Gifting Qian Renxue a Morning Light Rose, an Invitation from the Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family

Living as a hermit wasn't easy.

Li Zhexian's plan to build a hut and enter seclusion had fallen through.

There were two reasons:

He had forgotten to let Xue Qinghe know, effectively standing him up.

And he lacked enough tools for brewing, so he still had to ask Xue Qinghe for some.

By Lotus Lake, the blazing sun beat down.

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

Seeing this, Li Zhexian 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 Jian Jiu, the brightest name in the Soul Fighting Arena?"

"What wind blew you to this secluded lakeside?"

Li Zhexian was speechless.

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

Li Zhexian walked behind Xue Qinghe.

"Qinghe, turn around and look at me."

Xue Qinghe turned his face away.

Li Zhexian: "..."

In the distance.

Within the Reed Marsh.

Pufferfish's face darkened, his fists cracking as he clenched them.

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

"The Young Master's current identity is the Crown Prince. This... this doesn't look manly in the slightest!"

Even the usually steady 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 Zhexian has no idea about the Young Master's identity."

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

"Besides..."

He looked at the two in the distance, his voice growing deeper.

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

Upon 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 surprise:

"Just one day apart!"

"This boy's sharpness has grown so intense that he can't hide it even if he tries!"

Pufferfish also looked toward Li Zhexian's hand.

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

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

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

With that said,

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

Yet the instant his footsteps sounded,

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

"You..."

Xue Qinghe's delicate cheeks immediately flushed crimson.

However,

his gaze was instantly drawn to the object in Li Zhexian's hand.

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

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

"This... this is..."

A dazed look flashed through Xue Qinghe's eyes. He slowly lifted his gaze to Li Zhexian.

"It's for you."

Li Zhexian held the Spirit Grass out before Xue Qinghe.

"This Spirit Grass is called the Morning Light Rose."

"Your Swan Martial Soul has the light attribute."

"It should benefit you."

Xue Qinghe's heart trembled.

He raised a hand, then abruptly pulled it back. A blush spread across his delicate cheeks as he carefully cradled the Morning Light Rose in his palm.

"Thank you..."

"...I really like it."

Li Zhexian lazily lay back on the grass beside him, casually plucking a blade of grass and putting it between his lips.

"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 Xue Qinghe's kindness in gifting him the Yaoguang Brew.

Without that Immortal Brew, his Wine Martial Soul would not have evolved, nor would he have comprehended the Yaoguang Sword.

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

Looking at the White-robed Youth beside him,

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

His lips parted slightly.

But in the end, he lowered his head in silence.

Li Zhexian seemed not to notice Xue Qinghe's complicated emotions. He continued lying there with his eyes closed, speaking to himself:

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

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

Xue Qinghe responded softly.

"Mm."

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

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

"Help me prepare some more brewing tools."

"The list of tools is inside..."

Xue Qinghe's gaze fell on the green brocade pouch, his brows rising slightly.

"A Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch from the Dugu Family?"

"They even gave you this, Li Zhexian. Did you become the Dugu Family's son-in-law?"

--

--

No reply came for a long while.

Xue Qinghe looked over in confusion.

He saw that the White-robed Youth lying beside him had his eyes lightly closed, his handsome profile peaceful and serene beneath the afternoon sunlight.

Xue Qinghe's gaze lingered on him.

As he watched...

his delicate face softened.

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

His slender body tilted, shielding the youth beside him from the sunlight and leaving only dappled, gentle shade.

When Li Zhexian woke up,

the sun had already begun to set.

The two waved goodbye.

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

Pufferfish and Snake Lance silently appeared behind him.

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 dazzling 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.

"You don't need to remind me."

Li Zhexian returned to his 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 knock sounded outside the courtyard.

"Hmm?"

Li Zhexian was greatly surprised.

"I just parted with Xue Qinghe, and the Dugu grandfather and granddaughter have gone hunting Spirit Rings again."

"Who else would come knocking at my door?"

When he opened the courtyard gate,

a simply dressed maid stood before the steps, respectfully presenting a gilded invitation with both hands.

"Greetings, Young Master Zhexian."

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

Looking at the gilded invitation before him,

Li Zhexian raised an eyebrow.

The Nine Heart Begonia Ye Family?

They had never interacted and had no connection whatsoever. Why were they inviting him?

Li Zhexian had originally intended to refuse.

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

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

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

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

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

The maid gave a graceful bow.

"We await your arrival."

After storing everything he needed in the Hundred Treasures Pouch,

Li Zhexian leisurely headed toward Ye Mansion.

He did not know the way.

But that was no problem.

In Heaven Dou Imperial City, when someone mentioned "Ye Mansion,"

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

At the end of a bluestone-paved path stood two blackwood doors in quiet stillness, their door rings entwined with copper carvings of Nine Heart Begonia patterns.

Li Zhexian looked up.

A nanmu plaque hung over the entrance. The two characters for "Ye Mansion" were inlaid with silver threads that formed begonia branches, every tapered stroke blossoming into begonia petals.

"They're really rich."

Li Zhexian remarked, stepping forward to knock the door ring.

"Li Zhexian has come at your invitation."

The next chapter should be around ten. Back to writing, back to writing!