So she was worried that the teacher went to Hundred Herbs Garden to meet a "lover," thatâs why sheâs feeling jealous here.
Helpless.
But when it comes to oneâs own elders, even if they are somewhat muddleheaded, besides feeling helpless, thereâs nothing he can do but embrace and endure it.
"As long as youâre at ease." Xu Changâan sighed.
"I was just worried for Ah Bai, donât be mad." Zhu Pingniang laughed, then leaned closer to Xu Changâan: "And? This time when you went to Hundred Herbs Garden, they didnât give you a hard time, did they?"
After all, there was once a dispute between Muyu Peak and Hundred Herbs Garden over Xu Changâanâs belonging. In the end, Hundred Herbs Garden temporarily backed off, as Xu Changâan was brought to the mountain by Zhu Pingniang.
"A hard time?" Xu Changâan shook his head, thinking how the seniors there treated him very well, surprising even himself.
"Really not." Zhu Pingniangâs voice lowered, leading on: "Changâan, let me tell you... the people at Hundred Herbs Garden arenât good people, thereâs no harm in staying away from them."
Hearing this, Xu Changâan didnât respond, just quietly faced Zhu Pingniang as she bad-mouthed others.
"..."
Zhu Pingniang felt guilty and turned her head, muttering: "Maybe... maybe Iâm not lying to you."
Actually, she was lying.
She just didnât want Xu Changâan to be taken in by Hundred Herbs Garden. She never wanted it before, and knowing his secrets now, she wants it even less.
But typically straightforward, Zhu Pingniang already used the trick of badmouthing people behind their backs, something she learned from Miss Lu.
Xu Changâan was unaware that because of his special talent, Hundred Herbs Garden had its eye on him again, or that they never really let him go.
But Zhu Pingniang was aware.
She clearly remembered the garden owner at Hundred Herbs Garden once said Xu Changâan exuded a soothing aura, a natural aura, a favorite of the Heavenly Dao.
So, theyâd always wanted to snatch Xu Changâan away.
After Xu Changâan awakened his Water Attribute talent, the people at Hundred Herbs Garden watched him day and night, secretly clashing with Muyu Peak unknown times.
So, in the eyes of Hundred Herbs Garden, the young man was like a "princess" captured by the villainous Muyu Peak, and they were trying to rescue him from a group of fox spirits.
Zhu Pingniangâs gaze was unsteady.
She knew her people at Muyu Peak were indeed a bunch of fox spirits, which was why she was worried.
If Hundred Herbs Garden truly disliked and didnât favor him, that would be fine; they could protect against dislike.
But if they came to snatch him away... how could they protect him?
The only way was to deal with Xu Changâan himself.
"Changâan..." Zhu Pingniangâs beautiful eyes shimmered:"The people at Hundred Herbs Garden have ulterior motives towards you, you must listen to your sister and be cautious with them. Your sister... Your sister isnât just lying to you."
Looking at Zhu Pingniangâs feigned weak appearance made Xu Changâan uncomfortable, but after feeling helpless, he still said:
"I understand."
"Eh?"
Zhu Pingniang was stunned.
"You understand? Understand what?"
"Stay a little further from Hundred Herbs Garden," Xu Changâan said. "Iâll remember it."
"..." Zhu Pingniang looked at him blankly, not expecting it to be this straightforward.
Couldnât he see that she was lying to him?
In truth, the people at Hundred Herbs Garden had no ulterior motives; they just didnât want to see Xu Changâanâs talent buried.
Actually, it was the women at Muyu Peak who really had ulterior motives.
But Xu Changâan still agreed.
"Why?" Zhu Pingniang didnât understand.
"Thereâs no particular reason." Xu Changâan glanced at Zhu Pingniang, "Itâs only right for Changâan to follow your instructions."
What reason could there be?
Xu Changâan was simply stating the obvious.
The boyâs calm words, carrying a bit of emotion in his gaze, pierced through Zhu Pingniangâs defenses and left a deep impression in her Sea of Consciousness.
Ms. Zhu looked at Xu Changâan for a while, not withdrawing her gaze, a subtle smile emerging within her deep eyes.
