Chapter 534 - 530: Invitation

Chapter 534: Chapter 530: Invitation

After breakfast, Fang Han set down his bowl and chopsticks. He said a few words to Qiu Lan, then left the courtyard.

He followed the bluestone path toward the Sub-Branch.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves of the ancient trees lining the path, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on the stone steps. A mountain breeze swept by, carrying the faint shouts from the distant Martial Arts Arena.

「It had been seven days since he returned to the Sect.」

For the past seven days, he had poured most of his time into the Cultivation of the Wind God Step. Now that his Body Technique had reached Mastery, he finally had some breathing room. He decided to go see Yun Qianyue.

The layout of the Sub-Branch was largely unchanged from his memory.

The houses he once lived in, the paths he had walked countless times, the clearings where he practiced his Swordsmanship in the morning—everything was still there.

Passing several rows of houses, he followed his memory toward the clearing in the woods behind the Sub-Branch.

The clearing wasn’t large and was surrounded by ancient trees.

Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting mottled patterns on the ground.

A slender figure stood in the center of the clearing.

Yun Qianyue was dressed in a pale cyan disciple’s uniform today. Her long hair was tied up with a simple Jade Hairpin, and her face was veiled with a light purple gauze.

The longsword in her hand was slightly raised as if she were about to practice some Sword Techniques. Hearing footsteps behind her, she paused.

She turned around.

The moment their eyes met, Fang Han clearly saw a faint glint of light flash and then vanish in her cool, clear eyes.

The light came and went as quickly as a ripple on a calm lake brushed by the wind, returning to tranquility in an instant.

But the fingers of her sword hand tightened almost imperceptibly, and the fingertips of her other hand, hanging by her side, gently pinched a corner of her sleeve.

"You’re back at the Sect."

Yun Qianyue spoke, her voice as cool as ever, but with a little less of the distance she usually kept with others.

"Yes."

Fang Han stopped about ten feet in front of Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue sheathed her sword and leaned it against the trunk of a nearby tree.

She raised her eyes, her cool gaze resting on Fang Han’s face for a moment before looking away.

Fang Han looked at Yun Qianyue and asked,

"How about we take a walk into the city? I haven’t had a chance to buy anything since autumn started."

Yun Qianyue nodded slightly. She didn’t say much, only turning to pick up the longsword leaning against the tree and hang it at her waist.

The two of them walked side by side toward the sect gate.

The morning light cast their shadows on the bluestone steps—one tall, one shorter—sometimes overlapping, sometimes separating.

The ancient trees on both sides of the mountain path were tinged with autumn. Occasionally, a few yellowing leaves would spiral down, tracing a light path through the air.

"I went home a few days ago."

Fang Han’s voice echoed softly on the mountain path.

Yun Qianyue turned her head to look at him. She didn’t speak, but her cool, clear eyes held a questioning look.

"I told my parents about you."

Yun Qianyue’s steps faltered, almost imperceptibly.

It was only for an instant before she resumed her original pace, but Fang Han still noticed—her steps on the stone slabs were a little stiffer than before.

"My parents said that if you’re free at the end of the year, they’d like to invite you to our home."

Fang Han continued, his gaze fixed on the winding mountain path ahead.

"They want to meet you."

Yun Qianyue fell silent.

Fang Han glanced to his side and saw her still staring straight ahead, but her veiled face revealed a hint of unease that was different from her usual composure.

The fingers of her hand hanging at her side curled, then uncurled, then curled again, repeating the motion several times.

"Okay."

Yun Qianyue finally spoke. Her voice was still cool, but it seemed a bit softer than usual.

"At the end of the year, I will go with you to see your parents."

Fang Han nodded and said no more.

They continued walking down the mountain. The wind blew past, stirring a few strands of hair at Yun Qianyue’s temples that weren’t covered by her purple veil.

She walked a little slower than usual, as if processing the ripples caused by their recent conversation.

Qingxuan City was as bustling as ever. The main street was lined with shops, and the cries of vendors rose and fell.

New autumn goods had arrived. The silk shop had new Shu brocades hanging out front, the apothecary displayed dried chrysanthemums and wolfberries, and the sweet aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts filled the streets and alleys.

Once they entered the city, it was Yun Qianyue who took the lead. Fang Han followed by her side, his gaze sweeping over the shops along the street.

After walking for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Yun Qianyue stopped in front of a three-story wooden building.

It had flying eaves and interlocking brackets, with two gleaming bronze lions guarding the entrance. On the plaque above, the three gilded words "Hundred Treasures Pavilion" shone brightly in the morning light.

Fang Han was slightly taken aback and turned his head to look at Yun Qianyue.

But Yun Qianyue didn’t look at him, simply stepping through the pavilion’s doors.

The interior was elegantly furnished, with various treasures displayed on red sandalwood shelves. The faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air.

A Maid approached them. Seeing Yun Qianyue, she seemed to recognize her and bowed slightly.

"Miss Yun, you’ve arrived. The Steward is in the Inner Hall. Please follow me."

Fang Han followed Yun Qianyue through a main hall filled with treasures and down a corridor to a private room deep inside.

The door to the room was ajar, and the faint aroma of tea drifted out.

The Maid gently pushed the door open and stepped aside.

Inside, Lan Yuexin stood before a tea table, her fair hand holding a pot as she poured boiling water into a celadon teacup.

She was wearing a water-blue dress today, her black hair styled in a flowing cloud bun and adorned with a slanting jade step-shaker hairpin.

