Gift to Qian Renxue: Dawn Light Rose, from the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family

Being a hermit was not easy.

Li Zhixian's plan to build a cottage and enter seclusion had fallen through.

There were two reasons:

He had forgotten to let Xue Qinghe know, leaving him hanging.

And he did not have enough winemaking equipment, so he still had to ask Xue Qinghe for more.

By Lotus Lake, the blazing sun beat down.

Xue Qinghe sat alone on the shore, his fishing rod slanting into the water.

Seeing this, Li Zhixian felt a little guilty and quickened his pace toward him.

Before he could even greet him,

Xue Qinghe's calm voice drifted over on the wind:

"Who did I think it was..."

"Isn't this Sword Wine, the most renowned figure in the Soul Fighting Arena?"

"What wind blew you to this secluded lakeside?"

Li Zhixian was speechless.

He had once again experienced just how petty the Saintess could be.

Li Zhixian walked behind Xue Qinghe.

"Qinghe, turn around and look at me."

Xue Qinghe turned his face away.

Li Zhixian: "..."

In the distance.

Within the reeds.

Pufferfish's face darkened, his fists clenched with cracking sounds.

"Snake Lance, this is the deep brotherly bond you were talking about?"

"The Young Master's current identity is the Crown Prince. This... how the hell does this look even remotely like a man?"

Even the usually composed Snake Lance wore a conflicted expression.

Pufferfish made as if to rush out.

"I'm going to stop them!"

Snake Lance reached out and held him back.

"Trust me. It'll be fine."

"Li Zhixian has no idea who the Young Master really is."

"Only in front of him does the Young Master reveal such emotions."

"Besides..."

His gaze fell upon the two in the distance, and his voice grew heavier.

"The Young Master has become much more cheerful than before."

Hearing this, Pufferfish fell silent.

"Come to think of it..."

Snake Lance narrowed his eyes, staring at the white-robed youth as he muttered in astonishment:

"It's only been one day!"

"The edge on this boy has grown so overwhelming that he can't hide it at all!"

Pufferfish also looked toward Li Zhixian's hand.

"This Spirit Grass is pure and radiant. Is it for the Young Master?"

"Hmph. At least the brat has a conscience. The Young Master's favoritism toward him hasn't been wasted."

"If you don't turn around, I'm leaving."

With that said,

Li Zhixian stared at Xue Qinghe as he backed away step by step.

The moment his footsteps sounded once,

Xue Qinghe abruptly turned his head. The unmistakable urgency in his eyes collided with Li Zhixian's smiling, waiting gaze.

"You..."

Xue Qinghe's delicate face instantly flushed crimson.

However,

his gaze was immediately drawn to the object in Li Zhixian's hand.

It was a rose that seemed forged from the essence of dawn. Its layered petals were thin as cicada wings, flowing with a warm halo.

At its center rested a drop of liquid gold, like a solidified rising sun, pulsing with radiance.

"This... this is..."

A dazed look passed through Xue Qinghe's eyes as he slowly raised them to Li Zhixian.

"It's for you."

Li Zhixian held the Spirit Grass out before Xue Qinghe.

"This Spirit Grass is called Dawn Light Rose."

"Your Swan Spirit has the light attribute."

"It should be beneficial to you."

Xue Qinghe's heart trembled.

She raised her hand, then abruptly drew it back. A blush spread across her delicate face as she carefully cradled the Dawn Light Rose in her palms.

"Thank you..."

"...I really like it."

Li Zhixian lazily lay back on the grass beside her, casually plucked a blade of grass, and held it between his teeth.

"Why are you being so polite with me?"

"We're bros."

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye was covered in Spirit Grass.

He had always remembered the favor of the Yaoguang Brew Xue Qinghe had given him.

Without that immortal brew, his Wine Spirit would not have evolved, nor would he have comprehended the Yaoguang Sword.

Naturally, he had to give her a Spirit Grass suited to Xue Qinghe.

