Covering the Sky: The Years I Was the Empress's Strictest Master

"What do you mean 'accomplished'? Back then, it was Tan Lin who didn't know what was good for him!"

My Chi family's two beauties are exceptionally talented and unparalleled, surpassing all others in the celestial realm. Why should we worry about not having admirers? Hmph, I think that boy is blind! It's just a pity that Xuan'er is like this..."

Chi Yushan glanced at him and said indifferently:

“Be careful what you say. Things are different now. Do you think ‘he’ is still the same little guy we could ‘confine’ to at will?”

It is said that he is about to achieve great success, and our clan, after he accomplishes his goal, will naturally...

Besides, Xuan has her own thoughts and destiny. Hundreds of years have passed; let's stop treating her like a child. We old folks will just watch and not interfere.

Upon hearing this, the man, though still somewhat indignant, knew the gravity of the situation and said no more. However, his gaze towards the two figures in the distance remained complex.

In the Purple Mist Forest, Tan Lin and Chi Xuan were naturally unaware of these discussions.

Time passed little by little.

They left the Purple Mist Forest and went to several places belonging to the Chi family.

One is a large, relatively secluded courtyard located on the east side of the clan's territory.

Perhaps because most of the Chi family members had moved away, the courtyard had gradually fallen into disrepair. In just over ten years, the walls were somewhat mottled, and weeds grew rampant in the courtyard. Only an old locust tree remained lush and verdant.

Chi Xuan stood outside the courtyard gate, not going in, but simply pointing to the courtyard and saying softly:

"You should still remember, this is where Brother Xiang Jun recuperated from his injuries back then..."

Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of reminiscence and sadness.

Tan Lin stared silently at the desolate courtyard, memories of the past flashing through his mind.

There were the words Xiang Jun spoke to him when he was bedridden and passed away, and the sorrowful look on Li Lao's face when he brought Xiang Jun's remains and coffin back to the Xiang family.

Life is unpredictable, and human life is as fleeting as a lamp. Even cultivators are but dust in this vast mortal world.

Chi Xuan didn't linger for long; it seemed she was just bringing him here to "take a look," to pass through this place, and to reminisce about the past.

The two stood silently outside the courtyard for a moment before turning and leaving.

Afterwards, they arrived at the depths of the Chi family estate, beside a lake surrounded by nine spiritual peaks.

The lake water is as clear as a mirror, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and the surrounding verdant peaks. The lake surface is filled with a spiritual atmosphere, and occasionally, a lively fish leaps out, splashing ripples.

"Nine Apertures Connect to the Spirit Lake".

Upon arriving here, Chi Xuan's gaze suddenly became unfocused, looking at the lake surface and avoiding direct eye contact with Tan Lin.

"Back then, you and your sister went through the tribulation together. You were so shameless back then; after the tribulation, you were naked... and acted like nothing had happened..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

That fleeting glance from back then, though only for a moment, and obscured by the misty vapor and spiritual fog, was not clearly seen.

But for the two sisters, who were still young at the time, barely in their teens, and had not yet had much interaction with any men, it was a huge visual shock.

Upon hearing this, Tan Lin was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly.

Of course, he did not expect that the past events would have such a great impact on the two women, that they would still remember them and bring them up again now.

Da...da...

The two circled the vast Nine-Aperture Spirit Lake once.

Then Chi Xuan turned around and walked out first, her steps light and quick, her pale yellow skirt fluttering like a happy oriole.

Tan Lin watched her retreating figure, shook his head, and followed after her.

The two then strolled through the clan's territory, passing by several of the Chi family's training and sparring grounds, the now-empty scripture pavilion, the alchemy room, and many other places.

Chi Xuan recounted the stories, anecdotes, and even the "crimes" she and her sister committed when they were young, as if they knew them by heart.

Tan Lin mostly listened quietly, occasionally asking a question or two, and the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

However, Tan Lin maintained a polite yet distant restraint throughout.

Chi Xuan would occasionally play a little trick, getting closer to him and pretending to trip over a pebble, reaching out to hold his arm. But he would always turn to the side at just the right moment, or give a slight touch and then immediately let go.

Chi Xuan wanted to share with him a "treasure" she had kept since childhood, buried under a specific spiritual plant, but he just smiled and looked at it without digging it up.

Chi Xuan pointed to the strange, mythical bird flying across the sky and said it was a "bird of love," symbolizing the affection between a man and a woman.

He simply nodded and said, "I've heard that the meat of this bird is quite delicious," which made Chi Xuan so angry that she stomped her feet.

How could Chi Xuan not sense Tan Lin's restraint?

Every seemingly unintentional avoidance was like a tiny needle gently pricking her heart.

But she always managed to quickly recover, hiding that fleeting disappointment and loneliness, putting on a smile again, and continuing her chatter.

Smiling, she seemed like a lively and cheerful "family friend's younger sister" immersed in the joy of being together.

Gradually,

As the day passed and the sun set, its afterglow bathed the Tianchi Mountains in a warm golden hue.

Chi Xuan led Tan Lin to a secluded courtyard within the inner perimeter of the clan's territory.

This was the temporary residence that Tan Lin was assigned when he first arrived at the Chi family.

The courtyard was kept very clean, just as it was back then.

"Brother, please stay here for now, just like before."

Chi Xuan stood at the courtyard gate, hands behind her back, smiling sweetly.

Tan Lin nodded:

"Thank you for your trouble, Xuan'er."

