The Arch-Enemy Must Not Become a Wife

"Thank you for your hard work, Xiang’er. How long have you been out? Did you encounter any dangers on the way?"

Chu Xuan slightly sensed the aura on her body. She also had the realm of the Fourth Stage, not considered a minor cultivator. Outside, she could hold her own.

Chu Xiang’er recalled, "More than half a year. Encountered some bad people, also some kind-hearted ones on the way."

"Xiang’er is timid but runs fast, so there were basically no problems."

"Oh, right, there was a kind person who invited me for drinks before." She happily talked about her experience at Qingyang Restaurant.

Chu Xuan listened with a somewhat peculiar expression, repeatedly asking for details, even suspecting Xiang’er might have the ability to ’charm and control hearts,’ though she hadn’t realized it herself yet.

Jiang Yiyi exclaimed with delight, "So you can drink too! Perfect, I’m also a lover of wine. Let’s not leave until we’re drunk tonight."

As she spoke, she gestured significantly, making it obvious, "Bring out the wine you just bought."

Xiang’er obediently brought out jar after jar of wine, weakly asking, "How many jars do you want?"

Jiang Yiyi casually said, "Oh, just a few hundred jars will do."

On hearing this, Chu Xiang’er’s eyes filled with tears, looking so wronged as if about to cry. After all, she liked the wine herself too, but she didn’t stop handing them over.

Chu Xuan felt a headache coming on, "Stop, stop, stop!"

He sternly looked at Jiang Yiyi, "Master Ancestor, she’s a guest with a simple personality. Can you not bully her?"

Jiang Yiyi was dumbfounded by how ’obedient’ Xiang’er was, then she laughed, thinking this little Dragon Maiden was just too amusing~

"Oh, I was joking. These six jars are enough, consider it your filial piety to your ancestor."

"From now on, with me around in this acre of Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace, no one will dare bully you!"

Jiang Yiyi declared righteously, as she began putting away jar after jar of wine.

Xiang’er looked surprised and quickly wiped her tears, nodding repeatedly.

Chu Xuan was at a loss for words—for the first time he met Xiang’er, he felt both of them had simple personalities, and would surely get along. He never imagined such ’harmonious interaction’ would occur.

Seeing Jiang Yiyi intentionally leaving a jar of wine to try its taste, Chu Xuan hurried to stop her.

"Master Ancestor, it’s not appropriate to drink during the day, and have you forgotten what happened last time?"

Jiang Yiyi protested, "I’ll just have a cup!"

Chu Xiang’er also nodded, "Brother Chu, you can try it too."

Having no choice, Chu Xuan had to do it himself. He opened the mud seal, poured three cups, and confiscated the rest.

This made Jiang Yiyi pout, puffing out her cheeks, "Bad Chu Xuan, taking advantage to embezzle the ancestor’s spirit wine."

Chu Xuan pretended not to hear, took a sip, and admitted, the Spiritual Qi was a bit thin, but the flavor was nice, even possessing a hint of life’s vitality.

"Er Ya" says: "Spring is Qingyang, summer is Zhumin, autumn is Baicang, winter is Xuanying."

Qingyang refers to the green of plants in spring, the emergence of yang energy, hence the name.

It seems the shopkeeper of this winery has some heritage too.

Jiang Yiyi smacked her lips, feeling a bit unsatisfied, but Chu Xuan refused her request for a few more into the cups, only looking at Xiang’er:

"Since you rarely come to visit, why not stay here for a few days? Then you plan to go to the Xiangjiang River, right? Do you need me to accompany you?"

"Oh, by the way, about the Dragon Palace there..."

Chu Xiang’er knew what he meant and just shook her head dejectedly, "If Father really sent pursuers to catch me, I would have been caught long ago asking for directions everywhere, being so unfamiliar with this place."

"Since no one has come, it means Father probably doesn’t care about me anymore."

"I want to go to the Xiangjiang River first. Brother Chu doesn’t need to accompany me, and then I’ll seek refuge in the Nuwa Palace."

"If they don’t want me there, I’ll build a nest in the Xiangjiang River, also considered another hometown; as a true dragon, being a Lord of the River there should be no problem."

"Oh dear, how pitiful." Jiang Yiyi wanted to go hug Xiang’er for comfort, but Xiang’er immediately hid behind Chu Xuan, making things a bit awkward.

"Don’t hide, I won’t hurt you."

Chu Xiang’er didn’t answer, just nervously holding onto Chu Xuan’s clothes.

Chu Xuan laughed and took her hand, "No need for that, my ancestor is kind-hearted. I’ll make sure she doesn’t bully you."

Before Xiang’er could respond, the junior brother suddenly returned, cupping his hands, "The Headmaster invites Senior Brother and the esteemed guest to the main hall, saying he wants to personally host you."

Chu Xuan was a bit surprised. This was quite a formal invitation; could the master have mistaken her for a Dragon Palace envoy?

On hearing this, Chu Xiang’er hesitated, tiptoed, whispered in his ear, "I’m a little scared. Can I not go?"

Jiang Yiyi, who initially wanted to go along, fell silent, evidently wanting to have fun with this new companion.

Chu Xuan thought it over, "Okay."

Then he turned to give Jiang Yiyi some instructions, before leaving with the junior brother.

...

Inside the palace’s main hall, Floating Cloud Master was a bit surprised to see Chu Xuan coming in alone.

Chu Xuan first saluted, "Xiang’er is a bit shy of strangers. I was thinking the master might have misunderstood, so I came to explain."

Floating Cloud Master shook his head, "It’s about the Dragon Origin Blood Tree."

Chu Xuan was a bit surprised, feeling a bit awkward.

Floating Cloud Master smiled, "It’s alright, there’s a task I wanted to entrust to you privately, so I might as well mention it."

"Let me first talk about the tree. In the past few months, even with the other elders, we couldn’t grow it in the Moonlit Celestial Flight Realm. Whether it’s due to unsuitable conditions or the Dragon Origin Blood Tree’s long detachment from the soil, we’re not sure."