Chapter 282

Chapter 282: I Told You, It’s Me (4000 words, combined edition)

Ever since Xu Ming arrived at the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers, twelve days passed in a flash.

On this day, all the cultivators of Heavenly Profound Gate had already packed their belongings, preparing to leave for Jubei City to seek a new sect residence.

The young girl in the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers placed all her things into her storage ring.

Rising early, the girl squatted in front of her house, gazing at the Blood Rafflesia flower bed.

Now, the entire Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers had become barren as all the spirit flowers were stored inside Elder Wang Xuan’s myriad bag.

Left behind were only some ordinary flowers and grasses scattered across the vast plain.

These common plants didn’t require much spiritual energy and could survive anywhere, making it best to leave them here.

Elder Wang Xuan approached her disciple, seeing her squatting with eyes fixed on the Blood Rafflesia flower bed.

“Qingwan.” Wang Xuan called softly.

“Master.” Hearing her master’s call, Qingwan stood up and walked over.

“It’s about time. We should go,” said Wang Xuan.

Qingwan looked back at the Blood Rafflesia one last time and nodded. “Alright, Master.”

“You could take this patch of Blood Rafflesia with you if you wish,” Wang Xuan understood her disciple’s thoughts.

The girl shook her head. “No need, Master. The Blood Rafflesia is resilient; it can survive well even here. In the past, the spirit flowers competed for nutrients, and the Blood Rafflesia couldn’t win.

“Now that the spirit flowers are gone, perhaps when we return someday, this place will be a sea of Blood Rafflesia flowers.”

Wang Xuan gently stroked her disciple’s long hair. “Actually, you don’t have to leave with me.”

“How could I?” Qingwan smiled sweetly, hugging her master’s arm. “I can’t leave you alone.”

A flicker of tenderness crossed Wang Xuan’s eyes. “The path of cultivation is inherently lonely, and I’ve long been accustomed to it.”

“Master, there are countless paths. In my view, it’s not that everyone’s path must be lonely. If you don’t want to be lonely, you don’t have to be. Why not find a cultivation partner?”

Qingwan blinked mischievously.

“You…” Wang Xuan helplessly shook her head.

“Even if Master doesn’t want a cultivation partner, it’s fine. I’ll always be by your side,” Qingwan playfully stuck out her tongue.

“Probably if Xu Ming waves his hand, you’d run off with him,” Wang Xuan tapped Qingwan’s forehead. “Well, since you’ve made your choice, I won’t ask further. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Master,” Qingwan happily nodded.

Wang Xuan remembered something. “Won’t you bid farewell to Xu Ming?”

Qingwan gently lowered her head. “No, farewells are too sad. If I start crying, it would be embarrassing. I only want him to see me happy.”

Wang Xuan didn’t say more, just patted her head lightly and walked toward the exit of the valley.

Qingwan followed closely by Wang Xuan’s side.

They reached the base of Heavenly Profound Gate’s mountain where all the sect’s cultivators had gathered.

“Elder Wang Xuan.”

Seeing Wang Xuan, everyone bowed respectfully.

With deaths, escapes, and dispersals, only a few members of Heavenly Profound Gate remained.

Wang Xuan nodded. “Let’s go to Jubei City.”

All disciples of Heavenly Profound Gate responded, “Yes!”

At the peak of a mountain outside Heavenly Profound Gate, a man stood high atop, watching sixteen hundred Heavenly Profound Gate cultivators flying northward.

“Do you not want to see your childhood friend off?” Wu Yanhan approached the man.

Xu Ming shook his head. “If I went, Qingwan would probably cry again, making a mess of herself, which she’d find embarrassing.”

Wu Yanhan followed Xu Ming’s gaze toward the distance. “You seem to understand her quite well.”

Xu Ming smiled. “We grew up together.”

Xu Ming turned away and began walking down the mountain. “Let’s go back. It’s been a while since we’ve visited Wudu.”

“Learning and reviewing regularly, isn’t that delightful?”

“Snow… second generation… detailed… intent…”

“Having friends come from afar, isn’t that joyful?”

“There’s a bump… word…”

In the Wu Kingdom, within a courtyard of the Xu Mansion, a young woman was teaching a little girl how to read.

The little girl still spoke unclearly but fluently compared to before. Moreover, she had learned dozens of new characters these past few days.

The little girl thought that when Brother Xu returned, she would tell him about the new characters she had learned, and he would surely praise her and pat her head.

“Mama, what does this mean?” The little girl looked up at the graceful young woman beside her.

Suyan gently touched the little girl’s head. “It means that revising what you’ve learned is a joyous thing, and having friends visit from afar is also delightful.”

“Oh~” The little girl nodded.

“Sheng Sheng, do you understand?”

“A little bit.”

Shen Sheng Sheng blinked her big eyes.

Although studying wasn’t particularly fun, maybe because getting praised by Brother Xu made it enjoyable? That did sound pretty good.

“Don’t worry, take your time. You’ll understand eventually.” Suyan closed the book. “That’s enough for today. Go play.”

“Yay~”

Shen Sheng Sheng jumped off the chair and headed outside, accompanied by a personal guard from the princess’ residence.

Ten days ago, Shen Sheng Sheng was finally escorted back to the Xu Mansion.

Because the escort, ‘Ren,’ carried the jade token of the princess’ palace, no one dared to question her identity after Ren explained the purpose of her visit.

When Shen Sheng Sheng was handed over to Suyan, Ren explained that this little girl was adopted as a sworn sister by Xu Ming during his travels.

