Lu Qianqiao, who had arrived laden with betrothal gifts to propose marriage, returned home equally laden with goods—the spirit beasts carried numerous boxes on their backs, filled with mooncakes that Xin Xiong had sent, ranging from round shapes to all sorts of irregular forms, piled up like small mountains. Although he really wanted to say that even if he ate these mooncakes until next year he couldn’t finish them all, seeing Xin Xiong’s eyes filled with tears and overflowing with loving affection, those polite words of refusal somehow couldn’t be spoken.

It’s said that having a cold and harsh father-in-law is a disaster, but having an overly enthusiastic father-in-law doesn’t seem to bring much happiness either…

“Son-in-law is leaving today, why hasn’t little Mei come out yet?!”

Xin Xiong looked around everywhere, quite furious. Everyone else in the manor had come to see him off, but the one who should come most wasn’t here—what did this look like? What if the son-in-law got angry and didn’t want her anymore?

The eldest senior sister squeezed out from the crowd with difficulty and whispered, “Master, Xiao Mei says she’s not feeling well mentally and is too lazy to see off guests. She also asked me to pass along a message to the General, saying… saying she wants to escape the marriage.”

“She’s already married, what marriage is there left to escape?!”

Xin Xiong ran to his daughter’s courtyard in frustration, only to find it empty, the silver notes from the bedside cabinet all taken away, and a letter left on the dressing table. Xin Mei’s not particularly beautiful handwriting read: [Going out to clear my head, tell Lu Qianqiao that this old lady doesn’t want him anymore!!!]

The letter fluttered down from his hands, and Xin Xiong couldn’t help but burst into tears. Having such a daughter was truly a disaster!

While everyone at Xinxie Manor was in complete chaos, Xin Mei was riding on Lie Yunhua’s back, using her sleeve to wipe away its tears.

Something was wrong with this horse—as soon as she opened the stable door, it started crying like a tearful horse. Behind it, the manor’s many handsome and beautiful stallions watched with predatory eyes, their gazes both reverent and lewd.

“Are you not getting along well with them?” Xin Mei wrung out her soaked sleeve, shook it, and continued wiping away its tears.

Upon hearing this, Lie Yunhua’s tears fell even more fiercely. Facing Xin Mei, it seemed like… it could only silently shed tears.

“Come on, let’s go to Chongling Valley and deliver mooncakes for the Fox Immortal Lord to eat.”

She had brought several boxes of mooncakes, taking this opportunity to make a round of visits to everyone she knew, and also drop by to see Zhang Dahu, so Lu Qianqiao would know that he wasn’t the first man she had taken a fancy to!

Lie Yunhua, terrified she might change her mind and lock it up again in the small dark room with those lewd stallions, immediately spread its four hooves and ran faster than the wind, leaping onto the clouds in the blink of an eye. With its noble bloodline, it could ride the wind, several times faster than Qiuyue’s full effort. A journey that normally took three or four days, it completed in half a day.

Just after the first quarter of the afternoon, Lie Yunhua landed gracefully at the entrance of Chongling Valley. Xin Mei jumped down from its back, and looking up, she was delighted—the disciple guarding the gate was still Zhang Dahu!

“Big Brother Dahu.” She walked over with a bright smile, still never tiring of his upright and handsome appearance.

“Boss Xin.” Zhang Dahu blushed as he bowed.

“Here’s a box of mooncakes for you.”

Without allowing refusal, she stuffed a box of mooncakes into his hands, gave him another sweet smile, and led Lie Yunhua toward the valley entrance.

Zhang Dahu hurriedly blocked her path: “Boss Xin, the Valley Master today… um, today it’s not convenient to receive guests.”

Father had said that these immortal cultivation sects often had secret matters they didn’t want outsiders to know about. Xin Mei nodded understandingly and stuffed two more boxes of mooncakes into his hands: “Then please trouble you to deliver these boxes of mooncakes to the Fox Immortal Lord, just say they’re my tribute to his venerable self.”

Zhang Dahu accepted them and was about to speak when suddenly a series of clear bird calls rang out from inside the main gate. Immediately after, the main gate that was usually tightly shut opened wide, and a golden, magnificent long carriage pulled by three or four birds of paradise slowly emerged. Golden light rippled like flowing water across the carriage walls, finally transforming into ancient script that dissipated in the wind.

