**Chapter 178: Brothers! Save Me!**
On the second floor of the inn, it felt like stepping into another world—completely different from the first floor!
Luxurious decorations, dazzling golden lights, and a collection of whimsical knick-knacks overwhelmed the senses. Right at the front and center stood a stage, making the whole hall look like a scene out of a dream.
Su Xiaoxiao had never been to such a lavish place before!
The ambiance of the second floor was even more exquisite than many feasts held by mundane aristocrats!
After all, this was a venue aimed at the offspring of wealthy families—not a place for the small fries to simply fill their bellies.
Don’t mention Su Xiaoxiao; even the worldly-wise Lin Zhongyu and Mu Jixue were astonished. They didn’t expect this seemingly ordinary inn outside to be so jaw-droppingly impressive inside.
“Uh, um, maybe I should just step outside. I even brought some snacks…” Su Xiaoxiao felt like a fish out of water and was starting to get stage fright, especially when she saw those elegantly dressed male and female cultivators around. She was already trembling.
Lin Zhongyu pulled her down next to her, saying, “No need to worry! Since we’re already here, let’s just eat something to fill our stomachs.”
“But…”
She wanted to refuse again but found herself pinned down by Lin Zhongyu.
Oh no, oh no… I’m going to d*e, I’m going to d*e, I’m going to d*e… Why does it feel like so many people are staring at me?
Seeing Su Xiaoxiao fidgeting, Mu Jixue felt a strange pang in her heart. Instinctively, she wanted to comfort her old friend, but it felt like another part of her was holding her back.
Aghhh! Why is this so annoying?
After sitting down, she opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word.
The other party was so pitiful, yet she kept thinking how wrong they were.
This person was also her friend, so why did she want to exclude her?
Mu Jixue felt like she was being a bit too harsh and thought she was like those bullies that picked on Su Xiaoxiao.
She wasn’t that kind of person! So why…?
Gurgle—
Mu Jixue’s stomach began to rumble. Yun Zhonghe still hadn’t returned, and neither had Tao Jiu’er and Qin Hongye. Who knows how long they’d have to wait?
If things got unbearable, the three of them could just start with some pastries.
So, Mu Jixue picked up her jade chopsticks and grabbed a golden pastry, glimmering like Yun Zhonghe’s hair. Was there a layer of gold leaf on this thing?
Mu Jixue didn’t know why one pastry reminded her of Yun Zhonghe. Had she caught some sort of virus from him, making her think of him all the time?
She even realized her demeanor had changed; she wasn’t acting like her usual self.
Mu Jixue was holding the golden pastry for what felt like an eternity, forgetting about the fidgety Su Xiaoxiao next to her, who was anxiously looking everywhere but at her. Finally, she sighed and put the golden pastry in Su Xiaoxiao’s bowl.
Mu Jixue was still softhearted.
“Go ahead, eat up! Don’t let it go to waste; this was bought with spirit stones,” Mu Jixue said softly, tilting her head away as her cheeks flushed a little.
Su Xiaoxiao stared dumbfoundly at the golden pastry in her hand, her eyes suddenly feeling a bit warm.
…
“Good job!”
In a corner of the second floor, Yun Zhonghe had been quietly observing the interactions between the three girls.
At that moment, he looked like a voyeur, watching the emotional warmth between the three beauties. When he saw Mu Jixue actively give Su Xiaoxiao the pastry, he excitedly clenched his fist.
This white-haired loli really gets it! As long as she steadily nurtures these connections, all those negative points from before will surely be wiped away!
Yun Zhonghe initially thought this white-haired loli wouldn’t catch on, but it turns out that even without him intervening, she would naturally care for every heroine as the destined protagonist, winning their hearts in the process.
In fact, he didn’t need to worry about the relationships between them at all; his main focus should be to improve his own reputation with the heroines.
“But I must thank Lin Zhongyu for her help. If it weren’t for her coordination, things might not have gone so smoothly.”
Speaking of Lin Zhongyu, Yun Zhonghe felt genuinely gratified for having invested so much in her success.
Just with this one assist, he felt like he was already breaking even. At least he didn’t ruin the beginning for Mu Jixue and Su Xiaoxiao.
He believed under Lin Zhongyu’s guidance, Su Xiaoxiao would quickly blend into this big family.
“Let’s allow them to warm up their feelings first; I’ll hold off getting involved for now and wait for a chance to gradually improve Su Xiaoxiao’s affections.”
First, stabilize the relationship between Mu Jixue and Su Xiaoxiao before bringing up his side of things.
Everything circled around Huang Aotian; he simply needed to stand watch.
“By the way, where are Jiu’er and the others?”
