Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 457 Liking is something you do.

Yuan Muyu stared blankly as Lu Xingzhou carried A Nuo through the door.

It's all in the past... but what past?
The resentment is gone, the feelings are gone, it's all over.

She said in a very soft voice, "If I agree now, can I still go back?"

The voice was very soft, but it seemed to have used up all its strength, and it was impossible to speak any louder. Even after speaking in such a soft voice, it felt like the whole body was about to lose all strength.

Even if the sound was very soft, Lu Xingzhou's hearing was still sharp enough that he couldn't possibly miss it.

Even Ah Nuo peeked out from Lu Xingzhou's shoulder and looked over in shock.

But Lu Xingzhou seemed not to hear him and quickly entered the courtyard.

Yuan Muyu stood still for a moment, sighed softly, and followed them inside.

Once in the living room, the fireplace was warm. Lu Xingzhou boiled water and made tea, while A Nuo curled up like a cat, trying to minimize her presence.

Yuan Muyu sat down opposite Lu Xingzhou and watched him pour her a cup of hot tea.

The steam from the tea blurred their vision.

Lu Xingzhou was surprised by Yuan Muyu's reaction. If he had to name the people he knew best in the world, Yuan Muyu would definitely be one of them. Normally, Yuan Muyu would never apologize, and even if she did, she would definitely turn and leave after seeing his reaction.

Not to mention that whispered remark, it was like the sun rising in the west...

Now, not only do they not leave, they actually follow us in and sit quietly in front of us, as if they don't care about saving face anymore.

He handed over the tea and then took out a pill: "The pill I used for today's exam was for treating qi deviation, and you... it's exactly what I need."

Yuan Muyu's usually calm expression finally showed a ripple. She looked up at him and took the pill.

The last time they met, Lu Xingzhou didn't even ask any questions, but this time he offered Dan on his own initiative...

Furthermore, the so-called "regulating qi deviation" is different for everyone; if the Dan Academy only sets qi deviation as a problem, and the specific type is left to the examinee to cultivate, then why would Lu Xingzhou cultivate the one that perfectly suits his condition?
Anuo also pulled out a pill from the side: "Mine is mine too, mine is mine too."

Yuan Muyu didn't take her hand, but smiled slightly at A Nuo: "First-grade pills... My condition has improved a lot now, so they're not really necessary, and it would be a waste."

Ah Nuo dared not tell her that the First-Grade Pill was usually used to feed pigs.

Oh, it's also for feeding fish, pretty much the same thing.

Yuan Muyu directly consumed Lu Xingzhou's pill and silently regulated her breathing. In fact, she no longer needed more than a first-grade pill, and she hardly needed the second-grade pill that Lu Xingzhou gave her either. However, this was the first time in two years that she had received something from Lu Xingzhou.

Even though good pills have a sweet fragrance, Yuan Muyu found them somewhat bitter after swallowing them.

Lu Xingzhou asked for the third time, "What is the purpose of your visit, sister?"

Yuan Muyu calmly said, "As your sister, let Yuan Muyu give you an explanation."

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

No way, you two sisters even have such similar genes for split personality?
After a moment's consideration, he finally said, "The grudges are settled, and I will live a peaceful life from now on. No further explanation is needed."

Yuan Muyu suddenly raised her voice: "What if I don't want to settle things evenly!"

Ah Nuo carefully moved the chair backward, while Lu Xingzhou stared at her intently.

Yuan Muyu was breathing heavily. As soon as she said those words, the string that had been held down snapped.

She really wanted to say, "You owe me your life, can we settle this so easily?"

But he also knew very well that saying this would lead everyone to an even more irreconcilable situation. If Lu Xingzhou were to retort with a harsh "Then how about I give you my life?", then everything would be over.

If the conversation gets carried away, it might lead to irreconcilable situations, something we all experienced two years ago.

So a thousand words got stuck in my throat, and I didn't know how to express them.

Lu Xingzhou sighed softly: "Sister...you don't like me, what are you doing?"

Yuan Muyu roared in fury: "Who said I don't like you!"

Ah Nuo moved her chair to the corner, looking weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Lu Xingzhou remained calm: "But sister, I can't sense it. What I once thought was true, I later realized was like an illusion. If it is true, then it's like how easily old friends change... Since things have already changed, why bring it up again?"

“I…” Yuan Muyu murmured, shaking her head. “I haven’t changed. I haven’t changed… I… I didn’t know what I liked before. Later, I found out, but I told myself that my path was different, and I couldn’t like anything…”

Lu Xingzhou frowned slightly.

Yuan Muyu pleaded, "Xingzhou, I know I was wrong... Please don't marry someone else, I'll agree to anything you ask..."

"Don't marry other people... Is this what my sister told Yuan Muyu to tell me?" Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Enough, sister. I'm an adult now. I'm not a little puppy being raised in captivity. I can walk on my own."

After saying that, she stood up and said, "Anuo, why are you hiding so far away? Please entertain your sister. I still have some business to attend to."

Seeing Lu Xingzhou stride away, Yuan Muyu closed her eyes.

"Sister Yu," Ah Nuo said cautiously as she approached, "Are you alright?"

"It's nothing." Yuan Muyu opened her eyes and smiled bitterly. "Anuo, do I always mess things up?" Anuo was very serious this time. "Sister, you only made us feel the resentment that the toys no longer belonged to us."

