170: Chapter 170 The Past Reappears

In the eyes of the onlookers, the figures of the two gradually blurred, dissipating amidst their casual conversation along with the nearby flying boat.

Rubbing their eyes, the crowd looked at each other in dismay.

They were not dull-witted people; knowing the two Seniors disliked being watched, they lost interest and dispersed.

A female Cultivator breathed a sigh of relief and pinched the ear of the man beside her. "Still looking? They're already gone!"

The male Cultivator finally broke free from the stunning visual suppression of Xie Wantang's jade-like face. Seeing the awkward scene, he scratched his head.

With a lingering look on his face, he said, "I've long heard of the Gumu Yutang Flower's fame. Seeing her for the first time today, she's even more beautiful than the rumors. I just couldn't help myself for a moment."

The force on his ear increased as she twisted it a few times. "Look at that stubborn bull energy of yours, refusing to look away no matter what. I almost thought Senior Xie had used some kind of charm technique. Truly embarrassing."

The male Cultivator didn't dare talk back and gave a sheepish smile.

At this time, Cultivators dressed in official robes appeared; it turned out the guards of the Xie Family from the market had also arrived after hearing the news.

The female Cultivator let go and lowered her voice. "The guards are here. Let's go. I'll settle the score with you once we're out."

...

An hour later.

Inside the Prefects Mansion.

Xu Changsheng and Xie Wantang had changed into a different set of clothes.

The former wore a high crown and magnificent robes, dressed like a noble Young Master, which looked slightly mismatched with his ordinary face.

The latter wore a white dress with a light veil covering her face, making her features unclear. Her long black hair reached her waist, giving her a mysterious and noble temperament.

Xie Wantang restrained her Foundation Establishment pressure. To outsiders, she appeared to be only at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining, making it easier to move around the market.

Xu Changsheng did not restrain his, just in case some blind playboy came looking for trouble.

At the entrance of the Prefects Mansion, a clean-looking Xie Family youth stood respectfully by the main gate, watching the two approach with reverence.

He spoke up, "Greetings, Family Head!"

Xie Wantang waved her hand. "Dispense with the formalities. I've only come back for a look. In the future, Liuyun Market will still need you, Wen'er, to manage it carefully."

"Yes."

Xie Wantang shifted her gaze to Xu Changsheng beside her. "Let's go."

The latter, however, walked up to the youth. "Xie Wen, is it?"

Hearing this.

Xie Wen showed a look of being overwhelmed by the favor. "Senior Xu, you... you recognize this Junior?"

He chuckled. "I have a rather good memory."

Seeing Xie Wen's constrained manner, his gaze softened. "It's nothing. I just wanted to tell you—don't forget the oath you made back at Donglin Fortress."

After saying that, he stepped over the threshold and walked out of the Prefects Mansion.

Xie Wantang followed him, leaving the stunned youth behind.

Once they were far away.

Xie Wantang pulled at Xu Changsheng's sleeve and asked in confusion, "What oath did Wen'er make? How come I didn't know?"

The latter shook his head, his eyes filled with reminiscence. "Of course you don't know. Because during those few days, you were in the middle of your Foundation Establishment process."

"Back at Donglin Fortress? Then I probably know what it was."

"Oh?"

"Wasn't it about revitalizing the Xie Family, taking revenge on the Lai Family, and the like?"

"It was indeed. How did you know?"

"Because I was the one who personally taught those ideas to them."

"..."

The corners of Xu Changsheng's mouth twitched. "Then pretend I didn't say anything."

Xie Wantang giggled. Seeing Xu Changsheng frustrated made her feel inexplicably happy, as if she had won a round back after the major defeat of last night.

Thinking of the fierce battle that lasted all night, her legs still trembled slightly, and she felt a surge of inner resentment.

She secretly cursed Xu Changsheng for not knowing how to cherish a woman, acting so recklessly just because he was a Body Refiner.

Seeing that she hadn't replied to him, and her ears were turning red and hot, Xu Changsheng thought she was angry.

He patted her slender shoulder. "Alright, now the two of us can openly stroll through the market. Where do you want to go?"

Only then did Xie Wantang snap out of her romantic thoughts.

Looking at the crisscrossing yet exceptionally familiar streets before her, memories flooded back like a tide. "Let's just walk around for a bit first."

Xu Changsheng nodded. With a beautiful woman by his side, he was happy to walk more.

Turning a corner, they reached the open plaza in front of the Prefects Mansion. Because the market had only recently been reclaimed, there were very few Cultivators setting up stalls in the plaza at this time.

Xie Wantang walked to the center of the plaza, where there was a statue shaped like a floating cloud.

It was crafted from a special lodestone and floated quietly a few feet above the ground. Under the erosion of time, some of the paint had chipped off.

She sighed softly. "After changing hands so many times over the years, the symbol of Liuyun Market has never changed..."

Xu Changsheng didn't share her deep sentiment and silently took a step back.

Because a playboy had actually arrived.

Around the statue, or rather behind them, a large group of male Loose Cultivators had appeared at some point.

Even with her face veiled, and the veil itself having Divine Sense isolation, one could tell at a glance that Xie Wantang was a peerless beauty.

If not for the faint pressure radiating from him, some Cultivators would have already tried to approach her.

"Scram!"

Xu Changsheng stopped suppressing his faint Foundation Establishment aura. Instantly, a surge of Qi billowed out, blowing the surrounding Qi Refining Loose Cultivators over. The few in the lead even collapsed to the ground.

They scrambled to their feet and fled.

"My god, I knew something was off. It turns out he's a Foundation Establishment Senior."

"No wonder his Dao Companion is like a Heavenly Immortal."

Xu Changsheng snorted coldly and decided not to restrain any of his aura anymore.

Xie Wantang didn't care about what was happening around her at all. She walked toward an exit of the plaza. "Husband Xu, I want to go see Auntie Li's dessert shop..."

...

The two of them wandered around like this, walking from noon until the sun set in the west.

The setting sun shone on their backs, casting shadows that stretched across half the street.

At this moment, a dense floral fragrance wafted toward them.

It turned out they had arrived beneath the Flower Tower.

Xie Wantang didn't seem to like this place and continued walking forward.

Xu Changsheng, however, paused.

Through the window lattice, he saw the wooden steps of the Flower Tower.

It was still draped with cascading flowers and silk ribbons covering the floor.

His thoughts began to wander.

The last time he came here was during the final days of seeing Yun Xin off.

Yun Xin's delicate face appeared in his mind. "I wonder how that girl is doing now. With her special status, her cultivation should have far surpassed mine by now."

Seeing Xu Changsheng lost in thought.

A look of surprise flashed across Xie Wantang's face. "Want to go in and take a look?"

"Yes."

Xu Changsheng responded and stepped into the Flower Tower. The fragrance surrounded him, and he suddenly felt as if he were merging into a sea of flowers.

Bypassing the familiar stairs to the second floor, a familiar shouting reached his ears:

"Dear customers, don't miss out as you pass by! This is the Star River Amber Ring, symbolizing eternal love. There's only one left!"

"..."

His foot stumbled slightly on the stairs.

He steadied himself.

He saw that the old man was still peddling those mundane items in front of the Flower Tower entrance.

Recalling that he had once bought a necklace for Yun Xin.

He turned back to look at Xie Wantang.

The latter's beautiful eyes were sparkling as she stared at the glittering ring the old man held out.

He sighed inwardly that women truly found it hard to refuse such shiny things. He walked up, tossed down a few Spirit Stones, and bought it.

Then he came before her, and while she was still in a daze.

He took her jade-like hand and slid the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand.