Misty Rain of the Old Times

"My lord, I'm so sorry, I've failed to complete the task you entrusted to me."

Du Juan, returning in the morning light, said with a hint of urgency, "Yesterday, Chen Xuan asked me to secretly follow Liu Yuyuan. This is one of the few things he's asked me to do since I started following him. I didn't do it well." Her expression was filled with shame.

There was no one else in the courtyard. Chen Xuan, who had expected this, got up and pulled her into his arms. He gently stroked her slightly furrowed brow, trying to smooth away the trace of guilt between her brows. He said in a gentle tone, "Thank you for your trouble, Sister Juan. No rush, tell me slowly."

The gentle embrace made Dujuan somewhat intoxicated, but now was not the time to indulge in it. She looked up and spoke quickly and clearly, apologetically, "Master, you asked me to secretly follow Liu Yuyuan yesterday, but I lost him. Please punish me."

Hearing this, Chen Xuan nodded slightly, signaling her to calm down. He gently patted her full breasts, and as her body went limp, he pulled her down to sit on his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder and whispering in her ear, "It's nothing, Sister Juan. We're husband and wife, sharing both honor and disgrace. There's no need for this. Tell me what's going on."

The warmth of his breath brought a blush to Du Juan's cool and pretty face. She leaned into his arms, feeling even more guilty. She was a concubine, yet the master treated her like a wife. She couldn't even handle such a simple matter.

She quickly organized her thoughts and briefly recounted what had happened after she followed Liu Yuyuan away the previous day.

"My lord, after Liu Yuyuan left us yesterday, despite his still-healing injuries, he quickly contacted and gathered several of his friends in the martial world. This morning, before dawn, seven or eight of them went to investigate the place where he was injured and unconscious yesterday. I secretly observed from a distance and saw with my own eyes that they carefully stepped into the mountain pass and then vanished without a trace. I have never encountered such a situation before. I wanted to follow them, but I was worried that the situation was unclear and I might do something wrong. Therefore, I did not act rashly on my own and quickly returned to report to my lord for a decision."

After hearing what had happened, Chen Xuan calmly nodded and said, "Sister Juan, what you did was absolutely right. Never act impulsively or take risks when you're not sure about something. Remember, you're my person. If anything were to happen to you, I would be heartbroken."

While offering comfort, Chen Xuan was also somewhat speechless. He didn't know whether to praise Liu Yuyuan for his chivalrous spirit and willingness to risk his life, or for his reckless pursuit of his fiancée's whereabouts. He had suffered such a great loss yesterday, almost losing his life, and his injuries hadn't even fully healed before he went off to risk his life again. He didn't know where Liu Yuyuan got his confidence from.

"It's all my fault. I'm not capable enough to do what you asked me to do," Du Juan said with a look of shame, even though Chen Xuan didn't blame her.

She had been an assassin for over twenty years, and many missions were either successful or failed. The consequences of failure were never easy. She must have retained this habit to this day, especially since she still puts her mind and body on herself, which is why she felt ashamed and helpless.

She was still struggling with this. Understanding her emotions, Chen Xuan smiled mischievously and whispered in her ear, "If Sister Juan really feels bad, then don't punish her. I can't bear to do that. I've been thinking about what you refused to do last time. How about we make amends?"

Hearing his words in her ear, Dujuan, who had been filled with guilt, felt a tremor in her heart. She thought to herself, "Why did Master bring up such a thing? I can't even imagine it!" She was too ashamed to look at him, but she nodded slightly and murmured, "I will do as Master wishes."

Originally, he intended to soothe her emotions, distract her, and scare her a little, but he never expected her to agree to it. Because of her recent health issues, the two of them hadn't been detoxified for a few days. Now, with the soft and fragrant body in his arms, Chen Xuan was somewhat distracted.

But that's not the time to think about these things. Seeing that she had overcome her guilt, Chen Xuan changed the subject and asked curiously, "Liu Yuyuan suffered such a big loss yesterday, he almost died, and this morning he rushed off again. What's the difference between that and suicide? What kind of people did he bring with him? How can he be so confident?"

Although Chen Xuan's embarrassing words made Du Juan somewhat 'tremble with fear,' she immediately said seriously, "Master, according to my observations, Liu Yuyuan has some connections in the martial arts world. Among the six or seven people who went with him today, their cultivation levels are all no lower than his, and two of them have even barely touched the threshold of the Innate Realm. Even so, I still don't have a high opinion of them. That place made me feel uneasy; they disappeared in the blink of an eye, which was very strange. I hesitated for a moment and didn't continue to follow them to witness what happened next. Now I don't know how they are doing."

