Qiu Zhihe remained silent, just looking calmly at Si Minglan, but she heard the woman continue:
"Your husband is my benefactor. Iâm willing to do anything for him... except matters between a man and a woman."
This was somewhat different from the usual style of this Fox Spirit, and Qiu Zhihe was slightly surprised. Si Minglanâs expression turned serious:
"I can repay your life-saving grace, but I wonât get too close because the things I need to do donât allow any encumbrances."
Qiu Zhihe nodded: "I wonât ask how you got injured."
Si Minglan smiled: "And I wonât ask who you really are."
The two women exchanged a glance for a moment, finally reaching an unspoken agreement.
The two of them then erased the traces of the fight within Qinhe Garden, and afterward, Qiu Zhihe drew a more advanced Guardian Array on the main gate.
"Are you also an Array Master?" Si Minglan was somewhat immune to her endless tricks, and after her initial surprise, she refrained from further questions.
Qiu Zhihe stood at the door, suddenly looking across to a small alley, then withdrew her gaze and went back inside, closing the door.
"Is that woman Qin Gengyunâs wife? Did she notice me just now?"
In that alley, Pei Daoyu, who had waited for three days and nights, broke out in cold sweat, his heart filled with uncertainty.
Three days ago, two seniors from the Chang Family entered Qinhe Garden, and Pei Daoyu originally thought that Qin Gengyun and his entire family would soon be killed.
However, much to his surprise, he waited outside for a long time and did not see the two Great Cultivators of the ninth level of Qi Cultivation come out.
He had no choice but to keep waiting, as he had to know the outcome.
He hadnât intended for this wait to last three days and nights.
Until just now, the gate of the Qin Family finally opened, and Pei Daoyu immediately widened his eyes.
However, the one who came out was not Changyunzi and Chang Zhenzi, but Qin Gengyunâs wife!
And judging by her demeanor, calm and dignified, it seemed as if nothing had happened at home.
Pei Daoyu thought he was mistaken, rubbed his eyes vigorously, yet he saw that Qin Gengyunâs lovely young wife was still composed.
Where were the two seniors?
Didnât they go in?
Why wasnât there any commotion?
Pei Daoyu was bewildered. Then Qin Gengyunâs wife glanced in his direction.
In an instant, Pei Daoyu felt a chill all over and quickly retracted his head until Qin Gengyunâs wife closed the door and returned inside, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.
Yet his heart was more confused and terrified than ever.
What exactly happened?
In Qinhe Garden.
Qiu Zhihe and Si Minglan sat in the courtyard, and Qiu Zhihe suddenly spoke:
"Since my husband has been kind to you, I would like you to do something for him."
Si Minglan fiddled with her bangs, resting her chin casually on her hand, and chuckled:
"You keep saying âmy husband,â even the most formidable woman loses herself once sheâs in love."
Qiu Zhihe ignored her teasing and continued:
"One day, I will leave him. I hope he has strong support, so I want you to help him join the Zhenyang Sect."
Si Minglan was taken aback, and incredulously said: "You actually want Qin Gengyun to enter the Zhenyang Sect? Do you really think itâs a righteous faction, a holy land on earth?"
Qiu Zhihe calmly said: "Whether it is righteous or not doesnât matter. I just know that the strongest sect in the Eastern Cultivator world now is the Zhenyang Sect. Once heâs in, heâs protected by the sect, not lacking cultivation resources, which can help him achieve the Dao sooner."
"What about you then?"
Si Minglan stared at Qiu Zhihe:
"Why would you leave your husband when you care about him so deeply?"
Qiu Zhihe looked at Si Minglan, calmly saying: "Like you, I have something I must do. Doing this would burden him, so I must leave."
Si Minglan was silent for a moment, and then suddenly sighed.
"Understood."
The two women stood before the pond, side by side. Si Minglan said:
"This pond is too empty; it ought to be planted with lotus flowers."
Qiu Zhihe said: "Itâs already planted; youâll see them next year."
"Next year?"
Si Minglan suddenly laughed: "I wonder if Iâll have the chance to see a pond full of lotus flowers by then."
Qiu Zhihe was silent for a moment, her expression slightly dim.
Si Minglan turned her head towards her: "What you must do, is it as urgent as mine?"
Qiu Zhihe nodded: "If possible, not a single day more would I want to wait."
Si Minglan laughed: "I never thought I would be so similar to you."
Qiu Zhihe said: "Fang Xue has been away from home for several days; her parents must be worried, as her senior sister, you should inform her family."
"How should I explain it to her parents?" Si Minglan asked.
Qiu Zhihe thought for a moment and said: "Just say she hit it off with me, so she decided to stay at my house for a few more days."
"Alright, Iâll go now."
Si Minglan turned and walked towards the exit of Qinhe Garden, suddenly stopping and turning back:
"Since you will eventually leave your husband, why not find someone who can accompany him in your stead? Fang Xue now has shared intimacy with your husband; Iâm her senior sister, so I should be able to make decisions on her behalf."
Qiu Zhihe froze, her expression turning cold. Si Minglan earnestly said:
"You canât leave and not allow your husband to remarry, right? Iâve heard your husband follows the path of Dual Cultivation."
Qiu Zhihe looked down, her expression shifting, then raised her head after a moment:
"Fang Xueâs parents are still present; they should be the ones to decide."
Si Minglan burst into laughter: "Youâre actually willing? My, how dignified and humbly pathetic, haha, Iâm off!"
In the blink of an eye, she was out the door.
Qiu Zhihe turned around and stood by the pond, gazing at the tranquil water surface.
"A pond full of lotus flowers, will I be able to see it?"
...
Cyan Luo Lane.
Fang Family.
"Husband, where exactly has Xiaoxue gone? How is it that she hasnât been home for several days?"
"Be patient, my wife. Our daughter is always dutiful and wouldnât leave without a word; perhaps sheâs cultivating with her senior sister at the inn, letâs not disturb them."
Fang Chao and his wife were anxious but didnât know where to inquire.
Four days ago, their daughter Fang Xue suddenly said she was going out, and they didnât worry, thinking she would return soon.
Yet she hadnât sent word since she left.
Now the couple was restless at home. While Fang Chao comforted his wife, he was actually quite worried too.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door; Fang Chao was thrilled and quickly went to open it, only to see the enchanting and charming third senior sister of Xiyue Peak standing at the door, holding a wine gourd and taking a sip, smiling at Fang Chao:
"Taoist Friend Fang, Iâm Xiaoxueâs senior sister, pardon the disturbance."
"No disturbance at all, Senior Si, please come in!"
Fang Chao quickly bowed in salute, and his wife promptly came to greet her too. Both were so nervous that their foreheads were almost touching the ground.
Si Minglan waved her hand: "Iâm Xiaoxueâs senior sister, and youâre her parents. If you call me senior, doesnât that mess up the family hierarchy? Just call me by my name."
"We wouldnât dare! What brings Senior Si here?"
Fang Chao had lived a humble life, never daring to address a Zhenyang Sect Fairy by name, asking cautiously while bending his waist.
"Oh, I came to pass a message. Xiaoxue has been at Alchemist Qinâs house these few days, and she asked me to let you know so you wouldnât worry."
Si Minglan said.
Fang Chao and his wife exchanged glances, both relieved. Fang Chao quickly said:
"Thank you, Senior Si, Xiaoxue has always admired Taoist Friend Qinâs wife, presumably chatting and discussing the Dao with Taoist Friend Qiu?"
"Haha!" Si Minglan suddenly laughed:
"Youâve guessed wrong! To my knowledge, these past days, the one who has been discussing the Dao day and night with my junior sister is not Alchemist Qinâs wife, but Alchemist Qin himself!"