Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 771 I Want Them All

The bliss of newlywed life was intoxicating. In just a few days, Chen Xuan and the Yunlan and Yunxin sisters were inseparable. In particular, they would not refuse any of their husbands' requests. The feeling was indescribable. Although they were exhausted by the vigorous Chen Xuan, they also experienced the happiness of being women. They were a little tired, but very happy.

They originally thought their husbands were just flirtatious and indecent, but after becoming each other's bedmates, they discovered that their husbands had many tricks up their sleeves, which were so embarrassing to talk about.

For a few days, Chen Xuan was surrounded by women and enjoyed boundless happiness, but this was all in private. Of course, he wouldn't forget his old flame and neglect the little princesses and the others. No one held a grudge, and they got along harmoniously and warmly.

After a short stay of a few days, they embarked on their journey again, or more accurately, their return journey.

The vast desert environment is almost unchanging. No matter how magnificent the scene is, it is easy to feel bored after a while. When longing and curiosity turn into a boring reality, the interest in one's heart will also diminish.

When most people in a group have this mindset, the pace of the journey quickens accordingly.

Without deliberately contacting caravans struggling to make a living, and without any foolish bandits causing trouble, the journey became even more boring. Of course, none of Chen Xuan and his group would actively provoke others for amusement; they wouldn't do something like bullying others.

That day, they had traveled a long way and were approaching the area where Guo Jinglong and Liu Zhenwei had made such a big fuss about their duel back then. That battle was the focus of attention all over the world, and famous masters from the surrounding four countries came to watch.

Tens of thousands of people once gathered to witness the martial arts competition between masters at the pinnacle of the martial arts world. Unexpectedly, Liu Zhenwei was ambitious and wanted to step over others to take that step. He did not hesitate to create a swarm of insects that blotted out the sky and threatened all sides. If it weren't for Yang Guo suddenly appearing, everyone would have been buried in the desert.

As they got closer to this area, Guo Qingxue's mood became increasingly depressed, and she lost all interest in taking every opportunity to fawn over Chen Xuan and inquire about his well-being, even though she was actually plotting something.

Back when Guo Qingxue's grandfather, Guo Jinglong, was still alive, the three thousand swordsmen of the Hanshan Sword Sect were a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps they were not as powerful as the Wuxiang Temple and Taixuan Sect, which had Grandmaster-level experts, but within the Jing Kingdom, who would not give the Hanshan Sword Sect a wide berth? Even the Wuxiang Temple and Taixuan Sect had to give them some face. If it really came down to a fight to the death, even the Wuxiang Temple and Taixuan Sect, which had Grandmaster-level experts, would suffer serious damage.

Unfortunately, with Guo Jinglong's fall in the desert, the Cold Mountain Sword Sect has been on a downward spiral since then. Its influence and strength have been gradually eroded, and after many years, it has barely maintained two-thirds of its former glory. It is no easy task to restore its former glory. Fortunately, last year Chen Xuan needed ice silkworm silk and traded some pills with the Cold Mountain Sword Sect, which brought a slight improvement. In particular, after Guo Qingxue was frightened away when she went to Chen Xuan's house, rumors spread that she and Chen Xuan had an ambiguous relationship, and the attitude of the martial arts world towards the Cold Mountain Sword Sect has quietly changed.

For Guo Qingxue, the responsibility of the sect was not enough to weigh on her young shoulders. But thinking of her grandfather, who loved her so much, dying right before her eyes and being powerless to help, one can imagine how much of a blow it was to her young heart.

The main reason she had been searching for Chen Xuan for so many years was that Chen Xuan killed Liu Zhenwei to avenge her grandfather. Otherwise, what would a little girl like her know back then? After years of searching, it had become an obsession. When they met again, Chen Xuan was so amazing and dazzling that her initial gratitude and obsession gradually changed, until now she was unable to extricate herself from it.

Returning to this familiar place, Guo Qingxue felt heavy-hearted. Perhaps her childhood memories had become blurred with the passage of time, but her grandfather's love for her was etched deep in her soul.

