I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 58

Five Years Later

"Senior Sister," Bai Roushuang suddenly asked a rather profound question before leaving Fan Capital City, "do you think the world we live in might just be a painting?"

"Hmm?" Xu Shulou immediately regarded her with suspicion. "Say something to prove you're the real Bai Roushuang."

"Ah? Of course I'm the real Bai Roushuang! Senior Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Xu Shulou remained silent, scrutinizing her from head to toe.

Bai Roushuang began to stammer, "Senior Sister... we've been through so much together, traveled to so many places... where do you want me to start?"

Xu Shulou circled her twice, seemingly deep in thought. Feng Yi and Jiang Yan, finding this amusing, watched their junior sister with matching appraising gazes—one stroking his chin, the other crossing his arms.

Under their collective scrutiny, Bai Roushuang felt her hair stand on end. She dashed down a few steps and, taking advantage of the height difference, turned and clung to Xu Shulou's leg. "Senior Sister!"

Xu Shulou's lips twitched. "What are you doing?"

Having done this twice before, Bai Roushuang had long shed any embarrassment. She fake-sobbed dramatically, "Wuwuwu, Senior Sister, what's wrong? Why do you doubt me? Don't scare me like this..."

"Alright, get up. I believe you're real," Xu Shulou said, exasperated but amused as she hauled her up. "The fake junior sister in the painting wasn't this shameless."

For a fleeting moment, she had wondered if everything—rescuing people from paintings, the million spirit stones—was another illusion conjured by that treacherous painting to test their hearts.

But it was just a passing thought. After all she'd experienced, she could now distinguish reality from illusion.

"It's nothing," Xu Shulou patted and soothed her junior sister in a hug. "What were you asking earlier?"

"I... I asked if our world might just be a painting."

"Interesting," Feng Yi stroked his chin. "You mean we might be figures in a painting, unaware of it ourselves."

"If that were true," Jiang Yan joined in, "what would you do?"

The little fox Fen Mo tilted her head. "I'd probably despair. Wouldn't that make everything meaningless?"

Feng Yi pondered. "I'd spend my life searching for this world's secrets and a way out."

"What ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‍if you couldn't find one?"

Feng Yi frowned. "Then I'd likely share Fen Mo's despair."

Jiang Yan nodded. "Like Third Brother, I'd try everything to break free, even if it took my entire life."

Bai Roushuang looked at Xu Shulou. "Senior Sister, what about you? What if there's no way out?"

"Then... just live well," Xu Shulou sat on the steps. "Whether it's a painting or a story, this world is my reality. The bonds of family and friendship are undeniably real."

"..."

"Enough overthinking," Xu Shulou smiled. "I believe this is the real world. A painted one couldn't feel this genuine."

None of them were prone to dwelling on such matters, so they laughed it off.

Xu Shulou escorted the two little foxes home. Since their cave had been ransacked, she gave them two spare storage pouches, filling them with spirit stones, clothes, and protective artifacts. She also told them to send word to Dustless Island if they ever needed help before bidding them farewell under their reluctant gazes.

Bai Roushuang now wore a fiery-red robe from Linglong Pavilion, its hem designed like flickering flames. True to the Pavilion's craftsmanship, the flames never extinguished yet emitted no heat, harmed no one, and burned nothing.

Spinning around, the blazing hues were breathtaking.

Xu Shulou offered to share the thousands of dresses with her junior sister, but Bai Roushuang, content with just a dozen, showed no greed.

The group returned to Bright Moon Peak on Dustless Island. Xu Shulou picked a spot bathed in wind and sunlight to hang the painting from Taixu Realm. "I'm going into seclusion. You can enjoy the view here first."

With so few people on Bright Moon Peak, Xu Shulou set up a barrier around the painting and reminded everyone to avoid it, ensuring no accidents.

She also instructed her juniors to summon her if Xiao Ya sent word during her seclusion.

Spring turned to autumn, and five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the secluded cave, the air was cold and silent—so quiet one could almost hear a butterfly's wings flutter.

No wonder so many cultivators grew reclusive. The prolonged solitude, where the world seemed to hold only oneself, made socializing feel unnecessary over time.

Xu Shulou's seclusion lasted five years.

She ascended a minor realm and fully stabilized it before preparing to emerge.

After years of stillness, the chirping of birds and insects outside felt like a warm embrace from the mortal world.

Her first act was to soak in the hot springs at the back mountain.

Though cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage no longer gathered dust, she loved bathing. The hot water seemed to wash away the lingering chill of five lonely years.

After her bath, she chose a lavender pleated dress with a pearl-white gossamer shawl and matching shoes embroidered with pale purple hibiscus. She floated briefly in the air, testing her enhanced abilities, before leisurely rejoining her juniors.

"Senior Sister!"

Her timing was perfect—it was the mortal world's New Year. Bai Roushuang and Jiang Yan, both raised in the mortal realm, were busy wrapping dumplings by the stove while the others "helped" in their own chaotic ways.

