Misty Rain of the Old Times

The aroma of wine lingered, accompanied by the melodious sounds of traditional instruments. Endless blessings filled the air, and the overflowing joy seemed to infect the setting sun, painting the sky with a vibrant red glow.

As he moved among the banquet guests, Chen Xuan greeted everyone he met as a rare guest, offered them a cup of celebratory wine, and repeatedly said, "Eat and drink well, and take this opportunity to celebrate this joyous occasion. I hope you will not have any worries."

Whether you know me or not, male or female, old or young, everyone is a guest. If you offer me a blessing, I will toast you with both hands.

There were too many guests to attend to everyone, so he kept apologizing and exchanging a few pleasantries with each person. Guests came and went, and after round and round, he didn't know how much he had drunk, but he couldn't get drunk at all, until late at night.

After seeing off the last group of guests, even Gao Jingming and the others had a small gathering and went to rest, but Chen Xuan remained perfectly awake.

The large mansion was not deserted; it remained brightly lit until dawn. After the daytime hustle and bustle, much mess was left behind, and the servants were busy cleaning up.

Tomorrow is Daxi's turn to be on duty. Times have changed, and people are used to going to bed early and getting up early. If this were Chen Xuan's hometown, the sound of mahjong being played all night could probably be heard from ten miles away.

After a period of leisurely living, Chen Xuan felt mentally and physically exhausted after the past two days of busy work. However, he had no desire to sleep at all, because this was his last night as a single man.

Whether it was bidding farewell to the past or looking forward to the future, this last night as a single man seemed particularly special, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what made it so.

With so many guests during the day, whether it was Yu Dingbo and Ling Yun, or Zheng Wanqian and Guo Qingxue, everyone enjoyed themselves. No one caused trouble, and no one did anything to spoil Chen Xuan's happy occasion. The whole day was filled with joy.

Actually, Chen Xuan should have sat down and enjoyed drinks with many people, but there were just too many people, and he couldn't possibly keep up. He couldn't neglect the others just because of a few people.

Unbeknownst to him, Chen Xuan, reeking of alcohol, arrived at the decorated hall. He stopped and looked around. A wall was covered with a large red silk background, and the double happiness character embroidered with gold and silver threads occupied one side. In front of him were a pair of large red dragon and phoenix candles as thick as a person's waist.

Tomorrow he will marry the little princess here, bidding farewell to his single life forever. From now on, he will no longer be alone. In the future, he will have someone to accompany him, to care for him, to share his joys and sorrows, and to grow old together.

Even though he had drunk a lot of alcohol during the day, Chen Xuan still wanted to drink some more at this moment; he simply wanted to have a drink.

With this thought popping into his mind, he went to the kitchen to get two side dishes, carried a jar of wine to the rooftop at the highest point of his house, and poured himself a drink while looking at the myriad lights of the capital city outside.

He drank cup after cup, remaining sober despite not using any martial arts techniques, thanks to his powerful metabolism, but he felt drunk.

There are countless wonderful things in the world, and to obtain even one of them is a stroke of good fortune. But for Chen Xuan now, money, power, and beautiful women—things that ordinary people dream of—are almost within his grasp. How favored he is by heaven!

As Chen Xuan poured himself a drink, fragments of his life over the past ten years flashed through his mind: the confusion when he first arrived, the helplessness after his body shrank, the fear he felt when he was bound and trafficked by Lao Liu, the indifference he gave up after being powerless to resist, the terror he felt when he fell into the cellar and faced the brutal human traffickers, and the sadness he felt for the children around him because of his inability to help them.

After several changes of ownership, it was bought by the Gao family. On the first day, Qinghe and Qingyu's attitude made him feel a little at ease. On that day, Madam Gao personally came forward, and even just a few simple words of greeting made him feel warm. On his way back to the Gao family in the south, he had also longed for the pie-in-the-sky promises made by Steward He.

After actually going to the Gao family, even though he had the mind of an adult, he was still alone in a foreign land and full of confusion about the future. The people around him were nice, and he deliberately acted well and sweet-talked, gradually adapting to the life of a page in a wealthy family. Many times he felt that living like that for the rest of his life was not bad. After all, as long as he didn't make any mistakes, he could naturally reach a height that 99% of people in the world could not reach.

Time really flies. Originally, Chen Xuan thought he was destined to a life of complacency under the current system, but after coming into contact with martial arts and displaying his terrifying talent, his life took the path he is on today.

When Lao Liu was beheaded that year, Chen Xuan was filled with conflict. The other party was a human trafficker, but he was also his savior. Otherwise, he would have drowned long ago. Now Chen Xuan has let go of his resentment. Fate brings us together. Without cause, how could there be such an effect?

As we grow up, we do our own part, and the people around us change.

