Ch 22 - How could I not remember you?

-Another illusion!-

Although Yino couldn't move his body, this time his consciousness was clearer than ever before.

He could vaguely feel a force deep within him helping him resist the fox spirit's illusion.

Jinyue's question this time clearly stemmed from her suspicion of Yino.

-[Haven't we met somewhere before?]-

If Yino answered honestly that they had met, it would mean that he wasn't hypnotized that night at the Grand Tutor's Mansion, but retained partial memories of the Pleasure Demon.

This might also be why Jinyue revealed her true form as a fox spirit in a fiery red dress when asking the question.

She wanted to awaken Yino's instinctive memories!

"I think I've seen you before," Yino said with a blank expression.

Upon hearing this, the red-dressed girl's alluring eyes immediately tightened. Her lips revealed a small silver tooth, and a cold killing intent gradually rose in her heart.

"As I thought, you weren't under the illusion that night at all!"

"No wonder Yuyan didn't kill you... But where did my illusion go wrong?"

Jiang Jinyue thought coldly.

But just as she was tensely recalling the clues, Yino continued:

"I think I saw you beside Madam Yue when I was drinking tea at the Phoenix Pavilion before... Tsk, it's a pity I didn't have enough money to request the top prostitute then, so I missed the chance to have you serve this young master in a private room."

" ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ "

For a moment, Jinyue's expression froze again.

She looked up at Yino suspiciously, but after confirming that Yino was speaking truthfully, Jinyue's lips twitched, her small face turning red with anger. She genuinely wanted to punch his frivolous, playful expression.

-Damn it! So he mistook me for a courtesan geisha!-

-When has this lady ever been to a place like the Phoenix Pavilion!-

-As expected of a playboy, his mind is full of vulgar things! And to think I was really scared earlier, thinking my illusion had been exposed!-

The more Jinyue thought about it, the angrier she became. Her face flushed red, and she wanted to beat him up countless times.

-Calm down, calm down...-

-If I beat him up now, this chess piece will be wasted!-

She took deep breaths, admonishing herself internally not to get angry with a mortal.

This wasn't really Yino's fault for intentionally offending her, after all, it was Jinyue who used an illusion to hypnotize him into speaking his true thoughts.

After a moment of calmness, Jinyue finally composed herself.

She put away her fiery red dress and fox spirit true form, changing back into the simple appearance of a junior sect sister. Then she raised her hand to release Yino from the hypnotic illusion.

"Senior Sister, why is your face so red?" Yino asked with a still blank expression, pretending to be concerned and unaware.

Hearing his question, Jinyue's small face instantly flushed even redder, but she still took a deep breath and put on a sweet smile:

"It's normal, I'm just naturally prone to blushing~"

"Haha, I see. I thought you had a secret crush on me," Yino also smiled amiably.

Enjoying the demon lady's rich emotional performance, he had never felt so satisfied before. This was all thanks to the pill his aunt fed him to resist illusions!

"C-crush..." Jinyue's lips twitched slightly. She didn't deny it, just smiled shyly.

But just as Yino was smirking, she pretended to blush and grabbed his hand—

"Oh right, Junior Brother still doesn't know my name."

She acted as if her secret crush on Yino had really been discovered.

Instantly, the smile on Yino's face turned to regret.

If he had known Jinyue would be so shameless, he wouldn't have teased her. This way, they could have remained strangers in the Wuji Sect after parting today.

But seeing Jinyue's enthusiastic demeanor, she was probably determined to befriend Yino today.

"So, what's your name, Senior Sister?"

Given the atmosphere, Yino couldn't refuse due to his act.

Jiang Jinyue smiled gently, putting her hands behind her back: "My name is Jiang Jinyue. I'm an inner disciple of the Wuji Sect. Actually, you don't need to call me Senior Sister. I only joined Wuji Sect one year before you."

