Chapter 86: The Letter [1]

Yu Xuan found the habit of collecting letters a little odd, but it wasn’t his place to judge.

In this modern era of cultivation, where communication talismans could send voice messages, text, or even real-time projections, handwritten letters were nearly obsolete.

They existed more as a formality, often used by scholars on the literary path or eccentric cultivators with a passion for calligraphy.

Still, if someone found happiness in preserving letters tied to their memories, who was he to mock that?

If helping Ban express his feelings brought joy, or even healed a broken connection — then maybe it would bring him some good karma too.

Besides, today Yu Xuan wasn’t just a cultivator.

Today, he was a matchmaker.

That meant it was time to refine the poetry skills he’d once learned in his clan... and maybe even carried over some from his past life.

’Maybe if I recite a verse and the heavens rumble in approval, or golden light descends... I’ll become a legend overnight,’ he thought, already imagining lotus appearing and butterflies fluttering behind him, petals dancing in slow motion as his words caused a ripple in the Dao itself.

His imagination was, once again, overactive.

Ban’s voice pulled him back to reality.

"This is why I specifically requested someone with literary skills," Ban said, glancing at him with anticipation.



The moment the words "literary skills" were spoken, an invisible pressure settled on Yu Xuan’s shoulders.

’If I mess this up now... after hearing that whole tragic love story...’ he thought, feeling sweat form at his temple.

’If she misunderstands the letter thinks he’s firing her or something, because of my phrasing, I might doom their relationship permanently.’

Worse yet, his status as a reincarnator from Earth would be at risk.

How can yourself call myself an Earthling if you can’t even help two cultivators fall in love?

’If this leaks to the reincarnated community, I’ll lose massive face. They’ll say I wasted my previous life. My Earth history will be called into question!’

He shuddered at the imaginary headlines:

"Earth Reincarnator Fails Basic Romance Quest, Hasn’t Even Read a Proper Poem Since High School."

Pushing those thoughts aside, Yu Xuan straightened his back, cleared his throat, and put on the air of a professional scholar.

"So, Senior Ban," he said solemnly, "bring out your finest paper and ink. We’re writing a letter that’ll move her soul."

Like that the quest to love began.

***

Ban returned carrying a small stack of premium-quality paper, a bottle of dark, shimmering ink, and a delicate writing feather that looked like it had been plucked from the wing of some unknown spiritual bird.

The feather shimmered faintly under the afternoon sunlight, catching Yu Xuan’s eye.

"That... is a nice quill," Yu Xuan remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"It’s from a Dreamweaver Crane," Ban said, a little too quickly.

Yu Xuan gave a slow, approving nod.

Taking his seat on a cushion at the low writing table, he gestured for Ban to sit opposite him.

The air between them shifted — calm, focused, yet oddly intense. It felt like the two were preparing to draft a top-secret martial arts manual... or launch a rebellion.

But no. They were writing a love letter.

"Alright," Yu Xuan said, cracking his knuckles with seriousness. "First, we’ll sketch the structure. Once we’ve finalized it, you’ll copy it neatly onto one of the good sheets."

Ban nodded, visibly nervous. His fingers twitched slightly as he uncorked the ink bottle.



"Before we start," Yu Xuan added, "I never asked, what’s her name?"

Ban hesitated, glancing away. In a soft, almost embarrassed voice, he replied, "Ya Qin."

Yu Xuan blinked, noting the faint blush rising to Ban’s cheeks. The man wouldn’t even meet his eyes.

’He’s blushing just saying her name?’ Yu Xuan thought, narrowing his eyes slightly. Where did all that confidence go?

Shaking the thought aside, he dipped the quill lightly into the ink.

"Let’s begin with something classic," he said. "How about, ’To my dearest Ya Qin, whose smile has never left my heart.’"

Ban stared at him. "Isn’t that... a bit forward?"

Yu Xuan shrugged. "Depends. Do you want her to know this is a romantic confession?"

Ban nodded slowly.

"Then yes. We lead with that. But don’t start a love letter like you’re submitting a sect report."

He scribbled the line down and continued, "Next, let’s recall your shared memories. Maybe: ’The days I spent with you at the countryside manor are among my most cherished memories.’ Too cliché?"

Ban gave a faint, nostalgic smile. "No... it’s true. She smiled a lot back then."

"Perfect. We keep that," Yu Xuan said.

And so they continued, brainstorming, debating, revising line by line. Some suggestions were rejected on the spot, like when ban said, "You are the moonlight in my cultivation chamber."

"Nope," Yu Xuan muttered, striking it out. "Sounds like a stalker."

Despite a few clashes in style and tone, they corrected each other, argued a little, and slowly shaped the letter. It took far longer than either of them expected.

By the time they neared the final draft, the sun had already begun to dip low in the sky.

Then Yu Xuan wrote a final line.

Ban reached across the table, stopping his hand mid-stroke.

"That one... keep that exactly as it is," he said quietly.

Yu Xuan looked up, smiled faintly, and nodded. "Then let’s finish this. Now the most important part is yours, Senior Ban. Write it with your heart."

"If this works, then you’re my sworn brother for life," Ban said with sudden conviction, grabbing the finest sheet of paper and beginning to copy.



Even as he wrote, he made small mistakes — his strokes sometimes too long, or characters slightly skewed. Yu Xuan scolded him every time.

"Focus! This is for love, not your daily diary!"

For some reason, Ban began sweating.

As Yu Xuan loomed beside him, correcting his every stroke, Ban had the bizarre image of a stern man with a small mustache in an military uniform bearing a wierd symbol yelling at him through a whistle.

The pressure was real.

Because Yu Xuan wasn’t just a critic — he was a true artist and even a Young Master.

He’d once painted Ming Tianmei, and that portrait was still considered a masterpiece by her.

With a deep breath, Ban steadied his hand.

It was time to finish what they started.

***

(Author’s Request)

[A/R: If possible purchase privilege Chapters, we are nearing the Tier 1 for WIN-WIN MISSION, though I don’t know if we can complete it by the end of the month. So to all my readers, support this work, it means a lot.]