Chapter 897 - 498: Memories of the Past (Double Length)

Zhu Pingniang admired Xu Chang’an, and she had liked him greatly even before he appeared as handsome as he is now, and before he demonstrated the unique qualities that set him apart.

Moreover, Zhu Pingniang knew that Li Zhibai also liked him very much.

Clearly, for Ah Bai, Chang’an had a very special significance, which didn’t even require any evidence, just the fact that Xu Chang’an could freely come and go from the Sword Hall showed Li Zhibai’s high regard for him.

This is why Zhu Pingniang didn’t understand.

Ah Bai is someone who values rules the most, isn’t she?

Yes, that’s correct.

Not only does she care about rules, she also cares about Xu Chang’an’s opinion of her. From the way Li Zhibai rigorously resisted being fed, it’s obvious she places great importance on maintaining a stable image in front of students.

After all, being a teacher, leading by example is the most important quality—not just one among many.

This is why Zhu Pingniang didn’t understand.

During the time she went to prepare wine, what kind of things did Ah Bai encounter that made her ignore her ’face’ in such a short period, and decide to join the Flower Moon Building?

What about her reputation?

What about her image in Chang’an’s eyes?

What about her so-called leading by example?

Did she just abandon it all?

"You want to stay here with me, no, you plan to join—does Chang’an know about this? Or rather... how do you plan to tell him?" Zhu Pingniang asked softly.

Zhu Pingniang thought that if she said that, she might get a rare startled look from Xu Chang’an, which she could record into a Spirit Stone and cherish for a while.

Xu Chang’an cares much about Li Zhibai, as a student he often goes to find Li Zhibai to "pay respects," well, actually, it’s because his current stage with Yun Qian still involves a lot of matters needing elder’s help, and Li Zhibai, having been owed many favors, allows Xu Chang’an to ’use’ her with peace of mind.

But once Zhu Pingniang knows, the atmosphere will become quite strange.

Your mentor wants to join the Flower Moon Building, why not stop by more often?

Coming to the brothel often to see Li Zhibai...

There’s always a peculiar feeling.

Is it visiting?

Or coming to listen to music?

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Pingniang tilted her head.

Actually, she was using Xu Chang’an as a topic to make one last attempt to dissuade Li Zhibai from this outrageous idea... Thinking carefully, if there’s still someone who could dissuade Li Zhibai and make her retract this absurd thought, it could only be Xu Chang’an.

Thus, she waited for Li Zhibai’s response.

Yet unexpectedly, Li Zhibai didn’t respond at all, instead... she squinted her eyes, pondering something unknown.

"Ah Bai, are you listening to me?" Zhu Pingniang asked.

"What did you just say?"

Lost in thought, openly, as if it were only natural.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Zhu Pingniang asked, her eyes twitching.

"I’m thinking... with you as a cover, how can I quickly close the distance with Tong Jun’s daughters." Li Zhibai slightly furrowed her brows.

She really isn’t a girl who interacts with people, hence she finds it somewhat challenging.

And Li Zhibai now indeed feels a bit impatient about wanting to contact Tong Jun’s daughters, the reason being none other than... she genuinely wants to ask those girls close to the Sect Leader.

Ask, what do they talk about?

What impression do they have of the Sect Leader?

What sorts of things have occurred between them...

Numerous thoughts linger in her mind, making Li Zhibai somewhat dazed, even putting aside her most cared-for Chang’an temporarily... No choice, that’s the Lord of Qing Province, a God whom a dropped ribbon can incite a frenzy among people.

Li Zhibai believes if these matters spread, people might think... the Sect Leader is playing a small game of emotional gambling among daughters, perhaps containing ’Supreme Principle of Heaven and Earth, Impermanence Dao’ within its rules, beyond everyone’s comprehension.

This isn’t absurd, but is highly likely to happen.

Zhu Pingniang: "..."

Listening to Li Zhibai’s words, Zhu Pingniang remained silent for quite a while.

Now she just couldn’t understand.

For the sake of forming good relations with her own girls, even forgetting about Chang’an?

Has Ah Bai become this kind of woman who ’favors the new and neglects the old’?

Zhu Pingniang furrowed her brows.

The girls she raises are all likable, but... is there one among them who could sway Ah Bai?

Ah Qing?

Or perhaps...

Zhu Pingniang suddenly had a flash of insight.

She suddenly thought of a possibility, one extremely probable.

That is, among the girls in this building, might there be one who is familiar to Ah Bai, like perhaps the descendant of one of her old acquaintances?

A reasonable guess.

Like perhaps a descendant of one of Li Zhibai’s old friends, now drifted to such a point, but suddenly seen by Li Zhibai... thus similar appearances triggered her sealed memories.

Thinking like this, Zhu Pingniang felt it’s highly possible, especially since Ah Bai was recently doubting whether her treatment of old friends was wrong.

It’s always related to old acquaintances.

Thus Li Zhibai’s attitude, her dazed eyes, her attention to the girls of Flower Moon Building all perfectly linked together.

Zhu Pingniang quickly became certain this is the only answer.

Moreover, it’s quite clear, the status of the old friend Ah Bai recalled must be significant to her.

Could it be the descendant of the Observatory Master from the Daoist Temple where Li Zhibai once lived for a long time?

But does the Kun Dao Association have offspring?

Oh, it seems female Daoists can marry.

Zhu Pingniang’s fingers clutched at the hem of her garment, the bright red fabric of the dress scrunching into a bundle.