"Drunk, joy unfulfilled, parting sadly; At parting, vast is the Jiang River bathed in moonlight..." Yino habitually recited that poem verse. *(For these who didn't understand : After drinking and feeling joy that wasn't fully satisfied, we part sadly; As we say goodbye, the huge (Jiang)River glows under the moonlight...)*

As if detecting a keyword, Jinyue immediately widened her peach blossom eyes, the corners of her lips curling into a proud smile:

"I didn't expect a playboy like you to know some culture~"

This time her smile was genuine, unlike her previous fake acting smiles.

Yino could sense that Jinyue had a special feeling about her name, but the original story didn't mention Jiang Jinyue's background. It was probably another hidden plot like Mo Yuyan's love for chess...

"Jiang Jinyue (Beautiful River under the Moonlight), truly a poetic and beautiful name," Yino complimented with a smile.

"Right? I think it's a very nice name too!" The girl looked very happy.

If she were in her true fox spirit form, Yino guessed Jinyue would probably be wagging her tail now.

Actually, judging by appearance alone, Jiang Jinyue was cute and likable. But thinking of the dark true nature behind her sweet sister exterior, Yino still couldn't help but keep his distance.

-Can't mess with her…-

-It's best not to make her suspicious, to make her disregard me, and torment the protagonist severely like in the game story.-

"Miss Jinyue, my senior sister is waiting for me outside."

"So, I'll take my leave first."

Yino cupped his hands in salute, preparing to slip away.

This time, Jinyue didn't stop him. She just smiled and waved, watching Yino's figure gradually disappear until he met up with the white-robed female sword immortal who had been waiting at the back corner for a long time.

After a long silence, the smile faded from Jinyue's face, and her alluring eyes became calm and cold.

"He's just a mortal. In theory, he shouldn't be able to break my illusion."

"But he's indeed much more interesting than the prophecy suggested, unlike those monotonous, worthless cannon fodder from before."

"Perhaps he'll be an even more fun chess piece than Chen Jianxin..."

Thinking of this, the corners of the girl's lips curled into a demonic arc.

...

...

...

"By the way, didn't Senior Sister take a liking to any disciples in this sect entry assessment?" Yino came to Yuyan's side, pretending to be curious.

Yuyan led the way in front, speaking calmly without turning her head: "Aren't you one?"

"Hehe, Senior Sister is so good to me." He scratched his head and smiled.

Yuyan turned to look at him. Although she wanted to say she took him as a disciple purely for playing chess and not to be too narcissistic, she felt that as a senior sister, she shouldn't discourage or mock him when he was so sunny and cheerful.

-Forget it, let him be happy for a while...- Yuyan silently sighed.

"Senior Sister, where are we going now?" Yino was still chattering as they walked.

Yuyan walked in front, explaining calmly:

"Taking you to meet a guide."

"You've just joined the Wuji Sect. Although you're familiar with Ranmo Peak, you don't yet understand the internal structure of the Wuji Sect. Junior Sister Yunjin will give you a tour and introduce the various buildings of the Wuji Sect later."

"After all, you can't stay on Ranmo Peak forever without going out."

After several days of interaction, Yuyan was no longer as cold and aloof as she was initially. At least now she had gotten used to Yino's glib tongue.

As they chatted, she led Yino to a main hall.

Memories of his past life's game flooded back, and Yino was more than familiar with this [main city] belonging to the Wuji Sect.

Alchemy Shop, Blacksmith, Treasure Pavilion, Merit Hall, Skyreach Rankings, Immortal Alliance Branch...

This main hall contained the entrances to almost all of the Wuji Sect's activities, in other words, it was the game's main interface.

And the green-robed girl waiting at the entrance of the main hall was none other than Yunjin, one of the most regrettable female characters from Yino's past life memories, the [Newbie Guide]!

"Ah!"

"Junior Brother Yino, are you feeling better now?"

The green-robed girl waved, smiling warmly as she greeted Yino.