Hearing the door, she looked up. Her gaze first fell on Yun Qianyue, to whom she gave a slight nod. Then she turned to Fang Han, a genuine smile rippling in her bright eyes.

"Young Master Fang Han, Sister Yun, what brings you both here today?"

Fang Han’s gaze swept between Yun Qianyue and Lan Yuexin, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Lan Yuexin had called Yun Qianyue "Sister Yun," and her tone was so familiar that it was clear this wasn’t their first meeting.

"Miss Yuexin, you know Qianyue?" Fang Han asked.

Lan Yuexin set down the teapot, her lips curving into a smile. Her bright eyes circled Yun Qianyue once before she spoke.

"Sister Yun came to visit a few days ago. We had a very pleasant conversation and became sworn sisters."

Feeling Fang Han’s gaze, Yun Qianyue didn’t speak, only turning her head slightly.

She walked to the tea table and sat down in the chair opposite Lan Yuexin, her movements composed.

Fang Han took a seat beside Yun Qianyue, his eyes darting between the two women again. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was strange.

"Senior Brother Fang invited me to visit his home at the end of the year."

Yun Qianyue put down her teacup. Her voice was as cool as ever, but it held a bit more seriousness than usual.

"I came today to pick out a few gifts for his parents and Little Sister Ying."

Lan Yuexin paused for a moment, then stood up, walked to Yun Qianyue’s side, and naturally took her arm.

"Then we must choose carefully. Don’t worry, Sister Yun. While I can’t claim my pavilion has everything one could wish for, picking out a few decent first-meeting gifts is no trouble at all."

She led Yun Qianyue toward the red sandalwood shelves displaying the treasures, and Fang Han rose to follow them.

Lan Yuexin took a Brocade Box from a shelf and opened it. Inside lay a lustrous Mutton Fat Jade Pendant, exquisitely carved with flowing cloud patterns.

"This Jade Pendant was made by a master artisan. Wearing it against the skin can nourish one’s qi and blood, which makes it perfect for an elder."

Yun Qianyue took the Brocade Box, examined it closely for a moment, and nodded slightly.

Lan Yuexin then took out a small jade bracelet. Its body was translucent, with faint golden threads flowing within.

"This bracelet is for a child. It can calm the mind and soothe the spirit. A child should like it."

The two women conversed in low voices in front of the shelves, sometimes picking up an item to examine it closely, other times huddling together to compare the quality of two pieces.

Lan Yuexin’s eyes crinkled when she spoke, and though Yun Qianyue remained quiet, she would nod in agreement from time to time and even occasionally pick up an item to ask for Lan Yuexin’s opinion.

Fang Han stood a few steps away with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on them. The feeling of strangeness grew stronger.

Judging by the timeline, they couldn’t have known each other for long, yet they were already quite familiar, like old friends who had known each other for a good while.

’The friendship between women is truly surprising.’

After Yun Qianyue had chosen the gifts, Lan Yuexin instructed a Maid to wrap them carefully and personally saw the two of them to the pavilion door.

As they parted, her bright eyes lingered on Fang Han for a moment before turning to Yun Qianyue with a slight nod.

Fang Han and Yun Qianyue walked out of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion side by side. The autumn sun slanted down from the eaves across the street, painting the entire thoroughfare in a warm, golden hue.

The market was still noisy, the peddlers’ cries mingling with the laughter of children.

After buying a few more things in the city, the two started back.

Outside the city gates, the main road narrowed. The trees on either side rustled in the autumn wind, and occasional leaves would spiral down, landing on their shoulders only to be brushed away by the breeze.

"Senior Brother Fang."

Yun Qianyue suddenly spoke.

Fang Han turned his head to look at her.

Yun Qianyue didn’t look at him, her gaze still fixed on the winding mountain path ahead.

She was silent for a moment before she continued,

"Miss Lan has feelings for you."

Fang Han’s steps faltered slightly.

"Last time she invited me over, she told me many things."

Yun Qianyue’s voice was still cool, but it carried more solemnity than usual.

"She said she can help you."

She paused, and a very faint ripple passed through her cool, clear eyes.

"She’s right. With her business acumen, she can indeed help you."

Fang Han fell silent.

He wanted to say something, but he didn’t know where to begin.

"If you want to marry Miss Lan," Yun Qianyue’s voice was very soft, as if it might be scattered by the mountain wind, "I don’t mind."

Fang Han turned to look at Yun Qianyue. She was still staring straight ahead, her expression hidden by the purple veil, but her fingers holding the hilt of her sword had tightened slightly.

"Qianyue," Fang Han said, his voice a little softer than usual. "Do you really not mind?"

Yun Qianyue was silent for a moment before she slowly said,

"My father has several wives and concubines. I grew up accustomed to the ways of getting along in the inner courts. In this world, it’s a common thing."

She paused, an almost imperceptible softness entering her tone.

"Besides, Miss Lan can truly help you. Your path of the Martial Dao is still long, and you need someone to manage the affairs outside of your Cultivation."

Fang Han said nothing more.

He simply reached out and gently took the hand Yun Qianyue had hanging by her side.

Yun Qianyue’s fingers were surprisingly cold. The moment he took her hand, they trembled almost imperceptibly, but she didn’t pull away.

And so they walked, side by side on the mountain path. The autumn wind swept past, carrying the distant toll of a bell and fallen leaves, which swirled around them before gradually drifting away.