Evil Spirit - chapter 1

Chapter 1

The first spring rain in the Capital fell softly like silk threads. The usually bustling city center was now sparsely populated; even the vendors with large umbrellas by the roadside were too lazy to hawk their wares, sitting behind their stalls and worrying as they watched the rain. Business should have been excellent during this season.

These early spring days were when the daughters of officials and Noble Ladies from aristocratic families would tour the lakes and enjoy the scenery. During these days, commoners from the city were forbidden from entering or leaving the lakeside.

In previous years, only a few painted boats would be scattered on the lake during the rainy season. The Noble Ladies, delicate and precious, were usually unwilling to brave the rain for an outing. But this year was different.

It was said that a young gentleman had arrived in the Capital these past few days, with features as if painted, graceful as jade. Today, this gentleman would tour the lake together with the second young lady of the Shen Family.

Every boat moored on the lake was exquisitely crafted. As Noble Ladies, they had seen many handsome men, but this time, the gentleman was spoken of almost as if he were divine.

Some said the gentleman’s skin was as fair as jade, like an immortal.

Some said the gentleman smiled often, his eyes curved like a lotus blooming in the heart of a Buddha’s disciple.

In short, he had stolen the hearts of all the women in the Capital.

He had also captured the attention of the Noble Ladies on the boats, who could not help but glance repeatedly toward the front of the flowing lake, hoping for the appearance of this immortal-like, Buddha-like gentleman.

Yet among them was a young girl in a blue robe, her face full of worry.

The gauze curtain at the edge of the boat draped over her shoulder. The girl, dispirited, rested her sleeves on the boat’s rail, her dark apricot eyes staring blankly at the ripples on the lake made by the falling rain.

If she jumped in right now, could she go home?

[Warning! Host, please refrain from any suicidal thoughts. If your body dies before the task is completed, you will disappear along with it.]

Heh. Stupid System.

Li Jiaojiao tugged at her stiff lips, her mental curse to the System barely finished before her nose tingled.

“Achoo-”

A sudden sneeze made the pearls and jade on her hairpin shake wildly.

She had already waited in this damned cold rain for an entire hour. If she waited any longer, she would surely catch a cold.

Just then, a thin blanket was draped over her shoulders. Li Jiaojiao looked up to see her maid, Xiao Fu, gazing at her with deep concern.

“Young Princess, if you’re not feeling well, let’s go back first.”

Li Jiaojiao rubbed her reddened nose and waved her hand in refusal.

Since her mistress was unwilling, Xiao Fu could only retreat to the side and start brewing hot tea.

With a sigh, Li Jiaojiao slumped back onto the boat’s rail.

Truthfully, she also wanted to return to the Junwang Mansion with its golden silk bedding, but this damned strategy task wouldn’t allow it.

It all started with this System.

The System had made her transmigrate into a fantasy romance novel called “Yin-Yang Master.”

Sharing the same name was a curse, and Li Jiaojiao had landed in the body of an arrogant young Princess who bore her name.

The task given by the System was problematic as well-she had to correct the twisted worldview and gloomy personality of the male supporting character, Duan Qinglian, pulling him back from the edge of madness.

And this male supporting character, whose worldview was as twisted as a rope, was precisely the gentleman whom all the women in the Capital called an immortal and a Buddha’s disciple.

“It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s the Shen Family’s boat!”

A maid from one of the families called out, and the previously dull lake instantly came alive.

At that moment, a redwood pleasure boat slowly approached. As it came into view, the slender willow carving on the boat’s pillar could be clearly seen-willow leaves ward off ghosts and suppress evil, the unique emblem of the Shen Family.

The head of the Shen Family, Shen Chendao, was the chief of the Yin-Yang Department, safeguarding the Capital’s peace. The Yin-Yang Department was personally established by Emperor Li Qian, not under the jurisdiction of the Three Ministries, and was as renowned as the Capital Guard Department.

On the Shen Family’s boat was a young girl about the same age as Li Jiaojiao, the cherished and pampered youngest granddaughter of the Shen Family, Shen Yunshu, sister to the heroine Shen Yunlan.

Li Jiaojiao weakly lifted her head from the boat’s rail, her face full of resentment, completely opposite to the excited young ladies around her.

She wanted to be happy too, but how could she be cheerful when faced with such a severely problematic male supporting character? No matter how she looked at it, it felt like a huge pit.

The Shen Family’s boat drew closer, and the figures on the boat gradually became clearer.

In an instant, all of Li Jiaojiao’s resentment vanished.

In the fine rain, a slender young man leaned lazily against the boat’s pillar. Black hair, white robe, his right hand hung outside the boat, the sleeve hiding the back of his hand and revealing slender fingers.

His skin was pale, almost sickly, but his eyes and brows carried a smile, gentle and clear like the spring rain over the lake.