Chi Xuan smiled, said nothing more, turned and left, her pale yellow figure gradually disappearing into the twilight.

That night, the moonlight was just beginning to rise.

Tan Lin was meditating and adjusting his breathing in the quiet room. Although he had cut off part of the Undying Golden Body's origin before coming here, causing his aura to drop slightly, his foundation was still incredibly solid, and he had promptly integrated it back into his body, so it was no longer a big problem.

With nothing to do, he reflected on the day's events and felt a strange sense of melancholy.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he opened his eyes.

Light footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard gate, along with... a faint aroma of food.

crunch...

The courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and Chi Xuan walked in carrying an exquisite food box.

The moonlight bathed her, casting a silvery glow upon her, making her appear less carefree and more serene and gentle than during the day.

"Brother."

She stepped outside the quiet room, her voice captivating:

"The night is long, and for us cultivators, whether we sleep or not makes little difference. I... I made some late-night snacks, I wonder if they suit your taste."

She opened the food box, which contained several exquisite pastries and a pot of warmed spirit wine.

The pastries are simple in appearance, but fragrant, and the spirit wine is a treasure stored in the clan's cellar.

Tan Lin looked at the food box, and at Chi Xuan's face, which was slightly flushed under the moonlight, filled with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. For a moment, he was in a daze.

This scene is so similar to one from hundreds of years ago.

When he first arrived at the Chi family, they would often send him dishes that they claimed his mother had ordered from the kitchen, but which were actually cooked by him personally.

Sometimes it's a "rough" snack, sometimes it's a soup that looks delicious but is actually hard to swallow.

Every time, she would say, "My mother asked me to bring this," or "The kitchen made too much during the day, it would be a waste to throw it away," but her eyes would dart around and her ears would turn red.

The pastries back then seemed to look just like this.

The girl from back then also stood in the moonlight, pretending to be calm, but unable to hide the emotions in her eyes.

Time flies, hundreds of years have passed, things have changed, yet it seems that nothing has changed.

"Have a heart."

Tan Lin hesitated for a moment, then composed himself and walked out of the quiet room in a generous manner, sitting down at the stone table in the courtyard.

Chi Xuan's eyes lit up, and she quickly took out the pastries from the food box and arranged them, then poured him a cup of spiritual wine.

Then she sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hands, staring at him intently, as if watching him eat was the most interesting thing in the world.

Tan Lin tasted a piece of pastry; it was delicate in texture and full of vitality. The ingredients and process clearly showed that it was made with care.

"It tastes great."

He praised it.

Chi Xuan immediately smiled radiantly, sweeter than if she had eaten honey:

"I'm glad you like it, Brother! I... I've been studying for a long time!"

She didn't say who she learned from, when she learned it, or why she learned it.

But Tan Lin understood.

The two of them quietly enjoyed their late-night snack under the moonlight.

Chi Xuan didn't say much, but she would occasionally refill his wine, her gaze always fixed on him, as if she wanted to etch his image deep into her heart.

This scene quietly overlaps with some quiet nights from hundreds of years ago.

In the shadows in the distance,

Chi Yao, dressed in a green dress, stood quietly, her figure and aura already concealed, as if she had blended into the distant night.

Her location was indeed not close, but even without using her supernatural powers, with her eyesight and this excellent vantage point, she could vaguely see the scenes unfolding in the courtyard.

Looking at their silhouettes in the moonlight, she felt a surge of complex emotions.

There was a deep tenderness for her younger sister, a wistful regret for the past, and a faint bitterness that even she herself was unwilling to delve into.

She knew that her sister was using this last month to weave a dream.

A fleeting yet dazzling dream that belonged only to the other person.

But she could only remain a silent bystander.

The same thing happened for the next few days.

During the day, Chi Xuan would arrive at the villa early and take Tan Lin for a "stroll" around the clan's territory, visiting places that held shared memories.

Every night, she would appear on time, bringing a different late-night snack that she had made herself, and sit quietly with him for a while.

The two of them traveled to almost the entire territory of the Chi family.

Those familiar scenes seem to take on a different hue because of the different people around us or because of changes in our state of mind.

Chi Xuan's laughter often rang out, clear and melodious, dispelling the loneliness brought about by the relocation of the clan's territory.

The clansmen assumed that "Miss Chi Yao" was relaxing during a break from her cultivation and traveling with her younger sister, and no one dared to disturb her.

Ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning, Chi Xuan arrived at the villa, but did not suggest playing around the clan's territory as usual.

She changed into a light yellow outfit that was easy to wear and accentuated her beautiful figure.

Her black hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her look dashing and spirited, but a small pale purple flower, picked from who-knows-where, was pinned to her temple, adding a touch of gentleness.

"Brother, shall we go for a walk outside today?"

Her eyebrows curved into a smile, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Tan Lin looked at her, who seemed slightly different from usual, and nodded:

"it is good."

Chi Xuan immediately smiled, took the initiative to step forward, and naturally tugged at his sleeve lightly, then quickly let go:

"Then let's go, you come with me to see the beautiful landscapes of Beidou! We're going to travel all over the Five Regions this month!"

Her tone was light and cheerful, as if it were truly a long-awaited trip.

Tan Lin didn't say anything, but simply followed behind her. With one step, the two of them disappeared from the spot.

clatter……

The next moment, their figures appeared outside the Tianchi Mountain Range.