Chapter 1 - Love from the Male Protagonist’s Harem

The night was deep and enigmatic, the dense forest layered in shadows, with the whispers of ten thousand leaves carried on the wind, faintly interspersed with the chirping of cicadas. A youth clad in coarse linen clothing was laboriously lifting a bucket full of water, trudging up the uneven mountain path. The moon shone brightly, and after walking for some time, he found himself out of breath and decided to rest by setting the bucket aside. Just then, a faint rustling sound emerged from the thickets, as if a wild beast were moving through. Perplexed, the young linen-clad person looked around, suddenly noticing a shadow swiftly passing through the dense forest. Alerted, he crouched low and hid in a cluster of grass, keeping his eyes on that elusive figure. Amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, the figure moved hurriedly. Observing the direction in which it was heading, his heart skipped a beat — toward the back mountain? The silhouette seemed somewhat familiar. Gazing at the water bucket he had set aside, and then at the shadow's direction, he gritted his teeth and abandoned the bucket to follow. His footsteps were light and slow, while the shadow seemed anxious, hurrying along without noticing anyone tailing behind. Thus, they descended the winding mountain path, eventually reaching the forbidden grounds of the back mountain. “This person... is really heading to the restricted area of the back mountain!” The linen-clad youth felt a surge of panic as he contemplated whether to return and inform others. Before he could make a decision, he accidentally stepped on a twig with a snap. The person in black heard the sound and was startled, their actions disorganized; a sideways tree branch knocked half off their mask, exposing part of their face under the bright moonlight, allowing the youth hidden behind the tree to see clearly. "…Xia Wuyin?!" His heart raced in shock. Xia Wuyin… What was he doing at the back mountain?! The back mountain was a forbidden area within Lingxi Mountain, off-limits to any disciple. As a disciple of Danfeng, although an outer sect member, he should be aware of this! Torn with conflicting thoughts, the linen-clad youth’s expression was complicated, his hand gripping the tree trunk tightly. The idea of returning to notify his peers was quickly dismissed. If it had been a stranger, perhaps he would have informed someone. But if it was Xia Wuyin... Grinding his teeth, the linen-clad youth resolved to follow. However, he hadn’t taken many steps before a mocking voice reached him. “Well, what business does a little Danfeng disciple have wandering around the back mountain?” The youth’s heart sank instantly, knowing he was busted! Yet, he tried to maintain a calm façade as he turned towards the voice, only to see a young man in blue, with a long sword in hand, his noble appearance edged with coldness and sharpness. “My identity jade fell off the mountain this way.” The linen-clad youth gazed down, “While searching, I accidentally reached the back mountain. I'll leave right away.” “Ha, the back mountain is forbidden territory. It’s not a place to come and go as you please.” The youth in blue sneered, his sword unsheathing slightly, its glint catching the moonlight, projecting a chilling aura. “If you don’t learn your lesson, I doubt you even know how to properly write the word ‘forbidden’!” The linen-clad youth felt a cold gust through him, his heart bitter despite the forced smile. “I’m only here for a jade pendant…” Dealing with the Sword Peak disciples was always a drawn-out affair, and it seemed tonight wouldn’t end peacefully. Summer Wuyin, what possessed you to show up at the back mountain at this hour?! “I…” "A Ze." A gentle voice, belonging to a girl, cut through the air. “I didn’t know fetching water could bring someone all the way to the back mountain.” The linen-clad youth looked up, immediately silenced by the sight. He lowered his head, whispering, “Se-senior Sister.” The blue-robed youth’s pupils contracted slightly before he sneered again, “Your Danfeng group gathering at the back mountain doesn't fear the sect leader’s punishment, does it?!” The girl wore soft white robes; her wide sleeves and hem were intricately embroidered with red maple leaves. A red belt cinched her slender waist, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, lazily tied at the tail with a red silk ribbon. Her features were artful; her gaze had a hint of chill. “If Danfeng disciples err, it's up to Danfeng to discipline them.” The mountain wind howled, flapping her wide sleeves dramatically. Her expression was calm yet harboring a hint of threat in the eyes. “It's forbidden to come to the back mountain, but since when did it become a place for you Sword Peak disciples to roam and torment others?” With her words, she waved her sleeve, releasing a formidable aura. The sword-wielding youth stumbled back three steps under her pressure, eyes wide open, “You're Danfeng’s leading disciple, Gu Peijiu!” Her voice was indifferent, “Indeed, I am.” “Hmph, what’s so great about that?” The blue-robed disciple grunted, clutching his chest, yet backing away unwillingly. A top disciple from a peak wasn't someone he dared contend with. Gu Peijiu watched the blue-robed disciple retreat, then turned to the linen-clad youth, “Ye Ze, do you realize your mistake?” The young boy immediately dropped to his knees, voice panicked, “Disciple knows my fault. I shouldn’t have loitered at the back mountain at midnight. Please, Senior Sister, punish me!” “Copy the Dan manual three hundred times as punishment.” Gu Peijiu’s