Zhu Pingniang’s eyes flicker, unable to look at herself in the mirror...
She’s deceiving herself again.
She doesn’t admit it, only aware that she doesn’t see Xu Chang’an as a junior. After all... if she really had a clear conscience like Ah Bai, she would of course see Xu Chang’an as filial and respectful.
The key is, she’s actually moved by that child.
Admitting she’s Xu Chang’an’s elder now would an she’s the old cow wanting young grass; Zhu Pingniang doesn’t want to humble herself into dirt, being looked at by Ah Bai with disdain, like staring at a dirty bug.
She absolutely cannot let Ah Bai know she’s moved by Xu Chang’an.
Absolutely cannot.
——
"?"
Li Zhibai glanced strangely at the inner room.
Since earlier, she felt Tong Jun’s aura seed a bit unstable.
Is it because... of the injury?
Thinking about how she caught a glimpse of Zhu Pingniang’s shattered vigilance when the door opened, Li Zhibai slightly frowned.
Before coming down, she never expected Tong Jun’s Glazed Divine Technique would break, and it’s shattered cleanly, even needing to be cultivated anew.
One must know, even when traversing the Demon Sect Holy Mountain back then, Tong Jun relied on the power of the Glazed Body, yet now...
But the main point is, she didn’t sense Zhu Pingniang being heavily injured; normally, if the Glazed Technique is shattered cleanly, her body should have been annihilated, right?
Could it be... related to the Sect Leader who appeared earlier?
Li Zhibai slightly shook her head.
Recalling Tong Jun’s flushed face earlier, she wasn’t at all worried about sothing major happening; just ask her later.
If it doesn’t work, she could concoct a Three Pristine Pill for her to be restored.
Ask later, then.
"Master Li."
Wen Li’s voice pulled Li Zhibai from her thoughts, she sowhat apologetically t Wen Li’s gaze.
Zoning out while talking to a junior, it was rather impolite.
What were they talking about earlier...
Oh, Chang’an.
Li Zhibai drank the tea in her cup and then said, "Ah Li, Chang’an’s cooking is excellent, you should stay to try it at today’s feast."
Li Zhibai seed to be recomnding, but her tone carried an undeniable persuasion.
Upon hearing this, Wen Li recalled sothing.
Her junior brother’s cooking?
She hadn’t heard less of praising from Junior Sister Yun; while it’s not exactly boasting, she indeed wanted to try it. Today’s feast is a perfect opportunity, with Junior Sister Yun and the teacher there, it’s practically a family gathering.
Thus, she no longer needed to avoid suspicion.
A rare chance indeed.
Wen Li readily accepted Li Zhibai’s invitation: "Alright."
Zhu Pingniang: "???"
Isn’t this supposed to be Chang’an preparing an evening al for herself? Why does Ah Bai seem like the host, inviting now?
Wen Li too, she had clearly invited before, Wen Li had agreed, and she even specifically asked Chang’an to prepare an extra portion for her... Yet now, Wen Li didn’t offer any explanation, acting as if only Ah Bai’s invitation made her willing to co.
Zhu Pingniang felt a surge of anger.
Already unlucky today, now being bullied by a bad woman.
However...
There’s a bit of relief.
At least Ah Bai didn’t distance herself because of her changed appearance and temperant... which is a good thing.
But the problem is.
Chang’an doesn’t even know she’s here, and now the evening al should be ready, certainly not prepared for Ah Bai.
Then, what will she eat, has she not thought of that.
Zhu Pingniang thought she wouldn’t let Li Zhibai have her portion, after all, Li Zhibai had tasted Xu Chang’an’s food, and she hasn’t.
Forget it.
Let Lu’Er eat a bit less then, after all, she’s not hungry.
Zhu Pingniang blinked, thinking she’s truly a bad woman, indeed, her daughter being not filial and wanting to surpass her is the most natural thing.
——
Li Zhibai recalled the al at Xu Chang’an’s ho, and was now excited for tonight’s dinner.
What to say.
Chang’an’s cooking is exquisite, very holy, and perfectly suits her taste.
