Chapter 1

"Junior brother, I like you so much. "Be my collection... "Don't worry, it won't be too painful. You can keep my other collectibles company, so you won't be lonely. "Hee-hee." *Rip.* A sharp blade pierced his chest. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Intense agony struck instantly. Every meridian, every inch of his skin endured a heart-piercing torment. Jiang Qiao woke up with a start, his pillow soaked with a layer of sweat. Fortunately, he was back in his own room once again. He felt a chill running down his spine, a freezing cold sweeping over his entire body. He had died yet another death... Fortunately, he still had the chance to be reborn. Originally a college student, Jiang Qiao had opened a yandere visual novel game during a boring lecture. He had just finished watching the game's opening cinematic when he time-traveled—and that was where his tragedy began. The only way to leave the game world perfectly was to avoid being killed by the yandere heroines and survive for three years until the Demon Sect Sect Master came out of seclusion. The condition for being stabbed by a heroine was having a favorability rating of over 90. At first, Jiang Qiao thought that as long as he didn't pursue anyone, this would be a piece of cake—wasn't it just a matter of not talking to the heroines? However, the game's plot was just that wondrous. The more you wanted to stay out of it and play the background wall, the more the plot pushed you into the limelight. He couldn't even get past the stage of the first heroine, Mu Qinggan. One day, Mu Qinggan ran over, looked at Jiang Qiao lying on the ground, gasping for breath, and anxiously asked: "Junior brother, your asthma is acting up again. Tell me quickly, where is the emergency pill?" "On the left, the, the second cabinet." "Okay, okay." "Thank you, Senior sister... *cough, cough*." [System Prompt: #Junior brother looks so good when he coughs#, Mu Qinggan favorability +5] (PS: # indicates the reason for the favorability increase) What? Just coughing could increase favorability by 5 points? What kind of perverted preference was this? Jiang Qiao was left speechless. Facts proved that the absurdity didn't stop there. Later on, he stopped coughing, but his throat felt scratchy and it was hard to hold it in, so he barely managed to knit his brows and endure it. [System Prompt: #Junior brother looks so cute when he knits his brows#, Mu Qinggan favorability +5] Later, Mu Qinggan ran over with a blushing face, "Junior brother, this time we're exploring a mystic realm. How about we team up?" "No need," Jiang Qiao sternly refused. Cutting off all possibilities of contact was the best strategy. [System Prompt: #Junior brother looks so cute when he refuses#, Mu Qinggan favorability +10] And later still. "Junior brother, let's eat together?" Jiang Qiao walked away in silence. This time, he decided not to speak at all. [System Prompt: #He looks good even when he's cold and indifferent, so handsome#, Mu Qinggan favorability +10] So far, Jiang Qiao had been stabbed four times.At first, Jiang Qiao discovered that whether he answered his senior sister or stayed silent, his senior sister could self-romance and fall for him on her own. Even deliberately avoiding Mu Qinggan was useless. She seemed to always respawn at some location and then block his path, impossible to guard against. Thus, when his favorability reached 90 in his first run, he died. Jiang Qiao decided to escape the sect, but there was a barrier protecting the inside of the sect, and without the Sect Master's permission, he couldn't get out. He wanted to enter a cave for a few years of seclusion, only to be told he wasn't qualified to apply for seclusion. Later, he tried a rebellious and decadent route, eventually getting expelled from the sect, but at the moment of parting, Mu Qinggan personally delivered a knife-kill to him. That was his second death. Jiang Qiao poisoned his senior sister, only to find that she was completely immune to poison. Upon discovering that he had poisoned her, her favorability increased by an additional 20 points. His third death. And since he was too weak, assassinating his senior sister was impossible. At the same time, no matter how much money he had within the sect, he couldn't hire anyone.Jiang Qiao tried to find Mu Qinggan’s enemies, but none of the sect disciples held a grudge against her; they all got along well. Jiang Qiao secretly reached out to people from other sects, but they dismissed him for being too weak and not worth their help, refusing to cooperate.

Dragging it out to the end, he suffered his fourth death.

The agony of having his heart gouged out and his skin flayed still pricked at Jiang Qiao’s nerves. He was determined not to endure that experience of death ever again. He had already wasted too much time on fruitless methods; this time, he had to be extremely cautious.

Having died so many times, he had finally figured out Mu Qinggan’s patterns. Whenever he interacted with her, there was a high probability of increasing her favorability. If he went along with her thoughts, it would increase by 5 points; the more he refused or acted against her wishes, the higher the points gained.

Does she have some kind of masochistic streak?

Based on the system prompts and what Mu Qinggan said when she killed him, Jiang Qiao surmised that perhaps changing to an ugly face might counter her obsession with appearance. A face as dashing and handsome as his – just like the readers – really did invite disaster.

However, whether this would succeed remained unknown.

Following this line of reasoning, the first thing that came to Jiang Qiao’s mind was disguise. However, the art of disguise had long been lost, making it very difficult to find such a technique.

