Is she... actually going against an "Immortal"?
At this moment, the red-dressed woman hadnāt even realized that she, who never believed in the existence of Immortals, had already started seeing Xu Changāan as an immortal reincarnation.
"......"
The red-dressed woman slightly furrowed her Liu Mei brows, sighed after a while, and began considering whether to take back the piece of Glazed Jade. Then... she might follow the "Immortalās" will and push him to the forefront, within everyoneās sight.
Is it good to do this?
After contemplating for a moment, she brushed her long hair behind her ear and picked up a pen to draw a straight line on the paper before her.
Xu Changāan is just Xu Changāan, a young man who calls her Senior Sister without being servile or overbearing.
She could only see the mild and cautious side of the young man, so she had no reason to presume he had a flamboyant side. Her years of experience told her... sometimes things arenāt as complicated as they seem. The side of Xu Changāan that she subconsciously thought of as "Immortal" could very well not exist at all.
So if one were to form a favorable relationship, they should view Xu Changāan and the power behind him as a whole.
That Jade Pendant... in his eyes, itās an item given by an elder. Taking it back would truly offend the young man who is now eager to pursue cultivation.
"Tsk." The red-dressed woman clicked her tongue.
His heart is set on cultivation.
This is the conclusion she reached after reviewing Xu Changāanās records.
This feeling... itās like someone with a mountain of gold chasing after a copper coin, unbelievably absurd.
Of course, there are even more absurd things.
He also has a wife.
"......"
Chaoyun Sect and his karmic ties?
Itās not a big deal.
Could it compare to the karma of losing oneās virginity?
...
Picking up the pen to write, the red-dressed woman had already made up her mind.
Thereās no need for a special attitude towards Xu Changāan; itās best to just let things flow naturally. Although treating him as an ordinary disciple might be challenging, it is indeed the best choice.
Saying this though, since she had concealed the fluctuation of his cultivation and even "stole" the fame of overcoming tribulation, she... had to pay a certain price.
The cost, she thought, should be something valuable enough. In handling things this way, she deemed it appropriate.
So, she took a bottle full of Seven-Colored Spring Water and placed it in a palm-sized vial, set a seal and camouflaged it before placing it on the table.
This seal is an Array that can gradually decompose the dense Spiritual Qi to a usable concentration for lower cultivation... so after Xu Changāan takes it, heās effectively been granted the spring water that only the Sect Leader Chaoyun can use, and furthermore, thereās a Qiankun Realm behind him to help digest the Spiritual Qi.
Sword Testing Spring?
All the water from Sword Testing Springs together couldnāt compare to a single drop of this spring water imbued with Dao Rhyme. This pool of spring water looks like a small pond, but in actuality, thereās only that little bit imbued with Dao Rhyme. So giving Xu Changāan a bottle, sheās really being generous, even lavish.
Previously, it could be said that this was her opportunity for enlightenment, how could it be shared with a second person? In fact, a large part of her conflict with the Demon Sect was precisely due to this strand of Dao Rhyme.
"Dao..." The red-dressed woman looked at the mysterious runes rising from the spring water, and sighed gently.
The Heavenly Dao is remote and ever-changing; the meaning of the word Dao itself contains many facets, but regardless of how you try to interpret this word, itās akin to walking on thin ice. Breaking down the three words "Dao can be Dao" conveys a bitter admonition, clearly stating "Dao cannot be Dao. The philosophy has no fixed form."
Once, she aspired to ascend the Celestial Sect with a small spring of Spiritual Liquid. Now, after witnessing the true mighty power of heaven and earth, itās increasingly laughable.
Within the Sect, there are juniors who view Xu Changāan as a mirror.
Who would have thought that she would now also look to him as a mirror?
Truly, the longer she lives, the further backward she goes.
...
The red-dressed woman picked up a Beauty Fruit, took a small bite, and with a wave of her hand, conjured forth a Water Mirror in the sky, showing Xu Changāan at its center.
In the screen, a faint aura enveloped Xu Changāan, as if a wisp of smoke in the clear sky; if not observed closely, he would be easily overlooked as a common passerby.
But now, the red-dressed woman stared intently at Xu Changāan, trying to discern something from him.
However, she was quickly taken aback.
For in the scene, Xu Changāan walked by the lakeside of Muyu Peak, cradling a Li Hua cat, wearing a wry yet gentle expression.
