Chapter 18: I Detest Humans Who Lack Boundaries

Jiang Zao heard the voice but couldn't be bothered to respond, continuing to pretend she was asleep.

"Hey, wake up!"

The youth crouched beside Jiang Zao and poked her chubby cheek impolitely to call out to her.

[I hate people who have no sense of boundaries!]

The stranger’s hand froze. His eyes widened as the girl, who had been pretending to sleep, woke up and glared at him impatiently.

"What do you want!"

It was the exact same voice as before!

"You, say something else."

The youth desperately wanted to verify something, but his insistence only annoyed Jiang Zao.

"Are you sick in the head!"

Jiang Zao expected him to get angry, but instead, he just grinned foolishly. Her internal alarm bells rang, and she struggled to scoot backward, staring at him with wariness.

[He probably has some kind of numerical personality disorder!]

He could actually hear it!

The stranger’s eyes lit up, causing Jiang Zao’s pupils to dilate, her wariness deepening.

[Mom, I’ve met a pervert!]

"I—I’m not a per—a bad person," the youth stammered, waving his hands in a panic. He had almost let the word "pervert" slip out but managed to catch himself just in time.

However, Jiang Zao didn't believe a word he said. What villain would admit to being a villain, unless they were mentally deranged?

Lou Si introduced himself cheerfully: "My name is Lou Si. What’s your name?"

Lou Si was so excited he wanted to shout it out, but afraid of scaring the young girl, he forced himself to hold back. He could hear her inner thoughts... What was this called? It was telepathy! He must have some miraculous connection with the girl in front of him; otherwise, how could he hear her thoughts? He was truly a child of destiny, and perhaps the girl before him was a celestial being sent from the heavens to help him.

[Lou... Si? Lou Si!]

Jiang Zao’s eyes widened in shock, and she finally began to look at him properly.

The youth looked bright and sunny. His deep brown eyes were sparkling, yet they hid a hint of rebellion. Long, gentle eyelashes rested against his eyes, and his nose bridge was high and straight. His black and red martial attire outlined his physique. A black and gold belt was fastened at his waist, adorned with a hollowed-out white jade pendant that shimmered in the sunlight. His hair, tied up with a crown, swayed in the wind.

He matched the description in the book perfectly.

Jiang Zao forgave his earlier rudeness and softened her tone: "Jiang Zao."

[Ah, He Mobai’s disciple, Jiang Zhuoran’s fourth martial brother, who also met a miserable end.]

Thinking of Lou Si’s life, she couldn't help but feel a touch of pity for him. His country had fallen, the dynasty had changed, and his parents and siblings had become slaves of a conquered nation. Overnight, he had become a lone soul, and the bright, youthful youth was never to be seen again.

*Celestial being? What does that mean? Will I die?*

Lou Si suppressed his confusion, knowing that since he could hear her heart, he would eventually find out.

"A-Zao, do you know my Junior Sister... Jiang Zhuoran?" The youth had no guile when it came to girls and asked his question straight out.

Jiang Zao looked up, puzzled: "How do you know?"

She didn't remember mentioning her relationship with Jiang Zhuoran to Lou Si. Could they have communicated about it before? The more Jiang Zao thought about it, the more convinced she became.

"Ah, the Junior Sister told me before." Lou Si realized his mistake and scratched his head, looking away guiltily.

"Fine." Jiang Zao didn't have the slightest suspicion about his words.

"Jiang Zhuoran is my older sister."

"A younger sister?"

Lou Si was surprised. It was the first time he had heard that his Junior Sister had such an interesting younger sister.

Jiang Zao glanced at him. It was just a status; she didn't see why he was so surprised.

"Then, little sister, did you come to this secret realm by yourself?"

Jiang Zao shook her head: "No."

She certainly wouldn't have dared to come alone; the only thing she hadn't expected was to be separated from them the moment she entered.

Hearing her denial, Lou Si clearly breathed a sigh of relief and asked again: "What about the others?"

"I don't know. You are the first person I've seen since entering the realm," Jiang Zao said, pointing at him flatly.

