The Male Lead Always Thinks My Script is Wrong - Chapter 26

Volume II: Journey Through the Western Sands

A legend circulates widely within the Kurj-Gilge Desert.

They say that long ago, the desert was a dying land, on the verge of being swallowed by the scorching sun and nothingness. The first Shahegel, a true immortal, danced beneath the Jiang-Urayu, using wine to douse the overly fierce sunlight.

The Sand, the Sun, and the Nameless One hurried over upon hearing the news, only to find Shahegel swallowing the Urae amidst the darkness illuminated by the sun, swearing to protect the desert forever.

And so, the three held a massive banquet and divided a red pomegranate:

The Child of Sand scattered her body across the earth, gifting the desert offspring who would never be parted, the Child of the Sun cast her eyes into the sky, gifting the desert eagles that would remain forever sharp, and the Nameless Child cut off her long hair, letting it flow with her own blood to become the inexhaustible rivers within the ley lines.

***

“Since then, the sun rose once more, the nothingness receded, and Shahegel has guarded the desert while the three children guard her, unchanged through the generations.”

The camel bells jingled softly. Amidst the swirling yellow sands, a line of people dressed in Central Plains attire trekked along the dunes. A goatee-wearing old man swayed on the back of his camel, his story finally reaching its end.

“Well, that is the gist of the legend of Shahegel.”

“What is the Jiang-Urayu?” Ji Shinian sat atop the sand-skiff, mimicking the old man’s pronunciation and repeating the tongue-twisting words. “And that… Urae? What is that supposed to be?”

The caravan had set out the night before last. When Ji Shinian was ushered onto the skiff, Ji Shuangyuan informed him that the desert terrain in the Western Lands was treacherous. A well-informed local guide had been hired through a friend to lead them.

This old man was that very guide.

Throughout the journey, his directions had been spot on, and he could rattle off legends, geography, and celestial observations at the drop of a hat. However, his Central Plains dialect was atrocious, peppered with unintelligible gibberish every few sentences.

“The Urae is the Jiang-Urae, the seed of the Jiang-Urayu.”

The old guide gestured with his hands, then tapped his forehead in a prayer-like motion.

Is he reciting a tongue twister? Ji Shinian banged his forehead against the table in despair, regretting for the first time in twenty years of transmigration that he hadn’t bothered to learn a second language.

Earlier this morning, under the care of a maid Ji Shuangyuan had conveniently sent over, he had been dressed in red robes. A bell hung from his belt, and a swaying hair ornament was tucked into his bun. His movement elicited a soft, tinkling sound like shattering jade.

“It is the Spirit Pivot Tree.”

Xiao Shu’s voice carried through the wind and sand. He leaped nimbly onto the sand-skiff and spoke through the curtain.

“Jiang-Urayu translates to ‘Spirit Pivot Tree’.”

Xiao Shu switched between the Central Plains tongue and the desert language with seamless fluidity. He didn’t lower his voice, naturally drawing the attention of the old man and several cultivators in the caravan.

“Weren’t you out scouting the path?” Ji Shinian looked up from the table, staring at the silhouette on the curtain. “Back so soon?”

While they had a guide, the desert was fraught with danger. Consequently, aside from Ji Shinian and the old man, the cultivators took turns clearing the way.

Currently, it was Li Moyan and “Song Huaiqiu’s” turn.

“We are almost there.” Xiao Shu brushed the dust from his clothes before stepping into the skiff. “Pre… Uncle Li told me to head back first.”

After a few days, he clearly still hadn’t adjusted to the change in titles.

“Oh,” Ji Shinian replied airily.

He rested his cheek in his hand, watching Xiao Shu sit down. Today, the man’s dark hair was half-loose and half-tied, and he wore simple blue-and-white light robes. Perhaps to fit the role of a guard, the fabric wasn’t of high quality.

Yet even with a disguised face, that steadfast physique paired with such an outfit still exuded the aura of a peerless young master.

Looking at him, Ji Shinian felt it was a personal insult, seeing as he was essentially an old man in the body of a puppet that stayed eighteen for some reason.

At the thought, Ji Shinian turned his head away and grumbled, “You still haven’t said what the Urae is.”

“It is the fruit of the Spirit Pivot Tree, the Spirit Covenant Fruit,” Xiao Shu explained, ignoring the other’s irritation. “The desert people believe the Spirit Pivot Tree is a symbol of life’s connection. Its body is eternal, its flowers are like the blazing sun, and it bears fruit only once every ten thousand years. It is said that eating this fruit grants eternal life.”

“Eternal life…”

It was the first time Ji Shinian had heard this. He echoed Xiao Shu’s words, but before he could continue, a voice from outside the skiff interrupted him.

“Everyone, the oasis is here.”

The old guide slid off his camel. He made another prayer gesture, muttered a desert phrase he had used before, and slowly walked forward.

Ji Shinian stepped onto the deck and realized the sand-skiff had unknowingly entered the Dry River Valley. Faint sounds of a bustling crowd echoed from the end of the valley, accompanied by the melody of a huqin. On a green-draped, fan-shaped slope, a wide, temple-like structure sat at the very peak.

“He said, may the Spirit Pivot Tree protect us forever, and may Shahegel’s dark hair forever entwine the desert.” Xiao Shu stood behind Ji Shinian, following his gaze. “That is Shahegel, the palace of the Four Qi Lords of the West, and also the Mouxu Academy.”

“Young man, you are very knowledgeable.” Before Ji Shinian could express his surprise, the old guide nodded in praise. “That is the place where Shahegel passed away. Students must bathe in the immortal’s blood and vow to obtain power that transcends the mortal coil.”

“Young Mistress, the inn has been arranged.”

While the three were talking, Li Moyan had returned unnoticed. “Carriages and horses are strictly forbidden in the city. We will have to walk the next leg.”

“What does that mean? How troublesome.” Snapping back to reality, Ji Shinian saw the city gate inscribed with “Sweet Water Bank” right before them. He grumbled under his breath but hopped off the sand-skiff without hesitation.

Xiao Shu followed silently behind him.

Cultivators in the caravan stepped forward to stow the sand-skiff away. Li Moyan didn’t object. He produced a bamboo hat for Ji Shinian to wear while explaining, “I heard it is a rule set by the Four Qi Lords to avoid disturbing the city’s residents.”

Ji Shinian adjusted the hat and nodded with feigned reluctance.

“Fine,” he said, glancing at the temple atop the fan-shaped slope. “So many rules.”

“Lovely patrons,” the old guide chimed in, waving at them. “My duty is complete. Gulimu is waiting for me at home. I wish your path ahead be filled with clear springs.”

With that, he led his camel slowly down a side path.

“Safe travels to you as well.” Li Moyan bid the old man farewell and whispered to Ji Shinian, “Young Mistress, let us head in. While Mouxu Academy has many rules, the benefits are real. It is said the secret realm beneath the palace was formed from the first Shahegel’s meditation, containing countless heavenly treasures. It is a lucky break every cultivator dreams of.”

Hearing this, Ji Shinian couldn’t help but look at the towering academy again.

So the old man made it sound all bloody, but this Mouxu is actually a school built on an immortal’s corpse…

He recalled the other three Qi Lords mentioned in the original book: the Law Lord of the North was worshipped like a god, the one in the South was fickle and moody, and the one in the East was a mystery. Only Shahegel of the West served as the head of the academy for generations, dividing power into three departments and educating students like a living, breathing human.

Compared to the others, Mouxu seemed like a normal place. Feeling slightly relieved, he followed the group through the city gates.

Despite the name Sweet Water Bank, the city was several times larger than Chaofeng City. The buildings were mostly stone, featuring a complete mix of styles, one could see traditional courtyards alongside stacked high-rises. Some buildings were simple and ancient, their walls mottled by yellow sand. Peddlers hawked their wares on the streets, people of various skin tones passed by, and occasionally, one could spot individuals wearing the distinct uniforms of the academy.

The inn Li Moyan chose was called “Elegant Abode,” a strange structure where pavilions and courtyards intersected. Since it was the season for the academy to recruit students, their group of ten cultivators and one “mortal” barely managed to snag the last three rooms.

