novelraw Chapter 635 - 0368 What she wants is Chang’an (Two in One)_2
Chapter 635 - 0368 What she wants is Chang’an (Two in One)_2
At this moment, Zhu Pingniang no longer looked at Xu Chang’an but instead somehow produced a palm-sized rouge box, then smeared it on her fingers, applying the lip color evenly on her lips.
A woman with a disheveled posture, applying rouge, with her legs crossed.
The makeup was very bright, even somewhat gaudy, completely overshadowing the last hint of coolness in Zhu Pingniang’s eyebrows.
At this moment, she perfectly blended into the Flower Moon Building, into the identity of the madam.
"Why are you looking at your sister like this?" Zhu Pingniang gave Xu Chang’an a sideways glance, then shook her head: "This makeup is for the evening banquet... After all, I am their Ms. Zhu, if I were dressed too differently, the girls wouldn’t like me this way."
She had also come to a realization.
She did not want to compete with Yun Qian.
If she really dressed like an outstanding beauty, wouldn’t that alienate her own girls?
Being a bit vulgar is better.
"Being charming is better, it comforts the girls."
She said, tilting her head to look Xu Chang’an up and down, finally withdrawing her gaze, merely saying softly: "Chang’an, what do you think... your sister wants?"
"Chang’an is dull."
"Heh, you are not a stupid person."
Upon hearing this, Xu Chang’an lowered his head.
He remembered some things he had seen and heard at the Flower Moon Building, remembered the rules Zhu Pingniang set on Muyu Peak, and lifted his head to speak.
"Do you want stability?"
Zhu Pingniang was taken aback at this, seemingly not expecting Xu Chang’an to react so quickly, and pursed her lips after a moment.
"See, your sister said you are a smart person."
What she wanted was indeed stability.
"To be precise, what your sister wants is Chang’an."
After speaking, she watched Xu Chang’an’s face with interest, finding no discomfort in the young man’s demeanor, showing a disappointed expression.
This Chang’an was certainly not that Chang’an.
"Chang’an, can’t you guess what your sister wants to hear from you?"
"This..." Xu Chang’an seemed a bit troubled, completely at a loss for words.
"Forget it, if you wish to play dumb, then be it." Zhu Pingniang thought, and then took another letter from her bosom, carefully opening the letter to cover up the densely packed elegant script, leaving the last few lines for Xu Chang’an to see.
"Take a look." She said.
Xu Chang’an looked over and then blinked.
It was his teacher, Li Zhibai’s handwriting.
Xu Chang’an always wanted to say that Li Zhibai’s handwriting was very graceful, like a refined young lady, totally not inheriting her ancient and austere personality.
"Ah Bai’s writing is pretty, right?" Zhu Pingniang was pleased with Xu Chang’an’s reaction, yet she pointed to a line of small characters below.
Xu Chang’an looked over and then went silent.
No reason.
The graceful ink words revealed the flavor of Li Zhibai, as if his teacher was standing at the podium, slowly reciting them.
Actually, it was Zhu Pingniang reading, not surprising as they’ve been through thick and thin together, even mimicking this similar tone.
"Purple Saint, Heaven-Reaching Jade Thunder, ancient and modern are all peaceful, Peaceful World."
After saying this, Zhu Pingniang put away the letter.
"A while ago a tribulation thunder made the cultivation world aware of some heavenly might and the fact that such terrifying things exist under the sky."
Both she and Li Zhibai were brought up by Shi Qingjun, and absolutely did not believe there were immortals or saints in this world.
Yet upon witnessing the Purple Thunder reaching the Celestial Palace and a wisp of purple aura, all those years of conviction were thoroughly disturbed.
Rainwater?
Does it matter?
No amount of peculiarities Xu Chang’an displayed could compare to that tribulation thunder.
Zhu Pingniang very directly sensed what it meant to be an ant under a celestial tribulation, just a sliver of its residual power sealed all her life’s cultivation pursuits, it was hard to imagine what kind of existences the tribulation aimed at.
Li Zhibai naturally felt it too, moreover, Li Zhibai received hints from Shi Qingjun, vaguely aware that thunder was related to Xu Chang’an.
[Purple Saint, Heaven-Reaching Jade Thunder, ancient and modern are all peaceful, Peaceful World.]
This is what Ah Bai wanted to express.
