novelapdf Chapter 274 Bai Xiang: Bottom lines are meant to be broken.
Chapter 274 Bai Xiang: Bottom lines are meant to be broken.
Jiang Mu was deeply moved.
Sometimes we think that a certain journey together is the end, but we don't realize that all encounters in life are just post stations on the road of fate.
After spending one night together, everyone must eventually go their separate ways.
A self-deprecating smile appeared on Jiang Mu's lips as she leaned against the window and muttered:
"It seems you've been staying here these past few days just to wait for me to come back and say goodbye?"
I should have come back earlier; I could have gotten a few more meals. Now look what's happened—no one's cooking for me anymore, and I'm going back to eating pig swill.
Bai Xiang smiled at his teasing, but her eyes dimmed slightly.
She raised her hand and gestured gently: "I will come to visit you sometime."
Jiang Mu twitched the corner of her mouth.
What a load of crap.
You're heading towards Yancheng, and I'm going towards Fazhou—we're going in completely opposite directions. Besides, the woman won't say where she's going, so it's obvious the other person isn't sure either, or whether they'll ever see each other again.
It seems that this fleeting romance between the two is destined to end here.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mu was too lazy to mention his upcoming transfer to Fazhou City, lest he cause unnecessary trouble.
Are you...sad?
Bai Xiang raised her clear eyes and stared at him intently.
It was as if they were trying to extract a trace of genuine emotion from the man's face.
"It's alright."
Jiang Mu shrugged, feigning nonchalance as she said...
"All good things must come to an end. It's just a matter of spending money to hire a housekeeper and a cook again."
Don't worry, I'll settle your wages for these past few days with interest, not a penny less. Anyway, you're not my wife, just a wage earner, why should I be upset?"
Bai Xiang stared at him blankly.
She suddenly took a step forward and stood on tiptoe.
Her lips, as soft as flower petals and carrying a faint fragrance, gently pressed a kiss onto the man's cheek.
Instantly separate.
Before Jiang Mu could react, she turned and left the house.
The hem of her skirt flashed across the threshold.
Disappearing in the light and shadow leading to the kitchen.
Jiang Mu stood there, raised her hand and touched the spot where she had been kissed, then shook her head with a smile after a long while:
"We gained two beautiful women, but lost a young cook."
It's alright, not a bad deal.
Dinner was undoubtedly plentiful.
A huge table was set out, filled with everything imaginable: things that fly in the sky, swim in the water, and run in the mountains.
Yuan Aqing and Duanmu Li stared wide-eyed at the sight of the table full of delicacies.
The chopsticks were wielded like whirlwinds.
The two poor girls had no idea that starting tomorrow, they would be completely cut off from such heavenly delicacies.
Jiang Mu, however, found it tasteless, like chewing wax.
As always, Bai Xiang remained quiet during the meal.
She would occasionally serve him food, a faint smile on her face, as if it were just an ordinary home-cooked meal.
There was no trace of sadness or separation.
After finishing the meal, Jiang Mu took the initiative to clear the dishes and followed Bai Xiang into the kitchen.
The two washed the dishes in silence amidst the rising steam.
Especially for married couples.
Afterwards, neither of them went back into the house.
Jiang Mu gently embraced Bai Xiang's slender and supple waist, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and gracefully leaped onto the roof of the side room.
The night breeze was cool, and the Milky Way was dazzling.
They sat side by side on the roof ridge, neither of them speaking.
In the distance came the sound of the night watchman's clapper, and nearby came the chirping of insects in the corner of the courtyard.
The moonlight, like a silver ribbon, poured down from the sky, blending the two shadows together.
When thrown onto the tiles, they become indistinguishable from one another.
It wasn't until the dead of night, when the dew was getting heavier, that the two of them returned to their respective rooms.
However, just as Bai Xiang finished washing up and was about to rest, Jiang Mu came in.
Under the woman's astonished gaze, he calmly took off his outer robe, kicked off his boots, and lay down on her bed.
