Chapter 69 - 057 Be careful of Mu Yu... no, be careful of Xu Chang’an.
"Junior Master Qin." Xu Chang’an keenly sensed a bit of sourness in the air. He blinked and immediately said, "I don’t have that kind of feelings for Miss Zhu..."
"Shh." Qinling interrupted Xu Chang’an and seriously said, "Miss Zhu doesn’t belong to me, so I won’t be jealous over such a small matter. It’s just that... it seems the fruit I’ve nurtured is still lacking."
Xu Chang’an had nothing to say.
"Alright, come out with me for a walk. I have something to remind you." Qinling took Xu Chang’an out of her residence.
Since she was still in casual clothes, it was inconvenient for her to be seen by those disciples in charge, so she put on a veil.
——
The breeze stirred up a flurry of bamboo leaves. The dense bamboo leaves swayed in the wind, making a rustling sound as they collided, and within the bamboo forest flowed a small stream. The refreshing water quietly trickled by, meandering in unknown directions.
This bamboo grove had the charm of a secluded hermit’s dwelling. Qinling walked lightly on the moss-covered stone path, her entire being blended into the bamboo forest, peaceful and serene.
In the garden, myriad flowers bloomed, flaunting a riot of colors, and in the air lingered a faint scent of flowers.
The two walked leisurely along a twisting stone path towards the small lake. Suddenly, a vast, pristine lake surface appeared before Xu Chang’an.
On the lake, he could see a few small boats scattered here and there.
"Junior Master Qin, why have you brought me here?" Xu Chang’an was puzzled; surely, she didn’t intend to go boating with him.
"Do you see those ladies?" Qinling pointed to a small boat, and Xu Chang’an followed her gaze, seeing two women sitting across from each other with joyful smiles.
"Yes," Xu Chang’an nodded.
"The lake at Celestial Bright Peak and the scenery at Muyu Peak are different, each with its own charm. So it’s common for ladies from Muyu Peak to come visit together," Qinling said with a smile. "Some of these ladies have very close relationships... In the mortal world, it’s called ’eating from the same table,’ but in the Immortal Sect, it’s called being ’dao companions.’"
"..." Xu Chang’an was startled.
What Qinling meant was...
"You probably don’t know." Qinling said earnestly, "Muyu Peak cultivates music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, focusing on refining the heart. Before you came, it was all ladies, with some similarities to places of pleasure. Therefore, there are quite a few people like me on Muyu Peak..."
Lowering her voice a bit, Qinling said, "On Muyu Peak, there are not many false affairs, but they’re not absent either."
"False affairs?" Xu Chang’an didn’t immediately understand, but soon realized what Qinling was implying.
"What I mean to say," Qinling tossed her hair by her ear and said, "You probably intend to find a guide for Yun’Er at Muyu Peak, but be cautious of the girls from Muyu Peak; don’t bring wolves into the fold... Considering your Miss Yun’s beauty, who knows what could happen if she meets an unscrupulous girl." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
"Not possible, right?" Xu Chang’an’s blinking speed gradually increased.
He thought that the senior sisters from Muyu Peak were usually quite normal.
"What do you know, can I deceive you?" Qinling shook her head.
The women from Muyu Peak, due to the unique cultivation techniques they practice, possess less celestial aura and more human warmth.
It is precisely their uniqueness that makes them very popular in the Chaoyun Sect, whether in cultivation or day-to-day life.
Everyone knows that forging a dao companion relationship with a lady from Muyu Peak means transforming one’s entire life, feeling a life completely different from the previously dull existence following her rhythm.
In the Chaoyun Sect, many male cultivators see the ladies from Muyu Peak as their ideal dao companions.
They are beautiful, interesting, understand life, adept in quirky secret techniques, cold as fairies during the day but similar to worldly women at night, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting without neglecting cultivation, and their cultivation might even surpass yours.
They completely fulfill the fantasies about gentle worldly women and meet their cultivation needs; indeed, the perfect partner.
Thus, Xu Chang’an, as the only male cultivator on Muyu Peak, was envied early on.
However...
Because of their unique nature, few ladies from Muyu Peak are willing to marry someone solely focused on cultivation, so even Charm Technique cultivator Zhu Pingniang is still single.
