Misty Rain of the Old Times

That noon, Chen Xuan and his friends were having a picnic on the grassy bank of the river, downstream from the lake where the martial arts tournament had been held a few days earlier.

On that day, the islands in the lake disintegrated, a black dragon appeared and pierced through the earth's veins, underground rivers surged and water levels rose, the lifeless vegetation along the banks was nourished and revitalized, willows swayed, and the river breeze intoxicated the tourists.

Under the shade of a tree, a large umbrella was set up. Chen Xuan sat in a recliner, leisurely fishing. The small table next to him was filled with the aroma of tea, and there was no shortage of fruits and snacks. He also had a beautiful woman by his side. This was not fishing. It was clearly going out to enjoy himself.

The little princess quietly read a book beside him, gently fanning herself with a round fan, occasionally glancing up at her husband, radiating happiness and peace.

As summer arrives and temperatures rise, especially in the south, April is already quite hot, and people start wearing lighter clothing. The little princess dips her beautiful, snow-white feet into the water to experience its coolness, gently kicking and splashing the surface.

Chen Xuan, who should have been focused on the float, kept getting distracted by his wife's tiny feet. They were more attractive to him than the fish, even after he had handled them many times. He suspected that his inability to catch fish was because his wife was diverting his attention.

The little princess looked up from the book and met Chen Xuan's gaze. She shrank her feet and her cheeks flushed slightly. She said, "Why are you looking at me, my husband? Are you looking at the float? Are you thinking of doing something weird with my feet again?"

Chen Xuan glanced at Zheng Wanqian and the others who were busy barbecuing not far away, then turned back and coughed guiltily, saying, "Wife, keep your voice down."

"Is that how you use your feet? I don't know where my husband learned these strange things from. You dare to do them but don't dare to say it," the little princess said, giving him a reproachful look before turning her gaze back to her book. Her voice softened as she thought about those embarrassing things.

The place they visited was secluded and quiet; although they didn't occupy it aggressively, no one bothered them.

Someone rode up on horseback in the distance. Zhang Yu, with her sharp eyes, noticed that it was someone from the Zheng Family Chamber of Commerce who went to negotiate. She quickly nodded with some reluctance and then returned to whisper something in Zheng Wanqian's ear, who was busy grilling the food herself.

After hearing Zhang Yu's words, Zheng Wanxi paused, pursed her lips, nodded slightly, glanced hesitantly in the direction of Chen Xuan and the others, and still insisted on continuing to grill skewers.

Soon after, she came to Chen Xuan's fishing spot carrying a tray. It contained not only skewers she had personally grilled, but also a pot of chilled fruit wine. After setting down the food, she sat on a small chair and poured Chen Xuan a glass of the succinic, still-cold fruit wine, saying expectantly, "Chen Lang, sister, please try it and see how it tastes."

"You've worked so hard, Wanqian, there's no need for you to do it yourself."

Chen Xuan turned around and smiled. Seeing that the skewers were a little burnt, he grabbed one without hesitation, tasted it, chewed and swallowed, and nodded, saying, "Not bad. It seems Wanqian has a lot of talent." Then he handed the little princess the best-looking skewer, saying, "My wife, you should try some too."

The little princess took the small bite and praised, "Little sister has great skills, but it would be even better if you could control the heat a bit more."

Zheng Wanqian, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen before, had almost never cooked, let alone barbecued. Su Roujia had taught her how to barbecue, and now she was starting to doubt whether it was really delicious.

Just as she was about to try some, Chen Xuan grabbed all the skewers and said impatiently, "These were grilled by Wanqian herself, so I won't be polite!"

He started showing off as he ate, his mouth glistening with oil, as if it were some kind of divine delicacy.

Actually, the flavor was a bit strong and a little burnt, so it wouldn't really be considered a culinary disaster. It's the kind of food that you'd probably never get a second taste if you set it up at a street stall. It was barely palatable, but how could Chen Xuan let his efforts go to waste?

The quick-witted Zheng Wanqian understood perfectly, and her heart warmed as she said, "If it doesn't taste good, Chen Lang, please don't force yourself. I will try my best to learn in the future."