Several skilled martial artists of similar cultivation levels – is this Liu Yuyuan's confidence? People in the martial arts world value loyalty above all else, braving wind and rain. Birds of a feather flock together, that's probably what it means.

When you're out there on the road, you risk your life, so even knowing there's danger, you just go for it with a heart full of passion.

Thinking to himself, they were already inside, and any danger would have occurred long ago; there was no use in rushing. Chen Xuan pondered, "Strange, I suppose. I reckon it's just some kind of formation or magic. Sister Juan hasn't experienced it before, so she doesn't know. Luckily, she didn't take any risks lightly."

Nodding, Du Juan wondered why Chen Xuan was so concerned about Liu Yuyuan, and hesitated before asking, "What are your plans next, Master?"

The highly wary Chen Xuan suspected someone had ill intentions towards him. After a moment's hesitation, he smiled and said, "Since things have come to this, let's eat first. You've been busy all night. After dinner, Sister Juan, you should get some rest. I'll go see what's going on."

“My lord, you mustn’t. Going to that place is like disappearing into thin air; it’s dangerous. I dare to say that Liu Yuyuan is, after all, just a complete stranger. There’s no need to risk your life for him,” Dujuan said worriedly.

With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "It's alright. I'm perfectly capable of doing what I'm supposed to. I also have a rudimentary understanding of formations, so there might even be some unexpected gains on this trip."

For him, it was still necessary to go and see. Although he had long since settled his score with Lao Liu, Liu Yuyuan was, after all, Lao Liu's descendant. He couldn't just ignore him, but it wasn't to the point of risking his life. He also suspected that Qin Ruyu was setting a trap for him. He had never forgotten the slight malice the other party had shown. If she really had ill intentions, he didn't like to passively deal with potential threats. He was still quite tough.

Now that her husband had made up his mind, Dujuan stopped trying to persuade him and just obediently played the role of a little woman. But a cold feeling flashed through her heart. If her husband was harmed on this trip, no matter who it was, he would regret being born!

Just as Chen Xuan had gathered enough information, the little maid appeared at the door and greeted him, "Master, Madam sent me to inquire if breakfast is ready. Oh, when did Sister Juan return? Did I come at the wrong time?"

Seeing the two embracing, the little girl puffed out her cheeks amidst the cheerful greetings, a hint of envy flashing in her eyes. She wished that the master was embracing her instead. But when she looked down at her toes, she felt a little melancholy. The master and mistress both said that she was still young and would grow up in a few more years. She longed to grow up quickly so that she could serve the master wholeheartedly.

While the little girl was lost in thought, Chen Xuan patted Du Juan's full, round bottom in his arms, and smiled as her pretty face flushed, "Okay, I'm coming..."

Breakfast was already prepared in the restaurant. Everyone took their seats, and Chen Xuan looked at the little princess with concern, asking, "My wife looks much better. Are you feeling alright?" He served her a bowl of porridge, and the little princess smiled sweetly, saying, "Thank you for your concern, husband. I haven't felt any chest tightness or nausea this morning." As she spoke, she subconsciously touched her still-developing belly, her face filled with happiness and curiosity, and said, "Husband, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I felt our baby move a little in my belly earlier, without any discomfort. Could it be that our baby already knows how to care for its mother?"

How long into the pregnancy can the fetus already move? Chen Xuan truly didn't know anything about this, but he went along with her, saying, "Of course! Our child will definitely be the most filial in the world. Now he knows how difficult it was for my wife to carry him."

The little princess nodded happily, then lowered her head and touched her lower abdomen, muttering something to herself. She was clearly communicating with the fetus in her arms, which drew expectant and envious glances from the women around her.

Du Juan, in particular, subconsciously touched her slender waist, feeling secretly melancholy. She'd been with the master so many times, why couldn't her belly cooperate...?

After enjoying a pleasant breakfast with them, Chen Xuan looked at the little princess during the break and said, "My wife, I'm going out for a bit later and don't know when I'll be back. You don't need to wait for me for dinner. If you're bored at home, go out for a walk. Remember to be careful and don't leave Aunt Mei and the others' side."

He didn't know how long the trip would take, so it was necessary to give them a heads-up beforehand.

