I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script

Wei Xuandao's expression darkened. "How am I supposed to explain that a guest I invited has killed one of our sect elders?"

Xu Shulou lowered her head slightly. "Elder Wei, you know I'm afflicted with the love gu, making me emotionally unstable and unable to control myself. Why must you be so harsh with me?"

Wei Xuandao's eyebrows shot up in anger at her attempt to shift the blame. "Harsh? How have I been harsh?"

Xu Shulou wiped away nonexistent tears. "Though Elder Wei told me to treat this place as freely as my own sect, it’s still not my true sect. The difference is undeniable."

"..." So, in your own sect, killing someone casually doesn’t warrant consequences?

"I don’t wish to trouble you further, Elder Wei," Xu Shulou said with an air of reluctant compromise. "If that’s the case, I’ll just take my leave!"

"Wait—"

Wei Xuandao and Xu Shulou stared at each other for a long moment, the former seemingly too furious to speak.

But Xu Shulou knew better—he was weighing the pros and cons.

If Fan Zhi were still alive, Wei Xuandao would undoubtedly prioritize protecting her.

Fan Zhi’s standing in the sect stemmed largely from her blind, unwavering loyalty—a trait even someone as formidable as Xu Shulou couldn’t replicate.

But now that Fan Zhi was dead, Wei Xuandao had no reason to sever ties with Xu Shulou over her.

After all, Xu Shulou still had her uses. Fan Zhi’s death was regrettable, but his goals remained unfulfilled, and it wasn’t yet time for an outright confrontation with Dustless Island.

He sighed. "Fine. You’re under the influence of the love gu, so it’s understandable you couldn’t restrain yourself when facing an enemy. Once the gu is removed, I’ll inform your sect and let them discipline you as they see fit. By the way, when you fought Elder Fan Zhi… did you notice anything unusual?"

Xu Shulou shook her head. "No. It was quite effortless."

Wei Xuandao took a deep breath, barely suppressing the urge to banish her from his sight. "Don’t disclose the circumstances of Elder Fan’s death for now. You may leave."

Xu Shulou pressed, "What kind of 'unusual' did you mean, Elder Wei?"

"Nothing significant. Elder Fan was recently punished and still recovering from injuries. I merely wondered if it affected her combat prowess," Wei Xuandao deflected. "Go rest now. You must be exhausted—after all, you just… killed someone."

Clearly unwilling to share the same space with her any longer, Wei Xuandao made no effort to hide his impatience. Xu Shulou, seeing no point in provoking him further, reluctantly retreated to her quarters.

True to form, Wei Xuandao didn’t summon her for the usual pulse-checking sessions in the following days, opting instead for an "out of sight, out of mind" approach.

However, Xu Shulou soon noticed a Crimson Phoenix bird lingering outside her door—a spiritual creature capable of spewing flames, its fiery red plumage less elegant than Bai Roushuang’s Nine Radiance bird but far more aggressive and practical for cultivators.

She recognized it as Wei Xuandao’s surveillance measure. Should she make any suspicious moves, the bird would screech an alarm.

Perched on a tall maple tree, it tilted its head, observing her with keen interest.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Shulou retrieved some sliced fish from her Qiankun Bracelet, using it as bait.

Though Wei Xuandao avoided her, he remained vigilant. Aside from the Crimson Phoenix, he dispatched disciples to monitor her daily.

On the first day, a junior disciple reported, "Master, Lady Xu tried luring the Crimson Phoenix down with food. As expected, it didn’t budge—truly a testament to your training!"

On the second day: "The Crimson Phoenix ate Lady Xu’s offering."

On the third day: "Lady Xu grabbed the bird and started petting it aggressively. The poor thing looked utterly indignant!"

On the fourth day: "Lady Xu asked the Crimson Phoenix to light a fire for her cooking. The bird’s expression was downright despondent. Ah, it must feel it’s sacrificing its dignity for your sake."

Wei Xuandao erupted. "I don’t care to hear about that rascal Xu Shulou molesting my spirit bird! Unless it’s something major, don’t report back!"

"​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍...Understood."

The disciple withdrew, and no further updates came. After several days of silence, Wei Xuandao grew uneasy. Realizing that ignoring Xu Shulou indefinitely wasn’t viable, he detoured to check on her during an outing.

