Xu Chang’an returned to his quarters to fetch the Jade Dew Clear Wine that Yun Qian wanted, then thought for a moment... and also took the Ti Yue Liqueur he had bought from Liu Qingluo.
Miss Yun rarely makes an effort to get along with someone she’s met for the first time, so he could indulge her a bit more; today he’d listen to whatever she says.
Besides... he’d already talked with Qinling about it, since he was hosting Wen Li, it wouldn’t be against the rules for him, as the Steward of Muyu Peak, to stay overnight at Celestial Bright Peak.
Yes, because he was an Outer Disciple, normally he couldn’t stay overnight elsewhere.
Xu Chang’an thought for a moment and then went to his fruit garden in the backyard.
He had planted fruit trees back when he was on the island, a first for him in agriculture, and it was all for Miss Yun.
However, the environment on the island was average, lacking Spiritual Qi, so the fruits were just ordinary fruits, unable to improve Yun Qian’s constitution.
While the fruits he planted at Chaoyun Sect were magical, due to his inexperienced techniques, the Spiritual Qi dissipated quickly, so by the time he took them to Beisang City for Yun Qian to eat... they had become ordinary fruits.
But it’s different now, Yun Qian is right beside him, just a teleportation array away from him.
Gathering some fruits he considered of high quality and packing them, Xu Chang’an was about to leave... when he saw a Li Hua cat sleeping on the wall of his house.
"Xiaohua, you’re sleeping again." Xu Chang’an smiled and walked over, flipping it over, and rubbing its body while listening to Xiaohua’s soft murmurs, he helplessly said, "Sleeping away the whole day, I even wanted to tell you about my breakthrough... never mind, sleep on."
Xu Chang’an left a Spirit Fruit on the wall and turned to leave.
Celestial Bright Peak.
"My husband said he’s planted quite a few fruits, how do they taste, are they sweet?"
Yun Qian said with a smile on her lips.
It was the first time she’d referred to someone as "my husband," and this sensation felt novel enough to brighten her mood.
"Junior Brother cultivates fine Spirit Fruits; as for the taste... sometimes they’re sweet, but some are bitter, depending on the nature of the Spiritual Power pathways." Wen Li showed a hint of helplessness.
It wasn’t strange for Yun Qian to ask anything, as none of it related to cultivation.
"I heard him say even the Li Hua likes to eat the fruits he grows." Yun Qian looked at Wen Li.
"The Li Hua would like them." Wen Li glanced towards Muyu Peak, folded her hands before her stomach, and a discreet unease flickered across her face, but she quickly adjusted her state, saying, "The one on Muyu Peak... who eats Junior Brother’s Spirit Fruits the most is a Li Hua."
Yun Qian looked at the empty teacup before her, put her veil back on, and asked, "Do you like them too?"
"I do." Wen Li answered, "All the sisters love the Spirit Fruits he grows; for some sisters with weaker cultivation... it can aid in their spiritual journey, sometimes helping them calm their minds."
Actually, ever since the discovery that Xu Chang’an’s Spirit Fruits could alleviate and even slightly improve the mental disturbances caused by cultivation in the Inner Realm and Illusion Realm, his Spirit Fruits had become sought after on Muyu Peak.
"Aid in cultivation..." Yun Qian mused, recognizing that she and Wen Li were speaking together ultimately because of cultivation.
"Why do we cultivate, for immortality, or happiness?" Yun Qian asked.
She didn’t expect Yun Qian to ask about cultivation, yet she did.
This was the first time tonight that Junior Sister Yun inquired about matters of cultivation in a genuine sense, and although it was broad in concept, she still took it seriously.
"I can’t give you an answer." Wen Li pondered for a moment, saying, "Everyone has different reasons for cultivation; what you cultivate for... is something Junior Sister must decide for herself."
"Me?" Yun Qian thought about it and replied, "I cultivate to have a path to walk in the future."
This was what Xu Chang’an told her, ordered her to remember.
In truth, Miss Yun didn’t want to walk; she just wanted to go wherever... stick to her husband, let him take her.
So, her cultivation was essentially for Xu Chang’an, it was all for Chang’an.
’To have a path to walk in the future?’
Wen Li’s eyes moved, surprised at hearing such sincere words from Yun Qian, she had thought... Yun Qian didn’t care about cultivation at all.
"It’s a difficult path, yet it’s a grand avenue." Wen Li looked at Yun Qian, meeting her clear gaze.
She couldn’t say whether Yun Qian had an innocent heart, but instinct told her that Miss Yun before her was definitely a good candidate for cultivation.
"A grand avenue?" Yun Qian blinked.
Is it Heavenly Dao or a grand way?
Never mind, it’s like a Li Hua and Pear Blossoms are both flowers; no need to differentiate too sharply.
The "Dao" underfoot is ultimately a road; she only needs to accompany Xu Chang’an, as for where the road leads... that depends on where her husband wants to go.
The key is... Yun Qian doesn’t know where Xu Chang’an wants to go, what he wants, as Xu Chang’an sometimes doesn’t even want her.
Or, she knows where Xu Chang’an desires to go, but not where he will go.
This isn’t hard to understand.
For instance... Yun Qian knows he likes her, yet Xu Chang’an will control this affection, striving not to tease or complicate her.
Yun Qian also knows Xu Chang’an desires to return to the island to live a secluded world with her, yet he still chooses to go out to cultivate.
Desires and actions aren’t necessarily aligned.
Yun Qian traced her fingers along the table surface, then looked at Wen Li and asked, "Why do you cultivate, is it for immortality?"
Wen Li and Xu Chang’an shared a slight resemblance—short fingers and ink-colored tousled hair.
Perhaps she could draw some reference from it.
"Me?" Wen Li looked outside to the eerie path in North Garden and slowly said, "I cultivate... to pursue stability."
"Xu Chang’an?" Yun Qian sat up straighter.
Wen Li hadn’t anticipated Yun Qian would directly mention Xu Chang’an’s name and froze.
"...Junior Sister Yun."
Wen Li rested a hand on her temple, then said, "It’s peace and stability."
She had been on the battlefield, wielded a long spear, and to this day, she resorts to Martial Power when facing situations.
She hadn’t deceived Yun Qian, her goal upon entering cultivation had been tranquility and stability, meeting Xu Chang’an was just an occurrence over the last year or so.
Wen Li listened to the pattering rain outside the window and earnestly said, "In this world, roughly there’s nothing more desirable than peace and stability."
"So, that’s the kind of stability." Yun Qian blinked, gently touched her heart with long hair, and glanced at the fragmented galaxy above.
Longing for stability too.
Her husband also wishes for stability, hence there are things that Miss Yun, this malicious woman, shouldn’t reveal to her kind man.
Yun Qian contemplated more deeply.
Now she securely remains by his side, thus everything becomes stable, in truth... the tranquility Xu Chang’an chases is precisely himself.
After all, throughout history, no "Golden Age of Chang’an" could compare to the stability her husband brings to Heavenly Dao and human reasoning.
The stability Miss Wen pursues... is it her husband?
Thinking this way seems right.