IC 02

IC

Posted by david.morgan, Released on May 14, 2026

Chapter 02

Jingqiu did not expect that Li Che actually had a connection with Qiran as well.

The pale-faced eunuch beside them spoke in a sharp, piercing voice:

“Just stand over there and don’t interfere with His Highness’s matters. Some people like to call it ‘being detached from worldly affairs,’ but in truth it’s just a hollow reputation as a disciple of the Heavenly Realm ancestor—having no real power under them. Even if you want to compete, what do you have to compete with His Highness?”

Jingqiu’s mind became clear in an instant.

He understood it all at once.

These servants had been allowed to speak to him so rudely on purpose—just to test whether he had any desire for power or the throne. They were waiting for him to lose his temper and fight back, so they could use that conflict as a pretext to eliminate him.

In that way, even the Heavenly Realm ancestor would have nothing to criticize.

Shao An, the inner attendant of Li Che’s palace, knew very well that His Highness was usually extremely busy. Today, he had personally come to receive a certain “capable person.”

A mysterious expert who had just appeared—yet already attracted so many powerful factions. Most likely, he was an extraordinary recluse.

“Go far away. Don’t block me from receiving him.”

Seeing that Jingqiu did not react at all, Li Che coldly ordered him away in disdain.

Jingqiu’s expression remained calm and unreadable, but something inside him tightened slightly—almost sour.

An immortal saving people was just a casual act.

Naturally… he would not have saved only him.

And if Qiran knew so many outstanding people like these… then Jingqiu had no hope at all.

He was quiet, dull, and uninteresting. Among all of Qiran’s pen pals, he might just be the most ordinary one.

Even the letters he wrote were carefully thought out, painfully awkward, since he had never done such a thing before.

Those long, wordy letters… must be annoying to read.

If it were him, receiving such boring letters from a stranger, he might not even bother finishing them.

At that thought, Jingqiu’s heart tightened painfully as he clenched the letter in his hand.

Two days earlier

Deep within the Peach Blossom Land, inside a small courtyard.

Qiran sat on a stone platform, fiddling with a delicate wooden bird in front of him.

The craftsmanship was exquisite. The bird’s body could open, and once he thought of someone, it would fly to that person automatically—an extraordinary creation.

It was the method taught by the first person he had ever saved.

“Lift your foot.”

A stern-looking man stood beside him with a broom and dustpan, sweeping the dust around Qiran’s feet.

After finishing one side, Qingzhan noticed a crumpled paper under Qiran’s left foot and his temple twitched.

“Other foot.”

This person never cultivated, never worked—just wandered around all day.

Ever since saving the first person, he had started endlessly rescuing all kinds of strange people and exchanging letters with them.

Qiran continued playing with the wooden bird and casually sat cross-legged.

Qingzhan’s anger flared.

All he ever did was receive letters and write letters. He barely even spoke ten sentences a day to his master.

“Day after day doing nothing—just get down the mountain already!”

Qiran froze.

Then, without arguing or joking or acting spoiled, he simply turned and walked into the house.

Silence.

Qingzhan calmed down slightly afterward. After all, Qiran had grown up on the mountain and knew almost nothing of the outside world.

But suddenly—

The door slammed open again.

Qiran walked out radiantly, full of energy.

His white robe shimmered like immortals’ attire. His black hair flowed like silk. A jade-blue space earring hung from his ear, and a ring he usually never wore now sat on his finger.

He looked refreshed, almost dazzling.