Chapter 794 - 310: Seizing the Momentum!
"That’s just something you make up in your ’imagination’!"
Fan Wubing raised his hand, about to pat her head, but seeing her shrink her neck and close her eyes cautiously, he couldn’t help but smile. He gently rubbed her head and then walked toward Gu Lan.
"Eh... He didn’t hit me..." Zhuge Hong opened her eyes, touched her head, and looked at Fan Wubing’s back, somewhat curious.
An An blinked and said,
"He’s such a tsundere."
"Tsundere... what’s that?"
"It’s just..." An An gave her an explanation. It was something she had heard from Jiang Sha before.
Zhuge Hong looked excited, "What an interesting concept! An An! You’re amazing!" She happily hugged An An and spun her around.
An An hurriedly said, "I am your martial aunt, martial aunt! Don’t just call me by my name!"
"Alright, An An!"
...
After An An and Gu Lan got to know each other, Zhuge Hong took her along to wander around Dafeng City.
These two girls, once together, left no room for anyone else. Though they’d known each other for just a few days, they acted like inseparable best friends.
Fan Wubing was, of course, more than happy to see this. He also hoped An An could make more friends. After all, it’s hard to have just one companion along life’s journey.
Gu Lan’s emotions were subtle, like a meandering stream, long-lasting and eternal. Even when she was alone with Fan Wubing, it wasn’t overly intense, especially with Luo Qingyao present.
She put all she wanted to say in her eyes, using her gaze to convey it.
Fan Wubing could always perfectly grasp the expression in her gaze.
This unsaid emotional resonance was unique to the two of them, like a tranquil forest stirring to life as a breeze swept through, making the treetops dance.
"I was worried before, wondering if you could handle it," Fan Wubing said. "Now I see, I was overthinking. I shouldn’t have doubted your ability."
Gu Lan laughed, "In the end, we still needed you to make a move."
Fan Wubing said, "White Jade Capital isn’t pure, so why should I play the gentleman?"
"So, was it your intervention that disrupted Celestial Venerable Baiyu’s Fish Leaping the Dragon Gate?" Luo Qingyao asked.
"Yes, at that time, I was startled, thinking all our efforts might be in vain," Gu Lan said.
Luo Qingyao asked, "Why not just do it openly?"
Fan Wubing said, "Even though my reputation in this land has somewhat changed, it’s still not entirely upright. After all, I’m still known as one who defies the Heavenly Dao. The supremacy of the Heavenly Dao is deeply rooted in this world."
"But White Jade Capital surely knows that today’s affairs are related to you."
"Of course they know. They even saw me involved firsthand, but the others don’t, and none have seen it personally. And what would it change if White Jade Capital broadcasted this? Given that White Jade Capital and I are adversaries, naturally, when they speak against me, it lacks some fairness."
Luo Qingyao quickly understood,
"So, were you purposefully responsible for killing Celestial Venerable Yu Chen?"
Fan Wubing said, "That’s part of it. I can’t remain passively manipulated by White Jade Capital. If there’s no direct conflict between us, they can present it all in the name of justice. But if there are direct conflicts of interest, it’s not easy for them to uphold their banner of justice."
He smiled and said to Gu Lan,
"Of course, I must thank you for what you just said on my behalf. That wasn’t prepared in advance, was it?"
Gu Lan softly said, "Why wouldn’t I speak for you? I believe that everyone who has interacted with you wouldn’t think you’re someone who stands in opposition to the world. The vast majority just follow the tides. Now, the tide is with White Jade Capital, so they believe whatever White Jade Capital says."
Luo Qingyao’s eyes were sharp,
"We must take control of the tide!"
Fan Wubing gazed far into the direction of the Immortal Continent,
"There’s already some progress."
Luo Qingyao frowned and said, "But senior brother, do you know what’s happened to Man’Er? Xiaohong said she’s at White Jade Capital now."
Fan Wubing felt a heaviness in his heart. Ever since parting at the Phoenix Dynasty, he’d felt Man’Er had something on her mind. He only hoped White Jade Capital had guessed the farmer’s intentions and made a last-minute commander switch unrelated to anything else.
He consoled,
"Don’t worry. It should just be White Jade Capital’s temporary change. Man’Er is smart, and she holds the Eternal Dao; she’ll be fine."
"I understand why she wouldn’t represent White Jade Capital at the Great Prosperity Festival, but why doesn’t she meet us privately?"
Fan Wubing said, "After all, she is still the Little Freedom Official, so she has to avoid suspicion."
"Alright," Luo Qingyao looked toward the sky, "I thought we could finally reunite. It seems like someone’s always missing. During the time on Taiping Continent, I wasn’t there. On Sword Continent, Senior Sister Gu Lan was absent. Now, on the East Continent, Man’Er isn’t here."
She laughed, "Next time, when I, Man’Er, and Senior Sister Gu Lan are all there, don’t tell me you’ll be the one missing, senior brother."
"There will be a chance," Fan Wubing said.
Luo Qingyao took Gu Lan’s arm, leaned closer to her ear, and whispered, "Senior brother is pretty bold, saying he wants to marry all three of us into his family. Senior sister, should we fulfill that for him?"
Gu Lan tried to imagine such a scene, and her face immediately turned uncontrollably red.
She stammered,
"I still have many things to attend to, so I won’t be spending much time with you. Dafeng City has many interesting things; you both should explore around. I’ll come find you in the evening."
With that said, she fled.
Luo Qingyao laughed,
"Even the gentle elder sister has her adorable moments."
"Don’t listen to Zhuge Hong’s nonsense!" Fan Wubing said seriously, "I don’t have any particular fondness for gentle elder sisters. It’s just that the one I like happens to be older than me and very gentle."