A Consequence of Opposing the Heroine’s Halo (GL) - Chapter 40

In winter, it grows dark early, and soon light-talismans illuminated the surroundings. Liu Sanye waited at the lecture hall entrance; as soon as Bai Tong emerged, Sanye grabbed her and ran toward the outer sect courtyard. Sanye ran fast, her rhythmic puffs of white breath merging with the late-night mist.

Bai Tong asked with a smile, “Why are you running so fast?”

Liu Sanye replied, “It’s the New Year. I’m going to make you grilled rice cakes.”

“You know how to make grilled rice cakes? You’re amazing.”

Liu Sanye felt smug at the praise, but on the surface, she acted indifferent. “It’s not that amazing.”

As they spoke, they arrived at the courtyard. Using a spell she had recently learned, Liu Sanye pulled a vine seed from her storage bag and catalyzed its growth, slowly weaving it into an open-air pavilion.

The vine pavilion had many gaps, so she took out her blanket and draped it over the top. Then, she wove chairs and a table into existence. Liu Sanye invited Bai Tong to the table and took out delicacies from her storage bag: spirit fruits she had “borrowed” from Green Wood Peak, as well as tangyuan and dumplings she had collected from the dining hall.

Bai Tong looked at the food and asked, “Didn’t you say you were making me grilled rice cakes?”

“Of course!” Finally, Liu Sanye pulled out the main event: two rice cakes, seasoned and skewered!

“Wait right here.” With that, she ignited a light-talisman and began grilling the rice cakes directly over it.

Liu Sanye’s definition of “making” grilled rice cakes was simply heating up pre-made ones.

Bai Tong: “…”

The flickering firelight cast a red glow on Liu Sanye’s fair face. She was fully concentrated on the rice cakes in her hand, flipping them occasionally. Her clear eyes reflected the rising and falling flames. Not wanting to burn the cakes in front of Bai Tong, she didn’t dare relax for a second.

Bai Tong watched quietly, her lips curling into a smile. A year ago, when Bai Tong’s family was slaughtered by demonic cultivators, it was also during a cold winter like this. She had thought she would never have a “Reunion Dinner” again.

Once the cakes were done, Liu Sanye checked them repeatedly by the firelight. After confirming three times that they were cooked but not burnt, she handed the most golden and beautiful one to Bai Tong.

Smiling brilliantly, she said, “For you.”

Bai Tong took it with a smile. “Rice cakes grilled by Sanye must be delicious.”

Liu Sanye was quite proud, but to maintain her image of humility, she struggled to suppress her rising smile. “It’s… it’s not that good.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, her eyes widened. “Wait, wait! A New Year’s Eve dinner should be lively!”

Liu Sanye hurriedly placed her cake on a plate, ran to Bai Tong’s side, and took the storage bag from her waist. She lined up the hammer, halberd, gourd, short blade, and a dozen other treasures. Finally, she said to the treasures with a smile, “I know you all have intelligence. It’s the New Year tonight, so everyone needs to liven up!”

At first, the treasures pretended to be pieces of wood, completely still. But after Liu Sanye threatened to give them away if they didn’t participate, the treasures—perhaps thinking of their departed “fan brother”—began to move. Some spun, some swayed, and one even started “clubbing” on the table.

Liu Sanye clapped her hands in satisfaction. “Mmm, very good.”

Bai Tong: “…”

The small treasures “clubbing” was fun for Liu Sanye, but her face darkened when the giant hammer started jumping too. The hammer was far too heavy; every time it bounced, the entire ground shook three times.

Liu Sanye wanted to stop it, but seeing the hammer so happy, she forced herself to endure. The result was that the two of them ate their New Year’s dinner amidst a series of mini-earthquakes.

While eating, Liu Sanye muttered, “I feel like New Year is still missing something.”

Bai Tong smiled. “What’s missing?”

Looking at the floating light-talismans of various sizes, a spark of inspiration hit Liu Sanye. “I know what it is!”

She ignited a light-talisman and cast a small explosion spell on it. The talisman cut through the night sky with a “whoosh,” and with a loud BOOM, a brilliant spark blossomed in the air. Liu Sanye turned back amidst the sparks, her eyes full of starlight. “Is it pretty?”

Bai Tong stared at the sky full of sparks and the girl who smiled more radiantly than the fire. After a long silence, she replied, “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“I think so too.” Liu Sanye turned back with a smile. Looking at the fireworks, she couldn’t help but think of her parents in her original home. It was the New Year; she wondered how sad they were without her there.

She wondered if time in her home world stayed frozen at the moment she left. If so, that would be best. If not… when she returned, would her loved ones still be alive? By then, would her home world be just another strange world to her?

After spending the New Year with Bai Tong, Liu Sanye rushed back to Green Wood Peak. Although there were no deacons to check in on her, Feng Zhu seemed to pay special attention to her. Last time she forgot to feed her Morning Chicken and it lost a tiny bit of weight, Feng Zhu found out immediately and dumped ten bottles of Itching Water on her. If Jun Yining hadn’t appeared with the antidote, she might have laughed to death.

