Chapter 2 - Love from the Male Protagonist’s Harem

There was no embarrassment after all. Xia Wuyin felt a sudden lightness as gentle hands encircled her waist, pulling her into a soft embrace. She looked up to find herself face-to-face with her senior sister's slightly cold chin. She landed softly on the ground with her. Confirming that neither her dignity nor her face mask was lost, Xia Wuyin immediately began to court disaster. She wrapped her arms around Gu Peijiu's waist, teasing, "Thank you for saving me, sister. I'm forever grateful, but I'm curious—is your beauty matched only by your kind heart…" She pressed a small knife, aimed at slicing through red silk, against Gu Peijiu's lower back, its sharp point at a crucial spot. Her left hand brushed across Gu Peijiu's cheek as she provocatively whispered, "Soft and sweet?" Dressed as a boy, Xia Wuyin's youthful voice paired with her strikingly alluring eyes was truly a temptation. Gu Peijiu held her impassively without letting go. Standing at 1.7 meters, she towered over Xia Wuyin, who, having traveled to this world at eight or nine, was now only twelve or thirteen. Gu Peijiu's hold left Xia's feet dangling, her small arm just barely looping around her waist—her knife precisely at the vulnerable spot. "Seeing as you're so pretty, might you spare me and let me go?" With her feet barely touching the ground, Xia Wuyin's full weight leaned against Gu Peijiu, bringing them intimately close. Her sweet talk mingled with her precise aim—truthfully, her sense of security was lacking. Gu Peijiu studied her briefly before unexpectedly releasing her. The release caught Xia Wuyin off guard, landing her abruptly on her feet and throwing off her aim. Gu Peijiu swiftly twisted Xia's arm behind her back, securing it with the red silk that seemed to come alive, wrapping Xia into a helpless bundle. Seeing herself tied up like a red worm and the unemotional Gu Peijiu before her, Xia Wuyin knew her mischief had ended—she realized it the moment her knife missed the mark. Stuck on the thought of her downfall, Xia Wuyin was startled by a sudden chill on her face. Her face mask had been removed. Well, there went her last shred of dignity. Xia Wuyin widened her narrow eyes, her mind racing as she managed to squeeze out a few crocodile tears, feigning the look of a victim. "I'm sorry, senior sister… I…" The esteemed Senior Sister of Danfeng, Gu Peijiu, finally spoke her first words to Xia Wuyin since arriving at the back mountain. "Are you a disciple of Danfeng?" Two years into her role as an errand disciple at Danfeng, Xia Wuyin: … Not surprisingly, Gu Peijiu had only joined Danfeng six months prior. Her exceptional talent and rapid advancement shot her to the top—by the time she became Danfeng's senior sister, Xia Wuyin was miserably prepping for her sixth doomed entrance exam. We need not mention how that exam turned out. Despite knowing who the illustrious senior sister was, the senior sister might not even know who Xia was. Immediately, Xia Wuyin burst into tears, announcing herself, "Sister! Senior sister! I’m Xia Wuyin, the 88th outer sect disciple of Danfeng, Lineage 556th, of the Lingxi Mountain region!" Ignoring Xia's lengthy self-introduction filled with geographic details, Gu Peijiu reached for Xia Wuyin's waist, correctly finding an identity jade. Wrapped in red silk, Xia could only yell nonsensical accusations of "sexual harassment" and "taking advantage," sounding like a ridiculous squirming caterpillar. Gu Peijiu ignored these chaotic complaints, confirming the jade's authenticity before coldly remarking, "You remember your portal details clearly enough, why not the Danfeng Mountain rules?" Xia Wuyin fell silent, ceasing her wriggling, lying like a soaked red tropical salted fish. Gu Peijiu continued expressionlessly, "Shall I remind you? Danfeng rule number 88: No Danfeng disciple is allowed in the back mountain—violators will be expelled from Danfeng…" Xia Wuyin's eyes lit up, attempting to flip the situation: "Really?! That good? I understand