Chapter 236: Daily Life
The next day, within the Immortal Spirit Valley.
Chen Chang'an slowly opened his eyes and subconsciously reached out to rub his lower back, only to chuckle in spite of himself. It was clearly that other body which was sore; this immortal physique felt no discomfort whatsoever.
"Tsk, I almost forgot..." He whispered to himself, shaking his head as he stood up.
Since marrying Ji Hongli, the two had tacitly chosen to keep it a secret.
First, as a novice in the field of romance, he truly did not know how to explain it to Chen Xingcai—one was her Master, and the other was her biological father. If this left some "shadow on the Dao Heart" of the child, that would be a sin.
Secondly... compared to those "Dao Companions" in the cultivation world who had few desires, the two were instead more immersed in the most ordinary husband-and-wife relationship of the mortal world.
Having tasted the marrow and known its flavor, he himself could not remember exactly how many rounds they had "sparred" over these past few nights. In any case, if it were an ordinary mortal, they would likely have long since... died from exhaustion.
"Fortunately, this is the cultivation world..." He muttered a phrase, then found it amusing. To rejoice over such a matter—if word got out, people would laugh until their teeth fell out.
However, his spirit returning to the main body today was not due to "exhaustion." Rather, calculating the time, his disciples were due to visit him.
Especially that girl Chen Xingcai; she had been fond of running over here recently. If he remained "wandering in spirit" indefinitely, it would only arouse her suspicion.
...
Sure enough, as Xiao Chen and the others arrived together, the small hut instantly became lively.
Chen Chang'an leaned against the bamboo couch, his gaze sweeping gently over each disciple.
Ten years had not left many marks on their faces. Yet, the steadiness in Xiao Chen's brow, the reserve in Han Yu's eyes, the composure in Ji Lingxiu's gestures, and the bearing Jiang Che had settled into after restraining his flightiness all filled Chen Chang'an's heart with infinite gratification.
"Master."
Xiao Chen respectfully served a cup of clear tea and began to narrate the development of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land over the past ten years, detailing each event one by one.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows upon the ground.
Chen Chang'an sipped his tea while listening to his disciples recount the changing winds and clouds of the past decade.
How Xiao Chen led the sect, how Han Yu improved pill recipes, how Ji Lingxiu governed Immortal Spirit City, and how Jiang Che repeatedly encountered fortuitous opportunities while traveling abroad...
Every story made Chen Chang'an sigh in secret admiration. They were indeed Children of Destiny; they could carve out such a world without needing his guidance at their side.
It was not until the sun slanted to the west that Xiao Chen and the others reluctantly took their leave.
Immediately afterward, Li Hanzhou, Uncle Wu, Elder Yao, and others came to visit in succession.
Chen Chang'an responded to each one, a gentle smile always on his face. These social exchanges were never a burden, but rather his most precious bonds in this world.
After seeing everyone off, Chen Chang'an's divine sense quietly returned to the residence in Ping'an Ward.
He rose from the bed, pushed open the door, and entered the main hall. He saw Ji Hongli leaning against the window, her plain white gauze dress fluttering gently in the evening breeze, accentuating her skin which looked like congealed cream.
The afterglow of the setting sun gilded her with a golden rim, and a white jade hairpin in her hair emitted a warm luster. Hearing the commotion, she turned her head, her eyes like autumn waters holding a faint smile.
"Have you seen your disciples?" she asked softly, her voice like a clear spring striking stone.
The corners of Chen Chang'an's mouth rose slightly as he teased, "Yes. By current reckoning, you are also their Mistress now."
Hearing this, Ji Hongli rolled her eyes at him grumpily. That rebuking appearance warmed Chen Chang'an's heart.
He stepped forward and gently pulled her into his embrace, sensing the faint fragrance on her body.
"Rest assured," Chen Chang'an whispered in her ear, his voice gentle yet firm.
"Xingcai has grown up. We will tell her when the time is right, and she will surely understand."
Ji Hongli nodded gently.
Twilight deepened, and the lights of Ping'an Ward lit up one after another.
The two sat side by side at the stone table in the small courtyard. On the table sat a pot of freshly brewed osmanthus tea, curling steam circling between them.
"If you ask me, opening a general store is more secure." Ji Hongli tapped the tabletop lightly with her fingertips, revealing a section of her white wrist from her plain white sleeve.
"That fortune-telling stall of yours is inaccurate nine times out of ten. You just fool the neighbors."
Chen Chang'an raised his eyebrows unconvinced: "Who says it is inaccurate? I have analyzed characters for many years, and to this day, no one has ever come to cause me trouble."
"That is because you could see the weasel stealing the chicken and running that way." Ji Hongli gave a light snort, though her eyes held a smile.
"But the neighbors are used to coming to me for character analysis." Chen Chang'an scratched his head, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"How about this—we still run the general store in the shopfront, but leave a window for me by the door. Just setting up a table will do."
Ji Hongli lifted her teacup and took a sip, her white jade-like fingertips reflecting against the celadon porcelain. "The window faces west. The afternoon sun is very harsh."
"Then we will hang a bamboo curtain under the eaves." Chen Chang'an gestured as he spoke. "We can also place a pot of green pothos; it will block the light perfectly."
The two exchanged words one after another, surprisingly resembling an ordinary couple in the marketplace planning their livelihood.
Ji Hongli even fished out a charcoal pencil to sketch the shop layout on the stone table, while Chen Chang'an seriously calculated the dimensions of the shelves and the fortune-telling table.
Moonlight sprinkled on the tips of their hair, plating a layer of gentle silver radiance over this seemingly childish game of "playing house."
"Dry goods go here, porcelain goes over there..." Ji Hongli's pen tip suddenly paused, and she looked up into Chen Chang'an's smiling eyes.
Without the shackles of their identities, at this moment, they were just two ordinary people calculating for firewood, rice, oil, and salt.
The sketch on the stone table was clearly visible under the moonlight—on the left were neatly labeled shelves, on the right was a crookedly drawn fortune-telling stall, and in the middle, a small heart was drawn. It was laughably childish.
But in reality, both of them were discussing this matter from the bottom of their hearts at this moment.
Playing house is actually never an embarrassing thing. What is embarrassing is when you are being serious, while others think you are just playing house.
Therefore, sometimes, when people feel awkward about something, it is simply because they have not found the right person who is as serious as they are from beginning to end.
Seeing people as people, seeing people as not people, and seeing people as still people.
But at least in this moment, both of them could be certain that they had found the person they wanted to find.
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