Chapter 165 Protagonist (3)

Aside from the two of them, over a hundred attendants trailed behind. As the siblings leapt down from the beast-drawn sedan, the attendants caught up, forming two neat lines as they saluted in unison, “Welcome home, Eldest Young Miss!”

Gongxi Yue: “…”

Thankfully, this time they hadn’t brought songstresses and musicians to perform on the street for her homecoming. It seemed her last conversation with her uncle had worked, at least somewhat.

Her younger siblings fluttered toward her like butterflies.

Her sister, Gongxi Wenxing, wore a crimson dress embroidered with golden butterflies, red coral bracelets on her wrists, an array of gemstone, jade, and spirit pearl flowers in her hair, and a pearl curtain hanging from her waist. Even her weapon—a long whip—was inlaid with glowing spirit threads.

Her younger brother, Gongxi Jianchen, wasn’t much better. He wore a purple Zhu Luan robe, spirit armor with a jade belt, a gold-and-jade coronet on his head, brocade boots on his feet, and a gold-dusted folding fan in hand for show.

Together, the two of them were a riot of colors and jewels—a stark contrast to their sword cultivator elder sister in her plain green robe and white dress, simple and sharp.

“Big Sister, you haven’t come back to see us for years again! Did you go into closed-door cultivation again? We missed you so much!” Gongxi Wenxing cooed. Her bright and lively looks were quite different from Gongxi Yue’s style.

Normally headstrong and spoiled, Second Miss Gongxi only behaved like a docile little bird in front of her eldest sister.

“You came back riding your sword again, right? You’ve worked hard! Hurry, sit in the sedan chair, let’s head home! Uncle has prepared a grand welcome banquet for you!” Gongxi Jianchen chimed in, trying to curry favor.

A well-known playboy, he was lazy in cultivation and only good at indulgence and pleasure. Gongxi Yue knew his slacker ways well. Every time she came home, she’d quiz him thoroughly, leaving him miserable.

Looking at her brother’s fawning expression, Gongxi Yue remained expressionless for a long while, making Gongxi Jianchen nervous. He lowered his head, hardly daring to breathe, frantically wondering if any of his recent mischief had reached her ears.

Little did he know, Gongxi Yue was only recalling the future she had seen.

These siblings were twins—bickering but deeply affectionate. When Wenxing gave up everything for Xiao Shou, Jianchen hadn’t believed it. He’d chased after her again and again, trying to bring her home.

Later, after Wenxing died, Jianchen saw Xiao Shou as a sworn enemy. Gone was the lazy playboy—he threw himself into cultivation, hunting Xiao Shou down multiple times, nearly killing him… but in the end, Xiao Shou’s plot armor prevailed. Not only did he kill Jianchen, he also seized all the treasures on him.

Thinking of their tragic fates, Gongxi Yue’s expression softened for once. She said gently, “Let’s go home.”

Seeing that she wasn’t upset, Gongxi Wenxing happily hooked her arm around hers. Together with Gongxi Jianchen, they escorted her into the sedan that looked like a small palace.

“Big Sister, what are you holding? A gift for us?” Gongxi Wenxing asked affectionately.

She had long noticed the bundle in Gongxi Yue’s arms and now curiously reached out to tug at the cloth.

As the fabric shifted to reveal a small child’s face, Gongxi Yue said, “My daughter.”

Her sister froze against her shoulder. Her brother, mid-pour with tea, also stood dumbstruck.

Moments later, two startled shrieks echoed inside the sedan. The siblings went into a frenzy.

“A child? A child? Whose child? Big Sister, your own biological child? How do you have a child?!”

“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, this is impossible!”

Whether they were shouting or muttering in disbelief, Gongxi Yue remained unmoved. She simply said, “She’s indeed my flesh and blood. Her name is Qian.”

After a pause, she softened her tone. “You’re now an aunt and uncle.”

Gongxi Wenxing, Gongxi Jianchen: “…”

Both cautiously leaned in to look at the child’s face.

“…She’s so small.”

“And so cute.”

“She looks like Big Sister. When she grows up, she’ll definitely be a great beauty.”

“She’s looking at me!”

“She’s even smiling at me!”

The sedan passed through the towering gates of the Gongxi Family estate and arrived at the inner courtyard entrance.

Before it even stopped, Gongxi Wenxing jumped out holding the baby, shouting excitedly, “Uncle! Uncle, come quick! A baby! Big Sister has a baby!”

