171: Challenge my weakness

"Ah? You're leaving today? Won't you stay for a few more days?" Li Qiushui's expression changed as she spoke anxiously.

"I've already stayed for a month. If I don't leave now, they'll start to worry."

"When I left, I only said I was going out to handle some business. But I've been gone for a month; I don't even know how I'll appease them when I get back."

"If I delay any longer, I'm afraid there will be a fire in my backyard," Duan Zhengchun said helplessly.

"Fine then. In that case, I'll have someone escort you back," Li Qiushui said with resignation.

"There's no need for an escort. With me here, could anyone possibly harm me?" Duan Zhengchun said.

"Since you're not in a rush anyway, I'll arrange a carriage for you. You can ride back instead of traveling on foot," Li Qiushui said with a smile.

"Alright then. Since you're being so kind, it would be rude to refuse. How about a farewell ceremony?" Duan Zhengchun said with a grin.

"A farewell ceremony? What kind of farewell ceremony?" Li Qiushui was taken aback and looked at Duan Zhengchun in confusion.

"Naturally, it's to challenge this King's weakness," Duan Zhengchun said with a wicked smile.

"You... you really are a bastard..."

Li Qiushui's face flushed slightly, yet she didn't refuse. Instead, she felt a sense of anticipation and excitement.

This farewell ceremony was very special; both knew that after this parting, they didn't know when they would see each other again.

Li Qiushui put in a lot of effort, responding to every one of Duan Zhengchun's requests and even satisfying some of his more excessive demands.

Parting always comes so quickly. Li Qiushui felt that just as she and Duan Zhengchun were beginning to understand each other more deeply, it was already time to say goodbye.

Although she was reluctant to let him go, she didn't continue to cling to him.

At worst, if she missed him in the future, she could just go to the Kingdom to find the fellow.

"Remember, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just speak up. Western Xia will always be your backup; I will support you forever," Li Qiushui said affectionately.

"Then you don't plan to find Senior Wuyazi to make a clean break?" Duan Zhengchun asked suddenly.

"I say, are you doing this on purpose? Saying something so mood-killing at a time like this."

"I really wonder what those women around you see in you."

"That mouth of yours is your biggest flaw; you don't know the first thing about pleasing a girl," Li Qiushui said crossly.

Here she was, feeling sentimental about the parting, yet he had to bring up the one thing he shouldn't. What clean break?

You've already enjoyed her inside and out; even Wuyazi doesn't know her as intimately as you do.

By saying this now, aren't you just trying to provoke me?

"Heh heh... I'm off. Don't miss this King too much," Duan Zhengchun said with a wicked grin as he turned to leave.

"Bah! Only a ghost would miss you. Get lost already, I don't want to see you..."

Li Qiushui uncharacteristically swore, turning away huffily to avoid looking at Duan Zhengchun.

However, the moment she turned around, her eyes grew moist.

How could she not know? Duan Zhengchun was intentionally provoking her because he didn't want the parting to be too sorrowful.

She knew all too well, so she played along with him to keep the parting from becoming too tragic.

Once there was no more sound behind her, Li Qiushui spun around, only to find that the man in her heart had already vanished.

Tears fell uncontrollably like pearls.

Making Li Qiushui look poignantly beautiful at this moment.

"Bastard. Since The Empress Dowager met you, my life is practically forfeited to you," Li Qiushui murmured to herself, turning to go back.

At that moment, her Personal Female Official approached carrying a brocade box.

"Empress Dowager, Prince Duan asked this servant to give this to you."

Li Qiushui trembled all over, and her eyes instantly lit up.

She quickly took the box with both hands and waved her attendants away. Only then did she return to her room alone and carefully open the brocade box.

Inside was an envelope. To her surprise, it contained a Cultivation Technique. Beneath the envelope was a jade bottle containing a dà huán dān.

There was also another jade bottle, which contained a youth preserving pill; the consumer would enjoy eternal youth.

The Cultivation Technique was the Nine Yin Manual. He knew that with Li Qiushui's current strength in the Heavenly Human Realm, the Nine Yin Manual wouldn't be of much help to her.

However, Li Qiushui could use the Nine Yin Manual to train a group of Masters.

And the dà huán dān was naturally left for her to use in case of emergency.

Duan Zhengchun always felt the dà huán dān was somewhat underwhelming. Unfortunately, the System rewards only included the dà huán dān, the marrow cleansing pill, and the youth preserving pill.

All he could leave her were the dà huán dān and the youth preserving pill. Li Qiushui had already taken the marrow cleansing pill, so taking it again would have no effect.

She knew about the dà huán dān and didn't think much of it, but her heart was still deeply moved.

However, when she picked up the youth preserving pill, she still had some doubts. Did such a Heaven-Defying Medicinal Pill as the youth preserving pill really exist in this world?

This youth preserving pill sounded even more incredible than the marrow cleansing pill.

But then again, she figured Duan Zhengchun wouldn't use something like this to deceive her.

Coming back to her senses, Li Qiushui's figure vanished instantly. When she reappeared, she was at the highest point of the Imperial Palace.

Watching the carriage drive away into the distance, Li Qiushui had a smile on her lips, yet tears lingered in the corners of her eyes.

"Bastard, you're just a heart thief. Even when you're leaving, you have to make me cry. I've never cried like this in my entire life," Li Qiushui cursed her "dear enemy" under her breath, but her heart was blooming with joy.

Returning to her Bedchamber, Li Qiushui took out the youth preserving pill and swallowed it directly.

Feeling carefully, there didn't seem to be any change. To say there was no change at all would be impossible; she felt as if her body had returned to its youth.

That feeling was different from before.

Before, although she didn't feel tired, her body lacked the vibrant vitality that belongs to the young.

Now, that feeling had finally returned. She couldn't even remember how many years it had been since she last felt this way.

Sensing the subtle changes in her body, Li Qiushui immediately got up and went to the bronze mirror.

When she saw the exquisite, rounded face in the mirror without a single blemish, Li Qiushui was completely stunned.

At this moment, she could be said to be at the Peak of her beauty in this lifetime. She had never imagined that she could one day become this beautiful.

Although she had always been confident in her looks, she also knew she wasn't the most beautiful. But at this moment, she was confident that she was the most beautiful.

Because at this moment, her face was flawless, without a single blemish.

Her skin was like mutton-fat jade, emitting a faint glow.

At this moment, she completely believed what Duan Zhengchun said: that Medicinal Pill was indeed a youth preserving pill.

Only a Heaven-Defying Medicinal Pill like the youth preserving pill could cause such a massive change in her appearance.

"This dear enemy, just how many secrets are you hiding? You make people fall for you without even realizing it." Li Qiushui touched her face and sat dazed in front of the dressing table.

Scenes of the time she spent with Duan Zhengchun over the past few days flashed before her eyes.

She discovered that the time spent together recently was happier, more joyful, and more pleasant than the days she spent living in seclusion with Wuyazi.

That kind of happiness was something Wuyazi could not provide.

She was starting to feel a bit of regret now; if she had known, she wouldn't have liked Wuyazi back then.