Chapter Eighteen: The Legendary Hero

Chu Youcai was momentarily taken aback, gazing at his beautiful wife's expectant eyes. Suddenly, he thought that gifting poems from that other world to his beloved was not such a bad idea. He softly recited, “The Zhao guest wears a lazy Hu turban; the Wu sword gleams like frost and snow. The silver saddle shines upon the white horse, swift as a shooting star. In ten steps, he slays a man, and leaves no trace for a thousand miles. When the deed is done, he brushes his sleeves, hiding both himself and his name… Who can record your deeds, and live to old age pondering the mysteries?”

He enunciated each word with deliberate clarity, the poem’s heroic spirit soaring like a tempest, for a moment even seeming to illuminate the room with a dazzling light.

Cloud Jade Immortal was utterly stunned. She had suspected the poem might not have been composed by Chu Youcai, that perhaps there was some hidden story behind it, and her heart was unsettled. But now, realizing it truly was his creation—and that she had only heard a small portion—she felt the overwhelming force of the poem’s power wash over her. Her body and emotions were almost uncontrollable, and without realizing it, she gripped the hand of the man before her tightly.

It was only when Chu Youcai finished reciting that she sighed softly, saying, “Is this the legendary hero?”

Chu Youcai smiled gently, feeling the warmth of Cloud Jade Immortal’s hand. “Yes, I admire those heroes of old. I write as my idle thoughts lead me. Forgive me if it brings you laughter.”

At that moment, Cloud Jade Immortal was overcome by a strange feeling. She had longed for the poem to be written by her husband, but now that it was, anxiety welled up within her. Would he one day, like those heroes, wander the world in pursuit of righteousness, trust, and propriety, leaving his wife home alone? Those wandering heroes—did their hearts belong to the world, not to their home?

She felt lost.

Suddenly, a sound came from the neighboring room.

Chu Youcai and Cloud Jade Immortal exchanged a glance and hurried next door, where they saw Ruby struggling to rise.

Ruby’s health had greatly improved, though her face was still pale.

“Ruby, only by resting well can you recover and avenge Red Aunt, isn’t that right?” Cloud Jade Immortal said earnestly.

“I…” Ruby saw the warm gazes of those around her, and a wave of warmth flowed through her heart. Yet the more she felt this, the less she wanted these good people to worry for her. She shook her head firmly. “Thank you, but I truly am well now.”

Chu Youcai smiled, gently pressing Ruby’s shoulder to lay her back down. “Ruby, shall I tell you a story?”

“Hm?” Ruby was startled.

“It’s the story of a young man named Li Shizhen…” Chu Youcai began to recount the tale from his Toad Dragon Mountain and River Pearl world, changing the cursed artifact into a Daoist technique.

As he spoke, Cloud Jade Immortal and Chrysanthemum Snow listened, utterly entranced.

When Li Shizhen finally used the rites to slay the serpent, Ruby’s eyes shone with light. “Brother Chu, are you saying that this youth saw through his confusion and cut through it, so that we should not be blinded by hatred?”

It was the first time she called him “Brother Chu,” her tone sincere, though Ruby herself did not notice.

Chu Youcai heard it, smiled, and gently flicked Ruby’s nose. “I’m only saying that revenge must be approached with strategy and cleverness, not brute force.”

Page 1/3

“Oh…” Ruby nodded, finally understanding. She felt nothing awkward about Chu Youcai’s gesture; instead, her heart was filled with gentle warmth. Was this what a home felt like? Even when she had been close with Red Aunt, she had never felt such intimacy.

“So rest well, recover your strength. You have unique abilities, and I will need your help soon.”

“Mm.” Ruby nodded seriously, quickly taking the medicine by her side and soon drifting into sleep. She wanted to recover her strength so she could use her spirit medium abilities to help Chu Youcai.

Seeing how easily Chu Youcai soothed Ruby, Cloud Jade Immortal was amused and exasperated, but no matter what, her husband’s poetry and insight opened her eyes. He cared for those around him—perhaps he was not like those wandering heroes after all.