Though Suyan was curious about her son’s sworn sister, since she was his sworn sister, she became her goddaughter.

Especially after learning that Shen Sheng Sheng’s parents had died, Suyan felt deep sympathy.

Suyan took good care of Shen Sheng Sheng and hoped she would call her mother. Shen Sheng Sheng found this aunt very kind, and her scent resembled Brother Xu’s, so she quickly trusted her.

Over the following days, the relationship between Shen Sheng Sheng and Suyan improved. Suyan taught Shen Sheng Sheng reading and writing, encouraging her to call her mother.

Though initially hesitant, Shen Sheng Sheng soon found calling her “mother” increasingly natural.

“That boy hasn’t returned, but he brought me a well-behaved goddaughter.”

Suyan looked up at the sky.

Thinking about it, it had been over a year since she last saw her son. The only way she knew about Ming was through the Azurecloud List occasionally appearing in the sky.

Though Ming’s ranking on the Azurecloud List kept rising, and many congratulated her, she wasn’t happy at all. Every time Ming climbed a rank, it meant he’d gone through a fierce battle.

She worried even more each time. To a mother, her child’s achievements and fame were secondary; what mattered most was safety and health.

“But, Ren said Ming is with the princess, so he should be fine, right?” Suyan sighed, trying to comfort herself.

“Madam, it’s time for your medicine.”

As Suyan missed her child, Chun Yan entered with the medicine.

Chun Yan was originally the personal maid of the senior madam of the Xu Mansion, but as Xu Ming gained favor with the Emperor, especially after becoming the top scholar, his name became widely known.

To show goodwill and draw closer to Xu Ming, they gave Chun Yan to serve Suyan.

After all, Xu Ming had watched Chun Yan grow up and trusted her character.

“Thank you.” Suyan drank the bitter medicine in one gulp despite wincing.

Chun Yan quickly offered a box, taking out a piece of rock sugar.

“Madam, how is your headache? Has it eased?”

Chun Yan asked with concern.

For the past two months, Suyan had suffered headaches. Upon learning this, the emperor personally ordered imperial physicians to diagnose her.

Due to Xu Ming’s status, no one in the Xu household dared neglect Suyan’s condition.

However, even the imperial physicians couldn’t determine the cause. Suyan’s pulse was normal.

The physicians believed her ailment stemmed from excessive longing for her son, resulting in migraines.

They prescribed calming medicine, which Chun Yan diligently prepared daily.

After some time without effect, another physician examined her.

Eventually, the emperor summoned the entire medical team, who collectively devised a prescription.

“It seems to have eased somewhat,” Suyan smiled.

Actually, she felt no difference but didn’t want to worry Chun Yan or bother others further.

“Madam, please take care of yourself. I heard after the Purple Mist Grand Ceremony, Lord Xu and the princess will return. If you don’t cherish your health, Lord Xu will worry upon his return,” Chun Yan consoled.

Suyan nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself.”

“Then I shall take my leave.”

“Go ahead.”

Chun Yan bowed and left with the medicine bowl.

Returning to her boudoir, Suyan decided she needed rest.

Seated before her vanity, she removed her hairpin, letting her black tresses cascade down like a waterfall over her shoulders.

Looking at her reflection, Suyan wondered if she appeared older. Would Ming recognize her if he returned?

“Really, what am I thinking? It’s only been a year,” Suyan laughed, shaking her head, realizing she was overthinking.

“Hehehe… Seems like you’re doing pretty well these years.”

Just as Suyan was about to lie down, a female voice reached her ears.

Suyan abruptly stood up, looking around the room. “Who’s there?”

“Who else? It’s obviously you~”

The voice echoed again.

As Suyan looked around, her gaze suddenly locked onto the silver mirror before her.

In the mirror, her reflection stared back.

But whereas the real Suyan seemed bewildered, the Suyan in the mirror wore a playful smile.

“Look,” the mirror Suyan slowly spoke, “I told you, it’s me.”

“Lord Xu~ Come catch me~”

“Lord Xu~ I’m here~”

“Oh dear, Lord Xu is naughty~”

“Lord Xu, stop pinching~”

“Lord Xu, I drew a picture called ‘Dead Sheep Below’~”

“Lord Xu, let’s have fun~”

At night, in one of the four famous Qinglou establishments in Wudu, the Crimson Lip Tower, Lord Xu Zheng of the Xu family was blindfolded, lunging toward various women in the room.

Lord Xu pushed down one woman, wandering his hands and engaging deeper, causing indescribable sounds. Then he moved to another woman, continuing his exploration.

Moment by moment, neither Lord Xu nor Little Xu rested, even guessing the identities of the women based on touch, creating an extremely sensual scene.

Nevertheless, Lord Xu’s stamina was undoubtedly impressive.

Half an hour later, Lord Xu lay with four or five women on a large bed, barely clothed.

“Hoo.”

A gust of wind blew open the window, causing the women to sleep even deeper, while Lord Xu gradually woke up.

“Brother Xu sure enjoys himself.”

A man in a green robe looked at Lord Xu and smiled.

Lord Xu sat up and chuckled. “Enjoyment prolongs life, doesn’t it?”

“Ho ho.” The green-robed man threw a jade pendant.

Lord Xu caught it, furrowing his brows. “Is it so hard to let them live peacefully?”

“Not to mention the princess is already ranked second on the Azurecloud List.” The green-robed man looked at Lord Xu. “Their identities preclude peace.”