"It doesn't matter. Until we meet up with them, I won't let you get hurt," Lou Si promised, patting his chest. Even if he had to die, he wouldn't let the celestial being get hurt.

"Thank you, Fourth Brother," Jiang Zao thanked him cheerfully.

[Lou Si is Sister's fourth martial brother, and I am Sister's younger sister. Lou Si just called me 'little sister', so calling him 'Fourth Brother' is perfectly fine.]

She didn't feel there was anything wrong with her logic at all.

Looking at Lou Si, he seemed completely bewildered. Could the relationship be calculated like that? Lou Si didn't understand, but he went along with it—whatever the celestial being said must be right.

"A-Zao, little sister, let's go."

"Okay."

Jiang Zao followed obediently behind Lou Si, acting as a helper whenever they encountered useful spiritual flowers or herbs. The two walked along, harvesting everything in sight. Every plot of land with spiritual plants was left completely bare. They were happy with the harvest, but the places they had raided were left bald and looking completely out of place with their surroundings.

"Junior Sister, are you alright?"

By the lake, Yan Wuqiu quickly reached Jiang Zhuoran, who was kneeling on the ground, injured. He fed her an elixir, looking worried.

Jiang Zhuoran shook her head, staring coldly at the giant python spitting its forked tongue in the lake: "Second Martial Brother, I'm fine, don't worry."

The two had entered the realm together, only to be entangled by the monster in front of them the moment they arrived, unable to break free.

*I wonder how Zaozao is doing now.*

Compared to her own injuries, Jiang Zhuoran was most worried about Jiang Zao, whose whereabouts were unknown. She was only at the first level of Qi Refining; she would have no power to fight back if she encountered a monster, even with her many magic treasures.

The more Jiang Zhuoran thought about it, the more anxious she became. She had to finish off this monster quickly so she could go with Second Martial Brother to find Zaozao.

*Zaozao, you must wait for your sister!*

Jiang Zhuoran looked at Yan Wuqiu, who understood the meaning in her eyes and nodded gravely. In this dangerous secret realm, they didn't have much time.

"Sister! Senior Brother Yan!"

Jiang Zao waved excitedly when she saw their familiar figures.

"Zaozao!"

"Zaozao, watch out!"

"Junior Sister Zaozao, get out of the way!"

The giant python, which had been confronting the two, shifted its target to the weaker Jiang Zao upon hearing the commotion. It twisted its body and moved rapidly toward her with its blood-red maw wide open.

The rapidly approaching maw left her mind blank, and she froze in place. Everything happened too suddenly. Jiang Zhuoran and Yan Wuqiu shouted at her, but both were already injured and couldn't reach her in time.

Jiang Zhuoran was on the verge of a breakdown as she watched the monster get closer and closer to Jiang Zao, struggling to run in her direction.

"No, don't!"

"You bastard!"

"Die!"

Just as Yan Wuqiu and Jiang Zhuoran were in complete despair, a youth in red stepped unhesitatingly in front of Jiang Zao. He held dozens of talismans in his hands, throwing them frantically at the python’s mouth, head, and vital points.

What it lacked in power, it made up for in quantity. Finally, under Lou Si’s barrage of talismans, the python retreated in pain and dove into the lake.

The crisis was temporarily averted. Lou Si collapsed to the ground, his heart still racing; he had been terrified that his talismans wouldn't be enough. Fortunately, the python had been successfully repelled.

The feeling of surviving a disaster... was truly good.

The sudden appearance and disappearance of the giant python had sent Jiang Zao’s emotions on a rollercoaster. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat, and her body swayed as if she might collapse at any second. Fortunately, Yan Wuqiu caught her in time.

"Careful."

Once everything calmed down, Jiang Zhuoran, with tears in her eyes, regained her composure and rushed to her side.

"Zaozao, Zaozao."

Jiang Zao felt warmed by the care of those around her. Not wanting them to worry too much, she pretended to be strong and shook her head.

"I'm fine. Thanks to Fourth Brother just now."

Jiang Zhuoran and Yan Wuqiu shared the same look of confusion.

Fourth Brother... who was that?