"Let's sleep together for the last night. You don't mind, right?"
Jiang Mu patted the empty space beside her.
Seeing the woman's wary expression, he said, "Don't worry, I just want to hold you while we sleep, I won't do anything inappropriate."
Bai Xiang bit her lip, her ears turning red, but in the end she didn't kick him out.
She had only taken off her outer garment, leaving her in her undergarments, and lay down beside him, like a clam slipping into its shell, her body somewhat tense.
Jiang Mu stretched out his long arm and pulled the woman's light and soft body into his arms.
Smelling the woman's familiar, delicate fragrance, Jiang Mu instinctively slipped his hand inside her clothes.
Bai Xiang thought the other person would touch her lower abdomen as usual.
However, the large hand changed course and climbed upwards along the slender waistline.
Bai Xiang was startled and hurriedly pressed his hand down.
His eyes held a hint of annoyance and warning.
Jiang Mu stopped what he was doing, and whispered in her ear:
"Can't I even touch you on our last night? We might not even see each other again."
"Don't worry, I won't move, I'll just leave it there."
Bai Xiang was stunned.
Looking into the genuine sadness in the man's eyes, she felt as if something was choking her heart.
After hesitating for a while, she closed her eyes and slowly released her hand.
Well, at least it's still within the bottom line.
It's just a touch anyway.
I've already touched my belly before, and it's the same.
With her jade-like hand loosening its grip, Jiang Mu successfully captured the high ground.
Bai Xiang's body was taut like a bow, her eyelashes trembled, and even her breathing became lighter.
Jiang Mu kept his promise and indeed did not make any unauthorized moves.
The two embraced in the darkness.
"Promise me."
After a long while, Jiang Mu's voice came from above.
"Don't be someone else's housekeeper anymore, and don't cook for others."
I'll pay you more, so you can at least find a small courtyard to live in on your own. Don't be a dependent anymore, understand?
Bai Xiang paused for a moment, then a beautiful smile curved her lips.
She nodded slightly.
Her previously tense body gradually relaxed, like a cat whose fur had finally been stroked and she curled up in his arms.
The two of them nestled together quietly.
Time seemed to slow down at this moment, yet it also seemed to fly by.
Jiang Mu didn't even realize the passage of time. In the blink of an eye, the sky outside the window was already tinged with a faint pale light, and the first rays of dawn were breaking. He looked down at Bai Xiang, who seemed to still be asleep in his arms.
The woman's sleeping face was serene and gentle.
Jiang Mu leaned closer and gently placed a kiss on her smooth forehead.
Then he closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep.
After he closed his eyes, Bai Xiang opened them slowly, just as he had expected.
She gazed at the handsome face so close to hers, her eyes seemingly filled with a pool of warm water that washed over his features.
It seems I need to remember every single detail.
She then extended her slender hand.
Her fingertips lightly traced his eyebrows, his eyes, and the bridge of his nose, finally landing on his slightly pursed lips.
a long time.
Bai Xiang mimicked the man's earlier action, tilting her head slightly and gently kissing his forehead.
Then, she removed the man's arm and quietly got out of bed.
She put on her clothes one by one, tied her loose black hair into a simple bun, and finally carried the bundle that had been packed in advance on her back.
She walked to the door, placed her hand on it, and paused.
She turned around and glanced at him again.
Then he took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped outside.
However, before she could even step down the stairs, a figure appeared before her like a ghost.
Bai Xiang, who was in a daze, was so frightened that she took half a step back.
She looked up and saw Jiang Mu standing in front of her, smiling at her.
"How about a farewell kiss?"
Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
Bai Xiang's expression was strange.
Didn't the two just kiss? Why are they doing it again?
Jiang Mu extended a finger and touched her lips:
"Think about it. Anyway, we might be worlds apart and never see each other again. I gave you my first kiss, it would be a shame not to take it." First kiss?
Bai Xiang was speechless.
You, a dissolute playboy, still have your first kiss?