"That's pretty good. Wanxi was able to grill the skewers perfectly on her first try. She seems to have a real talent," Chen Xuan said with a smile, his mouth glistening with oil as he showed off his skills.

Taking out a handkerchief to wipe the grease from his lips, Zheng Wanxi smiled brightly and said, "Chen Lang, there's no need for that. I'm not incapable of facing my shortcomings; I'll just work harder in the future. This will only spoil me."

After putting down the skewer he had finished eating, Chen Xuan didn't dwell on it. Seeing that she seemed a little distracted, he reached out and touched her fair cheek with concern, asking, "Wanqian, is something wrong? We're family, so please speak freely."

Seeing this, she thought Chen Xuan was going to stroke her cheek. Her face flushed slightly as she pressed her hand against his. With mixed feelings, she bit her lip and said, "Chen Lang, there's a business matter that I need to handle personally. The amount is quite large, so... so..."

It involved a huge business deal worth millions of taels of silver, and no one else could make the decision; only she could go herself. But this meant she would have to separate from her beloved, leaving her heartbroken.

"With all that charcoal ash, Wanxi almost turned into a freckled cat," Chen Xuan said with a smile, gently brushing it away with his thumb.

Zheng Wanqian, who had been nestled against his palm like a docile kitten, blushed instantly.

Without withdrawing his hand, Chen Xuan nodded and asked, "Do you need any help?"

“No need to trouble you, Mr. Chen. I can handle it myself. It just requires my personal involvement, but that would mean…” Zheng Wanxi’s eyes reddened as she stared blankly at Chen Xuan, unable to continue.

Gently stroking her cheek, Chen Xuan comforted her, "I understand, it's alright. If two people are truly in love, what does it matter if they are together every day?"

The little princess beside him had a bright look in her eyes and couldn't help but glance at Chen Xuan in surprise. She thought to herself, "Husband, you still think you're uneducated? Such charming words just came out of your mouth, far surpassing the so-called great talents. Could it be that you've become enlightened after falling in love? After all, when men are coaxing... well, trying to please girls, their mouths are like they've been blessed with magic, full of witty remarks. In that case, should I find some more women for my husband to stimulate his potential?"
My husband is like a treasure waiting to be discovered.

She wasn't jealous that Chen Xuan hadn't said similar sweet words to her. Instead, she remembered the sentence and thought to herself that if she added it to the storybook, the sales of the next volume would definitely far exceed those of the past and reach new heights. It could also boost the sales of previous stories, and the reputation of Tingfeng Jushi would surely be far greater than before.

Forget about copyright; if it's my husband saying it, I'll just use it.

"If love between two people is destined to last, why should they be together every day and night?" Upon hearing this, Zheng Wanqian's heart trembled, and she felt completely intoxicated. She nodded, her eyes blurry, and her voice choked with emotion, saying, "Yes, even if we are at the ends of the earth, I will always think of you, Chen Lang, and I will always wait for you."

The sorrow of parting is the most poignant, especially between lovers. Those words were just something Chen Xuan blurted out; usually so carefree, he disliked sentimentality. He chuckled and said, "Wanqian, what you're saying is true. I'm not bragging, but the ends of the earth are nothing to me. Don't find it annoying that I'm always running off to meet you in secret."

"Yes, yes, Wanqian, don't miss him. I know this all too well. I used to live in the capital and my husband lived in Yang County. He would come to see me every few days. Sometimes he would suddenly jump out of the window and scare me like a little kid. He was quite proud of it, which was ridiculous. I wanted to beat him up. That feeling of longing for each other across thousands of miles was completely gone," the little princess said with a smile, covering her mouth. What she said was true.

Zheng Wanqian was initially quite sad, but the couple's lively conversation cheered her up, and the sadness of parting gradually dissipated.

Feeling rather embarrassed, she smiled awkwardly and said, "I'm already content that Chen Lang comes to visit me occasionally. It's better for you to spend more time with your sister."

