Misty Rain of the Old Times

The house is still the same house, and it hasn't changed much over the years, except for some signs of repair.

Everything was neatly arranged. Xiao Miao wasn't a sloppy girl; she was quite diligent in her daily life, even while she was busy making a living.

The little girl, still a bit dazed, quickly took out her key to open the door and invited Chen Xuan inside. The siblings had been away from home for many days, and the house was covered with a thin layer of dust.

This made her feel a little sad. Without her family, the house felt lifeless once she left. However, she quickly hid this feeling, wiped the stool, and invited Chen Xuan to sit down.

"Brother Chen, please have a seat. I'll go boil some water for you to make tea," the young girl said warmly.

Chen Xuan nodded without refusing. Actually, he wasn't thirsty, but he couldn't just leave after dropping them off; that would make them sad. He had to sit for a while at least.

While she was busy, Zhou Fugui was surprised to see the familiar surroundings. He hadn't quite processed the fact that he had returned so quickly. His mind wasn't working well, and he didn't know how to express himself. He could only occasionally look at Chen Xuan and smile foolishly.

Soon after, Xiao Miao brought over some hot tea and said somewhat awkwardly, "Brother Chen, please have some tea. The tea leaves at home are a bit coarse, please don't mind them."

The siblings rarely drink tea at home; they drink water to quench their thirst. The tea they keep on hand is almost always for entertaining guests.

"Xiao Miao, what are you saying? Brother Chen has also experienced hardship. Just quenching your thirst is enough, there's no need to be so fussy. Please sit down as well," Chen Xuan said with a smile, picking up his teacup and drinking half of it.

Xiao Miao quickly said, "Brother Chen, be careful, it's hot!"

"It's alright, I can even drink molten iron. It tastes best when it's hot," Chen Xuan said seriously, and what he said was true.

Seeing that he was alright, Xiao Miao was slightly relieved. She brought over a stool, wiped it clean, and sat down beside him. Then, somewhat dazed, she said, "You're really back so quickly? I was just at Brother Chen's house a moment ago. At first, I didn't believe it. I closed my eyes and opened them again, and I'm home."

"See? I didn't lie to you."

Xiao Miao nodded vigorously and said, "Yes, yes, I believe it now. Brother Chen is truly amazing. I can hardly imagine what kind of methods he used."

"So, Xiao Miao, remember what I said. If you miss me in the future, just send me a letter. I will come to pick you up to play as soon as I receive the letter. Don't travel a long way like this time. It's not safe on the road, and I'm worried about you. Of course, I will come to visit you when I have time," Chen Xuan instructed again.

Nodding, Xiao Miao still hesitated and said, "But wouldn't that be too much trouble for Brother Chen?"

"What's the trouble? You just experienced it, didn't you? Neighbors visiting each other is probably just like this. It's no big deal for me," Chen Xuan said nonchalantly.

"Yes, I remember what Brother Chen said," she nodded seriously. She had thought that since she was so far away from Brother Chen, and she had finally managed to visit him once, she thought that the chance of meeting him again was slim. Little did she know that he was actually so close.

After chatting for a while, Chen Xuan patted the box he had brought and said, "Xiao Miao, please keep these things safe. Consider them a small token of my New Year's greetings from your brother. Don't mind them."

"How can that be? What I mean is, it's already troubled enough that Brother Chen brought us back, how can we accept your things?" The girl quickly waved her hand.

Chen Xuan pretended to be unhappy and said, "Don't be so formal. It's not worth anything. I've already brought it all. Do you expect me to take it back?"

Seeing this, Xiao Miao could only say, "Alright then, I'll accept it. Don't be angry, Brother Chen."

"That's right," Chen Xuan smiled with satisfaction, then glanced at the sky outside and said, "I've brought you all back safely, I'm going back now."

"Ah, Brother Chen, you're leaving already? Please stay a little longer, or even a few days. At least have a meal before you go," Xiao Miao said reluctantly, trying her best to persuade him to stay.

This parting was truly heart-wrenching, so Chen Xuan had to steel himself and smile, saying, "No, I just had dinner at my place. Besides, it's not like we'll never see each other again. It's very convenient for me to come, and I'll be picking you up in a while to go to my wedding in the capital. I'll take you around the capital after I'm done with my work."

As he spoke, he got up and walked towards the door under Xiao Miao's reluctant gaze.

