Her eyes carried pride and longing.
Fear was one thing, but liking someone was another.
"So he was such an amazing person." Liu Qingluo raised her head, the setting sun casting light on her face, reflecting a tear mole.
She lowered her head and murmured, "So... Young Master Xu is indeed an outstanding person."
"Does it matter?" Gu Qiancheng blinked confusedly, then earnestly said, "But, Sister has Immortal Talent, she must be a great person too. In the future... maybe even surpass Senior Sister."
Liu Qingluo didnât think about such things; she wasnât one to aim too high.
But...
If I become better and more useful, then the status of the one I care about should rise with me, gaining admiration from others.
"When can I start cultivation?" Liu Qingluo asked earnestly.
"I donât know, it depends on what the Senior Sisters decide. Itâs probably going to be a few days."
"Alright."
ââ
"Youâre back?"
Wen Li returned home and put Li Hua into a small room to rest, then she opened the door to see a woman in white lazily lying on her table, with embroidered shoes dangling from her toes.
"Master, the table isnât a place to lie down," Wen Li said.
"Whatâs the difference." The woman in white shrugged.
Wen Li looked toward the corner of the room and noticed the covered canvas was opened. She carefully covered it again and said, "Wasnât there a meeting?"
"They did it behind my back. But the LiuâEr girlâI checked on her last nightâthey didnât involve me... which saves me some worries." The woman in white stretched lazily, then squinted her eyes, "Ah Li, before I saw your painting, I didnât realize you cared so much about him."
She had once happened to pass by and saved Wen Li from a pit of dead bodies on the battlefield, understanding her character deeply.
On Muyu Peak, anyone might have a romantic inclination except for Wen Li... She never thought about such things at all.
"Junior Brother is my mirror," Wen Li said earnestly.
"Have you ever used a copper mirror before you went up the mountain?"
"No," Wen Li shook her head.
"What kind of liking is it?" The woman in whiteâs expression became more serious.
Xu Changâan indeed brought great changes to Wen Li, but... he had a wife, so she felt if Wen Liâs feelings continued to grow, in the future this mirror might hinder her cultivation.
Therefore, everything had better stop before Wen Li realized her feelings.
"I donât know." Wen Li didnât avoid it at all. She thought for a moment and then said, "Living in extreme happiness and peace, enjoying the tides of the sea, I like this saying very much."
"I know you like long-lasting peace," the woman in white said earnestly. "But this Changâan is not that Changâan, just like the difference between pears and civet cats."
"I am a half-demon." Wen Li lowered her head, looking at her fair hands, seemingly able to smell a very strong bloody scent.
A half-demon on the battlefield is like a meat grinder, a tool used by the Celestial Family for slaughter.
"That was before, now you are human, and it is the demon," the woman in white pointed in the direction of the Li Hua cat.
"Master, why doesnât Junior Brother despise demons?" Wen Li asked puzzledly.
"Perhaps he hasnât seen the horrors of demon disasters," the woman in white blinked, thinking if he really was an Immortal Reincarnation, he wouldnât care about demons, as they are all like ants.
"I donât understand," Wen Li said.
"Forget it, itâs your own matter, I actually canât give you advice," the woman in white sighed slightly and then said, "But, I can only tell you... his origin isnât ordinary, staying by his side in the future, there probably wonât be much long-lasting peace."
"Thatâs for the future," Wen Li, though not shy like ordinary girls, still felt a little uneasy about her master discussing such topics.
She said, "Master, I am the guide for Junior Sister Yun who cannot cultivate. You actually have a way, donât you?"
After going up the mountain, today she saw Xu Changâan looking so dejected for the first time.
When he heard the news at first, his body swayed as if he couldnât even stand properly.
She wanted to help Xu Changâan, but since she hadnât learned enough, specialized in swordsmanship... she didnât know how to solve the problem.
She could only ask her master for help.
Although her master told her Yun Qian couldnât cultivate normally, she relayed this to Xu Changâan truthfully.
But there was an abnormal way to cultivate?