Gongxi Jianchen chased after her. “Wait! You promised I’d get to hold her next!”

Gongxi Yue walked at the rear, experiencing for the first time the feeling of being thoroughly ignored upon returning home.

Her uncle, Gongxi Yao, dressed just as extravagantly, radiating wealth and nobility that couldn’t hide his stunning good looks.

All the words of concern he had prepared for his beloved niece got stuck in his throat. He exclaimed in shock, “What?!”

A child?!

Ignoring Gongxi Yue behind him, he turned to look at the baby in Wenxing’s arms and was instantly captivated.

“Look at this child! How much she looks like Yue’er! Definitely our Gongxi Family’s bloodline! Hahaha! I’m a grandfather now!”

Gongxi Yao’s fox-like eyes crinkled with joy as he held the baby.

He didn’t care whether he was technically a grand-uncle or great-uncle. As far as he was concerned, any child that entered the Gongxi Family was their child. He was the grandfather, end of story.

Smart enough to notice his niece hadn’t brought the child’s father, he dismissed the matter entirely. Whoever it was, wasn’t worth mentioning. He’d like to see who dared contest custody with the Gongxi Family.

“Oh, oh, good child, named Qian, right? Gongxi Qian, wonderful, wonderful! Grandpa’s going to get your name written in the family genealogy right now!”

Catching a glimpse of his niece showing no objections, Gongxi Yao became even more delighted.

“This is our first meeting, and Grandpa hasn’t given Qian a welcome gift yet. Qian, what do you like?”

“Wum pufu!”

“Oh, you want something pretty? Then let’s go to Grandpa’s private treasury and let you pick!”

“Ah ah ah! Bap!”

“Alright, alright, let’s go right now!”

The baby was still babbling with nonsense sounds, which Gongxi Yue couldn’t understand. Yet her uncle responded to her with great enthusiasm, as if having a proper conversation.

“Uncle… can you understand what she’s saying?” Gongxi Yue asked, puzzled.

Gongxi Yao laughed loudly, “Of course not.”

Gongxi Yue: “…”

Usually, whenever she came home, her uncle would corner her for over an hour with questions and concern. But this time, after just one glance, he took the child off to the treasure vault, leaving her to return to her own courtyard and rest.

Her siblings, who normally clung to her at every meeting, also ran off to dote on the baby.

Gongxi Yue didn’t mind. In fact, she found it faintly amusing.

She walked alone toward her residence.

The sisters’ courtyards were nearby, separated by a large garden. This garden was filled with the peonies and Chinese herbaceous peonies Gongxi Wenxing loved, blooming year-round.

Gongxi Yue wasn’t in the mood to admire flowers but still strolled into the garden, standing by the flowerbeds to wait.

Xiao Shou should already have been secretly brought back by Wenxing and was likely hiding in her courtyard now.

Sensing that his greatest target was so close, Gongxi Yue was sure Xiao Shou would come to take a look. Perfect—she wanted to meet him too, to gauge just how capable he and his System were.

At that moment, Xiao Shou, basking in the sun in Gongxi Wenxing’s courtyard, received a System notification.

[Reminder: The world’s primary capture target, “Gongxi Yue,” is nearby.]

Lounging with his legs crossed, Xiao Shou opened his eyes, sitting up from the flower bed with surprise and interest. “Oh? My female lead appeared this fast? Then I must meet her. I wonder how she compares to her sister… I hear she’s the number one beauty in the Cultivation Realm. She better not disappoint.”

Following the System’s guidance to the garden, weaving through waist-high peony bushes, Xiao Shou froze suddenly at the sight of a single figure’s back.

Known for being flirtatious, Xiao Shou always thought the best backs were “graceful and curvy.” But this back gave off a first impression of being upright and poised—like a solitary lotus or swaying green bamboo.

It stood so tall and straight that one couldn’t help but wonder what she’d look like when she finally bent.

Clad in simple green robes and a white skirt, her black hair swept up, she stood amidst the riot of floral color, alone and dazzlingly striking.

Xiao Shou stared at that figure, unconsciously quickening his steps as he moved forward.

He wanted to see her face—what kind of delicate beauty would it be?

Gongxi Yue turned to look at him.

The first thing that caught Xiao Shou’s attention was those eyes—cold and star-like. His mind went blank for a few seconds before he finally registered the rest of her face.

After spending several years in this cultivation world, Xiao Shou had seen many cultivators. Female cultivators were rarely ugly. Some he found pleasant to look at, but never had he been so stunned as he was now.

Only one thought remained in his mind: Truly worthy of being called the number one beauty of the Cultivation Realm. More unique than any beauty he had encountered in his previous two worlds.

Beautiful not just in her skin, but in her bones, and in the expression of her eyes and temperament.

She truly possessed an air of immortality—ethereal, distant, as though completely out of reach.

When those eyes looked at him, it was like being glanced at by a god at an ant. There was even a sharp killing intent that made cold sweat break out on his back instantly.

But in the blink of an eye, that murderous aura seemed like nothing more than his imagination.

Compared to Xiao Shou’s unabashed staring, Gongxi Yue only needed one glance to see right through him.

A passably good-looking face, but Gongxi Yue had seen far too many beautiful people. Aside from that, he had nothing special about him.

Just as she had suspected earlier, the only truly dangerous thing about him was that strange System attached to him. As for the man himself, he was nothing more than a cheap tool.

Snapping out of his daze, Xiao Shou put on a bright, roguish smile, meeting Gongxi Yue’s cold gaze with practiced ease. “Are you admiring the flowers? These blooms, though beautiful, are nowhere near your equal.”

“I once visited a snowy mountain and saw a proud, snow-blooming spirit flower in the vast white wilderness—just like you… Can you guess what kind of flower it was?”

Xiao Shou was experienced and confident when it came to flirting.

His first mission world had been set in ancient times. Not only had he conquered the female lead, but also six other women, eventually marrying all seven.

His second mission world was set in the modern day, where he mixed in the entertainment industry, became a superstar, and consecutively won over film queens, top actresses, and countless crazed fans.

Because of his outstanding performance, he’d earned the “Protagonist’s Halo,” which granted him a natural 20% favorability boost from all female characters, making it even easier for him to pursue targets. In this world, he felt like a fish in water.

It had been ridiculously easy to win over that spoiled young miss and get her to bring him into the Gongxi Family.

As for this “elder sister” before him, though clearly more exceptional, she was only a higher-level target. Capturing her was just a matter of time.

Xiao Shou knew exactly which angles made him look most handsome. With his high-bridged nose, slightly exotic smile, and eyes carrying a hint of blue, he exuded a natural charm that easily bewitched women.

Locking eyes with Gongxi Yue, he asked the System in his mind:

[System, check the female lead’s favorability toward me. Has it gone up?]

[Target “Gongxi Yue,” current favorability: 0.]

If the system displayed negative values, it wouldn’t have shown such a merciful “0.”

[Doesn’t my halo grant a baseline 20% favorability from all female characters? Why is it 0?]

Still in disbelief, Xiao Shou suddenly found himself slammed into a nearby fake mountain by a casual flick of Gongxi Yue’s finger.

The hard ornamental rock, brought up from the bottom of Jade Pool Lake, split cleanly in two under the force of his body.

“Cough cough!” Xiao Shou clutched his chest and held his waist, slumping amidst the rubble in pain, screaming at the System inside his mind.

[What the hell! I didn’t even say anything that offensive! Why did she suddenly attack me? Is she that temperamental?!]

Seeing the great beauty approach him again, Xiao Shou immediately switched tactics, flashing a pitiful smile. “I don’t know what I did to offend you. I can apologize… Pfft!”

Gongxi Yue stepped on his neck and drew her longsword with one hand.

Blood rushing to his head, Xiao Shou began to struggle frantically. “Wait! I’m Gongxi Wenxing’s friend! You can’t kill me!”

Of course, Gongxi Yue had no intention of killing him. If she did, the System would simply find another host, causing her even more trouble. Better to keep this brazen fool alive and slowly find a way to deal with the System.

Still, he dared to trick her sister—he definitely needed a lesson.

Since this man was so confident in his looks, then the best punishment would be to ruin that face first.

Seeing her pause at his words, Xiao Shou felt a bit of relief, thinking she might actually have some hesitation.

But then Gongxi Yue said coldly, “Trash like you dirties my sword.”

She sheathed her sword and casually traced a motion through the air with her fingers. In an instant, deep bloody gashes appeared across Xiao Shou’s face, slashing from one side to the other.

In that moment, all of Xiao Shou’s desire and confidence were wiped out by sheer pain, leaving behind only raw, unmistakable fear.