Chapter 269 The Fourteenth Day of Entering a Xuanhuan Novel

Chapter 269: Day 14 in a Fantasy Novel

Xie Xuandu mused inwardly, with a hint of displeasure he hadn't even bothered to examine.

Strange... why did he feel somewhat uncomfortable seeing An Yi around other people?

But... his gaze swept critically over Gan Feng's intact legs. This scholar's legs weren't broken, were they? Couldn't he get up by himself?

Pathetic and useless. A waste like him just leeches off spiritual energy. Better off dead.

An Yi, of course, had no clue about Xie Xuandu's scathing thoughts. He let go, stopped looking at Gan Feng, and ignored the darkening stare Xie Xuandu was giving him from behind. Then he turned and walked straight out of the temple.

Seeing that, Xie Xuandu quickly swallowed the strange irritation bubbling up inside him, put his gentle smile back on, and followed.

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Gan Feng stood there frozen, watching the two vanish one by one into the darkness past the temple gate, his brain still half-fried.

They just... left?

He exhaled in relief. So they really didn't care about him or the system after all.

Gan Feng gritted his teeth and chased after them.

"Senior! Immortal Master! Wait..."

His shout died in his throat.

Outside the temple, the moonlight was cold, and the mountain forest was dead silent.

The muddy path was completely empty. All that was left was the rustle of night wind through wet leaves. Where the hell were they?

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Three months later, in a bustling little town.

The street, paved with bluestone slabs, was lined with shops on both sides, and the air was filled with the endless noise of vendors hawking, customers haggling, and carts rumbling by.

An Yi and Xie Xuandu walked side by side—one in plain white robes, cool and aloof; the other in Daoist robes, gentle and refined. Both had extraordinary looks and presence, drawing sidelong glances from passersby, yet no one dared get too close.

An Yi watched with interest. He'd already been through several towns by now.

These towns weren't all that different from the ancient ones he'd visited before.

But there were some things unique to this world. Take the shop in front of him, for example—it sold exotic flowers, rare herbs, pills, and animal bones that only existed here.

The prices weren't exactly cheap.

An Yi walked in empty-handed and walked out with a bulging bundle.

After stashing everything into his space, An Yi and Xie Xuandu kept walking.

As they passed a tea stall, the chatter of a few idle men drifted over on the wind.

"Did you hear? The Zeng family over in the west part of town—that rich Zeng who runs the silk shop—something weird's been going on at their place!"

"What? What? Tell us!"

"A few days back, this beggar, all filthy and stinking, suddenly showed up at the Zeng family's front gate, yelling that he was the real young master, Zeng Wendong!"

"Huh? No way? Is that beggar crazy?"

"Beats me!"

"That young master Zeng Wendong—we all know him. Fine clothes, fine food, always surrounded by friends, super picky about appearances. What could he possibly have to do with some beggar?"

"So what happened to the beggar?"

"The Zeng family's servants beat him like a madman and threw him out. He's been hanging around their gate for days now. That young master Zeng Wendong is so pissed he wants to have him arrested and taken to the authorities!"

"That beggar's gotta be out of his mind!"

"That's the weird part!"

"That beggar knows the Zeng family inside and out! Too damn familiar! Ask him anything, and he knows the answer!"

"..."

An Yi slowed his steps. He cocked an ear to listen, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

It felt like stepping back into a martial arts world.

Xie Xuandu heard it too. Seeing An Yi stop, he smiled softly and said in a warm voice, "Sounds like an interesting little story. Want to go check it out?"

An Yi shook his head. He didn't want to get involved. He was just here for the gossip.

Besides... the Zeng family, a beggar? Wasn't this a plot point from the original novel? The protagonist would deal with it.

Xie Xuandu nodded. "So where to next?"

Just as the two were about to leave, a somewhat familiar voice, tinged with surprise, came from the side: "Immortal Master An! Daoist Xie! What a coincidence!"

Gan Feng popped out of a nearby bookshop. He was no longer in that washed-out Confucian robe—he'd changed into a Daoist robe, a reward from the system.

His complexion was way better than back at the broken temple, and his eyes were brighter. Seeing An Yi and Xie Xuandu, he seemed to have more confidence too.

He was about to call out to the system in his head when he remembered An Yi could hear their conversations. He immediately scrapped that idea.

An Yi gave a slight nod, acknowledging him.

Speak of the devil.

Xie Xuandu's smile didn't change, but his gaze swept over Gan Feng with a faint hint of disdain.

This scholar—no wait... he's in a Daoist robe now, so a Daoist priest—why's he sticking around like a piece of gum on my shoe?

Gan Feng felt a chill run down his spine from Xie Xuandu's look, but he steeled himself and said, "I just heard those guys talking about the weird thing with the Zeng family. I find it pretty strange too. Why don't you two seniors come with me to check it out?"

The Zeng family thing was a system task—four-star difficulty! Four-star danger!

Since he'd run into these big shots, why not latch onto them for safety?

Damn system! Why'd it have to give him such a dangerous mission? He'd only fought monsters five times!

(Gan Feng: Immortal Master! Immortal Master! Let's go together! It's really fun~~)

(System: Big shot! Big shot! A big shot who's both gorgeous and kind-hearted! Let's go together!!)

An Yi was amused by Gan Feng's and the system's inner thoughts and changed his mind: "Alright, let's go take a look."

With that, he turned and walked toward the west side of the city.

Gan Feng, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly trotted to catch up, his heart brimming with joy.

Xie Xuandu naturally followed close behind An Yi.

However... the smile had completely vanished from his face.

So he changed his mind because of what this guy said?

How irritating!!

Gan Feng, huh? Damn bastard!!

Comments section:

"Hahahahahahaha, bumped into each other again. Although Beauty An didn't take the protagonist as a disciple, he's still that wise old grandpa, right!"

"Why do they call him Beauty An?"

"Because the author writes him as super beautiful!"

"Are the protagonist and the system acting all cute and clingy toward Beauty An?!"

"Dammit! This is making me want to spread rumors! (Delicious, love eating, eat more.jpg)"

"The beauty big shot × stupid rookie pairing is actually real, right!"

"Stupid? Isn't he more like refined?"

"Hmph."

"But it seems the protagonist has pissed off Xie Xuandu."

"A level 2 fighting a level 90—will they win? Of course they'll win."

"But why did they piss him off? Did I miss something?"

"It's a shipping war! It's obvious Xie is jealous because An Yi changed his mind because of the protagonist."

"Can you all just get lost! I'll say it again! This is a site for male readers! Believe me, I'll find you in real life! (Big tattooed arm.jpg)"

"You guys are so annoying. This is a site for male readers. Don't bring your BL ships here, alright? Alright."

"Hmph."

"..."