the rule, but I've been meaning to ask if, after being expelled from Danfeng, I can join Jianfeng?" Gu Peijiu: "…or you could transcribe the mountain rules three thousand times as a warning to others." Perhaps Xia Wuyin's visible disappointment was too evident; Gu Peijiu hesitated, "Isn't Danfeng good enough?" Weakly, Xia Wuyin lifted her chin, and Gu Peijiu followed her gaze. The effort Xia Wuyin had expended through their struggle—no, the loot—the glazed wood lay neatly on dead leaves, under the moonlight, its colors reflecting brightly. Gu Peijiu furrowed her brow, "Glazed wood?" "Yes…" Xia Wuyin gasped weakly, "I am deeply grateful for all Danfeng has done for me…" "Danfeng's countless merits are too many to list... The camaraderie within the sect is unmatched, brotherly love abundant..." "But senior sister… there's something truly frustrating and difficult to voice…” Gu Peijiu could see how Xia Wuyin tended to ramble, "Get to the point." After rushing over to save the precariously fallen Xia Wuyin, the unsettling demonic aura in the back mountain had vanished, which is why she could now leisurely listen to this fellow's ramblings. Then she heard the earnest declaration: "Senior sister… the outer disciples of Danfeng are too poor." Gu Peijiu: "…" Noticing Gu Peijiu's slightly perplexed expression, Xia Wuyin quickly launched into her heartfelt complaint: "Senior Sister! Truly, every pitiful person has their trials. It's true I violated the rules by going to the back mountain, but please, expel me from Danfeng… Oh, I mean, look, in the mortal realm, this glazed wood only fetches about ten taels of silver, and among practitioners, maybe just two mid-grade spirit stones. I live on a mere three copper coins a day, barely managing to get by, saving for ten days just to afford a pot of yellow wine…” Gu Peijiu: “…Danfeng prohibits alcohol.” Xia Wuyin promptly composed herself, “I drink outside, not within.” Being caught drinking in Danfeng incurs a fine of ten mid-grade spirit stones! How could an outer sect disciple of Danfeng, surviving on a mere three copper coins a day, even think of paying such fines? Gu Peijiu: "You're just twelve or thirteen, what interest do you have in drinking?" Xia Wuyin grinned, "Young and suave, a sip eases all woes!" Gu Peijiu flatly responded, "That's incorrect, that's not how the saying goes." What a misleading poem. Xia Wuyin coughed awkwardly, "Whether it's correct doesn't matter… More importantly, Senior Sister, to advance from an outer disciple of Danfeng to a registered one, I'll need to refine a fasting pill during the monthly sect assessment. And the main ingredient for that fasting pill is glazed wood…" "Calculating, three years since entry, I've failed six times in a row..." Gu Peijiu corrected her, “It's only been two years.” Xia Wuyin brazenly: “Same thing. Either way, I'm bankrupt.” Gu Peijiu couldn't help but interject, "A fasting pill isn't that complicated and doesn't require a spiritual boost. Even mortal pharmacists can occasionally produce similar fasting concoctions…” …How could someone fail six times? Xia Wuyin sighed dramatically, “It’s a matter of my unique talent.” Gu Peijiu: "…" With deep sincerity, she continued, “See, Senior Sister, I might be better suited for Jianfeng, where chivalry reigns, and one can right wrongs, rob the rich, and travel the world…” Gu Peijiu glanced at the hint of night attire peeking from beneath the red silk. Xia Wuyin, noticing her sister’s meaningful gaze, kept her composure, "Sometimes, outlaws are greatly respected in the martial world." Gu Peijiu raised her coldly by the red silk, “Alas, Lingxi Mountain lacks a Thief Peak.” Dangling under Gu Peijiu's grip, Xia Wuyin paled, yet her defiant spirit held, "Truly a shame." Gu Peijiu retorted with a cold smile, "Danfeng's outer sect disciple, Xia Wuyin, has violated Mountain Regulations articles 88, 44, and 32. As punishment, copy the rules three thousand times and forfeit a month's stipend. Reflect in seclusion for a month as well!" It wasn't surprising