He found her seated beneath the maple tree, the Crimson Phoenix nestled contentedly in her lap as she played a tune on a leaf. Clearing his throat, Wei Xuandao whistled sharply, summoning the bird.

Both Xu Shulou and the Crimson Phoenix turned to him with identical expressions of betrayal—as if he were a villain cruelly separating star-crossed lovers.

"..."

The dejected bird was hauled away by Wei Xuandao, while Xu Shulou inwardly mocked his pettiness.

Evidently deciding human surveillance was more reliable, Wei Xuandao replaced the bird with two young attendants the next day—a boy and a girl around fifteen or sixteen, their spiritual energy weak and impure. They were low-ranking servants of Lingxiao Sect, instructed not to report trivial matters.

With Wei Xuandao keeping his distance, Xu Shulou saw no reason to rush. She set up a small stove in the courtyard, enjoying a hotpot meal beneath the crimson maple leaves and twilight sky.

Given Wei Xuandao’s temperament, it was no surprise that Lingxiao Sect disciples prided themselves on transcending such "base" pleasures. Most had either achieved fasting or relied on fasting pills, making the aroma of hotpot an unbearable temptation. Yet none dared approach—not with Xu Shulou’s fearsome reputation after killing Fan Zhi. They hurried past, eyes averted, struggling to maintain their composure.

Then one day, someone paused outside her gate and asked curiously, "What are you eating?"

Xu Shulou looked up and smiled. "Lady Xiao, I haven’t seen you in days. I thought you’d left the valley."

Xiao Ya crossed her arms. "My master forbade me from seeing you. Probably afraid you’d kill me too."

Wei Xuandao was well aware of the history between the Xiao imperial family and the Xu princess. Of his few personal disciples, Xiao Ya was one he cared for—not least because the Xiao royals sent lavish gifts every few years. After Fan Zhi’s death, he’d urgently summoned Xiao Ya, warning her to steer clear of Xu Shulou’s quarters. If they crossed paths, she was to call for backup immediately—never engage alone.

He likely feared Xu Shulou might "lose control" again and eliminate Xiao Ya as collateral damage.

"And yet, here you are."

Xiao Ya studied her. "Fan Zhi brought it upon herself. Why should I fear you?"

Xu Shulou chuckled. "Care to join me?"

Xiao Ya hesitated. "I only came to gauge how much the love gu has affected you."

"You won’t learn much standing at the door," Xu Shulou said, stoking the fire. "Hotpot is best enjoyed with company."

After a pause, Xiao Ya sat beside her.

Xu Shulou handed her a bowl and chopsticks. "Ever tried hotpot before?"

"I used to have it a few times back in the palace, but after I began cultivating, I stopped eating mortal food." Xiao Ya initially had no intention of touching the dishes, but Xu Shulou's warm hospitality made her pick up a piece of beef out of courtesy. The moment it touched her tongue, a burst of rich, spicy flavor exploded in her mouth. She froze—this was a taste so distant in her memory.

The mundane pleasures of life couldn't help but remind her of her youth, when she clung to her mother's legs, crying and refusing to leave for the path of cultivation.

"You're far more disciplined than I am," Xu Shulou chuckled. "Even after all these years of cultivation, I still can't let go of these mortal indulgences."

Xiao Ya took another bite of the beef. "There's nothing wrong with holding onto them."

"Exactly. Who says cultivation means severing all earthly desires?" Xu Shulou used serving chopsticks to place a fresh fish-and-shrimp meatball on her plate. "Try this—it's incredibly fresh. I bought three whole boxes after just one taste."

Xiao Ya nodded, savoring a few bites before suddenly asking, "Where did you get this? It tastes even better than what I remember from the palace."

"Not necessarily," Xu Shulou retrieved another box of lamb from her Qiankun Bracelet. "It's just that you haven’t had it in so long. The first taste after a long time always feels extraordinary."

"You're right," Xiao Ya sighed. "Back then, I used to complain about everything in the palace. Who would’ve thought..."

Mid-sentence, she recalled Xu Shulou’s own past and swallowed her words.

Xu Shulou, however, acted as if she hadn’t noticed. "Want some black chicken rolls? Thinly sliced chicken wrapped around egg and oyster filling."

