bookbashuk Page 45
Page 45
Dongfang Huaizhu's heart suddenly clenched, and the apology that was on the tip of her tongue, mixed with sobs, welled up inside her. She could no longer hold back her tears, which slid down her cheeks and splashed onto her clothes, leaving a small wet patch.
"I'm sorry, we were being presumptuous. I... I know this puts you in a difficult position, but I really..."
"Don't worry, I'm here."
Mu Qinghan interrupted her.
He stepped forward, bent down and carefully helped Dongfang Guyue up from the bed, then carried the old man's frail body on his back.
Before the Dongfang sisters could say anything more, he lightly touched the ground with his toes and disappeared into the doorway in an instant, leaving only a wisp of breeze gently swaying the curtains.
The favor that Tushan owed him back then can now be used to save the life of the old patriarch of the Eastern family.
Moreover, Dongfang Huaizhu is someone that her elder brother Wang Quanba cherishes deeply, and Dongfang Guyue has secretly helped him persuade many families over the years.
Both morally and logically, he had to go to Tushan and rescue the person.
Dongfang Huaizhu stood frozen in place, her gaze fixed on the empty doorway, and it took her a long time to come to her senses.
She raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, turned around and helped up Dongfang Qinlan, who was still in a daze. She gently patted her sister's trembling back with her fingertips, her voice hoarse.
"It's alright, little sister, Father is saved. Qinghan will bring him back. Don't be afraid, we're not afraid..."
The old physician beside him looked in the direction where Mu Qinghan had disappeared, raised his hand to stroke his white beard that hung down to his chest, a hint of appreciation flashed in his cloudy eyes, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
"Good lad, responsible and loyal! Dongfang Guyue, you old geezer, you've hit the jackpot."
A thin layer of mist drifted over the roads and the long river that encircled the city.
Tu Shan Honghong stood atop the city wall, her orange hair fluttering in the breeze.
Her gaze fell on the shimmering waves of the river, and she seemed lost in thought, momentarily stunned.
Not far away, Tu Shan Rongrong and Tu Shan Yaya were sitting quietly by a stone table.
Flowers bloomed profusely on both sides of the river, with pink, purple, and white petals carpeting the ground, and even the wind carried a sweet fragrance.
The two sisters watched indifferently, their gazes fixed on the dazzling display, showing little emotion.
Tu Shan Rongrong picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the plate with her slender fingers. The small cake was covered with fine sugar frosting and was also sprinkled with a few golden osmanthus petals.
She took a small bite, the soft and glutinous texture mixed with the sweetness of osmanthus blossoms spreading on her tongue. The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly as she looked at Tu Shan Ya Ya beside her.
"The pastries my sister makes are even better than the most famous ones from Yaoxianzhai."
"Mmm! So I guess you could say I'm a genius when it comes to making desserts!"
Tu Shan Ya Ya's eyes lit up, she chuckled, scratched the back of her head somewhat embarrassedly, and then added, "But I've been practicing for so many years, practice makes perfect, right?"
"Huh? When did you do it again? I didn't see it."
Tu Shan Honghong, who had been in a daze, finally came to her senses and turned to look at the white porcelain plate on the stone table, on which various kinds of pastries were neatly arranged.
She also reached out and picked up a piece of almond shortbread, took a small bite, her brows and eyes relaxed a bit, and she smiled and praised, "It tastes really good, Ya Ya is getting better and better."
"Hehehe, it's alright!" Tu Shan Ya Ya's fox ears stood up high, and her eyebrows and eyes curved.
But the next second, as if she remembered something, her ears drooped down again, the smile on her lips faded, and a trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.
Tu Shan Rongrong saw all of this, stuffed another piece of pastry into her mouth, and secretly cast her gaze into the distance.
The pastries were really delicious, sweet but not cloying, and full of heartfelt sentiment.
But the person who truly deserves to taste this sentiment doesn't know when they will be able to see it again, or when they will be able to eat this pastry full of heartfelt wishes.
Suddenly, a white figure flashed across the horizon in Tu Shan Rongrong's field of vision.
The figure moved with incredible speed, cutting through the morning mist and bringing with it a sharp gust of wind as it sped toward Tushan.
Tu Shan Rongrong was slightly taken aback at first, then put down the pastries in her hand.
She slowly opened her squinted eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
That's really interesting...
It seems... we won't have to wait that long.
Chapter 57 Testing
"Sister Honghong, can I speak to you in private?"
Tu Shan Rongrong reached out and gently pulled Tu Shan Honghong, who was still smiling at Ya Ya.
Just as Tu Shan Ya Ya was about to ask "What's wrong?", her pupils suddenly contracted the moment her gaze swept over Rong Rong's back.