"Only Wanqian treats him like a treasure now. But once you get to know him better, you'll discover all his bad habits and you'll want to strangle him," the little princess said with a helpless expression, as if she had no choice but to accept having such a husband.

Zheng Wanxi said softly with a smile, "Of course not."

"You'll understand when you get divorced. Don't blame me for not warning you."

To dispel the sadness of parting, Chen Xuan turned around and shouted, "Wife, don't point out my flaws! I finally managed to trick Wanqian into my hands, and if you scare her away, where will I find someone as good as her?"

The little princess thought about it and agreed. After a moment's thought, she said, "Then let's just trick them back. Anyway, my husband, you have plenty of sweet talk."

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed, minimizing the sadness of parting.

It was obvious that Zheng Wanxi's matter was quite urgent, but their outing did not end hastily. They had a picnic, enjoyed themselves to the fullest, and only packed up and went back when the midday sun was at its hottest.

Back at the manor, the wealthy people made simple preparations and then left the place where they had stayed for a few days.

Having met his second life partner here, Chen Xuan is actually a little reluctant to part with her.

In the afternoon, they took small boats to the Qingping River, which was also where Chen Xuan and his group's southbound boats docked.

Next, Chen Xuan and his group continued their unfinished journey south, while Zheng Wanqian headed north. Chen Xuan intended to take them directly to their destination, but she refused despite repeated attempts to persuade him otherwise, explaining that she needed to handle some business matters in various places along the way. Thus, Chen Xuan had no choice but to give up.

As they parted, the little princess, having been through it herself, knew all too well the pain. Giving them space, she waved and said, "Husband, I'll go to the boat and wait for you. You should spend some time with Wanqian."

After boarding the ship, the little princess sighed inwardly. Which girl doesn't want to spend romantic evenings with her beloved? It would be tough for Wanqian for a long time to come. But that's not necessarily true. Given her husband's nature, he would most likely be out having an affair every few days, so Zheng Wanqian wouldn't be spending her days in tears and longing.

The others also tactfully left, leaving only Chen Xuan, Zheng Wanqian, and Zhang Yu on the riverbank.

The initial tension of parting, which had been lessened by the banter of Chen Xuan and his wife, became unbearable when the time for separation actually arrived. Zheng Wanqian felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and she even had the urge to leave with Chen Xuan and his wife regardless of everything. However, she knew she couldn't be so willful. Firstly, she couldn't neglect the large Zheng family business, and secondly, if she wanted to gain Chen Xuan's attention, her looks alone wouldn't give her any advantage; she needed her own career. If she didn't work hard to earn money, where would she get the money to let her man indulge in a life of luxury? Even Zhang Yu, who had been avoiding Chen Xuan for several days, stopped avoiding him and stopped arguing with him, even showing obvious signs of depression.

In the brief silence, no one spoke. The river breeze ruffled their hair, just like the bittersweet emotions they felt.

Tears welled in her eyes, but Zheng Wanxi forced herself not to cry out, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

He gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head. With his arms around her waist, Chen Xuan said in a lighthearted tone, "Wanqian, don't be sad. We have a lifetime ahead of us. In the future, you'll have your share of troubles. From now on, you need to eat well and sleep well. If I find you've lost weight, you'll be in for a 'family discipline' moment! I'll also visit you often; I might just appear out of the blue and give you a surprise!"

"Yes, I will listen to Chen Lang and wait for you forever, even if the sea dries up and the rocks crumble," she nodded softly, as if all the bones in her body had been removed, leaving her with almost no strength to speak.

Zhang Yu turned to the side, muttered something to herself, and thought to herself, "You despicable guy, you've been bullying me all this time, and you never say anything sweet to me. You always give your sweet words to Wanxi."

Chen Xuan felt a pang of pity, but dragging it out wasn't a solution, so he forced a smile and said, "Alright, it's okay. Don't cry, okay? Remember what I said. Go on, don't keep the others waiting."

Nodding, Zheng Wanxi took a deep breath and reluctantly left his embrace. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked at Zhang Yu, saying, "Sister Zhang Yu, could you please hand me the things?"