Seeing the heroines getting along well with Huang Aotian, Yun Zhonghe felt no worries and prepared to check in on Tao Jiu’er and Qin Hongye instead.
The heroines needed care, and their Jiu’er and the supporting characters did too.
With that, Yun Zhonghe left to find Tao Jiu’er and Qin Hongye.
With Huang Aotian here, what could possibly go wrong?
As Yun Zhonghe exited, another group brushed past him.
There were about ten people, all dressed in fine garments, indistinguishable between masters and servants.
These folks appeared to be centered around the woman seated to the right, with almost every male cultivator staring intently at her beauty.
“Zhu Yan, I thank you for your kind invitation! Today, I must drink my fill with you all!”
“Miss Zhu Yan, don’t mention it. Who in Suzhou City hasn’t heard of your talents and beauty? It’s an absolute honor to have your company today!”
“Exactly! Miss Zhu Yan, just indulge yourself. Whatever you need, just let us know!”
“Thank you for your generous hospitality!”
…
That girl was extraordinarily enchanting; every smile and every frown captured the gaze of the men, her words oozing charisma—especially those fox-like, captivating phoenix eyes that seemed to draw one in.
She exuded a delicate, captivating charm that made one gasp: What a fascinating creature!
From their conversation, it became clear who they were.
They were new disciples from Suzhou City, recently selected by various sects, and the woman being endlessly praised was Zhu Yan, a renowned beauty in Suzhou.
She had quite a reputation among the wealthy playboys.
However, this Zhu Yan woman occasionally cast glances toward Su Xiaoxiao, who was sitting with Mu Jixue and Lin Zhongyu.
Then, Zhu Yan threw a flirtatious wink at a tall black-clothed man beside her and leaned in to whisper sweet nothings in his ear.
That black-clothed man nodded, stood up, holding a cup, and sauntered over to Su Xiaoxiao.
This routine was all too familiar—everyone could guess what this man was up to.
He was here to humiliate Su Xiaoxiao!
Sure enough, the next second, that black-clothed man hovered the cup over Su Xiaoxiao’s head and let it spill.
Splash—
A whole bowl of wine poured down, completely drenching Su Xiaoxiao. She had been slightly relaxing while nibbling on a pastry just moments before, but now she froze.
Next to her, Mu Jixue and Lin Zhongyu finally caught on, but by then, it was too late.
“Oh dear, oh dear! My apologies, I slipped and spilled wine all over you! So sorry!”
The black-clothed man feigned astonishment, his face brimming with schadenfreude.
His companions burst into laughter, especially the girl named Zhu Yan, who giggled so charmingly it left the black-clothed man feeling proud, as if he had just impressed a goddess.
Surrounding diners paused mid-bite, all eyes on Su Xiaoxiao.
Su Xiaoxiao became the center of attention.
Huh?
At first, she was a bit dazed, her chopsticks halted as realization dawned: she was drenched in liquor.
So many people, so many people were looking at her.
This time, it wasn’t overthinking on her part; countless eyes were glued to her, and some couldn’t help but stifle laughs at her ridiculous appearance.
There were quite a few diners, formerly just eating normally, who had suddenly perked up, interested in the commotion unfolding.
The timid Su Xiaoxiao felt utterly flustered.
Now, instead of being isolated, it was a genuine crowd staring at her. She just wanted to run away.
The black-clothed man, instead of expressing any remorse, leaned in closer, pretending to recognize her while feigning surprise. “Oh? Who’s this so familiar? Isn’t it the famous Plague God of Suzhou City, Su Xiaoxiao? Look, everyone, it’s Su Xiaoxiao!”
He flaunted loud enough to draw everyone’s attention, wanting to embarrass Su Xiaoxiao, while his tablemates joined in the mockery.
The Plague God of Suzhou City?
Several diners perked up; they seemed to have recalled the notorious title.
It was said she was an outstanding ill omen, one who had brought misfortune—even her parents had died unexpectedly, and her sister had been whisked away by relatives at night, distancing themselves from her.
Anyone associated with her seemed to walk a path of misfortune.
Thus, she was dubbed the Plague God.
Certain sensitive diners furrowed their brows: how did such a person get into this upscale place?
Meanwhile, bold onlookers eagerly leaned in to scrutinize Su Xiaoxiao.
At that moment, Su Xiaoxiao felt as if her world was collapsing.
Don’t look at me… don’t look at me… don’t look at me…
She quickly wiped the wine dripping down her head, but this special spirit wine wasn’t pure, and the more she wiped, the messier it got. Her entire face was a mishmash, and her thick hair was now a tangle.
