“This is my Lady’s name.”
Seeing the exaggerated expression on Qian Zhongyi’s aged face, Xu Ping’an, no matter how slow-witted he was, could now basically be certain of one thing.
His silly Lady was actually the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect!?
Everything had happened so suddenly that he felt completely at a loss on how to accept it.
Now he understood why she had left without a word.
It was mainly because something had happened to the Flowing Cloud Sect.
That was why she had hurriedly left.
Not wanting to involve him, she hadn’t told him she was leaving or even said goodbye. She had even written such a heartless message.
The whole reason was to prevent anything about the Flowing Cloud Sect from dragging him into trouble.
Perhaps Pei Qingxuan wasn’t even confident herself; after all, when she left, her injuries hadn’t fully healed.
Even if her cultivation had recovered, it would surely be at a reduced capacity.
Moreover, judging by her current state, one wrong move might even worsen her original injuries.
By then, it might require extreme measures to cure Pei Qingxuan.
The thought of that person, who beside his ear was constantly asking “why this” and “what’s that,” like a walking encyclopedia of questions, was in fact the Sect Master of the strongest sect in all of Great Qi!?
It felt so surreal.
“Sh-she is your Lady? Xu boy, you’re not dreaming during the day, are you?”
Could he not tell if it was a daydream?
He could still recall the soft touch of Lady’s hand.
“Heh~ If only it were a daydream… but maybe, it really is her.”
Qian Zhongyi immediately fell silent, the shock on his face not fully fading but now mixed with a hint of seriousness.
“Xu boy, you didn’t come out here just to… find her, did you?”
“Yeah. If not for her, I probably wouldn’t have come out this year. After all… you know, Great Qi is on the brink of chaos now. The world isn’t peaceful, and traveling around isn’t that easy.”
Xu Ping’an didn’t bother hiding anything. After all, this elder in front of him was like a half-mentor.
Seeing the genuine yet strained smile on Xu Ping’an’s face, Qian Zhongyi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
He could only raise a hand and point at Xu Ping’an.
“You really are just as I suspected—someone who can’t stand a peaceful life. Either you don’t stir up trouble, or when you do, it’s a big one.”
Qian Zhongyi laughed aloud.
“Never thought you’d manage to bring down the Flowing Cloud Sect Master. Honestly, if you hadn’t told me face to face, no one else would believe this.”
Xu Ping’an could roughly guess just how surprised the old man was.
After all, anyone in his position would be speechless over this.
“So, have you… met her?”
“Met her.”
Qian Zhongyi nodded, his old eyes reflecting a flicker of memory.
“Back in the day, when the Former Emperor was still alive, he wanted to appoint the current ruler as his heir. But the then Emperor held no power or troops, so the Immortal Emperor was summoned. Only she could keep Great Qi stable back then.”
“Oh?”
“Looks like you’re quite curious. Alright, old man will tell you a story. That was the thirty-third year of the Zhongping era, fifteen years ago…”
Qian Zhongyi slowly recalled, narrating the past to Xu Ping’an.
And Xu Ping’an listened attentively to the story of his Lady’s past.
At the end, Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
“Never expected… she had that side to her.”
“How did you come to know her?”
Even now, Qian Zhongyi seemed to hold a respectful awe toward Pei Qingxuan, barely daring to say her name directly.
“It was mostly coincidence. She seemed to have been seriously injured before, and happened to run into me. Fortunately, she did.”
Of course, this wasn’t the whole truth. He couldn’t exactly say he had conned a fool.
If he said that, this old man would probably explode on the spot.
“I see. No wonder… the first time I met her, I was somewhat presumptuous, wondering what kind of person could make this icy beauty fall for them. But I never imagined that by chance, you’d be the one to pluck this plum blossom.”
“Yeah… I never expected that the one I saved would turn out to be the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect…”
Xu Ping’an shook his head bitterly. Now he understood everything.
No wonder her injuries had been so severe that day—it turned out she was ambushed by the Demonic Sect, outnumbered and betrayed.
“Since you two are already husband and wife, why are you out here? Can you even intervene in the Flowing Cloud Sect’s affairs? Didn’t she bring you along? Didn’t you sense anything?”
“Heh~ Old Qian, to be honest, I guessed after she left. But… her condition isn’t good right now. If I’m not by her side, once she tries to use her spiritual energy, her injuries will definitely worsen. If something really happens, it might be too late to do anything.”
“Hahaha~ I see. You really won’t act unless the rabbit shows itself. I never thought you’d be the type to get angry for a woman’s sake. If I’d known sooner, I could’ve let you choose a few granddaughters or great-granddaughters from my family. Maybe I could have gotten you out easily too.”
“Old Qian, stop joking around. I’m already troubled enough just thinking about dealing with some immortal affairs and getting involved in Great Qi’s national matters. You don’t have to tease me.”
“Hahaha~ Even the Number One Divine Doctor under Heaven gets headaches, huh? Now that’s really a miracle!” The old man finally relaxed, treating Xu Ping’an like his own source of joy.
“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore~ Pfft.”
Xu Ping’an was a bit speechless—this old guy was still a big kid at heart.
“Could you maybe not laugh so much while saying that?”
Yet the smile on the old man’s face seemed painted on, staying there even as Xu Ping’an awkwardly took his leave.
Amid Qian Zhongyi’s hearty laughter, Xu Ping’an hastily fled the rear garden.
His mind still unsettled, no sooner had he stepped into the East Wing room than he heard light footsteps.
A graceful figure stepped out to greet him.
“Mister, you’re back. Miss is waiting inside… for you.”
Xu Ping’an saw the faint blush on Xiao Jing’er’s face.
He sighed in his heart.
Great! Looks like tonight’s going to be troublesome again.
How did things end up like this?