Since then, she developed a massive psychological shadow regarding the silent Feng Zhu.

A few days later, the ground began to warm, and Jun Yiqing returned from his mission. News of his return spread through Green Wood Peak in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Everyone was ecstatic, acting as if they wanted to hold up banners to welcome the sect’s heartthrob.

When Jun Yiqing arrived, even disciples from the other four branches came to greet him. The procession was long and grand, but Liu Sanye was not in it. She was currently brooding in her cave dwelling.

Earlier that day, she had learned from Bai Tong that Jun Yiqing was finishing his mission and returning soon!

As for why “Tongtong” knew, it was because Jun Yiqing had been in constant contact with her! He was the one telling her!

Jun Yiqing had been secretly using his Soul Tool to message Tongtong, and Liu Sanye hadn’t known! She nearly spit blood from rage. She never expected Jun Yiqing to be so cunning!

Liu Sanye thought for a long time but couldn’t come up with a countermeasure. She took out a slip of paper and began writing while recalling the plot.

In the original text, after seeing Tongtong once, Jun Yiqing couldn’t get her out of his mind. He even gave her the Clear Water Pupil he got from a mission. At that time, Tongtong already considered him a good friend and accepted it.

Later, Bai Tong wanted to go to the South to pick the Mandui Fruit, but her strength wasn’t enough to take such a mission. Jun Yiqing invited her to go with him to collect Red Baby Fruits (used for Nascent Soul Pills). During the trip, they were schemed against by the Crow King of the demon race and underwent various trials together.

Liu Sanye didn’t think much of it when reading the book, but now her teeth felt sour with jealousy. To snatch back the luck, she would never let Bai Tong go to the South with Jun Yiqing!

“I must break them apart!” she declared indignantly.

As she spoke, she shredded the paper in her hand, looking exactly like a “villainous supporting female” stepped out of a novel.

After making her decision, she huddled at home for a few days to plan. Finally, she locked her gaze onto Jun Yining for help. That day, she prepared two baskets of spirit fruits and ran to visit his dwelling.

Jun Yining was startled by her sudden passion. He crossed his arms and looked at her warily. “What do you want? Offering such flattery for no reason—it’s either a trap or a trick!”

Liu Sanye replied with a smile like spring wind, “Good Senior Brother, I want to ask you a question.”

Jun Yining shook off the goosebumps at being called “Good Senior Brother.” “Can you speak normally?”

Liu Sanye immediately became serious. “I just want to know: when is your next mission outside?”

“Why do you ask?” Jun Yining squinted suspiciously.

“Since you’re so handsome, just tell me~”

Jun Yining frowned. “In one year. Why?”

Liu Sanye smiled. “Are you going to the South in a year?”

“Mhm, yes. Why?” he asked again.

Liu Sanye looked a bit embarrassed. “Can you take me and Bai Tong along with you?”

Hearing this, Jun Yining refused without thinking. “No. I’m not taking a burden like you.”

“Hey! How am I a burden!” She wanted to argue, but remembering she was asking a favor, she instantly deflated. She promised solemnly, “Don’t worry! I’ll be at the Foundation Establishment stage by then. I won’t be a burden!”

Jun Yining snorted. “Foundation Establishment is still a burden.” He looked at her very seriously. “Do you know what mission we’re doing in a year?”

“What mission?” Liu Sanye didn’t actually know. She only knew he and Chu Danxue would be in the South, where they would end up saving Bai Tong after she was schemed against by the Crow King.

Jun Yining replied, “The tracking devices calculated that a demonic artifact will appear in the South in a year. Martial Uncle Lin Yuan wants me and Eldest Senior Sister to lie in wait to ambush demonic cultivators coming for the treasure and destroy the artifact. If you two go, aren’t you just causing trouble?”

Liu Sanye hadn’t expected it to be a mission directly facing demonic cultivators. She asked worriedly, “Won’t it be too dangerous with just the two of you?”

Jun Yining laughed. “It’s not a powerful treasure; the demonic cultivators might not even risk leaving the snowy plains for it. Martial Uncle is just sending us to be safe. We’ll likely come back empty-handed.”

Liu Sanye breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled. “Since it’s not dangerous, we can go, right?”

Jun Yining: “…” Wait, he had intended to scare her off…

Liu Sanye tugged his sleeve, pleading shamelessly, “Senior Brother, let us go! If you let us go, you’ll definitely become even more handsome.”

Jun Yining: “…”

He squinted at her. “Why do you want to go to the South with us so badly?”

Liu Sanye lied without even needing a draft. “We just want to see the Great Demons in the South, but they’re too fierce. We’d only feel safe following such a powerful Senior Brother and Senior Sister.”

“Really?”

Liu Sanye nodded frantically. “Really!”

Jun Yining scrutinized her, seemingly weighing her words. After a moment, he crossed his arms and laughed. “I like the sound of that. Fine. I’ll take you to see the Great Demons of the South.”

Liu Sanye silently made a “Yes!” sign in her heart.