A lovely hour, a beautiful scene, a full moon, and fragrant flowers.
Yu Tingchao's mood, however, was nowhere near as lovely.
"All right, there's no need to let some irrelevant person spoil your mood. I don't care, so why should you?" Ning Xiang placed the little fox mask in her hand over his face. "Tingchao, give your senior sister a smile."
"Oh, I forgot you're wearing a mask. I can't tell whether you're smiling anyway. Shall your senior sister smile for you instead?"
"Senior Sister, I'll work twice as hard at cultivating from now on. I'll never let anyone bully you again."
Ning Xiang was deeply touched, but surely no one could bully her, could they?
Apart from that bastard Iceberg Lu, I don't think I've ever feared anyone. Keep it up, my little black lotus. I'm leaving the arduous task of getting rid of Iceberg Lu to you!
Yu Tingchao: "..."
Only then did he realize just how thoroughly being able to hear Ning Xiang's thoughts could ruin the mood.
He had just been about to speak when a peddler carrying baskets on a shoulder pole passed by, surrounded by a flock of children who chattered incessantly.
"Tingchao, look! So many hideous little rabbits."
Ning Xiang pulled Yu Tingchao over to look. The baskets were filled with brightly colored clay rabbits in all sorts of shapes. Some wore colorful robes and ceremonial hats; some wore golden crowns, golden helmets, and silver armor; others wore the dresses of ordinary mortal women. Every one had a pinkish-white face, a three-lobed mouth, and a chubby body, looking comical and cute.
Ning Xiang picked out two and held them beside her face. "Tingchao, look. Do they look like me?"
Yu Tingchao said, "Senior Sister, you're more than ten thousand times prettier than those two ugly things!"
The peddler grinned. "Young master, you aren't from Cloud Province City, are you? Here in Cloud Province, if a young man fancies a young lady, he gives her a pair of Bunny Lords. If she likes him, she returns one to him. If she doesn't, she returns both."
"Then what if the young lady keeps both Bunny Lords?"
"That means she hasn't made up her mind yet and needs more time to think. Young master, this is such a rare opportunity. Why not give your sweetheart a pair of Bunny Lords and see how she feels about you?"
Hmm? Ning Xiang watched Yu Tingchao with keen interest.
What a shame. Jiang Miaomiao has gone into secluded cultivation. My little black lotus probably won't get to give her this love token for a while.
Yu Tingchao paid the copper coins, then presented the rabbits to Ning Xiang.
Puzzled, Ning Xiang asked, "Why are you giving them to me?"
"In Thousand Calamities Valley, you gave me both the Kui Ox's and the Ghost-Faced Ape's demon cores, letting me take first place. Consider this pair of Bunny Lords a thank-you gift."
Ning Xiang accepted them gloomily. "Buying a gift with my money and giving it back to me. You've certainly mastered doing business without any capital."
Yu Tingchao was in excellent spirits. His lips curved into a smile, his eyes shimmering enchantingly. "It's getting late. Let's head back."
The Chongming Bird was too conspicuous, so the two flew back to the Profound Heaven Sect on their swords.
The full moon shone pure and bright overhead, spilling its radiance over the mortal world, settling between the brows and in the eyes of every loving heart.
Golden winds and jade dew, a fine night beneath lovely skies, with a gentle breeze and a beautiful moon.
Yet Ning Xiang's mood soon ceased to be beautiful.
"Where did you two go so late at night?"
Ning Xiang turned stiffly and raised a hand in greeting. "Eldest Senior Brother, what a coincidence. You're out for a walk too?"
Su Lang stood tall and elegant, his temples damp with autumn dew. Clearly, he had been waiting for a long time. Beneath the moonlight, his shadow stretched far behind him.
Ning Xiang felt rather guilty.
Damn it, why do I feel like some cheating bastard caught red-handed?
Su Lang stiffened, but instead of looking at Ning Xiang, he questioned Yu Tingchao. "Where did you take your senior sister?"
