Junior sister, she cultivates the way of life

Chapter 446: Once the Spring is Gone, I am Ashamed to See My Lover

At the foot of the Panyun Mountains, there is a small town called Chunxi Town.

The mountains block the cold waves rushing from the north, so even in winter, the climate in the town is still relatively warm.

A stream was flowing slowly, and it was not frozen. A graceful and beautiful woman, as graceful as a flower, neatly processed the viscera of the crucian carp she had bought, preparing to go back and stew a pot of delicious crucian carp soup.

Her fingers were red and bluish, and she still got frostbite in such a relatively warm climate.

The people of the town were simple and honest. Along the way, many women gathered together to chat about family matters. When they saw the girl, they smiled and said to her, "Mrs. Zhuang, are you cooking fish soup for Master Li again today?"

From across the street, the sound of a young child reading aloud could be heard. Zhuang Lanruo smiled gently, nodded, and left after exchanging greetings with a few women.

She and Li Wuxia had moved to Chunxi Town eight years ago. The town had always been xenophobic, and it only truly accepted the two of them because Li Wuxia became a teacher in the town.

Who doesn't have a few children who need to learn to read and write? Even the most arrogant and ignorant woman would have a little more respect for her children's teacher.

After Zhuang Lanruo walked away, several women started talking.

"Mrs. Zhuang's husband is truly a god-like figure. Why does he choose to live in a small place like ours?"

A woman with a round waist and thick arms curled her lips and said, "What's wrong with this? Master Li is educated and can manage people. Since Master Li came to the school, my boy has never skipped classes again, which makes me worry less."

"Yes, after the old man was taken back by his grandson to live out his years, our Chunxi Town almost lost its teachers. Master Li came just in time, and his tuition was not high. Where can we find such a good person?"

"But Master Li also has his bad points." As soon as a woman said this, several pairs of eyes stared at her. She frowned and said, "Master Li encourages girls to study, but what's the point? They can't pass the imperial examinations, and instead they don't do the housework. My Erya used to help me wash clothes and cook, but now she goes to the school all day long. I want to find a marriage for her, but she's not happy about it. It's really infuriating!"

"A young girl is in love, and the most worrying thing is that Erya falls in love with Master Li, which will be difficult to deal with!"

Erya's mother said nonchalantly, "Who is Master Li? How could he be interested in a girl like Erya who doesn't follow the rules? Besides, Master Li is already married. Madam Zhuang is gentle and demure, and she is a good match for him."

The woman who had spoken earlier shut up in dismay. The woman next to her suddenly said, "Master Li has moved to our Chunxi Town for eight years, right? How come he doesn't look older? Madam Zhuang looks older, though. Maybe in a few years, the two of them won't be a good match."

Erya's mother's expression darkened and her heart became heavy. Erya was reluctant to get married, could this be her idea?

This won’t do. She has to go back and ask Erya what she thinks. If that’s the case, she must strangle her as soon as possible.

"I haven't fed the chickens at home yet, so I'm leaving first." The woman stood up, said this, and hurried home.

*
On Panyun Mountain, a woman was dressed in white, as white as snow. Although her clothes were thin, she didn't feel the cold of the wind and snow at all.

"According to the guidance of the magic, Third Senior Brother should live here." Fu Zhu looked down from a high place and took in the entire town.

There were only mortals in the town, so she couldn't use her magic anymore. She raised her hand and snuffed out the spiritual bird that was flapping its wings in the air.

It was winter now, and it was strange to be wearing only one dress. Fu Zhu took out the winter dress with a white fur collar that she and Wu Sheng wore when they were training in the human world.

Half of the little face was buried under the snow-white fox fur, except for a pair of bright and clear eyes that revealed a hint of smile.

Fu Zhu put away his flying sword, checked himself, and after finding no flaws, he went down the mountain.

*
Smoke rose from the kitchen as Zhuang Lanruo stewed crucian carp soup. She turned around to get a handkerchief to wipe the water stains on her hands, but a faint purple color of distant mountains appeared in her eyes. A beautiful figure appeared silently in the kitchen. The woman's face was as pale as snow, revealing a sickly beauty, like the morning mist, ethereal and easily dissipated.

She clearly looked like a fairy in distress, but her demeanor was still noble.

Suddenly there was another person. Zhuang Lanruo did not look shocked. She just frowned and said coldly, "What are you doing here again?"

"Li Wuxia is my husband, I can't possibly do anything bad to him..."

Before he could finish his words, the woman interrupted him forcefully: "If you have never wavered in your heart, why don't you tell him about me?"

The woman's voice was as cold as frost and snow, and every word was precious: "Because you are afraid."

"Mortals cannot fight against monks. Only monks can fight against monks. You are afraid that he will recover his cultivation in order to fight me, which will cause your love to end early."

"So you didn't dare tell him."

Zhuang Lanruo bit her lip, feeling extremely upset because the other party had hit upon the darkness in her heart.

The woman smiled lightly and said in a mocking tone, "Even if he doesn't recover his cultivation, do you think you can keep this love in this life? Since ancient times, there have been many cases where beauties have lost their love before they have aged."

"A monk keeps his youth, but time destroys mortals. Ten or twenty years later, he still looks the same, but you have lost your youthful appearance, your hair is white, and you look like an old tree. Even if your love is as strong as gold, can you still face him?"

She set up a water mirror. Zhuang Lanruo slowly raised her head and saw herself in the mirror, aging at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The person in the mirror has 70% of her charm, her face is full of wrinkles, her skin is like a walnut shell, with clear grooves, dark and rough. This is her future self, with white hair and old age.

Zhuang Lanruo was shocked, and then the woman in the mirror returned to her youthful appearance, but it was vaguely visible that there were a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, and there was an inconspicuous silver thread in her black hair.

These are all the traces that the years have left on her.

Zhuang Lanruo raised her hand and stroked her cheek.

The woman sang slowly, "When my youth fades, I am ashamed to see my lover."

Zhuang Lanruo restrained herself from thinking about it, but the voices of discussion kept popping up in her mind.

She lived in Chunxi Town and often heard people praising Master Li's celestial demeanor, natural talent, and literary talent. She did not feel proud but became more anxious.

She is 31 years old this year. In a few years, will she still be worthy of Li Wuxia?
Zhuang Lanruo knew that Li Wuxia would not mind her aging. He had already reached the state where all appearances were illusory.

But Zhuang Lanruo couldn't do it.

Just as the poem says, once the spring flowers fade, I will be ashamed to see my lover.

When the gray-haired woman saw her beloved who was still full of vigor and vitality, what surged in her heart was not love, but endless panic and fear.

Zhuang Lanruo had been stuck in this quagmire a long time ago. She deceived herself for several years and thought that she didn't care.

I could have posted it earlier, but I got stuck on this line of poetry. I always feel like it's not quite right, but I can't change it.