Chapter 57: Even I, Little Madam Gu, Have My Pride
Could it be that Falling Cloud Retreat truly harbored an expert proficient in mystical arts?
Chen Yan pondered for a moment before stepping out of the shop with Lu Si Si. His gaze flickered toward Falling Cloud Retreat, yet he did not walk in its direction.
Before, he had assumed the place was a den of charlatans, devoid of true masters. That was why he had dared to brazenly challenge them and scheme against them without restraint.
But now—he had truly encountered someone who wielded real magic.
Though he was unsure of their depth, the fact that the other party had used Qi Observation to scrutinize him with but a single glance proved they were no mere fraud. Without Primordial Qi, how could one possibly activate such a technique?
With that in mind, Chen Yan abandoned the notion of returning to Falling Cloud Retreat so soon. Bringing Lu Si Si along made it unwise—if something unexpected occurred, it could expose too much.
He turned to Lu Si Si with a smile. “We’ve seen all there is to see. Let’s head back.”
“Alright,” Lu Si Si responded with a bright smile.
Though she felt a slight pang of regret that their stroll was coming to an end, she wasn’t greedy. The time they had spent together today was already more than enough to make her heart flutter.
They had worshipped at a temple, wandered through the bustling streets, and sampled delicacies from every alleyway. While they hadn’t walked hand in hand like lovers, their shoulders brushing now and then, the occasional fleeting touch—it was enough to send her heart racing.
[This… surely counts as a date, doesn’t it?]
Lost in thought, she suddenly noticed Chen Yan had stopped by a street vendor. Before she could react, he had already purchased two skewers of candied fruit and handed one to her.
She blinked in surprise.
“The strawberry one is yours,” Chen Yan said with a grin. “I’ll take the hawthorn.”
Lu Si Si gingerly took a bite. The strawberry was a bit tart, but the caramelized sugar coating was crisp and sweet.
Chen Yan chuckled as he noticed a bit of sugar clinging to the corner of her lips. Without hesitation, he reached out and gently wiped it away with his thumb.
—
A dozen paces away, amidst the flowing crowd, Gu Qing Yi stood at the roadside, her expression calm as she gazed at the pair in the distance.
In her hands was a cup of milk tea, barely sipped. Watching the two interact with such familiarity, her brow arched ever so slightly. Then, without a word, she turned and vanished into the sea of people.
Gu Qing Yi had come for Falling Cloud Retreat.
Since she had intervened to help the proprietress, it was only proper to see things through to the end. Tonight, under the cover of darkness, she planned to seek out Luo Qing to ensure he had carried out her instructions.
She had not expected to encounter Chen Yan here.
And that soft-spoken, beautiful young woman beside him—was she his lover?
That morning, when she had been basking in the sunlight, the milk tea Chen Yan had handed her had been surprisingly pleasant, leaving a faint trace of warmth in her memory. So much so that when she spotted a milk tea shop on her way here, she had purchased a cup for herself.
Yet the moment she took a sip, disappointment set in.
[Hmph, it doesn’t even compare to the one he gave me.]
She had ordered the exact same green milk tea, yet the flavor was miles apart.
What she did not realize was that cheap street-side vendors often used inferior tea leaves, or worse, powdered substitutes. The milk itself was hardly authentic either, merely a synthetic blend—nothing like the fine, top-grade tea she had unknowingly enjoyed before.
With an indifferent flick of her wrist, she discarded the cup into a roadside bin, pulled a mask over her face, and made her way toward Falling Cloud Retreat.
—
Behind the retreat, in the rear courtyard, Luo Qing stood amidst the ruins of the collapsed western wing and main hall. These areas were now cordoned off with warning tape.
His own eastern wing remained untouched, but he had little desire to stay here.
He lingered only because the district officials had come to assess the damage and discuss compensation.
Another hefty sum gone from his pockets. Though Luo Qing felt the sting, he consoled himself with the fact that he had avoided paying President Fang’s reparations. That alone saved him a fortune.
[With my junior sister back, that fat merchant won’t dare touch me. If I keep quiet about this, and he tries to stir up trouble, I can always feign innocence. Given our shared sect background, my junior sister wouldn’t just abandon me.]
