Chapter 64: Chapter Fifty-Seven: 【I, Gu Xiaoniang, Have Dignity Too】

Could it be that Lu Luo Yun Zhai actually has someone who understands magic?

Chen Yan pondered for a moment, then stepped out of the shop with Lu Sisi, glancing toward Lu Luo Yun Zhai but not approaching further.

Previously, I thought Lu Luo Yun Zhai was all frauds, with no true experts—that's why I dared to come boldly and probe them, to strike at Lu Luo Yun Zhai.

Now… I've actually encountered someone who knows magic.

Though I don't know his depth, just from how he glanced at me with the Qi-Viewing Technique, he's certainly no amateur.

Without Qi, how could one activate magic?

Having decided in his heart, Chen Yan abandoned the idea of returning immediately to check near Lu Luo Yun Zhai—having Lu Sisi beside him made things too risky; if anything happened and someone noticed something…

Chen Yan smiled at Lu Sisi: "There's probably nothing left to see inside. Let's head back."

"... Alright." Lu Sisi nodded with a smile.

Lu Sisi felt a faint regret that this shopping trip might soon end.

But the girl wasn't greedy; these few hours this afternoon had already been more than beautiful to her.

They visited a temple together to pray, strolled and played together, ate their way from street to alley.

Though they hadn't clasped fingers like lovers, that side-by-side walking, occasional brushes and nudges, was enough to make Lu Sisi's heart flutter wildly.

This… must be very much like a date, right?

Lost in thought, she saw Chen Yan walk to a street vendor, buy two skewers of candied haws, and hand one to her—Lu Sisi froze.

"The strawberry one's for you, I'll take the hawthorn," Chen Yan said with a grin.

Lu Sisi took a careful bite.

The strawberry was slightly sour, but the sugar coating outside was sweet and crisp.

Chen Yan noticed a speck of sugar on Lu Sisi's lip, smiled, and reached over to gently wipe it with his thumb.

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Dozens of steps away, amid the crowd, Gu Qingyi stood by the roadside, calmly watching Chen Yan and the young girl down the street.

Gu Qingyi held a cup of freshly bought milk tea, having drunk barely two sips; seeing the two's intimate demeanor, she seemed lost in thought, merely raising one eyebrow slightly before turning into the crowd and vanishing.

Gu Qingyi had come to Lu Luo Yun Zhai.

Since she had helped the shop owner, she, Gu Qingyi, must see things through to the end—today, naturally, she came to check. She planned to wait until nightfall, find a quiet moment, and question Luo Qing again to confirm whether he'd followed her orders.

But she never expected to encounter Chen Yan here—and…

That gentle, beautiful girl—his girlfriend, right?

Earlier this morning, lying in the sun, the milk tea Chen Yan brought her had tasted sweet and fragrant, winning her favor; so when she stepped out today and saw a milk tea shop, she bought a cup.

But it tasted nothing like the one Chen Yan made for her at home earlier… hmm, he called it something like "milk green."

Yet I specifically ordered "milk green" at that shop just now—and the taste was vastly different.

She didn't know that these unnamed street milk tea stalls often used low-grade tea leaves, or even tea powder, and the milk wasn't necessarily real milk.

The fusion of technology and harsh additives couldn't possibly compare to the premium tea leaves Master Fang had gifted.

She casually tossed the milk tea cup into a roadside trash bin, pulled on her mask, and walked toward Lu Luo Yun Zhai with her head down.

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In the courtyard behind Lu Luo Yun Zhai, the collapsed west wing and main hall were now surrounded by construction warning tape.

Though her own east wing remained unaffected, Luo Qing had little desire to stay here.

She was here now only because she thought someone from the street had come to inspect and discuss compensation for the damaged house.

This meant another large outlay of money; though Luo Qing winced, she figured she'd avoided paying Fang Zong's compensation, saving far more.

After all, her junior sister had returned—Fang Zong couldn't possibly do anything to her. She could keep it secret from her sister for now; if Fang Zong really came looking for trouble later, her sister, out of fellow sect loyalty, would surely feel pity for her and help.

We fear true cultivation masters, yes—but Fang the Fat, a mere worldly merchant? My sister won't fear him at all.