The midday sun blazed fiercely, and the yellow sand was scorching hot. The air near the sand surface seemed to distort slightly under the intense heat. Chen Xuan and his companions stood atop the highest sand dune, with a wide-open view stretching for dozens of miles.

The sweltering wind became gentle and warm around them, and the glaring sunlight, even with sunglasses on, did not cause any discomfort to their eyes.

Looking ahead, Chen Xuan gestured across an area and sighed, "Back then, the great hero Guo and Liu Zhenwei, the leader of the Chongyan Sect, fought their great battle right here. Tens of thousands of people came, covering the entire mountainside. They were all quite idle. I was only twelve years old then, in my second year studying at Liuyu Academy with the young master."

Hearing this, the little princess gripped his hand tightly, and even though many years had passed, she still felt some worry, saying, "My husband was just a kid back then, wasn't he? Why didn't you stay at the academy and study properly? Why were you running around like that? Is the fighting and killing in the martial world something you can get involved in? What if you got hurt?"

With a chuckle, Chen Xuan scratched his backside and said, "I didn't think too much about it at the time. Besides, I was already at the Innate Realm, and I considered myself no weaker than anyone else. Moreover, I was bored at the academy, so I wanted to join in the fun. Looking back now, it was indeed a bit reckless. Fortunately, it all turned out alright."

"I had heard about this matter in the capital back then, but I didn't pay much attention to it. Who would have thought that my husband, who was only twelve years old, transformed into Yang Guo and eliminated Liu Zhenwei, preventing a catastrophe in the martial arts world? If it were an insignificant person, this would certainly be praiseworthy, but as for my husband, I would rather you had never come back then." The little princess felt a little scared when she thought of the incident that caused such a stir back then.

Patting her little hand, Chen Xuan said nonchalantly, "It's all in the past."

As he spoke, he looked around again, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes. That incident was not just about the battle between Liu Zhenwei and Guo Jinglong. There was also the death of one of the top ten heroes of Yuhua Kingdom, He Hongyi, who was also killed here. This led to the discovery of Duan Nie as the culprit, who was then killed by several renowned masters.

At that time, Chen Xuan was just there to join in the fun, but whether it was exposing Duan Nie or ending Liu Zhenwei, he was dragged into it all, and he ended up getting caught up in the drama himself.

Years have passed, but the wind and sand have not covered it all; traces of that time still remain faintly.

Guo Qingxue, lost in thought about the past, watched silently for a while before pulling herself out of her reverie. Turning back, she said dejectedly, "Brother Chen, Sister Qianning, I want to go for a walk alone, to see the place where Grandpa closed his eyes, and to pay my respects."

"Okay, go ahead, we'll wait for you. No rush, there's plenty of time," Chen Xuan nodded, knowing it was best not to disturb him with such a sad matter.

Forcing a smile, Guo Qingxue said nothing. She first went to the car to retrieve a basket containing sacrificial items that she had prepared beforehand. Then, she walked alone towards the sand dune, hundreds of feet away. Her figure, silhouetted against the endless yellow sand, was full of sorrow and loneliness.

With his smile fading, Chen Xuan sighed, "When I first met her, she was just over ten years old, a carefree and innocent girl, unaware of the dangers of the world. She spent a lot of money to buy some roasted meat from me, thinking she had made a great deal, and even showed it off to her elders. Unfortunately, since we parted ways that year, many years later, I can no longer see that genuine sincerity in her."

The little princess smiled gently and said, "She has actually moved on from the grief of her grandfather's death a long time ago, but she can never go back to the mindset she had as a child. Growing up is always a heavy word. And besides, she is happy now, just in a different way."

Chen Xuan nodded in agreement, noting that Guo Qingxue always had a smile on her face before she came here.