"Yes, thank you." Xiao Ya took a bite, then suddenly asked, "Why do you only have meat?"

"Just brought meat," Xu Shulou shrugged. "Unless you want to pluck some spirit herbs for me to try?"

Xiao Ya actually considered it. "Fine. Third Senior Brother’s spirit herbs are free for me to use. I’ll bring some tomorrow to cook in the hot pot."

Xu Shulou burst into laughter. "Now that’s what I call 'a cow chewing peonies'—such a waste of treasures!"

Xiao Ya pressed her lips together, but a faint, irrepressible smile finally surfaced.

"If you’re free tomorrow," Xu Shulou suggested, "want to join me in hunting wild spirit pigs in the back mountains?"

"Hunt pigs?" Xiao Ya blinked. "What for?"

"To roast and eat." Xu Shulou stated plainly.

"How do you know there are wild spirit pigs in the back of Lingji Valley?"

"I saw them when I killed Fan Zhi."

"..." Hunting prey while on a killing mission—only you, Xiao Ya thought. Hesitantly, she asked, "But I’ve never hunted pigs before. I wouldn’t know how."

Xu Shulou grinned, coaxing the well-behaved girl. "I’ll teach you. It’s fun."

Curiosity eventually overpowered her reservations, and Xiao Ya nodded. "Alright!"

The next morning, they met at the back mountains.

Wei Xuandao’s third disciple, Xiao Ruzhuo, had also tagged along. Though sharing the same surname, he was no relation to Xiao Ya. A man of striking elegance, he stood atop the mountain like a jade tree in the wind.

Xiao Ya looked slightly embarrassed. "Third Senior Brother heard I was taking his spirit herbs for hot pot and wanted to see for himself."

Xu Shulou understood he was just worried for Xiao Ya’s safety but didn’t call him out. Soon, the trio spotted their target.

Wild spirit pigs were notoriously difficult to catch—massive, powerful beasts capable of uprooting trees with a single charge, yet agile enough to evade capture. After half a morning of chasing, cornering, and failing, the three were left panting.

At first, Xiao Ya stood at a distance, using her spiritual energy to block the pig’s path. But soon, a competitive spark ignited in her. Shedding her usual restraint, she gritted her teeth and lunged—only to be kicked flying by the pig’s hind legs.

"Junior Sister!" Xiao Ruzhuo gasped, but Xiao Ya’s laughter already rang out.

"Hahaha!" She landed gracefully, unharmed thanks to her cultivation, but breathless with laughter. "I’ve never been kicked by a pig before!"

Xiao Ruzhuo shook his head, unable to suppress his own chuckle.

Inspired, he threw himself into the chase, using his nimble footwork to seize the pig’s legs. The sight of the refined young master leaping through the air, gripping a squealing pig’s limbs, was almost too much for Xu Shulou to bear.

"I got it!" Xiao Ruzhuo exclaimed triumphantly.

Xiao Ya rushed over to help pin it down, cheering, "Third Senior Brother’s movements are unmatched!"

Flattered, Xiao Ruzhuo smirked. "Naturally."

His momentary pride cost him—the pig wriggled free with a furious squeal, forcing him to scramble after it.

"...What are you doing?" A voice laced with disbelief cut through the chaos.

Xiao Ya and Xiao Ruzhuo stiffened. "Eldest... Eldest Senior Brother?"

Lu Beichen stared at his disheveled juniors—and the inexplicably pristine Xu Shulou. "You’re hunting pigs?"

He surveyed the scene, baffled. "And failing?"

"..."

Xiao Ruzhuo muttered, "We had it for a second."

"..." Lu Beichen was about to tease them when the wild pig suddenly charged straight at him, knocking him flat. Had he not reacted swiftly, it might’ve trampled his face.

Xiao Ruzhuo politely averted his gaze, shoulders shaking. Xu Shulou and Xiao Ya, however, burst into laughter.

Lu Beichen clenched his jaw, irritation flaring. "I’ll block this side. Xu Shulou and Junior Sister Xiao, take east and west. Junior Brother, circle behind and grab it!"

With no better plan, the group obeyed, forming a tight encirclement.

To an outsider, it might’ve looked like a combat formation drill rather than a pig hunt.