Others around couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Where did this country bumpkin come from? This spirit wine needed spiritual energy to deal with—it’s not that simple!
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t understand; she had become the spectacle for many, the b*tt of jokes.
At this moment, despair and terror flooded her eyes.
Her formerly cheerful mood plummeted to rock bottom.
Lin Zhongyu, noticing, was caught off guard. With the sudden trouble erupting, her mind raced.
“You! Are you looking for trouble?”
Mu Jixue couldn’t hold back and slammed her hand against the table, glaring daggers at the black-clothed man.
Seeing Su Xiaoxiao on the verge of tears, feeling wronged and ashamed, as her childhood friend, she felt compelled to stand up without a second thought!
If Yun Zhonghe had been there, he would’ve undoubtedly yelled “Awesome!” upon witnessing such a situation!
The heroine’s in distress, and Huang Aotian is here to save the day! It’s the quintessential hero saves the beauty plot…
Oops, I mean, it’s technically the beauty saving the beauty.
Whatever, it’s basically the same thing—God is on their side! The jester’s arrival is perfectly timed for the emotional boost they need!
In the original plot of the game, Huang Aotian first met Su Xiaoxiao because he intervened when she was humiliated. Their meeting sparked an emotional connection between them.
Although the plot had gone off the rails, the key moments still seemed to align!
But after waiting, Mu Jixue showed no signs of action.
Mu Jixue acted entirely on instinct, but once she stood up, she hesitated.
Should I really stand up for Su Xiaoxiao? Would it be inappropriate?
What if I bring trouble to Yun Zhonghe?
She had decided to be a good girl and not throw tantrums anymore—was this really the time to cause a scene?
Poor Mu Jixue seemed a bit dazed after being reprimanded earlier. The usually reckless girl was suddenly feeling restrained.
Lin Zhongyu, feeling her frustration rise, initially felt at ease when Mu Jixue stood up, thinking she would take action.
But upon seeing Mu Jixue motionless, she became puzzled.
Wait, isn’t she supposed to throw a punch?
Certainly, being obedient is good, but isn’t she being a tad too obedient?
Meanwhile, the black-clothed man, witnessing Mu Jixue stand up yet say nothing, couldn’t help but smirk. “Oh, I didn’t mean to offend. I see you two are unfamiliar faces in Suzhou City. You probably don’t know about the Plague God here, do you?”
The black-clothed man felt invincible, thinking Mu Jixue was just a barking dog that wouldn’t bite.
If she meant business, she would have acted already.
Besides… this was the inn; fights were strictly forbidden, protected by strong experts maintaining order.
Thus, the black-clothed man raised his voice, wanting everyone present to be aware.
“This girl here is Su Xiaoxiao, known throughout Suzhou City as the Plague God. The Su Family was once the most prestigious in Suzhou, but ever since she was born, the family started to decline dramatically. Her parents, the head of the family and his wife, died overnight, leading the Su Family to become just another mundane household, taken over by distant relatives. Wouldn’t you agree that’s quite the plague god’s doing?”
As soon as the black-clothed man finished, whispers erupted around, pointing fingers at Su Xiaoxiao.
Su Xiaoxiao’s face turned pale. When her dark past was exposed, she trembled violently.
Please… please don’t talk about this…
Mu Jixue’s face flushed with urgency as she stepped forward, grabbing the black-clothed man’s collar. “Shut up! If you say one more word, I swear…”
“Oy, what’s this? What do you want to do to me?”
He looked very smug, with a deep scoff of ridicule aimed at Mu Jixue, whose clenched fists struggled to move.
Stay calm; acting out here isn’t wise, and I’m running low on spirit energy.
After battling Qin Hongye on the spirit boat and tussling with the crow group in the forest, Mu Jixue was utterly exhausted, making it illogical to fight back now.
Yet in the original story, Mu Jixue had been in a similarly bad state, but in a fit of rage, she’d unlocked her potential, coming to Su Xiaoxiao’s aid and capturing her heart.
So as long as she powered up, nobody could stop her.
This was the absolute peak moment for showing off!
But… Mu Jixue just couldn’t seem to gear up.
Yep, totally lacking that motivation to unleash the hero within.
“Xue’er…”
Lin Zhongyu stared at the conflicted Mu Jixue and also showed evident concern.
Feeling powerless, Mu Jixue realized she couldn’t do anything effective.
Since that was the case…
Frustrated but with no other options, Mu Jixue decided to use her final trump card.
—Good Brother Summoning Spell!
Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe, who had been almost halfway out, felt his communication talisman buzz. As he tapped into it…
【Mu Jixue: Yun Bro, we’re in trouble on the second floor of the inn! Come help me!!!】
Yun Zhonghe: ???