"......"
She blinked, thought for quite a while, glanced through the documents, and finally understood the origin of this MaoāEr cat.
At least for now, Li Hua is an independent entity, not something worth fretting over.
āā
On Muyu Peak, wisps of ash on the roadside mingled with clear raindrops on the roofs, gently swirling; the world was quietly serene after the storm, the fresh scent of soil spreading along the shore.
"Xiaohua, I... truly donāt know how to speak for you." Xu Changāan embraced the Li Hua cat, looking at its bloodied hind leg with a touch of exasperation in his words and expression.
The adorable Li Hua cat rolled gently in Xu Changāanās arms, its fluffy ears nuzzled against his chest, letting out a soft meow.
"Donāt you feel pain?" Xu Changāan hastened towards his residence.
"Meow." The Li Hua cat seemed somewhat aggrieved.
"Youāve really grown capable, just opened up a source and you went to provoke the Mid-Tier Red-Tailed Fish in the lake. If I hadnāt happened to see it, those water blades would have shaved off all your fur." Xu Changāan pressed his Spiritual Qi onto the back leg of the Li Hua, stemming the blood.
His expression now resembled that of an elder father witnessing his child getting hurtāstern blame was real, but so were the tenderness and helplessness.
...
Xu Changāan returned to his residence, took out a Qi Replenishing Pill, crushed it, fed half to the catās head into its mouth, and smeared the other half on a cloth to wrap around its hind leg.
"Junior Master Qin gave me the Qi Replenishing Pill, didnāt think... youād use it first." Xu Changāan bandaged it up.
"Meow."
The Li Hua exposed its four pink paw pads in the air, turned on the table, then used its paw to unlock its innate storage space, pulling out a beautiful, but quite dead, fish, hefting it apart with its claw to extract a pearl-sized object from its belly.
Then, it pointed its paw at Xu Changāan.
"For me?" Xu Changāan was stunned: "A gift for my... breakthrough?"
The Li Hua cat nodded.
Xu Changāan sighed, then helplessly rubbed the catās head: "This fish is Muyu Peakās property, kept by the Steward Hall. How did you... never mind, the Senior Sisters also indulge you, so Iāll take this Fish Pearl."
Later, he would return it to the Steward Hall.
He scratched the chin of the Li Hua, saying: "Thanks for the thought, but... donāt go there again. If that leg gets shaved off, I wonāt have enough Qi Replenishing Pills for you."
The Li Hua cat nodded.
"Then, rest here with me." Xu Changāan placed some Spirit Fruits he grew before the cat and then turned to leave.
Watching him leave, the little Xiao Hua on the table waved its paw, as if to say goodbye.
...
"This little guy." Xu Changāan walked out the door, a smile he couldnāt suppress appearing on his face.
āā
Above the clouds.
He... actually likes such little creatures?
The red-dressed woman picked up the jar of Spiritual Spring and glanced at the corpse of the Red-Tailed Fish, suddenly realizing something.
Favorable relations?
A bottle of Dao Rhyme Spiritual Spring as a favorable relation, in Xu Changāanās heart, might not even match up to a Fish Pearl gifted by Li Hua.
The method she used to form favorable relations seemed inefficient?
The red-dressed woman watched the faint smile on that young manās face from afar, hesitating for a moment, then waved her hand to close the Water Mirror.
Suddenly she felt that secretly watching like this was quite... despicable.
So she stopped watching.
āā
Xu Changāan walked out the door, encountering Wen Li not far away. He paused for a moment, then approached her.
"Morning, Senior Sister heading to Celestial Bright Peak?"
"No rush, I still have matters to attend to; Iāll go to find Junior Sister Yun in an hour."
Wen Li was still in her black and white long dress, yet it was rare for her not to look at Xu Changāan, one hand unconsciously resting by her leg. After bidding farewell to Xu Changāan, she hurriedly left, seemingly with urgent matters.
"......"
Watching Wen Liās departing back, Xu Changāan sighed gently.
Indeed.
Senior Wen has her own affairs too; he cannot expect her to prioritize Miss Yun as he does.
Better buy some items for Miss Yunās cultivation.
The immediate need is...
Hmm, letās buy a bottle of Spiritual Liquid for Yun Qian to cleanse her body first.
Xu Changāan walked towards the Steward Hall.