Little Pink Starfish

What happened afterward was all wrong.

Originally, the Ten Thousand Mountains arc was meant to foster feelings between the male and female lead. But now, not only had it turned into the male lead soloing a dungeon, even the climactic moment—when they barely escaped pursuit, forged a bond through life and death, and were then found and taken away by Tianxiao Laozu—had been twisted into “Wow, a mysterious gege came to save them, and turns out he’s the girl’s blood relative, her uncle!”

The direct result: the Ten Thousand Mountains dungeon got extended.
And during this extended period, at first Ling Feng was thinking about how to woo the female lead. But then the girl’s uncle showed up, and she got put under heavy protection. Of course he couldn’t make a move in front of her uncle! So the end result was that the male lead started bonding with the female lead’s uncle, Yin Jiuhen.

Thus, Ling Feng and Yin Jiuhen grew to admire each other more and more. Ling Feng sincerely respected Yin Jiuhen—felt that despite only being maybe ten or so years older than him, this guy was so powerful, so awesome! Maybe his own Shizun had been like this when young!

Yin Jiuhen, deep inside, was secretly overjoyed.
Back home in his chuunibyou youth, no one ever cared about his lonely heart craving approval. Out in the world, still chuunibyou, people isolated and misunderstood him. Later, when he achieved a bit of success, people feared him instead. Finally he went into closed-door training to refine his demonic energy so he could return and see his parents and sister—but when he came out, everyone was gone! So lonely!

But finding his niece and also meeting this brat, truly a good (gay) buddy.
—Even if the brat wasn’t a good match for his aloof niece, they could still be kindred sword dao companions!

Up above, Gu Bai watched this pair of dog—no, of good buddies and good brothers, clearing dungeons and sparring together, growing closer by the day. Meanwhile, the female lead followed silently behind them, turning into a snow-white background character.
To be blunt, she was just scenery now.

Gu Bai’s sorrow flowed like a river.
Brat! That’s your female lead! Why are you ditching her to buddy up with her uncle! Do you even remember your vow by the lakeside to win her over? This was supposed to be a three-person arc and you turned it into a two-man story! This! Is! Not! Right!

The plot’s overall arc was still intact, but the details… were crumbling hard.
He couldn’t help clutching his chest.

Later, after more tangled feelings, the Ten Thousand Mountains arc was finally, finally over. Demonic sword cultivator Yin Jiuhen was very reluctant to part with Ling Feng… and his niece, so he decided that even though he was a demonic cultivator, he’d personally escort them to the vicinity of Tianxuan Immortal Sect! He had to ensure the safety of his good buddy and niece!

Ling Feng, of course, was overjoyed. He beamed and said: “Thanks, Brother Yin!”
Yin Jiuhen’s gaze softened: “No need to thank me.”
Female lead Leng Shuang: Does no one care what I think?

Gu Bai: “……”
Brother Yin my ass! You got the generation all wrong, okay! That’s your love interest’s uncle! You’re calling him “brother”?! Even if the girl wasn’t your destined love, she’s still your senior! Calling her uncle “brother”—isn’t that basically taking advantage of her!?

Ling Feng didn’t care at all.
This was the world of cultivation, who gave a damn about seniority! Ge was a free spirit! Didn’t you see that even man-beast pairings were possible? Ge and shijie would mind their own business, don’t sweat the small stuff!

Qiguan Rui chuckled again.
He hugged Gu Bai’s waist, stroking his long hair, feeling very pleased.
Because under his gege’s original story’s comment section, the HateFeng and TianFeng ships were in fierce opposition.

TianFeng shippers acknowledged the female lead, but believed she was a stand-in for Tianxiao Laozu. A tragic, repressed master-disciple love, unknowingly mutual, full of angst and heartbreak—such beautiful tragedy!
HateFeng shippers also acknowledged the female lead, but didn’t see her as a stand-in. Instead, they felt her uncle had come to rescue the male lead after her death, a bickering dynamic that blossomed into true love! Comedy! (→ Tianxiao Laozu dies, Yin Jiuhen lives.)

As for Yin Jiuhen and Tianxiao Laozu—though both were icy sword cultivators—Yin Jiuhen had one extra trait: being secretly dramatic! He was a stoic, sure, but not quiet—he was very lively in action! Plus, he talked a lot! Always chattering at the male lead, constantly poking him!
So obviously, he was nothing like Tianxiao Laozu! ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Therefore, upon seeing the plot turning into a live reenactment of HateFeng, Qiguan Rui naturally became a bit more tolerant of Ling Feng.
But as for what would happen later, whether or not Ling Feng would need to be eliminated… that would depend on his future performance.

