Chapter 720: Tonight's Moonlight, Meeting This Good Person

The night flowed across the sky with the wind, caressing the earth and settling on the buildings throughout the prefecture. As it moved, a whistling sound emerged, stirring up dust, sweeping past Seventh Master’s robes, and spreading into the attic of the Prefecture Governor’s mansion.

It lifted Xu Qing’s hair.

Xu Qing gazed at the night sky, his heart perfectly calm.

This tranquility was something the Moon-Sacrificing Grand Territory could not provide. For Xu Qing, his experiences in Fenghai County had truly made him consider it half a homeland.

That feeling of coming home brought peace to Xu Qing’s mind, but there were always some voices that wished to intrude upon his serenity.

"Little Ah Qing," the Captain asked, standing beside Xu Qing, his face full of speculation, "what do you think the Young Master wrote in the jade slip he gave the old man?"

"I just noticed the old man's smile blossomed like an old chrysanthemum after he saw the jade slip!"

Hearing this, Xu Qing couldn't help but cough, instinctively glancing around. The Captain waved his hand proudly.

"No need to check," he said, "the old man isn't here!"

"I estimate the jade slip's content must be the Young Master expressing admiration for the old man," he continued. "Based on my understanding of the old man, he must be incredibly pleased about it deep down!"

"Vulgar, too vulgar!" The Captain shook his head, looking disapproving.

Xu Qing remained silent. He felt it was better not to comment on the matter, especially since Master Xu might still be around or able to hear them.

The Captain, however, clearly didn't think so. He lowered his voice, just about to continue expressing his astute observations, when a scent familiar to Xu Qing wafted in from outside the attic on the wind.

Along with the scent, a slender, delicate figure appeared outside the attic, walking gracefully with lotus-like steps.

Dressed in a pure, flawless white gown, her dark hair danced in the wind, and her phoenix-like brows were as beautiful as the moon.

Her beautiful eyes held affection, her nose was delicate, her perfumed cheeks faintly flushed, and her oval face exuded absolute beauty.

As she drew closer, moonlight reflected on her delicate skin, which was like frost and snow, making it impossible for one not to be captivated and unable to pull away.

The only person who could enter and exit the Prefecture Governor’s mansion without announcement, besides Seventh Master and Marquis Yao, was Zi Xuan.

Zi Xuan’s arrival seemed to brighten the entire attic, as if all the moonlight was unconsciously drawn to her at that moment, enveloping her.

Xu Qing’s heart quickened. The Captain blinked, the figures of Ling’er and the Mud Fox appearing in his mind, and he began to compare them.

Ling’er was innocent, the Fox was flirtatious, Zi Xuan was alluring… Who else? Oh, and there was the perverse Yan Yan, and Ding Xue, who was determined to have his Little Ah Qing, and also Qing Qiu!

Thinking of this, the Captain realized with immense emotion that these women, like plum, orchid, autumn chrysanthemum, bamboo, and water, each possessed their own unique charm.

A sour feeling involuntarily rose in his heart.

"But speaking of which," he mused, "Little Ah Qing is quite a pitiable person. With so many tigresses eyeing him, he must be constantly anxious and exhausted from dealing with them. One slight misstep, and it's an Asura field!"

"Unlike me," he thought proudly, "so free and unrestrained, able to enjoy the free wind, soaring unhindered between heaven and earth. From mortals to deities on this Vast Ancient Continent, no one can restrain me. I am forever free!" The Captain felt a profound sense of enlightenment.

But now, his thoughts were like those of a sage.

So he coughed. Deep down, he increasingly believed that his intellectual prowess far surpassed that of ordinary people. He was also extremely certain that his thoughts possessed supreme wisdom. Then, with an inner peace that knew no ripples, he looked down at Xu Qing from a mental height.

His gaze held both pity and what he considered profound life wisdom. He was just about to open his mouth and share this insight with Xu Qing.

But at that moment, Zi Xuan’s voice came.

"Er Niu, Li Shitao is calling you!" As soon as Zi Xuan’s words came out, the Captain’s eyes instantly widened. At that moment, his entire being burst forth with uncontrollable excitement, like a blooming chrysanthemum.

His eyes were incredibly bright, and his breathing became slightly rapid.

"My Great Peach is calling me in the middle of the night!" The Captain licked his lips and ran off excitedly.

At this moment, sages, insights, and freedom no longer mattered.

He instantly rushed out in a fiery hurry, leaving Xu Qing behind.

For him, other people’s affairs, no matter how interesting, were not as good as his own Great Peach.

As he swiftly departed, he took out a peach, cradled it, and inwardly shouted, "Peach, wait for me!"

Amidst this inner turmoil, the Captain’s figure quickly vanished into the distance.

Watching the Captain’s retreating figure, Xu Qing didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t in the mood to pay too much attention. His accelerated heartbeat grew stronger as Zi Xuan drew closer with each step.

Although Xu Qing had grown up, facing Zi Xuan, he was still as nervous as he had been back then, instinctively retreating.

He retreated to the edge, with nowhere else to go. Xu Qing could only brace himself and cup his fist towards Zi Xuan.

"Greetings, Immortal!"

Zi Xuan smiled without speaking. She walked very close to Xu Qing, and as she stood there, a fresh fragrance quietly spread throughout the entire attic.

