I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script
Chapter 159

"Senior Sister, why is your courtyard filled with sheep covered in feathers?" Bai Roushuang rubbed her eyes as she stepped through the gate, half-convinced she was hallucinating.

"Yuechan sent them. Said they’re a new breed from the demon realm," Xu Shulou glanced up at the sky, "but I’m not brave enough to eat them, so I’m keeping them for now."

"Just leave them as decorations. They’re quite pretty," Bai Roushuang marveled for a moment. "Should we remind her that if she wants to do business with cultivators, this isn’t the kind of innovation we need?"

Xu Shulou shrugged. "At least the loofah bubble pillow she sent last time was nice."

"But the man-eating ants from the time before that were a disaster."

"They weren’t actually man-eating."

"But they were genuinely hideous. Who’d want them as spirit pets?"

"Feng Yi," Xu Shulou supplied the name of their third junior brother.

Bai Roushuang had no rebuttal. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something. "Wait, Senior Sister, what’s that in your arms?"

"A little fox," Xu Shulou cheerfully showed her junior sister the fox nestled in her embrace. "It’s been a while since you last saw Fen Mo, right? Look, she’s grown three tails now. Isn’t she adorable?"

"Sure," Bai Roushuang replied with a strained smile. "After growing three tails, she still can’t maintain a human form?"

No sooner had she spoken than Fen Mo shimmered with light, transforming into human shape right in Xu Shulou’s arms. Barefoot, she stepped onto the couch and cast a languid, alluring glance at Bai Roushuang. "Sister Xu, do you prefer me like this or in my original form?"

Though now human, she deliberately kept her fox ears atop her head, twitching them playfully. Xu Shulou, predictably defenseless against such charms, reached out and stroked them without hesitation. "I like both."

Bai Roushuang scoffed. "How charming. Why not keep her with those sheep outside?"

Fen Mo burst into laughter and hugged her. "Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. It’s been too long since we last met."

Bai Roushuang patted her back. "What brings you here?"

"I missed you all, so I came to visit," Fen Mo adjusted her hair. "Lately, I’ve taken up a job in the mortal world called ‘acting.’ Ever heard of it?"

"I know what acting is," Bai Roushuang chuckled. "But Senior Sister probably hasn’t. She’s been in seclusion cultivating divinity for centuries, barely returning to the mortal realm. Even when she emerges, it’s always in a hurry."

"I’m not completely clueless," Xu Shulou shrugged. "Last time I left seclusion, I even hauled a generator back from the mortal world."

"But you likely haven’t kept up with entertainment news," Fen Mo winked. "This little fox before you is now a big celebrity among mortals."

"Impressive," Xu Shulou ruffled Fen Mo’s silky hair.

"Fox spirits," Bai Roushuang muttered under her breath. "If even you can’t resist her charms, Senior Sister, how could mere mortals?"

Fen Mo frowned slightly. "The tricky part is having to stay in human form all the time in the mortal world. It’s the twilight of magic now—people don’t believe in immortals or deities anymore."

"Spiritual energy has grown scarce, and few are born with the potential for cultivation these days," Bai Roushuang sighed, then lightened the mood. "Even if Fen Mo transformed in front of cameras, people would probably just think it’s a trick—or what they now call ‘magic.’"

Fen Mo turned to Xu Shulou with a sudden idea. "Sister Xu, let me take you to the mortal world for a stroll. It’s completely different now."

"Gladly," Xu Shulou agreed.

Flying was out of the question in crowded areas, so after landing near the shore, Xu Shulou curiously climbed into Fen Mo’s car. She knew little of the modern mortal world, having been in seclusion for so long. Her last brief visit—to fetch the generator—had been at the insistence of her junior disciples.

As the car glided along the smooth road, the mortal world was already shrouded in night. Through the window, Xu Shulou watched the bustling streets, ablaze with artificial lights that dimmed the moon and stars above.

Fen Mo sighed like an old soul. "The times have changed too much. Many of our old friends prefer staying in the mountains, unwilling to see this."

