Chapter 918: The Sacred Matter of Men and Women
They gazed into each other's eyes at the closest possible distance, seeing their own reflections in the other's gaze.
A profound silence fell, utterly devoid of sound.
Neither knew how much time passed before they finally parted.
"I'm a bit hungry," Xu Yourong said, looking at him seriously.
Chen Changsheng's voice trembled slightly as he asked, "What would you like to eat?"
The white crane soared into the air once more, breaking through the clouds and mist, leaving the mountain range behind to arrive at that small town not far from Tong River.
Xu Yourong led him to an unremarkable courtyard, where a middle-aged woman welcomed them in with delighted surprise.
Both Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong craved the beef bones from Fushui Road in the capital.
The middle-aged woman said, "I don't know how to make northern dishes, but I just caught a few three-pattern fish today. How about I make you a pot of tofu fish?"
Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong exchanged a glance, never expecting that what they had missed back then would be made up for here.
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The tender fish meat combined with the even more delicate tofu created an indescribably fresh and delicious flavor, and with the addition of the bright red chili oil, it was simply extraordinary.
Just like back on Fushui Road, Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong first ate in quiet contentment for a long time. Only after their appetites were somewhat satisfied did they begin to chat casually.
Various small dishes were arranged around the fish pot, looking quite lovely, but the serving of sticky rice cake that Xu Yourong had specifically ordered seemed a bit out of place.
"It really does seem like you have a sweet tooth," Chen Changsheng remarked, recalling the honey dates she had carried with her by the Cold Mountain Heavenly Pool.
Xu Yourong didn't answer him. Her small face was slightly flushed—whether from the spice or something else, it was hard to tell.
They thoroughly reviewed everything that had happened recently.
The court's intentions were now very clear, and Chen Changsheng had long been mentally prepared for this. Still, the death of Priest Xin stirred some emotion in him.
Back when the National Academy was reborn from its ruins, Priest Xin could be considered one of its earliest witnesses. Who would have thought the man had such a hidden identity? As for the Western Continent's conspiracy, it had been exposed, but everyone knew this matter was far from over. Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi had gone to White Emperor City, and no one knew how that would end.
"White Emperor was probably severely wounded in his battle with the Demon Lord. He's been in seclusion recovering for years now. White Emperor City is essentially in Madam Mu's hands."
Xu Yourong said this to him without hiding her concern, because she already knew the reason Little Black Dragon had gone to White Emperor City.
"When the Demon race established their kingdom back then, the Frost Giant Dragon clan contributed greatly. Zhi Zhi should be safe there," Chen Changsheng said. "I'm just a bit worried about Senior Bie Yanghong."
Xu Yourong thought of the lonely silhouettes of Bie Yanghong and Wuqiong Bi riding the clouds away during the day, and she too fell silent.
The world was still far from peaceful. Even sacred domain experts like them had to face heartaches—who could remain untouched?
Let alone Chen Changsheng being the Pope and her being the Saintess, each bearing their own responsibilities. The idea of retiring to the grasslands was, at least for now, impossible.
Chen Changsheng said, "Speaking of which, the person I should thank most today is Senior Autumn Mountain."
Xu Yourong replied, "Senior Brother truly is an extraordinary person."
When she said this, her expression was calm, her tone natural, carrying a hint of closeness and trust.
If it had been an ordinary young man, hearing such words might have stirred some displeasure.
Chen Changsheng was not an ordinary young man, but he still felt a bit uncomfortable.
However, he couldn't say anything, because what Senior Autumn Mountain had done today deserved his gratitude.
Moreover, he had witnessed it firsthand at Banya Horse Farm—he had felt it. Senior Autumn Mountain truly was an extraordinary person.
After Chen Changsheng finished recounting the events at Banya Horse Farm, Xu Yourong was astonished and left speechless. She thought to herself, the eyesight of you and Senior Brother is just... unbelievable...
"When he and I were drinking by the stream, he once mentioned that he liked a girl," Chen Changsheng said, glancing at Xu Yourong as if casually.
Xu Yourong replied very calmly, "There have always been many girls around you."
That was true.
From Luo Luo, who climbed over the wall from the Hundred Herb Garden to the National Academy to take him as her master and refused to leave, to Little Black Dragon, who saved his life with her true blood beneath North New Bridge and stayed to protect him, to Mo Yu, who sneaked into the National Academy every night to steal a trace of fragrance from his pillow, all the way to the Demon race's little princess, Nanke, who still tugged at his sleeve.
Chen Changsheng didn't know how to explain, so he just lowered his head and ate, preparing to try a piece of sticky rice cake.
Xu Yourong wouldn't let him taste it.
He asked why, confused.
Xu Yourong was a bit embarrassed, unsure how to explain, so she simply moved all the sticky rice cake from the plate onto her own dish.
Chen Changsheng thought she was genuinely angry. He knew those girls were hard to explain, but there was one thing he could clarify.
"When I was ten years old, I found out I had always been sick, incurable, that I wouldn't live past twenty... so I stopped writing back to you."
Only then did Xu Yourong realize he hadn't been asleep earlier and had heard everything she said. Her shyness deepened, and she lowered her head in silence.
Chen Changsheng looked at her very seriously and said, "Don't be angry with me about this."
He and Xu Yourong were the same age, born only three days apart.
Back when they were six and a half years old, they had already been betrothed to each other.
What kind of person was Xu Yourong? At five, her Heavenly Phoenix bloodline had awakened, and she was raised with meticulous care by the Saintess and the Holy Maiden.
Even though she was only six and a half then, not to mention her grandfather the Grand Chancellor, even the Holy Empress herself had to seek her opinion on whom she would marry.
From the day she learned of her betrothal, she had grown curious about the other half of that arrangement. She sent the white crane with a letter to Xining.
After Chen Changsheng received her letter, he began to reply. Their correspondence continued until he turned ten, when it stopped.
They had never been strangers to each other.
But after the letters ceased, Xu Yourong had taken a strong dislike to that little Daoist and didn't want to remember those things.
Now, those childhood memories—like the bamboo dragonfly—seemed to slowly come back.
"Back in your first letter, when you asked who I was, was your tone really that bad?"
"Bad? I was genuinely curious."
"And in the last letter, you really laid into me."
"Who told you to stop writing back?"
"Because I didn't want to drag you down. Besides, you didn't like me back then."
"Hmm, actually, I did."
"What did you say?"
"I said from then until now, I've always liked you."
"Me too."
"Where are you going next?"
"Li Mountain."
Hearing this, Xu Yourong's expression tightened slightly. She looked at him curiously and asked, "You're going to find Senior Brother?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "I'm going to find Senior Brother."
That was a clever quip. If not for someone as sharp as Xu Yourong, it would have been hard to catch the double meaning quickly.
She asked seriously, "What about White Emperor City?"
Chen Changsheng thought of Zhe Xiu's current situation and said, "Things have their priorities. I'll deal with this matter first."
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(The next chapter won't be about romance.)