Xianxia: My Girls Are All System User

Chen Yin’s tone carried a hint of barely perceptible melancholy.

Yet when Yu Xiang heard his words, her heart felt as though it had been twisted.

She wanted so badly to tell him: Your little junior sister has never blamed you, never thought you were bad.

You’ve always been her most important family, her favorite senior brother.

—But now, she no longer knew what identity she could use to say such things to Chen Yin.

She hesitated, stopping and starting several times before slowly pulling her hand back. Hugging her knees, she curled up and squatted on the stone.

“…I really envy your little junior sister.”

“Why?”

“Even if her senior brother is as unbearable as you claim, at least he cares for her.”

“She’s my little junior sister.” Chen Yin shrugged. “If I don’t care for her, who would I care for?”

“But many people aren’t as lucky as she is.”

Yu Xiang murmured softly, “There are so many in this world who have nothing at all.”

“No family, no friends, not even a trace of their existence left behind. Sometimes, they even forget their own existence.”

“And even so, they don’t have the right to die. Every day is a nightmare, a hell, the same for over a decade.”

“Do you think such a person is pitiful?”

Chen Yin didn’t know how to respond. But Yu Xiang continued speaking, as if to herself:

“Of course, they’re pitiful. But what can anyone do about it?”

“The idyllic paradise of master-disciple bonds and camaraderie among fellow disciples might be beautiful, might be dreamy, but it’s ultimately not theirs.”

“Sooner or later, they’ll still return to that lightless swamp. To some place no one can find them, where they’ll slowly rot away.”

The evening wind grew chillier. Yu Xiang seemed to feel cold and lightly hugged her arms.

Chen Yin listened quietly, his gaze cast downward.

Every word, he etched deeply into his heart.

So, all these years, Xiang’er had been living with such emotions.

Changli Palace. Demonic Faction. Misty Spirit Sect.

Chen Yin suddenly felt an urgent need to leave immediately and confront these three groups to find out what had happened.

Who was it that had made Xiang’er live in such agony all this time?

But before he could act, a soft voice interrupted his thoughts:

“Could I… lean on you for a bit?”

Chen Yin turned to see Yu Xiang’s cheeks flushed, her tone carrying a trace of unease.

“Miss, you don’t mind this wandering rogue anymore?”

“As long as you don’t move around, I’ll just pretend I’m leaning on a warm rock.”

“And… if I can’t help but move?”

“Then I’ll cut off your thing.”

She snapped angrily.

Chen Yin shrank his neck, resigned, and obediently stayed still.

Though still a little shy, Yu Xiang carefully shifted closer to Chen Yin and rested her small head on his shoulder.

The wind seemed to soften. The air grew quiet.

Chen Yin’s shoulder seemed to possess a unique kind of magic. The moment Yu Xiang leaned on it, an overwhelming fatigue washed over her.

She knew she shouldn’t fall asleep in front of Chen Yin, yet she couldn’t bear to leave this warm, broad support.

“…Mmm.” She suddenly let out a sound like a girl reluctant to get out of bed.

Chen Yin cleared his throat and tentatively suggested, “Well, if leaning like this isn’t comfortable for you, I wouldn’t mind holding you as you sleep—”

Clang

A slender sword stabbed into the ground not far in front of Chen Yin.

Yu Xiang’s tone carried a hint of grievance and dissatisfaction: “Can’t you have fewer indecent thoughts in your head?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Yu Xiang shifted to a more comfortable position and continued leaning against him. After a moment, she suddenly murmured:

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just a little tired.”

“It’s really just… leaning for a moment,” she added softly.

Chen Yin didn’t expose her pretense and simply nodded gently.

“Doesn’t matter. Lean for as long as you want.”

The atmosphere grew quiet again. Yu Xiang rested her eyes for a long time before abruptly speaking:

“What are your plans next?”

“When Senior Sister Shen Shuanglian recovers, the plan is to leave here as soon as possible.”

Chen Yin said half-jokingly, “But by now, the rumors outside must be running wild. I bet I’ve already been branded a villain colluding with the demonic factions.”

“Hopefully, I won’t get captured when I step out. Haha.”

Yu Xiang was silent for a long while before softly saying, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s my fault for dragging you into this…”

“You don’t need to blame yourself. I told you, it was my choice.”

Chen Yin tilted his head upward, speaking lazily, “You know, you remind me of my little junior sister.”

Yu Xiang’s body trembled slightly.

“My junior sister also had a shy and introverted personality. On the surface, she’d laugh cheerfully, like she didn’t have a care in the world. But she always kept things to herself, never willing to share.”

“Because of that, she’s always been such a worry for everyone.” Chen Yin shook his head with a helpless smile.

Yu Xiang was quiet for a long moment before slowly replying:

“Maybe… your junior sister had some secrets she couldn’t share.”

“That would just mean she’s silly.”

Chen Yin spoke matter-of-factly: “Her master is one of the most powerful immortals in the cultivation world, a Supreme Immortal of the Great Purity Realm. Her senior brother is me, the most handsome man in the cultivation world.”

“With such strong backing, what secret couldn’t be resolved? Why hide it in her heart?”

Yu Xiang bit her lip lightly but finally only said weakly, “Maybe things aren’t as simple as you think.”

“Then there’s nothing that can be done.”

Chen Yin sighed helplessly. “As her senior brother, I’ll just have to wait patiently until the day she decides to tell me herself.”

—Not a chance.

I’ll find out for myself.

Before this silly girl does something foolish.

Yu Xiang’s gaze flickered as she stared absentmindedly at the stream in front of her.

The moonlight was clear and cool, the stream flowed lazily, and the purple-bearded Thunder Mane Tiger by the shore licked its paws leisurely.

The evening breeze brushed past, and for a moment, Yu Xiang felt an uncontrollable drowsiness sweep over her. Her eyelids began to droop.

Seeing her feline-like drowsy expression, Chen Yin couldn’t help but say, “If you’re really tired, just sleep for a while.”

“Mm… I can’t.”

“Why not? Afraid I’ll do something inappropriate?”

“Not afraid… I just can’t sleep.”

“Whatever important matter you have, you’ll need energy after some rest.”

Yu Xiang thought for a moment and softly acknowledged, “Oh,” then turned her head and said, “But don’t take off my veil.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Don’t touch me.”

“No problem.”

“Don’t sneak away.”

Chen Yin was startled but caught the hint of a playful tone in Yu Xiang’s voice.

“Don’t get any ideas,” she added, “I just don’t want to wake up halfway because of the cold.”

“At least for tonight, let me sleep warmly. Can you do that?”

Chen Yin was silent for a moment, a gentle light flickering in his eyes.

“…I promise.”

The moonlight swayed in the breeze as soft breathing sounds drifted to his ears.