Sidekick Fights Back (Married The Protagonist’s Mother)

Discussion With Zhu Zhihao

The evening air had cooled, carrying the sweet scent of night-blooming spirit orchids.

Su Ting practically dragged Yue Mei through the pebbled paths lined with silver gras toward Bai Yunxi's courtyard, ignoring her protests.

Yue Mei's steps faltered, uncertainty clouding her crimson eyes. She clutched the edge of her sleeves tightly, her heart tangled in worry.

Oblivious to her worries, Su Ting pushed open the gate.

"Miss Bai! We've come to visit!"

Bai Yunxi emerged from her residence, her green robe flowing gently around her body.

"You're finally here," she said softly, her voice carrying amusement.

Yue Mei hesitated before bowing respectfully.

"Thank you for having us."

Her voice was steady, but the slight tremble in her fingers under her sleeves betrayed her unease.

Bai Yunxi's eyes studied her porcelain-like face for a moment, then she gestured toward the sandalwood table set with a pot of snowpeak spiritual tea and delicate moon peach cakes.

"Come, have some tea."

Su Ting trotted forward and plopped into a seat without hesitation, already reaching for a cake. Yue Mei, however, lingered on the spot—her posture stiff, shoulders drawn tight.

Bai Yunxi's hand brushed lightly against Yue Mei's sleeve.

"You don't need to stand like a guest," she said in a calm tone.

"It's just tea."

Yue Mei allowed herself to be guided to the table, lowering herself onto the stone bench. Her eyes remained fixed on the carved clouds on the jade-green teacups,

Bai Yunxi smiled faintly as she poured tea for everyone. She set a cup before Yue Mei, her fingers steady.

"This blend helps calm the mind. You should try it."

Yue Mei took the cup carefully, its warmth soaking into her palms, the fragrance of lotus and aged pu'erh lingering on her tongue.

"Thank you..." She murmured.

Bai Yunxi's eyes remained steady.

"So, Yue Mei... what do you like to do in your free time?" A curious glint flickered in her gaze.

Yue Mei's breath caught. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

"I... don't know. I never had time for such things." Her voice was barely audible.

"That's also fine." Bai Yunxi said.

"Few cultivators care for such things in the early life... hobbies come later, when life becomes long enough to need some amusement and distractions."

Yue Mei's gaze flickered, uncertain how to respond. She had never thought about hobbies — never had the luxury to. The idea of choosing what to enjoy felt foreign, almost laughable.

Bai Yunxi seemed to sense her thoughts. She didn't push.

"Maybe one day you'll find something you enjoy — if you need to."

Su Ting grinned around a mouthful of pastry, breaking the brief silence.

"Don't worry, Miss Bai isn't trying to turn you into some tea-sipping noble lady. These things don't match with your noble bearing."

Yue Mei's lips twitched before she caught herself, quickly lowering her head again.

Bai Yunxi shot Su Ting a faintly amused glance, then turned to face her. She asked softly in a warm voice,

“Miss Yue, you have travelled a lot and seen many things. Can you share some of your experiences? I have studied many travel scrolls and jade slips, but my understanding remains limited to the Jiang state.”

Yue Mei thought for a moment, then agreed.

“I don’t know much, but I can share a few things.”

The evening stretched on, the conversation drifting toward small, harmless topics to differences between Jiang State and the Xuantian empire.

No one asked for things she wasn't ready to share.

By the time the moon hung high in the sky, the cold knot in her chest had loosened — if only a little.

As she sat beneath the moonlit sky, cradling the now-empty teacup in her hands, a flicker of something unfamiliar stirred within her chest.

"Thank you Miss Yue. Your stories have improved my understanding of the world." Bai Yunxi gently spoke.

"If you don't mind, can you share such information with me over tea?" She asked with a smile.

For a moment, silence lingered — as if Yue Mei weighed the simple request against the walls she'd built around herself.

"...I don't mind."

Su Ting observed the exchange, and a single thought rang clear in his mind: My sister-in-law is amazing.

...

In the past few days, Yue Mei had been constantly dragged by Su Ting to various places.

People had begun to recognize her as a young, charming girl.

