"Most likely. They're nothing if not persistent." Su Lan Yi, who had tied her veil back on, was already working the window latch, her fingers deft despite their unfamiliarity with this body's movements. "This way."
The window slid open with a faint scrape, revealing the small garden behind the teahouse—and beyond it, a narrow alley that led deeper into the residential district. Su Lan Yi was halfway through the opening when the door to their private room slid open.
The teahouse owner stood there, his face tense with urgency. "Guards at the front entrance," he whispered. "They're checking every room."
"We were just leaving," Su Lan Yi assured him. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"They have a cultivation talisman," the owner added quickly. "For tracking spiritual energy signatures."
Su Lan Yi's blood ran cold. Tracking talismans were rare and expensive—typically reserved for hunting high-value fugitives. The fact that they'd deployed one to find her suggested this wasn't just about a medicine vendor causing trouble. Ugh. Egos.
[THREAT LEVEL UPGRADE: FROM 'ANNOYING PURSUIT' TO 'THEY REALLY, REALLY WANT YOU DEAD.' AGAIN.]
"Go," she told the owner. "Stall them if you can, but don't risk yourself."
The man nodded and disappeared back toward the front, just as the sound of breaking pottery and raised voices suggested the search was becoming less than polite.
Su Lan Yi slipped through the window in one fluid motion, landing noiselessly in the garden. Hei Wuya followed, his larger frame making the process considerably less graceful. His foot caught on the windowsill, sending him tumbling forward with a startled grunt—directly into Su Lan Yi.
They went down in a tangle of limbs and robes, Su Lan Yi pinned beneath the considerable weight of the "Terror of Blood Moon," whose terrified expression suggested he'd rather face a heavenly tribulation than this particular predicament.
[COLLISION DETECTED! INITIATING AWKWARD ROMANCE TROPE #37: THE ACCIDENTAL BODY PRESS. EFFECTIVENESS RATING: CLASSIC!]
"Get. Off. Me," Su Lan Yi hissed through clenched teeth, though the words lacked the venom they should have carried. There was something profoundly disorienting about feeling the solid weight of another person against her after a millennium of solitary cultivation.
"I'm trying," Hei Wuya whispered back, his face alarmingly close to hers as he attempted to disentangle himself without further disaster. "Your robe is caught on my sword hilt."
His breath was warm against her cheek, carrying the faint scent of the oolong tea they'd shared. This close, Su Lan Yi could see flecks of darker red in his crimson eyes, like blood droplets suspended in water. Something tightened in her chest—a sensation she hadn't experienced in centuries. Shyness.
[AWKWARD PHYSICAL CONTACT. ROMANCE SUBPLOT PROBABILITY INCREASING BY 37%. HOST HEART RATE ALSO INCREASED BY 26%. INTERESTING CORRELATION...]
"This is NOT a romance subplot," Su Lan Yi muttered, forcibly extracting her robe from his weapon with a small ripping sound. "This is an escape scene."
"What?"
"Nothing. Move."
[DENIAL: THE FIRST STAGE OF ROMANTIC AWARENESS. I'VE SEEN THIS IN 782 DIFFERENT STORY WORLDS. THE PATTERN IS UNMISTAKABLE.]
They scrambled to their feet just as a voice called out from inside the teahouse: "Check the garden! The tracking talisman is pointing this way!"
Su Lan Yi grabbed Hei Wuya's sleeve and pulled him toward the alley. "No time for subtlety. Run."
They sprinted down the narrow passage, weaving through clotheslines and ducking under low-hanging balconies. Behind them, shouts and the pounding of boots on packed earth indicated pursuit. Su Lan Yi cursed this body's limited cultivation base—in her original form, she could have simply levitated to the rooftops and disappeared.
[RUNNING ANALYTICS: YOUR CURRENT BODY IS OPERATING AT 2.3% OF YOUR ORIGINAL POWER. IF YOU HAD YOUR IMMORTAL ABILITIES, YOU COULD HAVE TURNED THOSE GUARDS INTO DECORATIVE GARDEN ORNAMENTS BY NOW.]
"This way," Hei Wuya suddenly said, grabbing her arm and yanking her sideways into an even narrower passage—little more than a gap between buildings. "I know these alleys."
Su Lan Yi didn't question him, allowing herself to be led through a bewildering series of turns and shortcuts. The shouts behind them grew fainter, but the distinctive hum of the tracking talisman persisted—a faint, magical whine that told them they weren't in the clear yet.
