Chapter 941 - 521: Master of Calculation and Keen Observation (Double-Length)

In Zhu Pingniang’s eyes, even before considering Xu Chang’an as the only student acknowledged by Li Zhibai, even if he had no relation to Li Zhibai, he was still the first young man she didn’t dislike, and was even willing to get close to and actively support.

Due to special reasons, leaving aside men, Zhu Pingniang wouldn’t even glance at a male spirit pet.

Chang’an could contentedly watch her doing ridiculous things. Self-proclaimed as an elder sister, Zhu Pingniang would not stand by when Xu Chang’an faced difficulties or unease.

However... as a woman of the Hehuan Sect, every contribution requires a reason. This reason doesn’t need to be convincing to others, as long as it can convince Zhu Pingniang herself.

She took care of the girls at the Flower Moon Building, telling herself that her time there was refining her heart, and every girl was indispensable.

As for helping Xu Chang’an... Zhu Pingniang was too lazy to reason it out, so she told herself that she wished to gain some benefit from Chang’an’s Beauty Fruit; that she was greedy and had to offer something to balance their relationship.

Realizing this, Li Zhibai’s eye twitched slightly.

How did her Tong Jun become such a slippery person?

"So, you actually can guess what’s inside that Beauty Fruit." Li Zhibai stared at her.

"I guess so." Zhu Pingniang nodded openly this time: "It’s nothing but Yun Qian, but after all... it might not be."

"Leaving that aside, you guessed it and still want to taste it?"

"I am a bad woman, after all."

Li Zhibai: "..."

A few cool raindrops fell into the wine glass, and Li Zhibai fell silent.

Tong Jun was truly honest. She clearly knew the emotions contained within the fruit, but didn’t believe in the supernatural, insisting on tasting it.

"Ah Bai, don’t look at me like that." Zhu Pingniang gave a soft snort: "Although I am playing the role of an elder sister, in the end... I have done many things for Chang’an."

Guiding Xu Chang’an, sending him to the Immortal Sect, arranging for him to be at the least xenophobic Three Officials Rock, secretly ensuring many people care for him, and even giving him an opportunity at the Sword Hall.

And regarding Yun Qian.

Never mind all she had done openly and covertly, how well she treated Xu Chang’an, just turn it around and see...

What has Xu Chang’an done for Miss Zhu?

Although Zhu Pingniang doesn’t need Xu Chang’an’s help, the fact is that she has been the one who gave more.

"Sometimes, if you give too much, it becomes cheap." Zhu Pingniang said seriously.

She doesn’t want to become a cheap woman in Xu Chang’an’s eyes, nor does she want her contributions to become taken for granted, especially since her status cannot be compared with Li Zhibai’s.

Therefore, in many small matters now, Zhu Pingniang has already started to avoid helping her as much as possible... Yet, when it comes to important matters, she won’t just watch from the sidelines.

And as for distinguishing what counts as important, Zhu Pingniang has her own set of logic.

Is Yun Qian’s matter important?

Zhu Pingniang can probably feel it’s because Xu Chang’an is uneasy about Yun Qian’s talents being exposed, thinking about Yun Qian’s potential in terms of talent.

Xu Chang’an would naturally be nervous, even uneasy.

However, this matter, while possibly important to Xu Chang’an, is actually negligible to Zhu Pingniang... The issue is the weight this holds in Xu Chang’an’s heart and the weight of Yun Qian.

If, even while planting, Xu Chang’an was thinking of Yun Qian, Zhu Tongjun would acknowledge the couple’s feelings and the importance of this matter, and would help him—yes, this is the reason, it’s absolutely not because she wants to openly involve herself in Xu Chang’an’s thoughts.

Anyway, as long as she can convince herself, if the fruit doesn’t involve Yun Qian, she is also happy to rest.

"After all, the treasures in my Storage Ring are not so abundant... Sneaking a peek into his thoughts counts as my remuneration; it can’t be said I’d help him for free." Zhu Pingniang browsed the Storage Ring for a moment and then frowned.

Indeed... there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly suitable for enhancing Yun Qian’s abilities.

Li Zhibai casually glanced and glimpsed a few items in Zhu Pingniang’s Storage Ring, personal items she used long ago in the Daoist Temple.

This girl... In her Storage Ring, instead of storing Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, has filled it with assorted oddities?

She sighed helplessly and then asked, "Tong Jun, do you know what Chang’an is worried about?"

"Isn’t it just about Yun Qian’s talent?" Zhu Pingniang waved her hand: "Chang’an didn’t have good talent initially, and he knows well how torturous it was to take over a year to open the source, so he worries Yun Qian might be the same. Isn’t that clear?"

Upon saying this, Zhu Pingniang spread her hands.

"Ah Bai, the things I have to enhance inspiration and constitution have all been given to the girls at the Flower Moon Building, the remaining ones are either too violent or... are things you gave me which I can’t bear to let Chang’an ruin." Zhu Pingniang blinked her big eyes: "Do you see, do you have any suitable items on you?"

Li Zhibai: "..."

"Don’t play dumb. Others may not know, but I do... Ah Bai, like Wen Li’s other half, has a portable space, carrying good things everywhere." Zhu Pingniang reminded her.

Li Zhibai frowned and said, "Is Yun Meimei’s talent pre-Open Source really that important?"