Chapter 139: I’m Sorry, Qian’er

As Bai Ruoxi’s voice echoed through the courtyard, her gaze fixed on him, Mu Zhi’an sighed inwardly, turning to face her. She stood there, her ample bosom straining against her loose white nightgown, her long hair flowing freely, her beauty both alluring and intimidating. Even in casual attire, she was captivating.

It seems I made too much noise… He met her gaze, sensing something different about her eyes.

She looked at Ye Lingxuan, her voice soft, a smile playing on her lips. “Sister Lingxuan, why are you here so late? You should have let me know. I would have welcomed you.”

Ye Lingxuan stood beside him, her purple dress adorned with delicate hydrangea patterns, her hair styled simply, her figure slender compared to Bai Ruoxi’s, but her budding beauty had its own charm. She looked at Bai Ruoxi, smiling. “My servants caused some trouble for Brother Mu tonight. I came to retrieve them.”

She glanced at Mu Zhi’an, her smile widening. “I’ll be going now, Brother Mu.” She seemed happy, but her gaze, as she looked at him, held a hint of something else.

Having multiple girls in one place is tricky. It’s too small, and it’s easy to mess things up. He sighed inwardly, forcing a gentle smile. “Let me walk you back…?”

“There’s no need to trouble yourself, Young Master Mu. Wouldn’t Sister Bai be upset if you did?” She glanced at him, and when he didn’t try to stop her, she looked away, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, then she left the Garden of Heavenly Harmony.

He didn’t follow her. He turned to face Bai Ruoxi, her gaze fixed on him, and he smiled. “Why are you out so late?”

She looked at him, her eyes filled with a playful reproach. “If I didn’t come out, how would I know what you were doing outside tonight, Dear?”

He chuckled. “You seem to have the wrong idea, Ruoxi.”

“Weren’t you just holding Sister Lingxuan’s hand?” she asked, her voice soft, her pale skin glowing in the moonlight, her beauty almost ethereal.

He sighed. “Her family sent some people to retrieve her tonight, and they caused a scene here. Didn’t you hear the commotion?”

Her eyes widened, and she looked at him, her voice filled with concern. “Sister Lingxuan’s family came…? Are you hurt…?”

He shook his head. “Thanks to Senior Ling Long and the other peak lords, I’m fine. But Lingxuan…” He paused, then sighed. “Let’s not talk about her.”

But her curiosity was piqued. She looked at him, her eyes soft. “Did her family say something to her?”

He sat down on a bench, pulling her down beside him, enjoying her warmth and the soft curves of her body, then he sighed. “They want her to return to their clan.”

“I left the pavilion because of that.”

She looked at him, her voice soft. “You went to see Sister Lingxuan… tonight…?”

He placed his hand over hers, seemingly enjoying her touch, but also preventing her from using the Heart-Binding Lock. “I didn’t think she wanted to leave, so I tried to talk to her family. But it led to a conflict.”

She looked at him, her expression unreadable. “So you went because you were worried about her…”

He sighed. “Yes, I was worried about her.”

“But I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”

She stared at him, her expression softening, the darkness in her eyes fading. He had been worried about Ye Lingxuan, but he had ultimately chosen her. She felt a surge of guilt.

He pulled her close, his voice reassuring. “Don’t think about it. This is my choice, Ruoxi.”

She stiffened slightly, but she didn’t push him away, simply leaning against him, her gaze fixed on the moon.

After a moment, she asked, her voice soft, “Are you upset that I’m so possessive? That I don’t want you to be close to other girls?”

“It’s just a woman’s natural instinct. It’s normal,” he replied, chuckling.

She relaxed, relieved. She might seem gentle and understanding, but she’s actually quite possessive, just like Senior Sister Lan. He smiled inwardly, sitting with her in comfortable silence, enjoying the moonlight.

After calculating the time, he said, “Senior Ling Long just ate an Eight Treasures Crane. I should go clean up.”

She glanced at him, then nodded softly. He escorted her back to her room, then, after making sure she was resting, he stretched, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard.

“Mengrou, did you see where Lingxuan went?” he asked.

She materialized beside him, her arms crossed, her ample bosom straining against her yellow dress, her voice calm. “She didn’t go back to her pavilion. She seems to be heading towards the Pilgrimage Palace.”

What is she doing there so late…?

He thought for a moment, then he went to Lin Ling’s room. She sat there, gnawing on a steamed bun, her crimson eyes widening as she saw him, tilting her head.

“Aaaa?”

“Senior Lin Ling, I need a favor…”

He explained his request.

…

After making his arrangements, he left her room and was about to head towards the Pilgrimage Palace when Wei Mengrou’s voice, cold and sharp, stopped him.

“Aren’t you worried Bai Ruoxi will come looking for you?”