The ho feast from that night left a deep impression.
If there was anything amiss...
Li Zhibai’s eyelashes trembled slightly.
The uncomfortable part was Yun Qian and Xu Chang’an’s unabashed displays of affection at the table — nesting, feeding, peeling shrimp and more, which indeed quite hurt her, a single old woman.
Though she knew it was because Chang’an regarded her as a true elder, still.. during such tis, she wished Xu Chang’an would be a bit more reserved and restrained.
However... perhaps he already was restrained.
Li Zhibai recalled a silhouette she had once seen outside Yun Qian’s room — back then, Yun Qian was standing on the couch, stepping on Xu Chang’an’s head...
If Xu Chang’an explained it as Miss Yun giving him a back massage, Li Zhibai certainly wouldn’t believe it.
After all, how is giving a back massage done on the head.
Moreover, Li Zhibai rembered, back then even the bed fra collapsed.
Just goes to show what the young couple plays with.
Compared to bedroom shenanigans, feeding at the table seed nothing.
"Can’t understand the youth these days." Li Zhibai sighed.
"Master Li?" Wen Li didn’t understand.
"Nothing..." Li Zhibai naturally wouldn’t gossip around what she saw, she was just amazed, Chang’an usually is very composed, but in his room, oh well, having never been married herself, she remains completely unaware and uninterested in dostic affairs.
As long as Ms. Yun likes it.
Only, Li Zhibai slightly frowned, she suddenly felt... perhaps things might not be that simple.
But thinking about today’s feast with so many people, in front of Wen Li and Zhu Pingniang, along with Tong Jun’s daughters, Ms. Yun and Chang’an... probably wouldn’t be so intimate during the al, right?
Li Zhibai: "..."
After a mont of silence, she gently tapped her embroidered shoes twice.
Indeed, she couldn’t be fully at ease... oh well, just remind him later not to overdo it, after all there are outsiders.
Her gaze skimd over Wen Li, sensing her interest, Li Zhibai thought a bit, then casually spoke holding the tea cup.
"Chang’an’s skills are refreshing, many techniques I’ve never seen before."
She added fuel to Wen Li’s curiosity.
"Ah Li, I recall you liked egg... related things?"
"Yes." Wen Li responded.
Though upon closer look, there was a bit of helplessness in her eyes.
Enjoying eggs, bird eggs and such... how many years ago was that?
She doesn’t actually like them, purely because when she needed food then, they were convenient, just needed to be cooked to eat directly.
Not exactly a fondness.
Ever since fasting, she hasn’t consud any als.
This she hadn’t followed Li Zhibai’s habits, Li Zhibai wouldn’t skip three daily als, occasionally having tea, bathe, even hand-nding clothes.
Wen Li never engaged in such things, considering them... a waste of precious ti.
Yet the teacher claid she liked them, so... it wasn’t incorrect.
If it were the breakfast back when made by the teacher, then of course she’d relish it.
However.
Wen Li took a deep breath.
Can’t be like this.
Even though she thoroughly enjoys the feeling of casually chatting daily affairs with the teacher, enjoys it imnsely.
However, what Wen Li desires isn’t just this, given the rare chance to et the teacher, she should better utilize the ti rather than listening to praises of her nearly perfect younger brother.
This is wasting the hard-earned opportunity.
"Master Li, do you have ti." Wen Li stood up and respectfully saluted Li Zhibai.
Li Zhibai observed the familiar posture, slightly helpless.
Though always had anticipated, she hadn’t thought... using Chang’an as a shield wouldn’t work with Wen Li.
"Ah Li, do you wish to test you?" Li Zhibai asked.
"Yes." Wen Li seriously replied: "As always."
She wished the teacher would examine her progress, along with having so cultivation-related questions to consult her.
"You should know, once out of Sword Hall, you’re no longer my student." Li Zhibai straightforwardly refused Wen Li.
"I can’t help you, you have your own path." Li Zhibai gazed upon her: "This is what I can teach you, and the only thing I can teach."
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