Zhu Zhuqing: Didn't You Say Purple Had Charm? Li Zhexian Gives an Immortal Herb (Bonus Chapter, Please Vote)

After procuring everything needed for the house.

Li Zhexian invited Xue Qinghe, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the four from Huangdou Academy over for another meal.

It was simply a little housewarming ritual.

No wonder Li Zhexian was willing to be friends with them.

These young masters and ladies, who normally never lifted a finger around the house, actually cleaned up the battlefield of dirty dishes before leaving.

Li Zhexian saw each of them out.

After everyone had left.

He lazily sank into a sandalwood armchair.

Four Seasons Plum blossoms bloomed overhead. He took occasional sips of wine, so content that it seemed life could offer no greater bliss.

Just as he was chewing on a plum.

With the wine making him drowsy—

His eyes suddenly flew open!

Two tangible flashes of sharpness burst from his eyes, startling the plum blossoms overhead into fluttering down.

"Again?!"

"Did I offend some god or something?!"

Having experienced an assassination attempt once before.

Li Zhexian reacted with lightning speed this time.

He immediately sprang up, ready to dash over the courtyard wall.

However, just as he was about to move, a faint yet somewhat familiar aura approached from behind.

He froze, then turned around.

Whoosh—!

A black shadow shot through the air like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Li Zhexian instinctively raised his hand, the Azure Lotus Sword ready to emerge.

But as the incoming presence drew nearer, it became increasingly clear.

Li Zhexian dropped all his defenses. Not only did he neither dodge nor evade, he simply waited for the black shadow to reach him.

The shadow arrived in the blink of an eye.

The newcomer wore tight black clothing, her face hidden behind a black veil. A sharp claw gleaming with cold light pressed against Li Zhexian's chest, yet it did not advance another inch.

A smile spread across Li Zhexian's face.

He said nothing.

He merely gazed quietly into her exposed eyes.

Slowly...

Slowly...

Those ink-black eyes gradually filled with crystalline tears.

She withdrew her claws, abruptly spread her arms, and threw herself into Li Zhexian's embrace. A choked sob, mingling grievance and joy, rose with her voice:

"Li Zhexian, I finally... saw you again!"

At that moment.

Had the other six Shrek monsters been present.

They likely would have dropped their jaws at the sight of Zhu Zhuqing like this.

Could that Zhu Zhuqing, who was always cold-faced and sparing with words, really possess such passion?

Soft warmth filled his arms.

Yet Li Zhexian caught the scent of dust.

He lowered his head. Seeing tiny blades of grass caught in the hair of the girl in his arms, he could guess how much hardship Zhu Zhuqing had endured getting to Heaven Dou City alone.

Li Zhexian raised his hand.

He gently stroked the girl's slender, trembling shoulders.

"Sister Zhuqing, it's been a long time."

After a moment.

Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face flushed with embarrassment as she gently pulled herself from Li Zhexian's embrace.

She carefully looked Li Zhexian over, and at last, a smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"I actually arrived in Heaven Dou City this morning."

"But I saw you gathering with your friends, so I didn't disturb you."

"Mm, seeing you live so freely, I... I'm happy for you."

Li Zhexian took her beneath the Plum Blossom Tree, retrieved his Clear Spring Wine Gourd, and poured her a full cup.

"I already drank the wine Sister Zhuqing asked Dugu Yan to bring me last time. It tasted good."

"This is wine I brewed recently. Give it a try."

Bluish mist, like flowing flames, swirled above the rim of the cup.

A rich, mellow fragrance of wine instantly filled the small courtyard.

Zhu Zhuqing unconsciously licked her slightly dry lips.

Li Zhexian's wine certainly could not be bad.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

As she spoke.

She eagerly raised the cup and took a sip.

"Mmm..."

The wine slid down her throat.

A flush spread across her fair, pretty face at a visible pace.

Even her dark eyes were veiled in a hazy mist.

"S-so... so delicious..."

Watching Zhu Zhuqing's adorably tipsy appearance.

Li Zhexian shook his head with a smile and raised his own cup for a small sip.

Just then.