The moment they saw Xu Shulou, everyone crowded around, congratulating her on leaving seclusion and clamoring to ask if she'd advanced.

Xu Shulou looked them over. Five years had changed little, though Bai Roushuang's eyes now held more maturity and determination. She excitedly told Xu Shulou she'd reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Oh, Senior Sister, what filling do you like in your dumplings?" Bai Roushuang tugged her sleeve. "I'm making shrimp-pork with hibiscus and the mortal world's lamb-and-radish."

Xu Shulou peeked. "What's Fifth Brother making?"

"Fifth Senior Brother is making the roast chicken dumplings Master requested. Who knows how they'll turn out..." Bai Roushuang whispered, "Avoid the others' dumplings! I just saw Sixth Senior Brother stuffing hawthorn into the wrappers!"

But her warning came too late—Song Ping had already dumped all the dumplings into a giant pot.

Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang shared a silent, resigned look before joining their master and fellow disciples at the table.

The dumplings bobbed up and down in the large pot, plump and adorable. Once served on the porcelain plate, Bai Roushuang hesitated to pick one up, carefully trying to identify which one she had folded herself.

Xu Shulou couldn’t tell either, but she was bold enough to spear one with her chopsticks and take a bite. She nodded approvingly at Ji Ci, “Not bad. At least you remembered to crush the hawthorn first. I thought you’d just toss it in whole.”

Ji Ci, utterly lacking self-awareness, pressed further, “Does it taste good?”

“…It’s passable as a dessert.”

Xu Shulou picked up another dumpling and took a bite. “Rice mixed with chili, then stuffed into a dumpling—which genius came up with this?”

Song Ping scratched his head sheepishly. “I studied some mortal-world dishes. Since rice is universally loved, I thought it wouldn’t taste too bad in a dumpling.”

Bai Roushuang couldn’t help but ask, “Which chef taught you, Second Senior Brother? Did they really approve of you graduating?”

Song Ping grinned innocently. “Self-taught.”

“…”

Elder Changyu suddenly set down his chopsticks and silently left the room.

“Master, where are you going?”

Without turning back, Elder Changyu replied, “Going to vomit. I’ll deal with the disgraceful disciple who stuffed dumplings with mutton, cherries, and noodles when I return.”

Feng Yi scratched his head. “Why doesn’t Master like it? I remember Little Junior Sister once made cherry pork, and it was delicious.”

“Cherry pork isn’t actually…” Bai Roushuang trailed off, then asked, “And why noodles?”

Feng Yi glanced at Song Ping. “Seeing Second Senior Brother add rice inspired me.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Song Ping defended himself earnestly. “You just don’t understand. Rice and noodles are completely different!”

Bai Roushuang covered her eyes in despair.

“Honestly, Master isn’t in any position to scold you,” Xu Shulou remarked, eyeing the dumpling she had just picked up. “Roasted chicken filling tastes just as awful after boiling.”

“…”

Bai Roushuang gave up arguing and focused on identifying the dumplings she had folded by their pleats. Using serving chopsticks, she picked one out for her senior sister. “Eat this one. It’s safe.”

The minced shrimp mixed with spirit-pork was fragrant and rich, the broth savory without being greasy. Xu Shulou was moved to tears. “Divine. Especially after the previous ones.”

With her junior sister’s careful selection, Xu Shoulou managed to enjoy a proper meal.

As for the others, those who occasionally got a dumpling filled with red bean paste or jujube paste considered themselves lucky.

After the lively feast, Bai Roushuang gazed out the window. “In the mortal world, this is the hour for fireworks.”

Xu Shulou took her hand. “Then let’s go watch them.”

Bai Roushuang brightened. “Where’s the best place? I’ve heard the capital has the most fireworks, but Anyang City’s displays are the most unique.”

Xu Shulou smiled. “We’re cultivators. We can ride our swords and see every city’s fireworks in a single night.”

And so, the Bright Moon Peak disciples set off to enjoy the spectacle. Xu Shulou flew for a while, clearly feeling the difference after her recent breakthrough—she was faster now, and her spiritual energy consumption had lessened.

The mortal world was alight with lanterns and silver blossoms for the New Year. From high above, the group watched the dazzling fireworks bloom across the sky.

Bai Roushuang caught up to her senior sister mid-flight and whispered, “I’ve learned to ride a sword myself now. I could come see the fireworks alone, but… having someone suggest adventures, having company—it’s different. Senior Sister, I’ve missed you these past five years.”

Xu Shulou smiled and gently stroked her hair.

Only when Bai Roushuang grew tired did the group finally land atop a tall pagoda.

Xu Shoulou descended to the streets and bought a firework called “Galaxy Descends to Earth.” She soared back into the sky, tracing a path with the sparking trail, manually writing “Happy New Year” in blazing characters for all to see.

The mortals below looked up in awe, gasping in delight.

Happy New Year—the simplest blessing, yet Xu Shoulou’s most sincere wish for her juniors.

After all, isn’t happiness what everyone seeks?