Immediately, to Chen Xuan's astonishment, Zheng Wanqian took an exquisite box from Zhang Yu and handed it over. It was quite large. She asked in confusion, "Wanqian, what's this?"

Holding the box in both hands, she tried to remain calm and said, "My dear Chen, I won't be by your side anymore. Please don't be stingy when you need to spend money. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it, okay?"

"How can that be? Then I'll be a freeloader!" Chen Xuanyi said righteously. Although he said that, he took the two items without hesitation, but he didn't look at them for long. His eyes were always on Zheng Wanqian.

Zheng Wanxi, who was about to explain, was stunned for a moment. She had prepared a lot of excuses but couldn't use them, such as saying that she was completely devoted to him. Of course, she knew that Chen Xuan was not after her money. He was just doing this to make her feel better.

She smiled knowingly, her eyes red-rimmed, a thousand words stuck in her throat. She opened her mouth, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "Chen Lang, even though I won't be by your side anymore, please take good care of yourself..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xuan silenced her with his mouth. Her whole body stiffened, her eyes widened, her cheeks flushed red, her body went limp, and she closed her eyes, feeling dizzy.

Although they had been spending a lot of time alone together in the past few days, Chen Xuan had not done anything inappropriate to her, only hugging and cuddling. It was the first time he had kissed her lips, and he felt like he was floating on clouds, responding awkwardly.

Zhang Yu, standing to the side, widened her eyes upon seeing this, her cheeks flushed, and she secretly cursed herself for being so shameless. She turned away, not daring to look. "Aren't you going too far? There's someone here. Do you think I don't exist? What kind of behavior is this in broad daylight?"

After a long while, Chen Xuan finally released her. Looking at Zheng Wanqian, whose eyes were glazed over and who was almost out of breath, he licked his lips and said, "I've been craving it for days, and I finally got to taste it. It's truly unforgettable. Anyway, Wanqian is mine now, so I'll collect some interest in advance."

How could she dare look at him now? Her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment, Zheng Wanxi lowered her head and stammered, "Chen Lang, you...I..."

"No need for further words, Wanxi is satisfied now, right? Go, go, be prepared for your husband to bully you at any time, just like this," Chen Xuan patted her buttocks and threatened her with a flirtatious gesture.

Instinctively covering her buttocks, Zheng Wanqian's heart pounded. She turned and fled towards the boat, turning back shyly to say, "Then this concubine will wait for Chen Lang to come and bully me, anytime is fine."

The girl was shy, and this was the first time she had ever been subjected to such an excessive act, especially in broad daylight. How could she possibly handle it?

Chen Xuan only looked away after she boarded the ship and disappeared from the room.

Zhang Yu glared at Chen Xuan, her cheeks flushing slightly from what she'd seen. She walked towards the boat and said irritably, "Young Master Chen, you've gone too far! Do you think I don't exist?"

"You don't have to look. Don't think I don't know you want to see it. Wait a minute, don't rush off. I have something to tell you," Chen Xuan said, pursing his lips.

Zhang Yu paused, looking at him warily and feigning a fierce tone, "What's wrong? You weren't satisfied with bullying Wanqian, are you planning to bully me too?"

Rolling his eyes, Chen Xuan didn't waste any words. He raised his hand and gestured, and the long sword at Zhang Yu's waist fell into his hand.

As she looked on in confusion, Chen Xuan flicked the sword with his finger, producing a soft, lingering sword melody. He nodded and said, "This sword is alright; it saves me the trouble of finding an extra solution."

“Hey, Young Master Chen, don’t go too far. This is a priceless sword. It can cut through hair and gold and jade with ease. How can you say it’s just so-so?” Zhang Yu was immediately displeased.

Under her bewildered gaze, Chen Xuan dazzled the eye by repeatedly tapping the sword's blade, various colors flashing continuously. In a moment, the sword remained the same, yet seemed to have changed. He scoffed, "A precious sword, my foot! I bet you bought it with Wanqian's money. It's practically my money anyway. What are you so smug about?"

