Chapter 1166 - 639: Mother and Daughter of One Heart

Xu Chang’an has a gentle and calm nature, never competitive, nor does he seek praise... yet even he occasionally wishes for the praise of those close to him.

"Sir, am I just average in talent?"

"Quite average."

"...Oh."

So, after carefully asking this question and receiving this answer, even Xu Chang’an’s eyes revealed an emotion that couldn’t tell if it was grievance or disappointment.

"Chang’an."

"Hmm?"

"Has anyone ever told you that sometimes you’re really a bit like a daughter?" Li Zhibai smiled, actually thinking Chang’an even more resembles a woman than before.

After all, his affection and culinary skills, whenever in a daughter’s body, the appearance need not be stunning, just somewhat delicate, would be the most charming.

The simplest... if Yun Qian and a female Xu Chang’an appeared together in front of Zhu Pingniang, Zhu Pingniang would definitely not choose Yun Qian as the ’successor.’

No one knows better than they the charm of Wenliang that belongs to Chang’an.

"Sir, you’ve said this kind of thing not just once, but to say Chang’an is overly feminine?" Xu Chang’an sighed, he rarely wanted his teacher’s praise, not to the point of being called a woman, right?

Li Zhibai earnestly said, "Feminine is an overstatement, just if there is reincarnation in this world, you surely would have been a woman in one lifetime."

"I don’t mind being a woman, but, if I were a woman, what about the lady..." Xu Chang’an twitched his mouth, surely not suggesting he as a woman and Miss Yun a man, what would that look like?

Like Senior Wen back when she had short hair, so dashing?

If so, Xu Chang’an thinks it’s quite nice.

"There’s no rule that it must be harmonious with yin and yang, you’re a girl, Ms. Yun is a girl, isn’t that okay?" Li Zhibai chuckled.

"From husband and wife to sisters..." Xu Chang’an responded to Li Zhibai’s bit of absurd family talk with helplessness and then said, "Sir, according to you, this relationship has indeed been downgraded harshly."

"What do you mean." Li Zhibai looked somewhat displeased at Xu Chang’an, "Who says sisters can’t compare to spouses?"

According to Xu Chang’an, doesn’t that admit Zhu Pingniang’s coveting of her was correct?

After all, what Zhu Pingniang wanted was to turn from sisters to ’spouses.’"

"Not saying sisters can’t compare to spouses, just personal pursuits are different, compared to siblings, sisters, Jin Lan..." Xu Chang’an pointed at his own face, "Chang’an is a mundane person, so... it’s the spouse relationship that satisfies and comforts Chang’an."

"Are you implying that Tong Jun is a mundane person?" Li Zhibai glanced at Xu Chang’an, with a bit of discontent in her tone, though she was more displeased with Xu Chang’an labeling himself as mundane.

"Sir, is a courtesan mundane?" Xu Chang’an retorted.

"...Alright then."

Li Zhibai was speechless.

Mundane.

Zhu Tongjun, just as Chang’an said, being a courtesan, is indeed mundane to the extreme.

"So, since Ms. Zhu is mundane, she, like the student, prefers a ’spousal’ relationship, also leaving the teacher nothing to say about her." Xu Chang’an smiled.

Now, it was his turn to laugh.

Seeing Xu Chang’an laughing happily, Li Zhibai only felt her temples throb slightly.

This child... truly becoming more and more irreverent, now using Tong Jun’s issue to joke at her expense.

Yet, she really had no way to deal with Zhu Pingniang, as if she were a stubborn clingy candy.

"Chang’an, I only said you were not talented, are you angry?" Li Zhibai folded her arms, staring at Xu Chang’an and the blankness of the sky behind him glowing white.

"I wouldn’t dare." Xu Chang’an shook his head, then said, "Sir... is Chang’an’s talent really that poor?"

"It was before." Li Zhibai looked at Xu Chang’an, "Not now... Before and after, the disparity is as vast as the distance between Qinling and Tong Jun."

"That’s quite the gap." Xu Chang’an thought how Zhu Pingniang’s lack of ambition might never bridge the gap with Junior Master Qin in a lifetime, he sighed helplessly, "After opening up... can the transformation really be so great?"

"What’s there to sigh about, it’s a good thing." Li Zhibai picked up the note Xu Chang’an wrote, observing the restrained stroke of the pen, softly said, "Words are like their person, now it seems, considering your nature, without outward sharpness, perhaps the Sword Dao of thousands of blades is not suitable for you."

"So, sir you mean... if I have no obsession with the Sword Dao, then... let me choose another path?" Xu Chang’an understood.

"Yes." Li Zhibai nodded, setting down the note, "Actually, you’re not unfit for sword training, if you truly wish to pursue the Sword Dao, adopting ’Hidden Sword’ would also fit."

Hearing the laughter in Li Zhibai’s tone, Xu Chang’an covered his face, "Sir, if later... the student follows your and Ms. Zhu’s ideas, this sword... may not be so easily hidden."

With Li Zhibai planning to openly take him as a disciple, Xu Chang’an was already prepared to be thrust into the limelight.

"So, indeed, the Sword Dao does not suit you." Li Zhibai shared a smile with Xu Chang’an, "Chang’an, do you truly have no obsession with the Sword Dao?"

"None."

"If none, why didn’t you follow the Hundred Herbs Garden practitioners for cultivation at that time? There is merit in the Alchemy Dao." Li Zhibai thought if Xu Chang’an had followed the Hundred Herbs Garden, then as a Hidden Immortal and Pill Master, she could seamlessly connect without detriment, directly teaching Xu Chang’an alchemy.

Hearing this, Xu Chang’an could only feel more helpless.

"Sir, you wouldn’t... really want to see the student go farming..."

His choice to abandon the Hundred Herbs Garden had nothing to do with the Sword Dao, at that time even if he were to place it against music or the arts, he would choose the latter... after all, he needed more direct strength to protect Miss Yun compared to farming and logistics, and this was unshakeable.

"What’s wrong with farming, didn’t you really enjoy it?" Li Zhibai said, her tone paused.

She remembered the Beauty Fruit she had eaten before and the warmth within, understanding a bit why even the usually peaceful people of the Hundred Herbs Garden would risk a stiff relationship with Muyu Peak to have Xu Chang’an.

"Liking is one thing." Xu Chang’an spread his hands, "Students now learn swords, farming... is still farming."

"Chang’an."

"Hmm."

"Your statement, doesn’t it contain a tiny bit of complaining about Tong Jun giving you Beauty Fruit seeds to plant, delaying your cultivation?"

"Hard to say, sir... better not tell Miss Zhu about this, or she’ll certainly cause a fuss."

"...You."