After nearly an hour, the stubborn beast was finally subdued.

The four exchanged glances, an odd sense of accomplishment swelling in their chests.

Lu Beichen, still holding down the pig’s hindquarters, asked, "Now that we’ve caught it, what’s the plan?"

Xiao Ruzhuo knocked the pig unconscious before elegantly dusting himself off. "They plan to roast it."

"Eat it?" Lu Beichen frowned. "I thought this was a training exercise. As cultivators, we should rise above such carnal desires."

Xiao Ruzhuo whispered conspiratorially, "I don’t want to either, but after all that effort, letting it go feels like a waste. We’ll try a bite—if it’s terrible, I’ll make an excuse to drag you and Junior Sister away."

"..."

Nearby, Xiao Ya eyed Xu Shulou’s spotless robes. "How is your dress still clean?"

"Linglong Pavilion’s latest design," Xu Shulou twirled. "Stays immaculate no matter what—even bloodstains won’t stick."

"Amazing," Xiao Ya sighed wistfully. "I’m getting one next time I go out."

Chatting idly, the group hauled the pig back to Xu Shulou’s courtyard.

Xu Shulou set up a stove in the courtyard again, tending to the fire while missing the spirit bird Chifeng. Neither she nor her junior martial siblings had mastered fire-based cultivation techniques, so they always had to start fires manually when traveling. How impressive it would be if she could somehow coax Chifeng away and bring it back for her junior sister to raise—paired with Jiuyao, one red and one white, one fiery and one icy. What a sight that would be! Unfortunately, Wei Xuandao would never agree. If only she could get rid of him first…

"Tsk, the ways of the mortal world," a woman's voice interrupted her thoughts, which had nearly veered into criminal territory.

Xu Shulou looked up and was surprised to see a familiar face—a girl with slightly sharp features, dressed in the attire of an outer disciple, with a yellow jade hook at her waist. It was Huang Yinghe, her ally from the story where they had schemed against Bai Roushuang together, whom she had met before in the ice caves of the Void Abyss Secret Realm.

Xu Shulou remained hospitable as ever. "Barbecue. Care to join?"

Huang Yinghe wrinkled her nose in disdain. "I don’t eat mortal food."

"Suit yourself." Xu Shulou busied herself mixing seasonings, ignoring her.

In the Lingxiao Sect, outer disciples held little status. Huang Yinghe, born in a nearby village, was deeply afraid of anyone bringing up her humble origins and went out of her way to distance herself from anything associated with mortals—even more so than those born into cultivation. Fortunately, her father had become the procurement steward for the nearby peaks two years ago, occasionally even handling tasks for inner disciples, which had earned her some face by association.

Now, as she stood there, the aroma of the spices teased her senses. Though she had always strived to align herself with the "upper class," the years of surviving on fasting pills made it hard to resist the tempting fragrance.

She cleared her throat, but Xu Shulou didn’t take the hint, offering no opening for her to save face.

After standing awkwardly for a while, Huang Yinghe suddenly asked, "When are you leaving Spirit Silence Valley?"

"You’ll have to ask Elder Wei about that."

Huang Yinghe curled her lip. "You and Senior Brother Lu aren’t even married yet, and you’re already so eager to move in?"

"Huang Yinghe, do you even know how to speak properly?" Before Xu Shulou could respond, Xiao Ya emerged from a room, carrying a small basket of spirit herbs. She had been processing them earlier and happened to overhear Huang Yinghe’s inappropriate remark.

Huang Yinghe froze. "Senior Sister Xiao? What are you doing here?"

Xiao Ya frowned at her. "You know full well that Miss Xu is under the influence of a love charm. How could you take advantage of that to bully her?"

"I—I wasn’t bullying anyone!" Huang Yinghe stammered, pointing at Xu Shulou. "How could I possibly bully her? Look at her cultivation level—where would I even—I was just joking!"

Xiao Ya followed her gaze. Xu Shulou sat there, cheeks resting on her hands, watching them with wide, dewy eyes—perhaps from the heat of the stove—making her look pitifully delicate.

Xiao Ya’s frown deepened. "You call that a joke? Knowing the love charm makes her prioritize Senior Brother Lu above all else, how could you joke about him to her?"