Wait, is the mighty heroine, the ultimate protagonist, asking for help from me, a yellow-haired dude?!
Then Lin Zhongyu sent a message in the group chat, succinctly filling him in on the situation.
Yun Zhonghe nodded in understanding.
What the heck? Who dares to provoke Huang Aotian?
While he was indeed thrilled to have Huang Aotian reaching out for assistance and trusted him, he felt honored.
But this was a pivotal moment in the plot! Was it appropriate for me to swoop in?
Moreover, Huang Aotian was something he had cultivated personally—maxed out in strength, growth, and character traits. How could she not handle a mere passerby?
If all else fails, just unleash a special move!
【Mu Jixue: Help me, Yun Bro!】
With her desperation, another message from Mu Jixue hit him like a ton of bricks. He could practically envision her in tears, worried about something.
Taking a deep breath, Yun Zhonghe immediately turned around, speeding back.
When a good brother is in trouble, it’s only right to charge in first!
At this moment, Su Xiaoxiao, at the center of the chaos, was starting to crack.
Her eyes dulled. She thought once her dark past was exposed, nobody would ever want to get close again—not even Lin Zhongyu and Mu Jixue.
Because that’s how it always was—once people discovered her background, they’d back off, treating her like a plague.
“I… I’ll be fine… Thank you, Sister Xue’er; I think I’ll just leave now…”
Seeing Su Xiaoxiao’s pitiful look made Mu Jixue anxious.
Then Mu Jixue glared at the black-clothed man: “Apologize to Xiaoxiao!”
“Apologize?” The black-clothed man guffawed, casting aside Mu Jixue’s grip. “Listen here, it’s all because of her curse that I spilled my drink! If it weren’t for her bad luck affecting me, I wouldn’t have slipped! This is all her fault, not mine.”
“That was clearly intentional!”
“Ha! You two don’t understand. This Plague God is absolutely disgusting. I’ll give you both a piece of advice: don’t get too close to Su Xiaoxiao. You might find yourself entangled in her curse and ruin your own lives.”
With that, the black-clothed man returned to his table triumphantly, while his companions rejoiced at his ‘victory,’ as if celebrating a hero’s comeback.
The girl named Zhu Yan glowered at Su Xiaoxiao, as if to say, “How dare you share the same space to eat with me? Get lost, Plague God!”
Mu Jixue was speechless, feeling utterly powerless.
At the same time, Su Xiaoxiao could no longer contain herself and bolted away.
Just then, she slammed right into someone’s chest.
“Excuse me, I’m so sorry—”
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t look up. After muttering a quiet apology, she tried to slip away, but the person grabbed her.
Startled, she looked back, only to see a shock of dazzling golden hair!
“Where do you think you’re running off to? Running away won’t solve your problems; the more you shy away, the more others will bully you.”
“Always complaining about your fate’s unfairness? Always blaming everything around you? But when it comes to action, you just run? If that’s the case, when good fortune arrives, you’ll dodge it without even knowing!”
“Don’t run! No matter how much misfortune you face, as long as you fight bravely, one day you’ll change your fate.”
“Remember this: I control my fate, not the heavens!”
It was Yun Zhonghe! After quietly sharing his heartfelt words with Su Xiaoxiao, he released her.
To run or to stay was up to her to decide.
Su Xiaoxiao was left in a daze. Although her thoughts were a bit muddled, she hardly remembered much of what Yun Zhonghe had just said.
But one sentence stuck with her: “I control my fate, not the heavens.”
Its profound impact sealed itself in her heart, sending waves of strength coursing through her—hundreds or even thousands of times stronger than mere solace!
One sentence seemed to radiate infinite power, flooding her being.
This was the true worth of internet literature’s wisdom!
At that moment, Su Xiaoxiao stopped wanting to run away. She raised her head, staring blankly at Yun Zhonghe’s back, feeling the emergence of a new support in her inner world.
Mu Jixue and Lin Zhongyu also noticed Yun Zhonghe’s arrival, and both found a sense of relief wash over them.
Their reliable bro had come to help!
Without saying a word, Yun Zhonghe bypassed both Mu Jixue and Lin Zhongyu and strode straight toward the black-clothed man.
The black-clothed man, with his back to Yun Zhonghe, was at the center of attention, laughing with his companions, glorifying his recent exploits while mocking Mu Jixue as just having superficial skills.
Hearing this made Yun Zhonghe fume: how dare he mock my Aotian!
Thus, Yun Zhonghe merely raised his hand and delivered a fierce elbow strike to the black-clothed man’s face!
“Ah!!!”