"There is indeed," the woman in white said, "but I donât want to interfere in his matters, so you canât involve yourself either."
She disliked trouble, and Xu Changâan was obviously trouble within trouble.
"Does it mean Junior Sister Yun can cultivate?" Wen Li heard this, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Itâs not really the Hundred Leaks Body, though troublesome, she can cultivate," the woman in white shook her head, "He has good relationships, without you, others can give him advice."
Ultimately, let someone else help in times of need.
Wen Li herself couldnât understand her own feelings, at this time... perhaps it wouldnât be wise for Xu Changâan to owe Wen Li too much gratitude.
Wen Li was not like the girls from Beisang City who were accustomed to understanding emotions, able to discern whether his gentleness was affection or gratitude.
"Ah Li."
The woman in white got up from the table, recalling some past events, and said seriously, "Sometimes... gentle people are gentle to everyone. Once you peel them open, you will know that deep down they are very indifferent."
"Master is talking about Junior Brother?"
"No, I dare not," the woman in white shrugged, thinking that he was someone the Sect Leader cared about, an Immortal Reincarnation.
Wen Li was very strong, with ordinary swords and blades unable to injure her, so the greatest threat was from someone able to shake her Sword Heart.
"...I understand," Wen Li nodded, thinking as long as Junior Sister Yun could cultivate.
"Donât blame me," the woman in white coughed, "Here is Muyu Peak, besides, there are some methods... that wouldnât suit for you to mention."
"Alright."
...
Outside North Garden, Xu Changâanâs complexion was faintly pale; Yun Qianâs possible inability to cultivate was something he never expected.
What does "bad news" mean?
He lived so many years, yet except for the first time Yun Qian fell ill, he never felt this way.
Xu Changâanâs knuckles turned white from clenching, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his state, and with his face back to normal pushed open the door.
...
Under the firelight, Yun Qian sat in the hall, her long black hair cascading down, her beauty revealed plainly in the light.
In front of Yun Qian was a sealed copper jar.
At this moment, on her fair hand, a few blue veins showed.
"Hmm~"
The young lady was trying hard.
"Huh."
Some unfortunate sounds escaped her lips, and after trying hard, Yun Qian gave up.
She couldnât open it.
Her strength wasnât enough.
So she looked at Xu Changâan standing by the door and said, "Youâre back? Why did you close the honey jar so tightly?"
"To prevent Miss from sneaking a taste."
Xu Changâan walked over, gently opening the honey jar, turned to the kitchen to fetch a spoon, and handed it to Yun Qian, then sat down beside her.
"Are you tired?" Yun Qian looked at Xu Changâanâs face, unable to hide his exhaustion, scooped a little bit of honey and brought it to Xu Changâanâs lips, watching him eat, she asked, "How does it taste?"
"Very sweet," Xu Changâan thought it was both fragrant and sweet... just like Yun Qian herself, so likable.
"Is it? Let me try it." Yun Qian was about to taste it herself, but... she was suddenly held by Xu Changâan.
"Miss, Senior Wen said today a senior from the sect came to see you, is it true?"
"Yes, a woman came at noon and checked my pulse," Yun Qian frowned slightly when Xu Changâan held her wrist, "Be gentle."
Xu Changâan immediately released his grip, "And then?"
"She said I cannot cultivate," Yun Qian lowered her head, looking at her abdomen, thinking this was naturally so.
"I know Miss doesnât care much about cultivation," Xu Changâan listened to Yun Qianâs casual words, couldnât help but grip his clothes tightly.
Senior Wenâs master saying she canât cultivate, was pretty much a certainty.
"I thought life would be smooth sailing," Xu Changâanâs eyes were filled with complex emotions.
"..." Yun Qian looked at Xu Changâan, her body trembling.
The room was dimly lit.
At this moment, the dark emotions in Xu Changâanâs eyes could not be hidden.
Yun Qianâs lips parted slightly, she didnât know whether the feeling that suddenly arose within her was panic.
Miss Yun never thought that just because she couldnât cultivate, her husband would be so shaken.