Looking at the white-robed youth beside her,

a trace of complicated, indescribable guilt flickered in Xue Qinghe's eyes.

Her lips parted slightly.

But in the end, she lowered her head without saying a word.

Li Zhixian seemed not to notice Xue Qinghe's complicated emotions. He continued lying there with his eyes closed and said to himself:

"Qinghe, I'm going into seclusion for a while."

"I might not come to Lotus Lake every day."

Xue Qinghe answered softly.

"Mm."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing..."

Li Zhixian tossed a green brocade pouch onto the grass beside Xue Qinghe.

"Help me prepare some more winemaking equipment."

"The list is inside..."

Xue Qinghe's gaze landed on the green pouch, and his brows rose slightly.

"The Dugu Family's Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch?"

"They even gave you this, Li Zhixian. Are you becoming the Dugu Family's son-in-law?"

After a long while, no response came.

Xue Qinghe looked over in confusion.

She saw that the white-robed youth lying beside her had his eyes lightly closed, his handsome profile peaceful and serene beneath the afternoon sun.

Xue Qinghe's gaze lingered on him.

As she kept watching...

her delicate expression softened.

Silently, she moved a little closer, then a little closer still.

Her slender body tilted slightly, shielding the youth beside her from the sunlight and leaving only dappled, gentle shade.

When Li Zhixian woke up,

the sun had already begun to set.

The two waved farewell.

Holding the Dawn Light Rose, Xue Qinghe watched Li Zhixian's figure gradually disappear into the distance.

Pufferfish and Snake Lance silently appeared behind her.

On the way back to the imperial palace,

Xue Qinghe suddenly spoke softly:

"Someone who hides in darkness..."

"How could they be worthy of such a brilliant immortal flower?"

Pufferfish and Snake Lance understood the implication and hurriedly said:

"Young Master, your identity absolutely cannot be exposed!"

"It concerns Spirit Hall's grand plan!"

"I know."

Xue Qinghe's voice suddenly turned cold.

"I don't need you to remind me."

Li Zhixian returned to the small courtyard.

He was packing his things, preparing to move to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

But just then,

Knock, knock, knock—

A knocking sounded outside the courtyard.

"Hmm?"

Li Zhixian was greatly surprised.

"I only just parted with Xue Qinghe, and Grandfather and Grandson Dugu have gone hunting for spirit rings again."

"Who else would come calling?"

When he opened the courtyard gate,

a simply dressed maid stood before the steps, holding out a gilded invitation with both hands.

"Greetings, Young Master Zhixian."

"By order of the family head, the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family sincerely invites you to visit the manor for a discussion."

Looking at the gilded invitation before him,

Li Zhixian raised an eyebrow.

The Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family?

He had no dealings with them whatsoever. Why were they inviting him?

Li Zhixian had wanted to refuse.

But the Nine Heart Begonia, said to be envied by the heavens, stirred his intense curiosity.

"I've seen the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

"I wonder what the Nine Heart Begonia is like."

Having made up his mind, Li Zhixian accepted the invitation and cupped his hands.

"Thank you for the trouble. Zhixian will arrive shortly."

The maid gave a graceful bow.

"We await your arrival."

After storing everything he needed in the Treasure Pouch,

Li Zhixian casually made his way toward Ye Manor.

He did not know the road.

But that was not a problem.

Within Heaven Dou Imperial City, whenever Ye Manor was mentioned,

the first thing anyone thought of was the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family.

At the end of a bluestone path stood two quiet ebony gates, their door rings wrapped in bronze carvings of Nine Heart Begonia patterns.

Li Zhixian looked up.

A nanmu plaque hung above the gate. The words "Ye Manor" were inlaid in silver thread, forming the winding shape of begonia branches, with begonia petals blooming at the end of every stroke.

"They're really rich."

Li Zhixian sighed and stepped forward to knock the door ring.

"Li Zhixian has come in response to the invitation."

The next chapter will be around ten. Gotta keep writing!