Back then, Niu Le, Qing He, Qing Yu, and Qing Dou each started their own families and had ordinary but happy lives. Wang Hai was kicked out of the Gao family with broken limbs and left to fend for himself because of his dishonesty. He was never heard from again. On the other hand, the honest and upright Hou Jin got a secure job with the backing of the Gao family. Even though he was just a doorman, few people dared to look down on him.
Then Deng Lingfeng and the others grew up. Back then, Gao Jingqing, the illegitimate daughter, liked Zhou Lin. At that time, Zhou Lin never thought about matters between men and women. On the contrary, Deng Lingfeng liked Gao Jingqing. In the end, their youthful thoughts did not lead to love.

Years passed, Gao Jingming grew up, became the top scholar in the imperial examination, got married, and was about to become a father in a few months. As for Madam Gao, well, thanks to the effects of Chen Xuan's elixir, she didn't look old at all.

Chen Xuan himself had also become more capable, achieving the status of a Grandmaster, and was able to travel the world freely. Then he began to laze around and enjoy life.

Fortunately, the two who shared the most difficult times back then are both doing well now. Erdan, despite being imprisoned for many years, still maintains his kind heart, and even though he is just one of the restaurant owners and a chef, he is still the envy of many.

Zhang Lanlan has a wonderful family, she has found her loved ones, she is loving with her husband, she has both a son and a daughter, and she has Dongdaolou as her support. Her life is perfect.

As for Chen Xuan himself, he has traveled around all over the years and met many people, especially a lot of beautiful girls who like him. His life can be described as exciting.

Recalling the storybook "Lingyun Ji" he read as a child, he found the content rather illogical. On a whim, he wrote a letter to the author, Tingfeng Jushi, and by a twist of fate, this led to a marriage.

After years of exchanging letters and meeting in person in the capital, they naturally came together, whether because of shared interests or the bond formed through their childhood correspondence. Tomorrow they will be walking down the aisle.

This led to a special bond between Chen Xuan and Lao Deng; though they were father-in-law and son-in-law, they were actually close friends despite their age difference.

But we met a little too late; the time was too short.

Chen Xuan's life experiences, spanning just over a decade, are all etched in his mind. His memory is so good that he can't forget so many things.

On this last night of being single, Chen Xuan, drinking alone under the moon, was probably truly drunk. His face alternated between a smile and gritted teeth, between sighs and anger, and even tears were streaming down his face without him realizing it...

In another courtyard, He Hongyi stood in the shadows under the eaves, silently watching Chen Xuan on the roof. She had already fallen for Chen Xuan and had the urge to pull him into her arms, but she did not do so. Anytime was fine, but these few days were not appropriate.

She wasn't a naive little girl. Having spent many years navigating the world of martial arts, she knew that behind every glamorous person lay a heavy burden, and that Chen Xuan, whom she admired, was probably the same.

The moonlight was bright tonight, and many people in Chen Xuan's mansion, which was in a prominent location, noticed it, but no one bothered him. It seemed that everyone was intentionally or unintentionally giving him private space on this day.

Xiao Miao had somehow appeared beside He Hongyi. From her angle, she could see Chen Xuan's current state—his silent expressions shifting between laughter and tears—leaving the young girl somewhat bewildered. So she whispered, "Sister He, is Brother Chen alright?"

Making a shushing gesture, He Hongyi whispered, "Xiao Miao, don't worry, Ah Xuan is fine. He needs to be alone right now, so don't disturb him."

"Why?" Xiao Miao asked, puzzled.

With a smile, He Hongyi still whispered, "Because boys often grow up overnight, and Ah Xuan is probably in that state right now."

Shaking her head, the little girl said blankly, "I don't understand."

"Let me put it this way, tomorrow is the most important day in your brother Chen's life. It seems he's reminiscing about the past. People tend to miss the past when important events happen. Even though he knows tomorrow will be different, he still wants to see tomorrow in his memories. Hmm, that's what my teacher said when I was a child," He Hongyi patiently explained to Xiao Miao.

Blinking, Xiao Miao hesitated and asked, "Is that so? Then why was Brother Chen both crying and laughing?"

"Just being dramatic," He Hongyi said with a smile, laughing as she spoke. She didn't know when she had heard that boys never grow up.

Seeing Xiao Miao's bewilderment, He Hongyi withdrew her gaze and said, "Let's go, get some rest. Tomorrow will be even more lively. Don't worry about Xuan. From what I know of him, he'll probably still be the same carefree Chen Xuan. Let him be pretentious wherever he wants."

"But Brother Chen is lying on the roof now, is he really alright?"

"Don't worry, Xiao Miao, there are plenty of people to take care of him. It's not appropriate for us to bother him..."

Lying casually on the roof, Chen Xuan stared blankly at the bright moon in the sky. At this moment, his mind was blank and he was not thinking about anything. He had calmed down, as if the person who had been crying and laughing before was not him. Only the wine jar next to him occasionally flew out and fell into his mouth. He drank it like this, taking sips here and there.

After an unknown amount of time, the servants of the still brightly lit mansion had finished their hand gestures and settled down to rest. Occasionally, the sounds of insects chirping, birds singing, and dogs barking could be heard from some unknown place in the night. Chen Xuan was still lying there.

As the night grew foggy, Du Juan quietly approached Chen Xuan, sat down beside him, covered him with a blanket, and whispered, "Master, it's chilly and the dew is heavy tonight. You shouldn't sleep here. Go back to your room and rest."

