Fairy, please have some self-respect. I am not the reincarnation of your deceased husband.

After a few rounds of drinks, Mu Qianxue was quite drunk, but not completely passed out.

The effects of the alcohol permeated my consciousness; although I was still conscious, I was ultimately affected to some extent.

"..."

She turned to the side, propped her chin on her hand, and gazed with a gradually hazy look at the master and apprentice who were still clinking glasses.

At that moment, the two seemed to be talking in hushed tones, but she could no longer hear them.

Pei Wanyun also seemed to have noticed Mu Qianxue's condition.

She glanced at the empty wine jug beside the other person.

It seems I overestimated my eldest disciple.

She had initially thought the other person could handle one and a half pots of wine, but now it seemed that one pot would be enough to get her completely drunk.

"Qianxue, come on, another cup."

After saying that, Pei Wanyun poured another cup for her eldest disciple.

Mu Qianxue was clearly already tipsy, and instead of refusing, she raised her glass and drank it all.

As the head, supported by one hand, drooped slightly from time to time;

As those clear, cold eyes sometimes opened and sometimes closed;

Clearly, after this cup, she probably wouldn't be able to hold on any longer.

"Qianxue?"

Pei Wanyun tried calling out softly.

"…Um?"

Although Mu Qianxue raised her eyes in response, her gaze slowly focused on her master's face.

"Master... what's wrong?"

"Are you drunk?"

"If you're drunk, go back and rest."

"without…"

Mu Qianxue denied it subconsciously.

But now she can't even sit up straight, and has to use her hands to support her head to keep her from falling over.

"I...I should...not be drunk."

But before he could finish speaking, his body swayed slightly, and he looked as if he was about to fall towards Chen Lianshu.

This seemingly intentional yet unintentional action was a subconscious choice she made after becoming intoxicated.

Can…

"Qianxue?"

Pei Wanyun quickly caught her, preventing her eldest disciple from falling into her husband's arms as she wished.

She gently supported the other person's shoulder, steadying him.

"Master..."

Mu Qianxue, who had not gotten her wish, did not react at all. She simply stood up slowly and sat down on the recliner next to her.

The tone gradually became unclear, and its meaning could only be barely discerned:

"I'd like to... rest for a while."

"...We'll continue later..."

Pei Wanyun shook her head helplessly at this.

Sure enough, Mu Yatou is still the same as always.

Before long, Mu Qianxue's beautiful eyes grew increasingly deep.

Finally, he slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

"Looks like he's really drunk."

Under the candlelight in the pavilion, Pei Wanyun's smile remained gentle and serene.

But something else was hidden in those seemingly helpless phoenix eyes.

There seemed to be more anticipation, and also a hint of... determination to win.

"This girl—"

She went to her eldest disciple's side, covered him with a thin blanket, and took very good care of him with gentle and delicate movements.

Although there's no need to worry about the other person catching a cold given their cultivation level, it's still a token of the master's goodwill.

Seeing this, Chen Lianshu couldn't help but offer a suggestion:

"How about I take my senior sister back first, and then come to drink with Master?"

"No need."

But Pei Wanyun rejected his suggestion.

"It's not fun at all to leave after only drinking half a glass."

"It's a rare privilege for your teacher to drink with the two of you..."

Having said that, she picked up her wine glass and looked at the person in front of her again:

"Come, my disciple, have a few more drinks with your master."

"Can…"

Chen Lianshu hesitated slightly.

"What? I'll be sending you all away in two days, can't you even stay and have a few more drinks with me tonight?"

Having said that, he couldn't refuse any longer, so he picked up his glass:

I respect you.

"That's right, that's what a 'good disciple' should be like."

After several more rounds of toasts, even Chen Lianshu felt slightly tipsy and was beginning to feel drunk.

This spirit wine was indeed quite strong for him.

He glanced at the several empty wine jugs on the table, no longer able to distinguish which ones he had drunk and which ones his master had drunk.

After all, they've already been lumped together.

"Pity the Book".

Pei Wanyun suddenly spoke softly.

Her voice was softer than usual, and even carried a hint of indescribable emotion.

Do you know why your master is hosting this banquet?

Chen Lianshu raised her eyes, meeting those meaningful phoenix eyes, and asked, puzzled:

"Um?"

"Wasn't Master doing this for my senior sister and me to see us off?"

"Yes, but not entirely."

Ever since Mu Qianxue passed out, Pei Wanyun had been sitting beside him the whole time. Although the distance wasn't exactly close, it was still intimate enough.

This way, it doesn't seem ambiguous, yet it's close enough to feel each other's presence.

She did not explain why.

He simply reached out and gently stroked the two lotus flowers he had embroidered himself on the other person's sleeve, changing the subject:

"Tell your teacher the truth."

"Are you really satisfied with this outfit?"

After saying that, she quietly moved a few steps closer.

However, the distance was so small that it was almost imperceptible.

"Very satisfied."

Chen Lianshu also reached for the lotus flower on the other sleeve.

"This is the first time my disciple has worn clothes made by someone else."

"If you like it, that's fine."

"As long as you don't mind."

Her fingertips lingered on her husband's sleeve.

Pei Wanyun will not let go as long as the other party does not break free.

They even occasionally moved closer to each other's hands, as if they wanted to hold hands, but they still restrained themselves.

"I will continue to do things for you in the future."

She smiled gently, a smile that was not like the usual one, which was disguised as that of a teacher or mentor, but rather had the tenderness of a virtuous wife and loving mother.

"..."

Chen Lianshu was stunned by this scene.

I have a feeling that Master's smile is a little dangerous...

"Pity the Book".

Logically speaking, Mu Qianxue should be asleep now, so calling her disciple shouldn't be done incorrectly.

But Pei Wanyun still called the other person's name intimately, and her tone sounded quite complicated.

"Your teacher..."

She paused slightly, then finally spoke meaningfully:

"Your master awaits your return from the secret realm."

"I will definitely wait for you."

These words were clearly a master's concern for his disciple, but Pei Wanyun made them sound very strange.

And that look and tone of voice seemed to indicate that he had made up his mind about something?

It seems that he wants to reveal something on the day Chen Lianshu returns.

"Yes, my disciple will definitely return safely."

After her disciple agreed, Pei Wanyun, in order to avoid being exposed, finally loosened her grip on his sleeve.

He then straightened up, his voice so low that Chen Lianshu couldn't hear him, and murmured:

"...Do you know how long I waited for that day...?"

"Fine, remember what you promised your master."

She then stood up and returned to her seat, no longer standing as close as before, seemingly trying to maintain a deliberate distance.

After all, if things continued like this, and they started talking about the future, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold back.

"Enough said, come on, let's continue drinking together."

"..."

Chen Lianshu remained silent, gazing at the complex movement of the lotus and red heart above her head, before finally raising his wine glass.

About an incense stick later.

After drinking cup after cup, Chen Lianshu was starting to feel the effects.

With a "click".

In his drunken stupor, he lost his balance and nearly knocked over the empty wine pot on the table.

"Master, I'm a little drunk."

Unlike his senior sister, he didn't stubbornly deny it; instead, he readily admitted that he was drunk.

"No rush, come, drink this last cup with your teacher."

But Pei Wanyun poured him another full cup.

And then that gentle smile turned into a sly grin, hinting at a triumphant grin.

tonight…

Tonight...

This is the last time.

My disciple, please forgive your master.