that she knew her name from the jade pendant engraved with her identification and name. Xia Wuyin forced a cheerful smile, "My disciple number is 88 too… How lucky, but it hasn't brought me wealth... I mean, Senior Sister! What about articles 44 and 32? An entire month's stipend?! That's 90 copper coins!" Her protest became a desperate, determined stand despite her ashen face, displaying an unwavering resolve to seek justice. Gu Peijiu, seeing her poor condition, remembered that despite her mistakes, she was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old child. She tied the silk around her waist, securing Xia Wuyin to her back, though her voice remained cool, “Article 44: Disrespecting a superior—penalty is loss of stipend.” Xia Wuyin staunchly defended, “How was I disrespectful?! I called you Senior Sister the first time we met!” The thought alone pained her. Gu Peijiu was unfazed, “Article 32: Threatening a superior—additional punishment warranted.” Xia Wuyin denied vehemently, “No, I did not!” Gu Peijiu: "Article 31: Refusal to admit wrongdoing—another month's stipend forfeited." Xia Wuyin felt utterly defeated. Sensing the silence behind her, Gu Peijiu allowed a slight smile to play at her lips. The once noisy youth was finally quiet. As she turned to leave the back mountain, the timid voice from her back spoke, “Um… my hard work… no, I mean, the glazed wood…” Xia Wuyin’s heart ached, “Could you, perhaps… bring it along for me?” Before Gu Peijiu could respond, Xia Wuyin began to wail tearfully, “You can’t leave it behind! My seventh attempt hinges on it! Senior Sister! Danfeng's bright future needs me!” Her impassioned plea was enough to tug at heartstrings, sounding like she had endured great injustice. Gu Peijiu casually replied, “Weren’t you talking about going to Jianfeng?” Xia Wuyin: "…" Gu Peijiu raised an eyebrow, “Hmm?” With a serious expression, Xia Wuyin declared, “After much thought, I realized the people of Jianfeng are too aggressive; it's not quite fitting for someone who prefers peaceful cultivation like me.” Gu Peijiu calmly responded, “I doubt Danfeng suits you either.” Failing refining six fasting pills was truly unprecedented. Xia Wuyin quickly changed her approach, hesitantly and with some boldness, “You see, Senior Sister, since you think so… perhaps it’d be better for me to avoid copying the rules and just get expelled from Danfeng altogether. I've heard Shoufeng is in need of people…” Gu Peijiu's tone lifted slightly, “Oh? Then it seems like you no longer require the glazed wood for Danfeng’s assessment.” With that, she turned as if to leave. Xia Wuyin cried out, heart-wrenchingly, “No—Senior Sister! I've realized that I adore Danfeng the most! Absolutely love it! Danfeng's Senior Sister is incredibly beautiful! The very best! I want to stay at Danfeng forever just to see you!” "...I swear! Danfeng's Senior Sister is devastatingly beautiful! The best in all the sects! I'll jot down every rule a thousand times over, all for the chance to admire you my whole life!" Her outburst startled a flock of cold crows into the air. Gu Peijiu's face darkened halfway, "Enough!" Xia Wuyin promptly fell silent. She feared that she'll get accused of disrespecting her senior and could lose another month's stipend as an excuse. With an impassive face, the young woman with red maple leaves embroidered on her sleeves picked up the glazed wood from the ground and slipped it into her sleeve, "After you've copied the rules three thousand times, come see me to retrieve it." "...Oh." "And keep your promises." "Oh… huh?" "The 46th rule of the sect..." "Oh, oh, I promise, I promise! I'll stay at Danfeng forever just to see Senior Sister!" Gu Peijiu's expression turned entirely dark, and she restrained herself, "That's not what I meant." Xia Wuyin: "Then... is it that Senior Sister is the most beautiful?" Gu Peijiu: "…No." Xia Wuyin felt quite helpless, "Then what do you really mean?" A vein pulsed on Gu Peijiu’s forehead, "Shut up!" How on earth was she supposed to explain it!