Chapter 76: Chapter 76: No Fragrance in the Begonia

When the two spent time together, it was mostly Gu Haitang who initiated conversation with Chu Xuan. They talked about their pasts, their constitutions, their cultivation paths, and their future ambitions, so it was never boring.

Chu Xuan was puzzled, did this woman truly have an idea of marriage alliances?

He had subtly hinted that he didn’t have that kind of intention.

But Gu Haitang always played dumb. Whenever this topic came up, her beautiful eyes would blink as if she didn’t understand.

As for why he didn’t drive her away, maybe it was because she was too cooperative?

When Chu Xuan asked Gu Haitang to keep her distance, she would surely do so; if he asked her to leave first, she would obediently comply, so he always felt there was no need to drive her away.

This naturally made the little junior sister who shipped the "Senior Brother X Senior Sister" CP very upset and several times wanted to cause trouble.

But ever since Gu Haitang whispered something with a smile in Xiao Yue’s ear, making the little Yue girl blush and stomp, "You, you’re talking nonsense!"

After that, the little junior sister never came back, making Chu Xuan really admire Haitang’s ways.

On the other hand, regarding Jiang Yiyi, Chu Xuan originally wanted to advise her, but on one hand, he wanted her to hold back a bit; on the other hand, he hoped her words and actions would be consistent, which was a contradictory idea.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Chu Xuan simply gave up and decided to let her operate freely.

Fortunately, the disciples of Purple Heaven Jade Mansion, during this period, were already used to her, while Jian Dao Palace disciples, called Jiang Yiyi ’Master Ancestor’ helplessly, would cover their mouths and chuckle.

Gu Haitang was naturally curious about Jiang Yiyi as well, and even tried to strike up a conversation, but within a few words, she was led astray by the ancestor, and was even left speechless, having to retreat on her own.

As for what Jiang Yiyi said that was so powerful, it’s worth mentioning:

"Have you decided when to have children?"

"Do you want a boy or a girl?"

"Why not go pray to the Child-Giving Guanyin?"

"You can’t go on like this, you know. Men and women need to sleep together to have babies."

"Do you understand these things? How about I teach you?"

Anyway, Chu Xuan was watching with a quiet laugh. Gu Haitang, who could easily deal with Xiao Yue, was rebutted by Jiang Yiyi, proving indeed that there’s always a stronger force.

...

That day, the two were walking on a shaded path, basking in the perfect sunlight that filtered through the green leaves, casting beautiful spots of light on them and the ground.

Suddenly, a leaf drifted down in the wind, landing on Chu Xuan’s hair.

Gu Haitang extended her hand to help him remove the leaf.

This made Chu Xuan, who was already feeling awkward, even more so.

"Miss Gu, next, I have to go to the Cloud-Born Sea Tower, so perhaps we should part ways here."

Gu Haitang blinked, seemingly a bit puzzled, "To study and cultivate? I’ll accompany you."

Chu Xuan had to gently say, "The disciples he dispatched might not be suitable for entering the Scripture Repository of my sect."

Gu Haitang responded with a slightly playful smile, "I’ve already asked Master Zhenren, who said I am free to access the first four floors of the Scripture Repository, and can freely browse the books."

This truly surprised Chu Xuan. Does this mean Gu Haitang can freely peruse even the cultivation techniques of the first four levels of the Eternal Green Lotus Technique?

Although the Ice Sea Demon Monarch received the same treatment, he at least formally joined the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace and was a part of it. This core sect inheritance shouldn’t be available to outsiders.

Unless... Fuyunzi doesn’t consider Gu Haitang an outsider.

This made Chu Xuan feel a bit conflicted; could his master really believe this relationship could work out?

"Alright~" Gu Haitang seemed to sense his embarrassment, "Rest assured, until I formally marry into your Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, I won’t look at anything I shouldn’t."

"So as not to require compensation should the marriage not happen."

Chu Xuan couldn’t help but smile, "My master isn’t that petty."

With that, the two of them rose into the air, heading towards the Cloud-Born Sea Tower.

...

On the fourth floor of the Scripture Repository, the two stood side by side in front of the bookshelf.

Chu Xuan was looking at a "Eastern Border Chronicles," while Gu Haitang was looking at "Ancient and Modern Wanderer Biographies."

Both were quietly reading, with almost no conversation, the quietness of the building occasionally broken only by the sound of turning pages.

For some reason, a poem suddenly popped into Chu Xuan’s mind:

The grass is seeding,

The wind is shaking its leaves,

We stand without speaking,

And it’s quite pleasant.

Shaking his head, Chu Xuan brushed away these random thoughts; he couldn’t just fall for every gentle maiden he met.

"Floating clouds block the moon but not the eyes, in pursuit of the Dao even in death the heart is steeled."

Secretly reciting a couple lines, Chu Xuan refocused and continued reading; after all, he would venture out for training in a couple years, so reading up on cultivation world’s chronicles was beneficial.

However, at this moment, the string on Gu Haitang’s jade pendant suddenly snapped, and with a light "thud," the pendant fell to the floor.

Both instinctively bent down to pick it up, and their foreheads bumped together.

In that instant, they exchanged a glance, both blushing and quickly looking away.

Yet at such a close distance, Chu Xuan confirmed again that Haitang seemed to lack any scent.

To be precise, there was neither the fragrant scent of a woman nor any other aroma.

Though the Chinese flowering crabapple is extraordinarily beautiful, it lacks fragrance, which has always been a regret among scholars and poets. The Northern Song Dynasty’s Peng Yuancai had Five Regrets: first, the shad fish was too bony, second, the kumquat too sour, third, the water shield too bland, fourth, the crabapple had no fragrance, and fifth, that Zeng Zigu couldn’t compose poetry.

Chu Xuan suddenly understood the meaning behind Gu Haitang’s name.

Only when she retrieved the jade pendant by divine sense, did Chu Xuan snap back to reality, both tacitly agreeing to act as if nothing unusual happened, continuing to read.

Once they finally returned to an immersive state, someone ascended from the third floor.

They didn’t pay much attention until the cold aura approached directly, eventually stopping beside Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan, somewhat surprised, looked at Li Xingchuan, clad in a black robe. Was he here for something?

Gu Haitang glanced at the man, her brows knitted tightly.

Speaking of which, when the Ice Sea Demon Monarch "reformed" and joined the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, it caused quite a stir, with many righteous sects having opinions about it, but there was nothing they could do to Daoist Palace. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Of course, this didn’t mean righteous cultivators had any goodwill towards Li Xingchuan; upon seeing him approaching, Gu Haitang had an inexplicable sense of crisis, her body tightening.

However, Li Xingchuan didn’t seem to be there to cause trouble. Throughout, he didn’t even glance at the two of them, simply pulled a book from the shelf, and then turned and left.

Watching the figure recede into the distance, Chu Xuan was still somewhat puzzled, until he suddenly received a divine sense transmission:

"Be wary of that woman."