voice was calm, “Your jade pendant isn’t in the back mountain; it’s at the Alchemy Pavilion.” Ye Ze’s face flushed red, “Thank, thank you, Senior Sister, for the guidance.” “The back mountain is no place to linger. Follow me back.” Gu Peijiu turned, her red maple-embroidered sleeves swirling coolly under the moonlight. Ye Ze followed closely, his initial tension easing slightly. Following behind Gu Peijiu, his curiosity compelled him to glance back— Why exactly was Xia Wuyin heading to the back mountain? “What are you looking at?” Gu Peijiu’s cold voice unexpectedly broke the silence, startling Ye Ze. He quickly turned back, “Nothing, nothing, I was just...” She frowned slightly, seeming to have realized something, “The wind...” The magical aura from the back mountain had intensified. Abruptly, Gu Peijiu’s pupils constricted, “Go back, the back mountain has changed!” Ye Ze felt an ominous pang, “Senior Sister!” “Three hundred versions of the Dan manual, present them to me in three days.” With that, her figure flickered and vanished without a trace. “Senior Sister!” he cried out, this time his voice almost a desperate shout, startling the midnight birds into flight. Unbeknownst to all the commotion behind him, Xia Wuyin was also taken aback, but with no time to ponder, he adjusted the mask back on and continued deeper into the back mountain. 【System Initial Task: Locate the Back Mountain’s Liuli Wood】 【Task Progress: In Progress】 Summer Wuyin, or Xia Ge, was filled with complex emotions. Such furtive tasks weren’t to her liking, but once used to them, stopping was nearly impossible. It’s addictive. Under the system’s guidance, Xia Wuyin moved aside a patch of wild grass and spotted a palm-sized, irregularly shaped, crystalline plant glimmering like glass under the moonlight. The plant's base sprouted clusters of leaves, cradling the irregular transparent liuli wood. Thrilled, she crouched down, retrieved a small sickle from her sleeve designed for herb gathering, and carefully cut the liuli wood from its roots. 【Ding! Task item acquired: Liuli Wood】 【Task Completed】 Xia Wuyin obtained the liuli wood, but before she could relax, a turn of her head nearly shocked her senseless. “Se-Se-Se… Senior Sister?!” The following moment, she realized the gravity of her situation. Dressed like a petty thief, if she wasn’t mistaken for Lingxi Mountain’s spy, it would indeed be a miracle! However, Gu Peijiu merely looked at her, a cryptic expression on her face, remaining silent. Xia Wuyin regretted her words immediately, wishing she could slap herself silly for her carelessness. Damn it, why did she blurt out ‘Senior Sister’ with a black mask on?! What a disgrace to thieves everywhere! “Well then... mountains are tall, water is long, until fate brings us together again!” Securely clutching the liuli wood, Xia Wuyin made a decisive leap into the trees, discreetly activating her system-granted lightfoot skill. “Ghost Shadow Steps!” System-granted skill, 【Ghost Shadow Steps】. In an instant, Xia Wuyin felt lighter, and upon turning back, she saw her Senior Sister standing motionless as if enchanted. Amidst her concealed glee was a span of doubt. What had happened to her Senior Sister? According to her Senior Sister’s usual strict and upright nature, catching Xia Wuyin dressed like this in the back mountain would at the very least result in a thrashing or a punishment involving copying scriptures hundreds of times. At worst, she could be expelled from the sect as a traitor or spy. Yet now, her Senior Sister stood there unmoving—what was going on? Under the effects of Ghost Shadow Steps, Xia Wuyin’s silhouette split into three or four shadows, moving rapidly. It seemed like she would disappear within the blink of an eye. Forget it, of the thirty-six stratagems, escape was the best plan! The night was deep and dark. Returning to awareness, Gu Peijiu gently raised her head, lightly waved her hand. A crimson ribbon suddenly shot out from her sleeve, cutting through the layers of branches with the elegance of practiced skill. It appeared delicate and ethereal but precisely and swiftly struck one of the fleeing shadows in the thigh! Gu Peijiu whispered softly, her black eyes shadowed by an ominous aura, “Caught... you.” Had Ye Ze been here to witness, he would certainly have noticed something amiss with his Senior Sister’s demeanor. The traditionally upright and proud Senior Sister shouldn’t have had such a terrifying and ominous expression! Meanwhile, convinced she had escaped, Xia Wuyin felt a piercing pain in her right leg and then a sudden, inexplicable bind. Stumbling, her left foot slipped on a branch, and she toppled awkwardly, managing to grab a sturdy branch with one hand, hanging precariously. Looking down in astonishment, she realized her right leg had been tightly bound by a red ribbon. The ribbon extended into the endless forest and from her right leg... stretched all the way to her Senior Sister’s hand! "What the...?!" Xia Wuyin wasn't a fool. She quickly retrieved her small sickle, the one she used for harvesting spiritual wood, and slashed at the red ribbon. To her surprise, although it appeared soft and delicate, the ribbon was exceptionally tough—impervious to water and fire, and unbreakable even by steel. She had barely made a couple of cuts before the ribbon suddenly tightened! Distracted by her efforts to sever it, Xia Wuyin lost her grip on the branch, and before she knew it, she was plummeting down from the high tree! At that moment, Xia Wuyin's first instinct was to cover her face. Her head could be broken, and blood might flow, but she absolutely couldn’t lose face!