Chapter 45: Sisters
As they chatted, Mu Zhi’an and Wei Mengrou arrived at his study.
He pushed open the door. “Our top priority is to invite Senior Sister Lan to the Mu Manor. After all, I practically tricked her into coming down the mountain. We need to extend our hospitality.”
Wei Mengrou nodded silently.
It was true. Lan Mulian wouldn’t have descended the mountain so early if not for his persistent persuasion. They owed her a proper welcome.
Moreover… the Bai family, the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce, and even the Gongsun family were all vying for the honor of hosting her. The Mu family couldn’t afford to fall behind.
“If you want to see her, why not go to the inn directly? Why are we in your study?” Wei Mengrou asked.
“Sometimes, face-to-face conversations aren’t as effective. A letter might be better,” Mu Zhi’an replied with a smile.
He knew from experience that online conversations were often more relaxed and open than offline interactions.
He entered his study, intending to write a letter to Lan Mulian, inviting her to the Mu Manor.
But then, he noticed a paper crane sitting on his desk.
He picked it up, his brow furrowing. It was the second letter he’d sent to Lan Mulian, the one he’d written after receiving no reply to his first letter.
“If I’m not mistaken, Senior Sister had already descended the mountain when this crane arrived at the Two Polarities Sect. Why would I receive a reply?”
He turned the paper over and saw a response written on the back.
“Perhaps… the crane flew to her directly? And after arriving at the inn in Tianxuan City, she received it and wrote back?” he wondered.
It was the only explanation that made sense. Lan Mulian was the only person he knew at the Two Polarities Sect. The crane wouldn’t have gone to anyone else.
Unless her master had replied?
He chuckled at the thought, then sat down at his desk, his gaze drawn to the elegant handwriting and the subtly flirtatious tone of the letter. Even he felt his heart skip a beat.
By the time he finished reading, he was speechless.
Senior Sister was a completely different person online.
Online, she was a mature, alluring woman, playful and teasing. Offline, she was an ice queen.
“Interesting” he murmured.
He hadn’t expected such a bold and suggestive letter from the aloof woman he’d encountered yesterday.
But this was exactly the effect he’d been hoping for.
He pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush and began writing.
“Senior Sister, as I write this letter, I’m filled with a sense of wonder. The last time we exchanged letters, you were at the sect, and I was in distant Tianxuan City. Now, you’re here, yet there are still things I find difficult to express in person. I can only convey my feelings through words.
I hope you’re enjoying your stay in Tianxuan City. Our encounter yesterday was brief, and I apologize for not visiting you sooner. I’ve been recovering from an injury, and… I needed time to prepare myself mentally.
If you’re not busy, I’d like to invite you to the Mu Manor. There are many things I’d like to discuss with you in person.
Seeing you yesterday reminded me of a flower… the snow lotus. It represents loyalty, purity, and noble solitude. It’s a flower that embodies your spirit. We’ve been cultivating a pond of snow lotuses at the Mu Manor, using a special barrier. I’d like to offer you one as a gift. I hope you’ll accept it. When you visit the manor, I’ll show you the pond.”
Mu Zhi’an set down his brush and retrieved a snow lotus from a nearby vase. He carefully tied its stem to the paper crane, then released it out the window.
He stretched, then turned to a servant. “Prepare the carriage. I’m going to the Rising Phoenix Inn.”
He would arrive at the inn around the same time the crane reached Lan Mulian.
…
Meanwhile, Tianxuan City was abuzz with activity.
The first reason was the upcoming Two Polarities Sect entrance exams. News of Lan Mulian’s early arrival had spread like wildfire. And the second reason… the joint operation by the three great families and the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce to eradicate the demons had become a popular topic of conversation.
The story was being recounted in tea houses, inns, and on street corners.
“Did you hear? There was a fierce battle at the Dragon Head Forest yesterday! Core Formation experts from the three families and the Chamber of Commerce! The authorities found several massive craters at the site!”
“All four factions… what kind of enemy could have provoked such a response?”
A self-proclaimed expert leaned in conspiratorially. “I heard it was demons.”
“Demons?! How dare those Northern Realm creatures cause trouble right under the Two Polarities Sect’s nose?!”
The revelation sparked a flurry of anxious whispers.
Demons were humanity’s sworn enemies. Only the Two Polarities Sect’s presence had prevented a full-scale war, limiting the conflict to minor skirmishes at the border.
The thought of demons infiltrating Tianxuan City… it was terrifying.
“Speaking of which, I heard the young master of the Mu family went to the Dragon Head Forest yesterday. Could he have participated in the battle?” someone asked.
“If they needed Core Formation experts, the enemy must have been at least Core Formation level. How could that Mu boy, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, have contributed?” another retorted.
“But I heard he was the one who organized the operation.”
As the rumors spread, a carriage stopped in front of the Rising Phoenix Inn.
Mu Zhi’an stepped out, looking up at the elegant and luxurious building. “To think Senior Sister would choose this inn… Did she consult a travel guide?” he wondered.
He’d assumed she was the type who lived a simple, ascetic life, detached from worldly pleasures. But it seemed she appreciated fine accommodations.
The Rising Phoenix Inn was the best in Tianxuan City. Only locals would know about it.
Was it just luck… or something more?
He entered the inn.
There was nothing the Mu family couldn’t learn in Tianxuan City. He’d already ascertained Lan Mulian’s room number before leaving the manor.
He climbed the stairs, mentally preparing himself for their encounter.
As he reached the second floor, a beautiful woman in a red cheongsam emerged from a room.
She wore red embroidered shoes, her figure slender and graceful.
Mu Zhi’an looked up, his eyes widening in surprise.
It was Feiying, the chief auctioneer of the Morning Glory Chamber of Commerce.
What was she doing here?