The fox ears, which had been drooping slightly, suddenly stood up high, and its mouth opened slightly as well.
Tu Shan Rongrong first gave Tu Shan Honghong a meaningful look, then gently raised her chin and pointed towards the city gate.
Tu Shan Honghong turned her head at her signal, and her eyes widened instantly when she saw the white figure standing in front of the door.
This appearance… this is… Mu Qinghan?!
Why would he suddenly come to Tushan?
"Sister Honghong, have you forgotten? We still haven't repaid that favor from back then."
Tu Shan Rongrong leaned closer, her voice low, her gaze fixed on the person on Mu Qinghan's back, "Judging from this, they've probably run into trouble and come to us for help."
"Oh, okay, so I'll... just let him in now?"
Tu Shan Honghong realized what was happening and quickly spoke up.
"We should definitely let him in, but we can't just solve the problem directly."
Tu Shan Rongrong lightly tapped her palm with her fingertips, a hint of cunning in her eyes.
“If we help him solve his problem immediately, his connection with Tushan will be severed, and then he and Sister Ya Ya will really have no chance to get closer.”
"Look at Ya Ya's eyes, they're practically drooling."
"What should I do?"
Tu Shan Honghong followed Rongrong's gaze to Tu Shan Yaya, who was standing to the side. She saw that Yaya's hands were tightly clenched to her chest, and her cheeks were flushed.
Those eyes were fixed on the boy in front of the city gate as if drawn by a magnet, and even her breathing became lighter.
"Go over there first, chat with him casually, and stall for a while."
After a moment's thought, Tu Shan Rongrong quickly came up with an idea.
"I'm going to find Sister Cui and we'll make arrangements with her first."
Tu Shan Ya Ya looked at the aloof young man, her heart pounding like a drum, making her eardrums burn.
Why would he come to Tushan?
Are you here to see me?
Or is there something else?
I haven't seen him for several years, and he seems to have grown up a bit. His features are more refined, and even his posture is more upright than before...
Would it be too presumptuous of me to go and talk to him now?
What if he doesn't remember me?
Countless thoughts swirled in her mind, making even her fingertips feel warm.
Is someone on his back? Did he come for help?
It's... that favor from back then...
Mu Qinghan looked up and saw three beautiful figures standing against the wind on the city wall.
The three-colored robes fluttered gently in the wind, but the moment his gaze swept over them, a blue figure firmly captured his attention.
It's that stupid vixen.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, unaware that he had lost his focus.
She seems to have really grown up. She used to be much shorter than the red-clad fox demon, but now she's about the same height.
Her long, black hair was loosely tied up, with the ends swaying in the wind.
The naivety of the past has faded from her eyes, replaced by a more youthful liveliness.
Her profile has become increasingly refined, so beautiful that it stirs the heart.
Mu Qinghan, who never lingered on the girls around her, was stunned this time.
The two women beside Mingming, Tu Shan Honghong and Tu Shan Rongrong, are both strikingly beautiful and elegant.
But his eyes could only see that blue figure, and he felt that Ya Ya's appearance far surpassed that of others.
A few seconds later, he suddenly came to his senses and his brows furrowed slightly.
Tsk, what... is wrong with me?
From atop the city wall, Tu Shan Rongrong took in everything, her fox-like eyes crinkling into a smile.
It seems he's not entirely devoid of emotion after all.
She turned to look at Tu Shan Honghong, who was still trying to figure out how to stall for time, and said softly, "I'm leaving now. Sister, you only need to stall him for a moment, and leave the rest to me."
"Huh? Oh oh oh..."
Tu Shan Honghong hadn't fully recovered from her thoughts and subconsciously nodded. By the time she realized what was happening, Rongrong's figure had already disappeared around the corner of the city wall.
On the city wall, Tu Shan Ya Ya looked at the figure standing below, her eyes suddenly brightening slightly, and the tips of her ears turning a faint blush.
Just a moment ago, Mu Qinghan's gaze was clearly on me, wasn't it?
Does he... also feel that he is different from before?
Her fingertips tightened slightly, and her heart beat a few steps faster.
Mu Qinghan quickly regained his composure, lightly touching Dongfang Guyue's back with his fingertips, and once again channeled a gentle stream of magical power into his body to stabilize the old patriarch's aura.
He did not forget the core purpose of his trip, and then looked up at Tu Shan Honghong on the city wall, his tone respectful yet composed.
"Mu Qinghan of the Mu family greets the Lord of Tushan. I have come here today to earnestly request that you ask the Medical Sage Cui Yuling to help my ancestral master of the Dongfang family get rid of his illness and restore his health."
As soon as he finished speaking, he clasped his hands together, bowed deeply, and lowered his posture to an extremely humble level.
He didn't mention a word about the "favors" that Tushan owed him back then.