CHAPTER 109: 089 WITH HER BANQUET

The hot spring bubbled up from beneath her feet, with steam rising as Yun Qian soaked in the pool, her face slightly flushed.

The bathrobe was neatly folded and placed on the shore, while Xu Chang’an’s shirt was laid on the ground at the edge of the pool for Yun Qian to step on so she wouldn’t slip and hurt herself like she did on the island when getting out of the bath barrel.

"..." The sound of trickling water.

Outside, the Smoke Rain washed over the window lattices, while inside, the room was filled with mist accompanied by a hint of wine fragrance.

Yun Qian wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol; Xu Chang’an had brewed wine for her on the island but, like she didn’t like the novels he copied, there were too many things they could do together on the island. Compared to the snacks he prepared, the massages he gave her, and their shared naps in the bamboo forest, Yun Qian wasn’t interested in alcohol, which she found strong and not very tasty.

Yet as their relationship was confirmed, Yun Qian increasingly felt that alcohol was a good thing.

"..."

Her gaze landed on the cup of wine floating on the board in front of her and the neatly placed Spirit Fruits beside it.

The cup held a glistening Jade Dew Wine that swayed slightly. Yun Qian pinched the cup with two fingers, hesitated for a moment, then put it down, choosing not to drink.

There’s a saying somewhere.

Wine emboldens the timid.

Xu Chang’an isn’t timid; on the contrary, he ought to be the bravest under heaven.

However, Yun Qian feels that her husband rarely initiates, yet when he drinks, he becomes much more proactive.

This drinking must be mutual, so Xu Chang’an drinking alone isn’t enough to embolden him—she must accompany him in drinking, and only when she is mildly drunk will Xu Chang’an take the initiative.

Thus, bit by bit, Yun Qian grew to like this drink that allowed her to experience a wondrous feeling.

Speaking of which... the system following her husband is a timid thing; she wonders if it drinks alcohol, would it become bolder and bring her some fun?

"Hoo..."

After suppressing for a moment, Yun Qian in the pool struck a relaxed pose, sinking her whole body into the water.

At this time, Miss Yun, having always tied her long hair, let it loose, falling by her ears and adding a gentle touch to her.

The water surface reached Yun Qian’s collarbone—it’s most suitable for bathing.

——

Time passed, Yun Qian slowly closed her eyes, her body relaxing until she suddenly opened them, looking toward the door.

Xu Chang’an came over, glanced at his shirt on the ground, and thought, surely there are fine silks to use, but using his shirt as a foot pad is a habit for Miss Yun.

He looked at the untouched wine and Spirit Fruits floating in front of Yun Qian and helplessly asked, "Why not eat?"

"Waiting for you."

Yun Qian said succinctly, amidst the swirling mist, she beckoned him by lightly patting the warm water beside her.

Xu Chang’an was about to say something when Yun Qian frowned at him, firmly insisting, "Together."

"Miss, I’ve got soup ready in the pot." Xu Chang’an said helplessly.

It’s not that he didn’t want to be with Yun Qian, but he’s made some liquid food to fill her stomach and sober her up after drinking.

"Important?" Yun Qian asked.

"What else?" Xu Chang’an blinked.

Yun Qian raised her hand, tied her long hair behind her head, and pointed at the steaming pool she was in, asking, "Does this count as soup?"

"?" Xu Chang’an was stunned, then supported his forehead with one hand: "What are you saying."

"If you think I’m more important than the soup in the pot, then come keep me company." Yun Qian said earnestly.

Xu Chang’an felt his temples throb; he glanced towards the kitchen, then back at Miss Yun, thinking it hardly counted as a choice.

"Alright." He wrapped himself in a robe and sat beside Yun Qian.

The water level rose quite a bit, Yun Qian gently moved the floating board in front of Xu Chang’an, asking, "You don’t need to bathe, do you?"

Because Xu Chang’an, unlike her, doesn’t get dirty.

"If you know, then don’t ask." Xu Chang’an, somewhat helpless, steadied the floating board and said, "Just like how I don’t need to eat now."

To take a bath, have a cup of tea, drink a glass of wine, even if you’re happy, it’s not entirely because the bath is clean, the tea refreshing, or the wine fragrant; it’s mainly because there’s no burden on your mind.

Xu Chang’an indeed has burdens on his mind, but when they are right here in the water before him, he chooses to do what outsiders might see as "wasting time."

"So you didn’t eat the Spirit Fruit I prepared for Miss, nor drink the wine." Xu Chang’an picked up the cut-up Spirit Frui,t his eye twitching, and sighed: "What about the Spiritual Qi?"

Yun Qian blinked: "Dispersed?"

"Of course, I knew it dispersed." Xu Chang’an said.

Yes.

Too long a time outside, the Spirit Fruit no longer has any Spiritual Qi.

Yun Qian thought about how the Spiritual Qi scattered around her earlier, maybe she should have stopped it.

"Forget it, that little Spiritual Qi isn’t a big deal, treat it as a normal fruit." Xu Chang’an looked at Yun Qian and asked, "Want some?"

"Mm." Yun Qian nodded, she’d been waiting for Xu Chang’an, otherwise she wouldn’t have endured until now.

What Xu Chang’an offered was a plum-sized fruit.

Green and purple, glistening and translucent, like jasper, round and smooth.

Though cut in half, from the side, you could still see through to the seed in the center, such transparency it seemed like an artwork.

But in Yun Qian’s eyes, it wasn’t about looks; as long as it tasted good, it was fine.

She picked one up and took a bite.

The bite left a small tooth mark on the fruit, immediately releasing a burst of fragrance, a sweet aroma filling the air.

Xu Chang’an blinked slightly until Yun Qian finished chewing and then asked, "How’s the taste?"

"Um... the taste is similar to the ones on the island." Yun Qian replied.

"These are Spirit Fruits from the Chaoyun Sect, should they taste like the wild fruits we had then?" Xu Chang’an picked one up, bit it, and thought its sweet and sour taste was perfect for bathing.

"You planted them; they all taste the same to me." Yun Qian said.

"That doesn’t sound like a compliment."

"I am complimenting you." Yun Qian yawned and leaned on Xu Chang’an’s shoulder, feeling that all discomfort of the day had drifted away with the wind.

Xu Chang’an was silent for a while, then asked, "Tired?"

Yun Qian looked at the rippling water in front of her and said, "...a little, but not to the point of needing rest."

"Can’t help it; after all, we mentioned many things." Xu Chang’an thought carefully, realizing that what tired Yun Qian was ultimately related to cultivation.

After briefly talking about cultivation matters with Yun Qian, Xu Chang’an coughed and asked, "Miss, what do you think of Senior Wen?"