Seeing Jiang Mu lower her head and slowly approach, Bai Xiang instinctively wanted to dodge.
But when she met his gentle, sorrowful eyes, the woman's feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, and she couldn't move them at all.
As the man's face grew larger in her vision, Bai Xiang's heart raced.
No!
Absolutely not!
The woman cried out in her heart, but her feet remained still.
"Kissing me on the lips...does that cross my line?"
Just as their lips were about to touch, a sudden thought of struggle flashed through Bai Xiang's mind.
As the thought flashed through his mind, the man's lips pressed against his.
Now it's too late to regret it.
But then the woman suddenly realized that she had already kissed his cheek and forehead, and his lips were part of his face, so it didn't seem like she had crossed any lines, right? Hmm, definitely not!
Having figured this out, Bai Xiang's regret and anger towards herself disappeared, and her body gradually relaxed.
She slowly closed her beautiful eyes.
Jiang Mu was not impatient; she simply released her emotions gently and tenderly.
It carries no hint of plunder.
A newly risen red sun finally broke free from the constraints of the eastern horizon.
A golden light burst forth at dawn.
A ray of morning light pierced through the branches in the corner of the courtyard and landed right between their lips, which were pressed together.
Golden spots of light danced and floated in the air where their breaths mingled, like countless tiny specks of stardust.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still, as if frozen in place by that ray of sunlight.
There is no distant place, no parting; there is only a comma that time casually places on the road of fate.
In the end, a perfect ending awaits them.
Inside the underground palace, the cold pool was like a mirror, with a thin layer of cold mist floating on its surface.
The two figures by the pond looked as if they were figures from a painting.
Ling Ye gazed at his disciple's aloof and exquisite profile and said softly, "You must already know about Jiang Mu's breakthrough to the seventh realm." Shangguan Luoxue knelt on the cold jade, her back as sharp as a blade, her neck and waist forming a cold, angular line.
The skirt is spread out, but it tapers into a deep curve at the hips.
Like a full moon.
Her expression was aloof and cold, but her long, curled eyelashes fluttered slightly as she nodded lightly: "Understood."
"I'm sorry, Xiaoxue, I misunderstood you before."
A sincere apology and guilt appeared on Ling Ye's face.
When she learned that Jiang Mudao's foundation was locked and his cultivation had stagnated, while her own disciple had recovered from his injuries and his star position was stable, she almost instinctively connected the two things together.
They believed that Shangguan Luoxue had secretly cultivated the "Purple Mansion Cantong Qi" with Jiang Mu, which caused a young prodigy to ruin his future.
For this, she unusually lost her temper with her disciple and said some harsh words.
But now it seems that I misunderstood my apprentice.
Xiaoxue remains the same pure and virtuous guardian, devoted to the Dao.
On the contrary, it was her, as the master...
It's better not to say anything.
Talking about it all brings only heartache and makes my legs weak.
Seeing her master's face full of self-reproach, Shangguan Luoxue gently clenched her skirt with her slender fingers.
She hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but tentatively ask:
"Master, have you ever doubted... whether it's possible that the 'Purple Mansion Cantong Qi' was modified by Grandmaster back then and no longer has that negative effect?"
Even if a man successfully cultivates, his Dao foundation won't be locked away?
"That's absolutely impossible."
Ling Ye shook his head.
"Your grandmaster did indeed modify this technique back then, but he only added a layer of restrictions targeting outsiders. How could he have changed it so thoroughly?"
Shangguan Luoxue silently pursed her pink lips and stopped arguing.
She realized that her master knew absolutely nothing.
She stubbornly remained immersed in her own closed loop of logic.
However, this is for the best.
At least her master will no longer doubt the fact that she has lost her innocence.
"Also, Xiaoxue, there's something else I want to tell you."
Ling Ye hesitated for a moment. She opened her red lips, intending to directly confess that she had agreed to be Jiang Mu's woman.
But the words just wouldn't come out.
Faced with Shangguan Luoxue's exquisite and otherworldly beauty, he felt somewhat guilty.
