A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother

Following the tracks of the two tiger demons down the mountain, he found their cave.

Li Xuanxiao stepped inside. There were still many treasures left behind that the two tiger demons couldn't take with them.

Scanning the area briefly, Li Xuanxiao walked to the deepest part of the cave, his brows slightly furrowed.

At the end of the cave, four skeletons lay motionless.

Their bodies had no trace of flesh, as if eroded by countless years, leaving behind only bones.

It was Zhou Yan, Bai Xue, Qingfeng, and Qingming.

Li Xuanxiao was puzzled. He had thought that all four had already left.

He hadn't expected the two tiger demons to have killed them here?

Logically speaking, even if the two tiger demons were at their peak, they would have had little chance of winning against those four.

There must be traps, formations...

Li Xuanxiao carefully searched around and soon discovered a concealed vine-type magical artifact.

A magical artifact that came with its own formation.

"Hiss~"

Li Xuanxiao sucked in a sharp breath.

Judging from its aura, even a Golden Core Stage cultivator wouldn't be able to break through.

No wonder those four had fallen for it.

Li Xuanxiao shook his head, feeling a bit regretful for them.

After all, they were all righteous cultivators, most likely too naive from reading too many books, never having witnessed the treachery of human hearts—let alone the even more sinister hearts of demons and fiends.

Once again, he was reminded of the cruelty of the cultivation world.

A single misstep, and one would fall beyond redemption.

There wasn't even room for regret.

The two tiger demons hadn't taken this vine magical artifact with them, likely because they couldn't.

Only those with righteousness in their hearts could wield it.

The two tiger demons were born to kill—naturally, they couldn't take it.

Li Xuanxiao carefully stored away the vine seed magical artifact. Setting up traps with it would undoubtedly provide him with another means of self-defense.

Raising his head once more to look at the four skeletons, Li Xuanxiao shook his head again.

Before long, people from Fahua Temple and Xuantian Sword Sect would surely come to collect the bodies.

To prevent the corpses from being devoured by wild beasts,

Li Xuanxiao specifically scattered beast-repelling powder outside the cave.

"............"

Taiping County—just hearing the name made it sound like a peaceful and tranquil place. But in reality, the truth was quite the opposite.

Not only was this place far from peaceful, but it was also filled with danger and instability.

One of the key reasons for this was its proximity to the infamous Wei Tiger Mountain.

Every year, no fewer than a hundred lives were mercilessly taken, becoming victims of the relentless tiger menace.

Some were unlucky enough to encounter tigers while working in the forests, others fell prey while hunting or chopping wood.

The worst cases involved women and children laboring at home—only for the husband to return to find nothing but their bones. It was truly devastating.

Even more terrifying was the rumor that Wei Tiger Mountain was not home to ordinary tigers.

According to some elderly locals, two enormous, exceptionally fierce tiger demons lurked in the mountains.

Their massive bodies were said to be larger than the average horse.

Just imagining such colossal creatures roaming the forests was enough to send shivers down one's spine.

At the break of dawn today, a drowsy night watchman stepped out of the county office, yawning and carrying his gong.

He rubbed his eyes. Something lay ahead.

"Oh my heavens!!"

The watchman collapsed onto the ground in terror, staring at the scene before him.

Two tigers—no! More precisely, two tiger pelts.

The news spread quickly.

People from the nearby counties rushed to see, drawn by curiosity.

Only the two empty tiger pelts remained.

It was an eerie sight.

From that day on, Wei Tiger Mountain was free of tiger demons.

But who had slain them?

Who had placed the pelts there?

That remained an unsolved mystery.

Taiping County finally became a true Taiping County.

Years passed, and the world changed.

Dynasties rose and fell, and a farmer’s rebellion from Taiping County eventually placed one of their own on the throne.

"........."

Mount Shushan.

Li Xuanxiao returned to Silver Sword Peak and handed his mission jade slip to Junior Sister Zhao Lu, asking her to report to the Sword Bearing Pavilion on his behalf, as it was inconvenient for him to go himself.

He had to avoid Fourth Senior Sister Su Wan and Jiang Luoshui at all costs.

"Third Senior Sister, are you at Silver Sword Peak?" Li Xuanxiao asked.

"I am." Zhao Lu nodded.

Li Xuanxiao gave Zhao Lu another reminder before heading off to find his Third Senior Sister.

Third Senior Sister was named Lin Wanjing.

She came from an ordinary background, but from the occasional words their master let slip, Li Xuanxiao suspected that Lin Wanjing was anything but ordinary.

She seemed to be the reincarnation of an ancient immortal.

Of course, this was all speculation—there was no proof.

Soon, Li Xuanxiao found Third Senior Sister Lin Wanjing.

At that moment, Lin Wanjing was playing the qin in a bamboo grove.

Li Xuanxiao did not immediately step forward. Instead, he observed from the shadows for a moment.

Before long, he saw a man.

A man so striking that he made one’s eyes light up.

His features carried a hint of seductive charm, capable of ensnaring souls.

His skin was as white as snow, smooth like mutton-fat jade, glistening faintly under the sunlight.

He wore a deep blue robe, its collar and cuffs embroidered with silver-threaded floating cloud patterns.

The embroidery shimmered like drifting clouds.

Around his waist, he wore a broad cyan silk belt adorned with intricate embroidery that complemented the robe, adding a touch of nobility.

His long, jet-black hair was tied high, secured with a small silver crown inlaid with jade, enhancing his already outstanding looks.

"What... a beautiful man!"

Li Xuanxiao frowned.

"Sister~"

The man called out sweetly the moment he spoke, skipping over to Lin Wanjing.

"Sister, I caught a butterfly."

Lin Wanjing smiled, "Mm, the butterfly is beautiful. How about we let it go?"

The man blinked and pouted, acting cute.

Lin Wanjing patted his head, “Be good~ Butterflies are living beings too. They feel pain and fear. We think they’re beautiful, but right now, it’s probably very scared.

Maybe… someone is waiting for it too.

So, how about we let it go?”

“Mm!”

The man obediently nodded like a three-year-old child and released the butterfly.

“I’ll listen to Sister.”

Li Xuanxiao couldn’t help but shiver, goosebumps rising all over his body.

I can’t take this! I can’t take this!!

“Who’s there?” Lin Wanjing suddenly asked.

Li Xuanxiao composed himself and walked out with a smile.

“Third Senior Sister, you’re back.”

“Oh, it’s Little Junior Brother.”

Seeing that it was Li Xuanxiao, Lin Wanjing’s face also lit up with a smile.