The young man in front was by no means decent, as for Zhu Pingniang, upon discovering the secret Xu Chang’an held, she instinctively felt not surprise but suffocating pressure and unease.
The young man before her was like a monster, not knowing when he might swallow her whole.
One should believe, the feelings of others after knowing would be the same.
But Li Zhibai would rather believe her student is a "saint," believing that terrifying Heaven-Reaching Purple Thunder was a symbol of the saint, meant to bring peace to the world... rather than dreading him.
These few sentences almost openly revealed Li Zhibai’s stance.
"Chang’an, Ah Bai trusts you, to be honest... I’m a bit jealous."
Zhu Pingniang sighed softly, then asked: "Light Purple Saint, Beichen Purple Palace, upright attire, always blessed by heaven, all things dwelling in Spirit Realm, the assembly of heavenly sages, the source of all Dao resting."
After a moment’s silence, Xu Chang’an responded: "The saint often roams the world, also capable of establishing the universe as a saint."
"So you have read for a few years." Zhu Pingniang nodded.
"Idle hands are the devil’s plaything back then."
"Do you consider yourself a saint?" Zhu Pingniang looked at him.
Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but smile wryly.
What’s all this talk?
He knew himself best, he couldn’t even aspire to be called a gentleman, let alone being a saint of the universe.
At this moment, Xu Chang’an only felt he had been deceived by the system.
However, discovering that Li Zhibai was still willing to trust him upon knowing all his anomalies... it’s false to say he wasn’t moved.
"Ah Bai believes in you, then I, your sister, will also... however, if you truly lived up to your name." Zhu Pingniang tilted her head: "Then letting you take on the ancient and modern peace is no issue... by then, you’d be Pingniang."
After speaking, Zhu Pingniang looked at Xu Chang’an’s face showing an expression of wanting to say something but not knowing where to start, the curve of her lips rising a bit more.
Teasing this boy was indeed enjoyable.
Scaring him a bit, quelled all the displeasure she sensed coming from him regarding his wife.
"So, what do I want to hear?" Zhu Pingniang glanced at him: "Who are you?"
"Surname Xu, name Chang’an." Xu Chang’an stated truthfully.
"Naughty." Zhu Pingniang suddenly seemed annoyed: "I want one sentence from you, why is it so difficult?"
Zhu Pingniang finally couldn’t hold back anymore, pointing her slender finger at Xu Chang’an’s face, glaring at him in anger.
"Say, say you belong to Chaoyun... No, say you will always be from Muyu Peak."
——
What she wanted was not Xu Chang’an.
It was Xu Chang’an from Muyu Peak.
This was the answer she wanted to hear, satisfactory.
What immortal reincarnation, what bizarre identity, all were unimportant.
All Zhu Pingniang wanted was for Xu Chang’an to say something to temporarily reassure her that he’s "Xu Chang’an of Muyu Peak."
She believed she had hinted clearly enough.
What she wanted was stability.
And Xu Chang’an?
The name implies peace, but at this moment, he only made those who understood feel unsettled.
"Isn’t it reasonable for your sister to ask for one sentence?" Zhu Pingniang looked at him.
Yet Xu Chang’an was helpless: "Ms. Zhu, if you don’t make it clear, how can I know what you want me to say?"
"But I feel you’re just unwilling to say it." Zhu Pingniang pouted, believing her way of forcibly seeking a promise to bind Xu Chang’an to Muyu Peak was very much like a child.
Xu Chang’an shook his head, thinking he finally understood what Zhu Pingniang meant.
However, people must have self-awareness, why should a senior hold him in high regard, merely because of his cultivation at the Open Source Realm?
The system, in the end, is an external thing.
He received so much help, feeling only gratitude and respect for Zhu Pingniang and Li Zhibai, whether he would always be a person of Muyu Peak Xu Chang’an dared not promise, but whatever the senior ordered him to do, he would certainly comply.
"Senior, I will be a person of Muyu Peak." Xu Chang’an fulfilled Zhu Pingniang’s wish.
"Oh." Zhu Pingniang heard and realized she felt no sense of relief.
Then she knew she’d been possessed by a demon.
However... her unease was genuine.
She was like those girls from the Flower Moon Building who became uneasy upon seeing her dressed in coolness, fearing she would return to the Immortal Sect.
No one was stronger than the other.
"Chang’an, do you think, if a woman always lacks a sense of security, should she... get married?"