"Yes, you should listen to your sister."
So, when he said he would listen to her... it wasnât an empty promise.
Suddenly, she recalled the time she held a dagger to Xu Changâanâs throat; at that moment... the boyâs gaze held only confusion, no other emotions.
This was trust.
Just like the trust he had for Ah Bai.
And the same for herself.
Ms. Zhuâs eyes flickered with ripples.
âOh no.â
She really liked this student, Ah Bai.
ââ
Yet, Xu Changâan averted Zhu Pingniangâs gaze, looking out the window.
At this moment, he respected Zhu Pingniang even more.
Because Zhu Pingniang did not treat him as someone of lower status, but looked at him as an equal... only with such a view would she worry about his choices.
Parents would command their children to do things; what reason is needed?
As a newly initiated, low-cultivation person, the fact she was giving him such a look left Xu Changâan with a sense of respect beyond his comprehension, nothing else.
The other party respected him, so he respected Ms. Zhu.
Yes.
Feeling Zhu Pingniangâs intense gaze on him, Xu Changâan couldnât help but lower his brow with a sigh.
Despite the fact that Senior Zhu was a reliable person, if only she werenât so scatter-brained... a little more serious would be reassuring.
In terms of being an elder, the teacher undoubtedly had more experience than Senior Zhu.
"Ms. Zhu."
"Hmm?"
"Re-focus." Xu Changâan looked at Zhu Pingniangâs unfocused eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"Oh."
Zhu Pingniang nodded.
She thought to herself that, even in the Flower Moon Building, there werenât many girls who could trust her so unreservedly.
Changâan was indeed a peculiar person.
Zhu Pingniang knew that now, no matter what, she couldnât view the young man before her as any sort of immortal reincarnation; now he was just her junior.
Thatâs why Ah Bai trusted him.
"I lost." Zhu Pingniang lowered her eyes.
Xu Changâan: "...?"
Zhu Pingniang didnât explain, only thinking that Xu Changâan would respect Li Zhibai above her, the one who introduced him to the Immortal Sect, for a reason.
[Purple Saint, Peaceful World.]
Because Li Zhibai was the first to give him unconditional trust.
"Truly my Ah Bai, but... Iâm not that far behind, even if Iâm a bit slow in reacting, so what."
Xu Changâan still respected her all the same.
Zhu Pingniang reached for the sweet bag on the table, only to realize she had run out of the snacks she extorted from Xu Changâan, and she wiped the sugar powder off her hand in disappointment.
She hesitated.
Wanting to ask for another bag of sweets, but considering herself a trusted elder, felt she couldnât quite bring herself to ask a junior for treats.
A bit of sweet fragrance lingered.
"..."
Zhu Pingniang watched as Xu Changâan took out a bulging sweet bag from his Storage Ring and placed it in front of her, her eyes twitched.
Ah.
She was being fed.
To take it or not?
Of course, to take it.
Zhu Pingniang quietly pulled the sweet bag in front of herself, stating, "Storage pouches are really convenient... did DongfangâEr lend it to you... By the way, do you always bring so many treats for Ms. Yun when you go out?"
"I make more, so I bring some along." Xu Changâan said casually.
"Oh, thatâs quite nice... When you have time, teach LuâEr how you make these sweets." Zhu Pingniang said.
She really liked the taste.
But it wasnât good to always ask Xu Changâan for them, so itâd be great if her maid could learn it.
"... All according to your wishes." Xu Changâan helplessly rubbed his brow.
"Whatâs wrong?" Zhu Pingniang bit the plum in her hand, tilting her head.
"Senior Sikong." Xu Changâan reminded her.
Donât just focus on eating.
"....."
It was then Zhu Pingniang remembered she still had something to say.
"Sikong Jing?"
She waved her hand:
"You can bet whatever heâs looking for you isnât serious; it might be because of Wen Li."
"Senior Wen?" Xu Changâan was puzzled: "What about Senior Sister?"
"Didnât I tell you?"
Zhu Pingniang blinked: "Someone from the Profound Sword Bureau proposed to your Senior Wen for marriage."