When the car stopped, Xu Shou stepped out to observe. Pedestrians hurried past giant billboards—some dressed in short sleeves and skirts, outfits that would’ve been scorned as scandalous in the past; a girl clutching her schoolbag, fretting over homework due tomorrow; a white-collar worker juggling a sleek handbag and phone, briskly delegating tasks to someone on the line.

Leaning against the car, Xu Shulou smiled. "But for mortals, this is undeniably a better era, isn’t it?"

"Aside from the relentless pace," Fen Mo nodded, "it truly is."

She led them to another street, stopping before a massive LED screen. "Actually, I wanted you to see this."

Bai Roushuang stared blankly at the news ticker: "Fen Mo and Ningxue Vie for Best Actress—Once-Close Friends Now Rivals?" "Wait, isn’t Ningxue that white fox you used to run around with? Did you bring us here just to see gossip about your feud? And why are you feuding?"

Fen Mo rolled her eyes. "Fake news. We’re fine. That’s not the point—just wait."

After enduring a few more sensational headlines, the screen finally cycled to an advertisement: "Epic Fantasy ‘Path of Immortals’—Open Casting Call!"

The names and silhouettes of key characters flashed by, followed by the tagline: "Roles Awaiting the Perfect Fit!"

"Lu Beichen, Bai Roushuang, Ling Yuechan… Wait, what is this?"

"It’s a TV adaptation of a novel. The leads are already cast internally; this is just for hype," Fen Mo shook her head. "But that’s not why I brought you here. After stumbling on these names, I tracked down the original novel…"

Bai Roushuang felt a foreboding. "What about it?"

"…Not great. It includes me and Ningxue, though they renamed us Bingji and Yugu after buying the rights. No idea how the author even knew our names," Fen Mo looked at Xu Shulou. "Even if it’s just a forgettable TV show, even if mortals no longer believe in cultivation… Sister Xu, your life shouldn’t be portrayed this way. None of ours should."

"Thank you," Xu Shulou patted her shoulder. Though unfazed by how she was depicted, she appreciated the sentiment.

After a long silence, Bai Roushuang frowned. "You drove us all the way here just to see this? Couldn’t we have checked it on a phone?"

"…This felt more ceremonial."

"…"

"Alright, let’s take a stroll while we’re at it," Fen Mo said with a smile, slipping on a pair of oversized sunglasses. "I’ll take you shopping for some clothes to blend in with the locals."

Xu Shulou was intrigued by modern fashion and nodded eagerly.

The bustling city was practically sleepless, its shopping malls still open late into the night. Two hours later, Xu Shulou emerged from the mall transformed into a modern beauty, her left hand laden with shopping bags and her right carefully cradling a takeaway box containing a chocolate lava cake. Clearly, in this era, one couldn’t casually stash items into a Qiankun Ring under the watchful eyes of mall surveillance—firstly, it would frighten people, and secondly, it might land her in police custody.

Fen Mo chuckled and ran her fingers through Xu Shulou’s long hair, which had just been treated at the mall’s salon. The silky strands cascaded loosely down her back, thick and lustrous, swaying in the evening breeze alongside her dress and drawing admiring glances from passersby.

As night deepened, Fen Mo took the two back to her home—a spacious penthouse in the city center. Xu Shulou marveled at the technology around her, quickly mastering the use of various household gadgets. While testing the bathtub, she remarked, "To achieve all this without spiritual power—mortals truly possess astonishing ingenuity."

Fen Mo smiled in agreement.

Too awake to sleep, Xu Shulou carried her cake to the balcony to admire the view. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a sight that, despite the vast changes of time, remained timeless. Behind each glow was a home or a solitary soul—some warm, some not—but the radiance itself always felt comforting.

Fen Mo watched in mild disbelief as Xu Shulou polished off the entire chocolate cake. Just as she was about to ask if she should order takeout, the door was hammered with loud, insistent knocks.

"Who is it?"

Fen Mo sighed. "It’s definitely my agent. She’s the only one who refuses to ring the doorbell like a normal person, preferring this dramatic door-pounding ritual."