It was only a matter of time before other members of the Su family started to take notice.

Su Kang had also decided to visit the new temporary guest of the Su manor, Zhu Zhihao, who had been staying there for several days.

Her presence was kept secret from the rest of the family. Her courtyard felt charged with a subtle energy, a quiet testament to her power.

The air itself seemed to hum with barely restrained force.

Su Kang entered, his posture radiating calm confidence.

He was dressed in a deep blue robe, the silver embroidery glinting in the soft light filtering through the windows.

"Senior Zhu," he said, offering a respectful bow. His gaze met hers directly. "Thank you for meeting with me."

Zhu Zhihao, seated with near-regal grace on a cushioned chair that complemented her crimson robes, inclined her head.

Her violet eyes seemed to pierce through him, assessing his worth in a single glance.

"Young Master Su," she replied, her voice soft but firm.

"Yue Mei is under my care. It’s only natural that I lend a helping hand if I can."

Su Kang sat across from her. A fine teapot steamed gently between them.

"Senior," he began, "I think we should be honest with each other. I want to know about the world outside Jiang State—about the dangers out there."

He had his reasons for asking. He was thinking about the future, about where he should go if the need arose.

A delicate eyebrow arched, surprise flickering across her face.

"What are you planning? I would advise against leaving Jiang State for now. Many hidden currents flow through these lands."

"Ignorance is dangerous, Senior. I just want to understand the general situation," Su Kang said, his gaze sincere.

A small smile touched her lips.

"True enough. Alright, Young Master Su. Let’s talk."

"I believe you already know about Heng State, Jiang State’s northern neighbor."

Su Kang nodded. He was aware that Heng State was more prosperous due to its denser spiritual energy.

"And I assume you’ve heard of the barren lands stretching south into the unknown," she continued, her tone probing.

Su Kang inclined his head slightly, acknowledging without interrupting.

"If your family is ever forced to flee from powerful enemies, head toward those barren lands."

His brow creased slightly. A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes.

Zhu Zhihao noticed. She elaborated calmly,

"Divination techniques don’t work properly there. Your enemies will struggle to track you. But remember, this should be a last resort. We still know very little about that place."

Su Kang exhaled slowly, absorbing her words.

Truly, a Nascent Soul expert possesses deeper knowledge than most.

"Due to the lack of spiritual energy, the natives there focus on body cultivation. So far, we don’t fully understand their methods."

She took a sip of tea, her eyes studying him. She could tell that both Su Kang and Su Ting were body cultivators—and likely, their technique originated from those lands.

Setting the cup down, she continued,

"Now, let me tell you about the potential dangers you might face."

Her gaze sharpened.

"The Xuantian Empire is ruled by the Yan family. Ruthless and ambitious—they always seek to expand their influence."

She paused to let the weight of her words settle.

"A prince named Yan Xinyi took an interest in Yue Mei. He tried to court her but failed. We’ve hidden our tracks, so you don’t need to worry about him coming to Jiang State."

Su Kang placed his cup down, fingers still loosely curled around it. His expression grew solemn. The threat now had a name.

Zhu Zhihao studied him, trying to detect signs of unease. But Su Kang remained composed in silence.

She continued, her voice growing heavier. "Further north lies the Zhou Empire—vast, ancient, and far more powerful. Their royal family commands legions and holds influence that dwarfs even the Xuantian Empire."

Her eyes flicked toward the window.

"Their spies are everywhere. And I believe they’re preparing for something. If they act, the neighboring powers will be dragged into chaos. But even then, I doubt Jiang State would be affected immediately."

She leaned back, her gaze returning to him—sharp and thoughtful.

"You understand that your... association with Yue Mei paints a target on your back?"

"I do," he replied quietly, voice unwavering.

She rose, slow and graceful. Her crimson robes flowed like liquid flame as she moved.

"The forces in motion are far greater than you, Su Kang. But you’ve shown courage—and a will to protect those close to you. That is a rare trait."

She turned toward him, her tone growing curious.

"And I must admit... I’m intrigued by your fate. Even my divination struggles to pierce the veil surrounding it."