Brought Home a Granddaughter-in-Law

The moment they left Star Luo City, Ling Qianyue clearly sensed that Zhu Zhuqing's tightly wound nerves had relaxed somewhat.

Her shoulders sank slightly, and her steps became lighter, as though she had cast off some heavy burden.

The distance from Star Luo City to Ling Qianyue's home was not far. Ordinary people needed only half a day to make the journey, while the two of them, having awakened their Martial Souls, reached their destination in just an hour or two.

"Creak—"

As he pushed open the door, a familiar, warm atmosphere washed over them. The furnishings inside were simple yet tidy. Though he had been away for four months, there was not much dust to be seen.

"Grandpa Jason must have been looking after the place."

Zhu Zhuqing followed behind Ling Qianyue, curiously surveying her surroundings. It lacked the splendor and grandeur of her own home, but compared to the pressure she felt there, this place gave her an unusual sense of peace.

Watching Ling Qianyue ahead of her, the corners of her lips could not help but curl upward.

"Zhuqing, sit down for a while. I'll go prepare something to eat." As Ling Qianyue spoke, he headed for the kitchen.

"I can help." Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly followed him. "I cook occasionally at home too. I might not be as good as you, but I should be able to help out."

Ling Qianyue nodded, and the two entered the kitchen together. They took out ingredients from the storage ring and began to get busy.

Ling Qianyue handled the cooking, while Zhu Zhuqing washed and chopped the vegetables beside him, handing over the seasonings.

"Your knife skills are quite good," Ling Qianyue praised.

Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips in a faint smile. "Thank you for the compliment."

The two worked together seamlessly, not at all like it was their first time cooking together.

Zhu Zhuqing took the salt jar he had finished using and looked softly at Ling Qianyue. "This feeling... it's practically like we're really husband and wife."

Her cheeks reddened slightly. After saying those words to herself, her heart felt as though a little deer were wildly crashing about inside it.

From the time she was four until she left for Martial Soul Academy after her Martial Soul Awakening, her life had undergone sudden changes. She had once thought she would never again have such peaceful, warm moments.

Her heart had remained taut because of the marriage contract suddenly forced upon her and the fated duel.

Having grown increasingly distant and taciturn, she suddenly felt fortunate that she had approached Ling Qianyue to get acquainted after seeing him teach Dai Gonggong a lesson that day.

When she had been unwilling, lost, and her road ahead in life had seemed completely dark, someone like him had suddenly appeared. How could she possibly not be moved?

After meeting Dai Mubai that day, when Ling Qianyue had tried to reshape her acupoints, a seed called "dependence" had already quietly been planted in her heart.

Ling Qianyue's gentleness, his occasional dominance, and his unspoken understanding and support were like a beam of light piercing through the haze in her heart.

"Zhuqing, Zhuqing?" Ling Qianyue called Zhu Zhuqing back from her daze.

"Mm, huh? What is it?" Zhu Zhuqing came back to herself and silently scolded herself.

"It's time to eat."

Ling Qianyue and Zhu Zhuqing sat facing each other.

"Delicious!" Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up. Though she still ate in small bites, the speed at which she picked up food visibly increased.

"I'm glad you like it. If you want to learn, I can teach you." Ling Qianyue chuckled and began eating as well.

"Qianyue, thank you," Zhu Zhuqing suddenly said softly.

"What are you thanking me for? You'll be staying here for a month. Just treat it like your own home. No need to be polite."

"Mm."

Treat it like her own home? You said it yourself, Qianyue. One month is nowhere near enough.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly.

"This is my room. Tidy up the empty room across from it later; that'll be your room for the time being. Don't go into the room at the very end under normal circumstances."

"Alright." Zhu Zhuqing nodded. After spending a semester together, she had long since learned about Ling Qianyue's background. That room was probably where his grandmother had once lived.

"Mm. Get settled first. I'm heading out for a while, so don't run around like a rabbit."

"Do you take me for a child?" she muttered under her breath before answering, "Got it."

"I'll be back soon." Ling Qianyue picked up the bundle that had been prepared on the table and headed toward the back mountain.

"Phew—" Zhu Zhuqing let out a long breath. Once Ling Qianyue had gone far away, she looked at the rooms on either side. The room on the right was where she would be staying, while the one on the left was Ling Qianyue's room.

Should I go in and take a look? Zhu Zhuqing thought, but her body had already moved of its own accord, bringing her outside Ling Qianyue's door.

"Qianyue's room..." Her cheeks were flushed, and her slender hand had already landed on the doorknob. Her heart pounded without pause.

"Just one look. Qianyue won't know. Mm, that's right, just one look."

She gently turned the doorknob, and the door silently opened a crack. Like a thief, Zhu Zhuqing cautiously poked her head inside.

The room was simply furnished: a large wooden bed covered with light-blue bedding, a window beside it with sunlight spilling through, and a desk piled with various items. A wooden sword rested nearby, identical in appearance to Ling Qianyue's Shattered Star.

She walked to the bed, gently sat down, then leaned back and lay upon it. The bedding seemed to still retain Ling Qianyue's scent.

"Breathe in—breathe out—"

Zhu Zhuqing indulged in that feeling for a moment. She only wanted to fall asleep here and never wake up again.

A moment later, once she realized what she had just done, she sprang to her feet and swiftly restored the room to its original state, doing her best to erase any traces of having entered. She patted her chest with her little hand.

Her face was red as blood. Pressing her lips together, she walked out of the room and gently closed the door behind her.

Just then, "Qianyue! You're back!" Old Jason's booming voice rang out from outside, filled with joy and affection.

Zhu Zhuqing's heart jolted. She hurriedly stepped aside, pretending she had just come out of her own room. She straightened her clothes and tried her best to make her expression look natural.

After glancing left and right, she decided to bite the bullet and go greet him at the door.

"How's the academy been—Huh? You are?" Old Jason's words caught in his throat as he stared at the pretty young girl before him, her face flushed as though she had just done something she felt guilty about. For a moment, he was stunned.

"Hello, Grandpa. My name is Zhu Zhuqing. I-I'm Qianyue's friend. I'll be staying here temporarily during the holiday. Qianyue just went out," Zhu Zhuqing said slowly and softly.

"..."

"Oh, oh~!"

Old Jason's eyes suddenly lit up. Judging by the girl's appearance and attire, she looked like a young lady from a noble family.

Look at that lovely face, and that gentle, melodious voice. Good boy! He hadn't even been away for half a year, yet he'd already brought this old man a granddaughter-in-law! As expected of the one I personally named—his skill at wooing girls truly inherited this old man's legacy!

But wasn't Qianyue a little too young to be dating already? Bah! Too young my ass. You had to raise a wife from an early age!

"Good, good." Old Jason chuckled happily. Without asking where Ling Qianyue had gone, he pulled Zhu Zhuqing over to sit down. "Zhuqing, tell Grandpa—how's Qianyue doing at the academy?"

Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed crimson. "H-He's doing very well..."

Old Jason's grin widened even further. It was in the bag~