Luo Qing felt confident. After seeing off the street officials, she tidied her belongings, planning to move to the tea house within a couple of days.

Just as she locked the door of the east wing, a sudden gust of wind sent a stone wrapped in paper flying—it landed with a soft thud at her feet.

She paused, bent down, picked it up, unwrapped the paper, and saw three crooked characters written on it:

Letter of Understanding?

Luo Qing's legs went weak; she looked around frantically—but saw no one.

Thinking quickly, she clasped her hands together and bowed deeply to the empty air, shouting loudly: "I've already followed the master's instructions—I've settled the case, released the man, and even personally escorted him home! Please, great master, show mercy!"

After repeating it twice and receiving no reply, she slowly straightened, exhaling a quiet sigh of relief—the other party must have been satisfied and left.

So… was this calamity finally over?

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Chen Yan returned home at just after seven in the evening.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Gu Xiaoniang still reclining on the same lounge chair, her posture unchanged from when he'd left.

Chen Yan walked over and said softly: "Gu Xiaoniang, it's pitch dark—why are you still sitting out here? There's no sun left to soak up."

Gu Qingyi lifted her eyelids slightly and murmured: "The starry sky is beautiful too. I couldn't see it at Zhenyu Tai."

Chen Yan nodded and asked: "Have you eaten?"

"No."

"Then, how about some simple fried rice? Master Fang sent us New Year gifts—there's sausage stuffed with Maotai liquor, smells like soy sauce and wine. I'll chop two pieces, steam them, and serve as side dishes?"

Gu Qingyi nodded: "Alright."

Chen Yan went straight to the kitchen; Gu Qingyi followed and stood at the kitchen doorway, watching him work.

Master Fang's New Year gifts were truly plentiful—there was even a jar of lard—these gifts were surprisingly down-to-earth.

Chen Yan lit the stove, heated the wok, and fried the rice with pork fat—when heated, lard released an aroma far richer than any other cooking oil.

A wok of egg fried rice, enhanced by the lard, instantly filled the air with fragrance! Before it was even plated, Gu Qingyi couldn't help swallowing three times.

In the steamer, two slices of sausage were cut out; under the heating steam, a faint aroma of Maozi wine indeed overflowed.

Although Gu Qingyi did not know what Maozi wine was, she still felt this fragrance was quite rich; mixed within the meat scent, it made her unable to help but stare at the steamer for a long time.

As for Gui Geng...

He had long been kicked by Gu Qingyi back into the swimming pool in the courtyard.

An old turtle like him, eating what rice!

Later, pour the seafood from the New Year's gifts sent by Director Fang, some iced fresh shrimp, into the swimming pool, and let him eat a buffet.

A pot of fried rice; Chen Yan served himself and Gu Qingyi each a large bowl, and the two sat by the dining table, eating the sausage, devouring everything like a wind sweeping away clouds.

The more Gu Qingyi ate, the brighter her eyes became; she only felt that the sausage filled with some Maozi wine tasted absolutely exquisite, truly a delicacy she had never tasted in her life.

Seeing this, Chen Yan could not help but ask curiously: "Gu Xiaoniang, you... have you never drunk alcohol before?"

Gu Qingyi was stunned, then shook her head and said: "Alcohol makes one's qi turbid and spirit chaotic, which is detrimental to cultivation. So before I broke through to the Heavenly Human realm, I never drank alcohol. And after breaking through to the Heavenly Human realm, people were at the Town Prison Platform, and that place had no alcohol to drink either."

"Then do you want to drink? There are still a few cans of beer at home," Chen Yan said casually.

Gu Qingyi thought for a moment, then shook her head and said: "I'd better not drink."

"Why?"

"Afraid you'll suffer."

"Huh?"

Gu Qingyi slowly put down her chopsticks, gazing directly at Chen Yan: "That year, when I broke through into the Heavenly Human realm, I was taken back to the Gu family. On the night before leaving the Town Prison Platform, Daoist friends who had guarded the platform for many years came to see me off; even the garrison commander of the platform city opened two jars of his prized wine. I drank that day—but the outcome was not very good."

Chen Yan's gaze changed: "You wouldn't be..."