Luo Qing was quite confident in his plan. After seeing off the district officials, he began packing his belongings, intending to move into a tea house for the next few days.
Just as he locked his door, a sudden gust of wind carried a pebble wrapped in paper, sending it skittering to his feet.
His heart skipped a beat. He stooped to pick it up and unfolded the crumpled note.
Three crookedly written characters stared back at him—Letter of Reconciliation?
Luo Qing’s knees nearly gave out. He spun in place, scanning his surroundings. Yet not a single figure lurked nearby.
Thinking fast, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the empty air, his voice ringing with forced reverence.
“I have already done as instructed, venerable one! The case is settled, and the person has been released—I even escorted them home myself! Please, spare me!”
He repeated this twice. Only when no response came did he dare straighten up, exhaling in relief.
[Seems like they’ve accepted it. This ordeal… should be over now, right?]
—
By the time Chen Yan returned home, the sky had long darkened.
Stepping into the courtyard, he found Little Madam Gu reclining on the same chair as before, seemingly having not moved an inch since his departure.
He approached lightly and spoke with amusement. “Little Madam Gu, the sun’s been gone for hours. Why are you still out here? There’s nothing left to bask in.”
Gu Qing Yi lifted her eyes lazily. “The night sky is just as beautiful. You can’t see it in Hell-Suppressing Platform, after all.”
Chen Yan nodded, then asked, “Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“How about something simple? Boss Fang sent over some fine winter goods yesterday—there’s a batch of spiced spirit sausages, marinated with Maotian Wine. They’re supposed to have a rich, fragrant taste. I’ll steam a few slices for us.”
Gu Qing Yi’s lips curled ever so slightly. “Sounds good.”
Chen Yan made his way into the kitchen, and soon after, Gu Qing Yi followed, standing at the door, watching him cook.
Yesterday, Master Fang delivered the New Year’s gifts—indeed, an abundance of fine goods. Among them, a whole jar of rendered lard—truly a gift rooted in the earth.
Chen Yan kindled the fire, heated the wok, and tossed in rice to fry—lard, once it meets the flames, unfurls a fragrance richer than any common oil. The scent alone could steal the soul of a wandering immortal.
A single wok of golden fried rice, infused with the essence of lard, sent forth an aroma so enticing that before it even left the pan, Gu Qing Yi had swallowed three mouthfuls of air in anticipation.
Within the steamer, slices of spiced spirit sausage had been cut and laid. As the steam rose, a faint trace of Maotian Wine drifted into the air. Though unfamiliar with this mortal concoction, Gu Qing Yi found its mingled fragrance with the meat to be an irresistible call, her eyes fixated upon the steamer for a long while.
As for Gui Geng…
He had long since been booted back into the courtyard’s pond by Gu Qing Yi’s decisive kick.
An old turtle such as he—what need had he for mortal rice?
Later, Chen Yan would retrieve the seafood from Master Fang’s New Year’s offering—freshly frozen shrimp, to be poured into the pond and left for the ancient creature to feast upon as he pleased.
When the fried rice was ready, Chen Yan filled two large bowls, setting one before himself and the other before Gu Qing Yi. They sat at the dining table, their meal accompanied by the spiced sausage, devouring it as if a storm had swept through.
The more Gu Qing Yi ate, the brighter her eyes became. This sausage, infused with the spirit of Maotian Wine, was unlike anything she had ever tasted—an exquisite delicacy of the mortal realm.
Chen Yan watched her reaction and could not resist asking, “Little Madam Gu… don’t tell me—you’ve never had wine before?”
Gu Qing Yi hesitated before shaking her head. “Wine muddles the qi and clouds the spirit—it hinders cultivation. Before I shattered my mortal shell to step into the celestial path, I never drank. And after breaking through, I was stationed upon the Hell-Suppressing Platform… there was no wine to be had there.”
Chen Yan leaned back. “Well, do you want to try some? I have a few bottles of beer in the house.”
Gu Qing Yi pondered briefly, then shook her head. “Better not.”
“Why?”
“For your own sake.”
“Hah?”
She slowly lowered her chopsticks and met his gaze, her tone flat. “The year I ascended, I was summoned back to the Gu Family. On the eve of my departure from the Hell-Suppressing Platform, my comrades of the platform gathered for a farewell drink. Even the Town General opened two casks of his treasured brew… that night, I drank.”
