Chapter 644 - 0373 The Preciousness of Trust (Two-in-One)

"What kind of expression is that?"

Zhu Pingniang blinked, excitedly saying, "Did he give you trouble? Ah, did he bully you!"

"?"

Xu Chang’an couldn’t quite understand what Zhu Pingniang was excited about... and looked at her with a strange gaze.

"Speak up." Zhu Pingniang reluctantly put the last candied fruit in her mouth, "I’m waiting to hear it, my dear."

The moment something like this happened, she felt her appetite swell, eager to taste anything.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Perhaps describing a woman as having "eyes glowing green" was an excessive thing, but at the moment Xu Chang’an indeed felt a bit of the oppression as if being watched by a fierce person in the night forest.

What was she excited about?

Forget it.

Because she was a household elder, after feeling odd about it, Xu Chang’an disclosed everything to Zhu Pingniang without any hesitation.

——

Actually, there wasn’t much to say. It was merely when he went to the Hundred Herbs Garden to deliver the elixir for Li Zhibai, members of the Profound Sword Bureau invited him to meet Sikong Jing.

In the end, he was stopped halfway by senior sisters with pear blossom emblems embroidered on their chests, and those members were also driven away by the senior sisters.

Xu Chang’an found this strange at the time, revealing things he couldn’t comprehend at every turn.

This was just the first time.

The second time when he was going downhill, he learned that Sikong Jing, who wanted to come to see him before his departure, was waiting with Miss Yun at the pavilion halfway up the mountain... yet didn’t show up for a long time.

So, this time it counted as Sikong not keeping his appointment.

But Xu Chang’an wasn’t foolish, he vaguely felt that Sikong couldn’t come to the appointment most likely because of those senior sisters.

This confusion was buried in his heart, and after meeting a trusted elder, he disclosed everything to Zhu Pingniang, hoping she could provide some clarity.

——

Xu Chang’an knew he currently had no connection with the Profound Sword Bureau, but he couldn’t help feeling concerned about possibly getting unintentionally wrapped up in something due to his unique identity as the only male of Muyu Peak.

"Ms. Zhu." After Xu Chang’an simply finished narrating, he asked confusedly, "Why does Senior Sikong keep looking for me... is there something? And why do the senior sisters want to stop it?"

"I see." After hearing his words, Zhu Pingniang slowly sank into contemplation, a serious look on her face.

That tangible dread in her eyes made Xu Chang’an’s facial expression slowly change, a rare anxiety.

He hadn’t seen this Senior Zhu so serious before.

Could it be... he really got caught in a difficult to resolve storm?

"..."

While Xu Chang’an was anxiously watching Zhu Pingniang, waiting for her to explain, she finally figured things out and asked with a very serious tone: "Did you just say... Ah Bai was making elixirs for the Hundred Herbs Garden?"

"Mm." Xu Chang’an nodded.

"So you delivering the elixirs... means Ah Bai usually doesn’t use the teleportation array but runs to the Hundred Herbs Garden personally?" Zhu Pingniang’s expression darkened.

"It should be... should be, yes." Xu Chang’an frowned.

Is this related to the Profound Sword Bureau?

Probably.

He did meet people from the Profound Sword Bureau at the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Xu Chang’an quieted his heart and patiently waited for Zhu Pingniang’s explanation, only to hear her talking to herself.

"Strange, Ah Bai’s token holds the highest authority on Muyu Peak; whatever spirit stones she needs, she can just take directly from the grand hall. Why does she need to make elixirs..." Zhu Pingniang furrowed her brow, then with some thought: "Ah, it’s definitely because of the Sect Leader."

To be exact, Li Zhibai admired Shi Qingjun, so she would do whatever she could for the benefit of Chaoyun Sect.

The fact that she personally goes to the Hundred Herbs Garden is likely not just to deliver elixirs but to enhance the quality of the spirit grass there with the aura of her personally refined elixirs on a regular basis.

This is what Li Zhibai is doing.

Li Zhibai has this kind of capability; wherever she is, everything thrives.

"I now understand why she goes herself." Zhu Pingniang said firmly, looking at Xu Chang’an seriously:

"Chang’an, when you delivered the elixirs for Ah Bai, did you see, who usually is in contact with Ah Bai in the Hundred Herbs Garden? Was it a man? A woman? How old? What position? Surely it wasn’t the garden master himself."

"...?"

A question mark popped above Xu Chang’an’s head.

"Quickly tell me." Zhu Pingniang was getting anxious.

"..." Xu Chang’an carefully recalled, then said, "It shouldn’t be the garden master, but a senior sister from the Hundred Herbs Garden, with the badge of Inner Sect Steward on her shoulder."

From the way that senior sister addressed her, calling "Ms. Li" one time after another, she likely didn’t know Li Zhibai’s true identity.

"Oh, Inner Sect Steward... a junior, that makes me feel relieved." Listening to Xu Chang’an’s explanation, the cold frost on Zhu Pingniang’s face melted away like encountering a spring breeze, she patted Xu Chang’an’s shoulder:

"It’s nothing, I thought it was one of those old folks, aware of Ah Bai’s identity and trying to lure her in the Hundred Herbs Garden... as long as it isn’t, that’s okay, that’s okay."

Zhu Pingniang let out a breath of relief, then tilted her head: "Oh right, Chang’an, what were you going to ask me just now?"

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Hiss.

Looking at Zhu Pingniang’s innocent eyes, Xu Chang’an silently lowered his head, slightly clutching his knuckles.

Numb.

He was numb.

So, it turns out, this elder had stopped listening after hearing about the teacher going to the Hundred Herbs Garden...