A teacher should be a role model!
You can't very well tell your apprentice that your master is getting old and suddenly has a lustful heart, and that what you said about "men being monsters" was all nonsense, can you?
After careful consideration, she changed her approach to a more tactful one:
"I've been away from home these past few days, and I've been thinking a lot on my own."
What I told you before might not have been entirely correct. Your master has never understood matters of the heart between men and women, so my prejudice on this matter was too deep and misled you for many years.
"If you, Xiaoxue, find a man you love in the future and want to get married, your master will not stop you; he will only bless you."
Ling Ye's subtext is:
My dear disciple, if I ever decide to marry Jiang Mu, you must offer your blessings and never think of me as a fickle woman. But Shangguan Luoxue interpreted these words entirely differently.
Shangguan Luoxue's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that Master has noticed some clues?
Or did Jiang Mu accidentally let something slip?
That shouldn't be the case.
Even if Jiang Mu is smart, he shouldn't have discovered her true identity as "Lady Peach Blossom" so quickly, right?
Shangguan Luoxue slightly raised her chin and said calmly:
"Master, there is no need for such testing. In this life, your heart is set on the glorious Great Dao."
Human affairs are but fleeting clouds, not worth a second glance.
"The wise do not fall in love, only resentful women yearn for worldly matters; such mundane affairs are of no interest to this disciple."
Ling Ye was at a loss for words.
Immediately, she remembered that she had tried to play matchmaker for Jiang Mu and Shangguan Luoxue under the peach tree.
At that time, she had not yet decided to become Jiang Mu's woman, thinking that it wouldn't hurt to be a matchmaker and keep the good stuff within the family.
But now the situation is completely different.
Since she, as the master, has already personally gotten involved and is deeply entangled in it, she absolutely cannot drag her pure and innocent disciple into this "fire pit" as well.
The master and disciple served each other?
Such shocking and unconventional things, which violate moral principles, are absolutely unacceptable.
Considering Jiang Mu's extraordinary talent, he will most likely reach the twelfth realm in the future and be on par with Shangguan Luoxue.
What if those two suddenly hit it off?
If any sparks fly, where will she, as the master, fit in?
No!
We need to give them a heads-up first!
Thinking of this, Ling Ye coughed lightly, his expression becoming extremely serious, and said again tactfully:
"Xiaoxue, don't misunderstand. I'm not testing you. I'm just feeling a bit sentimental."
Don't worry, if you ever find a man you like in the future, I will never take advantage of my position as your teacher to steal him from you.
After all... our master-disciple relationship is what it is. If we were to fight over the same man and do something outrageous, it would be against all reason and morality, and we would be struck by lightning!
Ling Ye's subtext is:
Xiaoxue, you must have a bottom line!
You better never try to steal my man again, or you'll get struck by lightning!
Shangguan Luoxue felt increasingly puzzled, not understanding why the other party was repeating these strange things over and over tonight.
She replied calmly:
"I've said it before, I won't let romantic feelings get the better of me. Even if you, Master, find a man you like in the future, I won't try to steal him away."
That was exactly what Ling Ye was waiting for.
My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
Given Shangguan Luoxue's proud and aloof nature, once she said such a thing, it was absolutely impossible for her to cross the line.
Of course, the same goes for Ling Ye.
Regardless of the circumstances, she is a person with principles and morals.
At least so far, they haven't reached the point where the master and apprentice are fighting over the same man.
Bai Xiang eventually left.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the courtyard was already empty, missing a graceful figure.
It also lacks the comforting warmth and smoky atmosphere of the kitchen.
However, after the initial disappointment, Jiang Mu quickly came to terms with it.
This isn't some kind of eternal separation of life and death.
As long as everyone lives well in this world, there will always be a day when we meet again.
However, compared to Jiang Mu's open-mindedness, the two little maids in the courtyard were heartbroken.
Especially Yuan Aqing.
