"Would you get jealous of him? Ah, right, he likes girls who get jealous."
"..."
"?"
What is this girl talking about?
Li Zhibai was taken aback by Yun Qianās sudden words, her mind blanked out for several breaths before coming to her senses.
"Jealous? Of whom? Me?" Li Zhibai found it a bit amusing and exasperating at the same time, wondering why sheād get jealous over a student.
Although she sensed Yun Qianās unease over trivial matters, she found it entirely normal, considering Yun Qian was once a sheltered Miss of a wealthy family.
A lady falling for her steward, eloping after romantic encounters under the moon, and then following Xu Changāan to the unfamiliar Immortal Sect... the trust and affection involved have already reached a very high level.
In such a scenario, Yun Qianās possessiveness over Xu Changāan being more intense than usual is quite normal.
If anything, Li Zhibai admired Yun Qianās ability to remain composed and only occasionally anxious, after having given up everything to follow Xu Changāan.
However, the fact that Ms. Yunās jealousy extended to herself left her feeling a bit helpless.
Though the tone didnāt quite feel like jealousy.
Yun Qian and Li Zhibaiās thoughts were worlds apart, but Li Zhibai wasnāt an ordinary woman; she wasnāt flustered by the misunderstanding and looked at Yun Qian with a bit of playfulness: "What are you talking about, sister?"
Food canāt be eaten recklessly, and words canāt be spoken carelessly.
"Youāre always concerned about the other women around him, isnāt that jealousy?" Yun Qian realized something and spoke without emotional fluctuation: "So, youāre concerned about me for the same reason?"
If Li Zhibaiās concern for her was for the same reason as her concern for Liu Qingluo, then she would need to learn from Li Zhibai not only in makeup matters but also how to be jealous, considering Xu Changāan had always found jealous girls to be adorable.
Li Zhibai looked at Yun Qian for a moment, sighed deeply, and said, "Who do you think Iām concerned about for?"
"..." Yun Qian blinked.
The words sounded inexplicably familiar.
A bit like something Xu Changāan might say.
"Is it because... of me?" Yun Qian asked.
"..."
Li Zhibai didnāt expect Yun Qian to know, so her helplessness increased, but she said, "It has nothing to do with you, sister."
She and Yun Qian had nothing to do with each other, so she had no right to interfere in her matters; Li Zhibai certainly wouldnāt say something meaningless like "for Yun Qianās own good."
"Just assume Iām interested." Li Zhibai blinked: "Young women are like this, arenāt they? Liking topics like these."
Being someone interested in the emotions of the younger generations, she thought, made her mindset quite young, definitely not outdated.
āā
When Xu Changāan came in holding a plate of cut fruit, he saw Yun Qian deep in thought, and Li Zhibai looking out of the window with support, which seemed odd, but he didnāt ask.
He placed the sugared, warmed fruits in front of Yun Qian, and then respectfully presented a plate of fresh fruit cuts to Li Zhibai.
"Relax a bit." Li Zhibai gently brushed Xu Changāanās long sleeve, observing his meticulous etiquette.
"Sir?" Xu Changāan was puzzled.
"I know youāre polite, but you should assess the situation." Li Zhibai shook her head. It was fine usually, but now... with her here addressing Yun Qian as sisters, Xu Changāan pampering Yun Qian on one hand and treating her like a deity felt strange.
"Sir, thatās not something I expected you to say." Xu Changāan was stunned, thinking the teacher he knew was the most rule-abiding person, unexpectedly doing this for Yun Qian.
"For you to be able to say that sentence, Iāll count it as you taking my words to heart." Li Zhibai smiled at Xu Changāan no longer abiding by the decorum and picked up a piece of the Spirit Fruit, examining it closely.
"Is this the fruit thatās been on the mind of the girls on the mountain day and night?" Li Zhibai initially wanted to say the āgirls on the mountain,ā but remembering the Sect Leader asking her to get some fruit, she referred to them as āyoung ladies.ā
"Is this the Ice Crystal Fruit? Yes, I remember it has effects of relieving heat, calming the liver, and clearing the gallbladder, can purge the excess fire in the six channels, and is beneficial for the heart and eyes," Li Zhibai recalled as she gazed at the alluring fruit cut into pieces, adorned with a glaze: "Its most distinctive feature is that it can store a certain amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in its growth period, channeling Spiritual Power into the body and assisting in cultivation."
"Sir, you remember it quite well." Xu Changāan immediately said.
"Is that a compliment?" Li Zhibai glanced at Xu Changāan.
As a Pill Master, if she couldnāt remember the properties of such fruits, then whatās the point of alchemy?
This feeling... itās like complimenting Wen Li on her excellent swordsmanship.
"Iām merely a student who knows only how to eat and cultivate them; I honestly donāt know their effects." Xu Changāan replied honestly.
"If you wish, you could learn the Alchemy Dao from me in the future." Li Zhibai casually remarked, her attention still on the fruit before her; she said in surprise, "Ordinary Ice Crystal Fruits donāt have such rich Spiritual Qi."
Clear as glazed glass, with a hint of ice crystal hue, and a fruit fragrance pervading.
So transparent, itās like a piece of art.
Li Zhibai casually grasped at the space, a bit of silver light flashed, and numerous dazzling, jewel-like light dots appeared in the air.