Ning Xian led Fang Xuan down the mountain...
She didn't walk fast. After all, with her current mortal frame, walking too quickly would leave her out of breath, and being driven too fast would be even worse.
Fang Xuan followed half a step behind her, quietly watching her profile.
...
Along the way, Ning Xian suddenly spoke, her voice returning to its usual cool tone.
"I don't know how to get out yet, so we'll likely be staying here for a while."
Fang Xuan nodded.
"Mn, we can stay as long as you like."
Ning Xian glanced at him.
Her look seemed to say, "Of course you're fine with it, because I'm the one who suffers."
Fang Xuan pretended not to see it.
Ning Xian looked away and continued, "I spent the day analyzing this place. I discovered that this world is maintained by a projection of the laws of time."
Fang Xuan finally started listening seriously.
"The time-based dao weapon is inside you, right?"
Fang Xuan nodded. He had only just realized it himself.
In the final moments at the holy land, he had reached out to touch the time-based dao weapon, and it had entered his body.
"Then you must comprehend the laws of time," Ning Xian said. "Only by mastering the laws of time can you control that dao weapon and leave this place for good."
Fang Xuan looked thoughtful.
"Then can't I just comprehend it right now?"
"Your spirit bone capacity isn't enough. You are currently cultivating three laws: space, destruction, and lust."
Ning Xian continued, "Therefore, you must let the laws of lust consume the laws of destruction first."
"Can it actually eat it?" Fang Xuan asked, feeling a bit uncertain about his level of comprehension regarding lust.
Ning Xian nodded. "Your laws of lust are so powerful that devouring a single law of destruction shouldn't be difficult."
She paused for a moment before adding, "I mean powerful in terms of strength, not anything else."
Fang Xuan looked at her.
Ning Xian's expression remained unchanged.
But the tips of her ears quietly turned a shade of red...
"Alright, I'll listen to Senior Sister," he said.
Ning Xian gave a soft "Mn" and continued walking forward.
...
They arrived at Qingshi Town... It looked exactly as it did in his memories.
The streets were paved with bluestone, lined with various stalls selling vegetables, meat, sugar figurines, and fabrics.
The crowd was bustling, and the air was filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares.
...
Ning Xian pulled him into the vegetable market.
She walked very slowly, stopping at every stall to inspect and pick through the produce.
"How much for this?"
"Three coins a catty."
"Too expensive. Two."
"Young lady, this is already the lowest price..."
Ning Xian didn't say a word; she simply stared at the vegetables.
Her gaze was indifferent and cool.
The stall owner felt a chill down his spine under her stare and finally waved his hand. "Fine, fine, two coins it is. Take it, take it."
Ning Xian paid the money and placed the vegetables into her basket.
Fang Xuan watched from the side, unable to help but smile.
...
They arrived at a meat stall.
Ning Xian stopped and looked at the meat on display.
"Boss, no fat on the meat."
Junior Brother doesn't like it...
The stall owner, a middle-aged man, laughed. "Don't worry, miss. My meat is all top quality..."
Once she finished picking the meat and was ready to pay.
She pulled out an old pouch, poured out the copper coins inside, and counted them one by one.
Fang Xuan glanced at the pouch.
It was very old, with the corners worn white, and there wasn't much money inside.
Senior Sister spent every single copper coin she had.
Not a single cent remained...
Fang Xuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But Ning Xian had already tucked the empty pouch away and taken his hand.
"Let's go."
It was better to spend it all. It wasn't like she was the one who had saved it up anyway...
...
Back on the street.
Ning Xian pulled Fang Xuan along as they prepared to return to the mountain.
When they passed a vendor selling candied hawthorns, Fang Xuan suddenly stopped.
"Wait a moment."
He walked over to the vendor and bought a stick of candied hawthorns.
The bright red hawthorns were coated in a translucent, crystalline sugar glaze.
He walked back to Ning Xian and handed the candied hawthorns to her.
Ning Xian looked at the stick of candied hawthorns and blinked in surprise.
Then she pulled a long face.
"I don't want it," she said, her voice cool. "That's something only children eat."
Fang Xuan looked at her and started to pull his hand back.
"Then I'll give it to someone else."
"No!"
Ning Xian blurted out, then snatched the candied hawthorns and hurriedly took a huge bite.
She ate three in one go.
Her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel's.
Fang Xuan couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Ning Xian glared at him, but with her mouth full of candied hawthorns, she couldn't speak...
She could only keep chewing.
As she chewed, her eyes curved slightly.
It was delicious.
But she couldn't let Junior Brother see that.
Mn, one more...
...
The two continued walking.
This time, Fang Xuan was the one leading Ning Xian.
One of her hands was held by him, while the other held the candied hawthorns, eating as she walked.
People passed them by on the street.
There were vendors carrying loads, women holding children, and kids chasing each other playfully.
They walked like this, just like ordinary mortals.
Though, in her current state, Senior Sister really was a mortal.
Fang Xuan looked at her.
She ate slowly, chewing every hawthorn for a long time.
A bit of sugar was stuck to the corner of her mouth, but she didn't notice.
Fang Xuan reached out and gently wiped it away for her.
Ning Xian froze for a moment, then lowered her head and continued eating...
...
On the way, Ning Xian kept watching the children by the roadside.
The children were running around the street, chasing each other and laughing happily.
A little girl tripped and sat on the ground, wailing loudly.
Ning Xian watched the scene with a slightly dazed look in her eyes.
Fang Xuan followed her gaze, then looked back at her.
"Does Senior Sister like children?"
"I don't."
Ning Xian answered very quickly.
Fang Xuan looked at her.
You don't like them?
Then why do you keep staring?
Heh, women.
He didn't call her out on it; he simply tightened his grip on her hand...
...
Having finished their shopping, the two began their trek back.
Fang Xuan didn't use any spatial travel; he just held her hand and walked slowly.
They stopped and started as they went.
They looked at the mountains, the water, and the wild flowers by the road.
The entire morning passed like this.
The sunlight was perfect, neither too cold nor too hot.
Fang Xuan suddenly felt that this was quite nice.
No fighting, no life-or-death crises.
Just holding Senior Sister's hand and walking slowly. He could do this for a lifetime.
...
When they reached the halfway point of the mountain, Fang Xuan suddenly spoke.
"Senior Sister."
"Mn?"
"How many do you want to have?"
Ning Xian's footsteps faltered.
Then she quickly shook her head, her face stern. "No."
Fang Xuan looked at her defensive posture and couldn't help but tease her.
He leaned into her ear and whispered, "We must have a hundred."
Ning Xian's body stiffened.
But she only turned her head slightly away, remaining silent and refusing to look at him.
Fang Xuan waited for her to turn into a steam engine.
Based on past experience, Senior Sister should have been beet red by now, with smoke coming out of her head, far too shy to speak.
But this time... she didn't turn red, and there was no smoke.
She just kept her head turned away, silent.
Fang Xuan was stunned.
Hm...? Has Senior Sister's tolerance increased?
He cleared his throat, about to say, "Senior Sister, I was just kidding."
But before the words could leave his mouth, Ning Xian spoke first in a very soft voice.
"Would... would fifty be okay? A hundred is too many..."
Fang Xuan: "...???"
He looked down at Ning Xian.
She was still looking away, but her ears had finally turned red.
They were beet red, and even her neck was a shade of pink...
A hundred is too many, I'll break...
But if Junior Brother wants them... then she'll have some...
Fifty... fifty should be manageable, right?
No, that still seems like a lot...
But Junior Brother said it was a must...
Then... fifty it is. No more!
...
Fang Xuan saw that Senior Sister was actually seriously considering it.
She was genuinely thinking about having fifty children...
What... what was he supposed to say to that?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.
Then he looked down at Ning Xian.
"Senior Sister."
"Mn..." Ning Xian's voice was as quiet as a mosquito's.
"Do you know what fifty children entails?"
Ning Xian didn't say anything.
"If you have one a year, it will take fifty years."
Ning Xian looked up at him.
Her eyes were cool and clear, but there was a hint of confusion deep within.
"Then... thirty?"
Fang Xuan: "......."
She was actually bargaining...
He really couldn't help but laugh.
Ning Xian was stunned for a moment, then her muffled voice came through. "Don't laugh."
Fang Xuan stifled his laughter. "I'm not laughing."
"You laughed."
"I really didn't."
"You did..."
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