Since arriving at the Jiang family, she has spent more time with Bai Xiang than with Jiang Mu.
Although Bai Xiang usually appears aloof, she treats this little girl very well.
In the sensitive and lonely heart of the young girl, she had already regarded Bai Xiang as her own older sister.
Upon learning of Bai Xiang's departure, the little girl was bound to burst into tears.
Duanmu Li's sadness, on the other hand, seemed much purer; it was simply because she would no longer be able to eat the delicacies of the gods.
"Jiang Mu, can you cook?"
Duanmu Li stared at Jiang Mu with a tight, delicate face.
"Won't."
"What will we eat from now on?"
"Ah Qing can do it, let her do it," Jiang Mu answered readily.
Duanmu Li wrinkled her small, delicate nose and said expressionlessly, "Her cooking is mediocre."
Jiang Mu ruffled her hair and said irritably:
"Then go learn it yourself. All you do is open your mouth and eat all day, and you still have the nerve to be picky."
"I can't learn a single thing."
Duanmu Li turned her head away, still holding the knife.
Yuan Aqing, standing beside her, sobbed, wiping her swollen eyes with her sleeve, and muttered in a low voice while clenching her small fists:
"Sir, Ah Qing will try her best to learn how to cook!"
Ah Qing will definitely be able to cook as well as Sister Bai Xiang in the future, and will never let Master and Sister Li go hungry.
Jiang Mu looked at the sensible little girl and nodded in satisfaction.
This awareness, this attitude.
This is the right way to adopt a little maid!
After calming Yuan Aqing down, Jiang Mu turned to Duanmu Li, her expression becoming more serious: "Oh, right, I forgot to tell you something. I saw your father on this trip."
"My dad?"
The girl's body trembled, her bright and clear eyes suddenly fixed on him.
Jiang Mu didn't hide anything and gave a general account of what had happened in Xiyun Town.
Then, he took out the jade slip from his personal space and handed it over:
"This was given to me by your father. He said that you only gave me the basic part of the 'Blood Frenzy Blade Technique,' and this jade slip contains the complete outline and core principles, which he told me to comprehend on my own."
Duanmu Li remained silent for a long time before whispering, "Why didn't he come to find me himself?"
He said there were still some important things to take care of.
Jiang Mu sighed and comforted him, "Of course, his current identity is sensitive, and he is being watched by the Imperial Guards and his enemies in the martial arts world. He is also afraid that if he comes to you rashly, it will bring you a deadly disaster."
"By the way, I remember Aunt Tang mentioning that your father found you a stepmother, didn't he? Why haven't I seen her?"
Duanmu Li said quietly:
"I reckon that woman has already left him. The only reason she married my father was because she was after the Heavenly Blade Sect's resources and foundation. During that time, she secretly transferred many of the sect's resources to her younger brother. Now that the sect is gone and the resources are cut off, she naturally has no reason to stay."
Jiang Mu smacked her lips.
Okay, okay, so she's a brother-supporting demon.
Just then, there was a knock on the gate.
Interspersed with this was Xu Fu's loud voice: "Old Jiang! Are you home?"
Jiang Mu walked over and opened the courtyard gate, where she saw Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo standing outside.
"Ha, you really are back."
Upon seeing Jiang Mu, Xu Fu immediately greeted her familiarly, "I've been waiting for you for days! How was your trial in the Fallen Soul Swamp? How was it?"
Before Jiang Mu could speak, Xu Fu couldn't wait to show off:
"I have good news for you. Old Yan has broken through! He's reached the sixth realm, just like me."
"Haha, old Jiang, you used to always beat us, but this time, we brothers have finally surpassed you in skill level." Yan Fenghuo's lips curled into a reserved yet proud smile.
He had been cultivating diligently day and night these days. He had almost gone mad from being stimulated by Jiang Mu's monstrous talent, but he had finally gotten his revenge.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu also looked on with envy:
"Wow, that's amazing! I also struggled a lot to barely break through to the seventh realm."
The air suddenly became quiet.