"We need to mask our spiritual signatures," Su Lan Yi said as they paused to catch their breath in the shadow of a tall storage building. "Any ideas?"
Hei Wuya reached into his robes and produced a small black token carved with crimson symbols. "Blood Moon Concealment Talisman. It will hide us temporarily, but—"
"But what?" Su Lan Yi prompted when he hesitated, noting the peculiar reluctance in his expression.
[HE'S EITHER ABOUT TO SUGGEST SOMETHING HIGHLY INAPPROPRIATE OR HIGHLY ENTERTAINING. POSSIBLY BOTH. GRABBING METAPHORICAL POPCORN...]
"It requires physical contact to extend the effect to two people," he finished reluctantly, not quite meeting her eyes.
"Fine." Su Lan Yi held out her hand impatiently. "Let's not overthink a simple necessity."
Hei Wuya stared at her outstretched hand for a moment, then shook his head. "Not like that. It needs to be activated with blood and a specific technique." He hesitated again, then added, "And it will only work if we're... closer. For a bit."
"Define 'closer,'" Su Lan Yi said, suspicion creeping into her voice as her eyes narrowed behind the veil.
[THIS IS DEFINITELY BECOMING A ROMANCE SUBPLOT. CALCULATING PROBABILITY OF IMMINENT EMBRACING: 98.7%. PREPARING SWOONING PROTOCOLS.]
"Ritual contact," Hei Wuya replied vaguely, his ears already beginning to redden. "It's standard Blood Moon cultivation technique."
"Just get on with it before we're caught," Su Lan Yi snapped, though her pulse had inexplicably quickened.
Instead of answering, Hei Wuya bit his thumb hard enough to draw blood, then pressed it to the token while muttering an incantation under his breath. The token flared with crimson light, then settled into a dull, pulsing glow. Before Su Lan Yi could protest, he stepped forward and wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest with unexpected gentleness.
The sudden intimacy was startling. After a millennium of limited physical contact with others, the sensation of being held—even for practical purposes—sent a shock through Su Lan Yi's system. A warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading outward to her fingertips in a way that had nothing to do with the talisman's magic.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
"What are you—" Her voice emerged softer than intended, lacking its usual imperious edge.
"The talisman needs to be between us," he explained stiffly, holding the token at the small of her back. His other hand rested lightly at her waist, as if afraid to apply too much pressure. "And our energy signatures need to blend temporarily. This is the most efficient way."
[ANALYZING CURRENT SITUATION: TWO ENEMIES WRAPPED IN AN INTIMATE EMBRACE IN A DARK ALLEY WHILE BEING HUNTED. ROMANCE LEVEL: EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. DANGER LEVEL: ALSO EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. THIS IS PEAK DRAMA!]
Su Lan Yi was about to argue when she felt the talisman's effect take hold—a cool, tingling sensation that spread from the point of contact throughout her body. It mingled strangely with the warmth of Hei Wuya's chest against hers, creating a disorienting contrast of hot and cold that made her head swim. The background hum of the tracking talisman suddenly faltered, its magical whine becoming confused and erratic.
"It's working," she admitted grudgingly, trying to ignore how her body seemed to fit perfectly against his, or how his heartbeat created a steady rhythm she could feel through both their robes.
"Of course it's working," Hei Wuya replied, sounding mildly offended. "I am the Terror of Blood Moon, not some junior disciple playing with talisman papers for the first time."
Despite his bravado, Su Lan Yi noticed he was carefully avoiding her gaze, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere over her shoulder. The hand at her waist trembled almost imperceptibly—a detail that would have escaped anyone without her centuries of cultivated awareness.
[HOST PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE DETECTED: INCREASED HEART RATE, ELEVATED BODY TEMPERATURE, DILATED PUPILS. DIAGNOSIS: EITHER YOU'RE EXPERIENCING ATTRACTION OR A MILD POISON REACTION. GIVEN THE LACK OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES, I'M LEANING TOWARD THE FORMER.]
Su Lan Yi snorted, partly to distract herself from the System's observations. "Yes, yes, you're very terrifying. Especially when falling through windows."
Even in the dim light of the alley, she could see the tips of his ears redden further. "That was... a misstep."
