Watching Fang Zhiyi flop onto the bed behind him, the system couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Host, what are you doing? Hurry up and go outside! Yue Anyao will be here soon to stir up misunderstandings!"
"So what?" Fang Zhiyi lay comfortably. "Isn't that fine?"
"Host, in your terms, she's a green tea! A green tea! She’ll create misunderstandings to damage your relationship with the female lead. Your current task is to avoid her and reduce the female lead’s misunderstandings of you. Otherwise, things will get messy later." The system shuddered at the thought of having to constantly search for the female lead afterward.
Fang Zhiyi sat up upon hearing this. "You’re mistaken. Listen carefully."
"What is a green tea? First, a green tea knows how to play weak. Do you think my junior sister is the type to act weak? Even if she does, it’s only when the female lead is around. Second, green teas like to cast a wide net, but my junior sister only has eyes for me! I know your criteria—she just says things like 'It’s all my fault' or 'I’ve made things difficult for you' in front of the female lead, typical green tea talk. But you need to understand the core issue—isn’t it because she likes me? So!" Fang Zhiyi slammed the table emphatically. "She’s not a green tea! And even if she is, she’s a green tea who only has eyes for me!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the table shattered into pieces.
Damn, he forgot he was now a cultivator.
The system hesitated. "Could it be that you..."
"Enough. You’re dismissed. I have things to do." Fang Zhiyi, already at the early-stage Unity Realm, could naturally sense someone approaching.
Sure enough, Yue Anyao rushed in, carrying something in her hands. When she looked up and saw Fang Zhiyi stepping out, her face lit up with joy. "Senior Brother, come try the grilled carp I made for you! I caught and cooked it all by myself!"
Yue Anyao’s reasoning was simple—if Senior Brother liked that little girl because of her cooking skills, she refused to believe her own dishes couldn’t compare!
In the original story, Fang Zhiyi hadn’t taken a single bite. Yue Anyao, heartbroken, clung to him and refused to let go. As his junior sister, Fang Zhiyi couldn’t just push her away with qi, so he had to coax her gently. It was this hesitation that Zhong Ling'er witnessed upon returning, leading to her storming off in anger.
But now, things were different. Fang Zhiyi plopped down, picked up a piece of fish, and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing twice, his expression stiffened slightly.
"Damn system, why didn’t you warn me her cooking was this bad???"
Still, he had to maintain his composure. In his past life as a powerful noble who rivaled the emperor, he had tasted all manner of delicacies. And now, he was subjected to this...
"Breathe in, breathe out... hold it together."
Yue Anyao was stunned. She had been rejected by Fang Zhiyi multiple times before—even warned to stay away. She had resolved that if he refused her again today, she would throw all caution to the wind and shamelessly cling to him no matter what!
But Senior Brother actually sat down and ate! Even if his expression was a bit dark.
"Senior Brother... is it really that bad?" Yue Anyao asked cautiously.
"Hm? Well... it’s not great," Fang Zhiyi wrestled with his conscience before deciding to be honest. "Next time, don’t use spells to grill fish. Use charcoal fire, understand? But it’s not completely inedible."
Yue Anyao was dejected, but hearing Senior Brother’s gentle and patient tone made her heart flutter. She nodded vigorously. "Mm!"
Looking at her obedient face, Fang Zhiyi nodded approvingly. What green tea? This was just his precious junior sister!
Just then, Zhong Ling'er rushed back in a panic. Since the plot had already diverged, she didn’t witness Yue Anyao clinging to Fang Zhiyi. But seeing Yue Anyao there still displeased her. However, thoughts of Chu Aotian quickly overtook her worry. "Zhiyi, it’s bad! You need to come with me, now!" She grabbed Fang Zhiyi’s sleeve and pulled.
Fang Zhiyi was grateful for the rescue—otherwise, he might have had to force down another bite. "Alright, let’s go." He turned. "Anyao, come with us."
Yue Anyao was dazed, while Zhong Ling'er’s expression darkened further. But the situation was urgent.
When the three arrived, Chu Aotian had already been captured by the elders of Cloud Sky Palace.
"Palace Master." The elder greeted Fang Zhiyi with a bow.
Fang Zhiyi glanced at the pale-faced young man. "What’s the matter?"
The elder replied, "This man is a demonic cultivator. He was caught attempting to breach our defensive formation!"
Zhong Ling'er immediately tugged at Fang Zhiyi’s sleeve. He subtly shifted away, unnoticed by Zhong Ling'er—but Yue Anyao, who had eyes only for him, noticed and brightened.
"In that case," Fang Zhiyi looked at Chu Aotian, who met his gaze with defiance before shifting his attention to Zhong Ling'er, flashing her a smirk.
"Send him to the Execution Platform for disposal," Fang Zhiyi said flatly.
Everyone was stunned. Being sent to the Execution Platform meant even his soul would be eradicated—no chance of reincarnation!
"Zhiyi! Have you forgotten him? He’s Aotian!" Zhong Ling'er cried out.
The crowd’s attention snapped to her.
"Oh? So you’re involved with a demonic cultivator? How..." Yue Anyao didn’t want to miss any chance to undermine Zhong Ling'er, but Fang Zhiyi cut her off mid-sentence.
"Your kindness is your own business, but don’t let it drag Cloud Sky Palace into trouble!"
The declaration left everyone speechless.
Wait—hadn’t it been obvious to even the blind how much the Palace Master adored Zhong Ling'er? He’d even transferred his own cultivation to her, helping her break through to the early-stage Nascent Soul Realm in no time. What was happening today? Had the Palace Master finally seen the light?
The system promptly intervened. "Host, maintain your devoted persona! Don’t let others suspect you!"
"Damn it." Fang Zhiyi clutched his chest, his face a mix of hesitation before firming with resolve. Whether they understood or not, he had to sell the act.
"I’ve often wondered—why do we cultivate? Is it just for immortality?" Fang Zhiyi swept his gaze across the crowd, which now included even outer disciples.
"No, it’s not. Think about it—cultivation, immortality... does that mean we must abandon human emotions and desires? I couldn’t break through before because I was lost!"
"Every one of you here was once mortal. I’m sure you remember—if we can’t enjoy mortal food, savor the joy it brings, if we can’t love... then what’s the point of immortality? To become an emotionless, desireless immortal?"
Many outer disciples, who still relied on mortal food, nodded in agreement.
Fang Zhiyi pointed. "Then Zhong Ling'er came. She cooked mortal dishes, and when I ate them... it was the first time in so long I felt... alive!" He raised his hand and clenched it softly.