The smiles on their faces froze instantly.
"What...what did you say?" Xu Fu stared blankly at him.
With a thought, Jiang Mu released a vast pressure belonging to a seventh-realm Venerable.
The two of them nearly collapsed to their knees.
The two were stunned into silence.
Can't we just have some fun together anymore?!
Is it really necessary to roll it up like this?
I thought I had worked hard enough and finally climbed to the sixth realm, but then they just took off.
It's like they're splashing around in the water.
Looking up, they saw Jiang Muzao standing on a cloud, waving to them.
That's absolutely inhuman!
Jiang Mu was already used to the bewildered expressions on other people's faces. He withdrew his imposing aura and changed the subject:
"By the way, has Manager Ran returned from the capital?"
Yan Fenghuo barely recovered from his shock, shook his head, and said in a slightly unsteady voice, "Not yet, probably still on its way." Jiang Mu nodded, seemingly lost in thought.
"So, the magistrate was unaware that I was sold to Fazhou."
"What was sold?"
Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo looked at each other, completely bewildered.
Jiang Mu chuckled, "It seems that the acting manager did a good job of keeping it a secret; even you guys didn't know."
"Old Jiang, what are you talking about? We don't quite understand."
Xu was bound and not released.
Jiang Mu patiently recounted how he was abandoned in front of the secret realm, and how Ran Chun'er subsequently transferred him.
After hearing this, the two men's faces turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
They were jealous of Jiang Mu's extraordinary talent, though.
But we're all colleagues who've been through thick and thin together, who wouldn't want a super strong person by their side protecting them every day?
Going out with this kid to slay demons and monsters would give me an overwhelming sense of security, wouldn't it?
And now, this incredibly valuable asset has been sold off by a spendthrift woman who is temporarily in charge?
Is this something a human being would do?
In an instant, Xu Fu and Yan Feng were furious, and without saying a word, they turned and stormed towards the Demon Slayer Bureau's office. Inside the office of the head of the bureau.
Ran Chun'er paced back and forth in the room.
His handsome face appeared sickly pale due to anxiety.
She received a message from a flying eagle: her brother, Ran Qingshan, had successfully attained the ninth realm and was on his way back to Huzhou City at top speed.
My elder brother's successful attainment of star status is a joyous occasion.
But now all she feels is anxiety.
If my brother finds out when he gets back that I sold his precious child for a pittance, he'll probably turn against me on the spot.
"What to do... what to do..."
Ran Chun'er was extremely anxious.
Just as I was feeling agitated, I suddenly heard a jumble of footsteps and arguing outside the door.
Immediately afterward, Xu Fu and Yan Feng strode in angrily.
"Lord Ran, I heard you sold Jiang Mu to Yunzhou City? Who gave you permission to do that?!"
Xu Fu angrily questioned.
Ran Chun'er was already impatient, and when she was suddenly confronted with a rude interrogation, her anger flared up instantly.
"Who do you think you are? How dare you shout and question this official like that!"
Ran Chun'er slammed her hand on the table, her eyebrows furrowed, and she reprimanded sharply.
"I am now the acting magistrate of Huzhou City. Do I need to report to a mere hall master like you to make any personnel changes? If you don't know your place, then get out!"
After being scolded, Xu Fu's hot blood cooled down a bit.
After all, the other party was Ran Qingshan's own sister and now his boss, so he really shouldn't have been so rude.
But his anger hadn't subsided, and he stood there with his fists clenched.
Yan Fenghuo, standing to the side, spoke coldly:
"My lord, since the Demon Slaying Division in Huzhou City is not short of manpower, then please transfer me to Fazhou City as well. I would appreciate it if you could sign another transfer order." Ran Chun'er's face turned pale and then red.
"Yan Fenghuo, what do you mean by this? Do you even respect me as your superior?!"
Yan Fenghuo was known for his stubborn temper, so he sneered and retorted:
"Does it matter to me whether I have you or not, if my boss can sell his own subordinates like merchandise?"