Ultimately, the energetic women of Muyu Peak started looking inward for companionship, since they were surrounded by people attractive and compatible with themselves.
With such prevailing atmosphere, it’s understandable that some female cultivators form ’same table’ relationships.
Qinling didn’t explain much to Xu Chang’an, thinking that the girls from Muyu Peak seldom meet any youth they find pleasing to the eye, naturally acting reserved before him, so it’s normal for Xu Chang’an not to see their true nature.
"Just listen to what your master uncle says." Qinling genuinely considered Xu Chang’an’s situation and thus said, "Simply put, Wen Li on Muyu Peak is the heartthrob of many girls."
"Senior Wen?" Xu Chang’an was taken aback again.
Wen Li is the senior who entrusted him with the Cyan-eyed Tiger task.
Senior Wen...
Xu Chang’an recalled Senior Wen’s appearance and demeanor and realized Qinling was correct; Wen Li indeed has high popularity on Muyu Peak.
"Wen Li’s orientation is normal." Qinling said, "So if you want to find a guide for Yun’Er, you’d better let her have a look."
"Is that so?" Xu Chang’an concealed his astonishment, looking deeply at Qinling, then said, "Master Uncle, I’ve understood."
"Hmm." Qinling stopped at the lakeside, looking towards the North Garden in the distance.
Unknowingly, she and Xu Chang’an had returned to the side where Yun Qian resided.
She recalled Yun Qian and Xu Chang’an sharing equally clean eyes, suddenly halting her steps.
Qinling’s breath stirred her veil as she sighed, "Boy, is your master uncle... quite shameful?"
Xu Chang’an should have realized.
Her statement about Twin Lotus on Muyu Peak was true, no lies involved.
But the people of Muyu Peak abide by the rules; even if someone who genuinely likes girls became Yun Qian’s guide, wouldn’t do anything inappropriate to Yun Qian.
Qinling’s ’slander’ against Muyu Peak before Xu Chang’an was nothing but trying to tell him... people like her, who love women, aren’t abnormalities.
Instead, it backfired.
"I think Master Uncle is a very capable person." Xu Chang’an pondered and felt that someone like Qinling, who could quickly recognize her dark thoughts and candidly share them with a junior... was rare.
Qinling quietly stared into Xu Chang’an’s gentle eyes, even someone like her, who had cultivated for many years, couldn’t escape the shackles of mundanity in her heart.
Qinling shook her head, "Has anyone ever told you that you’re like a mirror?"
Looking into a mirror reveals one’s unpleasant thoughts.
"No," Xu Chang’an replied.
"Then I’m the first to say it, which makes it quite delightful." Qinling spat and rubbed her forehead with one hand.
She was indeed strange.
She was never such a talkative person, usually keeping everything to herself.
But upon meeting Xu Chang’an... it seemed like she became a naïve girl, sharing everything, whether shareable or not, even embarrassing things, with him, as if... unwilling and unable to deceive him.
It’s quite eerie.
"You’re truly formidable, child." Qinling said seriously.
"Master Uncle?" Xu Chang’an showed helplessness, increasingly unable to comprehend Qinling, as the formerly straightforward image of her shattered completely.
Qinling gently lifted her veil, "Forget everything I told you, just remember to go to the Inner Sect."
Responding, Xu Chang’an intended to focus on Qinling’s advice, dismissing everything else.
Suddenly, Xu Chang’an stumbled because he noticed Yun Qian across the river, also wearing a veil. Draped in a cloud-like shawl, waveringly walking by the roadside, her black hair loosely hung, exuding a fragile beauty.
Miss Yun, when not dining and in his absence, ventured out alone?
Even if it’s just a hundred meters from home.
Such occurrence was rare.
Naturally, Qinling noticed Yun Qian too. Observing Xu Chang’an’s expression, she sighed, "Young couples indeed can’t be separated for long, off you go."
"Master Uncle, don’t tease," Xu Chang’an awkwardly coughed.
"By the way," Qinling earnestly said, "No need to guard against me, I won’t do anything to your wife. My preference is for Miss Zhu, irrelevant to her gender."
Yun Qian’s attractiveness is appealing, so she enjoys looking at her a bit more, just that.