Chapter 562: On the Way Home
One month later—
In the blink of an eye, autumn arrived.
Flocks of wild geese began to migrate south, and the mountains surrounding Chi Long Mansion were gilded with a golden hue.
In front of the main hall of the inner palace, two maids stood guard, whispering about their master:
“Ever since Madam Li returned from the Eastern Domain, I’ve felt that our master has been rather dejected and lacks energy.”
“I’ve noticed it too. Do you think something happened to her in the Eastern Domain?”
“But I heard the war in the Eastern Domain was going smoothly? Chi Long Mansion suffered no casualties, and when the flying ship returned a few days ago, it brought back a lot of heavenly treasures and spirit stones. I heard they were spoils of war from the Demonic Sect.”
… …
Inside the hall, beside the desk, Li Longling, clad in a pale gold home dress, languidly propped her chin with her hand, idly stroking the feathers on Ah Feng’s belly, which she had been raising for years.
Hearing the chatter of the two maids outside the door, she didn’t stop them, only let out a faint sigh and asked Ah Feng:
“Ah Feng, do you think… should I go to Xuan Xing Sect?”
“Chirp.”
“Anping hasn’t written to me in a long time. Does he think I’ve forgotten him?”
“Chirp?”
“Alas—that’s true. Anping has Sister Pei and Young Master Xiao by his side; he must be accompanying them.”
Li Longling sat up, propping her face, and rotated Ah Feng’s head ninety degrees, making it face the portrait hanging on the wall. Through its eyes, she looked at her fiancé’s face, feeling an inexplicable tightness in her chest.
Although Ye Anping had promised to marry her in the future, she considered her current situation.
She was crippled and blind, young, and didn’t have an alluring figure. Though she considered her looks to be worthy of note even in the Western Regions, the women around Ye Anping were all beauties. Furthermore, her current cultivation level was only Late Foundation Establishment…
Late Foundation Establishment was considered a prodigy for someone her age, twenty years old, but compared to Xiao Yunluo and the others, she fell far short.
Moreover, because she chose to inherit her father’s family business, she wasn’t like Xiao Yunluo and the others who could be by Ye Anping’s side at all times.
The more Li Longling thought about it, the more depressed she became, feeling that between her and Ye Anping, only Ye Anping’s promise remained.
If she didn’t do something, Ye Anping might truly forget her.
But what could she do for Ye Anping?
Ye Anping was already a Nascent Soul cultivator, his cultivation rivaling her father’s. Moreover, he had Xiao Yunluo and the others. Even if she were by Ye Anping’s side, she would be doing her utmost just not to be a burden, let alone help him.
“Alas—Ah Feng, by Anping’s side, can I only be a vase…”
“Chirp~~”
“Can’t you say something to comfort me? Parrots can talk, you are a phoenix…”
“Chirp…”
Li Longling sighed softly and twitched her ears, hearing faint footsteps approaching from outside the hall. She quickly took a deep breath, patted her cheeks, and sat up straight, adopting the majesty of the mistress of Chi Long Mansion.
Tap, tap, tap—
“Miss!! Miss!!”
“Mm…” Using Ah Feng’s eyes, Li Longling saw Ling’er, who had accompanied her for over ten years, and relaxed slightly. She pretended to be handling Chi Long Mansion’s affairs and replied calmly, “Come in.”
Ling’er, outside the hall, pushed the door open and hurried to Li Longling’s desk, placing a jade slip bearing the Xuan Xing Sect’s totem on it.
“Miss, good news! It’s from Xuan Xing Sect!!”
The gloom in Li Longling’s heart instantly vanished. She thought Ye Anping had finally sent her a letter, but as the mistress of Chi Long Mansion, she couldn’t appear flustered.
“Don’t be so excited. Good news is good news, but rushing around is unbecoming.”
“But Miss, it really is…”
“Alas—let me see.”
Li Longling’s expression was calm, but inwardly, she eagerly picked up the jade slip and injected her spiritual sense into it.
She had expected Ye Anping to write asking for help or to inquire about her well-being. Li Longling was quite happy about that. However, upon seeing the content of the jade slip, her brows furrowed slightly.
The jade slip stated that Feng Yu Die was pregnant with Ye Anping’s child. It was sent by Xiao Yunluo and invited her to visit Xuan Xing Sect…
Ling’er, unaware of Li Longling’s thoughts, said happily:
“Senior Feng is with child! Miss should go to Xuan Xing Sect in a few days… I’ll arrange for guards…”
Saying this, Ling’er was about to run out, but Li Longling called her back:
“Wait.”
“Hm? Does Miss have further instructions? Should I prepare a gift for Senior Feng?”
“…”
Li Longling hesitated to speak, her heart suddenly feeling a little heavy.
The jade slip mentioned that Feng Yu Die was already five and a half months pregnant.
But why inform her only after five and a half months? It was as if they had suddenly remembered her existence, and the person sending the jade slip wasn’t Ye Anping, but Sister Xiao…
Could Ye Anping truly have forgotten me…
“Um… I understand. I won’t go. Ling’er, please arrange for someone to send my congratulatory gift later…”
“Ah? Miss isn’t going? Haven’t you been thinking about Young Master Ye every day these past few days? This is a good opportunity to meet Young Master Ye.”
Li Longling let out a slight sigh, forcing a smile:
“I won’t go to disturb them. Anping must be taking care of Sister Feng. If I go… it wouldn’t be appropriate…”
“Ah? But Miss…”
“Alright~ I’ll go after Sister Feng’s child is born. Let Anping accompany Sister Feng during this time…” Li Longling pushed herself up from the table, taking Ah Feng onto her shoulder. “I’m going back to the sleeping quarters to rest. Ling’er, if anyone comes, please politely refuse them… I’m not seeing any guests today.”
Ling’er didn’t know what was wrong with Li Longling, but it was clear she looked quite sad.
“Ah…”
However, before she could ask, Li Longling, with Ah Feng, walked out of the main hall and, following the corridor on the side, slowly headed towards the rear palace.
Her embroidered shoes trod lightly along the corridor, and the hairpins at her waist swayed gently.
Through Ah Feng’s eyes, Li Longling looked at the meticulously cared-for plants and fish ponds on either side of the corridor, her heart feeling increasingly heavy.
It was autumn, a season historically associated with sorrow and loneliness.
“Cold and desolate, miserable and sad… this season is truly hard to bear fully.”
However, despite saying this, Li Longling understood a truth.
Romantic affections were worthless on the long path of cultivation.
She could understand why Ye Anping rarely came to find her…
She naturally didn’t want to trouble Ye Anping with her own childish tantrums.
As a wife, she should silently support her husband from behind.
If she couldn’t help Ye Anping much, she certainly couldn’t become a burden.
How could she indulge in a moment of romantic sentimentality…
Li Longling’s expression turned somber, revealing an undeniable hint of sadness. Yet, a strained smile lingered on her lips as she playfully comforted herself:
“Anping won’t forget me, right?”
“Chirp?”
“Mm, he won’t. Anping promised to marry me… I just have to wait. One hundred years, two hundred years, even a thousand years, I can wait…”
As she spoke, tears streamed down Li Longling’s face, overwhelmed by sorrow.
However, quickly realizing she was crying, Li Longling hastily raised her sleeve to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath and calmed her emotions.
She simply withdrew the magic of “shifting gaze,” plunging her vision back into darkness. Then, following the path deeply ingrained in her memory, she continued forward.
Rustle, rustle, rustle…
Her embroidered shoes softly brushed against the ground, making a gentle sound.
After walking about two hundred paces along the corridor, Ah Feng, standing beside her, suddenly cried out:
“Chirp, chirp!!”
Li Longling didn’t react immediately and asked:
“Ah Feng, what’s wrong… Huh?!”
Bang—
Before she could finish speaking, her head seemed to hit something, and she lost her balance, falling backward.
But a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into an embrace.
Ye Anping was quite puzzled. He had intended to surprise Li Longling. Seeing her walking alone from the main hall towards the rear palace, he had circled around to this spot, planning to reveal himself midway and see if she would be overjoyed and rush into his arms.
However, Li Longling seemed not to see him, her head lowered the entire time, and she walked straight into his chest.
“Longling, what’s wrong?”
Ye Anping gently brushed the corners of Li Longling’s eyes, his touch revealing a trace of moisture.
Upon hearing Ye Anping’s voice, she quickly borrowed Ah Feng’s vision again. Upon seeing Ye Anping’s face, she froze for a moment and then immediately opened her arms, throwing herself into his embrace.
“Anping—I thought… I thought you’d forgotten me…”
“…”
Ye Anping took a step back to steady himself. He looked at Li Longling’s excited state for a while before finally replying:
“How could I possibly forget you?”
“Then why didn’t you write to me? I know you’re busy and can’t come to Chi Long Mansion to see me, but… why didn’t you inform me immediately when Sister Feng became pregnant? I thought you…”
“…”
So that was the reason… Ye Anping showed a hint of apology and replied:
“Mainly because I don’t have messenger eagles or spirit pets. Also, I rarely stay in one place for long these years… When I was in the Eastern Domain before, I was always behind enemy lines and had no opportunity to write to you…”
Li Longling bit her lip and clutched the fabric of Ye Anping’s clothes at his lower back. Only then did she realize she had lost her composure. She quickly let go of Ye Anping, turned around to wipe her eyes, and took another deep breath to calm herself before regaining her senses. She said:
“Then… Anping, are you here to ask for my help? Actually, you didn’t need to come all this way; if you needed help, you could have just sent me a jade slip.”
“Longling, do I only come to you when I need help?”
“Then… surely you’re not here to talk about romance, are you? Fairy Feng is pregnant now; shouldn’t you be accompanying her…”
“Yu Die has her Junior Sister and Yunluo looking after her. I thought it would be a good time…” Ye Anping smiled wryly and took out a red document from his storage bag, handing it to her. “As promised, my betrothal letter.”
Li Longling stared for a long time before taking it, her hands clutching it tightly.
“You’re so mean, making me wait this long…”
“I wanted to deliver it sooner, but I never had the time. After returning from the Northern Region, I immediately went to Donghuang in the Central Domain, and then I had to go to Taibai Sect in the Southern Region. After returning from Taibai Sect regarding my marriage with my Junior Sister, I set off for the Eastern Domain just a few days later…”
Li Longling’s lips curved slightly upwards, and she turned her head, feigning anger, and chided:
“Excuses. You’re bringing a betrothal letter but not even preparing a betrothal gift for me… I’m going to be angry.”
“… Who says I haven’t prepared one?”
“Hm?”
Ye Anping smiled and took out a white porcelain bottle from his storage bag.
“Tears of a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Turtle from the Southern Region… it should be able to cure your eyes. I specifically went to Wanxing Sea in the Southern Region to find it for you a month before coming to Chi Long Mansion… I drifted at sea for a full month for this.”
“…”
“Also, you’re already at Late Foundation Establishment and about to reach Core Formation. I’ve also brought you some heavenly treasures you’ll need. Later, I’ll take you to Xuan Xing Sect to ask Xuan Ji for the best place to accompany you through your Core Formation…”
“…”
Seeing Li Longling stunned, Ye Anping shook his head slightly and simply took her hand, leading her towards the sleeping quarters in the back.
“Let’s try it first. If it doesn’t work, I’ll find other medicine for you… Longling, I promised you I would cure your eyes, and I will keep my word. And this is not just my promise to you, but also to your father…”
Li Longling was wordlessly led by Ye Anping’s small hand into the sleeping quarters.
Ye Anping now just hoped that the tears of the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Turtle could cure her eyes.
If not, he would be quite embarrassed.
He had Li Longling sit by the bed, then went to the side, closed all the doors and windows of the sleeping quarters, lit two dim oil lamps, took out a set of silver needles, and then returned with them.
Ye Anping placed the silver needles and oil lamp aside, stroked Li Longling’s back, and had her lie down flat. He also grabbed Ah Feng and placed it on a nearby bird stand.
“Chirp?”
“Longling, just lie down and relax…”
Li Longling only then came back to her senses. Through Ah Feng’s third-person perspective, she looked at Ye Anping, who was by the bedside, tempering silver needles with the oil lamp. She suddenly pursed her lips and grabbed Ye Anping’s wrist.
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“Anping…”
Li Longling slowly clenched her left fist. After some thought, she suddenly sat up and leaned her face forward, kissing Ye Anping’s lips.
Ye Anping was stunned. He didn’t pull back. Only after Li Longling voluntarily withdrew did he speak:
“Longling… what is this…”
Li Longling gently raised her hand, loosened the tie at the back of her hair, letting it cascade down like a waterfall behind her. Then, she reached out and touched Ye Anping’s lips.
“Anping… do you remember something I said before?”
“…”
“You have me, and I have a home.” Li Longling pursed her lips, sat on Ye Anping’s lap, face to face with him, and hooked her arms around his neck, pressing her face against his. “Anping, I want to become yours…”
Ye Anping’s lips parted slightly. He lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment before smiling and replying:
“Longling, you are already mine.”
“Mm→→→… Not yet, so make me yours, okay? Just like Sister Xiao and the others.”
“I’ll treat your eyes first…”
Li Longling immediately retorted:
“Or are you disgusted by me, Anping?”
“…”
Hearing this, Ye Anping shook his head slightly. He then put down the silver needle he had been holding over the oil lamp, gently embraced Li Longling’s waist, and then took the initiative to bite her lips.
Plop—
They then fell onto the bed together.
Li Longling felt a little nervous. Through Ah Feng’s observing eyes, she watched Ye Anping push her down. She inexplicably felt strange because, from Ah Feng’s perspective, she couldn’t see the face of the woman beneath Ye Anping, as if she were watching Ye Anping push down another woman.
However, the sensation of lips touching and the warmth were real.
