Li Yuer’s feelings ran deep and sincere, Xiao Jing’er was shy and awkward, while Li Zhi’er merely brushed the surface.
Xu Ping’an only felt his face growing damp.
“All right, you three tidy up here first. I’m going to the Pavilion of Immortal World for a bit.”
When he arrived during the day, Pei Qingxuan had specifically instructed him to visit the Pavilion of Immortal World that night.
How could he refuse his obedient Lady’s request?
However, Li Yuer’s eyes turned, and she came up to him, wrapping her arms around one of Xu Ping’an’s.
“Mister, what would you like to eat tonight? Zhi’er, Jing’er, and I will make something for you.”
“You three… still want to cook?”
“Well, why not? Who is born knowing how to do everything? We’ll learn~”
Seeing the cheerful delight on Li Yuer’s delicate face, Xu Ping’an smiled and nodded.
“All right. I’ll eat whatever you make.”
“Mmm, then… Mister, come back early~”
“Okay.”
Xu Ping’an nodded, exchanged a few more words with Xiao Jing’er and Li Zhi’er, and only then did he leave for the Pavilion of Immortal World.
On the way here, Xiao Yunyuan had already shown him where the Pavilion of Immortal World was located, so Xu Ping’an knew the way.
In the wilderness, the gentle breeze caressed him.
Though it was still summer, up in these high mountains, the night wind remained rather cold.
Shadows of trees swayed in the forest, wildflowers bloomed along the roadside, and on the stone-paved path, everything looked peaceful and natural.
He strolled along, pausing now and then, enjoying the scenery as he made his way to the Pavilion of Immortal World.
Xu Ping’an could not help but feel a wave of emotion.
Many years ago, he had come to the foot of Floating Cloud Sect’s mountain full of hope, longing to enter the immortal gate in pursuit of longevity.
For that, he’d sold off most of his family’s assets, facing countless hardships along the way.
Though he was not Tang Seng, he felt he hadn’t been far off.
Eight years spent seeking immortality, giving up everything—only to be told in the end, “Rotten wood cannot be carved.”
Heaven knew just how desperate he’d been at the time.
He could not return to his hometown; his parents’ enemies would never allow it.
The fortune he had sold off was now reduced to scraps.
He didn’t even have a skill to rely on, nor did he know how he could survive in this devouring world.
Uncle Hu was dead, and after leaving the mountain, he wandered in a daze.
If not for suddenly gaining the System and learning Medical Arts, he might have already starved to death on the streets.
Of course, maybe that was a bit exaggerated, but he truly didn’t believe that, in this world, relying solely on his awakened Past Life Insight, he could have lived any better.
In this Millennium Dynasty, the social hierarchy had long since solidified.
No matter how talented you were, there was simply no room left to climb up.
If you dared to stand out, those who already held power would rush at you together, like wolves, and devour you until nothing was left.
Soap, Glass—try to reveal such things, and someone would come knocking the very same day.
This era simply did not allow the appearance of either geniuses or class-breakers.
Only Cultivation and the Imperial Examination remained as roads to advancement for ordinary people.
The Imperial Examination… he didn’t have the ability.
Not to mention how many years it took to study the Four Books and Five Classics, but also, he had no connections at all.
The path of Cultivation was already severed, and the Imperial Examination was but an illusion.
In the end, he decided to rely on his Medical Arts and find a quiet place to live out his days, asking not for great success, only for peace.
But now, things seemed to be going in the opposite direction of what he expected. Everything was heading somewhere else.
This left him somewhat at a loss.
He didn’t know whether his past self had made the right choice or the wrong one.
Walking and pausing along the way, the Pavilion of Immortal World drew near.
The so-called Pavilion of Immortal World appeared to be a three-story building, wholly constructed of wood, with two female disciples guarding the gate in front of the courtyard.
“Halt. Who goes there?”
Perhaps Xu Ping’an had stood before the gate in a daze for a bit too long, for one of the female disciples immediately stepped forward, eyeing him warily.
