NOVPUBChapter 136: Ling Long Lives in the Garden of Heavenly Harmony?! p1
Mu Zhi’an entered the pavilion, following the path towards Ye Lingxuan’s room in the dim moonlight. But she wasn’t there.
“Strange… Where did my Lingxuan go?” She shouldn’t be sleeping so early. He had planned to comfort her tonight. But she was nowhere to be found. He walked down the hallway, heading towards the study.
Meanwhile, in the candlelit study, Zhou Cang looked at Ye Lingxuan, his voice laced with suspicion. “Is he the reason why you don’t want to leave, Miss?”
She tapped her finger against the table, her voice calm. “He’s the Mu family’s eldest son. He was very kind to me and Qian’er during the entrance exams.”
He frowned. “Even so, it’s inappropriate for a man to visit your pavilion at night.” 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
She smiled faintly. “He’s here to see Qian’er. He pursued her back in Tianxuan City. They’re very close now.”
He raised an eyebrow. “But isn’t she still on Dao Peak?”
“He doesn’t know that, does he?” she replied, her voice indifferent.
He frowned, sensing something off. He even had a suspicion, but he dismissed it as unlikely. She wasn’t the type to fall for someone so easily. He had often heard the name “Ye Yu” mentioned back in the clan. He was a talented young man from Tianxuan City, who had suffered a setback but had recovered, his talent even stronger than before. He was a formidable opponent. But he had never heard of Mu Zhi’an. The Mu Zhi’an of the past was just a womanizing wastrel. If he hadn’t awakened his memories, he would probably be irrelevant by now.
“Do you doubt my words?” she asked, turning to look at them, her gaze sharp.
“We wouldn’t dare, Miss,” they replied quickly.
She nodded, satisfied, about to dismiss them, when a voice called out from outside.
“Lingxuan, why are you still in the study so late?”
She stiffened, feeling their gazes upon her, and she sighed inwardly, looking up to see Mu Zhi’an standing at the window, his handsome face framed by the moonlight, his smile gentle and welcoming, his hand raised in a wave. He walked towards the study.
She glanced at the two men behind her, her voice calm. “Leave. Don’t enter this pavilion without my permission.”
Zhou Cang frowned. “Miss, it’s not appropriate to allow a man in at this hour—”
“We’ll take our leave, Miss,” Shen Lao said, interrupting him.
Zhou Cang hesitated, then said, “I trust you have discretion, Miss. You’re blinded by love because you haven’t experienced enough. Once you’ve seen more of the world—”
“Once I’ve seen more of the world, I’ll realize how wonderful Brother Mu is?” she asked, her voice laced with a playful challenge, no longer bothering to hide her feelings.
He was speechless, caught off guard. He had come here intending to warn Ye Yu. But it seemed his true opponent wasn’t Ye Yu, but a young man he had never even heard of! What was so special about this Mu Zhi’an, besides his handsome face?!
He was about to speak, but Shen Lao placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head, silencing him. Then he led the stunned young man out of the pavilion.
Mu Zhi’an entered the study, seeing her sitting at the table, her long hair flowing freely, her figure slender and graceful, her back alluring. She turned to look at him, smiling. “What brings you here so late?”
He glanced around, then took a seat beside her, his voice soft. “You’re always with Qian’er. She’s not here these past few days, and I was worried about you.”
She chuckled. “I’m not a child. You’re worrying too much.”
“I can’t help it.” He leaned closer, and she smiled, watching him, but as his face drew near, her eyes widened with a sudden panic, her lips parting slightly. “What… what are you doing…?”
He didn’t answer, simply leaning in, his voice a low whisper against her ear. “Was someone here just now?”
Her surprise quickly faded, replaced by a wave of shock. She looked at him, her eyes wide. He smiled, meeting her gaze. He had sensed another presence as soon as he had entered the study. He might not have noticed before, but now, with his pseudo-Natural Spirit Body, he was incredibly sensitive to spiritual energy.
She nodded silently. “My family sent someone to retrieve me. But I told them I would return in half a year.”
“Who’s your family?” he asked, curious.
She hesitated, then looked at him, her voice soft. “Can I… not tell you…?” Her tone was pleading, a stark contrast to her usual commanding demeanor. She was worried he might withdraw if he knew about her background, that their relationship might change. Of course, she didn’t understand his true nature… As long as she was beautiful, he wouldn’t withdraw.
He smiled. “It’s fine. Tell me when you’re ready. Did they leave?”
She nodded. “For now.” She frowned, clearly displeased by their interruption of her new life at the sect. “I’ll make sure they behave.” She said, her voice regaining its usual coldness.
He looked at her, chuckling. “You’re so fierce, Lingxuan.”
She glared at him, her voice soft. “Don’t tease me. I’m in a bad mood.”
“Then let’s improve your mood,” he said.
“It’s not that easy,” she murmured.
“If you can be upset by a couple of irrelevant people, why can’t you be happy because of someone else?” he asked, smiling. “I came to see you because I was worried. Can’t you at least smile?”
She stared at him, his words echoing in her mind, her expression filled with a sudden wonder. He took her hand, his touch gentle.
“Are you feeling better now?” he asked softly.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating her eyes, their beauty captivating, and after a long silence, she snapped out of her thoughts, blushing, her gaze meeting his. She allowed him to hold her hand, her voice soft. “Are you upset that I keep things from you, Brother Mu?”
He squeezed her hand, enjoying her warmth and the smooth texture of her skin, his voice reassuring. “I trust you, no matter what.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked at him, her vision blurring, then she suddenly tried to pull her hand away. But he held on tight, refusing to let go.
“Don’t… I can’t betray Qian’er—”
He placed a finger against her lips, silencing her. “We’ll figure it out later. Don’t talk about that now. There’s only you and me here, right?”
She lowered her eyes, accepting his words, her hand still in his.
After a while, he said goodbye, noticing that it was getting late. She didn’t stop him, watching as he disappeared into the night, a faint smile playing on her lips.
He was right. If she could be upset by certain things, why couldn’t she be happy because of him?
