Being smart

"I haven't spent much time with you lately. How about we go down the mountain tomorrow to stroll through the town and relax?"

Xiao Feng's voice sounded from above. Zhao Yuwei did not answer, but Xiao Feng could feel her nodding gently in his arms.

Although Xiao Feng did not know what had happened to Zhao Yuwei,

Since Zhao Yuwei did not want to tell him, he would respect her choice. It was not yet time to force the truth to light.

"I want to stay here with you tonight. We'll head down the mountain early tomorrow morning; we might even make it in time for the town's morning market."

Xiao Feng took Zhao Yuwei's hand and sat by the edge of the bed, talking about the plans for their outing tomorrow.

Cuddled in Xiao Feng's embrace, listening to his words, Zhao Yuwei gradually closed her eyes. The weariness and inner turmoil in her heart seemed to ease at this moment.

Watching Zhao Yuwei quietly fall asleep in his arms, Xiao Feng gently stroked her cheek with his large hand.

Zhao Yuwei was never like this. What on earth had happened during the time he had left the Ming Cult and returned to recuperate?

Could someone in the Ming Cult have been bullying Zhao Yuwei?

Xiao Feng's expression darkened terribly, yet his movements remained extremely careful as he placed Zhao Yuwei on the inner side of the bed.

Xiao Feng took off his outer robe and lay down beside Zhao Yuwei, fully clothed.

Seeing Zhao Yuwei in this state, all of Xiao Feng's amorous thoughts vanished.

Staring at Zhao Yuwei's sleeping face, Xiao Feng could not help but ask himself: "Was it a mistake for me to stay in the Ming Cult? Senior Sister doesn't like staying here."

Watching Zhao Yuwei subconsciously knit her brows even in her sleep, Xiao Feng reached out, wanting to smooth away the crease between her brows, but he was afraid of waking her.

In the end, Xiao Feng could only gently hold Zhao Yuwei's hand and lie down to sleep.

Hearing the breathing of the person beside him gradually steady, Zhao Yuwei, who had already been awake, opened her eyes.

When she was nestled in Xiao Feng's embrace, she slept peacefully.

But in the dream just now, the words that person spoke echoed in her ears once more.

Sensing that Xiao Feng had fallen asleep, Zhao Yuwei sat up and, by the moonlight, looked at Xiao Feng's handsome face.

There was a deep reluctance in Zhao Yuwei's eyes.

She had accompanied Xiao Feng by his side, watching him walk step by step to where he was now.

His future achievements were immeasurable; he would climb to even higher places and possess even greater strength.

Even though she had a special Physique, her talent could not compare to Xiao Feng's.

Even her ability to help Xiao Feng could not compare to Su Xueqing's.

By staying by Xiao Feng's side, she would only become a burden to him.

Zhao Yuwei's fingers, filled with attachment and reluctance for Xiao Feng, traced the air just above his face.

She wanted to touch Xiao Feng, but she was afraid that doing so would make it even harder to let him go.

Zhao Yuwei firmly etched the image of Xiao Feng sleeping quietly into the depths of her heart.

In this life, she would only ever love Xiao Feng.

For the sake of Xiao Feng reaching higher places, she could leave him and let Su Xueqing help him without distraction.

After tracing the contours of Xiao Feng's cheeks with her gaze, Zhao Yuwei lay back down under the covers.

She snuggled gently against Xiao Feng, breathing in the faint scent on him.

A tear slid down her cheek onto the quilt and disappeared.

She had no dreams that night.

Early the next morning, neither of them mentioned the topic from the night before.

Just as they had agreed, they went down the mountain early to stroll through the town.

Although they had risen early enough, to avoid startling the ordinary Mortals, both of them restrained their respective Qi and walked into the town.

This resulted in the morning market being nearly over by the time they arrived.

Xiao Feng took Zhao Yuwei to a steamed bun shop he had eaten at before that was particularly delicious.

The two ate breakfast first.

Seeing Xiao Feng patronizing his stall again, the shop owner specially gifted him an extra steamer of buns with a new vegetable filling.

A rare smile appeared on Zhao Yuwei's face.

After finishing breakfast, the two strolled through the town, having a wonderful time.

The news of Xiao Feng and Zhao Yuwei leaving the Ming Cult alone was quickly delivered to Su Xueqing.

Su Xueqing was very busy on weekdays and naturally could not focus all her energy on Xiao Feng and Zhao Yuwei.

However, some people, in order to curry favor with Su Xueqing, would take the initiative to inform her of Zhao Yuwei's movements.

Some had even considered taking action against Zhao Yuwei to help Su Xueqing clear away a romantic rival.

Su Xueqing, of course, was unwilling to use such underhanded methods and had reprimanded the person directly, telling them not to continue watching Zhao Yuwei.

But Su Xueqing did not expect that the one reporting the news this time would be her personal maid, Yuan Ruo.

"The Son-in-law and Miss Zhao have gone down the mountain? So what if they went down the mountain? Why tell me about such things?" Su Xueqing said indifferently while examining a Cultivation Technique Secret Manual in her hand.

Even though she was Su Xueqing's personal maid, and Su Xueqing was not worried, Yuan Ruo said angrily: "That Zhao Yuwei is clearly a vixen, bewitching the Son-in-law every day. The Son-in-law belongs to the Saintess!"

"If she had any self-awareness, she should have left long ago. I didn't expect her to shamelessly continue living in the Ming Cult, and she is so blatantly trying to snatch the Son-in-law. This servant simply cannot stand to watch."

"Saintess, why not let this servant go and get rid of Zhao Yuwei! The Son-in-law is truly something else; he already has the Saintess, yet he is still so fickle."

"If not for the Saintess's favor, how could he have his status today? Not only is he not grateful to the Saintess, but he is even dallying with other women. The Saintess should really teach him a lesson!"

Su Xueqing did know that Yuan Ruo had always disliked Zhao Yuwei.

But she did not expect her own personal maid to have such ideas, to the point of saying such things.

Su Xueqing put down the Cultivation Technique Secret Manual, glanced indifferently at Yuan Ruo, and then said: "I do not wish to hear you bring up such things again. Since you know he is the Son-in-law, you should understand what should be said and what should not!"

Yuan Ruo obediently agreed, though she still looked somewhat indignant on Su Xueqing's behalf.

She had grown up accompanying Su Xueqing since childhood and knew Su Xueqing's temper well.

Su Xueqing clearly also disliked Zhao Yuwei; if not for Xiao Feng, she would never indulge Zhao Yuwei's willful behavior.

Su Xueqing could naturally see what Yuan Ruo was thinking, sighed, and then said: "I know you haven't refrained from targeting Zhao Yuwei, but I have figured things out now."

"Regardless of the relationship between Zhao Yuwei and Xiao Feng, I already have a place in Xiao Feng's heart. If I target Zhao Yuwei excessively, it will only make Xiao Feng think I am jealous."

"Besides, I, Su Xueqing, do not need to compete with another woman for affection. If I can help Xiao Feng more, Xiao Feng will naturally see more of me. You must stop targeting her from now on."

After Su Xueqing finished speaking, she waved for Yuan Ruo to leave, not knowing that her personal maid was someone with her own agenda.

She saw that Su Xueqing was not indifferent to Zhao Yuwei's existence, but simply couldn't be bothered to haggle with her.

So, as Su Xueqing's most loyal follower, she naturally had to resolve this hidden danger for her.

If Zhao Yuwei died, the Son-in-law's gaze would be entirely on the Saintess.

Yuan Ruo retreated from the room, preparing to take action.