Ling Shouyi was a man of cold temperament, devoted solely to the pursuit of the Dao, with Li Langhuan being one of the few disciples he held in high regard.
In the original story, he joined the protagonist's group as a manifestation of Ling Chongxiao, helping them retrieve the Jade Dew and Sweet Rain. While part of his motivation was to assist Li Langhuan in resolving a crisis, when her goals clashed with his pursuit of the Dao, he would cut ties without hesitation.
In short, he was the epitome of a fanatic whose only true pairing was with the Dao itself.
After speaking these words, the young man seemed to sense something, his dark brows furrowing slightly. With a graceful leap, he returned to the surface of the sea, summoning a set of formation flags as if engrossed in setting up something.
Seeing this, Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an wisely chose not to disturb him.
It was Bai Ji'an who spoke first, asking, "Fellow Daoist Li, are you unharmed?"
Li Langhuan shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine, just some superficial wounds."
Like Bai Ji'an, she had exhausted her strength after several intense battles.
Bai Ji'an had only recently entered the Dao realm, mastering only some light-body techniques and lacking the ability to soar through the clouds.
The bottom of the cliff was filled with demonic energy, which could erode the body and disrupt one's qi. In the original story, Xia Lianqiao had taken advantage of this to act boldly.
Otherwise, with Li Langhuan's cultivation at the Ming Dao realm in the mortal world, falling off a cliff would have been no issue—she could have simply used her qi to ascend.
Bai Ji'an felt somewhat reassured and, with a graceful turn of his eyes, shifted his attention back to Xia Lianqiao. He couldn't help but be taken aback.
The usually gloomy and sharp-tongued girl was now standing motionless, staring at him and Li Langhuan with wide, sparkling eyes, her lashes fluttering.
She looked as if she were brimming with energy, her face glowing as if she were on the verge of enlightenment, ready to save all living beings.
Bai Ji'an: ?
What's wrong with this girl? Has she been scared out of her wits? Or is she pretending to be crazy?
"Fellow Daoist Xia?" Bai Ji'an asked calmly, his tone probing.
In the next second, the girl seamlessly switched her expression.
Xia Lianqiao's eyes welled up with tears: !!qaq
Bai-Li!
The real, living Bai-Li!!
Heaven knows how desperate she had been for this! qaq
Noticing the tears in the girl's eyes, Bai Ji'an was startled: …?!
Xia Lianqiao was on the verge of bursting into tears.
Heaven knows how hard it was for Bai-Li shippers. Since "Asking the Dao" ended without any romantic pairings, no matter how obvious Bai Ji'an's feelings for Li Langhuan were, they were always dismissed as "pure camaraderie."
Xia Lianqiao knew she was being overly carefree in her current state, but whether this was a real transmigration or just an incredibly vivid dream, she was determined to indulge in this moment of fangirling.
After all, she had just finished battling it out with anti-shippers online.
Before, she hadn't known the true identities of these characters, but now that she did, Xia Lianqiao couldn't hear anything else. Her mind was filled with the image of Bai Ji'an showing concern for Li Langhuan.
The green-robed girl, her face stained with blood, had bright eyes and spoke with a light tone.
The white-robed man, ethereal and pure, had a natural smile on his lips, as pristine as a lotus.
At that moment, his brows slightly furrowed, his elegant features betraying a hint of worry.
Xia Lianqiao: Aaaaaah, how can there be such a perfect couple in this world? Even the heavens would agree they're meant to be! How could anyone deny this? Whoever dares to try, I'll take them down!
Having just escaped a life-and-death situation, Xia Lianqiao's heart was now exploding with fireworks, spinning and leaping with her eyes closed!
It's the real Bai-Li!
The real, living version of her OTP!!!
After encountering danger, the first person he cared about was his wife.
Wuwuwu, he loves her so much!!
Honestly, while rescuing her, he kept calling her "Langhuan," but now, in front of others, he's back to the formal "Fellow Daoist Li."
If you didn't have a guilty conscience, why would you act so reserved?
Bai Ji'an, the way you look at her isn't innocent at all!
Bai Ji'an, who was about to settle accounts with this girl later: "..."
But Bai Ji'an was no ordinary person and didn't give her the chance to continue "pretending to be crazy."
With a faint smile, his peach-blossom eyes glinted with cold sharpness. "Fellow Daoist Xia, just now, when Langhuan fell off the cliff, you happened to be right beside her. Her fall was rather suspicious. Did you notice anything unusual?"
The question seemed gentle but was actually pointed.
Xia Lianqiao snapped out of her daydream and froze for a moment. She suddenly remembered that her transmigration timing wasn't ideal—she was currently the prime suspect for "pushing Li Langhuan off the cliff."
After all, she had transmigrated into this villainess who shared her name, and this matter was inextricably linked to her.
But admitting that she had pushed her? Xia Lianqiao's scalp tingled at the thought. She wasn't a scapegoat; she didn't want to take the blame for something she hadn't done.
...Even if she denied it, Bai Ji'an probably wouldn't believe her.
In short, this was a life-or-death question.
Honestly, Old Bai, you're so protective of her, so in love... Wait, I'm getting off track again.
Just as Xia Lianqiao's brain was racing to find a solution, Li Langhuan suddenly blurted out, "Fellow Daoist Bai, you've misunderstood!"
Li Langhuan said matter-of-factly, "I accidentally slipped and fell off the cliff. It had nothing to do with any demon."
Both Bai Ji'an and Xia Lianqiao were stunned by this.
Bai Ji'an: "...Langhuan, you?"
The girl's expression was earnest, her eyes sincere, with a single strand of hair sticking up in the wind.
Xia Lianqiao was also shocked. Baby, what are you saying? It was clearly "me" who pushed you off the cliff!!
Yet Li Langhuan's expression couldn't have been more sincere.
Her clear, black-and-white eyes were like a pool of autumn water, and her words and actions were clearly meant to cover for her.
Before Xia Lianqiao could speak, Li Langhuan's gaze suddenly shifted to the little girl beside her, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Yingying, what are you doing here?"
In the chaos earlier, the little girl had been too frightened to show herself, hiding behind Xia Lianqiao. Only now did she peek out.
Thus, none of them had noticed the little girl until now.
"Ah, oh." Xia Lianqiao suddenly remembered the little girl she had heroically rescued thanks to her protagonist halo. She pointed at the girl sincerely and asked, "I just found her. Do you know her, Fellow Daoist?"
The little girl clearly recognized Li Langhuan, her eyes lighting up with joy and attachment. However, her pale face still showed hesitation, and she clung tightly to Xia Lianqiao's sleeve, unwilling to let go, like a chick huddling under its mother's wing.
The two of them, one big and one small, looked back in confusion.
Seeing the little girl, Bai Ji'an was momentarily stunned, immediately recalling the moment when Xia Lianqiao had suddenly let go of the flying immortal rope and fled in panic.
His gaze unconsciously shifted to Xia Lianqiao's sleeve.
The girl before him, though dazed, had clear eyes. Her fair and delicate face was marred by cuts from the seaside rocks.
Xia Lianqiao usually favored green robes, but now her entire sleeve was soaked in blood, turning a dark red.
It was as if he had been struck on the head. Bai Ji'an's cold demeanor softened, and he was inwardly astonished.
Wait.
Could it be that this girl had fled earlier to save someone?