"Actually, I wanted to go out and clear my head, so I asked Tingchao to come with me."
"He hasn't even finished his assignments. All he does is fool around all day, and now he's leading you astray too."
Ning Xiang shut her mouth and gave Yu Tingchao a sympathetic look, indicating that she was powerless to help.
When did my little black lotus offend Eldest Senior Brother? Look how angry he is. And why can't Eldest Senior Brother stand seeing me with my little black lotus? Could it be...
Ning Xiang was shocked by her own thought.
Could it be that with Jiang Miaomiao away, Eldest Senior Brother has changed his sexual orientation and fallen for my little black lotus?
Ning Xiang stared at Su Lang in horror.
She was far from the only one shocked. Su Lang's and Yu Tingchao's expressions changed in unison.
"Put that thought away. I'm not attracted to men!" Su Lang forced the words out with immense difficulty.
Yu Tingchao said, "Neither am I."
Ning Xiang said, "I know, I know."
See? You both thought of the same thing. Clearly, I guessed right. Eldest Senior Brother is terrified of damaging Junior Brother's reputation. His protectiveness and love for Junior Brother really are enviable, Ning Xiang marveled.
Su Lang was just about to deny it when a figure whose purity outshone frost and snow glided toward them beneath the moonlight.
Lu Qingchen looked at the three disciples and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Ning Xiang's eyes curved with her smile. "Listening to Eldest Senior Brother and Junior Brother pour out their hearts to each other."
Su Lang and Yu Tingchao said, "We aren't! We didn't!"
"I see." Lu Qingchen nodded slightly, expressing his understanding of his two disciples. "Go back to your own courtyards to pour out your hearts. There are too many loose tongues here. It would be rather unfortunate if rumors reached your fathers."
The two fellow disciples were furious.
Ning Xiang, the culprit, did not think she had caused a misunderstanding at all. Inwardly, she was delighted for them both.
Does this count as making it official in front of Master? Go for it, Eldest Senior Brother. May you bring your handsome man home soon.
Ning Xiang cast Su Lang an encouraging look.
"Master, what brings you here?"
Lu Qingchen said, "I remembered that today is the Moon-Worship Festival, so I came to bring you some mooncakes to try."
Hmm? Since when had Iceberg Lu become so considerate?
Yet as Su Lang and Yu Tingchao looked at the food box in their junior sister's hands, they saw how biased their master was. Their little junior sister got an enormous box, while they received only two mooncakes each.
Ning Xiang quietly raised her guard.
Iceberg Lu really is full of schemes. Giving me this much-isn't he obviously trying to make Eldest Senior Brother and Junior Brother feel slighted, so they'll envy me and shut me out?
Lu Qingchen, who had originally intended to give them only to Ning Xiang: "..."
"Ahem. It's getting late. Go back and rest early. You still need to get up early tomorrow to practice your swordsmanship."
When Ning Xiang returned to Lingling Cottage, she found the courtyard piled with magical treasures, magical artifacts, robes of law, jewelry, and all sorts of food.
A Communication Talisman flashed. Ning Xiang activated it and listened as her father's full, vigorous voice rang out-
"My darling girl, how have you been lately? Have you received the Moon-Worship Festival presents your old dad prepared for you? I've been training in the Demon Domain lately. I originally wanted to catch a couple of spirit beasts for you, but the demonic cultivators were all far too ugly. I hear the Demon Venerable is fairly good-looking, but unfortunately, I haven't run into him. In a few more days, I'll go to the Demon Domain and catch a few demon beasts for you to play with.
"Also, you're all grown up now, yet you don't even have a partner. Everyone else goes out in pairs. You're prettier than all those girls, yet you're the one without a partner. Aren't you embarrassed?
"One of these days, your old dad will find you a few. Ning Pingzhang's daughter can't fall behind anyone else!
"All right, I've got other things to do, so I won't ramble on. Love you!"
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