The Little Li Hua cat had been sealed within the barrier for an entire night, so as soon as Xu Chang’an released it, it meowed in grievance, pointing its little snow-white paw in the direction of Wen Li’s residence.
Xu Chang’an felt somewhat helpless.
Although he couldn’t understand the cat’s language, the Little Li Hua had cultivation and was intelligent.
Seeing its grumbling tone and the watery look in its eyes, Xu Chang’an knew Wen Li had sealed it there.
"...Did you steal Fish Pearls from the lake and got caught by Senior Sister?" Xu Chang’an’s finger brushed over the Li Hua cat’s head, giving it a tap: "Senior Wen won’t bully you for no reason, and anyway... it doesn’t count as bullying."
In Xu Chang’an’s perspective, this barrier shatters at a touch, so Wen Li’s action was hardly a punishment for the Li Hua cat.
The Little Li Hua was very dissatisfied that Xu Chang’an was siding with Wen Li instead of itself. It gasped and then bit Xu Chang’an’s thumb.
However, once it opened its mouth, it held back its strength, reluctant to actually bite down.
The finger joint was barely scratched by the cat’s teeth, making Xu Chang’an smile: "Alright then, haven’t I let you out now? Stop being difficult."
"Meow." The cat rubbed Xu Chang’an’s finger, still upset.
"When I see Senior Sister, I’ll plead for you." Xu Chang’an glanced in the direction of his nearby dwelling and said, "I have work to do today, no time to keep you company. As usual, go rest at my place. I’ll allow you to pick an Ice Crystal Fruit to eat. Remember to choose one that’s ripe, don’t upset your stomach again."
The cat was held in Xu Chang’an’s embrace.
Bathed in the youth’s gentle, indulgent gaze, the Little Li Hua looked at him blankly for a while... all its anger dissipated completely, softly meowing in response.
Xu Chang’an scratched its chin, earning a series of purrs in return.
After a moment, the Li Hua cat leapt lightly from Xu Chang’an’s embrace onto his shoulder, nuzzling its furry ears against his neck in a show of affection, then walked towards his dwelling at Muyu Peak, looking back every few steps.
"This little thing..." Xu Chang’an shook his head helplessly.
Always causing trouble or stealing fish, getting disciplined is normal.
Shaking his head, Xu Chang’an headed towards the most bustling street in the west of Muyu Peak to complete his work for the day.
By the lakeside, the boat on the water created ripples, reflecting the warm afternoon sun, with the youth’s westward journey forming a perfect backdrop, as if a stunning scroll.
From afar, a pair of pitch-black eyes gradually turned fiery red, much like the color of the phoenix-shaped Spiritual Qi surrounding her.
Liu Qingluo watched the distant figure of Xu Chang’an leaving, standing in a daze, her fingers clenched until they turned white.
A crisp breeze swept past the trees beside her, making a pleasing rustling sound, so melodious.
Since ascending the mountain, it was the first time a light appeared in Liu Qingluo’s beautiful eyes, making the whole world seem brighter.
He remains so gentle.
Even with a Li Hua cat, he acts this way.
Seeing Liu Qingluo standing still and gazing afar, Gu Qiancheng covered her face shyly.
Liu Qingluo had barely begun her cultivation when she naturally awakened a Pupil Technique, allowing her to see Xu Chang’an from such a distance.
"I thought sister truly didn’t care about him." Gu Qiancheng gently tightened her grip on Liu Qingluo’s arm, pulling her focus back: "Clearly, she likes him a lot."
Seeing Xu Chang’an’s form in the Immortal Sect, Liu Qingluo hadn’t fully returned to her senses.
"Like... is this considered liking?"
The person she likes?
"Why wouldn’t it be considered liking," Gu Qiancheng thought, remembering how her Second Lady had always taught her to be daring in love and hate.
"Didn’t Sister Liu man before?" Gu Qiancheng asked.
Liu Qingluo took a deep breath.
She rarely recalled past events because they were in the past, and what she couldn’t let go was always in her heart, no longer considered past.
In truth, there’s nothing really worth reminiscing about; she was a girl from a brothel, though an Artiste-Courtesan, she had entertained countless guests.
Generally, people wouldn’t ask a woman originating from a brothel, who spent half her life adrift in the rouge, if she ever had feelings for someone.
After all, everyone knew that these girls were often heartless guests.
Those from the lower classes weren’t qualified to have feelings.
Perform on stage, wipe off makeup offstage, it was all just an act.
But Gu Qiancheng wasn’t an ordinary person; she was also from the high Immortal Sect.
"This can’t be considered liking the Young Master," Liu Qingluo said seriously.
Someone like her wasn’t qualified to say she liked him.
Xu Chang’an had a wife he could be proud of; facing Xu Chang’an, for someone like her to even say she liked him... would only tarnish the pure moon in her heart.
Some things cannot be spoken aloud.
For instance, the jar of Daughter Red Wine she buried before entering the brothel, intended to give to her future lover once she redeemed herself... this was something she could never speak of.
To give Xu Chang’an such a jar of wine, she... had already broken the rules.
How could she have the face to speak of liking?
The bright sunlight shone on Liu Qingluo’s face, the rouge on her lips glistening, and the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye became more pronounced.
Because of her tainted life, she was someone bound by rules.
But a rule-bound person is still human, experiencing the emotional fluctuations that humans should have.