Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [177]

At those words, a bead of nonexistent sweat trickled down Jiang Bai’s temple.

How does he look like someone here to avenge the Treasure Hoarders? Did his handsome face really scream “villain”?

It was only now that he got a good look at the person in front of him.

As fair as peach blossoms, cold as frost—the phrase fit her perfectly.

Her ethereal bearing was especially striking—like a celestial maiden untouched by mortal dust. One glance was enough to make it clear: this woman wasn’t ordinary.

Jiang Bai remembered Hu Tao mentioning that there were still immortals living in Liyue’s mountains, and some of them occasionally took in disciples.

The woman in front of him certainly had the air of a disciple of the adepti.

“You’ve misunderstood!” Jiang Bai said quickly.

This might be someone who could decipher the ancient verses and reveal the path—he absolutely couldn’t let her walk away!

“What is it, then?” Shenhe asked, her tone flat and straightforward.

She’d never been good at social interaction, and wasn’t one for subtlety. When she spoke, it was always direct and to the point.

“My name is Jiang Bai, spirit ferryman of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I’d like to ask the adeptus about a certain place,” he said, immediately stating his name and intention without embellishment, sensing her temperament.

“Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…” Shenhe murmured the name softly.

Though she lived reclusively in the mountains, she knew of Wangsheng. Mostly because she’d met Hu Tao a few times.

Hu Tao often wandered into the mountains, humming strange little songs she made up herself. After enough encounters, they’d come to recognize one another. And through that, Shenhe came to understand what Wangsheng did.

Since he was someone from Wangsheng, she was willing to pause for a bit and answer his question.

“What do you want to know?”

“I’d like to ask, adeptus, where the legendary Trial of Heaven is said to be.” Jiang Bai pulled out his notebook and held it out to her. “And also—how should I interpret this verse that’s said to unlock it?”

“I’m Shenhe,” she replied, backing up half a step as she spoke—she wasn’t used to being so close to others.

“Understood, Miss Shenhe.” Jiang Bai blinked his clear, expectant eyes at her.

“Why are you looking for the Trial of Heaven?”

Shenhe had encountered many people seeking the adepti. Out of curiosity, she had once asked her master about it.

During the Archon War, Liyue had become riddled with evil and corruption. Mortal strength alone was often not enough to cleanse it. So the adepti passed down techniques and cultivation methods—teaching mortals how to subdue demons and restore balance. The spirit ferrymen, the exorcist clans—all of them traced their knowledge back to the adepti.

But as time passed, and Liyue grew safer, the immortals slowly retreated from the mortal world. Seeking the path to immortality had become far more difficult.

To deter unworthy seekers, the adepti set two trials: one of Heaven, and one of Earth.

Only those who could seek both high and low—who could ascend and descend with equal determination—might earn the favor of the immortals and learn their arts.

But after a thousand years, the immortals had faded further and further from the world. The trials still existed physically, but they had long lost their spiritual function.

Jiang Bai scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. “Well, see, our Director’s birthday is coming up in a few days. I heard the Trial of Heaven was said to have incredible views, so I thought… maybe I could take her there for her birthday.”

He didn’t bother hiding his true intentions.

“A birthday…” Shenhe murmured thoughtfully.

Her master had once said that birthdays were days worth remembering.

But she herself had never pursued worldly pleasures, nor cared for the length of her lifespan. Still, each year on that day, her master would offer a few simple words of blessing.

She hadn’t expected to hear, here of all places, that someone she knew had a birthday approaching.

“The Trial of Heaven is located at the summit of Qingyun Peak,” she said. “Its trials are no longer active. There’s only a stone platform now, along with some books my master once left behind. But for mortals, reaching it is not easy.”

Jiang Bai waved it off, undeterred. “Hard doesn’t mean impossible. If someone made it up there before, I can do it too. I just don’t know the method.”

Shenhe nodded slightly, her gaze drifting to the distant peak of Qingyun.

The platform, once suspended beneath open sky, now lay hidden in the clouds—forgotten and untouched.

“Surrounding Qingyun Peak are three tall mountains. Each of their summits has a stone crane. Turn the statues so they face Qingyun Peak. When the sun, moon, and stars appear together, the path will be revealed.”

She herself had visited the summit often. Sometimes, she sat there to watch the sunset.

But with her master’s teachings, she didn’t need a path to get there.

Jiang Bai’s face lit up with joy upon hearing the explanation.

“How long does the path stay open once revealed? If I go up once, will I have to reset it again next time?”

That was important—it would determine whether this birthday surprise was even viable.

“If the cranes are not moved, the path will remain.”

“Thank you!”

“There’s no need,” Shenhe said simply. And with nothing more to add, she turned to leave.

Seeing her ready to go, Jiang Bai quickly called out again.

“Wait—please wait!”

He still wanted to ask about the Trial of Earth. He couldn’t let such a rare opportunity slip away.

Even if he didn’t need it immediately, he owed Wu Cong a favor for the notebook. If he could return the knowledge in kind, it would repay that kindness.

Shenhe turned back, expression as cool and blank as ever. “What else?”

She had already answered everything—or so she thought.

“I’d like to ask—where is the Trial of Earth located?”

“Beneath the lake in Jueyun Karst.”

“Which lake?” Jiang Bai asked. “There’s more than one.”

“The largest one. Beneath it lies a hidden domain called Taishan Mansion. But now, it’s just an ordinary domain.”

“…Any more questions?”

“Well, yes… though this one’s personal. Do you happen to know our Director—Hu Tao?”

To show his respect, Jiang Bai deliberately used the formal “您.”

“We’ve met a few times.” Shenhe nodded, her tone still cold and impassive.

Since beginning her cultivation under her master, she had rarely experienced emotional fluctuations. Few things could move her.

Jiang Bai clicked his tongue silently in his mind.

Didn’t expect there was someone even the Director couldn’t handle.

With Hu Tao’s personality, she definitely would’ve tried to befriend someone she’d run into multiple times in the mountains. But judging by Shenhe’s complete lack of reaction to her name, it clearly hadn’t worked.

And honestly, seeing Shenhe’s aloof demeanor… it wasn’t all that surprising.

“Anything else?”

“No, that’s all. If you’re busy, please go ahead.”

Truth be told, Jiang Bai also found himself being unusually cautious around her.

Something about her made her feel distant, even while standing right in front of you.

Shenhe nodded and quietly left.

She had only come here to find a place to cultivate. Now that her peace was once again disturbed, it was time to find another quiet spot.

—

T/N: how cute

This is a fan translation of 胡桃拿我冲业绩 by 余溯. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!