Upon hearing this, the little princess's heart stirred. Yesterday, she had sensed that her husband had something on his mind, which she suspected was related to Liu Yuyuan. Having grown up in the treacherous palace, her naivety was reserved only for her own people.

She won't inquire about her husband's affairs unless he brings them up himself; she'll just focus on being a good wife and mother.

So she waved her hand casually, and even joked with a smile, "Husband, go ahead. You're not a child anymore. You're the head of the household. You don't need to ask me about everything. It would be best if you went and seduced some young ladies to have more children. If you need money, just tell me, and I'll provide plenty."

Chen Xuan felt a pang of melancholy. His wife had steered the conversation in this direction after just three sentences, which was really enough. He shook his head, both amused and exasperated, and got up, saying, "Then my wife, you two should rest well. I'll try to go and come back as soon as possible."

As the little princess nodded, he gestured for Xia Mei to follow.

After they left, the little princess's smile faded a bit. She thought to herself, given her husband's personality—he would rather lie down than sit—what could possibly require him to make a special trip?
Recalling the experiences of the past few days, Yuexiang Residence, and the large number of missing women in Yuhua Kingdom over the years, especially recently, the situation has become increasingly serious. Qin Ruyu, Sun Qingzhu, Liu Yuyuan... all sorts of information flashed through her mind. She quickly figured out the key points, and after a little summarizing, coupled with her husband's personality, many things became clear.

Either her husband happened to be there and couldn't stand it anymore, wanting to do something righteous, or he sensed something and planned to resolve it in advance. As for the idea that no one gets up early for nothing, that's not true. He's so lazy that he wouldn't even pick up money rolling at his feet, and he wouldn't bother with anything for no reason.

"My husband made this trip because of Liu Yuyuan, but Liu Yuyuan isn't the key; she's just a trigger. There are many other connections behind it, and they concern us personally!"

Many thoughts flashed through her mind; the little princess was truly clear-headed.

She's not stupid; she just doesn't use her intelligence on her own people. But whatever the case, she'll just pretend she doesn't know. Her husband will tell her if he wants to; he's not telling her just because he doesn't want her to worry.

'Hmph, if someone really tries to harm my family, and it becomes troublesome for my husband to deal with, does he think I'm a pushover?'

Since her husband had gone out on important business, she should stay home quietly to avoid causing him unnecessary worry. Besides, there wasn't much to see in Jade City, and even the best places weren't worth visiting without her husband by her side...

Chen Xuan and Xia Mei walked one after the other towards the courtyard gate. As they were leaving, Chen Xuan paused and said, "Aunt Mei, be extra careful before I come back. If anyone tries to invade, make sure they stay here forever."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Xia Mei nodded seriously, her gaze sharp. She didn't need to know why the master was giving these instructions; she just needed to do as he said.

Chen Xuan had complete faith in her abilities, but considering the hint of malice Qin Ruyu had conveyed, and her background, he cautioned her again: "Aunt Mei, don't be careless. If anyone with ill intentions comes, activate the Misty Array immediately, hide within it, and activate the Nine-Tone Soul-Suppressing Bell. With the methods I left you, even a Grandmaster-level expert won't gain any advantage. Be careful."

Unexpectedly, Chen Xuan went to such lengths. Xia Mei nodded calmly and said, "Don't worry, Master."

The calmer she appears, the more serious she is; no amount of high-sounding words will change that.

Chen Xuan nodded and hummed in agreement. After giving his instructions, he stepped out the door, thinking to himself that if anyone wanted to use Liu Yuyuan to lure people away from him and target those he cared about, little did they know that when he was not around, they were in the most dangerous place, because he might sometimes reason with them when they were face to face!

Arriving at the gate, Chen Xuan glanced back at the courtyard and thought to himself that having a tacit wife was so reassuring.

In an instant, he took a step and his figure disappeared from the spot. After he left, the seemingly ordinary and elegant courtyard was no less than a prehistoric beast that would devour anyone!
Soon, based on his conversation with Liu Yuyuan yesterday and the information provided by Du Juan earlier, Chen Xuan arrived at the outside of the mountain valley that seemed to make people disappear into thin air.

He did not immediately set foot there. Instead, he stood atop a large tree several hundred feet away, seemingly blending into the surrounding environment as if he were part of nature. Unless one was a grandmaster, one would not be able to sense his presence standing next to him.

A small bird flew down, perched on his shoulder, and preened its feathers, while he gazed with great interest at the ravine ahead… (End of Chapter)