“Senior Sister, I am Xu Ping’an, the new disciple taken in by Master. Master instructed me to come here tonight to receive her guidance. Would Senior Sister kindly inform her?”
Xu Ping’an knew that, even though he was about to meet his dear Lady, he still had to keep up appearances.
“So you’re Xu Ping’an?”
One of the disciples looked him up and down with suspicion for a long moment before stepping aside.
“Go in. The Sect Master has already given instructions. There’s no need to report when you enter.”
“Thank you, Senior Sisters.”
Xu Ping’an smiled and nodded, then entered the courtyard.
No sooner had he stepped in than he heard the two girls behind him gossiping.
“This guy doesn’t look special at all. Compared to Senior Brother, he’s far inferior.”
“Exactly… I think Xu Ping’an is just lucky.”
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, and the sound of a slap echoed from behind.
Pei Qingxuan’s voice descended from above.
“Speaking ill of your own sect behind their backs—is this all the backbone disciples of my Swordsmith Peak possess?”
The two girls jumped in fright, quickly turned, and knelt to the ground, their voices quavering with fear:
“Sect Master!”
“Sect Master, we know our mistake.”
Not giving them any chance to explain, Pei Qingxuan spoke coldly:
“Cultivation is first and foremost about temperament. With such an unsettled mind, what use are you? I sentence both of you to meditate in repentance at Siguo Cliff for three months to cleanse your hearts and minds. Go to Disciplinary Peak to receive your punishment.”
“Yes, Sect Master.”
The two responded in unison, exchanging glances, both revealing bitter smiles.
Who told them to gossip behind someone’s back and let the Sect Master hear?
Standing in the courtyard, Xu Ping’an looked up toward the third-floor balcony, where a woman in a crimson gown stood.
Her phoenix eyes were as cold as frost, her brows as dark as ink.
Seeing Pei Qingxuan like this—so unlike her usual self, displaying the commanding presence unique to the Flowing Cloud Sect Master—his heart could not help but tremble.
Pei Qingxuan lowered her head, glancing at Xu Ping’an.
“You, come up.”
“Yes, Master.”
Xu Ping’an replied, then pushed open the door and entered.
The structure of the house was both complex and simple; the staircase to the upper floors was easy to spot at a glance.
Xu Ping’an ignored everything else and hurried upstairs.
He had just reached the steps of the second floor when a flash of red appeared before his eyes.
Without a word, his Lady rushed straight into his arms.
“Husband~~”
The soft, affectionate call stirred his heart.
“What’s wrong? We’ve only been apart half a day, and you’re this clingy already?”
“Husband… I’m sorry. If I hadn’t insisted on bringing you to Floating Cloud Sect, you wouldn’t be gossiped about by others…”
Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but smile fondly, gently stroking her long hair.
As he watched the faint red aura emanating from his Lady, he comforted her:
“Silly girl, what do you have to apologize for? You weren’t the one bad-mouthing me. Besides, is your husband the kind of person who cares about gossip? All right, all right, don’t be upset.”
“Mmm~”
His Lady was certainly protective; just a few words of gossip were enough to stir up her killing intent.
It was fortunate those two girls hadn’t said more, or it really would’ve been trouble.
“Lady, uh… could you let go for a moment so your husband can change position?”
“No~”
She replied with her mouth, but her hands still clung tightly to him.
With no choice, Xu Ping’an could only let her act spoiled.
What else could he do?
If he didn’t dote on her, who would?
They held each other for a long while, until Pei Qingxuan finished “replenishing her husband’s energy,” and finally loosened her embrace enough for Xu Ping’an to move.
“Lady, did you ask me to come here at night just to hold me for a bit?”
Xu Ping’an looked at Pei Qingxuan with suspicion, but in the next moment, his obedient Lady’s phoenix eyes brimmed with unmistakable allure.
“Husband~”
“Lady, calm down, it’s not even fully dark yet~ Wait, slow down, don’t pull too hard!”