Xiao Miao pursed her lips, seeing that Chen Xuan insisted on leaving, she had no choice but to stand up and say, "Alright then, I'll see Brother Chen off. Remember to come often in the future, and I'll definitely treat you to the best food."

"I'll just drop you off at the door and head straight back. Don't worry, I'll be coming over to your place to freeload a meal a lot in the future, so please don't mind," Chen Xuan said with a smile as he stopped at the gate of her yard.

"How could that be? I'm overjoyed that Brother Chen is here," she said, looking forward to their next meeting.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Xuan said, "Xiao Miao, live a good life from now on. If anything happens, remember to write to your brother Chen. Don't be afraid to bother me. I don't care about many people in this world. If you call me brother and act like a stranger, I'll feel bad. And remember, if anything happens and you don't have time to send me a letter, remember to go to the government office or the academy to find the teachers. Just mention my name. I think your brother Chen still has some influence. Remember not to suffer in silence. Your brother Chen can still protect you."

"Yes, I'll remember, Brother Chen," Xiao Miao nodded earnestly. Even though she didn't want to cause trouble for Chen Xuan, she thought it would be better to be obedient if something happened to her and Brother Chen would be sad.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "Alright, I'll head back now. Remember what I said, I'll come pick you up again in a while."

"Okay, Brother Chen, please drive carefully."

"I'm leaving, you can go back too," Chen Xuan waved his hand, then leaped into the sky and disappeared into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Looking in the direction she left, Xiao Miao blinked, feeling a pang of sadness, and lingered in her gaze for a long time...

Not long after, Chen Xuan had already traveled south across mountains and rivers to return to his home in Yang County. The round trip did not take much time. When he returned, he saw Du Juan and the little girl playing and frolicking in the yard. Good heavens, their skirts were flying and their clothes were in disarray, and they were touching each other all over.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan did not make a sound, but quietly landed on the roof. Watching them chase and play, he not only eased the sadness of parting, but the sight of their springtime exposure was also a feast for his eyes. There was nothing to hide in his own home, but they were not usually like this. Could it be that they were showing their true nature because he was not around?
"Okay, Sister Juan, I was wrong, I won't do it again, please forgive me," the little girl was being bullied by Du Juan on the rocking chair that Chen Xuan usually left lying around in the pavilion. Her collar was pulled up to her shoulders, and she was so ticklish that she was panting and begging for mercy.

Du Juan wasn't much better off. Her belt had been removed by the little girl, leaving her disheveled and her neckline wide open. The white bodice embroidered with orchids was stretched out of shape by her ample bosom, unable to cover her at all, revealing large expanses of her snow-white, round, and full breasts. The deep cleavage was simply breathtaking; if one were to bury their head in it, it would be the death of a man.

'Well, this isn't some kind of voyeuristic peeping, it's you guys giving me a treat,' Chen Xuan muttered to himself, and simply sat leisurely on the rooftop watching with great interest, wondering how long they would stop bickering.

Hey little girl, why did you provoke her? She's so tiny, you're just asking for trouble.

Usually, it's just the three of them at home. Dujuan and the little girl have long considered themselves Chen Xuan's women. Dujuan often massages Chen Xuan, and brainwave therapy is a common occurrence. The little girl ignores Chen Xuan's words and seizes every opportunity to warm his bed. She's practically naked, so he's seen things he shouldn't have. But this is the first time Chen Xuan has ever seen them play and joke around so unrestrainedly. It's quite interesting.

At this moment, the little girl, who was being tickled and laughing so hard she almost cried while sitting on the rocking chair, saw Chen Xuan on the rooftop because of the angle. She was startled and quickly said, "Sister Juan, stop! Master is back!"

"Roujia, don't try to fool me. Who do you think you can fool with such a little trick? Didn't you feel good just now? You even left marks on my hands. Let's see how I deal with you. Hmph, Master likes big ones. Don't you always complain about your small ones? Come on, let me knead them bigger for you. That way, Master will like them." Dujuan didn't believe her and continued to bully her while huffing.

The little girl was on the verge of tears, her body limp from Du Juan's bullying. She could only weakly pat her peach-shaped hand and say, "Really, Master is back, he's watching! Stop it!" "Let him watch," Du Juan said dismissively. "We'll be Master's women sooner or later. Are you afraid of him seeing us? Who's so shameless as to run naked into Master's room to warm his bed? Don't think I don't know. At such a young age, you already know how to seduce Master. This is insubordination! Today I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of Master." In truth, she didn't believe her at all.

