I have been bound in a forbidden place for five hundred years. Why are you crying when I am a casual

"Master, look at this windmill! It's spinning so fast!"

"Wow, Master's wife, Master's wife, look! There's someone doing acrobatics over there. He's clearly just an ordinary person, how can he do all that? Isn't he afraid of getting burned?"

"This candied hawthorn tastes amazing, Master's wife, please have a bite!"

"..."

Chu Xiangling's embarrassing words were ultimately saved from prolonged awkwardness for Gu Xiu and Mu Nange thanks to Xiao Ping'an's arrival.

The Tianyuan Sword Sect is located on the western border of Zhongzhou, but it is not the westernmost city in Zhongzhou. In fact, the westernmost city is a place called Giant Buddha City.

This is a city mainly inhabited by mortals. It was once the territory of a Buddhist kingdom. A large stone Buddha statue was carved against the mountain. After the Buddhist sect was expelled, the Buddhist sect no longer existed in the city, but the temples and stone Buddha that were built before were not destroyed.

Now, centuries later, Shifo City has become a famous historical site.

Little Ping'an is at an active age. Hearing that there was a celebration in Stone Buddha City today, she clamored to come and have a look around. Gu Xiu was about to leave, so he didn't continue to bury himself in cultivation this time. He readily agreed to let the little girl come and stroll around this mortal city.

of course.

Chu Xiangling and Mu Nange naturally followed along as well.

Chu Xiangling, being pulled along by Xiao Ping'an, chattered excitedly at all sorts of mundane things, like a frolicking bird. Mu Nange quietly accompanied her, her eyes smiling, but when their eyes occasionally met, the smile would ripple even deeper, before she would feign composure and look away.

The group of four walked through the bustling city. Apart from their flawless and eye-catching appearances, they showed no trace of the aura of arrogant and supreme geniuses. They looked more like a warm and harmonious family of four.

"Gu Xiu, look!" Mu Nange stopped in front of a small stall, her fingertips twirling a dark hair ribbon, its edges embroidered with delicate cloud patterns in silver thread—simple yet exquisite. She didn't look at him, only softly saying:

"Your headband is old and needs replacing."

Her tone was calm, but a faint blush crept up her ears, clearly indicating that she was not as composed as she appeared.

Gu Xiu smiled and was about to reach out to take it when a delicate hand holding a candied hawthorn reached out from the side: "Wait!"

Immediately afterwards, Chu Xiangling leaned closer, her lips glistening with sugar stains, and with her other hand, she magically produced a red hair ribbon:

"This color looks better."

She blinked her bright eyes, then stood on tiptoe and held up a strand of red hair in front of Gu Xiu's eyes. They were so close that Gu Xiu could even smell the faint, sweet fragrance of flowers and fruits emanating from her. He instinctively wanted to lean back, but the anticipation in her eyes froze him in place.

Seeing this, Mu Nange pursed her lips and said nothing, but silently clenched the black hair ribbon in her hand.

Chu Xiangling's choice is indeed better looking.

At that moment, Gu Xiu extended his palm and offered it to Mu Nange. Mu Nange was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously placed the hairband in Gu Xiu's palm. Gu Xiu then took Chu Xiangling's hairband and began to weave and wrap it around her under the watchful eyes of the two women.

The interplay of black and red creates a surprisingly harmonious effect.

Chu Xiangling was taken aback at first, then her eyebrows curved into crescent moons, and Mu Nange's feigned calm and indifferent expression softened to the extreme.

No further words are needed.

But something was growing inside them.

For the rest of the day, they walked together through bustling markets, sampled local delicacies, climbed towering stone Buddhas, and enjoyed a dazzling lantern festival.

As night fell, they also saw a pair of children sitting by the pond, gazing at the dark night sky. The little girl, dressed in a turquoise dress, stared wide-eyed at the night sky, her expression full of regret.

"Brother Erniu, it looks like there won't be any fireworks tonight."

"No way! I heard that all the fireworks at the fireworks shops have sold out. I thought there would be fireworks today," the boy said anxiously.

They were still young, and the only regret in their eyes was that the fireworks never bloomed.

Seeing this scene from afar, Gu Xiu made a hand seal, turned his finger, and pointed towards the sky.

next moment.

"Boom~bang!"

With a deafening roar, countless sparks burst forth from the sky, transforming into a dazzling display of fireworks that enveloped the entire city, shimmering brilliantly against the backdrop of a starry night. The young men and women along the riverbank stared wide-eyed, their eyes filled with astonishment.

but.

Fireworks continued to bloom in the sky.

She was still watching the dazzling fireworks, but he, without realizing it, had only her, who was even more radiant than the fireworks, left in his eyes.

Gu Xiu tilted his head.

But then she noticed that Mu Nange and Chu Xiangling's gazes had also fallen on her at some point, their eyes seemingly filled with the light of autumn water...

He turned to look at the boy, only to see that the boy was also looking at him and nodding gratefully.

That night.

Gu Xiu and his group stayed on a cliff top a hundred miles away from Shifo Town.

Xiao Ping'an and Chu Xiangling were already fast asleep in the back formation. Even in their dreams, they were still muttering about various kinds of food. Gu Xiu and Mu Nange, on the other hand, sat by the cliff, quietly watching the unique scenery under the moonlight.

"Can't we not go?" Mu Nange broke the silence first.

Gu Xiu replied softly, "I have to go."

"It would be dangerous."

"I will take good care of myself."

Mu Nange fell silent, but soon she noticed a strong hand reaching out and grabbing her palm. She was startled and instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but the hand was exceptionally strong and held it tightly.

Unable to resist, she accepted it in a daze, only her face blushed slightly under the moonlight.

But just then, a shard of porcelain appeared in her palm.

"This is the remnant of the mountains and rivers. If things become unbearable, you can take people and seek refuge inside," Gu Xiu's voice came.

Mu Nange's eyes widened, and without hesitation, she handed back the Mountain and River Remnant Realm. Before Gu Xiu could persuade her, she said, "The Righteous Alliance will soon be heading to Zhongzhou to cooperate with the Tianyuan Sword Sect. We have no use for such a magic weapon."

"But……"

"Gu Xiu, do you remember when I said that we would eventually have a life-or-death battle?"

"remember."

"Then you should understand that I will not die before that life-or-death battle, and you... are not allowed to die either!"

"it is good!"

The following evening, after a brief tour, the group of four returned to the Tianyuan Sword Sect. Compared to the celebrations of ordinary people, the banquet at the Tianyuan Sword Sect was less noisy and chaotic, but it was still quite lively. There were even some sword sect disciples who were drunk and dancing with their swords.

Pleasant to the eye.

That night, Mu Nange and Xiao Ping'an went to bed early, while Chu Xiangling, dressed in a red dress, was the one who enjoyed the moon with Gu Xiu.

“Young master, tonight we are alone together, a man and a woman. Don’t you want to do something fun and exciting with the help of alcohol?” Compared to Mu Nange, Chu Xiangling was much more shrewd. She even reached out and hooked Gu Xiu’s chin with a slender finger.

Gu Xiu smiled and leaned forward, pressing down on him.

This action instantly brought Chu Xiangling back to reality.

Sensing the faint scent of alcohol emanating from the other person, a hint of confusion and bewilderment was visibly visible in her eyes.

Gu Xiu reached out and stroked her hair: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"You...you...you think I'm afraid of you?"

"Oh? Aren't you afraid?"

"Of course... I'm not afraid! I'm the sect leader of the Joyful Union Sect, with vast knowledge and experience. How could I possibly... be afraid of you!"

"Since you're not afraid, then I'll have to see just how broad your knowledge is."