Chapter 296: The Seven-Year Agreement Is Up
Chapter 296: The Seven-Year Agreement Is Up
Autumn after autumn.
Seven years, neither short nor long.
But it was enough to mend a girl’s despairing heart.
This year, Luo Cong’an turned fifteen.
She had grown more and more beautiful, with a graceful figure. Her snowy white hair also grew longer, reaching past her waist.
Luo Cong’an had thought about cutting it shorter, which would have saved her a lot of trouble caused by her long hair.
But the excuse that it was difficult to manage alone was too convenient, preventing her from ever making the decision to cut it.
Another ordinary afternoon.
Luo Cong’an went out to buy some daily necessities and returned to the small courtyard.
She would occasionally go out alone now.
The neighbors all knew that a white-haired girl lived in the small courtyard. Regardless of what they thought in their hearts, at least for Mister Chen’s sake, everyone treated her with considerable warmth.
The girl skipped and hopped, her steps light and brisk, as she entered the courtyard.
Under the tall old locust tree, she saw the figure she longed for, and the bamboo chair that was always with Mister.
Time had not left too many marks on Mister’s face; instead, it had added a touch of casual and detached elegance.
No matter how many times she saw him, Luo Cong’an still felt amazed.
She walked forward and playfully leaned her head over.
She saw the man lying in the bamboo chair in a posture that anyone would find comfortable. He held a piece of wood in one hand and a small carving knife in the other.
His wrist moved nimbly, and a lifelike wood carving appeared in his hand.
The carving was of Luo Cong’an’s likeness, but her head was intentionally carved to be very large, while her limbs were disproportionately short. Even more amusingly, her neck was almost completely invisible.
Luo Cong’an had protested this several times, but Mister always refused to compromise, often muttering, “What do you know? This is ‘Chibi’ Luo Cong’an. Small is also cute…”
Luo Cong’an didn’t understand words like “Chibi.”
But she understood the latter part, which was essentially praising her for being cute.
So, Luo Cong’an couldn’t be bothered to argue.
Mister didn’t have many hobbies. Besides occasionally playing chess at the City Lord’s mansion, he spent most of his time napping in the small courtyard.
This carving hobby had only started about a year ago.
Luo Cong’an took the wood carving and examined it closely for a while, exclaiming, “Mister, you are truly a genius. You’re amazing at everything you do.”
Chen An looked over. He had his hands behind his head, leaning back on the bamboo chair, and casually replied, “Where’s the genius? It’s just practice makes perfect.”
Chen An was not being insincere.
For the past year, he had spent most of his time carving.
To store the half-finished pieces he had ruined, he had even cleared out a storage room and piled them all there.
Luo Cong’an couldn’t help but recall the first time Mister tried carving. The result was ugly, with only stiff lines, and no discernible features.
What angered Luo Cong’an the most was that Mister insisted the carving looked just like her, making her hair stand on end at the time.
“Could I possibly be that ugly?”
“No matter what, I say Mister is amazing, and Mister is amazing.”
Driven by her girlish temperament, she tilted her chin up and snorted.
Suddenly, a cool autumn breeze blew past.
Luo Cong’an didn’t feel refreshed; instead, her heart tightened. She quickly looked at the man on the bamboo chair.
As expected, the next moment, the man covered his mouth and coughed softly.
The cough wasn’t severe, but Luo Cong’an was still very worried.
She ran into the room, took out a thin blanket, and draped it over Mister, carefully smoothing out every corner.
The girl grumbled, “Mister, you know you haven’t been feeling well lately. Why are you still out here in the wind?”
Chen An smiled dismissively, “The doctor said it’s just a minor ailment. I don’t even need any medicine. I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
“But you can’t be careless!”
Luo Cong’an’s eyebrows shot up, and she retorted, hands on her hips.
Chen An hummed, not arguing.
He rarely argued with anyone. His personality had always been like this over the years, carefree and unrestrained.
The girl leaned closer again. She really wanted to snuggle into Mister’s arms, but now that she was older, she felt a little shy. She knew there was a difference between men and women, and she couldn’t act as whimsical as when she was a child.
She gently nudged Mister’s head with her own, her eyes hiding a multitude of emotions.
Luo Cong’an said softly, “Mister, do you think we’ll always be like this?”
Chen An picked up a square piece of pine wood from the stone table beside him and began to carve.
Without looking up, he replied, “What? Are you bored?”
“I asked you to make more friends before, but you refused. You just gave them a cold shoulder, like a block of solid ice.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Cong’an nudged his head a little harder and said stubbornly, “I don’t need friends. They’re all so ugly. Who would want to be friends with them?”
Chen An was taken aback, his expression peculiar.
“Good heavens, I didn’t realize you were such a severe face-con.”
Luo Cong’an continued, “Besides, why would I ever be bored when I’m with you, Mister?”
Her words were filled with longing for the future. “If we could always be together like this, even if our days are plain, I would be happy.”
The girl’s words were soft, like a clear, cool spring flowing into his ears.
Chen An’s carving hand stopped.
He gazed at the blue sky, suddenly feeling a sense of emotion.
“But you’re so young. You shouldn’t be wasting your time with me here, in this dreary courtyard.”
Luo Cong’an didn’t like to hear this. “I don’t understand why you always act so old, Mister. You’re not that much older than me…”
“Well, I think it’s quite a bit older.”
“I don’t think what you think counts!”
These childish words, anyone who heard them would think so, were the daily exchange between Luo Cong’an and Mister.
The corners of her lips curved upward. Just as she was about to continue speaking, she met Mister’s gaze.
They were clear black and white eyes, exceedingly pleasant to look at, gazing at her quietly.
Chen An stared for a long time before withdrawing his gaze.
“Mister, what’s wrong…?”
Luo Cong’an’s voice grew softer. She felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
Chen An shook his head and said nothing.
…
…
The next day.
An Immortal Master arrived in Guanping City.
This was Chen An’s first time seeing an Immortal.
Not one of those charlatans who pretended to be gods and swindled people, but a true Immortal.
An Immortal who could fly in the sky.
Instantly, the entire city was in an uproar!
Even the City Lord was alarmed. He dragged his plump body and knelt in trembling worship.
But the Immortal did not pay him any mind.
Her target was clear. She flew directly towards the small courtyard where Chen An resided.
Chen An remained lying on the bamboo chair, unmoved.
Luo Cong’an greeted the Immortal Master. Her expression was somewhat flustered, and she kept glancing in Mister’s direction.
The Immortal Master followed the girl’s gaze and caught sight of Chen An, who was motionless. She slightly frowned, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes.
But she said nothing further, instead focusing intently on Luo Cong’an.
“Do you, are you willing to follow me to seek immortality and attain the Great Dao?”
This was the Immortal Master’s first sentence.
(End of Chapter)