She opened the door, and a middle-aged woman barged in. "My dear, do you have any idea you’ve made the news? Who did you bring home this time?"

Fen Mo rolled her eyes. "They take pictures when I bring men home, and now they do the same when I bring women. Are they insane?"

"Those two are…"

Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang turned from the balcony, their breathtaking beauty leaving the agent momentarily speechless. "Wow…"

"Hello," the two greeted politely.

"Hello," the agent replied, clutching Fen Mo’s hand with teary-eyed gratitude. "After five years of working together, you’ve finally done something decent—introducing me to such promising talents!"

"Don’t get ahead of yourself," Fen Mo crushed her hopes mercilessly. "They’re just friends staying over for a night."

"…" The agent refused to give up. "Are you two absolutely sure you have no interest in joining the entertainment industry?"

"Apologies, not at the moment."

"If I may ask, what do you currently do for work?"

"I’m a sect leader," Bai Roushuang answered—she had since taken over as the head of Dustless Island.

"And I maintain balance across the three realms," Xu Shulou added.

The agent shot Fen Mo a bewildered look. How could two such stunning women sound so…delusional the moment they opened their mouths?

She forced a laugh. "I see…you two have quite the martial arts fantasy. Here’s my card. If you ever change your minds about joining the industry, feel free to reach out."

Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang accepted the card with both hands, a gesture that surprised the agent. Despite their eccentricities, they were unexpectedly well-mannered.

The next day, Fen Mo’s plans to accompany them on another shopping trip were interrupted when her agent stormed in again, dragging her off to an unavoidable event.

Bai Roushuang waved innocently. "Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. I’ll take good care of Shijie."

"…"

Half an hour later, the two stood on a bustling street, Xu Shulou holding a cup of bubble tea. "Are you familiar with this city?"

"Not really, but I know someone who is," Bai Roushuang pulled out her phone. "One of our senior brothers, Li Qi, often visits a psychologist here."

"Which brother?"

"Li Qi."

"Ah, him." Xu Shulou knew him well. "What’s wrong?"

"He’s lived too long…grown weary of the world," Bai Roushuang sighed.

"…"

Thirty minutes later, Li Qi, who had settled in the city, arrived in a hurry. "Xu Shijie! Bai Shimei!"

Xu Shulou embraced him. "Are you alright?"

Li Qi smiled. "Bai Shimei must’ve told you? It’s not too serious. By the way, when did you leave seclusion?"

"Not long ago. You’re no longer overseeing the Discipline Hall?"

"Passed it to my disciple," Li Qi glanced at Bai Roushuang. "Shimei, last time I saw you, you had short hair."

"That was thanks to a hairdresser named Tony who talked me into it," Bai Roushuang touched her now-long locks protectively. "Short hair didn’t suit me."

"I get it. Once, I was convinced to try highlights," Li Qi smirked. "Oh, Shijie, you don’t have identification documents, do you? Let me help you get some."

"How?" ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Xu Shulou asked curiously.

"The government is aware of cultivators like us. There’s a small department handling our affairs—getting documents isn’t hard," Li Qi explained. "It’ll make things easier. You can’t rely solely on cash."

"Alright." Xu Shulou didn’t actually have cash—just spirit stones and an untold amount of gold, silver, and jewelry.

Li Qi accompanied them through the process, securing IDs, bank cards, and SIM cards.

Xu Shulou smiled at the document listing her "age" as early twenties. She had lived far more decades than that.

Li Qi transferred a generous sum to her account. When Xu Shulou offered spirit stones in return, he shook his head. "I’ve built a life here over the years. Consider it a small gift—no need to repay."

Nowadays, cultivators had diverged in their paths—some embraced modern life, while others continued secluded cultivation in the mountains.

As they parted, Li Qi mused, "I always thought I had strong resilience. Back when Shijie would haul bloodied figures into the Discipline Hall, I never batted an eye. Yet now, I’ve grown disillusioned with the world."

"We should spar sometime."

