Su Chan’s beauty was like early spring: at times playful, evoking tenderness, and at others intoxicatingly lush, causing enchantment. Sometimes, the innate charm emanating from her was like a gentle, penetrating spring rain; other times, her innocence, untouched by the world, resembled the dappled sunlight filtering through a forest glade—radiant and delightful.
Zhou Qin’s beauty was akin to winter and summer combined. In its severe form, she was like the deepest freeze of the third nine-day period in winter, a barren expanse utterly devoid of vitality, where a chilling, resolute beauty emerged from absolute stillness and detachment. Yet, when she gave her whole heart, she transformed into the scorching heat of the height of summer, as if determined to burn herself away to ignite and warm the other.
Zi Yuan’s beauty was like the quiet autumn. When she maintained a serious demeanor, she evoked the verse, "The autumn moon hangs clear above, as autumn’s period nears the heavens," radiating an ethereal elegance detached from earthly concerns. But when she offered a slight smile, it was like, "The osmanthus scents the breeze ten miles wide, the lotus blooms on clear waters," instantly refreshing the spirit, dazzling the eyes, and captivating the mind.
This was not the first time Li Yundong had seen Zi Yuan smile at him, but this particular instance struck his heart with the deepest resonance.
In that fleeting moment, a line of poetry inexplicably surfaced in Li Yundong’s mind: Slender shadows stretch across the clear, shallow water, a faint fragrance floats in the twilight of the moon.
Though there were no slender shadows of trees or the gentle gurgle of a shallow stream beneath a small bridge right then, upon this rooftop, under the moonlight, the very air exuded a bewitching fragrance that quickened the heart, as if the moonlight itself had softened considerably.
Li Yundong even felt that the fairy before him was Chang’e descended from the Celestial Palace, a beauty so breathtaking it felt sacrilegious to merely gaze upon her.
Li Yundong remained silent for a time, simply staring foolishly at Zi Yuan. Sometimes, the beauty of a woman possesses the power to steal souls, rendering the most accomplished heroes dazed and inert, like clay statues.
Zi Yuan seemed to sense the awkwardness of the atmosphere, yet she could not depart. For a moment, the descended fairy bit her crimson lip, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, her eyes filled with a delicate, slight reproach. This very moment of a beauty’s gentle ire only amplified her allure.
This only made Li Yundong stare more foolishly. Although his love for Su Chan was deep and absolute, he was certainly not made of cold stone. Faced with a celestial being before him offering a slight pout and smile, if he could still remain unmoved, he wouldn't be a normal man.
Li Yundong’s gaze made Zi Yuan deeply uncomfortable. Wherever his eyes landed, she felt a tingling itch, reminiscent of that strange sensation when they had been bound together the last time. Mingled within this prickling sensation was an unfamiliar, stirring sweetness that caused ripples in her heart, like a small stone tossed into a still pond, sending waves outward.
They remained frozen like this, time itself seeming to halt, until Su Chan’s voice suddenly cut through the stillness near them.
“Yundong! There you are! I was just looking for you!” The young girl bounded onto the rooftop from below, calling out from a distance.
Her voice instantly jolted Li Yundong back to reality. He withdrew his gaze as if waking from a dream, offering Zi Yuan an awkward smile. Zi Yuan, however, refused to look at him, quickly turning away, taking a deep breath as if trying to settle the turmoil within her chest.
Li Yundong glanced self-consciously at Zi Yuan’s back. He noticed her ears were bright red, and a tempting peach-blush spread down to the base of her neck. A sudden panic seized him, and he chuckled wryly, “Damn it, this Immortal Sister’s charm is getting stronger; this old man can barely handle it!”
Li Yundong turned, coughed lightly, and said to Su Chan, “Little lass, it’s so late. What’s the matter?”
Only then did Su Chan notice Zi Yuan standing not far from Li Yundong. She blinked her eyes, curious and slightly confused, and asked, “Sister Zi Yuan is here too? Did you two need to discuss something? Should I step away for a moment?”
Su Chan spoke without thinking, but Zi Yuan took the words to heart. Her body stiffened slightly, her crimson lips parted as if to speak, but the words caught in her throat, inexplicably swallowed back.
Seeing Su Chan about to leave, Li Yundong dared not remain alone with Zi Yuan. He quickly stopped her, saying, “Nothing, Zi Yuan and I were just discussing a few things. Go ahead and say what you needed to.”
Su Chan murmured, “Oh, it’s nothing much. I just suddenly thought—since Yan Fang ran off again, won’t Sister Zhou Qin be in danger traveling to the Foundation Establishment stage with the Six Harmonies Sword? What if Yan Fang heals up and tries to steal the sword?”
Li Yundong saw that even now Su Chan was concerned for Zhou Qin’s safety, realizing her innate kindness surpassed that of most others. A surge of deep affection warmed him, and he laughed, “Silly girl, I already thought of that. I was just about to ask Zi Yuan for help.”
He then turned his face toward Zi Yuan and said, “Actually, I wanted to ask you for this favor just now.”
Zi Yuan had finally managed to calm herself somewhat. She smoothed the hair near her ear, composing herself, and said, “You want me to go and protect Zhou Qin?”
Li Yundong nodded, slightly embarrassed. “I should have gone myself, but right now, I absolutely cannot leave Fox Zen Sect, so… I have to ask you for this favor.”
Zi Yuan fully understood that the journey to Foundation Establishment for a cultivator was perilous, and any mishap along the way was unthinkable.
It was just like when Li Yundong underwent his own Foundation Establishment—she had secretly protected him all the way until he succeeded before revealing herself to bring him back.
Even for herself, during her own Foundation Establishment years ago, Wang Yuanshan had offered secret protection throughout the journey.
And in order not to allow the disciple to develop dependency, which would hinder the forging of the true elixir, a Master would absolutely never reveal that they were providing protection along the way. Just as Zi Yuan had kept her protection from Li Yundong back then, Li Yundong was now keeping it from Zhou Qin.
Upon hearing Li Yundong’s request, Zi Yuan agreed without hesitation: “Good, that’s no problem.”
Li Yundong was overjoyed. “That’s truly imposing on you! The journey to Foundation Establishment is long; please take good care of Zhou Qin along the way.”
Su Chan also smiled happily, but then a sudden worry crossed her face. “But Sister Zhou Qin left a day ago. How will we know which path she took, and will we be able to find her?”
Zi Yuan smiled faintly. “No worries. I instructed Hong Ling early this morning to secretly follow Zhou Qin. She will leave markers for me along the way. Even if Yan Fang shows up again, with Hong Ling there and the Six Harmonies Sword assisting, Yan Fang—without a magic treasure—won't fare well.”
Li Yundong exclaimed, looking at Zi Yuan with great admiration, “So that’s why I haven’t seen Hong Ling all day! You arranged this long ago? Even if I hadn't asked, you would have helped, right?”
Zi Yuan smiled slightly but did not answer Li Yundong’s question. She changed the subject: “Li Yundong, don’t worry about Zhou Qin. For the next few days, you handle the matters here at home and at the shop. I will leave shortly. You don’t need to concern yourself with Zhou Qin’s safety.”
Li Yundong smiled and nodded to Zi Yuan, then watched her depart. He turned back to Su Chan and said, “Oh right, Chan’er, I have something I need to ask your help with too.”
Su Chan, afraid that Li Yundong would dismiss her or find her a nuisance, instantly beamed, her face lighting up. She hooked her arm through Li Yundong’s, laughing brightly, “Oh yes, yes! Chan’er is never afraid of trouble! What do you need my help with?”
Li Yundong looked at the girl’s playful, alternating expressions of delight and slight petulance, feeling tenderness but also a touch of apprehension. “But you have to promise me first that you won’t make things worse, or I won’t be able to leave with peace of mind!”
Su Chan immediately grew anxious, clutching Li Yundong’s arm tightly. “Master, you’re leaving? You’re not taking little me?”
Li Yundong chuckled softly, stroking her hair with his hand. He said gently, “Silly girl, I have to go out for something. Zi Yuan and I were just discussing how to capture Yan Fang’s nascent soul. By dawn, I need to find a magic treasure capable of that, and I’ll also need to visit Xiyuan Temple to ask Master Puren for assistance.”
Su Chan looked at Li Yundong with disappointment, pleading stubbornly, “But little me can go with you! You shouldn’t leave her all alone at home! You can ask someone else to help!”
