Li Yuan asked aloud, "What should we do now?"
Chen Mo snapped back to reality and said, "The previous battle was quite draining. Let’s rest in the city for now and set off tomorrow... Once we get near Tiandu City, I’ll send a message back and have someone come out to meet us. This way, it’s more secure."
Neither of them had any objections to this.
"Book three rooms, prepare some food and wine, and have three barrels of hot water sent up." Chen Mo tossed a piece of silver onto the counter.
"Got it! Please, esteemed guests, head upstairs!"
The small county is rarely visited, and such major customers are uncommon. The shopkeeper pocketed the silver and couldn’t stop smiling.
Second floor of the restaurant.
The room contained only a bed, a table, and two wooden chairs. Though simply furnished, it was at least clean and tidy.
Ling Ningzhi sat cross-legged on the bed, trying to meditate, but her mind was too scattered, unable to calm down.
The experiences with Chen Mo kept flashing before her eyes.
From snatching treasures in the Cangyun Mountain Secret Realm, competing in the Heavenly Element Martial Examination, to the thrilling escape from West Desolate Mountain earlier... Unknowingly, they’ve gone through life and death together several times, forming a deep bond.
Eventually, the scene froze at the moment Chen Mo handed her the immortal materials.
[Daoist, I give you a little red flower... It’s very important to you, isn’t it?]
Ling Ningzhi’s cheeks flushed red as she struggled to clear her mind, but it was futile. That face seemed etched deeply in her memory.
She opened her eyes in frustration, dispelling her cultivation technique, and sighed helplessly.
If this continues, not only will her cultivation be delayed, but she’s afraid a heart demon might develop!
"If Chen Mo was coveting my body, he could ask for more outrageous things... But he hasn’t done that, he just seems to enjoy bullying me..."
"He’s saved my life several times and even risked himself to pick the immortal materials for me. This kindness might be impossible to repay in this lifetime..."
"Was my attitude towards him a bit too much just now?"
Ling Ningzhi felt a heaviness in her heart.
After pondering for a while, she stood up and left the room.
Regardless of whether Chen Mo wanted to give her the immortal materials, she should apologize for her words and actions.
Chen Mo’s room was diagonally across, and as she approached the door, about to knock, she suddenly heard strange sounds coming from the room.
There were almost no travelers from other regions in Linyang County, and the second floor of the restaurant had only the three of them. Due to the simple decor, the soundproofing wasn’t great, and she could vaguely hear the conversation between the two.
Ling Ningzhi hesitated for a moment, then quietly pressed her ear to the crack in the door.
"I’m teaching you calligraphy, start by moistening the brush, then imprint the seal, and then you can begin transcribing... Did you learn it?"
"I, I learned it, sir, please write slowly o(╥﹏╥)o♡♡♡..."
Ling Ningzhi was puzzled by what she heard.
It’s just calligraphy practice, why was General Li crying?
Moreover, the voice sounded strange, making her heart flutter and face flush. She couldn’t help but want to listen more closely, practically lying against the door...
Li Yuan’s eyes were glazed, her cheeks flushed, and her consciousness blurred.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo was meticulously guiding her in practicing calligraphy, his strokes powerful, penetrating the paper, like hooks and iron paintings, each stroke engraved deep.
"Sir, let this subordinate rest for a while, it’s really exhausting..."
"Only by pushing limits can progress be made. How about this, I’ll hold you while you practice, it might be easier."
"Wait, wait a minute, the brush is going to break..."
Chen Mo lifted Li Yuan, walking boldly as he completed the grand calligraphy in the room.
Li Yuan’s breathing became more rapid, her head tilted back, and a whimper escaped her throat, appearing to appreciate Chen Mo’s calligraphy.
Just as this grand masterpiece was nearing completion, the thin door couldn’t withstand the pressure and swung inward, causing the off-balance Ling Ningzhi to stumble in.
Her legs faltered, unable to stand, and she ended up kneeling before the two.
And as the work reached its finale, Li Yuan trembled like a sieve, her eyes rolling back, her voice quivered:
"Daoist Qingxuan, d-don’t look, quickly close your eyes, don’t look...!"
Ling Ningzhi stared wide-eyed, bewildered at the scene before her.
The spring rain, like weaving threads, fell upon her breathtaking face, leaving her as still as a statue.
"Boohoo... It’s all the Lord’s fault, can’t face anyone now..."
Li Yuan, coming to her senses, covered her flushed face, wishing she could find a crack to crawl into.
"It’s alright, Daoist isn’t an outsider."
Chen Mo comforted her briefly, then carried her to the bed to rest, turned to Ling Ningzhi, and with narrowed eyes, said:
"Daoist, it’s not a good habit to peek at others practicing calligraphy."
Ling Ningzhi instinctively apologized. She looked up against the sunlight, a huge shadow covered her face as she muttered, "What is this?"
Chen Mo, hands on his hips, said calmly, "Ink Treasure."
Ling Ningzhi realized what it was, a blush spread like a dye on her face, resembling a ripe apple. She got up and fled in panic, nearly tripping while exiting.
Watching her panic-stricken figure, Chen Mo shook his head with a smile.
Ling Ningzhi, a top figure of the righteous path, her cultivation formidable, a paragon among peers, yet in certain aspects, she’s like a blank sheet.
"The cleaner the blank sheet, the more one wants to scribble all over it!"
However, Chen Mo merely entertained such thoughts, not intending to act on them.
This Daoist nun may be naive, but her master is no pushover. If that crazy woman found her pure essence gone, he might end up as a garnish...