Love from the Male Protagonist's Harem

Chapter 64-Enjoying Popular Support Part 2

Translated by Snowfall77

Eyeing Lu Qie, Xia Ge noted that young man’s smile had faded, replaced with the chagrined expression of someone who’d ‘skipped class to go play games at an internet café, only to be caught by the principal,’ the corners of his mouth twitching.

Danfeng actually had disciples who knew how to have fun?

Gu Peijiu then turned her attention to Xia Ge, black eyes enigmatic as she asked lightly: “Why haven’t you gone to the front to receive your dan back?”

Xia Ge didn’t know how to answer.

Embarrassed, she finally opened her mouth in an attempt to explain herself: “Senior Sister……”

Gu Peijiu ignored Xia Ge’s words, facing Lu Qie again: “Go copy the Danfang 10 times.”

Lu Qie: “???”

Lu Qie stood foolishly in place, and Gu Peijiu eyed him with her deep black eyes: “20 times.”

“Ah!  I’m leaving to go copy right now!!  Going now!”

Recovering himself, Lu Qie ran away, disappearing into the crowd before Gu Peijiu could increase the copying to ‘30 times.’  His speed was so rapid it astonished Xia Ge, almost rivaling her {ghost and shadow}.

Now that the displeasing person was gone, Gu Peijiu calmly sized up Xia Ge with a sideways look, then asked once more: “Why are you not going to go get your dan?”

To Gu Peijiu, the boy looked vaguely fatigued, like he hadn’t slept well.  And since he couldn’t apparently find his green ribbon, he’d tied his hair with a black cord.  With his short stature, the top of his head couldn’t reach Gu Peijiu’s shoulders.  With just a stretch of her hand, Gu Peijiu could stroke his soft black hair.

——Eyes……like Wuyin.

——I’ll show you the world!

Gu Peijiu’s heart skipped a beat.  But she composed herself,  discreetly scrutinizing the boy.

Too close.

But perhaps Gu Peijiu’s gaze was rather invasive, because Xia Ge became nervous.  She retreated a step back without thinking, scratched her head and then pointed at the bustling crowd: “Um……there’s too many people.”

“It’s alright,” Gu Peijiu said, “I’ll take you there.”

Before Xia Ge could react, the gentle scent of sandalwood diffused in the air, and her cold hand was held.  White hands were sheltered under wide sleeves embroidered with red maple leaves, and the hand holding Xia Ge’s was like a very smooth piece of warm jade.

The warm jade-like sensation gradually spread from Xia Ge’s hand to all her limbs, until finally reaching her heart, making its beat stronger.

That hand possessed……enough force to shatter anxieties and lies.

Once she realized how she was feeling, Xia Ge wanted to pull her own hand back.  But although the other’s hand was warm and soft, it had a strength that Xia Ge couldn’t break away from.

“Stay still,” Gu Peijiu said, “I will take you up there.”

Her body slightly stiffening, Xia Ge was inexplicably obedient.

In truth, Xia Ge had always disliked holding hands with someone else or other bodily contact.  Even in her past life, she’d been mysophobic.

Then she remembered the blood-stained white and red clothes, the warm embrace scented with sandalwood, and the word——

——Rest.

Perhaps, if it was Senior Sister……it wasn’t that disagreeable.

Xia Ge slowly relaxed.

Yet the next second, she tensed up again.  Wait, you’re taking me where?  Going where?  And how?

Xia Ge was led forward by the young lady dressed in red and white, with an exquisite face, and ice-cold black eyes.  Like someone out of a painting, Gu Peijiu’s beauty was so overwhelming that people didn’t dare look at her directly.  Xia Ge wanted to take her hand back, however it was only held tighter.

Those who caught a glimpse of Gu Peijiu were startled before instinctively making way for her.

“Who is that……”

“Such a beauty……”

Puzzled by the young lady’s identity, but fascinated by her cold, noble bearing, the crowd slowly split in two.  Xia Ge, holding hands with said illustrious beauty, took note of the people stepping aside, the ardent stares from everyone, and had the momentary illusion of being a star walking the red carpet.

It was only an illusion though.

Eventually the Danfeng disciple handing out dan according to place noticed what was happening, and was puzzled, while a different disciple exclaimed in surprise: “It’s……it’s Senior Sister!”

What was Senior Sister doing here?

“Quickly, get out the way, get out the way……Senior Sister has come!”

With inner disciples now also urging people to step aside, the path to the northern platform became much wider.  Mao Qing, who’d just gotten her dan back, registered the commotion, and turning around, stared nonplussed.  There was the crowd that had made way,  and there was the lady with an upright and elegant demeanor who was holding hands with……

“Aiyo, damn, isn’t that Xia Wuyin?”

Mao Qing’s eyes were wide and she pulled on Huo Bai’s sleeve without thinking: “Hey, hey, look, it’s the legendary Senior Sister of Danfeng, and oh——Xia Wuyin!”