Even Ah Nuo thinks so, it would be strange if Lu Xingzhou didn't think so... No wonder he lost the mood for conversation, otherwise they might have started arguing if they continued.

But Yuan Muyu really felt that she didn't think that way.

The cause of his current demonic possession was undoubtedly learning of Lu Xingzhou's impending marriage. The pain, regret, and resentment instantly seared his soul, causing all his suppressed emotions to erupt and overwhelm his understanding of the Dao. Therefore, his final words would naturally be, "Don't marry anyone else," such is the cause and effect.

But is this resentment because the toy no longer belongs to them?
No...it's not a toy.

Even Shen Tang said that it's normal to feel jealous; if you don't feel jealous, you're either abnormal or you don't like it.

I like him, even love him to the core.

After being in a daze for so long, Yuan Muyu was certain of this once she came to her senses.

But he was proud his whole life and couldn't express himself.

For Yuan Muyu to plead and say "I know I was wrong" was the limit of her willingness to bow her head in this life.

“But Ah Nuo…” Yuan Muyu hugged Ah Nuo and murmured to herself, “I’m really heartbroken, especially since I was the one who arranged his marriage. It feels like a knife is stabbing my heart. I don’t want him to marry someone else, I really don’t.”

Ah Nuo was hugged so tightly that she buried her face in her chest, and couldn't help but rub against her from side to side, and then couldn't help but touch herself.

"?" Yuan Muyu noticed, and all her sorrow was almost gone: "What are you doing?"

"N-nothing." A-Nuo smiled apologetically: "Sister, all these years, even now, I still don't know if you like Master or not... Liking someone is something you do, not something you think about."

Yuan Muyu was lost in thought and didn't say anything more.

…………

Lu Xingzhou's so-called "some business to handle" was that he went to the National Affairs Forum.

Having just left Yuan Muyu, seeing the gentleman in front of me again gives me a sense of time travel, as if I'm suddenly talking to a grown-up Yuan Muyu.

However, the person next to this big fish wasn't Ah Nuo, but Little White Hair, who was staring at him with murderous eyes.

The days when I used to come to the National Affairs Forum to post things are gone forever...

To be honest, when Little White Hair was doing *that* to his face, he looked exceptionally poignant and beautiful.

Ye Tinglan was saying, "I heard Fuyao came looking for you again... What brings you here?"

The tone carried a hint of resentment, as if to say, "You don't actually want her but are too afraid, so you've come here looking for a substitute, right?"

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "Why do you all always think that I still have feelings for her? I really don't, I'm not a slut."

"That's normal, isn't it? After all, she was your first love." Ye Tinglan ignored her disciple's presence and said with a hint of jealousy, "If she asks to get back together, not many people will believe you can handle it."

"You were never together, so what's the point of talking about getting back together?"

"..."

Dugu Qingli said, "Theoretically speaking, you and Master Tinglan have never been together."

Lu Xingzhou: “?”

Ye Tinglan almost wanted to throw her disciple off the stargazing platform.

Lu Xingzhou ignored Xiaobaimao's words and quickly got to the point: "It's like this, when Jiang Duxu and I were talking to Instructor Meng, we felt that Gu Zhanting's current situation was a bit strange... Jiang Duxu's judgment was that Gu Zhanting was at a breakthrough point, but Instructor Meng's information was that Gu Zhanting's blood problem still existed."

"Meng Li is bound by imperial decree, so it's not surprising that he has to continue to maintain the facade of Gu Zhanting's illness, is it?"

"It doesn't seem like it. If Instructor Meng were lying, there would always be some clues. For example, looking back now, when he introduced you as Madam Ye, his expression was a bit off. But this time, even though I paid special attention, I didn't feel anything."

Ye Tinglan recalled their past interactions and couldn't help but smile: "That's true. Meng Li is an upright gentleman, so it's never natural for him to lie. Is it possible that Gu Zhanting's facade also fooled Meng Li?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "I had the same idea, but something just doesn't feel right. Besides transferring Qingli to the capital, who else would you recommend?"

"The wind flows on its own."

Ye Tinglan, Feng Ziliu, and Jiang Duxu are all top-tier characters. Ye Tinglan is at the half-step Qian Yuan level, while Jiang Duxu is at the Qian Yuan level but not quite. This lineup is so formidable that they dare to challenge even a Qian Yuan cultivator descending to the mortal realm. Theoretically, there shouldn't be any problems.

Lu Xingzhou pondered for a moment: "Since the lineup is so strong, perhaps we should not be passively responding."

Ye Tinglan nodded: "What are your thoughts?"

Lu Xingzhou said, "Use the excuse of my return to Xiazhou for my wedding... You said you would accompany me back before, but leaving the capital rashly might cause problems. With this kind of lineup now, perhaps we can really leave the capital and see if we can lure the snake out of its hole and see what it really wants to do."

Ye Tinglan said, "That's an idea. But if we're going to do it that way, we need to plan it more carefully... You can talk to Fuyao and see if she can help. Or should I talk to her?"

Lu Xingzhou thought for a moment: "There's something rebellious between you and her. If you talk to her, it will backfire. I'll talk to her."

"Also, if the Great Qian Dynasty falls into turmoil, who knows what your Long Qinghuang might do? Have you sent her a message?"

Speaking of Long Qinghuang, Lu Xingzhou now only wants to rush to the Demon Realm to see the little dragon: "She won't."

(End of this chapter)