Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 221 Morning Mist and Twin Shadows Await the Celestial Master

As dawn broke, the Cloud Hidden Mountains were shrouded in a thin, pale blue mist.

Chen Anran gets up early.

He had just finished packing up and was passing by the Immortal Cuisine Shop when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Feng Xiaolu sitting by the window through the carved wooden window. She was stirring the spirit rice porridge in her bowl with a spoon in one hand, and resting her chin on her other hand, her expression showing a hint of morning languor. Feng Changyuan and Feng Lie were sitting opposite her, each with a few side dishes in front of them, eating and talking in hushed tones.

Chen Anran paused, turned around, and lifted the bamboo curtain at the entrance of Xian Shan Fang before entering. In the early morning, there were only a few scattered tables of customers in the restaurant. The faint sounds of Fatty Li calling out from the kitchen could be heard, and the air was filled with the aroma of rice porridge and steamed dishes.

Hearing the rustling of the bamboo curtain, Feng Xiaolu looked up and saw Chen Anran. She lazily waved her spoon and said, "Good morning, junior brother. Want to eat something? Fatty Li's steamed shrimp dumplings this morning were pretty good."

Feng Changyuan and Feng Lie also greeted each other. Chen Anran smiled and waved, then sat down in the empty seat next to Feng Xiaolu. A waiter immediately brought over bowls, chopsticks, and hot tea.

Chen Anran took a sip of tea and looked at Feng Xiaolu, "I haven't seen you get up this early in a long time, Third Senior Sister. Usually, Fatty Li brings breakfast up and you're still sleeping."

"The early bird catches the worm, right?" Feng Xiaolu pouted, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth, saying indistinctly, "I originally planned to have breakfast before going to see Grandpa Zhang, but I ran into these two." She pointed with her spoon at the Feng brothers sitting upright opposite her, trying to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible, "They insisted on asking me all sorts of questions, like whether the movie that day was good, whether we had contacted our second senior sister... They were so gossipy."

Feng Changyuan coughed lightly, put down his chopsticks with a slightly embarrassed expression, and said gently, "Little Lu, we're just concerned about you. Fellow Daoist Wei is out there adventuring, so it's only right that we, as his elder brothers, inquire about him."

Feng Lie chuckled, leaned closer, and lowered his voice: "Actually, we went to town to buy some things yesterday afternoon and saw that movie poster. I must say, Second Senior Sister's look really does have the air of a peerless master… I just wonder if she's seen the finished film herself?"

"Her? I doubt she even knows what she's filming." Feng Xiaolu rolled her eyes, then remembered her business, quickly finished her porridge in a few bites, grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, and said, "I'm not going to chat with you guys anymore, I need to see Grandpa Zhang. Junior brother, you can eat slowly."

After saying that, she got up in a hurry, waved to Chen Anran, and went out.

Chen Anran watched her figure disappear through the door before turning to the Feng brothers with a gentle smile: "Brother Changyuan, Brother Lie, how's business at the pharmacy lately?"

Feng Changyuan shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his smile: "It's still deserted. But that's alright, it's quiet. Ah Lie and I can concentrate on organizing some ancient books and prescriptions, which is quite enjoyable."

Chen Anran picked up a shrimp dumpling and asked casually, "Last night, Xian Shan Fang hosted a banquet. Why didn't you two brothers come to dine with us? My eldest sister even asked if the two managers of Feng Family Pharmacy were busy working on some new prescription and forgot the time."

Feng Lie was scooping a spoonful of tofu pudding into his mouth when he heard this. He immediately looked up and blurted out without thinking, "Wasn't that all for you and—"

"Ahem!" Feng Changyuan coughed heavily, gently kicking his younger brother under the table, but a gentle and composed smile appeared on his face as he continued, "--It's all because of the new batch of medicinal herbs that Ah Lie and I just got. The goods arrived yesterday evening, and some of them needed to be processed while they were still fresh. I was so busy that I forgot the time. By the time we finished cleaning up, the banquet should have ended, so I felt bad about bothering him any longer." He spoke naturally and smoothly, casually adding half a bowl of porridge to Feng Lie's bowl, his eyes conveying the implication of "shut up and eat."

Feng Lie, jolted awake by his brother's kick, quickly buried his head in his porridge, mumbling in agreement, "Yes, yes, the medicinal herbs... that batch of Sichuan fritillary bulbs looks particularly good, we need to sort them quickly..."

Chen Anran knew that in addition to purchasing some medicinal herbs within the Yunyin Sect, they would also import some medicinal herbs from other places that were not found in the mountains, so he did not suspect anything.

"I see. Medicine is of utmost importance, so it can't be delayed. If you're busy again next time, just send someone over to let us know, and have Fatty Li leave you some food to keep warm."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you've gone to so much trouble." Feng Changyuan smiled warmly and raised his cup in a toast, offering tea instead of wine.

The topic was thus gently dropped. The three chatted for a few more minutes about the summer heat in the mountains and the trivial matters of drying medicinal herbs, and breakfast was finished in a fairly relaxed atmosphere.

The Feng brothers rose to take their leave, saying they needed to return to their pharmacy. Chen Anran sat alone by the window, finishing the last drop of tea in her cup.

He got up early this morning to go down the mountain, and he did indeed have something to do.

We must find Zhang Nanshan to get to the bottom of the Feng family's issues this time, and find out why he told us not to investigate the Feng family.

After getting to know them, it seems that the reclusive Feng family isn't that difficult to deal with.

So Chen Anran thought that since there were fewer people in the early morning, he could visit the hotel.

Chen Anran left Xian Shan Fang and walked along the slightly damp stone path towards the International Hot Spring Hotel.

The main street was quiet, with only the early-rising cleaning ladies slowly sweeping fallen leaves, the rustling sound making the valley even more tranquil.

The lobby of the hot spring hotel was equally quiet. The staff at the front desk were busy organizing accounts. When Chen Anran entered, they greeted her politely.

Chen Anran inquired about Zhang Nanshan's room number and learned that the Celestial Master had already gotten up and was currently practicing boxing on the open-air viewing platform behind the hotel.

Chen Anran then walked through the lobby, exited through a side door, and arrived at the wooden viewing platform built against the mountain behind the hotel.

The platform cantilevered out, offering a wide view, with a babbling brook below and rolling green peaks opposite.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, wisps of it clinging to the mountainside, and a few clear bird calls drifted from afar.

Zhang Nanshan was slowly practicing his boxing in the center of the platform. His movements were fluid and graceful, relaxed and agile. His set of boxing moves were devoid of any harshness, blending seamlessly with the surrounding morning breeze and mist. He was wearing yesterday's linen shirt, barefoot, and his gray hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin. His expression was serene.

Feng Xiaolu squatted by the wooden railing at the edge of the platform, resting her chin on her hand, watching Zhang Nanshan practice boxing with a bored expression.

Chen Anran didn't make a sound to disturb her, but instead went to Feng Xiaolu's side and squatted down like Feng Xiaolu.

Chen Anran asked directly, "Did your senior sister want to ask about your parents?"

Feng Xiaolu answered readily, "Yes, what about you, junior brother?"

"About the same as you."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaolu was slightly taken aback. "About the same?"

Chen Anran didn't say anything more, just smiled at her, then turned her gaze back to Zhang Nanshan, who was focused on boxing. Feng Xiaolu didn't ask any further questions either. The two of them squatted side by side by the wooden fence, like two groundhogs, waiting quietly.

Don't miss out: Chapter 221, "Double Shadows in the Morning Mist," is available in its entirety. Click here.