Being a hermit isn't easy.
Li Dixian's plan to build a hermitage and seclude himself fell through.
There were two reasons:
He forgot to inform Xue Qinghe, effectively standing her up.
Furthermore, he didn't have enough brewing equipment and would need to ask Xue Qinghe for more.
By the Lotus Lake, the scorching sun blazed.
Xue Qinghe sat alone by the shore, her fishing rod angled into the water.
Seeing this, Li Dixian felt a bit uneasy and quickened his pace to approach her.
But before he could even greet her,
Xue Qinghe's faint voice drifted over with the wind:
"I wonder who it is..."
"Isn't this Jian Jiu, the most famous person in the Soul Arena?"
"What wind blew you to this secluded lake?"
Li Dixian was speechless.
He had once again experienced the Saintess's pettiness.
Li Dixian walked behind Xue Qinghe.
"Qinghe, look back at me."
Xue Qinghe turned her face away.
Li Dixian: "..."
In the distance,
in the reed marsh,
Porcupinefish's face was dark, and his fists cracked as he clenched them.
"Snake Lance, is this what you call brotherly affection?"
"The Young Master's current identity is the Crown Prince, and this... this damn behavior doesn't show any sign of a man at all!"
Even the usually composed Snake Lance's face showed a conflicted expression.
Porcupinefish made to rush out.
"I'll stop him!"
Snake Lance reached out and stopped him.
"Trust me, it'll be fine."
"Li Dixian is completely unaware of the Young Master's identity."
"The Young Master only reveals such emotions in front of him."
"Besides..."
He looked at the two in the distance, his voice deepening.
"The Young Master is much more cheerful than before."
Porcupinefish fell silent upon hearing this.
"Speaking of which..."
Snake Lance's eyes narrowed as he stared at the white-robed youth, murmuring in surprise:
"After just one day apart!"
"This child's sharpness has become so intense that it can't be hidden!"
Porcupinefish also looked at what Li Dixian held in his hand.
"This spirit herb is pure and bright. Is it for the Young Master?"
"Hmph, at least this kid has some conscience; it's not in vain that the Young Master favors him so much."
"If you don't turn around, I'm leaving."
With that,
Li Dixian stared at Xue Qinghe, walking backward step by step.
But after only one step,
Xue Qinghe suddenly turned her head, and the clear urgency in her eyes met Li Dixian's smiling, waiting gaze.
"You..."
Xue Qinghe's delicate cheeks immediately flushed crimson.
However,
her gaze was immediately drawn to what Li Dixian held in his hand.
It was a rose that seemed forged from the essence of the morning light, with layers of petals as thin as cicada wings, radiating a warm glow.
A drop of liquid golden stamen, like a solidified rising sun, pulsed with brilliance.
"This... this is..."
Xue Qinghe's eyes flickered with a hazy look, and she slowly raised her gaze to Li Dixian.
"For you."
Li Dixian presented the spirit herb to Xue Qinghe.
"This spirit herb is called Dawn Light Rose."
"Your Swan Spirit has a light attribute."
"It should be beneficial to you."
Xue Qinghe's heart trembled.
She raised her hand, then suddenly withdrew it, her delicate cheeks flushing with a blush as she carefully cradled the Dawn Light Rose in her palm.
"Thank you..."
"...I like it very much."
Li Dixian lay back lazily on the grass beside her, casually plucking a blade of grass and putting it in his mouth.
"Why are you being so polite with me?"
"We're buddies."
Spirit herbs were abundant at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He had always remembered Xue Qinghe's kindness in giving him the yao guang brew.
Without that immortal brew, his Wine Spirit would not have transformed, nor would he have comprehended the Yao Guang Sword.
Naturally, he had to give her a spirit herb that suited Xue Qinghe.
Looking at the white-robed youth beside her,
a complex, unreadable look of guilt flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes.
Her lips parted slightly.
But in the end, she lowered her head in silence.
Li Dixian seemed unaware of Xue Qinghe's complex emotions, still lying with his eyes closed, and said to himself:
"Qinghe, I'm going to seclude myself for a while."
"I might not come to Lotus Lake every day."
Xue Qinghe softly responded.
"Mm."
"Oh, and one more thing..."
Li Dixian tossed a green brocade pouch onto the grass beside Xue Qinghe.
"Help me prepare some more brewing equipment."
"The list of equipment is inside..."
Xue Qinghe's gaze fell on the green brocade pouch, and her eyebrows slightly raised.
"The Dugu Family's Ruyi Pouch?"
"They gave you this? Li Dixian, are you becoming the Dugu Family's son-in-law?"
—
—
After a long silence, no response came.
Xue Qinghe looked over in confusion.
She saw the white-robed youth lying beside her, his eyes gently closed, his handsome profile appearing serene and peaceful in the afternoon sun.
Xue Qinghe's gaze lingered.
As she watched him... her delicate cheeks softened.
She silently moved a little closer, then a little closer.
Her slender body leaned slightly, shielding the youth beside her from the sun, leaving only dappled, gentle shadows.
When Li Dixian woke up,
the sun had already begun to set in the west.
The two waved goodbye.
Xue Qinghe cradled the Dawn Light Rose, watching Li Dixian's back gradually disappear into the distance.
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance silently appeared behind her.
On the way back to the Imperial Palace,
Xue Qinghe suddenly said softly:
"How can someone hidden in the shadows..."
"be worthy of such a brilliant immortal flower?"
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance understood the unspoken meaning and quickly said:
"Young Master, your identity must not be revealed!"
"This concerns Spirit Hall's grand plan!"
"I know."
Xue Qinghe's voice suddenly turned cold.
"You don't need to remind me."
Li Dixian returned to his small courtyard.
He was packing his belongings, preparing to move to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
But just then,
Thump, thump, thump—
A knocking sound came from outside the courtyard.
"Hmm?"
Li Dixian was greatly surprised.
"I just parted ways with Xue Qinghe, and the Dugu grandfather and granddaughter have gone hunting for spirit rings again."
"Who else would be knocking at my door?"
He opened the courtyard gate.
A simply dressed maid stood on the steps, holding out a gilded invitation with both hands.
"Young Master Dixian, good day."
"By order of the Family Head, the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family sincerely invites Young Master to our manor for a visit."
Looking at the gilded invitation in front of him,
Li Dixian's sword-like eyebrows raised.
Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family?
He had no dealings with them, they were completely unrelated, so why were they inviting him?
Li Dixian originally wanted to refuse.
But the rumored Nine Heart Begonia, envied by the heavens, aroused his strong curiosity.
"I've seen the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"I wonder what this Nine Heart Begonia is like."
With his mind made up, Li Dixian took the invitation, cupped his hands, and said:
"Thank you, Dixian will arrive shortly."
The maid curtsied gracefully.
"We await your esteemed presence."
Putting all the necessary items into his Ruyi Pouch,
Li Dixian strolled towards the Ye Manor.
He didn't know the way.
But it wasn't a big problem.
In Heaven Dou Imperial City, when one mentioned "Ye Manor,"
the first thing that came to mind was definitely the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family.
At the end of the bluestone-paved path, two ebony gates stood silently, with bronze carvings of Nine Heart Begonia patterns wrapped around the door knockers.
Li Dixian looked up.
A nanmu plaque hung above the door, with the words "Ye Manor" inlaid with silver threads in the style of begonia branches, each stroke ending in blooming begonia petals.
"So rich."
Li Dixian sighed, stepped forward, and knocked on the door knocker.
"Li Dixian has arrived as invited."
The next chapter will be around ten o'clock, rushing to finish writing!