Settling for second best, he heard that the alchemical market at the foot of the mountain sold everything, and some eccentric alchemists even accepted custom orders. Perhaps there was a pill that could temporarily transform one’s appearance. If he took such a pill whenever he met Mu Qinggan, he might be able to escape a calamity.

Alternatively, the original owner had a red mask he loved, but the sect prohibited masks to ensure disciples could be quickly identified. Once such contraband was discovered, the disciple would be sent to the Confinement Tower for three days, during which no visitors were allowed. Even though it was a taboo, this was a rule Jiang Qiao could potentially exploit.

Method two: get stronger. The root cause of being killed by Mu Qinggan was ultimately that he couldn't defeat her and ended up being killed instead.

Mu Qinggan’s starting favorability was 40. If he started at the lowest possible favorability and gained 5 points daily, it would take ten days to reach 90. Therefore, these ten days were his best window to turn the tables.

The original owner’s identity was that of an ordinary disciple who had just entered the sect, filled with longing and aspiration for cultivation. It was normal not to be able to beat Mu Qinggan yet, but he couldn't remain weak forever. He had to get stronger quickly; only by becoming stronger would he have a better chance of surviving until the Demon Sect Sect Master emerged from seclusion, the ultimate endgame.

After a calm analysis, Jiang Qiao got out of bed, straightened his clothes, and headed out.

For this reincarnation, he intended to visit the Scripture Pavilion. He hadn't been there in his previous lives, but this time, Jiang Qiao planned to go there to borrow some books to read and learn more foundational techniques. The elder who taught the techniques in class had said that while the lectures were one thing, one must also make full use of their spare time, and the books in the Scripture Pavilion could help build a solid foundation quickly.

Judging by his experience from the four previous deaths, he would inevitably have a coincidental encounter with Mu Qinggan on the first day of the game. He hoped his hypothesis about ways to avoid increasing favorability would hold up.

When Jiang Qiao arrived at the Scripture Pavilion, he found that, aside from the caretaker, there was no one else there.

"To enter the Scripture Pavilion, you must present your waist medallion." The caretaker was an old man. Seeing that Jiang Qiao looked unfamiliar, he knew he was a newly admitted disciple who didn't yet understand the rules of the pavilion.

"Oh, right, okay." Jiang Qiao immediately produced his waist medallion.

The words "Plucking Stars Cliff" were clearly inscribed on it.

The old man stroked his long, white beard. "A disciple of Plucking Stars Cliff, eh? Truly, the younger generation is to be regarded with respect."The old man spoke thus because the disciples of Plucking Stars Cliff were meticulously selected from the most talented prodigies among the new initiates.

With that, he let Jiang Qiao enter.

Jiang Qiao estimated that Mu Qinggan would appear very soon, so he had to find books advantageous to himself immediately; time and tide waited for no man.

However, not long after Jiang Qiao entered the Scripture Pavilion, Mu Qinggan arrived.

"Qinggan, it's been a long time since I last saw you come here," the old man said upon seeing her.

"Not really," Mu Qinggan said with a smile.

"Look at how graceful you've grown now; who would ever tell that when you were little, you used to tear up books and overturn the bookshelves..."

...

Up on the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Jiang Qiao could clearly see the situation on the ground floor by looking down through the central atrium.

Mu Qinggan wore a honey-colored dress, and her skin was like a peeled lychee, releasing moisture at the slightest pinch. The cascading layers of sheer fabric at her cuffs half-veiled her fair, slender jade arms.

Such a beauty was truly dangerous.

"I'll come chat with you later." Bidding farewell to the managerial old man, Mu Qinggan walked toward the second floor.

Knowing she was here to find him, Jiang Qiao immediately put the red mask on his face.

A flash of vibrant honey color slowly strolled up the stairs to the second floor.

"Junior Brother, what a coincidence, you're here reading books too. I came to borrow a book, and I caught sight of you from afar."

Mu Qinggan had spotted Jiang Qiao's profile from afar on the ground floor. She would never let go of any moment to look at a handsome man, which was why she had come.

Jiang Qiao's mind was still flashing with this woman's madness when she killed people. He tried his utmost to calm his emotions, slowly turning around. "Senior Sister, you're here too. Indeed a great coincidence."

Jiang Qiao had heard the line "Junior Brother, what a coincidence" many times during his first four deaths—light and airy with a hint of cheerful tone, yet chilling to recall now.

To Mu Qinggan's disappointment, when her junior brother turned around, it didn't let her see the scenery she wanted.

She loved that breathtakingly gorgeous face of his—a face that could perfectly master both the restrained asceticism of a clear, cold mountain spring and the unrestrained, rebellious arrogance.

Yet now, such a beautiful face was blocked by a detestable red mask.

"Junior Brother, have you forgotten? The sect does not allow disciples to wear masks. Take it off quickly; it won't be good if others see you."