An embrace that was not wide but strong held her close, and her mind gradually blurred. She felt a warmth spread throughout her body from her chest.
“Longling…”
“Mm… It’s okay… Ying…”
A slight stinging sensation. Li Longling withdrew the “shifting gaze” magic, plunging her vision back into darkness. But she did not feel fear in this darkness.
At this moment, the warm body felt like a beam of light, completely dispelling the darkness in her eyes…
Enveloping her, pushing her consciousness into a sea of clouds…
… …
——-
At the same time—
Tian Bei City Lord’s Mansion, Eastern Domain—
A messenger eagle from Xuan Xing Sect flew from the west and landed on the windowsill of the pavilion atop the city lord’s mansion’s tower, pecking at the window with its beak.
A moment later, the window was opened by Yun Yiyi, dressed in a golden long dress. She then reached out with her small hand and took the jade slip bearing Xuan Xing Sect’s emblem from the eagle’s claws.
Inside the pavilion, Yun Xi lay on the bed, her body wrapped in bandages, staring resentfully at the ceiling.
Yun Jiujiu, wearing her oversized robe, sat on a chair. The right sleeve of the robe was empty, her right arm was slung around her neck, and her head was bandaged.
Seeing that Yun Yiyi had received the jade slip, Yun Jiujiu, while drinking wine, asked:
“Sister, who sent it?”
“Hmm… It’s from Xuan Xing Sect. It should be either Young Master Xiao or Anping, right?”
After sending off the messenger eagle, Yun Yiyi sat back at the desk, sent her spiritual sense into the jade slip, and briefly read its contents. Her eyebrows immediately shot upwards, and she was stunned.
“Miss Feng, she actually…”
Hearing it was about Feng Yu Die, Yun Jiujiu quickly asked:
“Not Que Que? What happened to her?”
“She… is pregnant with Anping’s child, five and a half months along. She’s recuperating at Xuan Xing Sect now.”
“…”
Yun Jiujiu’s brows immediately furrowed. Even Yun Xi, who had already resigned herself to her fate, instantly had her spirit rekindled and turned sharply to look at her older sister.
Then, Yun Jiujiu and Yun Xi spoke in unison:
“What in the actual f***?!”
“Miss Feng is pregnant. It seems she conceived on the way back to Xuan Xing Sect with Anping and the others…”
Yun Yiyi let out a slight sigh of relief, placed the jade slip on the table, and looked at Yun Jiujiu with interest, propping her chin. She asked:
“Jiujiu, should I tell Father that I’ll take you back to Xuan Xing Sect? If we leave now, we should be able to catch up to Miss Feng…”
“Why would I go? She’s pregnant, what does that have to do with me?” Yun Jiujiu immediately turned her gaze away. “Damn it, what kind of luck is this? How did it happen so soon…”
“Aren’t you going to be my dowry later?”
“When did I ever agree to be your dowry!” Yun Jiujiu knitted her brows and stood up, raising her right hand and slamming it onto the table beside her. Her whole body trembled. “Hiss—”
“It’s settled then. Third sister, do you want to…?”
Yun Xi let out a cold laugh and sighed:
“I’ll pass… Heh, who knows, maybe if I go, she’ll have a difficult labor, heh… heh heh… Uh…”
“That’s true.”
?
Seeing her sister nod in agreement, Yun Xi was taken aback and her laughter became even more sinister:
“Heh heh heh heh heh…”
Yun Yiyi ignored her and sighed, saying:
“Jiujiu, you and I will go.”
“I’m not going! What business is it of mine! Damn it, if I have that kind of time, I’d rather stay in the Eastern Domain and hack a few more demonic cultivators…”
“Really? If you don’t go, Anping will likely be disappointed.”
“…”
Yun Jiujiu was stunned and asked in confusion:
“Me not going, what does that have to do with Brother-in-law being disappointed?”
“Aren’t you and Miss Feng close friends? If Miss Feng sees that I went but you didn’t, she’ll probably be upset too.”
“…”
“Alright, let’s go. Don’t you have something you want to say to your brother-in-law? You practiced it countless times in front of the mirror in your room earlier; don’t think I didn’t hear you…”
?!!!
Upon hearing this, Yun Jiujiu’s little face instantly turned into a red apple. She raised her right hand again and slapped it onto the table beside her.
Slap—!!!
Then, she immediately clutched her right hand and collapsed onto the floor, gritting her teeth:
“Hiss—Ouch, ouch, ouch…”
Yun Yiyi shook her head slightly and said:
“Alright, I’ll inform Father. Then we’ll head over. Third sister, you should come too… I was just joking with you earlier. Anyway, the war in the Eastern Domain is almost over…”
… …