Who knows, one day I, Yan Fenghuo, might be discarded just like that, once I'm no longer of use. Since that's the case, I might as well get out of here myself, so as not to offend the adults' eyes!
"You one!"
Ran Chun'er was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed at Yan Fenghuo's nose and couldn't say a word for a long time.
"So what do you want?" she asked through gritted teeth.
Yan Fenghuo said, enunciating each word clearly:
"Go apologize to Jiang Mu and ask him to stay. Otherwise, I'm leaving too."
"impossible!"
Ran Chun'er refused without even thinking.
Are you kidding me?
Why should a high-ranking official like her have to grovel and beg a subordinate?
Isn't that like putting your own face on the ground and trampling on it?
Even if Ran Chun'er were despicable, she couldn't possibly be this despicable.
"Yan Fenghuo, don't try to threaten me with that."
Ran Chun'er said coldly, "This Huzhou City isn't a place you can come and go as you please. Without my permission, you're not allowed to go anywhere!" Xu Fu also retorted defiantly, his neck stiff with arrogance.
"Me too. If you don't apologize to Old Jiang and keep him here, I'm leaving too!"
Ran Chun'er turned to look at Xu Fu, then waved her hand and said, "You can get lost. I will approve your resignation immediately."
"what?"
Xu Fu was completely stunned.
No?
This is double standards?!
Why are you against allowing Yan Fenghuo to resign, but you approve my resignation directly?
Do I, Xu Fu, have no pride?
After Ran Chun'er finished cursing, the frustration in her chest dissipated somewhat.
She sat back down in her chair, picked up the now-cold tea and took a sip. Suddenly, a thought struck her, and she looked up and asked:
"Is Jiang Mu back?"
Yan Fenghuo nodded coldly: "Yes."
Ran Chun'er swallowed hard, her palms slightly sweaty, and tentatively asked, "So he's at the sixth realm now?"
"no."
Yan Fenghuo shook his head.
No?
Ran Chun'er was stunned for a moment, then a surge of joy welled up in her heart, and she almost burst out laughing on the spot.
I knew it!
He was clearly deemed useless by the commander-in-chief, so how could he possibly break through to the sixth realm?
Sure enough, Xun Xiaozhuang, that bitch, just didn't like me and was deliberately spreading false information to scare me.
It seems I did the right thing; Jiang Mu should have been sold.
A good-for-nothing with no future is just a freeloader in Huzhou City. Trading him for resources and promising talents is the best deal ever! At this moment, Ran Chun'er was so excited that her nose tingled.
God knows how much psychological pressure she has been under these past two days.
I haven't slept a wink for a moment. I dream about slapping myself in the face and wish I could go back to the day the transfer order was issued and tear the document to shreds.
Now that she knew Jiang Mu hadn't made any breakthroughs at all, she felt as if the boulder pressing on her chest had been shattered.
Tonight, I can finally get a good night's sleep.
However, the next moment...
Yan Fenghuo's icy voice slammed down again:
"He's already at the seventh level."
Ran Chun'er's mouth was agape, her smile frozen, as if she had weathered into a pale fossil.
On the other hand, after Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo left, Jiang Mu did not rush to the Divine Sword Sect to investigate the prince's affairs.
Instead, they arrived at Chu Lingzhu's bamboo hut.
The cottage lay quietly in the morning light.
Several baskets of freshly picked herbs were drying in the courtyard, and freshly picked wild chrysanthemums were soaking in a stone vat. A few sparrows were pecking at scattered grains under the eaves, chirping away, which made the small courtyard quite peaceful.
As usual, Lan Rou'er was sitting on a small stool under the eaves, picking through the medicinal herbs in the bamboo sieve.
The young girl wore a light white long dress, her slender figure like a willow sapling after the rain, delicate and fragile, exuding a pitiful and endearing charm. Especially striking was her snow-white wrist peeking out from under her sleeve as she sorted through medicinal herbs.
It looked as if it would shatter with the slightest touch.