Li Yundong laughed. “Silly girl, right now in the Fox Zen Sect, you are the only person I truly trust. Zi Yuan and Ruan Hongling are leaving, Zhou Qin is out heading toward Foundation Establishment, and I have to leave soon. Though there are two senior martial aunts left in the sect, I don't entirely trust them, and the remaining little foxes are all more adept at spoiling things than achieving anything. I truly have no one else to entrust things to. If I don’t ask you, who else can I ask?”
Li Yundong looked displeased, pouting as she muttered softly, “So, it turns out you only asked me because there’s no one else fit for the job—‘When there are no great generals in Shu, Liao Hua must serve as vanguard’? You still think I’m inadequate; if there were anyone else, you’d have asked them, wouldn’t you?”
Li Yundong was caught between laughter and tears. He playfully pinched the tip of her nose with mock anger and said in a low voice, “Be good! Don’t you want your Master to come back? Besides, haven’t you always clamored to be the proprietress? Now I’m handing the Di San Xian shop over to you to manage, and you start making trouble? Are your bottom cheeks feeling too itchy?”
At this, Su Chan’s eyes curved into crescents with joy. “You’re letting me be the proprietress? Hee-hee, then who’s the boss?”
Li Yundong laughed and scolded her, deliberately provoking her: “You know perfectly well! Are you going to be the proprietress or not? If not, I’ll let someone else do it!”
Su Chan quickly grabbed Li Yundong’s arm, giggling, “I didn’t know you wanted me to do this! Yes, yes, of course, I’ll be the proprietress! You’re so annoying! You promised me, you can’t go back on your word—only I can be the proprietress, no one else!”
Li Yundong shook his head, smiling. “You little rascal! Listen, I’m not asking you to make a profit. Just keep the shop secure and stable for me. It’s fine if you don’t earn a single coin, just don’t stir up any other trouble!”
Su Chan huffed indignantly. “Hmph, am I really that useless?”
Li Yundong put on a stern face and said solemnly, “You are useful, of course you are. It’s just that my little lass’s talents lie elsewhere!”
Su Chan asked curiously, “Then where do my talents lie?”
Li Yundong burst into loud laughter. “Your talent lies in causing disruption, making mischief, and stirring up chaos!”
Su Chan cried out in mock anger, “You’re mean! You’re actually laughing at me! You really do look down on me!” With that, the young girl leaped onto Li Yundong’s back, clawing and nipping playfully.
Li Yundong laughed heartily while carrying her, but fearing she might fall, he looped an arm around her rounded hips, laughing, “Alright, alright. Just don’t cause any major problems, otherwise, I won’t be able to leave with peace of mind!”
After wrestling playfully with Li Yundong for a while, Su Chan declared stubbornly, “Hmph, I’ll show you! I’ll achieve something great to prove myself to you!”
Li Yundong was startled. He glanced back at Su Chan, seeing the serious expression on her face, realizing she wasn't joking. He quickly composed his features and said, “Hey, I’m serious! You have to promise me first—even if you don’t do business, absolutely do not attract trouble!”
Su Chan bared her teeth and claws in feigned fury, “Do I look like someone who gets into trouble easily?”
Li Yundong nodded seriously. “No, you look like a huge amount of trouble waiting to happen!”
Su Chan’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. “You’re looking down on me! You really are dismissing me now!”
Li Yundong felt a headache coming on and quickly soothed her. “Okay, okay, your Master won’t look down on you! You just need to be good and not stir up trouble, alright? I’m begging you, my dear!”
Tears streamed down Su Chan’s face as she said pitifully, “I never meant to cause you any trouble!”
Li Yundong grinned shamelessly. “Yes, yes, my little lass is the best; how could she ever think of causing trouble for her Master? It’s always just an accident! Listen, little lass, can you just be careful this time? Even if we don’t make money, please don’t cause incidents. We absolutely cannot afford any more trouble right now!”
Su Chan furiously wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hands, lowering her head and mumbling sullenly, “I know already!”
Hearing this, Li Yundong felt slightly reassured, but he failed to notice the little girl, still with her head down, her eyes darting around restlessly, an expression of unconcealed defiance on her face, clearly thinking: Hmph, you look down on little me? I’ll make a profit just to show you!
=========================================== My apologies for the late update; there will be one more chapter soon~D