He was beautiful-Li Jiaojiao had never seen anyone more beautiful. Yet this beauty seemed as if it could shatter at any moment, soft and fragile.
Is this really the so-called psychopathic madman who kills without batting an eye, as the System described?

[Target Duan Qinglian has appeared, plot completion unlocked, target status values unlocked, favorability unlocked. Wishing the Host good luck.]

The System’s voice pulled Li Jiaojiao back to her senses.

Perhaps she had stared at him for too long, for she suddenly realized Duan Qinglian was also looking back at her. His eyes were clear and ethereal, his gaze lingering and gentle, yet Li Jiaojiao felt as if something was tightly coiling around her throat, suffocating her.

She felt numb under his gaze, even holding her breath.

After a moment, the brows and eyes that met hers suddenly curved, and he let out a low laugh. At the same time, that suffocating feeling dissipated like silk threads unraveling into smoke.

Only then did Li Jiaojiao let out the breath she had been holding.

Duan Qinglian’s eyes were still curved, his low laughter even softer than raindrops falling into a lake, making him seem incomparably gentle.

In just a brief instant, Li Jiaojiao denied her earlier thoughts. He was nothing like the rumors.

How could a Buddhist son with a lotus blooming in his heart look at someone with the gaze of a predator ensnaring its prey?

His rosy thin lips parted slightly, and with a smile, he murmured, “Meow.”

“…”

Li Jiaojiao rubbed her eyes. Meow?…

Duan Qinglian tapped his fingertips lightly on the boat, his smile deepening.

“Why is Young Master Duan smiling so happily? Did you find something amusing?” Shen Yunshu, standing nearby, couldn’t help but curve her lips as she saw Duan Qinglian smile.

No matter how you looked at him, this Young Master Duan was pleasing to the eye, especially when he smiled-it made her heart melt.

The hand outside the boat was withdrawn and rested on the rail. Duan Qinglian propped his chin on the back of his hand, his eyes bright and clear, reflecting the wary face of the girl in green.

“Yes, it’s quite amusing.”

His tone was gentle, tinged with delight.

Following his gaze, Shen Yunshu saw Li Jiaojiao, not far from her.

She immediately recognized her as the only daughter of Duanhua Junwang, the most unruly young Princess in the Capital.

Strange. Wasn’t Li Jiaojiao at odds with her own elder sister, and always stubbornly devoted to Fang Zhiyi of the Capital Guard Department? Why was she suddenly here, joining the fun?

If it were any other Noble Lady, she could have found some excuse to drive her away, but it just had to be Li Jiaojiao.

“Young Master Duan.” She was indignant, wanting nothing more than to quickly draw Duan Qinglian’s attention away from Li Jiaojiao.

“Mm.”

Duan Qinglian turned to her, his smile undiminished.

“Young Master Duan, you clearly promised me you’d accompany me to enjoy the lake and the scenery. How can you spare a glance for someone else?”

As the female lead’s younger sister, Shen Yunshu was naturally graceful and delicate. Lowering her eyes and pressing her lips together, her pitiful and aggrieved look was enough to soften any man’s heart.

Sure enough, Duan Qinglian withdrew his gaze, no longer lounging lazily against the boat rail.

He leaned in, leaving only half a finger’s width between them, and then said softly, “Then how would Second Miss like me to accompany you?”

His voice was clear and gentle, like the lingering note of a plucked string, making Shen Yunshu’s heart flutter.

“Like this?”

He placed his hand on her waist, the scent from his sleeve cool and clean.

“Or like this?”

His lips slid to her neck, the cold touch brushing over her burning skin, like a kiss yet not quite a kiss.

Shen Yunshu was both shocked and delighted.

This was far too bold, to act so wantonly in front of so many people-it could even be called improper.

Yet she felt not the slightest aversion in her heart.

The commotion on the Shen Family’s boat had already made the Noble Ladies on the lake blush, all turning away and covering their faces-except for Li Jiaojiao, who was still staring intently, eyes wide.

“System, are you sure I’ve transmigrated into a classic romance novel, and not an 18+ one?” She felt the need to confirm.

[Host, please clear the indecent thoughts from your mind. This System does not support transmigration into 18+ genres.]

“I didn’t want to transmigrate into 18+ either…” Li Jiaojiao shot the System a disdainful glance.

But, back to the point…

Her gaze fell again on Duan Qinglian’s slender figure.

He really was beautiful-delicate bones, fair skin, sharp and lean features, but so ethereally beautiful it felt unreal, with a frail, sickly air.

This kind of character usually wouldn’t appear in 18+ stories. After all, such a figure is only to be admired from afar, not to be toyed with. Li Jiaojiao even thought his slender waist couldn’t withstand much.

Wait!

What was she thinking?!