"Where is Lingzhu?"
Jiang Mu asked.
"what!"
Hearing the sudden sound behind her, Lan Rou'er was so startled that her shoulders trembled and the medicinal herbs in her hands fell to the ground.
She hurriedly turned around.
Upon recognizing Jiang Mu, her pale and delicate face immediately flushed with a blush of surprise:
"Brother Jiang!"
"Where is that little poison girl, Lingzhu?"
Jiang Mu walked into the courtyard and asked again.
Lan Rou'er replied in a soft, almost inaudible voice, "Lingzhu has gone to treat someone and will be back in a while."
As she spoke, she bent down again to pick up the scattered medicinal herbs.
A few strands of her dark hair slipped down from behind her ears, falling on either side of her cheeks, making her small face even more charming.
"oh."
Jiang Mu casually pulled over a bamboo stool and sat down next to Lan Rou'er with an air of nonchalance.
"Since she's not here, I'll tell you about your situation first."
I've already been to the Soul-Swallowing Swamp, and that enemy of yours, that fish demon called Fifth Master, I've already killed him."
Lan Rou'er stared blankly at Jiang Mu, her watery eyes filled with disbelief.
Although she firmly believed that since Jiang Mu had promised, he would help her avenge this deep-seated hatred sooner or later.
But she didn't expect this day to come so soon.
Don't believe me?
Seeing the girl like a frozen little rabbit, Jiang Mu couldn't help but tease her with a smile.
"Thump!"
Lan Rou'er suddenly bent her knees and knelt on the ground.
She bent down, her slender shoulders trembling, a sob escaping her lips:
"Thank you, Lord Jiang, for avenging Rou'er... Rou'er will repay you in the future, even if it means serving you like a slave..."
"You keep threatening to kneel down; how many times have I told you?"
Jiang Mu reached out and pulled her up.
A quick glance at the wall revealed a ceramic basin on a small table nearby.
On the fireside table sat a large bowl of glistening, honey-glazed dates, emitting a sweet and enticing aroma.
Jiang Mu's eyes lit up. She picked up the basin, hugged it to her chest, and popped a candied date into her mouth.
Chewing it releases a burst of juice and fills the mouth with fragrance.
"This stuff tastes really good! I wanted some last time I came but they didn't have it. Is it bamboo shoots soaked in medicinal herbs?"
While enjoying her meal, Jiang Mu mumbled, "Why didn't she order more? She's so stingy."
He chewed two more, then suddenly exclaimed "Eh!"
"Why does it taste even better than last time? The jujube flesh is more tender, the sweetness is more delicate, and it even seems to have a hint of 'leg qi' (a type of herbal flavor). Did they change the recipe for the 'leg bamboo' (a type of herbal topping)?"
Lan Rou'er opened her pink lips, her cheeks flushed, but she couldn't utter a single word.
She, a mere mortal who had never even entered the realm of martial arts, naturally wouldn't understand things like leg pain.
She soaked these dates.
During this time, in order to improve her physical condition, Chu Tuizhu would brew medicinal baths with precious herbs every day for her to soak in. Under the nourishment of the herbs, Lan Rou'er felt her body becoming more and more strange.
Not only did my skin become smoother and more delicate.
Even when sweating, their bodies emit a fruity scent.
I feel like I've turned into a fruit.
This also makes the dates she soaks even more sensual than those soaked in Chu Tui Zhu tea, and they can even be compared to some leg medicines.
It is excellent for cultivators.
Of course, if we're just talking about the rich flavor of jujubes, Chu Tui Zhu's jujubes are definitely superior.
After all, Little Doctor had refined herself into a body imbued with the fragrance of medicinal herbs.
I never get tired of eating it.
Qingming ate Jiang Mu one piece after another with great relish, while Lan Rou'er's head was almost touching her chest in anger.
She stood up timidly and said weakly:
"Brother Jiang, if... if it's about Zhan Huan, then... then Rou'er will make you more Zheng tea..."