Pulling at Chen Xuan's sleeve, the little princess looked at Guo Qingxue's retreating figure and said, "Husband, Xiaoxue is a good girl. She is devoted to you. Don't let her down. Perhaps your relationship isn't dramatic or unforgettable, but personally, I don't think that's a good thing. A peaceful life is the best. Life is long, and living a good life is better than anything else. Stability is a blessing. I would rather your life be filled with women who revolve around you, beautiful and stable, even if they're just pretty faces. Women with strong personalities aren't suitable for a long life; they might bring disaster to the family at any time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan nodded subconsciously. He understood what his wife meant. Speaking of which, whether it was the little princess, or Du Juan, Yun Lan, Yun Xin, Zheng Wanqian, Guo Qingxue, or He Hongyi, before they met Chen Xuan, they were all outstanding in their respective fields or circles. However, since they became involved with Chen Xuan, they have gradually faded in their respective fields, as if they have returned to ordinariness and are willing to become mere ornaments. There is nothing wrong with that. Just as the little princess said, girls with too much personality are not suitable for a life together.

With a flicker of thought, Chen Xuan said somewhat awkwardly, "Of course I understand what she means. When we were playing around that day, I practically saw all of the girl's naked body. How can I pretend nothing happened?"

"Then what are you waiting for, my husband? Hurry up and strike while the iron is hot. You haven't shown any interest these past few days, and Xiaoxue must be feeling so anxious. I'm going to rest for a bit, so don't call me when we set off," the little princess nudged him encouragingly, and then walked briskly toward the carriage.

"We won't bother the master any longer," the little maid said, her eyes darting around as she followed the little princess. If nothing unexpected happened, the master would have another wife after today. How wonderful! This family was becoming more and more prosperous. Thinking back to when it was just the master and herself, so quiet and lonely, it was so much better now that there were so many people around.

Scratching his backside, Chen Xuan hesitated, then thought, "Well, a man should take responsibility. He needs to make the girl feel secure; dragging this out won't do." Yun Lan and Yun Xin looked at Chen Xuan tenderly and said in unison, "We congratulate you in advance, sir. Don't keep Xue'er waiting too long; this is probably when she needs you the most."

After saying that, they followed the little princess away.

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan smiled wryly. His wives were so understanding, and although he never considered himself a good person, he still couldn't help feeling guilty.

Forget it, why think so much? Just be happy in this life. Only children make choices; adults want it all!

As Guo Qingxue strolled across the yellow sand, her thoughts drifted back to her childhood. No matter how naughty or unreasonable she was, her grandfather would always find time to play with her, no matter how busy he was. But all of that ended on that day.

Before she knew it, tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. She tried hard to recall the place where her grandfather had breathed his last, and followed her memory to the spot. Over the years, the yellow sand had buried the traces of the past, but she still arrived at the exact location.

Standing there, tears silently streamed down her face. She slowly squatted down, buried her head in her arms, and sobbed softly.

After a while, she raised her head, wiped away her tears, knelt on the sand, took out sacrificial items from the basket, set out wine and dishes, lit incense and candles, burned paper money, and smiled again as she talked to herself, also speaking to her grandfather who had passed away many years ago.

"Grandpa, Xiaoxue has grown up. I miss you so much. Are you doing well over there?"

"You said you'd watch me grow up, see me get married, and personally help me choose a satisfactory husband. But you broke your promise. I've grown up, and those promises can no longer be kept."

"Father and Mother are both well, Grandpa, you don't need to worry. It's just that they are usually very busy, the burden of the entire sect rests on their shoulders. I want to help them share the burden, but I'm worried about causing them trouble."

"Grandpa, I'm so beautiful now, just like you imagined me growing up. I'm no less beautiful than the ten beauties of Yuhua Kingdom. It's just that you'll never see it, Grandpa. Otherwise, you must have had a lot of trouble choosing a husband who would be worthy of me, right?"

"If Grandpa is watching from heaven, you don't need to worry about my marriage. I've already found someone I love, and he's the one for me. He's outstanding, so outstanding that he outshines everyone else. I think Grandpa will be satisfied."

