Chapter 82 - 067 Pear Blossoms and Li Hua are both flowers

There’s a saying that’s quite peculiar.

Xu Chang’an has visited the rooms of most of the girls at Three Officials Rock, Muyu Peak.

But Wen Li’s room, compared to the dazzling decorations of other senior sisters, is very simple, even modest.

The entire room is empty, except for the tables and chairs; in the corner, there’s painting equipment, and a few scrolls of pear blossoms hang on one side of the wall.

As an Internal Affairs Steward, he often visits the places where others cultivate, which is quite normal.

Perhaps that’s why, when he first joined the Steward Hall at Muyu Peak, he was met with such resistance.

——

Throughout the year, the spiritual fruits he has grown, and the simple potted plants he has cultivated, have found their way into the chambers of most senior sisters.

Wen Li is no exception.

On a wooden square table, there’s a single decorative green rhododendron, which Xu Chang’an has combed with Spiritual Power.

Xu Chang’an looks at the ring on Wen Li’s hand, thinking that most of her items are likely stored in the Storage Ring.

It really is convenient.

"..."

When Wen Li enters the room, she glances at the painting equipment in the corner, hesitates for a moment, then walks over and gently covers the canvas, concealing the faceless form of the youth on it.

Xu Chang’an notices Wen Li staring at him and asks, "Senior Sister?"

Wen Li never uses rouge, giving Xu Chang’an the impression that she’s always decisive, even bold.

"What’s wrong with your hair?" Wen Li asks, looking at a small cut in Xu Chang’an’s hair, "Were you rushing to fight someone? You just opened your source and don’t need to rush into a Martial Arts Gathering."

"Not exactly." Xu Chang’an thinks to himself that other senior sisters have been puzzled by his appearance today, but Wen Li is the first to notice his hair.

Xu Chang’an lowers his head to look at the sachet at his waist, not explaining much.

He feels it’s strange to explain his and his wife’s hair tying to others.

Next, Xu Chang’an hands over the items Wen Li needs along with some spirit fruits.

Wen Li thinks for a moment, and with a flash in her hand, a crystal-clear spirit stone appears in her palm.

"Senior Sister, a few fruits aren’t worth much spirit stone," Xu Chang’an immediately says.

"Is that so." Wen Li calmly replies, "The number of fruits you’ve grown is limited, and the junior sisters will exchange spirit stones for them."

The girls on Muyu Peak mostly love food, and compared to the value of Spiritual Power, they care more about taste, and the fruits Xu Chang’an grows taste much better than usual, making them very popular.

So, even the girls who dislike men don’t reject him staying at Muyu Peak after tasting his fruits.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

He knows a bit about this matter and can only say helplessly, "Because of my oversight, it got Senior Sister fined with spirit stones."

Wen Li furrows her brows and seriously says, "You’re just performing your tasks normally, without fault; I’m the one who was careless, and this is also the rule."

"But... If you don’t want the spirit stone, I’ll accept it." Wen Li takes the spirit fruit and casually stores it in the Storage Ring, then looks at Xu Chang’an and says, "Xiaohua is in the back, I’ll go call it."

When Xu Chang’an hears this, he breathes a sigh of relief and says with a smile, "It really has gotten clever, knowing to go to the Steward Hall to make requests and issue tasks; the senior sisters pamper it, they’ve approved and paid the spirit stone for it themselves, so here I am bringing the fruits it wanted."

"Mm." Wen Li nods, then walks out the door, heading to the backyard.

——

Thus, Xu Chang’an is left alone in the room.

There’s only one Li Hua cat on Muyu Peak, and it appeared there around the same time as him; reportedly brought by a certain senior sister to the mountain, but he doesn’t really know its origins.

However, this doesn’t prevent Xu Chang’an from liking it, as Xiaohua has accompanied him through those somewhat monotonous days.

Xu Chang’an doesn’t really consider himself a cat person, but he certainly likes cute and obedient little creatures.

Interestingly... despite her aloof demeanor, Senior Sister Wen Li really likes Xiaohua, so Xiaohua is also willing to stay with Wen Li.

Xu Chang’an thinks Xiaohua often causes trouble, and Wen Li’s courtyard is the safest place for it to go on Muyu Peak, so... most of the time, if he can’t find the sight of Xiaohua on his own house’s wall or by the lake, it has to be with Wen Li.

As expected, he guesses right.

During the waiting time, Xu Chang’an’s gaze lingers on a pot of green rhododendron on the table.

The green rhododendron he grew has the aura of his Spiritual Power, which Xu Chang’an recognizes.

This pot of green rhododendron... it seems was given to Wen Li after a certain senior sister left.

Xu Chang’an didn’t expect Wen Li would actually keep it; judging by the situation of Spiritual Power combing, Wen Li has taken good care of this green rhododendron.

It’s probably because detailed combing of Spiritual Power can train one’s control over it.

Xu Chang’an initially chose to cultivate spirit fruits after discovering that combing Spiritual Power can train control, and that’s why he persisted; otherwise, he wouldn’t take the time every day to tend the orchard.

He blinked.

Xu Chang’an’s gaze scanned past the painting equipment in the corner of the room; the paper was lightly covered with a layer of semi-transparent silk, faintly revealing a person drawn within.

He didn’t rudely stare at the covered artwork, glancing briefly before shifting his focus.

On the wall, several artworks of pear blossoms hang, and Xu Chang’an knows these are all created by Wen Li.

Having aesthetic appreciation is a necessary cultivation, so Xu Chang’an can appreciate the beauty of pear blossoms; the pear tree’s stately form, elegant flower colors, and slender leaves; When spring breeze passes, the leaves sway in the wind, making a pleasant sound.

Wen Li’s painting skills are impressive; no matter how many times he’s seen them, he still feels amazed.

In Xu Chang’an’s mind, Wen Li is synonymous with valor, yet this Senior Sister Wen is also skilled in Danqing, truly an exceptional person.

Soon, Wen Li enters with the sleep-drowsy Li Hua in her arms, placing the cat beside the green rhododendron, saying, "It’s still sleepy."

"I know." Xu Chang’an smiles, "Night owl, it needs to wait until evening to be energetic."

Whenever he comes to see Xiaohua at Wen Li’s place, it’s usually resting, and he’s long gotten used to it.

"Xiaohua, I’ve brought you the Ice Crystal Fruit you wanted." Xu Chang’an says with a smile, placing a light blue fruit beside the green rhododendron.

Li Hua Cat slowly opens its eyes, its gaze somewhat empty, but upon seeing Xu Chang’an’s face, it softly meows.

Xu Chang’an picks up Xiaohua, and its soft ears fold against him.

Xu Chang’an smiles, gently patting the little cat’s light-colored fur.

"Still the same, very sleepy."

Unable to resist, Xu Chang’an softly scratches its chin, giving it a skillful massage.

"..."

In the corner of the room, Wen Li watches this scene, her left hand unconsciously on her own chin, as if sensing something.