"Mind your own business! Aren't you ashamed? When did Wanxi become yours? And what are you doing to my sword?" Zhang Yu asked curiously.

Chen Xuan finished quickly, then handed the sword back to her waist, saying, "I left something on it. Remember to protect Wanxi well. If anything happens to her, I'll deal with you."

Then Chen Xuan earnestly told her how to activate the sealed technique at the crucial moment. After all, she had innate cultivation and was usually carefree, so she understood this very quickly.

After finishing, Zhang Yu snorted, "I'm not your servant, don't tell me what to do. I'll protect Wanqian myself. But you do have some conscience, Wanqian's devotion to you wasn't in vain."

Having witnessed Chen Xuan's cultivation level, which was almost devastating to her, and with the methods he sealed in the sword, she had no need to worry about her safety as long as she didn't do anything reckless.

Just as Zhang Yu was feeling sentimental, Chen Xuan suddenly moved closer to her, and their noses almost touched.

Startled by his sudden action, Zhang Yu took a step back, her heart pounding. She tried to remain calm, but her cheeks flushed slightly and her heart raced as she glared at him, asking, "What are you trying to do now?"

With a smirk, Chen Xuan looked at her and said, "Of course you're not my servant, but don't think I don't know what you and Wanqian discussed. I won't argue with you now, but you can expect to be tormented and bullied by me from now on!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu's heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened, her gaze shifting, and she stubbornly retorted, "Are you crazy? I don't know what you're talking about."

“It wasn’t Wanxi who told me, I figured it out from your behavior of avoiding me these past few days,” Chen Xuan said, raising an eyebrow.

Without hesitation, Zhang Yu slapped her plump buttocks, laughing at the satisfying thud. "I've been wanting to feel this for a while now. It feels great, I'm very satisfied. What are you glaring at? You'll be marrying Wanqian sooner or later. I'm just getting a taste beforehand. You're clearly reluctant, so why pretend to be nonchalant? Are you satisfied now? Hurry up and go, Wanqian and the others have already set off. Remember to protect her."

"You...I...Hmph, you just know how to bully me, I'm not talking to you anymore," she said, instinctively covering her butt and glaring at him.

She wasn't angry, but her cheeks were burning. She stomped her feet, gritted her teeth, glanced at Chen Xuan with some reluctance, and left as if fleeing after uttering those words.

Their ship slowly sailed away from the shore and headed north. Chen Xuan waved to Zheng Wanqian, who was reluctant to part and had tears streaming down her face, through the window. He stood on the shore for a long time until she could no longer see him before he looked away.

A sense of emptiness lingers in my heart; it's hardest to bear the kindness of a beautiful woman, and this is yet another debt of love.

Huh? Where did this "again" come from?
After losing sight of Chen Xuan, Zheng Wanqian turned back and collapsed onto the embroidered bed, her heart breaking as if she had lost her soul. The world seemed to have lost its color, and she realized that the sweetness of being with someone was matched by the pain of separation.

Zhang Yu watched from the sidelines, feeling heartbroken. She wished she could grab Chen Xuan and beat him up. Wanqian was so sad; it was all that guy's fault.

But she didn't know how to comfort herself, because she felt empty inside, not much better than Zheng Wanqian, but she was too proud to show it.

Subconsciously, she touched the spot on her plump buttocks where Chen Xuan had slapped her, and it felt like it was on fire. She thought to herself that the lecherous man was indeed up to no good. But was this place really that attractive to him?

I glanced guiltily at the absent-minded Zheng Wanxi. I wondered if my sister would blame me for stealing her man. Well, no, it's not my fault. She was the one who said in the first place that we should all take advantage of that bad guy.

'Mother was right all along. Men are all the same, you can love them and hate them at the same time, and you should never mess with them if you can avoid it. But now, that wicked man's domineering and arrogant nature has taken over my heart. Mother, you will surely bless me from heaven, right?'

Gently sitting on the edge of the bed, Zhang Yu held the limp Zheng Wanqian in her arms, glancing downstream and silently thinking... (End of Chapter)