I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script
Chapter 117

All Sorts of People

Recalling the fragments of her dream, Xu Shulou toyed with the Void Ring and the nameless bracelet she had obtained from the ice cave. The two artifacts clinked softly in her palm, and as she adjusted their positions, they suddenly emitted light—the bracelet’s white glow blending with the ring’s azure radiance, merging into a translucent ice-blue hue. When the light faded, she noticed delicate silver chains now connected the ring and bracelet, transforming them into a single chained ring.

Xu Shulou paused. Could they have originally been one artifact, accidentally split apart? Back in the Void Abyss Secret Realm’s ice cave, she had tested the bracelet and found it allowed her soul to briefly leave her body and enter that dream world. The Void Ring, on the other hand, enabled her physical form to traverse barriers between realms. What would their combined power achieve?

She slipped the chained ring onto her finger, swaying her wrist slightly. The deep blue beads shimmered mysteriously against her snow-white skin.

But this wasn’t the time for experimentation. Her current task was to safely escort Young Master Cheng to his destination. A promise was a promise, and testing the artifact could wait.

Besides, they were currently sitting in jail.

It was a low, crude prison in a small county town, with no separate cells for men and women. Stretching her neck, Xu Shulou could see Young Master Cheng and his companions through the bars of the opposite cell.

In the adjacent cell, a scar-faced, menacing man pressed his head against the bars, licking his lips as if trying to squeeze through the narrow gap to intimidate them. "Tender little things like you won’t last long here," he sneered.

Xu Shulou glanced at Young Master Cheng. "Oh wise one, see? Hiding here isn’t as safe as you thought."

Young Master Cheng shot her a resentful look. "If you hadn’t offended everyone the moment we arrived, it would’ve been perfectly safe."

"..."

"Crunch, crunch." The sound of Bai Roushuang cracking pumpkin seeds behind Xu Shulou provided a rhythmic accompaniment to the scarred man’s threats.

Young Master Cheng perked up. "You brought snacks in here?"

"Want ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍some?" Bai Roushuang pulled out a small cloth pouch and expertly tossed it through the bars into their cell.

"Thanks." Soon, the trio opposite joined in the crunching.

Xu Shulou adjusted herself comfortably on the straw mat. "Just show your official credentials and have them release us. We should get moving."

"We’ve tried everything to lure out that hidden guardian immortal, but nothing worked. Maybe he’s already left?" the Page Boy muttered. "For safety, let’s stay here a couple more days."

Xu Shulou sighed. "Using braised pork, shrimp noodles, meat pies, cherry preserves, candied lychees, and camellia cakes to tempt a cultivator—now that’s creativity."

Bai Roushuang gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t point out that all those treats had ended up in her senior sister’s stomach. In a way, the method had worked.

Still, Xu Shulou hadn’t freeloaded without repayment—she’d discreetly dealt with two waves of assassins targeting them during their journey.

Young Master Cheng asked, "Miss Xu, are you worried about your nephew waiting impatiently?"

"No," Xu Shulou shook her head. "He doesn’t even know I exist."

The trio across the bars froze. Young Master Cheng sighed. "If things don’t go well with him, you’re always welcome to seek refuge with me."

"Thanks."

Unaware of their heartfelt sympathy, they missed the moment a prisoner from the neighboring cell reached through the bars to grab Xu Shulou—only for the "pitiable maiden" to yank his arm and knock him unconscious against the bars.

After days in confinement, Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang remained composed through meditation, but Young Master Cheng’s group grew restless.

Just as they debated leaving, footsteps echoed outside the prison door.

With a creak, the door swung open, flooding the dim space with rare light.

"This way, sir," came the obsequious voice of a jailer.

Who could this "sir" be? The County Magistrate? Curiosity piqued, prisoners pressed against the wooden bars to glimpse the newcomer.

A pair of soft-soled black boots stepped onto the grimy floor—but the man leading the entourage wasn’t the magistrate (who trailed behind, fawning).

Young Master Cheng’s face lit up. "Imperial Censor Su! Over here!"

Before the man could respond, the jailer hurried to unlock their cell.

Young Master Cheng rushed out. "You’re free?! Who got you out?"

Imperial Censor Su smiled. "His Majesty cleared my name, thanks to your father’s tireless efforts."

"How did you find me?" Young Master Cheng pressed. "Did you come specifically for me?"

"Your father sacrificed his only son’s career for my sake," the censor nodded. "I had official business outside the capital and made a detour."

"But how’d you get here so fast?"

"I took a pleasure boat."

"You dared? The waterways are watched!" Young Master Cheng gaped. "Why would they hunt me but not you? You’re the mastermind!"

"I have my methods. We’ll talk later," Imperial Censor Su deflected. "Let’s leave this place first."

"Wait—two unfortunate ladies are in the opposite cell. We met them on the road."

"Unfortunate?"

Young Master Cheng whispered an explanation.

Nodding, Imperial Censor Su gestured for the jailer to open the cell. When the two women stood before him, his breath caught at Xu Shulou’s familiar face. "It’s you?"

"Censor Su."

Her voice and features were unchanged from their moonlit encounter years ago. For a heartbeat, he forgot to breathe. "What brings you here?"

"A favor," Xu Shulou replied, eyes dancing with amusement. "Now that you’re here, this fool is your responsibility."