Absentmindedly continuing her tugging of Huo Bai’s sleeve, Mao Qing eventually realized he wasn’t responding.  Mao Qing turned to look at him, and the young man who was tolerating her actions finally answered: “Yes, I see them.”

The tone of his voice flat.

“……”  Failing to establish any rapport with Huo Bai, Mao Qing gave up on the eccentric young man, only to get excited again a second later: “I told you they wouldn’t let him slip through the cracks!  The Senior Sister is here!  Just wait and see!”

To the astonishment, bafflement, and curiosity of many, Gu Peijiu continued holding the boy’s hand as she stepped onto the padded stairs to the platform.  But then, in the space of a moment, Gu Peijiu paused, seemingly lost in thought.

In a vague dreamland of light and shadow, someone was holding Gu Peijiu’s hand, leading her step by step up a flight of stairs so high that its end couldn’t be seen.

Xia Ge, confused by Gu Peijiu’s abrupt halt, said softly: “……Senior Sister?”

Why have you stopped?

Lowering her eyelashes, Gu Peijiu came back to her senses and continued forward: “Mmm, it’s nothing.”

The two of them climbed to the top of the platform together.  It was very high, giving them a wide view of their surroundings, including the crowd on the field, who had their heads raised and bodies still, waiting for Gu Peijiu to speak.

“First, congratulations to every disciple on the list,” The young lady’s voice lightly wafted through the air, “From today on, you are inner disciples of Danfeng.”

The people down below the platform glanced at each other, doubting that Senior Sister had come merely for this purpose, yet clapping their hands nonetheless.

Xia Ge thought that still holding hands with Gu Peijiu was inappropriate.  But it wasn’t appropriate to yank her hand away from Senior Sister, either.  Which just left Xia Ge feeling rather stupid, not knowing what to do.

When the applause died down, Gu Peijiu’s clear voice rang out again: “Next, there is a second matter.”

The crowd was quiet, listening attentively.

“This year I will accept a special disciple,” Gu Peijiu’s tone was as emotionless as could be, “Everyone has probably heard of this person currently next to me, Xia Wuyin.”

The clapping ceased, replaced with dead silence.

About to die from the awkwardness, Xia Ge tried withdrawing her hand from Gu Peijiu’s grip yet again, but had no success.  Helpless, Xia Ge looked up at Gu Peijiu: “Senior Sister, I can retake the entry examination again next time……”

Fuck……getting in by the back door, and in front of so many witnesses.  Xia Ge had a guilty conscience.

“I recall that you made me a promise before.”  Gu Peijiu didn’t look at Xia Ge, and she spoke in a voice that only two people could hear, “You assured me that you would be in the top 3.”

That reminder put Xia Ge in a hard spot.  With no strength to pull her hand back, Xia Ge closed her eyes: “Um, there was an accident.”

Becoming a ‘special disciple’ only made Xia Ge’s heart feel emptier.  Hadn’t she exploded a furnace?

Gu Peijiu: “Are you feeling guilty?”

Xia Ge: “Haha, no, no……”

However, under the heavy regard of those pitch-black eyes, Xia Ge ended up lowering her head: “……honestly, a little.”

Just as she was most beset by various anxieties, Xia Ge heard Gu Peijiu say: “It’s alright.”

And, after the silence, there had erupted an even more enthusiastic burst of applause from the crowd below!

Leaving Xia Ge confused.

Someone laughed: “Haha, I told you!  There was no way the person who refined the Sanshangjin dan would fail!”

“Danfeng finally has some hope!  Probably won’t reach Tian level, but maybe he’ll reach Diji level.  When that time comes, let those Jianfeng scum come and kneel and lick up our dregs!”

“What are you groundlessly imagining?  There are no Diji level liandan masters.  Dreaming of Diji level?!”

“Just because Danfeng doesn’t have them right now, doesn’t it can’t happen in the future!”

“What, you think you’ve got a shot?”

“Well, no.  I probably wouldn’t be able to refine the Sanshangjin dan——”

“The special disciple is deserving, fame follow merit, he just needs to learn how to control his furnace techniques……”

“……”

The applause kept going, the crowd was in a happy uproar, but Xia Ge became lost in her thoughts until Gu Peijiu said softly: “Don’t feel guilty.”

“It’s good that you’re receiving popular support.”

Down on the ground, the crowd was booming, while up in the sky wild geese were flying south.  Xia Ge stood high up and gazed at the young lady holding her hand.  For a moment, Xia Ge’s cold blood was becoming warm, her still heart beginning to throb.

走后门  [zǒu hòu mén]

get in by the back door; secure advantages through pull or influence; pull strings; reverse one’s course; get in by the back door get sth. done through pull

实至名归   [shí zhì míng guī]

When one makes a real achievement, he becomes known; Fame follows merit; Reputation comes naturally from real distinction