"I—I—"

"Junior Sister Huang," Lu Beichen stepped out from the backyard, "that really wasn’t appropriate."

"..." Huang Yinghe flushed, caught off guard by the appearance of the very person she admired.

"Indeed, Junior Sister Huang," Xiao Ruzhuo added, following behind. "You shouldn’t do that again." He and Lu Beichen had been staring at the spirit pig in the backyard for ages, utterly clueless about how to handle it. Hearing Huang Yinghe’s remark had given them the perfect excuse to abandon the task.

Huang Yinghe was dumbfounded. Just how many people were hiding in this courtyard?

At this point, even if Wei Xuandao crawled out from under the stove, she wouldn’t be surprised.

"How’s the spirit pig coming along?" Xu Shulou asked.

Xiao Ruzhuo scratched his head and carried the pig over to the stove.

Xu Shulou took one look and realized they hadn’t touched it at all. The wild spirit pig was in the exact same state as when it had been caught.

Well, it was probably too much to ask of them. With a sigh, Xu Shulou retrieved a cleaver from her Qiankun Bracelet.

Xiao Ruzhuo quickly intercepted her. "How could we let a guest handle this?"

He snatched the cleaver, waved it around uncertainly, then handed it to his senior brother.

Lu Beichen was even more at a loss. Though he had slain plenty of dangerous beasts during his travels, he had zero experience butchering pigs. If he hacked it in half with one swing, would it even be edible?

He pressed the blade against the pig’s neck, then its spine, hesitating over where to strike.

The others watched in confusion.

Huang Yinghe, who had been standing awkwardly to the side, finally rolled up her sleeves in exasperation. "Give me that knife!"

"..."

The four of them obediently stepped aside, giving her full rein. Huang Yinghe swiftly dismantled the spirit pig with practiced ease, pointing out specific cuts as she worked. "This part is best for roasting, this one should be sliced thin for hot pot, and this section—stew it with watercress for maximum flavor. Got it?"

The four nodded dumbly. "Got it..."

Lu Beichen and Xiao Ruzhuo had no idea how things had escalated to this point. At this hour, they should have been training. But half an hour later, each holding a bowl of pork and spirit herb stew, they temporarily abandoned such concerns.

If the girls are all eating, wouldn’t it be rude not to try a bite?

Well, since I’ve already had one bite, another won’t hurt.

Since I’ve finished a bowl, might as well have some soup too...

Xu Shulou watched them with a faint smile. No matter how highly the Lingxiao Sect disciples regarded themselves, their lives were mostly spent in secluded cultivation, untouched by hardship. A bit of youthful innocence still lingered in their hearts.

Wei Xuandao had deliberately left Xu Shulou alone for some time, expecting her to reflect on her actions. But when he finally decided to check on her, he heard boisterous laughter from the courtyard while still at a distance.

Puzzled, he quickened his pace. As he approached and peered inside, he fell into stunned silence.

Over a dozen people—his personal disciples, outer disciples, and even nominal disciples—crowded around the stove, their usual hierarchy forgotten as they fought over slices of lamb from a hot pot.

Huang Yinghe was among them, having earned her place with her butchering skills. Thanks to her father’s procurement connections and her own culinary expertise, the others deferred to her in these matters, and she had been thoroughly enjoying herself lately.

"Haha, I got the last scallop!" an outer disciple cheered, waving his chopsticks triumphantly.

Pathetic, Wei Xuandao thought—until his third disciple, renowned for his agility, darted over like a shadow and snatched the scallop for himself.

Then there was his youngest disciple, the princess of Xiao Kingdom, who sat with impeccable poise, her noble bearing untouched even as she steadily emptied a large bowl.

Xiao Ruzhuo kept an eye on her, occasionally securing a prawn for her plate.

Furious, Wei Xuandao turned to look for the two servants he had assigned to monitor the situation, ready to demand why they hadn’t reported such commotion. He conveniently forgot that he had explicitly ordered them not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary.

After searching around to no avail, a closer look revealed that two servants had also joined the crowd scrambling for meat, quietly holding their bowls and eating with relish.

The dispatched bird had succumbed, and now even the dispatched men had fallen prey. Wei Xuandao felt a vein throb at his temple, his fingers itching to storm in and overturn Xu Shulou’s bronze pot.