Mu Qinggan's right hand rested lightly on Jiang Qiao's shoulder, and a striking fragrance slowly diffused around them.

Instead, Jiang Qiao brushed her hand away as if dusting off dirt, then stepped back a few paces. "Senior Sister, even with me wearing a mask, you were still able to recognize me—truly impressive."

As he spoke, he inwardly mused that the system gave no reaction whatsoever, meaning that interacting with Mu Qinggan right now would not affect the increase in favorability.

The mask was indeed effective.

It seemed that every time Mu Qinggan's favorability increased, she needed to be able to see his face.

Mu Qinggan's hand clutched at empty air, but her tone grew even more intrigued by Jiang Qiao's rejection. "Of course I can recognize you! Be a good boy and listen to me; masks are not allowed to be worn. Considering this is your first offense..."

"Wait, Senior Sister, let's talk about the mask later. Can you turn around for a moment? I've prepared a surprise for you and need you to wait just a bit."

Hearing this, Mu Qinggan's face flushed red with anticipation.

"Then you had better give me a huge surprise. If I'm not satisfied, you're done for."

Mu Qinggan still used that breezy tone, but fortunately, she could still listen to what he said for now.The early stage of the conquest was at 40 favorability—still a relatively relaxed phase, during which Mu Qinggan did not yet possess an overly heavy desire for control.

However, the moment Mu Qinggan successfully peeled off his mask, the system would definitely prompt an increase in favorability.

Therefore, he decisively seized the moment while Mu Qinggan closed her eyes to wait, leaped from the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion to the ground floor, and went straight before the managerial old man. "Elder, I was wearing a mask. According to the sect rules, you can send me to confinement."

The old man was dumbfounded, his hand pouring tea instantly suspended in mid-air. He never expected anyone to turn themselves in for wearing a mask nowadays. After pausing for a moment, he said, "Three days of confinement—have you thought it through?"

Mu Qinggan leaped down after them. She wanted to dissuade him with words, but Jiang Qiao spoke up first. "I've thought it through. Before I'm sent to confinement, can I borrow these few books first?"

The old man nodded. "You may."

Then, the old man flicked out a teleportation talisman, slapped it onto Jiang Qiao, and sent him directly into the Disciples' Confinement Tower.

...

Inside the Confinement Tower, the duty officer conducted a routine interrogation.

"I'll ask one last time: why were you wearing a mask?"

"Because I wanted to read books in the Confinement Tower in peace and quiet; otherwise, people always come to disturb me."

Jiang Qiao was still immersed in the joy of successfully dodging his senior sister just now. This was his first time successfully escaping Mu Qinggan's control.

Even staying in the Confinement Tower, he felt that the air with every breath was no longer oppressive.

The duty officer looked speechless for a few seconds, then dipped his brush in ink and continued writing:

"The verification is about done. You are temporarily cleared of suspicion and are not the person we are looking for. The mask is confiscated for now; if you wear a mask again next time, I'm afraid your status as a Plucking Stars Cliff disciple will drop several tiers. Consider this a disciplinary warning for this time."

Jiang Qiao replied with ease, "Alright, alright."

That said, once he got out, he would most likely still buy a mask for self-defense.

The Confinement Tower was much like an ancient prison, though with somewhat better conditions. The bed in the confinement cell was clean and tidy, the desk wiped to a bright shine, and an oil lamp could be lit if needed.

Jiang Qiao laid out the books from the Scripture Pavilion on the desk and first chose a book called the Stone Body Incantation.

Glancing at the preface, he roughly understood that this cultivation technique could condense spiritual power in a short time to keep the body in a hard, indestructible state, though it could not be maintained for long and consumed a great deal of spiritual power.

However, this trick could just serve to dodge Mu Qinggan's blade for a short while.

Jiang Qiao emptied his body and mind, plunging wholeheartedly into cultivation. After mastering the first level, he learned a few other techniques as well.

During the confinement period, no disciples were allowed to visit, so Mu Qinggan naturally couldn't come either.

Living three more days was better than nothing.

However, come dinnertime, he could no longer smile.

Jiang Qiao observed the meals of the other confined disciples nearby. With their low spiritual power, they hadn't yet reached the realm of inanition, and they were already wolfing down simple fare.

Yet the meal sent to Jiang Qiao was incomparably lavish.

Okra stir-fried with sliced meat, wolfberry and chicken broth, sea cucumber steamed with eggs, another plate of fresh mulberries, and pearl-bright rice emitting a pleasant aroma.

Why would they send such a nourishing meal to him? Jiang Qiao could not understand it at all.

Until he heard a few familiar voices: "Junior Brother, I really don't understand why you came here to suffer. Are you trying to hide from me?

"Still, it doesn't matter even if you really hide from me. Someday, you will no longer be able to hide from me. These are the meals I carefully prepared for you~"

Jiang Qiao's heart instantly sank, his previously relaxed mood immediately tightening. Weren't they saying nobody was allowed to visit? Why was she...