"...serves you right." The maid gently walked over and scooped up HuangâEr in a princess carry, frowning, "Youâre all sweaty, go wash up properly later."
"It hurts from the whipping earlier." HuangâEr took the opportunity to wrap her arms around the maidâs neck, resting on her shoulder, then... whispered, "Sister, youâre really good at being a maid, right?"
"...?" The maid carried HuangâEr out the door, puzzled, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
If she wasnât good at being a maid, then who was?
"As for the rules of being a maid, Ms. Qing doesnât understand... Sister, you come from a wealthy family, if you have some time, could you teach her some manners?"
"..."
The maid wasnât jealous of Ah Qing at first.
However, at that moment, looking at this girl leaning on her but having her mind full of Ah Qing, she suddenly felt a pang of jealousy in her heart.
She now wanted to throw this girl straight into the river.
"Why does Ah Qing need to learn the ways of a maid?" The maid was very curious, Ah Qing was once a lady of the Demon Sect... even if she had turned over a new leaf, there was no reason for her to serve as a maid, right?
"Who knows what sheâs thinking, such a lack of ambition." HuangâEr pouted, "Anyway, if sister has time... just teach her."
"Got it." The maid nodded and headed towards the banquet hall.
ââ
On the banquet hallâs high platform.
The discussion between Yun Qian, Miss Lu, and Wen Li about âappearanceâ was also nearing its end.
"So... a personâs future appearance is determined from birth." Miss Lu sighed, no wonder Ms. Zhu has a poor figure, her soul is originally like that.
After listening to Wen Liâs explanation about appearance, Miss Lu shook her head, "I... donât really like this feeling of destiny."
Itâs like...
Itâs like the girls of Flower Moon Building are destined to end up in a brothel, born to experience suffering, how can she like that?
But thinking about this, Miss Lu suddenly paused, "If appearance is predetermined, then... how come the young master has changed so much?"
"The change in Junior Brother?" Wen Li pondered for a moment.
"In the past, Young Master Xu..." Miss Lu glanced at Yun Qian before continuing, "Previously, the young master was handsome, but far less so than now."
Previously, Xu Changâan was but a gentle young man, decent and unremarkable.
But later... he became someone whose appearance is almost blinding.
"Oh, the junior sisters also said after his transformation, it was as if he became a different person." Wen Li nodded, thinking that Xu Changâanâs change further proved the existence of the âHeavenly Daoâ and âdestiny.â
Transformation.
What is transformation?
It is the pursuit of the door to oneâs essence. After reaching this realm, Xu Changâan underwent a metamorphosis, which is actually easy to understand.
"The appearance of Junior Brother now is his transformed, intrinsic appearance after cultivation." Wen Li gently explained to this future junior sister.
The past appearance of Xu Changâan can be said to be affected by the hardships he faced in his childhood, living by the sea, with sun and wind altering his postnatal appearance.
Simply speaking, he was supposed to be handsome, but because of hardships, his looks declined.
However, once transformed, he returned to the best appearance arranged by his soul and the Heavenly Dao.
Miss Luâs understanding was partial after hearing this.
"Does that mean if I cultivate, I can also become more beautiful?" Miss Luâs eyes brightened, then she shook her head, "No, if the soul is beautiful, one can become prettier... but if the soul isnât, wonât one become uglier?"
She twitched her mouth.
She was quite satisfied with her current figure and appearance.
"Postnatal changes are very important, not everyone can verify their soulâs form when transforming like Junior Brother." Wen Li shook her head.
If everyone could synchronize soul and body upon transformation, the Human Race wouldnât need barriers for protection, they wouldâve conquered ages ago.
Xu Changâan is a special case, his Sea of Consciousness is filled with secrets, and being able to embody his soulâs look postnatal is Heavenâs Favor.
"I roughly understand, thank you, Fairy Wen, for clarifying." Miss Lu stood up and gave Wen Li a maidâs salute.
Wen Li wanted to avoid this gesture.