The little girl, almost in tears, seized the opportunity and grabbed her chest hard, saying speechlessly, "Master really saw it, didn't you see I didn't resist? If you don't believe me, Sister Juan, why don't you look back at the roof? Do you think I can run away?"

"You're still scratching me? Even the master has never scratched me like this before. You've left marks again. I'll teach you a lesson," Du Juan said with a coquettish smile. As she said this, she still glanced back and her cheeks immediately turned red and she froze.

The young girl quickly got up and straightened her clothes, saying, "I told you the master was watching, but he wouldn't believe me. It's not my fault there are marks; it's just that Sister Juan's skin is so good and delicate."

Du Juan released her, her face flushed with embarrassment, wishing she could disappear into the ground. She quickly straightened her clothes and said, "Master is back! We were just joking around, we didn't fight. Please don't laugh at us."

Chen Xuan, on the rooftop, waved his hand and said, "It's rare to have this much fun at home. Why don't you guys continue? Just pretend I'm not here."

"Master is joking, we will never dare to do it again," the little girl said weakly with her head down. She was worried that she would be punished for not doing her job properly and playing around with Sister Juan. She was shy about the spring scenery that Chen Xuan had seen during the play, but she didn't mind. Anyway, she would be the master's woman sooner or later. Besides, the master had already seen her warming the bed so many times. It was a pity that the master didn't need her to serve him in bed.

With the excitement over, Chen Xuan reluctantly withdrew his gaze, lightly landing in the courtyard. He subconsciously took a large step to the side before lazily walking towards the pavilion, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. As long as you're having fun. Feel free to be casual at home, but you can't act like this in front of outsiders. You have to be more dignified."

"Master must be tired from your journey. I'll make you some tea," the little maid said, shrinking her neck as she ran off. She had to tidy herself up, otherwise she would embarrass her master if a guest suddenly arrived.

Du Juan secretly glared at the little girl, thinking to herself, "You ran away so fast, leaving me to face the master alone. That brat, why didn't you tell me sooner that the master was coming back? Now I'm the one who's making a fool of myself in front of him. Well, I did tell him, but I didn't believe you."

Muttering to herself, Du Juan didn't have time to completely tidy up her disheveled appearance. She quickly pulled up her collar and said, "Master, please sit down. You've been traveling back and forth for a while. Would you like me to give you a massage to help you relax?"

"No, the sun is shining brightly, I'll take a nap," Chen Xuan subconsciously refused, turning to the side and slumping into the rocking chair, closing his eyes.

Seeing this, Dujuan didn't dare to disturb them. She stepped back quietly. She wasn't some naive little girl. She glanced at her master out of the corner of her eye, smiled, her cheeks slightly flushed, and went back to her room to tidy up, thinking to herself, "Our bodies are still very attractive to the master. He's already reacting. Why should we restrain ourselves?"

The maid, who had already tidied up, soon brought over a pot of tea. Seeing that the master was taking a nap, she obediently waited by his side, holding the teapot close to her chest, so that the master could drink hot tea when he woke up. Soon, Dujuan also came over and waited quietly by her side.

The two women spent the rest of their lives revolving around this man, with everything centered around him. They never thought of leaving, let alone what they would do if the master abandoned them one day. It would be an understatement if the sky fell down.

Chen Xuan had slept for so long in the morning, so he wasn't actually sleepy. He was just being lazy as usual, which made it impossible for him to fall asleep. So he started thinking about random things, like formations and getting married in a little over a month.

Thinking that he would be marrying the little princess in just over a month, Chen Xuan suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.

"What's wrong, sir? Are you not sleeping well?" the maid asked instinctively with concern.

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan looked at them and pondered, "Tell me, am I being a bit unreasonable?"

"Why did you say that, sir? What do you mean?" Du Juan asked, puzzled.

Looking towards the capital, Chen Xuan said somewhat guiltily and awkwardly, "It's like this, you see, the wedding is in just over a month, but I haven't been taking care of anything, acting like nothing's wrong, and haven't even made any preparations. Although my father-in-law and my father-in-law said they would handle everything and I only need to send someone, it's still not right to just ignore everything like this."

He finally realized that everyone was about to get married, yet there was no festive atmosphere at all. But then again, he had never been married before and had no experience.