Chen Xuan's vacant gaze flickered slightly. He tilted his head and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing, Sister Juan. Don't laugh at me, but I don't know why. I just wanted to be alone for a while. There's nothing on my mind or anything. Just think of it as me being a little crazy. You know I sometimes do this, well, often."

Dujuan was used to her husband acting like a child most of the time, and hesitated before asking, "Am I bothering you, sir?"

"We're family? Not at all. If Sister Juan hadn't come, I'm afraid I would have gone crazy here for a while," Chen Xuan said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

As he spoke, he swayed a couple of times, then naturally rested his head on Du Juan's soft legs. Due to the angle, he couldn't see Du Juan's face. He crossed his legs and chatted idly, "Have Roujia and the others already rested?"

He was already used to using his lap as a pillow. Du Juan gently adjusted Chen Xuan's position to make him more comfortable, and gently massaged his head, saying, "She's already asleep. She's been very busy these past few days, but Roujia seems quite happy. She's clearly looking forward to life after Your Highness marries into the family."

Chen Xuan closed his eyes comfortably and pondered, "Roujia is a diligent girl, but she has always lacked a sense of security. She's like a timid little animal, afraid of being abandoned if she doesn't do more work. She's not afraid of hardship or fatigue, but she's afraid of being useless and disliked. As for me, I'm a lazy person and don't usually arrange too many things. So, she's actually the happiest these past few days, running around doing chores. In the future, when there are more people in the family, she'll have even more to do, and she won't feel useless anymore. Do you understand what I'm saying, Sister Juan?"

“I don’t quite understand, but I know that Master has always treated us like family. Perhaps that’s why Roujia wants to show off even more, feeling that her efforts are not worthy of Master’s treatment,” Dujuan said hesitantly.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "Yes, she's just too insecure. I haven't been able to correct her personality for so long. I've always put myself in a humble position. I've taken her to see so many big scenes, but I still haven't been able to make her confident. If it were someone else, with me backing her up, she wouldn't be arrogant, but she'd probably be able to look anyone in the eye with confidence. Anyway, let's not talk about this. What about you, Sister Juan?"

After leaving the Gao family and establishing their own households, for more than a year, Chen Xuan and the other two relied on each other for survival. Such times would never return.

Upon hearing this, Du Juan paused for a moment, then looked down at Chen Xuan and said naturally, "Me? I'm the master's person. I didn't think about anything else. I just wanted to serve the master well. I'm sorry, master, I didn't mean it."

She wanted to look at Chen Xuan's face when she said those words, but she bent over slightly, causing her ample bosom to press against Chen Xuan's face. So she quickly straightened up and apologized.

The sudden appearance of face wash left Chen Xuan both amused and exasperated. Knowing she hadn't meant it, he quickly changed the subject, saying, "It's alright. By the way, Sister Juan, the matter you arranged is tomorrow. Please try your best to avoid any mistakes."

Although Chen Xuan didn't do anything to her and Su Roujia, this wasn't the first time they had come into contact. Brainwave stimulation was a common occurrence during massages, and they were already used to it.

He understood that both Su Roujia and Du Juan had entrusted their lives to him. However, due to their different experiences and personalities, Roujia was always trying to prove herself, while Du Juan took everything for granted.

Upon hearing that it was serious business, Du Juan said solemnly, "Don't worry, Master, everything has been arranged."

At the same time, she was thinking that the master had mentioned again and again these past two days that she would take some time to get tested again, and then there were the arrangements for Chen Xuan, and tomorrow Princess Fuyao... no, the lady will definitely never forget this marriage.

Nodding, Chen Xuan said, "It's getting late, Sister Juan, you should go and get some rest too. Tomorrow will be very busy."

After he stood up, Du Juan also stood up and sincerely said, "Yes, we won't disturb your rest any longer, sir. Congratulations on your marriage!"

"Thank you, Sister Juan, and thank you for keeping me company. I really just wanted to be alone for a while. You don't think I'm drowning my sorrows in alcohol because I'm afraid of getting married, do you? Just like my father-in-law, he's had hundreds of people watching me these past few days, as if he's afraid I'll run away," Chen Xuan said with a smile, pointing around.

Upon hearing this, Du Juan paused for a moment, then spoke frankly: "Master and Madam have a deep affection for each other, how could they be afraid of marriage and drown their sorrows in alcohol? I just thought that Master was going to have the wedding ceremony tomorrow, but he has never experienced the bedroom and doesn't know anything about it, and is too embarrassed to say so, which is why he is drinking here at a loss. So I was thinking that perhaps I could offer some help."

Help me with what? Teach me how to have sex! Chen Xuan was immediately dumbfounded. So, Sister Juan, you must have done that face wash on purpose, right? With your innate cultivation, you can't even control this distance?

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan glared speechlessly and said, "What nonsense are you spouting... I, your master, know a lot more than you think. Time for bed, time for bed. Tomorrow is our big day, I've been looking forward to it for so long!"

...(End of chapter)