeyang had initially come with the intention of looking for trouble, he couldn’t help being led completely off track by her at this moment.
Especially when meeting those sparkling eyes, for some unknown reason, Xuan Yeyang’s heart softened, leaving him inexplicably embarrassed to refuse.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire crowd, as if spellbound, Xuan Yeyang blurted out, saying, “Woman, you have successfully ignited—”
Gah?
After over half the sentence spilled out of his mouth, Xuan Yeyang suddenly snapped back to his senses.
Was that really the line he was supposed to be saying right now?????