Li Qi shuddered, memories of being dominated by his senior sister flooding back.

"Take care," Xu Shulou patted his shoulder.

After saying goodbye to Li Qi, the two wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Passing a digital billboard, Xu Shulou suddenly nudged Bai Roushuang. "Look—doesn’t that resemble…?"

Bai Roushuang followed her gaze and gasped. "Sheng Wuyou?!"

"Mm."

"Could it be her reincarnation?"

They tried to get a better look, but the image on the screen flashed by too quickly. Bai Roushuang hastily pulled out her phone and searched Sheng Wuyou’s name—surprisingly, several results popped up.

What idol survival show debut, what obscure boy band member, what upcoming cameo in "Path to Immortality," being relentlessly bashed by fans for the agency's incompetence, with demands for the useless company to secure a better role in a big-budget production...

Xu Shulou looked bewildered. "What does this mean?"

Bai Roushuang pondered. "Should we... tell Second Senior Brother about this?"

"Whatever decision he makes afterward is his to bear, but we shouldn’t hide it from him," Xu Shulou nodded. "Still, let’s verify first. Screen appearances can be misleading. We should see for ourselves before giving Song Ping false hope."

"Agreed!" Bai Roushuang immediately picked up her phone to search. "Studio account... this month’s schedule... Ah, found it! They’re heading to the 'Path to Immortality' set for costume fittings the day after tomorrow!"

"They just post their schedule online? For everyone to see?" Xu Shulou frowned. "Isn’t that unsafe?"

She couldn’t help but reminisce about the old days, before achieving immortality. If her whereabouts had been publicly shared back then, she’d have had enemies lying in wait for her at every turn.

"This is a society governed by law, and most people don’t have that many enemies," Bai Roushuang seemed to read her thoughts. "Should we go check out the set?"

"Let’s."

The two set off without delay. Fen Mo pulled some strings with an acquaintance in the crew, explaining that two friends from outside the industry were curious to visit. That day, Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang were smoothly escorted in by the staff.

The production hadn’t officially begun yet, so security was lax. The pair wandered freely until they quickly spotted their target.

Outside the makeup room, they saw Sheng Wuyou quietly discussing something with a staff member. From her delicate features, they could still faintly trace the scholarly grace that had once charmed everyone with just a smile.

"It’s really her—Sheng Wuyou!" At this distance, with cultivators’ keen eyesight, there was no mistaking it. Bai Roushuang was thrilled.

Xu Shulou tugged her away. "I’ll contact Song Ping. Wait, does he even have a phone?"

"He does." Bai Roushuang dialed a number and handed the phone to Xu Shulou.

The call connected quickly. Recognizing Xu Shulou’s voice, Song Ping sounded surprised. "Senior Sister, you’ve left seclusion?"

"Yes. There’s something I need to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

Xu Shulou suddenly pulled the phone away and said gravely to Bai Roushuang, "Is the audio quality too good? I swear I can hear Song Ping’s voice echoing in real life too."

"Huh?"

"Hello, Senior Sister?" Not hearing her response, Song Ping called again. "Are you on Dustless Island? The signal’s spotty here—let me step outside."

This time, even Bai Roushuang heard it. Both turned toward the end of the hallway just as the curtain was pushed aside, revealing Song Ping in modern attire.

The two groups stood frozen, staring at each other across the corridor.

Song Ping brightened. "Senior Sister, Junior Sister, what brings you here?"

"...You’ve already found Sheng Wuyou?"

"Yes! I found her!" Song Ping nodded. Though he’d grown increasingly composed over the years, almost unshakably serene, the fleeting joy in his expression at the mention of Sheng Wuyou was unmistakable.

Bai Roushuang laughed, not bothering to scold him for keeping it a secret. "And then? Did you pursue her? Did she agree to be with you?"

"...No. It might be... complicated."

"Why?" Bai Roushuang asked, puzzled.

"When I first saw her, I was so overjoyed I lost my composure," Song Ping’s gaze drifted away awkwardly. "I might’ve come across as... a bit cringey."

Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang fell into silence.