Chapter 678: 680 (first update)

In the darkness, Mo Zhixuan’s lips curled up in satisfaction.

Only by embracing her so genuinely could Mo Zhixuan truly feel at ease.

The next day.

As dawn broke, Chu Jin woke up, or more precisely, hunger had awakened her.

The scent of steamed buns from downstairs drifted up, intensifying Chu Jin’s hunger. She casually grabbed a pillow, stuffed it into his embrace in a move like a cicada sloughing its skin, and smoothly slid out of bed.

...

Luckily, she had prepared a buckled shirt for today. The collar just covered her collarbones, otherwise, she would have really been unable to face anyone.

When Chu Jin changed and came out, Mo Zhixuan was already up, sitting on the edge of the bed, leisurely buttoning up his shirt, an unusual trace of laziness on his stern features.

Even so, it did nothing to hide the aura of a superior that was inherent to him.

"Baby, you’ve worked hard," Mo Zhixuan said tenderly.

Chu Jin frowned slightly, struggling to get used to this form of address. She lifted her foot and gave him a kick, "Baby, what baby? Call me Brother Jin."

"Brother Jin has worked hard," Mo Zhixuan complied very naturally with a ’Brother Jin’ that sounded utterly natural.

"Go take a bath first," Chu Jin glanced up at him, "I’m going downstairs to eat."

"Mhm," Mo Zhixuan nodded slightly, then turned and went inside.

The bed had already been made by Mo Zhixuan. Chu Jin walked to the window, drew the curtains for ventilation, and after finishing these tasks, she headed downstairs.

Downstairs in the dining room, Aunt Lin had already prepared breakfast.

After last night’s acupuncture and medication, Aunt Lin looked much more spirited.

Aunt Lin turned her head and said with a smile, "Jin, it’s time to eat. Where’s Zhixuan? Why didn’t he come down with you?"

"He’s brushing his teeth. There’s no need to wait for him; let’s eat first." No sooner had she spoken than Chu Jin grabbed a fluffy bun and started nibbling on it.

"You child, don’t you have any manners? Wait for Zhixuan," Aunt Lin took the bun from Chu Jin’s hands, "He’s an honored guest. If you act like this, others will say we have no manners."

Even though Mo Zhixuan now called Aunt Lin ’godmother’ just like Chu Jin, Aunt Lin still couldn’t help venerating Mo Zhixuan from the bottom of her heart.

She was still somewhat restrained.

After all, this man was a deity of the Superpower World.

How many could truly remain unruffled and unafraid in his presence?

"Only you are so proper. We’re all family, and Zhixuan doesn’t have as many thoughts as you," Uncle Wu handed a bun to Chu Jin, "Jin, eat. Your godmother is just making a fuss over nothing."

"Thank you, godfather," Chu Jin said with a smile in her eyes.

Just then, Mo Zhixuan also came down from upstairs. After politely greeting the two elders, he sat down next to Chu Jin.

Mo Zhixuan had long achieved the state of fasting. He only symbolically tasted a few bites of the breakfast Aunt Lin had painstakingly prepared.

For the rest of the time, he just watched Chu Jin eat.

After breakfast, Aunt Lin brought Chu Jin the tools for herb gathering.

A bamboo basket, inside of which there was an oil-paper umbrella and a small shovel.

Chu Jin was just about to reach for them when she felt a heavy shadow loom behind her, a faint smell of tobacco filling her nostrils, and a strong, slender hand intercepted the basket before her, Mo Zhixuan thus stood behind her, merely leaning in slightly to effortlessly take the basket from Aunt Lin’s hands.

At 1.7 meters tall, Chu Jin was considered outstandingly tall among girls, yet standing in front of Mo Zhixuan, she became utterly diminutive.

This man was almost twenty centimeters taller than her.

A true embodiment of the phrase, "tall with long legs."

After taking the basket, Mo Zhixuan casually slung it on his back. The old-fashioned basket did not look out of place on his back, instead adding a hint of mystery and attractiveness to his presence.

Seeing him do this, Aunt Lin was stunned, "Zhixuan, what are you doing? Quickly put down the basket and let Jin carry it."

A person like Mo Zhixuan should be in the imperial palace, directing the affairs of the empire, not laboring in the mountains like a rustic woodman.

"I’ll go with Jin," Mo Zhixuan replied politely.

"What?!" Aunt Lin’s voice rose an octave, "You want to go too? No, you shouldn’t go, you’re like an emperor, how can you go to such places? The woods are filled with dangers, what if something dangerous happens? Let Jin go on her own, you just wait here for her to come back..."

These words were somewhat hurtful.

So, if Chu Jin encountered danger, it wouldn’t matter?

In Aunt Lin’s eyes, Mo Zhixuan and Chu Jin were different.

Even though Mo Zhixuan had acknowledged Chu Jin as his wife, they hadn’t yet gone through an official ceremony, meaning this relationship could fall apart at any time.

Moreover, Chu Jin was just a person from the secular world.

She would be more than suitable for someone like Jian Yi, but for Mo Zhixuan? She was a bit... underqualified.

Even if Mo Zhixuan really loved her and was deeply devoted to her, marrying her and having her ascend to the position of the number nine lady wouldn’t be so simple. The seat of the ninth lady was fraught with thorns and hardships; she would have to pass numerous tests and master a wide range of skills, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and all kinds of martial arts—it was not an easy seat to occupy.

What’s more, when Aunt Lin initially helped Chu Jin, she did so with an ulterior motive. She wanted Chu Jin to marry Jian Yi—that way, Chu Jin could become a true part of her family.