"Clearly." She didn't add that his current proximity was making her uncomfortably aware of how warm his body was against hers, or how his heartbeat seemed to be accelerating beneath the layers of black fabric. Such observations were irrelevant to the mission at hand. Completely irrelevant. Absolutely...
[OH, BUT THEY'RE VERY RELEVANT TO THE SUBPLOT. SHALL I START COMPOSING THE WEDDING VOWS NOW, OR WOULD YOU PREFER TO HANDLE THAT YOURSELF?]
"Shut up," she muttered, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.
"I didn't say anything," Hei Wuya pointed out, finally looking down at her with confusion.
"Not you. The System."
"Ah." He shifted slightly, adjusting his hold on the talisman. The movement brought them, impossibly, even closer together. "What's it saying?"
"Nothing important," Su Lan Yi replied firmly, struggling to maintain her composure as his scent—sandalwood and something uniquely his own—enveloped her. "How long does this concealment last?"
"About ten minutes, then we'll need to reactivate it." Was it her imagination, or did his voice sound slightly rougher than before?
[TEN MINUTES OF EMBRACING, AND THEN ONCE EVERY TEN MINUTES? WHAT A CONVENIENT PLOT DEVICE! I WONDER WHO DESIGNED THIS TALISMAN... SOMEONE WITH ROMANTIC TENDENCIES, PERHAPS?]
Su Lan Yi nodded, trying to focus on the sounds of pursuit rather than the peculiar sensation in her stomach—something like vertigo, but warmer and not entirely unpleasant. The guards had spread out, their search pattern becoming more scattered as the tracking talisman's effectiveness diminished. They needed to move while the concealment was still active.
"We need a more permanent solution," she said, reluctantly pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. "Somewhere they won't think to look."
For a moment, Hei Wuya seemed reluctant to loosen his hold. Then, as if catching himself, he straightened and cleared his throat. "You mentioned a temporary residence earlier?"
Su Lan Yi smiled slowly, ignoring the strange sense of loss as they began to separate. "Indeed I did. And I guarantee, it's the last place they'd expect to find us."
[NOTING WITH INTEREST THAT NEITHER OF YOU STEPPED AWAY IMMEDIATELY DESPITE THE SUCCESSFUL ACTIVATION OF THE CONCEALMENT TALISMAN. FILING THIS OBSERVATION UNDER: "EVIDENCE FOR FUTURE TEASING."]
They separated reluctantly as the concealment talisman's effect stabilized, though Hei Wuya kept it activated between them. His fingers brushed against hers as he passed her the token to hold, sending an unexpected spark of awareness through her that she firmly attributed to residual magical energy.
Cautiously, they began moving again, staying in the shadows and avoiding the main streets. The silence between them had changed quality—no longer merely tactical, but charged with something neither seemed willing to acknowledge.
As they navigated the increasingly confusing maze of Bai City's eastern district, Hei Wuya's frown deepened. "We're heading toward the noble residences?"
"Very observant," Su Lan Yi confirmed, grateful for the return to practical matters.
"Specifically, we're moving toward Divine Healing Sect's city residences?"
"Indeed, we are."
Hei Wuya stopped walking, face ashen. "You're staying in Divine Healing territory? Are you hearing yourself?"
Su Lan Yi turned to face him, and though he couldn't see her expression behind the veil, he could hear the grin in her voice.
"As I said, it's the last place anyone would look." She beckoned him forward. "Come along. We're almost there."
[INSANITY ASSESSMENT: PARTIAL. THIS IS EITHER BRILLIANT OR SUICIDAL. I'VE BEEN LEANING TOWARD 60% BRILLIANT, 40% SUICIDAL SINCE YOU STARTED STAYING THERE. AFTER TODAY'S EVENTS, REVISING TO 55% BRILLIANT, 45% SUICIDAL. THE TREND IS CONCERNING.]
Reluctantly, Hei Wuya followed, his hand never straying far from his sword hilt as they skirted the main avenues and kept to the shadows. Finally, Su Lan Yi stopped before a modest but well-maintained villa. Instead of approaching the front gate, she led him around to a small side entrance partially hidden by ornamental bamboo.
"Here we are," she announced, producing a key from her sleeve with a flourish.
Hei Wuya stared at the villa's walls, recognition dawning on his face. "This is..."
"The Third Young Master of Divine Healing Sect's city residence," Su Lan Yi confirmed cheerfully, unlocking the door. "Currently unoccupied while he attends a three-month training retreat."
"You're staying in Wei Chenglin's brother's house?" Hei Wuya's voice rose despite himself, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Not the main house," Su Lan Yi corrected, pushing open the door to reveal a small but elegant servant's quarters. "The guest attendants' chambers. Far more practical."
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: PEAK AUDACITY! HIDING IN YOUR ENEMY'S BACKYARD! +100 VILLAIN POINTS FOR SHEER NERVE! BONUS ACHIEVEMENT: RENDERED THE TERROR OF BLOOD MOON SPEECHLESS! +25 VILLAIN POINTS!]
Hei Wuya stood frozen, clearly struggling to register what he had just seen. His mouth opened and closed several times before he managed to speak. "This could either be the most brilliant or most suicidal hiding place I've ever encountered."
"The line between brilliant and suicidal is often merely a matter of success rate," Su Lan Yi replied philosophically, gesturing him inside. "Please, enter. The guards patrol the main grounds regularly, but they never check these quarters. The servants are all on rotation to the sect's mountain compound while the young master is away."
[NOT TO INTERRUPT YOUR DARING ESCAPADE, BUT THE CONCEALMENT TALISMAN WILL EXPIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 47 SECONDS. JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BECOME MAGICALLY VISIBLE AGAIN.]
After a moment's hesitation, Hei Wuya stepped inside, ducking slightly to avoid hitting his head on the low doorframe. The quarters were simple but clean, consisting of a main room with a small table and sleeping alcove, plus a tiny kitchen area. Su Lan Yi quickly closed and bolted the door behind them, just as the concealment talisman's glow faded to nothing.
Their eyes met briefly in the dim light, the memory of their earlier proximity hanging between them like an unspoken question. Su Lan Yi cleared her throat and turned away, busying herself with lighting a small lamp.
What immediately caught Hei Wuya's attention, however, were the walls—every available surface was covered with papers, diagrams, and maps, connected by red strings pinned at strategic intersections. Notes in Su Lan Yi's elegant calligraphy crowded the margins, and various items—talismans, herb samples, extra notes—were attached at key points.
"What is all this?" he asked, moving closer to examine the nearest document, his momentary discomfort forgotten in the face of such meticulous research.
"My research," Su Lan Yi replied, removing her veil at last. She shook out her hair, revealing Su Ruolan's face—beautiful despite the exhaustion that lined her eyes and the faint flush that still coloured her cheeks. "Analysis of the Wei Clan's operations, supply chains, financial transactions, and political connections."
[CONSPIRACY WALL COMPLETENESS: 87%. MISSING ONLY THE TRADITIONAL CRAZY PERSON MUTTERING AND UNWASHED APPEARANCE. YOU'RE TOO WELL-GROOMED FOR A PROPER CONSPIRACY THEORIST. THOUGH AFTER THAT CHASE AND CLINCH IN THE ALLEY, YOUR HAIR IS DISHEVELED.]
Tracking Talisman (追踪符箓 – Zhuī Zōng Fú Lù)
A rare and expensive magical device for hunting fugitives. Their deployment suggests Su Lan Yi has been upgraded from 'annoying medicine vendor' to 'high-value target'.
Spiritual Energy Signature (灵气特征 – Líng Qì Tèzhēng)
The unique energy pattern emitted by cultivators. Can be tracked by specialized talismans unless you're conveniently pressed against a demonic cultivator.
Cultivation Base (修为基础 – Xiūwéi Jīchǔ)
A cultivator's foundation of power. Su Lan Yi curses her current body's limited version when she can't simply levitate away from pursuers.
Blood Activation (血液激活 – Xuè Yè Jīhuó)
Using one's blood to power talismans or techniques. Hei Wuya demonstrates this by biting his thumb dramatically before embracing Su Lan Yi.
Talisman Incantation (符咒 – Fú Zhòu)
Magical words that activate a talisman's power. Must be muttered while holding a woman against one's chest, apparently.
Thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed this story, please consider:
- ? Rating the novel - Your ratings help other readers find this story!
- ?? Bookmarking - Never miss an update
- ?? Commenting - I'd love to hear your thoughts on Su Lan Yi's adventures
- ?? Following - Get notified when the next chapter drops
Chapter release schedule: New chapters every single day. Yes, you read that right!
Want early access to chapters, exclusive content, and the chance to fund Su Lan Yi’s ongoing vendetta against all poultrykind?
?? ??
Now go forth, nuggets, and spread the chaos!