Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 218 - 208: The Power of Time, The Unpredictable Thoughts of a Young Girl
The Drifting Leaf Cloud Boat weaved through the clouds, heading towards Red Feather County covertly and swiftly.
Hong Yuan stood in the main cabin, extracting the essence from the Blue Moon Fire Firestone while conversing with Jiang Nai.
[Fire Tao +11]
[Fire Tao +11]
[...]
Hong Yuan’s proficiency in the Fire Tao Sect climbed steadily.
It advanced from "None" to "Ordinary".
"Yuan, Bai Wei will soon become Brother Cong Sheng’s wife and cultivation partner. Time really flies, huh~" Jiang Nai remarked, as if lost in thought.
"Yes, time indeed flies." A hint of wistfulness flickered in Hong Yuan’s eyes.
Ten years ago, he had only intended to use Le Congsheng as a sharp blade to kill Chen Dongsheng.
He hadn’t expected Le Congsheng to grow so quickly; his B-rank talent outshone even some of the Class A Aperture geniuses.
"Without realizing it, we’ve known each other for eight years," Jiang Nai suddenly lifted her head.
Her eyes were soft and tender, brimming with warmth. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
The atmosphere suddenly became laden with romantic tension.
In those eight years, Hong Yuan and Jiang Nai hadn’t experienced anything earth-shattering.
There was only the daily life that flowed by like a mountain spring.
Simple, yet warm.
"Eight years..." Hong Yuan looked at Jiang Nai, a trance washing over his gaze.
Only at this moment did he realize that the girl before him, once like a daffodil, had blossomed into a graceful young woman.
Jiang Nai turned, hands clasped behind her back, her green dress like jade, her smile blooming like flowers, as she gazed at Hong Yuan with a cheerful twinkle.
Just as Hong Yuan was trying to organize his words, Jiang Nai suddenly spoke, "Hehe, Yuan, the Old Master of the Tang Family is famously stubborn. It might not be so simple for Brother Cong Sheng and Bai Wei to gain his recognition."
Hong Yuan tacitly avoided the previous topic, his eyebrows slightly raised. "A stubborn old codger!?"
Jiang Nai nodded lightly, a touch of disappointment flickering deep within her eyes.
「Three days later.」
On a crisp, refreshing autumn morning, the Drifting Leaf Cloud Boat arrived at Red Feather County.
After some handovers with the outer sect officials stationed at Red Feather County, Le Congsheng, brimming with fighting spirit and excitement, sat in the carriage.
If not for the presence of Tang Baiwei and Jiang Nai, he had no doubt the young man would have raced to the Tang Family in North City at breakneck speed.
Two hours later, the carriage slowly entered the gates of the Tang Family estate.
Le Congsheng looked triumphant, his chest puffed out; his whole demeanor seemed much more upbeat.
"Third Miss."
"Bai Wei!"
The Tang Family guards and household members were surprised at Tang Baiwei’s return.
Tang Baiwei nodded slightly, then headed straight west, where her parents’ residence lay.
Her parents lived in the west courtyard.
Hong Yuan remained silent, quietly observing the surroundings.
In the garden, the exquisite pavilions, quiet and elegant pools and corridors, along with the large rockeries, ancient opera stages, and other immaculate garden masterpieces, were all enchanting.
The carved dragons twisting around the enclosing walls seemed to dance in the sky, their scales and whiskers flying, eliciting amazement from onlookers.
Before long, Hong Yuan followed Tang Baiwei to a courtyard adorned with jade.
Tang Baiwei took a deep breath, helped Le Congsheng straighten his attire, and then knocked on the mahogany door.
"KNOCK, KNOCK!"
The sound echoed from the door, followed by rapid footsteps from inside.
"Who is it?"
An attendant pulled open the mahogany door and looked up at Tang Baiwei.
"Miss!? You’re back!" the attendant exclaimed joyfully, promptly welcoming Hong Yuan and the others inside.
"Plum Blossom, my parents—" Tang Baiwei started, but before she could finish, she saw an aristocratic woman with tear-stained eyes running towards her.
Although the woman was of age, her appearance was still dignified and beautiful, with a unique mature charm that revealed she was definitely a great beauty in her youth.
"Bai Wei~"
"Mother~"
Having not seen each other for years, mother and daughter embraced.
Jiang Nai too was touched by the reunion, reminded of her own mother.
The Tang and Jiang families were old friends, both residing in the north of Red Feather County.
She and Tang Baiwei had entered the Phoenix Creek Sect at the same time to cultivate Martial Arts.
"Mother, let me introduce you. This is my beloved fiancé, Brother Cong Sheng."
"Auntie," Le Congsheng greeted with a bashful smile, scratching his head.
Mrs. Tang glanced at him from head to toe and reluctantly nodded, as if to affirm her daughter’s choice.
"Little Nai."
"Auntie," Jiang Nai greeted with a gentle smile, which seemed to brighten Mrs. Tang’s expression.
"Little Nai, I hadn’t realized you’ve grown into such a beautiful lady! Do you have a beloved fiancé in mind? If not, Auntie can help find one for you."
Mrs. Tang walked around Jiang Nai, giving her nonstop thumbs up.
"This is Hong Yuan."
"Auntie," Hong Yuan responded with a smile.
"Hmm~" Upon seeing Hong Yuan, Mrs. Tang felt a wave of panic, as if she might be struck down at any moment.
Mrs. Tang instinctively pulled Tang Baiwei back into the house, as if to avoid Hong Yuan, with Le Congsheng quickly following suit.
Behind them, Jiang Nai looked at Hong Yuan with a dawning understanding, while Hong Yuan merely smiled, saying nothing.
Standing outside the house, both Hong Yuan and Jiang Nai did not enter.
What remained was for Le Congsheng to earn the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Tang on his own—they couldn’t assist him with that.
Through the window’s reflection, Hong Yuan deduced that Mr. Tang was a man of few words.
Because Mr. Tang’s reflection was quite stable, unlike Mrs. Tang’s, which changed much more.
Will Yuan agree to go to my home? Would he think less of me for making such an improper proposal? Jiang Nai lowered her head, lightly kicking the ground with her toes.
She believed Hong Yuan understood her feelings for him.
If Tang Baiwei’s feelings were like a blazing fire, then hers were like a gently flowing spring stream.
But why, then, did she never receive that crucial response from Hong Yuan?
Could it be that I’m not the ideal cultivation partner in his eyes? Sorrow began to cloud Jiang Nai’s gaze.
Indeed, a man as heroic as him would have plenty of admirers.
Not to mention Lin Yiru; she and Yuan are an incredible match. With her talent and family background, she could offer him so much support on his Martial Arts path.
As for me, I can’t even guarantee my own cultivation, let alone help Yuan.
The more Jiang Nai thought about it, the more despondent she felt, her eyes glistening with moisture.
She felt that even if she did end up with Hong Yuan, they probably wouldn’t last.
What is this girl thinking about? Her emotions are all over the place, Hong Yuan wondered, glancing at Jiang Nai.
He vaguely sensed Jiang Nai’s fondness for him, but he didn’t understand its nature.
After all, he had cultivated Jiang Nai as a ’white glove,’ a partner managed through a careful exchange of benefits and emotional interaction.
Perhaps she merely saw him as an emotional crutch?
Even as the sun set and evening drew in, even after Le Congsheng had angered the Tang family patriarch to the point of spitting blood, Jiang Nai still hadn’t mustered the courage to invite Hong Yuan to her home.
