In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Doesn’t Matter—Better If She Doesn’t Come

Translation by: Weebsread👹

Duan Yuqing didn’t question Jiang Zixuan’s story. He strode over to the wardrobe, pulled out a set of sect robes, and handed them to her.

“Junior Sister, these are for you.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother Duan!” Jiang Zixuan accepted the robes, her smile gentle and sincere.

Duan Yuqing nodded, returning her smile. “It’s nothing. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Mm!”

With that, Duan Yuqing slipped out, closing the door softly behind him.

A brief silence followed.

Then Jiang Zixuan called out quietly, “Jiang Qian, you can come out now. Senior Brother Duan’s gone.”

The wardrobe shuddered, and in the next instant—

Jiang Qian tumbled out, hair disheveled, gasping for breath. “That scared me half to death! I was sure I was done for!”

His heart was still pounding from the close call.

Jiang Zixuan couldn’t help laughing at the sight. “Hehe, not bad! You didn’t get caught. I’m impressed.”

Jiang Qian shot her a glare and marched over. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

If Duan Yuqing had looked even a little closer, he’d have been caught red-handed!

“I didn’t! I just… forgot, that’s all. Hehehe…” Jiang Zixuan stuck out her tongue and looked away, guilty as ever.

Jiang Qian could only sigh, helpless. “Forget it. I’d better slip out while I still can.”

Without another word, he disappeared into the night.

---

A month passed.

Azure Mountain Sect, Beast Taming Sect, Jade Maiden Pavilion, and Heavenly Fragrance Academy—the four great sects—assembled amid a mist-shrouded mountain range.

Fan Zhuyue, the Pavilion Mistress of Jade Maiden Pavilion, spoke first. “You three certainly arrived early.”

“Hahaha! If I didn’t, you’d all berate me endlessly—so how could I dare be late?” roared Hu Mo, the burly Beast Taming Sect Master.

Bai Qianfeng offered a mild smile. “Brother Hu is right. If anyone was late, we would never hear the end of it.”

Qin Jingtong, the elegant Pavilion Master of Heavenly Fragrance Academy, joined in with a gentle smile. “Why don’t we open the secret realm? Let’s not keep our disciples waiting.”

“Well spoken!” Bai Qianfeng agreed. And suddenly, a jade pendant carved with a dragon—radiant and emerald—appeared in his palm.

Each of the other sect masters produced near-identical pendants, each shimmering with a different color.

As the four pendants came together, four beams of light shot forth, weaving together into a single brilliant ray. Under its glow, the secret realm gradually unfolded before the gathered crowd.

Bai Qianfeng turned to his disciples. “Once inside, remain vigilant. demonic beasts stalk every corner of the secret realm!”

“And don’t forget—disciples from the other three sects are just as dangerous!”

“Understood?”

“Yes, Sect Master!” the disciples chorused.

Jiang Qian studied the rivals from the other sects, eyes narrowing in concentration. They’re all strong… Especially that girl up front. I can’t see through her cultivation at all…

At the head of the Jade Maiden Pavilion disciples, a young woman seemed to sense his gaze. Under her breath, she murmured, “He must be the author of ‘Phoenix Hairpin’—the one who claimed women can hold up half the sky.”

“I’ve wanted to meet him for ages, but there was no time during my closed-door cultivation. Now it looks like the secret realm will give me a chance.”

Soon after, disciples from all Four Great Sects began filing into the secret realm, one after another.

Just then, Hu Mo turned to Bai Qianfeng and grinned, “Sect Master Bai, I hear your sect has three disciples with Sacred Physiques. You’re making the rest of us jealous!”

“Oh, not at all, Sect Master Hu. You give me too much credit,” Bai Qianfeng replied modestly, though he couldn’t hide his pride.

Qin Jingtong stepped in, expression warm. “I also heard that the poem ‘Phoenix Hairpin’ was composed by your disciple Jiang Qian. Such talent is rare indeed. If he weren’t with Azure Mountain Sect, I’d certainly try to recruit him to Heavenly Fragrance Academy!”

“Haha, you flatter us!” Bai Qianfeng replied, suppressing a smile.

He had every reason to be proud: three Sacred Physique disciples, and now a literary prodigy like Jiang Qian. Even if he tried, it was impossible for the Azure Mountain Sect to keep a low profile.

Suddenly, Qin Jingtong produced a finely crafted invitation. “Sect Master Bai, could you pass this along to Jiang Qian?”

The Bamboo Grove Poetry Gathering?

The Heavenly Fragrance Academy’s literary meet was the ultimate event for every scholar in the land—so exclusive, even last year’s imperial chancellor had been refused entry!

Qin Jingtong’s admiration for Jiang Qian was clear.

Bai Qianfeng accepted the invitation with care. “Of course. I’ll see that he receives it.”

“Much appreciated, Sect Master Bai.” Qin Jingtong cupped his hands in thanks.

---

Inside the secret realm—

The Four Great Sects’ disciples had scattered, each group teleported to a different location.

Azure Mountain Sect’s disciples found themselves atop a windswept peak.

Duan Yuqing spoke first. “I’m not teaming up with Jiang Qian. Anyone who wishes to join me, come now.”

A ripple of confusion passed through the group.

“What’s going on?”

“You really don’t know? I’ve got the scoop—want to hear it?”

“Don’t leave us hanging!”

“It’s simple. The Holy Son likes the Holy Maiden, but the Holy Maiden likes the Chief Disciple. Meanwhile, the Chief Disciple and the Young Sect Mistress have feelings for each other!”

“That’s a tangle if I’ve ever seen one. No wonder the Holy Son can’t stand the Chief Disciple!”

A wave of gossip swept through the group.

When it came time to pick sides, nearly all the disciples lined up behind Duan Yuqing—his reputation as a powerhouse meant safety, after all.

Wu Jinfeng looked earnestly at Jiang Qian. “Senior Brother, I’ve always supported you! You can count on me, unlike the rest!”

Jiang Qian glanced over—only to realize Wu Jinfeng was already standing behind Duan Yuqing. His mouth twitched helplessly.

Traitor.

As expected, Bai Piaoxue and Chen Xiaoxiao remained loyally by Jiang Qian’s side.

All eyes turned to the last undecided—Jiang Zixuan.

Duan Yuqing called out, “Junior Sister, over here!”

Jiang Zixuan cast him a glance, then looked to Jiang Qian. “Aren’t you going to ask me to join you?”

Jiang Qian snorted, utterly indifferent. “Doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s better if you don’t.”

Without hesitation, Jiang Zixuan declared, “I’m sticking with you!” She turned to Duan Yuqing and waved. “Senior Brother Duan, you all go on ahead.”

Duan Yuqing was about to say more, but before he could, Jiang Zixuan had already darted over to Jiang Qian’s side.

Stealing Junior Sister, are you, Jiang Qian? Just you wait.

He shot an icy glare at Jiang Qian, then led his group down the mountain.

With a sigh, Jiang Qian glanced at Jiang Zixuan. “Why do you always insist on sticking to me?”

“It’s more fun this way. But honestly, you should pay more attention to what’s behind you,” Jiang Zixuan said, pointing past him.

“Behind me?” Jiang Qian turned, puzzled—then froze, mouth twitching.