Though Chu Jin had acknowledged her as a godmother and was very affectionate, Aunt Lin had always known one thing.

Children should be one’s own, hair should grow from the roots.

Even if Chu Jin was being good to herself now, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t change her heart in the future.

Only if she married Jian Yi would she truly and sincerely be good to herself.

After all, Jian Yi was the child she had brought up herself, and nobody knew his nature better than she did.

Little did she know, Chu Jin simply didn’t fancy Jian Yi.

Back then, Auntie Lin had hinted many times in front of Chu Jin, hoping she would accept Jian Yi, but all were tactfully rejected by Chu Jin. She had thought that after they went down the mountain, her relationship with Jian Yi would grow even closer; little did she know that in less than a month, Chu Jin had gotten involved with Mo Zhixuan.

If Chu Jin had accepted Jian Yi earlier, wouldn’t all the issues with Mo Zhixuan have been avoided?

After all, in the Superpower World, she and Mo Zhixuan were still free individuals.

In Auntie Lin’s view, only if Chu Jin married Jian Yi could she fully repay the debt of saving her life. Now that Chu Jin had chosen Mo Zhixuan, then she would forever owe Auntie Lin a life, and it was only right for her to take risks to gather herbs now.

After all, one should repay even the smallest favor with a spring-like fountain.

After all, if it weren’t for Auntie Lin and Uncle Wu back then, Chu Jin would have died long ago.

Chu Jin’s eyes narrowed, masking the emotions within, surprised that Auntie Lin could say such things...

Perhaps, Auntie Lin hadn’t meant it.

After all, in the past year, Auntie Lin truly treated her well.

Just like her own daughter.

And indeed, it was Auntie Lin who had saved her life.

Chu Jin comforted herself in her heart.

"There’s nowhere I can’t go," Mo Zhixuan slightly lowered his gaze, a cold light seemingly flashing in his eyes, "Jin and I are husband and wife, if Jin can go, why can’t I?"

Auntie Lin was about to say something more but was interrupted hastily by Uncle Wu, "Go ahead, just take care. The mountain roads are treacherous, you must be very careful."

Uncle Wu was different from Auntie Lin.

He truly treated Chu Jin as his daughter and saved her simply out of a desire to help, without any ulterior motive.

Auntie Lin, a woman who hadn’t had much education and had never had children of her own, had rather fixated ideas about offspring. She had desperately hoped to have a child of her own, and after encountering Chu Jin, she projected these hopes onto her. But Chu Jin went against her wishes.

This rebellion ignited her anger.

She felt that since she had saved Chu Jin, she had the right to decide Chu Jin’s life; otherwise, Chu Jin would forever owe her a life.

But it was undeniable that Auntie Lin also liked Chu Jin very much, otherwise, she wouldn’t have proposed that Chu Jin marry Jian Yi.

With that said, Uncle Wu turned to look at Chu Jin, advising, "Jin, everything relies on ’fate,’ and the same goes for picking herbs. If you really can’t find them, don’t force it. It could just be a stroke of fate for your godmother and I. You both must come back before it gets dark."

Uncle Wu could sense that the herbs Chu Jin was looking for were no ordinary ones, or else she wouldn’t insist on going herself, especially when their backyard garden was already growing many rare medicinal herbs.

Moreover, all sorts of things inhabited the mountains at night, and once dusk fell, it would turn into a slaughter ground for wild beasts.

Especially in the depths of the mountains.

Untouched and undeveloped, who knew what dangers might lurk there.

If the two of them stayed in the mountains, it would most certainly be unsafe.

Yet Auntie Lin, unaware of Uncle Wu’s intentions, said to Chu Jin and Mo Zhixuan, "Your godfather is right. If you can’t find them, you mustn’t spend the night on the mountain, especially Zhixuan, remember to come back before dark. Your godmother will make some delicious food and wait for you to come home."

Those words were especially heart-wrenching.

It implied that Chu Jin had to find the herbs, or else she shouldn’t come back at all—life for life.

After all, this was about life and death, and Auntie Lin had to be a little ruthless; she didn’t want to die just yet, not having seen Jian Yi marry and have children.

She was still looking forward to caring for Jian Yi’s children.

Listening to these words, Uncle Wu wished he could immediately step forward and silence Auntie Lin’s mouth.

It was all fine before, and he had already smoothed over the issue.

Little did he expect that his old partner would be so muddled!

To say it once might be seen as unintentional, but could it be unintentional a second time?

Chu Jin felt a sourness in her heart, a sense of grievance, and looked up at Auntie Lin, speaking as usual, "Godmother, don’t worry, I will definitely find the herbs and bring them back."

"That’s good," Auntie Lin nodded with satisfaction and said with a smiling face, "Jin, with your words, your godmother feels at ease. Godmother was right to have cherished you before."

Mo Zhixuan held back the anger in his heart, took Chu Jin’s hand, and looked at Uncle Wu, "Godfather, we’ll leave now, then."

Auntie Lin added, "Zhixuan, be careful on the way, and remember to come back early."

Mo Zhixuan pursed his lips, not responding to Auntie Lin’s words. If it weren’t for Chu Jin’s sake, he really wouldn’t want to stay here another second.

At first, his impression of Auntie Lin was good, but how could she seem like a different person when it came to issues of life and death?

She acted as if all this was Chu Jin’s obligation, without a word of thanks, and instead uttered such chilled-to-the-bone words!

In fact, even if Auntie Lin hadn’t said those things, Chu Jin would have found the herbs beautifully. His Jin wasn’t the kind to be ungrateful. Moreover, from Chu Jin’s eyes, it was clear that she truly regarded these elderly folks as her own parents.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read