The next day.
By the time Chu Qingyi awoke, the sun was already high in the sky—a blazing orb hanging overhead, radiating scorching light that baked all living things. Under such intense rays, the plants drooped listlessly, their heads hanging low.
For Chu Qingyi, the previous night's sleep had been surprisingly restful. Upon waking, the fatigue in her body had completely vanished, replaced by an indescribable sense of comfort.
She lazily stretched and yawned, stepping out of her room to bask in the warm sunlight and breathe in the fresh air.
Having been in Jinling City for several months now, the one thing that brought her solace was the remarkably clean air of this border town—far superior to that of the Celestial Master's residence, even sweet to the taste.
"Awake? Come and eat! Our son prepared the meal long ago!" Li Xuan's voice interrupted her thoughts, pulling her back from her reverie.
Today, Li Xuan was no longer dressed in coarse hemp clothes but had changed into that splendid new outfit, looking radiant and refreshed.
Even his perpetually messy, bird's-nest-like hair had been carefully groomed, no longer as disheveled as usual.
To an outsider, it might have seemed as though some joyous occasion had occurred or he was attending a celebratory banquet, given how meticulously he had dressed.
"Hmm," she responded softly, walking toward Li Xuan.
"Try these quickly—they're all your usual favorites," Li Xuan said obsequiously, pushing the dishes on the table toward her.
Braised pigeon, steamed pork with rice flour in a bamboo steamer, stir-fried green beans, fish-flavored eggplant, and a tendon soup.
It had to be said that Li Xuan's culinary skills far surpassed those of ordinary people. These homely dishes were prepared with perfect color, aroma, and taste, whetting one's appetite.
Though Chu Qingyi maintained a calm exterior, her stomach had already been stirred by the tantalizing scents, even emitting a few embarrassing gurgles.
She glanced up at Li Xuan and, seeing that he hadn't noticed her predicament, proceeded to indulge heartily in the feast.
After lunch, each lost in their own thoughts, Li Xuan suggested going for a stroll in the city. Chu Qingyi hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. Mother and son then made their way to the bustling market, one following the other.
"Grilled lamb skewers! Authentic Southern Frontier lamb skewers!"
"Don't miss out as you pass by! Today, our shop offers buy one, get one free! Once this chance is gone, it won't come again!"
"Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, our shop has just received a new batch of fabrics. Buy with confidence—no regrets, no tricks!"
"Those with money, support us with your coins; those without, support us with your presence!"
...
The marketplace buzzed with overlapping cries and hawking voices, filled with shops and stalls, creating an atmosphere of bustling liveliness. Pedestrians coming and going would occasionally pause at one spot or another, haggling with vendors, embodying the unique charm of everyday street life.
The afternoon was the busiest time in the market. After finishing their morning fieldwork, ordinary folks would come to the market in their leisure time to buy daily necessities. Meanwhile, young masters and ladies from wealthy families would also dress up and stroll through these streets and alleys.
This led to a constant flow of people in the narrow lanes, almost reaching the point of jostling shoulders and brushing elbows.
Li Xuan followed closely behind Chu Qingyi, afraid that if he lost focus for even a moment, her figure would vanish from his sight.
Today, Chu Qingyi also wore a veil over her face to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Having lived most of her life within the Celestial Master's Mansion, she was accustomed to seeing mostly cultivators immersed in their training and respectful disciples from her sect. She had never experienced such authentic, mundane human life before, and for a moment, she felt a surge of excitement. Her beautiful eyes darted left and right, sometimes drawn by the vendors' cries, sometimes captivated by novel trinkets that made her pause in her steps.
Understanding her unspoken desires, Li Xuan didn't wait for her to speak. Whenever her gaze lingered on something for a while, he would tactfully purchase those items. Though it pained his wallet a little, seeing her smile brightly swept away any lingering frustration.
As the two walked and browsed, the items in Li Xuan's hands grew in number—mostly things favored by women, with a particularly eye-catching, oddly shaped little dog toy among them.
This dog toy was clearly a child's plaything, but Chu Qingyi had never seen such an amusing little object before. She lingered for a long time at a stall surrounded by children around five or six years old, eventually buying the toy.
At that moment, her face revealed an innocent, carefree expression, no different from the children around her, leaving Li Xuan momentarily stunned.
By now, the heat in the air had gradually dissipated, but the mother and son still lingered in the market.
In stark contrast to Chu Qingyi's leisurely pace, Li Xuan was already panting and exhausted, beads of sweat covering his forehead and rolling down his cheeks one by one.
Yet he dared not show any sign of dissatisfaction, fearing he might accidentally upset her.
Shopping time always felt fleeting. In what seemed like a blink, they had spent a leisurely afternoon in the market. The blazing sun had slowly faded, leaving only a gentle, dusky light shining upon the earth. The hawking vendors had also grown weary, their voices no longer as loud and vigorous as before, and the flow of pedestrians gradually thinned.
Just as Chu Qingyi paused in front of a fabric shop, a clear, ethereal voice sounded behind her.
"Qingyi?" She turned toward the source of the voice and saw an exceptionally elegant and otherworldly figure standing quietly among the crowd.
The woman wore a loose white dress that concealed her curvaceous figure, exuding an aura of noble detachment—cool and aloof, yet carrying an air of unapproachable distance that discouraged any thought of disrespect.
Like Chu Qingyi, this woman also wore a veil over her face.
Even so, just from her breathtakingly beautiful eyes, one could tell she possessed extraordinary looks. Describing her as "capable of toppling cities and kingdoms" would not be an exaggeration.
Chu Qingyi's gaze lingered on her with a hint of confusion. She felt as though she had seen this person before, yet she couldn't quite recall when or where.
The woman took graceful, lotus-like steps, moving slowly toward her.
Compared to her, the surrounding scenery seemed to lose all its color in an instant. Even Chu Qingyi, herself a woman, couldn't help but marvel at her peerless elegance. No words of praise could do justice to her breathtaking beauty.
"You... who are you?" Chu Qingyi murmured softly, still in a daze.
"You don't remember me? I'm Xiyue," the woman introduced herself with a smile, her eyes fixed on Chu Qingyi, who had yet to fully process the situation.
"Sister Xiyue?!" Chu Qingyi exclaimed in disbelief. The image of a little girl from her memories gradually overlapped with the woman before her, merging into one.
This woman was none other than Xiao Xiyue, one of the few playmates from Chu Qingyi's childhood.
In many ways, Xiao Xiyue's story resembled that of Li Ye. From a young age, she displayed extraordinary talent for cultivation, catching the attention of the reclusive cultivator Lady Nangong Wan, who took her under her wing. From then on, she soared to great heights, making a name for herself in the cultivation world and earning the title "Fairy Xiyue."
In the Xuanji Continent, only two women were revered as fairies—Chu Qingyi and Xiao Xiyue.
The two had known each other since childhood. Two lonely young souls drew close, relying on each other and becoming an inseparable part of each other's memories.
Their friendship began because of the close relationship between Nangong Wan and Chu Qingyi's mother, Yun Wanshang. Upon learning that they both had daughters, they were overjoyed and often visited each other's sects to foster a bond between the two girls. In this way, the two little girls grew familiar with one another.
In truth, their personalities were quite similar. Both were women with astonishing cultivation talent, subjected to harsher training than their peers from a young age. This led to their early maturity, and as they grew, their circle of friends dwindled. Among their peers, few women could match their current status or strength.
The two hit it off immediately, quickly becoming close confidantes who shared everything.
However, due to certain circumstances, the visits between Nangong Wan and Yun Wanshang grew less frequent, and the connection between the two girls gradually faded until they lost contact entirely. Nearly a decade had passed since then.
Now, as the figures from their memories merged once more, both women were filled with excitement, eager to catch up with each other.
Chu Qingyi was especially overjoyed. She had never imagined she would one day reunite with this older sister from her childhood. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly took Xiao Xiyue's delicate hand, momentarily overwhelmed and unsure of what to say.
"Fairy, is this the Qingyi Fairy you often mentioned to me? She truly is as ethereal as you, like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal realm."
Only then did Chu Qingyi notice the frail young man standing beside Xiao Xiyue. He appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, with hair as messy as a bird's nest—enough to make anyone feel disdain. His coarse, hemp clothing only added to his unkempt appearance.
Moreover, since his arrival, a faint, lingering odor of decay had begun to permeate the air around them.
At first glance, Chu Qingyi felt an immediate sense of disdain toward him. For some reason, this person's aura bore a striking resemblance to Li Xuan beside her, especially that foul, fishy odor—it was exactly the same.
"Sister Xiyue, who is this?" Chu Qingyi asked curiously.
"He is my servant, Li Mo," Xiao Xiyue replied calmly, though a flicker of unease passed through her eyes.
"That's right, I am the fairy's servant, usually responsible for tending to her back garden. The fairy took pity on me and agreed to bring me out for a stroll, otherwise this humble servant would never have had the fortune to lay eyes on Fairy Qingyi's beauty." Li Mo spoke animatedly, his words flowing without pause.
This young man certainly had a silver tongue.
Chu Qingyi thought to herself, then decided to ignore him altogether. Instead, she linked arms with Xiao Xiyue and began strolling around.
"So it's Li Mo. I am Mother's son. Pleased to meet you." Li Xuan suddenly appeared out of nowhere, eagerly striking up a conversation with Li Mo.
The moment he laid eyes on Xiao Xiyue, he was struck speechless. He had thought Chu Qingyi's beauty was already a rare sight in the world, with few women able to compare. Yet he never imagined she had a friend equally stunning—in both appearance and figure, she was on par with Chu Qingyi, ranking among the top beauties in the Profound Mystery Continent.
Moreover, both women carried an air of cool elegance. Standing together, they shone so brightly that they seemed to dim all the world's natural scenery.
This filled Li Xuan with excitement. Feeling the envious and jealous gazes from those around him, he unconsciously straightened his back, proud as a peacock spreading its tail.
Li Mo was no different. The moment he saw Chu Qingyi, his face flushed with excitement, and he nearly drooled.
The two young men exchanged knowing grins, each reading the other's thoughts in their eyes.
Ironically, the relationship between Li Mo and Xiao Xiyue was far more than just servant and master. Beneath the surface, Li Mo had long coveted Xiao Xiyue. Through deliberate steps and calculated flirtation, he gradually led her astray, pulling her down from her divine pedestal into the mortal world. Not only did he take her virginity, but now she was completely submissive to his desires, often sneaking away with him in secluded places.
This experience bore a startling resemblance to the relationship between Chu Qingyi and Li Xuan. It was almost unimaginable that two of the world's rarest beauties had both become playthings for these two young men.
"Sister Xiyue, what brings you to Jinling City this time?" Chu Qingyi asked affectionately, linking arms with Xiao Xiyue, a long-lost smile gracing her face.
"My master sent me to Azure Dragon City to investigate some sect matters. From Senior Huo Ling'er, I learned that you were staying here, so I came to try my luck. I never expected my luck to be so good—I actually got to see you." Xiao Xiyue replied with a gentle smile.
"I see. But Sister Xiyue, that Li Mo by your side seems rather strange. You must be careful—it's always wise to guard against others." Chu Qingyi whispered, glancing back at Li Mo, who was engrossed in lively conversation with Li Xuan.
From his lecherous gaze and the foul odor he emitted, it was clear that he, like Li Xuan, was driven by lust. Keeping him by her side was hardly a wise decision for Xiao Xiyue.
Having learned from her own experience, she was deeply worried that Xiao Xiyue might fall step by step into Li Mo's clutches just as she had.
"Sister Qingyi, this Li Mo is a very loyal person and doesn't have any ill intentions. Besides, don't you also have a young man by your side?" Xiao Xiyue's beautiful eyes were filled with a smile, but her words carried a deeper meaning.
"This... he is my husband's adopted son," Chu Qingyi hurriedly averted her gaze, no longer meeting her eyes.
Xiao Xiyue neither confirmed nor denied this explanation, still smiling gently.
"Let's go take a look over there," Chu Qingyi changed the subject, pulling her hand as they walked toward a nearby shop.
Following behind them, Li Xuan and Li Mo kept their eyes fixed on the two women, occasionally clicking their tongues in admiration, marveling at how there could be such perfect women in the world.
As the sky grew darker, shops and stalls in the market began packing up their goods one after another. Taking advantage of the last light before sunset, they methodically ended their day's labor and hurried home.
"Sister Xiyue, there's no need to travel through the night today. Why not stay at the Li family's old residence for the night?" Chu Qingyi shook Xiao Xiyue's hand reluctantly, her adorable demeanor resembling that of a five- or six-year-old child.
"That's right, Immortal Xiyue. It's not safe for the two of you to travel through the night. Why not stay at our home for the evening? I can also show off my skills and let you taste my cooking," Li Xuan chimed in, seizing the opportunity.
Faced with the warm invitation from mother and son, Xiao Xiyue showed a troubled expression.
In truth, she had urgent matters to attend to on this trip and couldn't afford to delay even a day. However, she found it difficult to refuse Chu Qingyi's heartfelt invitation, and she also missed her childhood friend dearly. For a moment, she felt conflicted.
"Immortal, this servant believes that Immortal Qingyi makes a very good point. Traveling through the night is indeed impractical. Moreover, you haven't eaten a single grain all day—it pains this servant to see. Please heed this immortal's advice," Li Mo interjected at this moment.
He had his own ulterior motives. It had been several days since they left the sect, and during this time, Xiao Xiyue had been busy with her affairs, paying little attention to his advances. This left the lustful rod between his legs unbearably frustrated. Now, with this perfect opportunity before him, he could finally satisfy his desires tonight and engage in a few rounds of intense passion with Xiao Xiyue.
Seeing their repeated persuasion, Xiao Xiyue no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement.
Chu Qingyi, delighted by this, quickly took her hand affectionately, chatting and laughing as they made their way to the Li family's old residence.
The last trace of light disappeared on the western horizon, and true night enveloped Jinling City.
The entire small town settled down after a day of hustle and bustle. Households lit their stoves, wisps of cooking smoke drifting into the air, creating a scene of peace and harmony everywhere.
After chatting for a while upon returning to the Li family's old residence, the four of them gathered around the dining table to share a meal.
Li Xuan's culinary skills were once again praised, especially by Li Mo, who devoured his food as if he hadn't eaten for days.
After dinner, Li Xuan and Li Mo tidied up the west wing room, temporarily making it Xiao Xiyue's quarters.
As for Li Mo, he would stay with Li Xuan in the side room of the main hall.
-------------------------
To read Ahead visit my patreon
patreon.com/Satya69
Now join my telegram channel for a chance to get a free membership every month.Check patreon recent post for more information.
This book has 80 chapters in my patreon and many other stories.