The wind blew open the white bamboo curtain covering the carriage window, and Xin Mei could only vaguely see a young man in black robes sitting inside. In a flash, the long carriage had flown far away.

“Such magnificent display, is that some powerful immortal?”

Xin Mei gazed at the swaying golden light in the distance, unable to help but sigh in admiration.

Zhang Dahu shook his head: “That was a great monk from the Fox clan. The Fox clan people are said to have divine blood heritage…”

“Xiao Mei, you’ve come to see me, why didn’t you give advance notice?”

Zhen Hongsheng’s soft and charming voice interrupted his words. Xin Mei turned around to see him today wearing black and white robes, his jet-black long hair unbound, hanging slanted over his shoulders, making him appear particularly… uh, particularly beautiful as a flower.

“Fox Immortal Lord, long time no see.” She smiled sweetly as she bowed to him, taking the mooncakes from Zhang Dahu’s hands to present to him. “These are mooncakes made by our own manor, for you to try something fresh.”

Zhen Hongsheng’s eyes immediately brightened: “Oh oh! Your father sent me these mooncakes once last year, the red bean paste filling was the most delicious. Come, come inside and talk with me.”

Without allowing refusal, he grasped her hand and led her into the valley with graceful bearing.

Chongling Valley was filled with swirling incense smoke, completely different from its usual clear and refreshing appearance. Every ten steps, there were incense burners on the ground burning mild and balanced sandalwood that lifted one’s spirits and settled all irritations.

Seeing her staring at those incense burners, Zhen Hongsheng smiled: “Today’s visitor is a distinguished guest, burning incense is a custom of their people.”

“The Fox clan?” She seemed to have heard this name before.

“Indeed, they not only have noble bloodlines but are also skilled at brewing wine. This time they brought ten jars of fine wine. Since you’re here, stay for a few more days, and I’ll call Meishan over so we can all taste the fine wine together.”

Zhen Hongsheng led her to sit in a small pavilion blooming with fresh flowers, and the familiar middle-aged female steward quickly brought up two cups of tea. He sat beside her, neither drinking tea nor speaking, just holding her palm and examining it carefully, touching it while he looked.

Xin Mei felt goosebumps all over from his touching and had to ask: “Fox Immortal Lord, is there something wrong with my hand?”

Last time she came, he had also held her hand and stared intently at it. Could there be treasure hidden inside?

Zhen Hongsheng moved his gaze from her palm lines and gave her an extremely enchanting smile: “It’s nothing. Xiao Mei… you’ve been married to War Ghost General for many days, why haven’t you had your wedding night yet?”

Xin Mei was shocked: “How do you know?!”

He stroked the white fox around his neck and smiled charmingly: “I am the Fox Immortal Lord, naturally I know. It seems he doesn’t treat you well, why not dump him and choose another man? How about I give you Zhang Dahu?”

Xin Mei looked at him with difficulty. These immortals were truly mysterious and unpredictable. The person who initially said he absolutely wouldn’t give away his own disciples was him, and now the one trying to sabotage her marriage was also him. She couldn’t understand what they were thinking.

“How about choosing Meishan? He quite likes you.”

She was simply helpless: “Lord Meishan is older than my great-grandfather!”

…Hmm, fortunately Meishan wasn’t here today, otherwise Chongling Valley would have been flooded by his tears.

Zhen Hongsheng picked up his teacup and slowly sipped, steam rising as his gaze looked toward very distant places. Having been an immortal for many, many years, he never questioned or interfered with the world’s karma, letting them gather and scatter like clouds, scatter and gather again.

Immortals had no attachments, so he would stop at just touching upon many matters.

“Fox Immortal Lord, this one has red bean paste filling.”

Xin Mei broke open a mooncake and placed it in his palm with a bright smile.

Zhen Hongsheng smiled, weighing the red bean paste mooncake in his hand before taking a small bite. It was fragrant and sweet, this flavor put him in an excellent mood.

“Xiao Mei,” he cleared his throat and spoke seriously, “you must live well. Eat when hungry, drink when thirsty, sleep when tired, and when you encounter danger—”

He raised his eyebrows: “Remember to run.”