Upon hearing this, Dujuan and the others exchanged glances. They had no right to comment on such matters, nor could they get involved. Wasn't it the master who instructed them? To inquire on their own initiative would be presumptuous.

After hesitating for a moment, Dujuan asked cautiously, "Is there anything the master needs us to do?"

"We need to get some new furniture for the house, and the bed needs to be replaced too. Hmm, it needs to be big and comfortable. I don't like those four-poster beds, they make the house feel like a small room. A Simmons mattress would be better. Looks like we'll have to have one custom-made. Also, the house needs some festive decorations. Oh well, these things aren't urgent, there's still more than a month to go. We'll talk about it later. Let's go to the capital first. I'm setting off now. I haven't seen Xiao Fuyao in a while, I miss her terribly. And Lao Deng, I wonder how he's doing." As he spoke, Chen Xuan became restless and decided to head to the capital. Anyway, it would be a quick trip, very convenient.

Du Juan and the others exchanged a glance. Used to their master's energetic and impulsive nature, the little maid asked, "Master, how long are we going to be gone? If we're not coming back today, should we trouble the Gao family to keep an eye on things for us?"

Then Dujuan asked, "Is there anything we need to prepare?"

"Let's inform the Gao family. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, but I probably won't be back today. Remember to tell He Hongyi so she won't be unable to find me if she comes to visit. Oh right, I remember we have some fresh chili peppers in the shed behind the house, right? Pick some, and get some greens too. Also, bring some seafood. We went to the beach, so Lao Deng won't nag us for not bringing him a gift. Let me think... Oh, right, and some leaves too. We collected leaves from the underground world. We should bring these to Xiao Fuyao. Almost all of them are things she's never seen before; she'll definitely be happy," Chen Xuan said thoughtfully.

Who cares? Even if it's not comprehensive, at worst I'll just have to make a trip back and forth.

The girls, having received their assignments, quickly got to work and soon everything was ready.

As the sun began to set, Chen Xuan led them into the sky and disappeared into the distant horizon.

During the journey, the little girl kept her eyes closed, trying to avoid getting airsick after several bouts of discomfort. On the other hand, Dujuan looked at the rapidly receding mountains and land and said in a daze, "Master, aren't we going to the capital? Have we gotten the direction wrong?"

Having been taken to the capital by Chen Xuan several times, she still recognized the direction; this was not the way to the capital.

Chen Xuan laughed and said, "It's definitely not the direction to the capital. I'm thinking of taking a detour to the coast and getting some seafood to eat in the capital, like king crab, tuna, sea cucumber, and lobster. Fuyao and Lao Deng probably won't be short of food, but I guarantee it won't be as fresh as what I catch myself."

I've been craving Chen Xuan's food ever since I ate it by the sea at Wanku Mountain last time, so of course I'll prioritize my own people.

When he said that, Du Juan and the other woman were no longer surprised. Only their master would do such a thing, traveling thousands of miles just for a bite to eat.

Not long after, they arrived at the seaside again. When they passed Wanku Mountain, Chen Xuan paid a little attention and raised his eyebrows. He thought to himself, "Good heavens, after only a few days, the entrance to the underground world is now heavily guarded. Camps are everywhere on the mountain, and there are many experts among them. Anyone who wants to enter must obtain permission from the imperial court."

Chen Xuan wondered, was this arranged by Lao Deng? Wasn't he afraid of causing a backlash? With such a vast underground world, if the news spread, not only would people in the martial arts world be unmoved, but would other countries also remain indifferent?
Since we're going to the capital anyway, let's ask Old Deng later. You should know that if other countries get involved, and a bunch of grandmaster-level experts arrive, Jing Kingdom will definitely not be able to withstand the pressure. Such a big pie is simply too big to swallow. If we're not careful, something terrible will happen.

Then Chen Xuan figured he was probably overthinking it. If he could think of it, why couldn't others? He didn't think he was smarter than those people in the court.

Ignoring everything else for the time being, Chen Xuan and the others arrived at the beach. He asked Du Juan and the other two to wait on the beach while he plunged into the deep sea.

Before long, he came out carrying a water balloon the size of half a room. Inside the water balloon were more than ten green-backed lobsters about a meter long, a giant crab the size of a table, a bluefin tuna nearly ten feet long, and some other seafood as well.

Eat as much as you want, it's not like we can't have the capacity.

He then feigned carrying a large water sphere, leading Du Juan and the other two straight towards the capital... (End of Chapter)