He turned to look at her, smiling. “She already knows.” Women were generally soft-hearted. His words about Ye Lingxuan had moved her, and his choice to prioritize her had given her a sense of security. She was still jealous, but she had allowed him to leave. It wasn’t a bad thing. She had accepted Ye Lingxuan’s presence, her initial resistance fading. They were one step closer to harmonious coexistence…!

Lingxuan was only at Foundation Establishment. Walking would be much slower than flying, so he caught up to her within ten minutes, finding her on a golden bridge leading to the Pilgrimage Palace, her slender figure moving quickly, her shoulders trembling slightly.

“Lingxuan, wait!” he called out.

She ignored him, her pace quickening. But he was flying. He quickly landed in front of her, blocking her path. She looked up at him, her voice cold. “Is there something you need, Young Master Mu?”

She’s angry…? This isn’t like the elegant young mistress I know… But then again, she’s still just a naive girl. It’s normal for her to be upset. He understood. “Why are you alone? Didn’t we agree to see the blossoms tomorrow?”

“I’m not going tomorrow. Please leave, Young Master Mu. Sister Bai must be worried,” she said, looking away, her profile delicate and alluring.

“Ruoxi knows I’m here,” he replied.

She looked at him, her voice soft. “I don’t need her pity.” She had been raised in luxury and privilege. She might be kind and gentle, but she was also proud. She wouldn’t accept Bai Ruoxi’s charity.

He didn’t respond, reaching for her hand. But she stepped back, her voice sharp. “Please behave yourself, Young Master Mu!”

He spoke softly, his voice reassuring. “Let’s go back.”

She turned away, her voice cold. “Go back where? You can go back to your Sister Bai. Who will I go back to?” She felt a sudden pang of sadness. She would be alone in her pavilion, while he would be with Bai Ruoxi, perhaps even dual cultivating.

“I’ll go back with you,” he said.

“Please leave, Young Master Mu. I’m not going back,” she replied, her voice indifferent.

“Then where are you going?”

“…To see the peach blossoms.”

“What about tomorrow?”

She scoffed. “…I’m not going tomorrow.”

She’s being tsundere. He smiled inwardly. She ignored him, walking towards the Pilgrimage Palace. She wasn’t walking fast, but he could sense her aura distancing itself from him. And when she finally sensed him flying away, she lowered her eyes, her heart sinking. Women are so complicated. When they’re angry, nothing you say can change their minds. They insist on pushing you away, and then they get even angrier when you actually leave.

He hadn’t been foolish enough to actually return to the Garden of Heavenly Harmony. He had flown ahead to the Pilgrimage Palace, placing several stone tablets around the peach trees. He channeled his spiritual energy into them, enlarging them.

He looked up at the moon, calculating her arrival time. Reasoning with an angry woman was often futile. But if he waited for her to calm down, then did something special, it would be much more effective. Not just effective, but doubly so.

Night fell, the crescent moon shining brightly. Ye Lingxuan arrived at the Pilgrimage Palace. It was late, and the visibility was low. The vast square was deserted. She sat down on a stone bench, resting her chin on her hand, staring at the night sky, her thoughts racing, her heart filled with a mixture of hope and despair.

A light suddenly fell upon her, and she looked up to see the Pilgrimage Palace bathed in a soft, pink glow. The peach blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, their petals shimmering.

She looked up and saw Mu Zhi’an approaching from the depths of the palace, his gaze fixed on her. She stared at the glowing peach blossoms, their beauty almost dreamlike. “What did you do…?” she asked, her voice soft.

He looked up at the sky, sighing. “It’s a shame we can’t see the stars tonight. It would be even more beautiful.” He sat down beside her. Her face, bathed in the pink light, seemed even more delicate and alluring, her usual innocence tinged with a hint of seductiveness.

She stared at the swaying blossoms, her eyes filled with wonder, and he watched her, his gaze lingering on her beautiful profile. A woman like her, usually so calm and composed, her beauty enhanced by this intoxicating atmosphere… it was captivating.

“Didn’t you leave?” she asked after a long silence.

“How could I leave when you’re here…?” he replied, smiling.

She glanced at him, then her gaze returned to the peach blossoms. After a while, she sighed, her voice filled with wonder.

“It’s so beautiful…”

He looked at her, her jawline delicate, her eyelashes long and dark, her eyes bright, her lips full and inviting, and he said, his voice filled with sincerity, “Yes, it is.” But she was referring to the peach blossoms, while he was referring to her.

She felt a warm hand on hers, his fingers gently intertwining with hers. This time, she didn’t resist, allowing him to hold her hand as she stared at the glowing blossoms, their beauty enhanced by the pink light. She had vowed to ignore him when she had left the Garden of Heavenly Harmony, but now, looking at this scene, feeling his warmth beside her, her heart softened.

She turned to look at him, her eyes filled with a sudden longing, her lips parting slightly.

I’m sorry… Qian’er…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay