Having settled all the household necessities, Li Dixian invited Xue Qinghe, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the four from Huangdou Academy for another meal.
It was considered a housewarming ceremony.
It's no wonder Li Dixian was willing to be friends with these people.
These young masters and ladies, who usually never lifted a finger, actually cleaned up the messy 'battlefield' of dishes and cups for him before leaving.
Li Dixian saw each of them to the door.
After everyone left, he sank lazily into a sandalwood armchair.
Four Seasons Plum blossoms bloomed overhead, and he occasionally sipped some wine, feeling as content as if life's greatest pleasure was nothing more than this.
Just as he was chewing a plum, and the wine made him drowsy—his eyes suddenly snapped open!
Two substantial rays of sharpness shot out from his eyes, startling the plum blossoms overhead, causing their petals to flutter down.
"Again?!"
"Did I do something wrong?!"
Having experienced the first assassination attempt, Li Dixian reacted as swiftly as lightning this time.
He immediately sprang up, ready to dart towards the courtyard wall.
However, just as he was about to move, a faintly familiar aura came from behind him.
He paused, turning to look.
Whoosh—!
A black shadow, like an arrow released from a bow, assailed him through the air.
Li Dixian instinctively raised his hand, and the Azure Lotus Sword was already on the verge of appearing.
But the attacking aura, as the distance closed, became clearer and clearer.
Li Dixian's defenses completely receded; he neither dodged nor avoided, calmly waiting for the black shadow to pounce before him.
The black shadow arrived in the blink of an eye.
The person wore a black tight-fitting suit, her face hidden behind a black veil, and a sharp, cold claw rested against Li Dixian's chest, but it advanced no further.
A smile spread across Li Dixian's face.
He didn't speak, just quietly gazed at the eyes revealed by the other party.
Slowly… slowly… the other party's inky black eyes gradually filled with tears.
She retracted her sharp claw, suddenly spread her arms, and crashed into Li Dixian's embrace, a choked sob, mixed with grievance and joy, also rising: "Li Dixian, I finally… saw you again!"
At this moment, if the other six Shrek monsters were present and witnessed Zhu Qing's appearance, their jaws would likely drop.
Could the usually cold-faced and taciturn Zhu Qing actually have such an ardent side?
With a warm, soft beauty in his arms, Li Dixian, however, smelled the scent of dust.
He lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over the tiny blades of grass clinging to the hair of the person in his arms, and he could guess how much hardship Zhu Qing had endured coming to Heaven Dou City alone.
Li Dixian raised his hand, gently stroking the trembling, slender shoulders of the young girl.
"Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing), long time no see."
After a moment, Zhu Qing's pretty face flushed with shyness, and she gently broke free from Li Dixian's embrace.
She carefully examined Li Dixian, and a smile finally graced her lips.
"I actually arrived in Heaven Dou City this morning."
"I just saw you happily gathered with your friends, so I didn't disturb you."
"Hmm, seeing you live so freely, I… I'm happy for you."
Li Dixian led her under the plum blossom tree, took his clear spring wine pot, and poured her a full cup.
"The wine Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing) asked Dugu Yan to bring last time, I've already drunk it; it tastes good."
"This is my newly brewed wine; you should try it."
Seeing the cup's rim enveloped in a flowing, fire-like ethereal blue mist, the rich and mellow aroma of the wine instantly filled the small courtyard.
Zhu Qing unconsciously licked her slightly dry lips.
Li Dixian's wine would certainly not disappoint.
"Then I won't be polite."
With that, she eagerly raised the cup and took a sip.
"Mmm…"
As the wine entered her throat, her fair, pretty face visibly flushed, and even her inky black eyes were veiled with a layer of misty moisture.
"Good… such good wine…"
Watching Zhu Qing's charmingly naive appearance, overwhelmed by the wine, Li Dixian shook his head with a smile and also raised his cup for a light sip.