The conversation he had once had with Dugu Yan suddenly flashed through his mind:

—"What else did Zhu Zhuqing say to you?"

—"She said she likes you and wants you to kiss her when you meet next."

Li Zhexian set down the wine gourd.

Usually carefree and uninhibited, he now showed a rare hint of awkwardness.

"Sister Zhuqing..."

"Mm?"

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her unfocused eyes.

"I'm afraid that wouldn't be appropriate."

"What wouldn't be appropriate?"

She exhaled the scent of wine, her voice indistinct.

Li Zhexian frowned slightly and simply stopped beating around the bush.

He repeated, word for word, what Dugu Yan had relayed.

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned at first.

Then her already flushed cheeks turned as red as blood, a rosy hue even spreading to her ears and neck.

"I... I never said such a thing!"

"I... I only asked her to bring you wine... I really never said anything like that!"

Li Zhexian gave a helpless, bitter smile.

How could he not understand now?

Dugu Yan had played him.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing so embarrassed that she could barely sit still, Li Zhexian, who should have been the awkward one, instead smiled in relief.

"It's all right, Sister Zhuqing. Dugu Yan was just fooling around."

"You don't need to take it to heart."

"Mm... mm."

Zhu Zhuqing answered softly.

Yet Li Zhexian's complete lack of concern left her feeling somewhat unsettled.

Clutching the bundle in her arms, she lightly bit her lower lip and said in a small voice:

"Li Zhexian..."

"Can I bathe here?"

Li Zhexian pointed toward the exquisite side room beside the main house.

"There's a Water Reservoir over there, with Hot Spring Stones embedded to draw up geothermal heat."

"I haven't been here long and have only used it twice. If Sister Zhuqing doesn't mind, feel free to use it."

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing responded so softly it was barely audible. Hugging her small bundle, she quickly slipped into the room.

Li Zhexian had no distracting thoughts. With his back to the little room, he leaned against the plum tree, sipping wine and eating plums in leisurely contentment.

About half an hour passed.

Li Zhexian's eyes had grown somewhat hazy with drink.

Then suddenly.

A delicate floral fragrance drifted quietly toward him from behind.

Zhu Zhuqing's voice, carrying both hesitation and shyness, softly sounded behind Li Zhexian:

"Li Zhexian..."

"Y-you... turn around and look at me..."

Hearing her, Li Zhexian instinctively turned his head.

The sight that entered his eyes was enough to remain branded in his memory even as the years passed.

Zhu Zhuqing, who always wore nothing but tight black clothing, had changed into a long purple dress like misty sunset clouds.

Her phoenix eyes, usually so sharp, were now lowered slightly. Her thick lashes cast fragmented shadows in the setting sun, lending her an unusual gentleness.

She was clearly deeply unaccustomed to this outfit.

Out of habit, she reached for the Hidden Weapon pouch at her waist, only to touch soft tassels and jade pendants instead.

Feeling Li Zhexian's gaze upon her, a gaze that seemed to carry real warmth, Zhu Zhuqing's heart fluttered as though she had been burned.

She turned her head away and said in a trembling voice:

"Li Zhexian..."

"D-didn't you say purple had charm..."

"If... if it looks bad... I'll go change right away..."

"Don't."

Li Zhexian stopped her, then gave her a firm answer.

"It looks beautiful. Sister Zhuqing looks absolutely beautiful."

Zhu Zhuqing turned back. The ribbon that had bound her hair had been replaced by two Purple Jade Hairpins.

As she moved, the tiny pieces of Jade Marrow hanging from the hairpins chimed softly.

Her gaze.

Met Li Zhexian's smiling eyes directly.

The faint blush at the tips of her ears resembled the plum blossoms that had drifted down moments ago.

Li Zhexian patted the Hundred Treasures Pouch at his waist and took out two Immortal Herbs.

"Sister Zhuqing remembered my words so well."

"Then I'll return the gesture with a gift..."

I didn't know there were so many student readers. From now on, the third chapter will be posted before 9:30.

Study hard, everyone. Don't put too much pressure on yourselves~~