Chapter 653 - 0377 The Scenery I Encountered (Two-in-One)_2

Seeing Zhu Pingniang’s sulking expression, Xu Chang’an was dumbfounded.

That can’t be right.

Clearly, it was him who almost got used for research; what’s she upset about?

Xu Chang’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, his face a mess of confusion.

Though he was helpless, he wasn’t actually afraid... not at all.

Didn’t Zhu Pingniang say it? Extracting a soul sounds terrifying, but in reality, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Plus, with Li Zhibai supervising, Xu Chang’an didn’t feel there was anything wrong with having such thoughts for the stability of the Sect.

As for being a bad woman...

That’s even more impossible.

Even though Zhu Pingniang always has this temper, there’s not a moment that Xu Chang’an doesn’t respect her.

Anyone else in the world might be a bad woman, but this Senior...

Xu Chang’an received too much from her, saw too much.

If Senior Zhu in front of me is a bad woman, then there won’t be any good women in the world.

——

"Anyway, I’m just a bad woman."

Zhu Pingniang snorted, hugged the Sweet Bag on the table to her chest, and then said: "Go on, later go with Miss Yun straight to the painted boat from the Unfastened Boat."

She was starting to chase him away.

Xu Chang’an was forced to stand up.

This elder of his is really unreasonable.

Throwing a tantrum just like that.

But Xu Chang’an was very patient, after all, under Senior Zhu’s guidance, he was about to receive a windfall; it was hard not to be in a good mood.

"Then... Chang’an will get busy first."

"..."

After Xu Chang’an finished speaking, he saw Zhu Pingniang staring at him.

Although Zhu Pingniang didn’t say anything, from all the previous conversations, he could roughly understand what Zhu Pingniang wanted to say—

For instance... ’When a woman calls herself a bad woman, she doesn’t want you to agree’...

Something along those lines.

Sigh.

What can you do if your elder throws a tantrum?

"Ms. Zhu, it’s not like you think." Xu Chang’an said.

"Hmph... smart move." Zhu Pingniang smiled, then lazily stretched.

If Xu Chang’an had actually agreed just now, she would’ve been quite angry.

"Are you saying good things about your sister?" Zhu Pingniang looked at him.

"No."

Xu Chang’an shook his head.

This was the truth, the honest truth.

Zhu Pingniang really knew how to take care of people.

Just think about what Miss Zhu has done.

Leaving aside arranging for him and Miss Yun to go up the mountain and the various other things she’s helped with, as involvement would easily cause bias.

But even from an outsider’s perspective.

How meticulously does she care for those around her?

She handles even the tiniest things herself.

The girls in the Flower Moon Building jokingly call her "Pingniang" with their mouths, but if anyone really talks bad about Zhu Pingniang, they’re the first to be against it.

"If I’m not a bad woman, then what am I?" Zhu Pingniang tilted her head, "A girl from the brothel can’t really be a good woman."

"Taking care of people?" Xu Chang’an blinked.

"Pfft."

Zhu Pingniang thought, where do juniors talk to elders like this, with no sense of decorum... but the smile on her face showed she really appreciated it.

After all, what woman doesn’t like being praised?

Especially by someone like Xu Chang’an, who speaks the truth, it made her mood even better.

"Chang’an, you are also a part of the Immortal Sect. Sometimes when you see some of the things I do, perhaps you think they’re meaningless."

For example, she cares so much about the girls in the Flower Moon Building. She even went out of her way to set up a rundown temple for them to relieve their mental stress so they would have a place of ’redemption’.

These things, really, are thankless tasks.

Anyone would see she doesn’t need to put in so much effort.

Zhu Tongjun, wasn’t a kind woman from the start.

——

Meaningless?

"I don’t think so." Xu Chang’an said without a thought.

"Is that so."

Hearing Xu Chang’an’s unhesitant words, Zhu Pingniang’s eyebrows gleamed with a smile:

"You’re considerate, I didn’t waste my effort helping you..."

As she spoke, she slowly retracted her smile and looked into the distance.

When Gu Qiancheng’s mother left, she said something to her, and this might have been the key reason Zhu Tongjun turned into Zhu Pingniang.