"Agreed."

"What do you mean?" Young Master Cheng protested. "I promised to take you to Qushan County! Don’t be intimidated by him—he looks stern but he’s decent. He’ll help you too!"

"I know. We’ve met," Xu Shulou chuckled, studying Imperial Censor Su. "Though I’ve never seen you at this age before."

With his refined beard and gentle demeanor, he’d shed the earnest naivety of youth, exuding an air of quiet nobility.

Imperial Censor Su was taken aback for a moment before smiling. "I'm already past thirty, yet Miss Xu remains as beautiful as ever."

Young Master Cheng's eyes darted between them in alarm. "You two know each other?"

"Brief encounters," Imperial Censor Su replied, gazing at Xu Shulou. Once, during his days of arduous study, he had seen her—a scholar burning the midnight oil, and a swordswoman as pure as snow. Later, after achieving fame in the imperial exams, he glimpsed her again—a newly appointed top scholar on his way to his post, and a traveler smiling brilliantly under a rainbow. Fleeting meetings, mere brushes of shoulders, yet unforgettable.

Honestly, who could forget?

Noticing his expression, Young Master Cheng hastily tugged at his sleeve and pulled him aside. "Don’t be foolish! If you’re seen associating with a courtesan, the court will flood His Majesty’s desk with impeachment memorials by tomorrow!"

Imperial Censor Su chuckled. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Nonsense? Look at yourself in the mirror! No wonder you’ve never married—you’ve been pining for someone all along!"

"I—"

Xu Shulou overheard this. "You never married? Why?"

Imperial Censor Su lowered his voice so much that even Xu Shulou’s sharp hearing couldn’t catch it. "Perhaps because in my youth, I glimpsed a sight too breathtaking to forget."

Young Master Cheng, standing nearby, didn’t hear a word. "What?"

Imperial Censor Su shook his head. "I said I’ve been focused on establishing my career before settling down."

"You’re already Imperial Censor at this age—isn’t that established enough?" Young Master Cheng grumbled. "Don’t let my father hear you say that, or I’ll never be allowed to marry."

Imperial Censor Su laughed. "Nonsense. Lord Cheng would be overjoyed to see you wed."

"Bah, enough of that," Young Master Cheng waved it off, suddenly brightening. "Wait, since you’re here, does that mean I can return to the capital?"

"No," Imperial Censor Su shook his head. "You’re still to take up your post. His Majesty’s decrees aren’t so fickle. Lord Cheng also believes this assignment will temper your character."

Young Master Cheng groaned in despair.

Amid his lamentations, Imperial Censor Su gestured to Xu Shulou and her companion. "Miss Xu, after you."

The group left the prison and parted ways outside the city where no one could see them.

Xu Shulou made no move to linger, and Imperial Censor Su had no reason to ask her to stay.

She simply smiled at him. "Have you seen this year’s apricot blossoms, Lord Su?"

Imperial Censor Su paused. "Not yet."

"They’re blooming beautifully this year," Xu Shulou said softly. "Farewell, Lord Su."

"You’re really leaving just like that?" Young Master Cheng exclaimed. "How will you get to Qushan County?"

"We’re not going to Qushan County," Xu Shulou replied, bidding him farewell. "Young Master Cheng, you’re a kind-hearted soul—compassionate toward the weak and eager to help. You’ll make an excellent magistrate."

With that, she flicked her sleeve and gracefully rose into the air, her figure ethereal against the bright sky as she drifted away.

Bai Roushuang also smiled. "I’m Bai Roushuang. Thank you for enjoying the new flavor of fasting pills."

Then she summoned her sword and followed her senior sister.

Young Master Cheng gaped. "Sh-she… they…"

He stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

The Page Boy and Bodyguard were equally dumbfounded—one wide-eyed, the other slack-jawed.

Only when the sky showed no trace of them, leaving only pristine blue, did Imperial Censor Su finally look away. Before he could dwell on the emotions stirring within him, someone spoke.

"These days, even immortals have to learn how to shoe horses? Is the cultivation world that tough?" the Bodyguard muttered in disbelief.

"What?"

Young Master Cheng was still reeling. "Miss Xu’s flight was so divinely graceful—though she did eat plenty of our braised pork and soy-braised trotters along the way."

"Eh?"

"And Miss Bai is Bai Roushuang—creator of the new fasting pills! No wonder… So they were immortals, not courtesans as I’d assumed. We traveled with them for so long… I thought I was protecting them, but it was the other way around. Wait, what about that ‘nephew’ they mentioned—?"

The Page Boy sighed dramatically. "So our days in prison were completely unnecessary."

"…"

Outside the small town, howls of regret filled the air. Imperial Censor Su took a step away in distaste.

———

"Any regrets?" Bai Roushuang asked once they were far away.

Xu Shulou smiled without answering.

Regrets?

On this path of cultivation, she would meet countless people—men and women, villains and saints, the extraordinary and the ordinary, passersby and those who stayed. Some were mere fleeting encounters; others lingered by her side.

All these diverse souls formed part of her world.

Occasionally, she would reminisce about those who had left and feel gratitude for those who remained.

If asked whether she had regrets, perhaps she did.

But when looking back, the smiles always outweighed them.