After all, in her eyes, Miss Lu was in the position of a junior sister, and she was Senior Zhuâs daughter... their relationship was more intimate like siblings.
But she accepted the salute anyway.
Miss Lu sighed, "I always feel that when even trivial things like appearance are dictated by the Heavenly Daoâs destiny... it makes one lose motivation."
Efforts and no efforts leading to the same end, why exert effort?
"Miss Yun, what do you think?" she asked Yun Qian, pulling her into the conversation.
"Me?" Yun Qian thought for a moment, then softly said, "Daoists often say âa sip or a peck, all predetermined,â the Buddhist Sect uses it to illustrate causality and karma... perhaps oneâs destiny is indeed predetermined by Heaven."
"...?"
"..."
Listening to Yun Qianâs leisurely words, Wen Li and Miss Lu fell into silence simultaneously.
This didnât sound like something Yun Qian would say.
So they quickly realized, who would say such a disinterested thing when alone with Yun Qian?
"The young master said that to you, right?" Miss Lu asked.
"Yes." Yun Qian nodded.
Indeed.
Miss Lu smiled.
The fact that Miss Yun would remember every word from the young master is very endearing, which she also liked.
After a good meal.
If Wen Li wasnât around, she wouldâve directly called out âMadam Yun, Madam Yunâ to please Yun Qian, but for now, she could only address her as Miss.
"A sip or a peck? What does it mean, Fairy... do you understand?" Miss Lu asked.
"Yes." Wen Li nodded, "It means Daoists believe that even the amount of grains of rice a person eats in their lifetime is predetermined."
Even though she had eaten a lot of Xu Changâanâs meals, it was all arranged by Heaven.
"Even Daoists think so... is there really something called destiny?" Miss Lu sighed.
Yun Qian continued, "Breaking down destiny... âdestinyâ refers to the innate nature given at birth, âluckâ refers to the ups and downs at different phases in life. Thus, destiny is lifelong, luck is momentary."
"Miss Yun." Miss Luâs eyes faintly twitched, looking at this knowledge seeker.
"Hmm?" Yun Qian looked at her.
"Nothing much, you mimicking the young masterâs tone is really cute."
"...Hmm."
Being called cute didnât make Yun Qian happy, but saying she resembles Xu Changâan made her very happy.
Therefore, Miss Lu really knew how to please her.
Unlike Miss Lu who indulged in beauty, Wen Liâs brow slightly knitted, looking thoughtful.
Destiny is lifelong, luck is momentary...
She had never seen a similar explanation in books.
The insights of Junior Brother always opened her eyes.
"Junior Sister Yun, regarding destiny, did Junior Brother Xu have any other insights that you remember?" Wen Li inquired.
"Yes." Yun Qian nodded lightly, "However, he said he didnât fully understand himself, just remembered it."
"Letâs hear it."
"Destiny is the manifestation of the uniqueness and irreversibility of time." Yun Qian earnestly mimicked Xu Changâanâs tone, which seemed amusing.
However, what Yun Qian said baffled everyone.
"The âtimeâ in âtime and fate,â refers to luck. The movement of oneâs birth characters in the river of time is defined as luck, so the power of destiny floats secretly in this time river, with destiny being merely a part of this river."
"...What is this?" Miss Lu was perplexed; she understood every word, but together none made sense.
"I donât understand it either." Yun Qian nodded along with Miss Lu, "Sometimes, he just says things I canât comprehend."
Yun Qian genuinely didnât understand.
What even is the river of time? Itâs not as lovely as the stream she reads beside on idle days, let alone capable of dictating Yun Qianâs destiny.
Wen Li, however, was deep in thought and after a while exhaled a clear breath.
Indeed.
"Junior Brother is right." Wen Li murmured, "No wonder destiny can be altered so easily."
"Yes, he is right." Yun Qian nodded along.
"???"
Three question marks appeared over Miss Luâs head.
What did the young master say, which made it right?