All of this stemmed from a previous spiritual root test. When she arrived with Niu Niu, Xuan Lin had just been identified as possessing the rare triple spiritual roots of metal, wood, and fire. Upon seeing them, he visibly tensed—after all, abandoning his own young sister wasn’t exactly a praiseworthy act.
At first, he held his tongue, but when Niu Niu was tested and revealed to have a rare mutated wind spiritual root, he couldn’t stay silent any longer.
Shi Xia didn’t fully grasp the significance, but the ecstatic expressions on the faces of the three Yu Yin Sect disciples on the platform made it clear just how extraordinary this root was. They even shed their usual aloof, superior demeanor, eagerly crowding around Niu Niu and calling her "junior sister" with overwhelming enthusiasm.
Xuan Lin’s expression twisted with barely concealed frustration, and Shi Xia couldn’t resist gloating, tossing out a few sarcastic remarks. That was all it took for Xuan Lin to snap. He first hurled insults at Niu Niu, but when the sect disciples shot him disapproving looks, he redirected his fury toward Shi Xia, the one who had brought Niu Niu here.
And then, as if fate had it out for her, he actually guessed her name.
"Shi Xia is the Demon Lord’s sister! We can’t let this demoness escape!" Xuan Lin fanned the flames further.
"Who said I’m Shi Xia?" Shi Xia shot back. "Got any proof?" Damn it, she was finally learning the price of running her mouth. With so many hostile eyes locked onto her, she needed to figure out the best way to flee without getting sliced into too many pieces.
"Your surname is Shi, and she calls you ‘Xia-jie’—who else could you be?"
"Hey, hey, hey! You can shovel crap all you want, but don’t go spouting nonsense! When did I ever say my surname was Shi?"
"You said it yourself six months ago! You didn’t give your full name, but I distinctly heard the character ‘Shi’!"
Damn, did he have to have such a good memory? "Oh, so just because you say so, it must be true? Who can back you up?"
"You—!" Xuan Lin faltered, then turned to the three sect disciples with a dark expression. "Esteemed Immortals, a demoness like Shi Xia must be eradicated—better to kill the wrong person than let her escape, or the consequences will be dire!"
Xuan Lin was dead set on burying her. What a snake.
"Besides," he added, flashing her a smug grin as he twisted the logic, "who can prove you’re not Shi Xia?"
Shi Xia was at a loss for words.
"I can!"
A deep, resonant voice suddenly boomed across the entire plaza, its sheer force leaving the crowd momentarily dizzy.
A middle-aged man strode forward from below the platform, the crowd parting before him with reverence.
"It’s the City Lord—Long Aotian is here!"
"Long Aotian himself! He actually came in person!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd, excitement barely contained despite hushed tones.
The man advanced with an imposing aura, each step radiating authority. Even the three sect disciples on the platform rose and clasped their fists in respect. "City Lord Long."
"Immortal Masters." He returned the gesture, then turned his shining eyes toward Shi Xia.
She felt a shiver crawl down her spine.
"Benefactor!" He rushed forward, his eyes sparkling like stars. "To think Long Aotian would live to see you again! I have never forgotten your kindness. Please, accept my gratitude!" With that, he dropped to his knees before her.
Shi Xia startled, sidestepping quickly. "Who the hell are you?"
"Benefactor?" The man blinked. "I’m Long Aotian!"
Shi Xia’s lips twitched. "Nice to meet you. I’m Zhao Ritian."
_________________
"Benefactor, do you remember? Thirty years ago, when I was pursued by enemies and fell into the valley, it was you who passed me a peerless manual and taught me how to detoxify and reconnect my meridians. I owe my survival—and everything I am today—to you. For thirty years, I have longed for this moment, hoping to repay your kindness."
Thirty years? Thirty years ago, she wasn’t even an egg yet!
You’ve got the wrong person, pal! She had zero recollection of saving someone this buff—his muscles were practically bursting out of his robes.
And worst of all, his chest was bigger than hers. Unacceptable!
=_=!
"City Lord Long," one of the Yu Yin Sect disciples interjected cautiously, "you know this young lady? Then is she…?" He was clearly asking whether she was the demoness Shi Xia.
"Patience." Long Aotian nodded at the disciples before addressing the crowd in a booming voice. "Everyone! I do indeed know this young lady. She is the very benefactor I have sought for years. On my honor, she is no demoness named Shi Xia. Her name is—Shunfeng Kuaidi!"
Pfft—cough, cough!
Shi Xia choked on her own spit. Shunfeng Kuaidi? What kind of ridiculous name was that? Who just slaps an ad into someone’s life like that? There was no way anyone would buy this nonsense!
"Ah, so it’s a misunderstanding! She’s not Shi Xia after all."
"Shunfeng Kuaidi—such an upright name! Nothing like a demoness."
"Exactly! How could the City Lord’s benefactor be evil?"
"Who was the one spreading lies earlier?"