Meanwhile, the group’s slow pace turned what should have been a quick return to Tianxuan Sect into a leisurely vacation.
Leng Shuang: Finally, we’ve arrived.

Even though one was her shidi and the other her uncle, their generation alignment was completely messed up, and they were emitting sparks all the time.
Yes! Sparks! Even a blind horse could tell! One glance and you’d wish you couldn’t see!

Now they were at the foot of the sect’s mountain—finally she could go home! Back to those snow-capped peaks! No more getting blinded!

Her cold heart felt true joy.

As for Ling Feng, no matter how reluctant he was to part with his good buddy, he had to return.
So, he reluctantly discussed swordsmanship with Yin Jiuhen for three more days…

Leng Shuang: We’re already at the mountain, why can’t I go back!
She was about to mentally collapse.

Ling Feng: “Ai, farewell.”
He finally had to leave.

Yin Jiuhen stood watching as the male and female leads ascended the mountain, watching their figures shrink into two little black dots climbing ever higher.
Then he sighed… and settled down in the town.

That’s right! Even though he had matured past his chuunibyou phase, Yin Jiuhen, with his secretly dramatic personality, had no intention of leaving the area around Tianxuan Sect!
Even though, as a demonic cultivator, he couldn’t enter the sect to avoid misunderstandings! He could still guard his niece… and his new buddy from nearby!
He wasn’t leaving! No way! The spiritual energy was good here! He was staying!

In the sky, Gu Bai quietly rubbed his temple.
This wasn’t in the original novel…
But the early-stage plot never explained Yin Jiuhen’s whereabouts in detail either…
So maybe this didn’t count as OOC… right?

Forget it. His disciple was going to return soon to report, he’d better head back to the mountain first.
Then, Gu Bai quietly glanced at Qiguan Rui.

Qiguan Rui smiled gently and flicked his snake tail.
In the blink of an eye, the two of them reappeared inside Gu Bai’s hall.
At the same time, an attendant’s voice came from outside, reporting that his disciple and the female lead had completed their task and were here to report to Shizun/Laozu.

As for how the male lead reported, how the female lead paid her respects and took her leave, how the two then separated again—that’s a story for another time.
In short, everything seemed normal.
Mm, the male lead didn’t mention the demonic sword cultivator.

Gu Bai turned his face away.
What should he even say at this point?
“When your son grows up, you can’t keep him”… no no no! Laozi thinks this brat can still be salvaged!

·

After returning to Tianxiao Mountain, thanks to his field mission and accumulated experience, Ling Feng made great progress in swordsmanship. Plus, that weirdo shishu of his seemed to have eased up on the hellish training, so he had more time to reflect on sword dao and happily practiced sword forms atop the mountain every day.

And as he practiced, he naturally thought of his new brother, his good buddy.

Ling Feng sighed.
Didn’t notice it before, but only after practicing alone did he realize: discussing swordplay with Brother Yin helped him improve much faster and understand things better.
Now his progress felt a little unsatisfactory… Where was Brother Yin now? What was he doing? Out hunting demons again?

Even though Brother Yin was a demonic sword cultivator, Ling Feng knew—he didn’t act like a demonic cultivator at all. He was even more upright than some righteous ones!

In the little town, Yin Jiuhen had just snapped the fingers and legs of a thief who dared reach into his storage pouch. He sneezed.
—Let’s not ask why cultivators can still sneeze. Just know that the twisted thief finally managed to flee by trembling his limbs—barely saved his life.

Righteous Yin Jiuhen looked up.
He felt a little melancholic.
How was his niece now? And that little buddy of his…

Two hearts filled with longing. Under different skies, the male lead and the female lead’s uncle sighed at the same time.

—Damn it, this is way too much like a romance novel! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Camera pans back to Tianxiao Mountain.

Gu Bai was, in fact, watching his disciple’s cultivation progress—because, well, that was his beloved brat. Now that the pervert seemed to have eased up, he took the chance to sneak some peeks.
His heart was pure and fatherly…

But why! What he saw was his disciple looking lost! Swinging his sword only to space out midway! Even after recovering, he’d swing a few more times—then space out again!
How could this not look like a case of lovesickness…

Gu Bai held his forehead.
Ugh… he was bleeding emotionally.