Cloud Jade Immortal let go of her worries, and a new hope bloomed in her heart—if Miss Shangguan knew she had only seen a fragment of the poem yesterday, how would she react?

That day, the four in the household were full of harmony, deliberately forgetting that the next day was the last day for their debt. Chu Youcai’s gentle smile seemed to envelop Cloud Jade Immortal and Chrysanthemum Snow, making them forget all else.

********************

A night passed, and Ruby awoke fully recovered from her illness, though her face remained pale, as if she had exhausted some inner power.

She held a brocade pouch in her hand, her eyes full of anticipation.

The previous night, she had used the special power of her spirit medium form, sacrificing much of her blood to consecrate the fox fur Red Aunt had left her.

It was the strongest item she had ever refined in her life. She could feel the surging force within, ten times stronger than the sachet she had made with her heart’s blood and hair.

Now, she had begun to enjoy the warmth of this home and wanted to contribute, to give the pouch to Chu Youcai.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open—Chu Youcai entered.

Ruby was about to speak, but in that instant, she caught the sharp, unstoppable glint in Chu Youcai’s eyes—a surge of heroic killing intent. Yet it flickered away in a blink, leaving Ruby to doubt whether she had imagined it.

“How’s your health today?” Chu Youcai asked.

“Much better. Oh, this is the sachet I made yesterday. Brother Chu, please take it.” Ruby carefully placed the pouch in his hand, emphasizing again, “I’m fully recovered now.”

Chu Youcai accepted the sachet, aware of Ruby’s feelings and the item’s importance, and cherished it, placing it close to his heart.

Facing Ruby’s expectant gaze, Chu Youcai shook his head. “Not yet. From your eyes, it’s clear you didn’t sleep well. Rest again, and I promise to take you outside.”

Page 2/3

“Oh,” Ruby said in disappointment. Her body truly wasn’t up to it, and she gradually fell asleep under Chu Youcai’s gentle comfort.

When she woke again, it was already noon.

The blazing sun poured through the window, filling the room with lazy warmth.

She felt someone urgently shaking her, and woke to find Cloud Jade Immortal and Chrysanthemum Snow, faces anxious.

Chrysanthemum Snow asked urgently, “Where is Young Master Chu?”

“Huh? He’s not here?” Ruby was still groggy.

Cloud Jade Immortal suddenly recalled something, her face going pale. That morning, she and Chrysanthemum Snow had gone out early to buy groceries; coming back, they assumed Chu Youcai was resting, and didn’t disturb him. She was slowly copying out the full text of “The Hero’s Journey” at the stone table. When Chrysanthemum Snow finished cooking, they discovered Chu Youcai wasn’t in his room.

Hearing this, Ruby suddenly cried, “Brother Chu, he…” She remembered the sharp, unstoppable look in Chu Youcai’s eyes, and instantly understood. She jumped to her feet. “I can’t let Brother Chu go alone to find Thunder Yin-Yang!”

“What? He went alone to find Thunder Yin-Yang? No, we have to go too.” Cloud Jade Immortal and Chrysanthemum Snow’s expressions changed dramatically, and they rushed out the door. But when they saw a figure in red in the courtyard, they paused.

There, beside the stone table, stood Miss Shangguan, who had arrived without anyone noticing and was reading the full text of “The Hero’s Journey.”

Her gaze was bright and difficult to hide.

Then her eyes grew sharp, and she said in a low voice to Cloud Jade Immortal, “I’ll take you there. Wait for me.”

She moved like a swimming dragon, leaping over the wall. Soon after, she returned dressed in men’s clothes, carrying three sets of men’s outfits. “If you don’t want to be a hindrance, follow my instructions. No talking.”

The three women nodded firmly, quickly changing clothes. Miss Shangguan had already rented a carriage, and she whipped the horses, driving toward the Thunder Lord’s residence outside the city.

It was noon. Cloud Jade Immortal looked at the sky, her heart full of worry: Husband, please don’t act rashly—wait for us! Whether or not you are a hero, please stay by our side and protect us! Wait for us!

Page 3/3