Shi Xia: "…" They actually bought it! Where’s the collective intelligence? Damn it!
The situation flipped instantly. Xuan Lin’s face darkened.
"City Lord Long is a man of integrity—his word is beyond doubt." Even the sect disciples clasped their fists apologetically. "Our mistake. We hope you’ll forgive the misunderstanding." They shot Xuan Lin a glare.
Not only had his scheme failed, but he’d somehow earned a mountain of ill will and alienated the very sect disciples he’d hoped to impress. Xuan Lin had lost big time.
Meanwhile, Shi Xia—now "cleared" of her supposed identity—was showered with sympathy, the crowd’s gazes softening toward her.
Her feelings? Complicated. Sure, not being public enemy number one was great, but being forcibly renamed "Shunfeng Kuaidi" wasn’t exactly cause for celebration. Damn it!
She’d only delivered a few packages in her life!
Wait… packages? Long Aotian?
"You’re that Long Aotian?!" Suddenly, she remembered—the tenth delivery at the bottom of the cliff. But wasn’t that a wuxia world? Since when did wuxia and xianxia worlds establish diplomatic relations?
"Benefactor, you’ve finally remembered me!" Long Aotian’s eyes welled up with emotion.
"Uh… could you stand up first?" Having him kneel like this was way too much pressure.
Long Aotian scrambled to his feet eagerly. "Benefactor, this is no place for conversation. Why not come to my residence?"
Shi Xia had a million questions for him, but she hesitated, glancing at Niu Niu.
"Worry not, Benefactor. She may come as well." Long Aotian understood her concern. "The Immortal Masters’ selection will take another day. I’ll bring her back tomorrow before they depart."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go." Relieved, Shi Xia scooped up Niu Niu and started walking. "Oh, and… does your place serve food?"
"Don't worry, Benefactor, there’s plenty to eat!" Long Aotian thumped his chest in assurance.
She felt relieved.
"Benefactor, do you remember this?" Long Aotian handed her a booklet. "It’s because of this that I survived and avenged my deep-seated hatred."
Shi Xia looked down and saw the words Yuan Manual written on the cover—the first character was one she didn’t recognize.
"The Primordial Yuan Manual!" Wasn’t this the very package she had delivered back then?
"Exactly." Long Aotian nodded excitedly.
"Are you sure it’s this one?" But when she had given it to him before, the text had clearly been in simplified Chinese!
"Of course!" he affirmed. "I’ve kept this manual safe for many years."
Shi Xia took it casually, her doubts growing deeper. "But I distinctly remember…" She paused mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she pointed at the book. "You… did you see that?"
"What?" Long Aotian looked baffled.
"The text! The words on this book just changed!" A moment ago, it had been written in this world’s script, but now it had transformed into simplified Chinese!
"Did it?" He took the booklet and flipped through it, but Shi Xia watched as the words "Primordial Yuan Manual" on the cover flickered and reverted to this world’s writing.
"It looks the same as always to me." Long Aotian showed no reaction, examining it for a while before handing it back. "Benefactor, forgive my ignorance, but I truly see no difference."
He couldn’t see it! Shi Xia was stunned. She opened the book again, and sure enough, the text inside had also shifted into the simplified Chinese she knew.
What in the world was going on? She had flipped through it right in front of Long Aotian—there was no way he hadn’t noticed—yet he showed no reaction. Did this book only change fonts in her eyes?
She couldn’t help but pull out the manual her so-called "cheap brother" had given her earlier, only to confirm she was still illiterate. Only this Primordial Yuan Manual behaved this way!
"City Lord Long, could I borrow this book to study it further?" Something about this package felt unusual.
"Benefactor, you needn’t ask." Long Aotian waved his hand. "This was always yours to begin with. Returning it to its rightful owner is only proper. Had you not left this cultivation manual behind back then, I would never have become a martial cultivator."
"Martial cultivator!" Shi Xia was taken aback. Wasn’t this supposed to be a martial arts manual? How had it turned into a cultivation technique?
"Indeed!" Long Aotian nodded, his face filled with gratitude. "I was fortunate enough to meet an immortal master once, and he pointed out that what you gave me was actually a martial cultivation technique. Mastering it is equivalent to reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Thus, I now count as a martial cultivator myself. That’s why I built this Dragon City and befriended immortal sects—all to find you, Benefactor."
"You were looking for me?"
"Yes. Ever since I took my revenge twenty-five years ago, I’ve been searching for you."
"Twenty-five years ago…" Shi Xia paused. "How old are you now?"
Long Aotian chuckled. "I’m fifty-three this year."
"You don’t look it…" Shi Xia studied him closely. Though he was burly, he appeared no older than thirty.
He scratched his head sheepishly. "Having stepped onto the martial path, I’ve reached Foundation Establishment, so my lifespan differs from ordinary folk. As a fellow cultivator, Benefactor, you must understand."
"But I’m not a cultivator!" Shi Xia admitted bluntly.