[Being alone is normal, so remember to cherish everyone around you.]

Back then, Zhu Pingniang couldn’t really understand, because from a traditional logical standpoint, Gu Qiancheng’s mother, the Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect, couldn’t be considered a good woman.

But now she understood.

She simply liked taking care of these girls around her.

Zhu Pingniang watched Xu Chang’an: "In the long river of time, the scenery I encounter must be cherished, don’t you think... it’s right."

Xu Chang’an nodded.

"Go get busy." Zhu Pingniang waved her hand.

Xu Chang’an felt relieved and turned to leave.

Listening to his footsteps gradually fade, Zhu Pingniang was smiling.

"Chang’an, you are also part of the scenery for your sister."

Yet also thought, Yun Qian as scenery looked much better than Xu Chang’an.

But the world’s landscapes are not necessarily better the prettier they are, because Li Zhibai doesn’t exactly look that great.

Hmm.

She admitted it.

Her Ah Bai had a great figure, but her face might only be considered ’pretty’ with makeup... so, she was just someone with an average appearance.

But she just liked her.

Zhu Pingniang got up, wiped the sugar from her hands, opened an oil-paper umbrella, walked out of the room, and crossed the stone path in the drizzling rain, reaching the edge of the Unfastened Boat.

From this angle, she could see the girls playing in the rain, umbrellas in hand.

Zhu Pingniang tilted her head.

As if recalling something, her eyes took on a rarely seen gentle and nostalgic expression.

She just liked girls with average looks.

Just like everyone thought Gu Qiancheng’s mother was very beautiful, including Gu Qiancheng herself.

But the older generation knew.

The previous owner of the Hehuan Bell was also a girl with an average appearance.

So Gu Qiancheng chose the wrong person from the start.

She shouldn’t like Yun Qian, Ah Bai was the one suitable to be her mother.

But it’s normal for a young girl to like pretty women, and Zhu Pingniang wasn’t happy to point this out, after all... if Gu Qiancheng really pestered Ah Bai to be her mother, how would that work?

Her Ah Bai was pure and clean.

Without a man, how could she be a mother?

And for someone pure and clean to be a mother, one Gu sister is enough.

Her Ah Bai had a life to live, no need to acknowledge a daughter.

In this view, Miss Yun was more suitable to be a mother.

But...

Zhu Pingniang suddenly remembered something, blinking.

"Wait a minute."

Gu Qiancheng’s mother was the previous Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect and passed away early.

So it was Zhu Pingniang’s elder sister, whom Gu Qiancheng called ’Second Lady’ from a young age, who raised Gu Qiancheng.

Hence logically, Zhu Pingniang became Gu Qiancheng’s aunt.

But that’s not right.

"If..."

If Gu Qiancheng really liked Yun Qian and insisted on her being her mother, what would Xu Chang’an become?

Gu Qiancheng’s father?

But if that’s the case, wouldn’t the current Sect Leader of the Hehuan Sect, her elder sister, Gu Qiancheng’s Second Lady, suddenly gain a husband?

And what about herself?

Zhu Pingniang touched her cheek.

Did she become Xu Chang’an’s sister-in-law?

Zhu Pingniang blinked more rapidly, then covered her face.

Right, well, the generational relationships at Muyu Peak can’t be dug into deeply.

And her sister is the current Peak Master of Tripod Heart Peak, the current Leader of the Hehuan Sect, single.

Zhu Pingniang suddenly felt like laughing out loud.

Because if Gu Qiancheng really had the ability to find a mother, the kind who’s married, she could imagine her sister’s exasperation.

"Qiancheng, you really need to put in some effort, if only your mother was still around... I’m sure she’d like someone with Chang’an’s personality too."

Zhu Pingniang laughed happily.

Of course... she had no idea how to make that cold Miss Yun acknowledge Gu Qiancheng.

So approaching it from Xu Chang’an’s side would be simpler.

As long as Xu Chang’an liked her, there’s an eighty percent chance Yun Qian would too.

Wonder if that silly girl Qiancheng would realize it.