In Xu Qing’s heart, this scent could not be dispelled; only the gaze of her eyes before him became eternal.

Under that gaze, Xu Qing’s mind went blank, and he didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet.

This kind of thing never happened when he was with Ling’er, but for some reason, it was always like this only when he faced Zi Xuan.

"Turn around," Zi Xuan said softly.

Xu Qing silently turned his back to Zi Xuan.

Zi Xuan’s smile was very gentle. She slightly raised her delicate hand, took Xu Qing’s long hair, and with a wave of her hand, retrieved a hairband. She tied his hair into a ponytail and then tidied it for him.

Xu Qing felt a bit uncomfortable. If anyone else were there to see Xu Qing's changed hairstyle, they would undoubtedly be amazed. This hairstyle made Xu Qing look even more handsome and added a touch of wildness.

"This way looks better!" Zi Xuan's voice was even gentler.

She stepped and stood beside Xu Qing. Together, they gazed at the distant night sky, where the moonlight fell, casting their long shadows on the ground.

The night was beautiful.

The attic was peaceful.

Only Zi Xuan’s gentle voice asked Xu Qing about his past in the Moon-Sacrificing Grand Territory. In her soft voice, Xu Qing’s heart slowly calmed down, and he recounted his experiences.

Zi Xuan listened very attentively. Occasionally, she would turn her beautiful eyes to Xu Qing, as if there was no one else in her sight.

Time flowed, and they faced each other, as if they had returned to the time when they traveled alone together.

This feeling gradually brought a sense of comfort to Xu Qing’s heart.

As the night grew deeper, after Xu Qing recounted the events in the Moon-Sacrificing Grand Territory in detail, Zi Xuan also softly spoke of her experiences in Fenghai County over the past few years.

"These past few years," Zi Xuan said, "my main energy has been focused on the Qingxuan Sect. Fenghai County has been governed by your Master and Marquis Yao, and everything is recovering. If King Tianlan hadn’t arrived, you would have seen a thriving scene upon your return this time!"

"At least it has taken shape," she continued. "Currently, our Qingxuan Sect has gained considerable fame within Fenghai County!"

"Also," she added, "the Immortal Forbidden Land has been re-developed by your Master and Marquis Yao, who led people there. Because the immortal forbidden deity is no longer there, much of the exotic energy within has dissipated. Many scriptures and artifacts that were not removed have added significant foundational power to Fenghai County. And I have also visited the Immortal Forbidden Land a few times!"

At this point, Zi Xuan gazed at Xu Qing. The night wind lifted strands of her dark hair, letting them brush across Xu Qing’s face.

Xu Qing’s heart also stirred uncontrollably.

"There’s a very special ruin in the forbidden land. I can vaguely feel it calling to me!" A hint of confusion appeared in Zi Xuan’s eyes.

She had kept this question buried deep in her heart for a long time. She had not spoken of it to anyone else; only when facing Xu Qing did she reveal it.

"Xu Qing," Zi Xuan said in a very low voice, "do you remember the dream I often had that I told you about?"

"That ruin feels somewhat similar to my past dream," she continued. "I seem to have been to that ruin a very, very long time ago!"

"I’m not sure!"

"But unfortunately," she added, "it’s just ruins!"

Watching Zi Xuan’s bewildered expression, Xu Qing recalled Zi Xuan’s dream. He then carefully remembered the Immortal Forbidden Land. Back then, he had only been to limited places there, so he didn’t know where Zi Xuan was referring to.

There were many ruins in the Immortal Forbidden Land.

But he remembered the strange Phoenix-Bird Grand Hall where he found the Bottle of Time. Although in his memory, that place had no connection to Zi Xuan, he recalled the moment he placed the Bottle of Time into his Twelfth Heavenly Palace, and he seemed to have unconsciously heard a sigh.

So his heart stirred, and he was about to ask when Zi Xuan’s voice came again.

"However," she said, "I found your traces in that ruin!"

Hearing this, Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed, and he slowly spoke.

"I haven’t been to many places in the Immortal Forbidden Land," he said. "But there’s one place that becomes clear as you approach it, turning into nine Phoenix-Bird Grand Halls. If you move away, it turns into ruins!"

"I lost a day of memory there and obtained a Bottle of Time. Afterward, that grand hall seemed to truly become ruins!"

"If you found my traces," he concluded, "then it’s very likely that the ruin you’re referring to and the place I’m talking about are the same!"

As he spoke, Xu Qing raised his hand and waved. As the divine treasury behind him materialized and rippled in all directions, the Bottle of Time, which had merged into it, slowly flew out and floated before Zi Xuan.

A sense of time permeated it, making anyone who looked at it irresistibly drawn to it. Its own radiant glow merged with the moonlight, casting a brilliant sheen on Zi Xuan’s delicate face, making her eyes clear, and her long, beautiful eyelashes trembled slightly as she gazed.

The ripples in her heart showed through her fair, flawless skin as a delicate flush of pink. Her thin lips were as tender and inviting as rose petals.

After a long while, Zi Xuan let out a soft breath, withdrawing her gaze from the Bottle of Time. She looked at Xu Qing’s eyes.

"Let's go there," she said.