Chapter 93: Departure

In the middle of the garden, a white-robed woman tended the beds of flowers with diligence. Her movement was quick but careful. She trimmed any old branch and wrinkle branches, allowed young branches to grow.

A young maidservant suddenly arrived, interrupting the young woman's gardening session.

"Young Miss,"

"Xiu'er, what's the matter?" 

The woman's voice sounded flat and indifferent, yet, within that cold tone, to the young maidservant's surprise, she somehow felt gentleness, like a spring breeze.

The young maidservant's head still lowered, but her face sneakily raised a bit to peek at the woman's figure, whilst also the woman's face, if she was lucky. 

"Young miss, Master summon you to his study,"

"Hmm. Why so sudden? Did Patriarch tell you what's this about?"

"Answering to young miss, Master want to inquire about the matter of red string with Xiao Fami-"

"Hmm?"

The maidservant could perceive the change in the woman's tone. It's still cold, but a different kind of cold. It's sharp, piercing like hail in winter. 

In fact, her words failed to finish because the coldness, which she didn't know whether it was real or just her imagination, made her suffocate.

The young maidservant quickly lowers her head once more, avoiding the gaze of the woman in a white robe.

The young maidservant couldn't help but shiver. She felt that the air froze, contrasted to the heat of the current season. 

Yes, it was summer.

Fortunately for the young maiden, the coldness only last briefly before it disappeared and her skin once again felt the heat of the sun.

"Xiu'er," the young maiden flinched when she heard her name called, "Go, tell Patriarch that I will soon go to close-door cultivation in attempt to breakthrough. I had sensed some signs of breakthrough for some days and I don't want to be disturbed. I'll go meet the Patriarch after I exit my seclusion."

"U-understand, Young Miss. This servant will report to the Master."

"Hmm. Please rally my message, Xiu'er"

"Yes, young miss!"

The young maidservant hastily scampered inside the mansion like a rabbit.

The white-robed woman ceased to pay attention to the young maidservant and looked at the flower and the grass around her, which shrunk and froze, with guilty eyes.

Then, she turned around, left the garden, and quickly entered the mansion.

***

"Yo!"

"You're late," Li Xuan sounds displeased. Her mood was quite terrible due to the matter with the Xiao family, and also her ruined garden.

"Miss me already? I know nobody can resist this cute bunny charm~" Rong Hua, noticed that Li Xuan was in a bad mood, didn't miss the chance to tease her.

"Cut the nonsense. When will we go?" said Li Xuan impatiently. 

"Aww, your attitude is not as cute as your face," mocked Rong Hua, "Anyway, we can go anytime~"

"How about your companion?"

"Don't worry about them, they still have their own business to finish, you'll meet them soon," replied Rong Hua shortly without elaborating further. 

"How is your progress with Nine Yin Scripture?"

"I've never seen cultivation methods this profound before, yet, somehow it feels natural for me. Though, I'm still far from initial success," answered Li Xuan with an amazed expression which was followed by a sudden frown.

"That's reasonable. Even if your talent is hundred times better, without unsealing your constitution, you'll only progress at this pace. You don't need to feel impatient and dejected," said Rong Hua bluntly. 

"But, you don't need to worry. I've solved the problem with the Exquisite Yin Meridian Transformation pill, we just need to gather some ingredients."

"Thank you," said Li Xuan sincerely.

"Hehe, anything for you dear~" Rong Hua said with a big grin.

"Again with the nonsense," chided Li Xuan, but her tone was apparently more gentle than before. 

Hesitating for a moment, she glanced at Rong Hua, "You… Can I ask you a question? I want you to answer honestly."

"What question? My three sizes? My first time? You can ask anything my dear, for you i've no secret~" replied Rong Hua with a playful tone.

"Why are you going so far for me?" asked Li Xuan with a tinge of expectation in her tone; Although, she didn't know what she expected.

"Because you're my darling?"

"You don't need to answer if you don't want to." 

Li Xuan felt angry and disappointed at Rong Hua's lackadaisical answer. She felt that Rong Hua didn't consider it an important matter, thus making it a joke.

For Li Xuan who always faced anything seriously, Rong Hua's attitude was disrespectful.

"Hey, hey, don't get angry!" 

Rong Hua was surprised to see such a big reaction from Li Xuan. 

According to her understanding of Li Xuan, she shouldn't be that angry due to a small joke. So she couldn't understand what happened.

However, as a veteran in handling women, Rong Hua knew that she should keep the thought aside for a moment and gave Li Xuan a sincere reply. 

"I… I just don't want to feel regret."

"Is that so?"

Rong Hua sighed in relief as she sensed that Li Xuan's mood was getting better.

"Of course, the most important reason is because I'm interested in you, hehe~"

"Nonsense."

Li Xuan's words were still harsh but Rong Hua could see a faint smile on her face.

"Are you ready?"

Li Xuan nodded at the white rabbit on her shoulder. 

In the blink of an eye, their figure disappeared from the room.

***

At City Lord's Mansion.

Four people were present in the garden, where Madam Feng was busy hugging Feng Xue and Snowy tightly.

"Little Xue, Little Snowy, take care of your health and safety okay. Don't forget to visit every now and often."

"Don't worry, mom. We'll visit you soon."

"Yes, mom."

Snowy and Feng Xue also hugged Madam Feng back leaving Patriarch Feng alone in the corner.

"Yes, yes. This is your home, you can back anytime, don't miss your little brother Hao'er birth!"

For several days, Patriarch Feng worked his brain to the limit to find a perfect name for his unborn baby child. Finally, he was satisfied with the name Feng Hao.

"It's still only two weeks. Who knows if it will be boy or girl," said Feng Xue exasperatedly. 

"No, I believe it will be a boy."

"Ah whatever, father, as long as you are happy."

"Of course, I'm happy. It's all thanks to little Snowy," Feng Xuan warmly smiled at Snowy and his gaze filled with gratitude. 

"Heh, wasn't it 'little brat' before?" teased Madam Feng.

"Nonsense! Who dares call my family's Snowy, a brat?! Don't listen to it little Snowy, who dares to slight you, I'll break their legs!"

"Hmph," Feng Xue snorted at her shameless father.

"Thank you, Uncle Feng."

"You… why you still call me Uncle, call me Dad okay,"

"Un. Yes, Dad."

"Good, good!"

Snowy looked at the old alchemist who silently watched on the sideline, "Old Chen, please take care of mom and dad, and also the matter here."

"Please don't worry, Lady Snowy," Master Chen Xi smiled and made a small bow.

"If there's anything that comes up, you can contact me or Xue with the jade transmission."

"This old man understands."

"Bye mom, dad!" 

After she finished making an arrangement with Master Chen Xi, Snowy gracefully jumped behind Feng Xue above the flying swords. 

With farewell, Snowy and Feng Xue flashed into the sky. 

After their backs vanished in the distant sky, the smile on Patriarch Feng's face slowly disappeared and his expression turned solemn.

Looking at the change of her husband's expression, Madam Feng felt uneasy and concerned.

"Why the long face, dear?" 

"Will she be happy?"

Patriarch Feng's gaze still locked at the directions where Feng Xue and Snowy went.

"Of course, woman happiness is simple. Just stay together with her beloved by her side, it's enough."

"I hope so."

Patriarch Feng tensed a little bit as he remembered the vision he saw when he was still in a coma.

"The storm isn't over yet."