"He's actually a bit of a womanizer, but I don't mind. How could such an outstanding guy not be surrounded by girls? Being one of them is already my greatest fortune."

"And let me tell you, Grandpa, Dad, and Mom all support me being with him. They understand my feelings. I'm willing to be his concubine and won't feel wronged. It's an honor that countless people would rather die for."

"He's really, really good. I've never seen any man treat his woman like that, whether it's Sister Qianning, Sister Juan, or Sister Lan'er and Sister Xin'er. They're all genuinely happy, and I'm so envious of them."

"But what should I do, Grandpa? Brother Chen understands my feelings, but he's always been lukewarm. I know I don't have anything that would move him; I'm good for nothing except liking him. Grandpa, can you give me some advice?"

"Xiaoxue really, really misses you. Grandpa, could you please visit me in my dreams? Xiaoxue will be alright, and I will live the happy life you hoped for. I will be a good wife and a good mother, and live a good life, staying away from the grudges and fighting of the martial world. It's a pity that Grandpa won't be able to see any of this, sob sob..."

Her face was full of smiles, but as she spoke, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She cried silently, her heart aching terribly, until her whole body went limp.

Nearly half an hour passed, and Guo Qingxue's tears were almost dried. Her swollen eyes stared at the burnt-out incense and candles. She raised her sleeve to wipe her eyes, looked at Chen Xuan who had somehow appeared beside her, and forced a smile, saying in a hoarse voice, "I'm sorry, Brother Chen, I've made you laugh."

This longing for her loved ones deeply moved Chen Xuan, who gently pulled her into his arms and comforted her, saying, "Cry, it'll make you feel better. Grandpa won't blame you in heaven."

"Mmm," Guo Qingxue gently leaned against him, wanting only a solid support at that moment.

Girls are sensitive and perceptive. Lost in her grief, she instantly grasped the unspoken meaning in Chen Xuan's words and looked up at him blankly, asking, "Grandpa?"

Gently wiping her red, tear-filled eyes, Chen Xuan nodded and said, "Xiaoxue, I've practically seen you naked. I've taken such a huge advantage of you. Although I'm not a good person, I'm very selfish. I'm unilaterally declaring you're mine now. What, you don't want to?"

The surprise came too suddenly, and Guo Qingxue was stunned. Her heart was pounding with excitement.

Staring blankly at Chen Xuan, she thought to herself, "Brother Chen is so domineering. What do you mean by unilaterally declaring that I'm already his?"

That's what she thought, but she nodded hastily and said, "I'm willing, I've been willing for a long time, sob sob sob, Brother Chen, you're so mean, do you know how long I've been waiting to say this?"

He let her vent until she calmed down a bit, then Chen Xuan reached for a basket he had brought and said, "Now that I've already taken you for myself, I should at least inform your grandfather—or rather, our grandfather—of this news. I just hope he doesn't get so angry he jumps out and tries to kill me."

"No way! Grandpa will only be happy for me," Guo Qingxue said, tears of joy streaming down her face. She then grabbed Chen Xuan's collar tightly, asking again, "Brother Chen, are you serious? I feel like I'm dreaming."

"Of course, I'm going to take on this role of the blond guy. I'll pass the message on to my grandfather in heaven right now."

Although she didn't understand what Chen Xuan meant by "yellow hair," his resolute words made Guo Qingxue feel incredibly at ease. After so many years of searching, until she fell in love and even followed him despite societal norms, willing to show him her virginity, her long-standing anxieties finally had a clear answer.

"But, but I'm just average in every way, so what is it about me that Brother Chen sees in me?"

"I'm attracted to your stupidity."

Just as they were confirming their relationship and seemingly pledging their lives to each other, a hint of worry flashed in Xia Mei's eyes from afar. She looked back at the horizon, her worry deepening. She knew it was not the right time to disturb them, but the moment was fast approaching.

After thinking it over, she restrained the urge to go and disturb him. With the master's cultivation and senses, he certainly wouldn't have been unaware... (End of Chapter)