Chen Yan’s expression shifted. “You don’t mean to say…”
“Mmm. By dawn, none of them came to see me off.” Gu Qing Yi spoke calmly, her small accent lending a peculiar softness to her words. “The Town General informed me—everyone who drank with me had been beaten into the medical ward by my drunken hand.”
“…”
Chen Yan wordlessly dragged the plate of spirit-infused sausage closer to himself.
Gu Qing Yi, watching his motion, gave a faint smile. “Rest easy. This is different. That time, I drank half a cask before losing control.”
She paused, then fixed her gaze upon him. “What did you do today?”
“Hmm? Oh, just strolled the city with some friends—stopped by the temple to offer incense.” Chen Yan answered casually.
Gu Qing Yi recalled the ancient temple near Falling Cloud Retreat and nodded. “Before dinner, I noticed you messaging someone… Your expression while doing so—hmm. The person you were out with today, a woman, wasn’t it?”
“How’d you guess?”
Her tone remained calm. “If you were chatting with a man, you wouldn’t have smiled like that—so foolishly pleased with yourself.”
Chen Yan conceded with a nod. “You’re right. It was a girl.”
“A lover?”
Chen Yan hesitated. Given their peculiar relationship—her once being mistaken for his betrothed, then now taking the mantle of his stepmother—there was no need for secrecy.
Why should he? He, Chen the Great Philanthropist, walked an upright path. What need had he to hide?
“It’s not official yet,” he admitted honestly, “but… if things progress, she might be.”
Gu Qing Yi gave a small nod, lowering her gaze as if lost in thought. After a moment, she lifted her head, deliberately composing herself, her youthful voice laced with an affected air of seniority. “You are not young anymore. It is proper to find a match, settle down, and ensure the Chen lineage flourishes.”
Chen Yan rolled his eyes.
Big Sister, are you taking this role too seriously?
You’re really playing the part of Chen Family’s matriarch, huh?
“I will only remain in this world for another half year. Once our ghost marriage is concluded, I must return to my cultivation, striving for the next breakthrough.”
Her tone was serene. “Before I depart, if you decide on this woman as your partner, bring her to meet me.”
“I shall bestow her with a blessing.”
Chen Yan clicked his tongue inwardly. [Alright, you’re getting carried away with this act.]
[You walk the Path of Warfare, not that of fortune or fate. Your so-called blessing is probably less effective than me just casting a little good-luck charm on her.]
Still…
“You really only have six months left here?”
“To seek higher realms and walk the true path has always been my goal.” Gu Qing Yi’s expression was unwavering. “Had it not been for this marriage delaying me for a year, I would have long since entered seclusion in pursuit of my next breakthrough.”
Chen Yan chuckled slyly. “Then, Little Madam Gu… before you leave, do me a favor, will you? You did promise that if I helped you complete the ghost marriage and acknowledged you as my legitimate mother, you would shield me—let me roam freely, unafraid. Maybe rough up a few people for me?”
“Hmm. Name them,” she said, popping another slice of sausage into her mouth. “Who needs a beating?”
“I have two targets—one far away in Harbor City. We’ll deal with him after the New Year, once our marriage rites are done. But the other… he’s here in Jin Ling City. This one wronged a friend of mine—and by extension, me—so…”
Gu Qing Yi tapped her bowl. “No trouble. If he’s in Jin Ling Prefecture, I can step out and take care of it with ease. Just tell me his name, where he lives, and how badly you want him injured.”
[As the matriarch of the Chen Family, anyone who offends its sole heir must be punished—surely, even the Ancestors would approve.]
Chen Yan’s eyes gleamed. “His name is Luo Qing. He resides at the foot of Qi Xia Mountain, in Falling Cloud Retreat.”
“…”
Gu Qing Yi’s eyes widened as she stared at him.
[Wait… wasn’t that the guy I beat up just last night? And I wrecked his house, too!]
[He yielded, played along—wasn’t he quite cooperative?]
[And now you want me to go over and beat him up again?]
[This… this isn’t quite right, is it?]
[I have my pride!]
[…Maybe if I wear a mask?]
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation