Chapter 1116: Wasn't Listening At All

Speaking of which, Chenghuang had always been the least noticeable presence in the Daoist temple.

Most of the time, he stayed up on the roof, taking the form of a Divine Beast on the ridge, and rarely spoke to outsiders. His temperament was the exact opposite of Mo Yuan's.

"He followed Mo Yuan to the Cultivation World back then," Chen Changsheng said. "I don't know where he is now."

"I see."

Ruyi murmured, deeply curious about these past events.

Night fell, and the mountain gradually quieted down.

After chatting into the night, Ruyi began to feel sleepy and brought Dong Chiyu back to their room to rest.

The chirping of the cicadas never ceased. Up in the mountains, the noise seemed to ring right in her ears. It was an incessant racket, and for someone as impatient as Ruyi, it was almost unbearable. The noise kept her awake.

"These cicadas are so loud..."

Ruyi muttered, tossing and turning.

The movement woke Dong Chiyu. She gently patted Ruyi's back and said, "Go to sleep. It won't be loud once you're asleep..."

"You aren't asleep yet?"

Dong Chiyu rubbed her eyes. "How can I sleep with you tossing and turning?"

She let out a yawn.

Ruyi lay in bed, looking out the window.

From deep within the mountains, the sky was a blanket of stars. It was a stunning sight, one that left a lingering sense of yearning.

"Blockhead Dong," she said. "Tell me, how many more times will I be able to see Uncle Chen?"

Dong Chiyu paused at the question. "What are you talking about?"

Ruyi buried her face in the pillow. "If Uncle Chen hadn't brought it up today, I wouldn't have even realized it. I'm almost fifty years old. I'm already an old woman."

Dong Chiyu was much younger than Ruyi. She was more than a full cycle younger, only in her early thirties.

Yet, aside from her godmother, no one understood Ruyi better than she did. Dong Chiyu had seen Ruyi in all sorts of embarrassing situations and knew many of her hidden sides.

Gently patting her back, Dong Chiyu said, "Everyone grows old. You will age, and so will I. Uncle Chen won't stop recognizing you just because you've gotten older and your appearance has changed. Neither will I."

"I know you're trying to comfort me," Ruyi said, "and I know you and Uncle Chen wouldn't fail to recognize me. I'm just afraid..."

"Afraid of dying?"

"Afraid of dying of old age."

Ruyi replied, then added, "Perhaps my life has been too peaceful these past few years, and my mindset has changed. Back when I was looking after Lihua, there were countless North Desert People outside the city, yet I still dared to stand guard at the gates. Now, I'd never dare do such a thing. I don't know when I started fearing death. Maybe it was after my mother passed away..."

Seeing her low spirits, Dong Chiyu hugged her, gently patting her back just as her godmother used to do.

Ruyi said no more.

She curled into a ball.

"Are you a bit cold?" Dong Chiyu asked.

Ruyi shook her head. "It just feels more comfortable curled up like this."

"Okay."

"I'm right here with you," Dong Chiyu said. "Don't be sad."

Ruyi curled her lips. "Don't you start. Uncle Chen was even talking about marriage today. It doesn't matter if I don't get married, but what about you? You're drifting around all alone. You'll need to find someone to rely on eventually. Don't pick up my bad habits."

"I think staying with you is fine."

"Didn't you say it yourself?" Ruyi said. "Everyone grows old. Not to mention, you're a full cycle younger than me."

"What does being a cycle younger matter?"

"It means I'll probably die before you do."

The moonlight illuminated Dong Chiyu's eyes. After a brief moment of thought, she replied, "Then I won't live either."

Ruyi paused at that. She smacked her lips and said, "You're a little crazy."

Dong Chiyu didn't understand why Ruyi would say that.

She then saw Ruyi turn her head away.

Dong Chiyu already regretted her words, feeling she shouldn't have said something so out of line.

The two turned back to back, and no further words were spoken that night.

...

Early the next morning, Tao'er and Tong Zhihuan brought Tong Nianyi up the mountain.

It had been many years since Chen Changsheng last saw Tong Nianyi. Now, she had already grown tall enough to reach her father's chest.

The moment Tong Nianyi saw Chen Changsheng, she froze. "You, you, you..."

Chen Changsheng offered her a warm smile. Stepping forward, he said, "We have met."

Tong Nianyi snapped out of her daze and nodded.

"We have."

"You're the person who was chopping down the tree in my mind," Tong Nianyi said.

Tong Zhihuan chided, "Nianyi, this is Mister Chen. Greet him properly; don't be rude."

Coming to her senses, Tong Nianyi finally offered a proper, formal greeting. "Tong Nianyi pays her respects to Mister Chen."

Chen Changsheng invited the three of them to sit in the courtyard.

Dong Chiyu went to brew some tea.

There wasn't much food on the mountain, so they picked a few peaches to entertain their guests.

Tong Nianyi's gaze remained fixed on Mister Chen. She felt incredibly curious about him. It was as though they had known each other for a long time, yet had never spoken a word.

Tong Nianyi didn't say anything, merely sitting to the side and listening to her parents chat with Mister Chen.

They mostly talked about past events, which Tong Nianyi wasn't very interested in. As she listened, she began to feel drowsy.

'Big Cat was right. This Mister Chen really is a bit boring...'

The impression Mister Chen gave her was of someone very slow. Although he was modest and amiable, he spoke slowly and moved slowly. Every word and action was strictly proper, yet there was an indescribable awkwardness to it. All in all, it felt a bit uncomfortable.

She had thought today was just a simple visit.

Tong Nianyi figured they would be heading back before long.

Who knew that toward the end of their conversation, she would hear her father say, "Nianyi is a mischievous child, so we will have to trouble you, Mister Chen."

"Huh?"

Tong Nianyi stared blankly at her father.

Only to hear him continue, "You will stay at the Daoist temple with Mister Chen for the next two days. Remember his instructions and don't be disobedient, understand?"

Tong Nianyi still hadn't figured out what was going on.

It was her own fault for spacing out halfway through. She hadn't been listening to what her parents were discussing with Mister Chen at all.

In short, she was being dumped here.

Tong Nianyi was bewildered, but with Mister Chen right there, it wasn't appropriate for her to flat-out refuse. She could only accept her fate.

What she hadn't expected, however, was for her parents to actually just dump her there and leave without even looking back.

Soon, Tong Zhihuan and Tao'er departed.

Tong Nianyi calmed down. She looked at the gentleman in the cyan shirt, blinked, and asked, "Am I supposed to do something?"

Chen Changsheng said, "You weren't listening at all just now, were you?"

"I was listening."

"Then what did your parents say?"

"..."

Tong Nianyi blinked, then said, "Oh my, Mister Chen, my stomach hurts. I need to visit the Latrine."