62: Chapter 62 Pulling

[Three months later, everyone in Bailu City knew that the drop-dead gorgeous female guqin player of Zuimeng Pavilion was enamored with the City Lord.]

[You made no attempt to hide this. In fact, through multiple subtle probes, you gradually revealed your true feelings.]

[Bai Shouzhuo never gave you a direct response, but he never outright rejected you either.]

[Not rejecting was a tacit consent in disguise; he was simply too embarrassed to admit it.]

[On this day, as you were resting in your pavilion, that ethereal, airy voice echoed in your ears once again:]

["Have you heard?"]

[...Please, do tell.]

["A wolf demon at the Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage has arrived on North Mountain. Word is it's a she-wolf, extremely fierce~"]

[North Mountain?!]

[Your brow furrowed. That was precisely where the attribute vein was located.]

[The reason you hadn't gone straight to harvest the vein was that a guardian beast at the Foundation Establishment Early-Stage was guarding it. Now another one at the Mid-Stage had arrived?]

[Troublesome. It seems the plan has to change again.]

[While you were pondering, the door was gently pushed open, and a petite figure poked her head in before slipping inside.]

["Sister Qianqian!"]

[Without a word, the pink-clad figure threw herself into your arms and nuzzled against your chest.]

["How many times have I told you? You should call me Auntie Qian."]

[With a face full of doting affection, you stroked the young girl's fluffy head.]

[The newcomer was Bai Youyou. Over the past three months, she had gone from initial hostility to complete reliance. The simple girl's mind was all too easy to manipulate, and she seemed to love clinging to you.]

["No way! You're clearly not much older than me."]

[Bai Youyou pouted, looking displeased.]

[In her eyes, her dull, rigid father wasn't worthy at all of a woman as beautiful as Sister Qianqian.]

["Sigh~"]

[Hearing this, you lowered your gaze and sighed softly, a faint tinge of irrepressible sorrow clouding your brow.]

["Auntie Qian, don't be sad."]

[Seeing you like this, the girl's heart wrenched violently, and a wave of guilt washed over her.]

[After all, it was a debt of romance racked up by her father. As his daughter, she naturally felt she should take on some responsibility—especially since Sister Qianqian was such a good person.]

["Auntie Qian, let me tell you a secret: Father's been dazing off alone much less frequently lately~"]

[Bai Youyou's eyes darted around as she spilled all the intel she had gathered recently.]

["Plus, Father is going to attend the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament in a month. You can find a chance to go with him."]

[The opportunity had finally arrived.]

[The power division of the Tianfeng Dynasty was extremely crude, categorizing cities into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow, governed tier by tier. After all, in a world where supreme individual power reigned, not much chaos could arise.]

[Resource disputes were naturally settled with fists, and among the rewards for the top places was none other than the foundation establishment pill.]

[As Bailu City was at the very bottom even among Yellow-rank cities, Bai Shouzhuo had only gone to go through the motions in the past and reportedly never actually competed. After all, Bailu City truly lacked presentable Qi Refining cultivators.]

[This was precisely why you had bitterly cultivated spells over recent years. Without exposing your true identity, you naturally had to rely on these non-distinctive methods to secure victory.]

[The only troublesome part now lay in the matter of identity.]

[Those participating in the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament had to share an extremely close relationship with the City Lord, such as being a disciple, sibling, child, or... Dao companion.]

[At this thought, a flash of loneliness glinted in your eyes at just the right moment.]

["But Youyou, in what capacity could I accompany him..."]

["You're just too timid!"]

[The young girl stomped her feet in anxiety, her words full of frustration at your lack of boldness.]

["Daddy definitely has feelings for you, otherwise why would he invite you to the manor to play the zither time after time? Why don't you just make it clear to him?"]

["But... but..."]

[Your pretty face flushed bright red, stammering for a long while without being able to say a full sentence.]

["Aiya! Auntie Qian!"]

[Anxious, Bai Youyou pulled you toward the door without another word.]

["Huh? Where are we going?"]

["I'm taking you to see Father."]

["Wait, I... I haven't done my hair and makeup yet..."]

[The girl didn't answer, simply gripping your wrist tightly as she charged forward.]

[Zuimeng Pavilion was not far from the City Lord's Manor. In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, you were dragged right in front of Bai Shouzhuo by Bai Youyou.]

["What is the meaning of this?"]

["Auntie Qian likes you and wants to go to the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament with you."]

[Bai Youyou made a face, turned around, and ran off immediately, not forgetting to toss back one last line:]

["If it's Auntie Qian, your daughter doesn't object!"]

[You froze on the spot as the tips of your ears suddenly turned red. Heat rushed all the way down your neck while your fingers helplessly wrung the hem of your clothes, utterly restless.]

[After a long moment, seeing no reaction from him, you quietly raised your eyes to take a glance.]

[Bai Shouzhuo was staring at you, completely absentminded.]

[Hehe~]

[You snickered inwardly: *Same model as your deceased wife, thrilling, isn't it?*]

[Today, you wore a plain white ruqun. Your black hair cascaded behind you like a waterfall, adorned with neither jewels nor makeup. Your translucent skin made your features appear even more delicate and gentle, like pearls freshly coated in morning dew.]

[*The old love is like a dream with nowhere to be found, while the new love is like the sun high in the sky.*]

[In his daze, the figure from his memory gradually overlapped with the person before his eyes, yet remained distinct as night and day.]

[They were different, but...]

[Bai Shouzhuo exhaled deeply, yet he could not suppress the churning emotions in his chest. His heart, dormant for so many years, finally cracked open a sliver.]

[You took in every change in his expression.]

[It's in the bag.]

[Thus, with a blushing face, you stepped forward and curtsied, speaking softly:]

["My Lord, Qianqian would like to play a piece for you."]

[Your bright eyes were brimming with affection as you looked at him without reserve.]

[Bai Shouzhuo's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his fingers curled gently inside his sleeves. Even his voice took on a touch of tenderness he hadn't noticed himself.]

["Alright."]

[The backyard of the City Lord's Manor.]

[You sat upright in the pavilion by the pond, dressed in snow-white robes, your long, pale fingers slowly plucking the zither strings.]

[As the melody began, Bai Shouzhuo sat opposite you, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on his knee along with the rhythm, as if harmonizing, or perhaps reminiscing.]

[Gradually, the tune—which should have been elegant and soothing—quietly took on a faint sense of loneliness and sorrow.]

[Bai Shouzhuo opened his eyes and was about to speak when he clearly saw a tear slip quietly from the corner of your eye, falling silently onto the strings and stirring a barely audible tremble.]

[His throat tightened, and the words at the tip of his tongue were suddenly swallowed back down.]

[The music grew faster and faster, and your eyes reddened more and more, until in the end... you almost fooled even yourself.]

["Stop playing."]

[A large hand suddenly pressed down on the strings, followed by an elegant fragrance enveloping you.]

[You raised your tear-filled face and stared blankly at the man before you. Finally unable to control your emotions, you buried yourself straight into his chest.]

["Waaah~ My Lord! I don't love playing the zither."]

[Bai Shouzhuo froze for a moment, but he still reached out and held the woman in his arms.]

["Alright, then you won't play anymore in the future."]

...