After a brief exchange, Xiao Shi left a box of pastries and departed with Cui Yuanxi without lingering.
Xiao Yuanjun closed her eyes again in her reclining chair, feeling utterly relaxed.
Wherever Zhang Yuan decided to go, she would follow. Neither great matters nor small required her concern as his Master. Only at a critical moment would it be time for her to act.
With tonight's itinerary settled, Zhang Yuan stopped refining his Sword Qi and visited the Chen Residence before leaving, both to inform Chen Xinqiao and to bid her farewell.
It was a pity, really. Separated by life and death, they had finally reunited and should have had a good, long talk about the past. Yet they had been drawn into the True Lords' chess game and could not stop, and now they would have to part again for a while.
The Chen Residence.
Chen Qinkuai had gone to tend the Aohai Cui Clan's shop, leaving Chen Xinqiao alone at home.
By now, Chen Xinqiao had actually returned to her rightful station. As a Golden Core True Lord, even if Chen Qinkuai was merely a mortal and knew nothing of it, her status as a cultivator meant she no longer needed to worry about money for their livelihood.
But Chen Qinkuai lived up to his name: diligent. Even with money to spare at home, he could never sit idle and went to help at the shop whenever he had time.
Chen Xinqiao had tried persuading him several times, but when he would not listen, she let the matter drop.
When Zhang Yuan arrived at the Chen Residence, he saw Chen Xinqiao meditating in the courtyard. After a moment's consideration, he found somewhere to sit without disturbing her.
In cultivation, being disturbed by others was especially taboo.
Chen Xinqiao