Qinling returned to her residence, picked up the brush, and instead of rushing into cultivation, she reminisced about some details of her conversation with Yun Qian.
That girl’s temperament could be summed up in one sentence as—
Clouds drifting by, coming and going without intent.
She handles everything with composure.
Such a person is either very experienced or naturally indifferent.
Clearly, the words Yun Qian gave her couldn’t serve as experience.
Others may have settled into a relationship where passion has transformed into familial affection, allowing for mutual trust.
Moreover, Xu Chang’an’s personality is also a crucial aspect, Qinling felt that if the person she fancied was of Xu Chang’an’s temperament, then even if he spent all his time at the brothel listening to music while refining his heart, she wouldn’t worry.
Zhu Pingniang is different.
As one of the earliest members of the Hehuan Sect to join the Chaoyun Sect...
She sure knows how to flirt with young girls.
She felt that Zhu Pingniang had matured considerably with the advancement in her realm compared to when they were together in the past; otherwise, she wouldn’t have kept her distance from Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian.
Especially Xu Chang’an.
"His handwriting is really beautiful." Qinling recalled the small poem she saw at Yun Qian’s place, and her eyes shone with admiration.
[To live in utmost joy and peace, to savor the tide of the Azure Sea.]
The words exude freedom, yet upon closer look, restraint is revealed between the lines, much like Xu Chang’an’s gentle nature.
The poem speaks of indulgent enjoyment, but what he is doing is diligently cultivating and restraining "desire".
"I wonder if these words depict the life he hopes for, or are they meant as a reminder?" Qinling tilted her head.
If she knew Xu Chang’an was born in a peaceful era and spent years watching the tides rise and fall on the island afterward... she would understand these words were neither aspirations nor reminders.
It’s simply a reflection of his living state at the time, used for practicing calligraphy.
Because the girl he cherished the most, was by his side watching the Azure Sea Tide with him.
Only, the girl was frail and couldn’t stand the sea breeze for long.
"What a good child." Qinling picked up her brush and wrote down the words "To live in utmost joy and peace, to savor the tide of the Azure Sea," afterward framing and hanging them in her hall.
She loved writing and could appreciate Xu Chang’an’s calligraphy.
Xu Chang’an was merely in his teens, yet his writing already had its own form, such a young man... It’s understood that even in the secular world, he must have been steeped in a scholarly environment from a young age and had a natural gift for calligraphy to achieve this.
No wonder, the people at Muyu Peak are so fond of him; if he pursued the path of calligraphy, one day his strokes would create astonishing formations... a promising future indeed.
Qinling’s gaze swept over the words "Qinling" written by Zhu Pingniang, thinking to herself, that’s why Zhu Pingniang said Xu Chang’an is more suited for cultivation in the Confucian Sect.
But it might be too late to talk about this now.
Judging by the level of protectiveness of the women at Muyu Peak... anyone attempting to snatch their disciple would undoubtedly have to fight.
The room, illuminated brightly by the Fire Stone.
Yun Qian originally intended to sleep, but after the unexpected guest left, she gazed at the words in the hall and couldn’t help recalling her life with Xu Chang’an on the island, invigorating her spirit once more.
The fragrance of ink filled the air.
Yun Qian sat there grinding ink.
Holding a fine ink stick, swirling it gently, the ink grinds to a rich consistency, releasing a lustrous sheen, and soon a strong aroma of ink permeated the room.
Yun Qian pulled out her tassel hairpin, tied her long hair into a neat ponytail, dipped the brush into the ink, and began writing on paper.
It’s akin to copying.
She didn’t like calligraphy, but copying Xu Chang’an’s writing was something she enjoyed doing; keeping an empty room... always required something to do.
Yun Qian’s handwriting bore an eighty percent resemblance to Xu Chang’an’s, only a bit more graceful, which was something she deliberately learned.
She originally didn’t know how to read, but because Xu Chang’an needed to learn and practice characters, she then learned.
Putting down the brush, Yun Qian admired Xu Chang’an’s handwriting, a gentle expression on her face.
In fact, in the beginning, when they were on the island, she played the role of Xu Chang’an’s "schoolmaster" for a short period. After gaining basic literary knowledge, Xu Chang’an went on to study on his own. Later, Yun Qian wanted to read and write together with him but was unusually rejected by him.
Yun Qian actually thought being called "teacher" or "schoolmaster" by him would be quite interesting, given that she was accustomed to hearing "Miss" countless times.
After reading the story of Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo, Yun Qian felt that Chi Lian Fairy somewhat resembled her. Meanwhile, she realized that the teacher-student relationship between Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo seemed to become an obstacle between them.
She wondered if it was because of this that he didn’t want her to teach?
Miss Yun curled her lips.
In truth, in the books she read, the male and female protagonists often had to undergo trials to be together.
Those who start together from the beginning often needed some reason to be separated, to reunite at the end, giving them a perfect ending.
It seemed that relationships that go smoothly and naturally don’t count as good ones.
Yun Qian actually wanted to try this feeling, given that she always believed that the joy after enduring hardships was crucial.
But who would be suitable to become this obstacle?
Yun Qian tilted her head, unsure if having the system issue Xu Chang’an a task prohibiting him from seeing her would be a good choice.
Resting her face in her hands, Yun Qian yawned, then began considering this matter seriously.