At this moment, a conversation he had with Dugu Yan that day suddenly flashed through his mind:
—"What else did Zhu Qing say to you?"
—"She said she likes you, and next time you meet, she wants you to kiss her."
Li Dixian put down the wine pot.
He, who was always unrestrained and free-spirited, now felt a rare trace of awkwardness.
"Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing)…"
"Hmm?"
Zhu Qing raised her hazy eyes.
"Perhaps it's not quite appropriate."
"What's not quite appropriate?"
She slurred, her voice muddled with wine fumes.
Li Dixian frowned slightly, then simply stopped beating around the bush.
He repeated the exact words Dugu Yan had conveyed.
Zhu Qing was startled at first upon hearing this.
Immediately, her already flushed cheeks became as red as if bleeding, and even her earlobes and neck were tinged with crimson.
"I… I never said such a thing!"
"I… I just asked her to bring you wine… I really didn't say anything like that!"
Li Dixian gave a helpless, bitter smile.
He now understood perfectly that Dugu Yan had played a trick on him.
Seeing Zhu Qing so flustered and embarrassed, Li Dixian, who should have been awkward, instead laughed with relief, saying: "It's alright, Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing), Dugu Yan was just being mischievous."
"You don't need to take it to heart."
"Mmm… mmm."
Zhu Qing responded softly.
But Li Dixian's nonchalant demeanor made her feel a little uneasy.
She clutched the package in her arms, gently bit her lower lip, and whispered: "Li Dixian…"
"Can I bathe here?"
Li Dixian pointed to the exquisite side room next to the main house.
"That's the water reservoir, and it's also embedded with hot spring stones that draw geothermal heat."
"I haven't moved in long, and I've only used it twice. If Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing) doesn't mind, please feel free to use it."
"Mmm."
Zhu Qing replied with a whisper, like a wisp of smoke, and quickly slipped into the small room, clutching her small package.
Li Dixian, with a clear mind, turned his back to the small room, leaned against the plum tree, took a sip of wine and a plum, enjoying himself leisurely.
About half an hour later, Li Dixian was already somewhat hazy-eyed from the wine.
Suddenly, a delicate floral fragrance wafted from behind him.
Zhu Qing's voice, tinged with hesitation and shyness, softly sounded behind Li Dixian: "Li Dixian…"
"You… you turn around and look at me…"
Li Dixian subconsciously turned his head at the sound.
The sight that met his eyes, even as years passed, would be etched in his memory for years to come.
Zhu Qing, who usually only wore black tight-fitting clothes, had actually changed into a long purple dress the color of rosy clouds.
Her habitually sharp phoenix eyes were now slightly lowered, and her thick, long eyelashes cast delicate shadows in the setting sun, revealing a rare softness.
She was clearly very unaccustomed to this outfit.
She habitually reached to touch the hidden weapon pouch at her waist, but only touched soft tassels and jade ornaments.
Feeling Li Dixian's gaze, which seemed to carry a tangible warmth, Zhu Qing's heart fluttered.
She turned her head away, her voice trembling: "Li Dixian…"
"You… didn't you say purple has a charm to it…"
"If… if it looks bad… I'll go change right away…"
"Don't."
Li Dixian spoke to stop her, then affirmed: "It looks good, Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing) looks extremely good."
Zhu Qing turned her head back, her hair, which was usually tied with a crown and ribbon, now adorned with two purple jade hairpins.
As she moved, the tiny jadeites dangling from the hairpins jingled.
Her gaze directly met Li Dixian's smiling eyes.
The faint blush on her earlobes was strikingly similar to the plum blossoms that had just fallen.
Li Dixian gently patted the hundred treasures pouch at his waist and took out two immortal herbs from it.
"Since Zhuqing-jie (Sister Zhuqing) remembers my words so well, then I shall return the favor with a gift…"
I didn't know there were so many students. From now on, the third chapter will be before 9:30 PM.
Study hard, everyone, and don't feel pressured~~