CHAPTER 99: 081 BRINGING THE GIRL HOME (AVAILABLE ON AUGUST 1)

The dark sky blocked most of Wen Li’s vision, her eyes deep and mysterious beneath her loose hair, fixed on the young man beneath the umbrella ahead.

It’s raining, yet there’s also a bright moon visible in the sky.

The two walked one behind the other along the quiet path of Celestial Bright Peak, the entire mountain unusually silent, with no one else in sight.

This scene was somewhat strange, much like Wen Li and Xu Chang’an, both having cultivation, yet each holding their own umbrella in the rain.

In the distance, the scenery was beautiful, trees planted by the water, draping delicate flower branches gracefully, with shy pale yellow petals blooming all over, swaying gently as the breeze brushed the water’s surface.

——

Home.

To Wen Li, this was a term that felt distant. When she heard the word from Xu Chang’an’s mouth, she thought for a moment before understanding the difference between "home" and "residence."

In Wen Li’s mind, a flash of Xu Chang’an’s backyard with fruit trees bearing Spirit Fruit appeared. She thought that yard was where Xu Chang’an lived, but it wasn’t a home.

For him, wherever Miss Yun was, that was home.

Having understood this, Wen Li paused her steps, her long boots quietly landing on the bluestone ground without making a sound.

She slightly lifted the umbrella’s canopy, gazing at the young man with the umbrella resting on his shoulder ahead.

Wen Li could clearly feel that the umbrella Xu Chang’an used was larger than hers, and the extra space was undoubtedly meant to accommodate his wife, Miss Yun.

So, was she now following Xu Chang’an home to see his wife?

She had lived for so long, yet it was her first time "going home" with someone of the opposite sex.

Wen Li found the feeling somewhat strange, noticing her heartbeat quickening, yet she couldn’t quite understand this sensation.

She was only concerned about those she cared for.

For those she cared for, she could count details from a single Source Opening Pill to the Steward Zhu.

When she was unconcerned, she wouldn’t even know if there was a Mingxin Chart at Chaoyun Sect until Xu Chang’an reminded her.

This was also true for this Guide.

Wen Li cared about Xu Chang’an, so she clearly knew that without the Guide as a pretext, even as "Pear Blossoms", she wouldn’t be able to overcome the "safe distance" around Xu Chang’an.

Facing Li Hua and Pear Blossoms, Xu Chang’an showed completely different faces.

Wen Li had her own understanding of Xu Chang’an.

This Junior Brother seemed to be gentle with everyone, always giving a sense of a spring breeze... yet in fact, he might be quite a cold person.

Was this considered speaking ill of him?

——

Wen Li was walking when suddenly she felt perplexed.

Home... should be a warm place.

Silver light coated Wen Li’s eyes, and the world transformed before her.

She felt the moonlight seemed dimmer now, as if she walked into a tunnel with no return, with Xu Chang’an like a faint silk lamp guiding her ahead.

Fortunately, that small lamp had its use, dispelling the surrounding darkness sufficiently to prevent her from being engulfed by the gloom around.

Wen Li’s thoughts became a bit chaotic, her eyes behind her loose hair holding complex emotions.

She knew her Sword Heart always easily and inevitably became unsettled before him.

Indeed.

A year ago, Wen Li would never have imagined that she would feel so complicated following a married man home to meet his wife in this manner.

Wasn’t this just like a path of no return, where a single misstep would lead to being swallowed by darkness?

Yet now she didn’t quite understand her own heart’s desire, so she had no intention of disrupting Xu Chang’an’s life; she merely wanted to see... what kind of person can make Junior Brother fond of her.

Was this how the Junior Sisters who wanted to approach her but were afraid felt?

——

Xu Chang’an had no idea of the messy thoughts Wen Li held beneath her calm exterior; he simply walked ahead, quietly leading the way.

Xu Chang’an was indeed a bit surprised.

In the past year or so, it was his first time seeing Wen Li change out of her always unchanging season-spanning dark Daoist robe, wearing a dark dress and a cloud cape, while holding a Pear Blossom Umbrella.

Senior Wen seemed aloof, yet in Xu Chang’an’s eyes, she was a delicate and gentle person, much like her surname.

Most girls at Muyu Peak treated her like a big sister.

Wen Li seemed to have deliberately dressed up.

Compared to their usual meetings, this time the only variable was... Yun Qian.

Could it be understood that Senior Wen dressed up for his family’s Miss Yun?

After all, Wen Li’s usual attire gave people a sharp and distant feeling, whereas his family’s Miss Yun was an ordinary woman; Wen Li’s slightly gentle attire could close the gap between her and ordinary young ladies, so as not to overly stress people facing her.

Of course, Miss Yun wouldn’t be nervous, but Wen Li specially changing her attire to meet Yun Qian showed, at least outwardly, that Wen Li cared for the first student she taught.

Xu Chang’an’s expression softened considerably.

The goodwill towards Yun Qian was the most effective way to evoke his fondness, bar none.

Indeed, this fondness had its boundaries.

Wen Li didn’t have the long hair usually seen on women; her personality was marked clearly, making Xu Chang’an occasionally overlook her gender. Yet, he had never treated her as a man, keeping the appropriate distance very well.

This Senior Sister, who was also skilled in the Six Arts for Women, treating her as a man would be far too disrespectful.