“This way, please, guests”

As soon as they entered the inn, a waiter greeted them in fluent Central Plains speech. His gaze shifted between the leader, Li Moyan, and the exceptionally poised Xiao Shu. Ultimately, he bypassed Ji Shinian with precision and stopped before Xiao Shu, bowing low.

“You’ve had a long journey, guest! We have one ‘Heaven’ grade room and two ‘Earth’ grade rooms. How would you like to arrange them?”

Ji Shinian: “…”

Am I invisible? Is the ‘protagonist aura’ really this strong?

“My mistress is right here,” Xiao Shu said with a slight smile before Ji Shinian could “erupt,” gracefully giving the waiter an out. “She generally doesn’t like leaving matters to the servants.”

The waiter froze, then immediately pivoted. “Ah, my apologies! I was simply afraid of offending a noble… My lady, how shall we arrange the stay?”

Ji Shinian, who frequently left matters to servants, looked at the fawning waiter but didn’t make things difficult. “Take me to the Heaven grade room.”

“Uncle Li, Qingwei, follow me.”

With eleven people and three rooms, the maid Qingwei and Li Moyan would naturally stay with him. That left Xiao Shu to split the remaining two rooms with the other seven cultivators.

Ji Shinian could swear he wasn’t targeting him: after all, a few words with Li Moyan were enough for the protagonist to misunderstand him. If they stayed together, wouldn’t they fall straight into a fan-fiction plot? He’d probably have a “second child” in a few days…

Besides, those cultivators would leave after a night of rest. Then the protagonist could have a whole room to himself—wasn’t that wonderful?

“Right away! Xiao Xia, show these guests to the Earth grade rooms upstairs.” The waiter called over a somewhat thin woman from the hall, then led Ji Shinian’s group toward the back of the courtyard. “Follow me, please.”

The back of the Elegant Abode was arranged like a grand garden, with paths leading to various courtyards, each bearing a different name.

“We have arrived,” the waiter said as he brought them to a courtyard labeled “Spring Creek Orchid Lane,” handing over a jade token with both hands. “This is the key; just keep it with you. Everything inside has been prepared. If the young mistress finds anything not to her liking, just speak to the jade token, and we will change it. If you wish to taste the local specialties of Sweet Water Bank, we can deliver those as well.”

Ji Shinian tapped the jade token against the door. The lock clicked, and the door swung inward.

He nodded. “Fine.”

It was currently autumn, but the courtyard was decorated with falling peach blossoms and small bridges over flowing water. Elegant orchids grew around them, and a blue-and-white jade pavilion was connected to the eaves by a pebble path.

“There are still a few days before Mouxu Academy opens for enrollment.” The courtyard was divided into a main and a side room. Li Moyan pushed open the side room and said with satisfaction, “This place is quite nice. Qingwei, stay in the same room as the young mistress so you can look after her.”

Ji Shinian had already followed Qingwei into the master bedroom. It featured a daybed in the outer area, an eight-deity bed behind a screen, and even a hidden study behind a bead curtain.

Hearing Li Moyan’s words, he desperately wanted to refuse, but he had no valid reason. Being overbearing or difficult would only trouble Qingwei. He could only force out a response: “Alright.”

“Is the young mistress unhappy?” As a maid assigned by his brother, Qingwei was very good at reading people. “Please do not worry, mistress. I will rest in the outer room. Unless there is a need, I will never disturb your peace.”

Great, Ji Shinian thought. After staying at the Ji residence for a few days, he had apparently become a shut-in in everyone’s eyes…

No, wait. There were no “shut-ins” in the Mid-Cloud Realm.

“Okay.” Ji Shinian cried inwardly but accepted the label nonetheless.

This was Ji Shinian’s first time out in a crowded place openly. Seeing the sky darken through the window, he was preparing to go out for a stroll when the voice of Tiansuan echoed in his mind:

[Main Quest Triggered: Enroll in Mouxu Academy alongside the protagonist, Xiao Shu. Quest Reward: 200 points.]

Oh, right. Ji Shinian pressed accept. He seemed to have only one invitation, though.