The Little Li Hua cat had been sealed within the barrier for an entire night, so as soon as Xu Changâan released it, it meowed in grievance, pointing its little snow-white paw in the direction of Wen Liâs residence.
Xu Changâan felt somewhat helpless.
Although he couldnât understand the catâs language, the Little Li Hua had cultivation and was intelligent.
Seeing its grumbling tone and the watery look in its eyes, Xu Changâan knew Wen Li had sealed it there.
"...Did you steal Fish Pearls from the lake and got caught by Senior Sister?" Xu Changâanâs finger brushed over the Li Hua catâs head, giving it a tap: "Senior Wen wonât bully you for no reason, and anyway... it doesnât count as bullying."
In Xu Changâanâs perspective, this barrier shatters at a touch, so Wen Liâs action was hardly a punishment for the Li Hua cat.
"Meow!"
The Little Li Hua was very dissatisfied that Xu Changâan was siding with Wen Li instead of itself. It gasped and then bit Xu Changâanâs thumb.
However, once it opened its mouth, it held back its strength, reluctant to actually bite down.
The finger joint was barely scratched by the catâs teeth, making Xu Changâan smile: "Alright then, havenât I let you out now? Stop being difficult."
"Meow." The cat rubbed Xu Changâanâs finger, still upset.
"When I see Senior Sister, Iâll plead for you." Xu Changâan glanced in the direction of his nearby dwelling and said, "I have work to do today, no time to keep you company. As usual, go rest at my place. Iâll allow you to pick an Ice Crystal Fruit to eat. Remember to choose one thatâs ripe, donât upset your stomach again."
The cat was held in Xu Changâanâs embrace.
Bathed in the youthâs gentle, indulgent gaze, the Little Li Hua looked at him blankly for a while... all its anger dissipated completely, softly meowing in response.
Xu Changâan scratched its chin, earning a series of purrs in return.
After a moment, the Li Hua cat leapt lightly from Xu Changâanâs embrace onto his shoulder, nuzzling its furry ears against his neck in a show of affection, then walked towards his dwelling at Muyu Peak, looking back every few steps.
"This little thing..." Xu Changâan shook his head helplessly.
Always causing trouble or stealing fish, getting disciplined is normal.
Shaking his head, Xu Changâan headed towards the most bustling street in the west of Muyu Peak to complete his work for the day.
By the lakeside, the boat on the water created ripples, reflecting the warm afternoon sun, with the youthâs westward journey forming a perfect backdrop, as if a stunning scroll.
"..."
From afar, a pair of pitch-black eyes gradually turned fiery red, much like the color of the phoenix-shaped Spiritual Qi surrounding her.
Liu Qingluo watched the distant figure of Xu Changâan leaving, standing in a daze, her fingers clenched until they turned white.
A crisp breeze swept past the trees beside her, making a pleasing rustling sound, so melodious.
Since ascending the mountain, it was the first time a light appeared in Liu Qingluoâs beautiful eyes, making the whole world seem brighter.
"Young Master..."
He remains so gentle.
Even with a Li Hua cat, he acts this way.
Gu Qiancheng: "..."
Seeing Liu Qingluo standing still and gazing afar, Gu Qiancheng covered her face shyly.
Liu Qingluo had barely begun her cultivation when she naturally awakened a Pupil Technique, allowing her to see Xu Changâan from such a distance.
"I thought sister truly didnât care about him." Gu Qiancheng gently tightened her grip on Liu Qingluoâs arm, pulling her focus back: "Clearly, she likes him a lot."
"..."
Seeing Xu Changâanâs form in the Immortal Sect, Liu Qingluo hadnât fully returned to her senses.
"Like... is this considered liking?"
The person she likes?
"Why wouldnât it be considered liking," Gu Qiancheng thought, remembering how her Second Lady had always taught her to be daring in love and hate.
"Didnât Sister Liu like this man before?" Gu Qiancheng asked.
"Before?"
Liu Qingluo took a deep breath.
She rarely recalled past events because they were in the past, and what she couldnât let go was always in her heart, no longer considered past.
In truth, thereâs nothing really worth reminiscing about; she was a girl from a brothel, though an Artiste-Courtesan, she had entertained countless guests.
Generally, people wouldnât ask a woman originating from a brothel, who spent half her life adrift in the rouge, if she ever had feelings for someone.
After all, everyone knew that these girls were often heartless guests.
Those from the lower classes werenât qualified to have feelings.
Perform on stage, wipe off makeup offstage, it was all just an act.
But Gu Qiancheng wasnât an ordinary person; she was also from the high Immortal Sect.
"This canât be considered liking the Young Master," Liu Qingluo said seriously.
Someone like her wasnât qualified to say she liked him.
Xu Changâan had a wife he could be proud of; facing Xu Changâan, for someone like her to even say she liked him... would only tarnish the pure moon in her heart.
Some things cannot be spoken aloud.
For instance, the jar of Daughter Red Wine she buried before entering the brothel, intended to give to her future lover once she redeemed herself... this was something she could never speak of.
To give Xu Changâan such a jar of wine, she... had already broken the rules.
How could she have the face to speak of liking?
ââ
The bright sunlight shone on Liu Qingluoâs face, the rouge on her lips glistening, and the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye became more pronounced.
Because of her tainted life, she was someone bound by rules.
But a rule-bound person is still human, experiencing the emotional fluctuations that humans should have.