"Mm, when I left the next day, none of the Daoist friends who drank with me the night before came to see me off—the garrison commander told me they had all been beaten by me into the medical clinic after I got drunk," Gu Qingyi said very calmly, using that small, high-pitched voice with a strong Northeastern accent: "The garrison commander said, when I drink too much I beat people, very fierce."

"..."

Chen Yan silently pulled the plate of Maozi wine sausage in front of Gu Qingyi toward himself.

Seeing her action, Gu Qingyi smiled faintly: "Don't worry, this should be fine. That time I only drank a little less than half a jar to be like that."

Pausing for a moment, Gu Qingyi looked at Chen Yan: "What did you go out to do today?"

"Mm, went shopping with a friend, and also went to a temple to worship Buddha," Chen Yan answered offhandedly.

Gu Qingyi thought of the ancient temple near Luo Yun Zhai, and nodded: "I saw that just before eating, you were holding your phone and messaging someone continuously... the way you smiled on your face... the person you went out with today should be a girl, right?"

"How do you know?"

Gu Qingyi spoke calmly: "If you were messaging a man on WeChat, you wouldn't smile so shamelessly."

Chen Yan simply nodded: "Correct, it is a girl."

"Girlfriend?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment, feeling there was no need to hide anything from Gu Qingyi—previously she had misunderstood him as having a child bride, now she was his legitimate mother.

A son dating, no need to hide it from the stepmother, right?

I, Chen the Great Benevolent Man, walk upright and sit straight, what is there to be unspeakable?

I'm not actually going to act out that kind of script...

"Not yet a girlfriend, but... if it develops, it probably will be," Chen Yan said quite sincerely.

"Mm." Gu Qingyi nodded; she lowered her small face, as if pondering something, and only after a moment lifted her head, pretending to be calm, with that deliberately put-on old-fashioned tone, mixed with her milk-sweet small high-pitched voice, saying: "You are already quite old; get a partner sooner, establish a family and career, and also help the Chen family branch out and spread leaves..."

Chen Yan rolled his Bai Yan.

Big sister, are you getting too immersed in the role?

Speaking like that, you really think you are the mistress of my Chen family?

"I can stay in your world for at most half a year more; after the ghost marriage is completed, I must return to cultivate and pursue breaking through to a new realm.

Before I leave, if you have settled that woman as your partner, you can bring her to see me.

I... will give her a blessing."

Chen Yan pouted. In his heart he muttered: Alright, acting and acting, now you're getting into it.

You cultivate the War Dao, not skilled in spells and fortune; your giving of blessings might not be as effective as me making some spells to add fortune and luck for her.

But...

"You really can only stay for half a year?"

"Seeking to break through to a new realm and pursuing the Great Dao is my lifelong pursuit," Gu Qingyi nodded solemnly. "Had it not been for this marriage delaying me for a year, I would likely have already entered closed-door death meditation to attempt another breakthrough."

Chen Yan tried smiling: "Then... Gu Xiaoniang, before you leave, do me a favor, okay? You promised, I help you complete the ghost marriage, acknowledge you as my legitimate mother. You protect me, let me walk sideways, help me beat people."

"Fine, say it, who to beat?" Gu Qingyi picked up another slice of sausage and threw it into her mouth.

"I have two targets now; one is a bit far, far away in Gang City; after the New Year, when we finish the preparations for the ghost marriage, I will take you there.

The other, however, is right here in Jin Ling city; this person offended a friend of mine, and also offended me, so..."

Gu Qingyi tapped her bowl: "Not difficult; since he is right in Jin Ling Prefecture, I'll go out once and help you beat him up, a trivial matter. What is this person's name, where does he live, how badly to beat him—you just tell me."

As Gu Xiaoniang spoke, she secretly thought in her heart: I am the legitimate mother of the Chen family; someone offended the only bloodline of the Chen family; I help beat people... the Ancestor should agree, right?

"This person is named Luo Qing, living at Luo Yun Zhai under Qixia Mountain..." Chen Yan said quickly.

"..."

Gu Qingyi's eyes widened, looking at Chen Yan curiously.

Uh... I just beat this person up last night, and even demolished his house!

He was quite cooperative, also obediently softened and admitted defeat, doing whatever was asked.

Today I go over there and beat him up again?

This... not good, right?

I, Gu Xiaoniang, also have face!

Otherwise... I'll go beat him up with my face covered?

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