Chapter 1131 Let Me Stay With You

After catching her breath, Song Chunxue left alone, while the others went to check on Xie Zheng's condition.

She didn't want to go back to her room, nor did she want to go up the mountain. So, as she walked, she followed the mountain path down the mountain.

"Da da da~"

Before long, the stubborn donkey followed behind her.

A touch of warmth touched her cold heart as she turned to wait for the stubborn donkey to walk up to her.

She patted the stubborn donkey's head, and the stubborn donkey rubbed its head against her, as if to comfort her.

She smiled, but as she smiled, her nose started to sting with tears. Then she continued walking down the path.

Alone on horseback, she arrived at the nearest town. Passing through the bustling crowd, the lively atmosphere felt familiar yet made her feel out of place.

She didn't know what to do now, and seemed afraid to face her current situation.

She dared not calm down and properly face the situation.

On the street, people were selling chives, tender green bok choy, and fresh radishes.

"Radishes, would you like to buy some radishes? They're really crisp."

Song Chunxue didn't look the woman in the eye and walked straight past her.

He forgot, he really forgot me.

He asked, "Who are you?"

Oh!

This is not a dream, not an imagination; this is the real world, and no matter where she goes, she cannot change this fact.

As she walked, she and the stubborn donkey had already left the town; she hadn't expected the street to be so short.

Looking at the smoke rising from the chimneys in the distance, Song Chunxue belatedly realized that she was hungry.

Then, she turned around expressionlessly and walked through the town's streets like a block of wood, before sitting down in front of a noodle stall.

"A bowl of plain noodles, with a little salt."

Even if the sky falls, we still need to eat.

She didn't even realize how strong the morning sun was these days, and how it made her feel a little sour.

She turned her back to the sun, while the stubborn donkey stood beside her, constantly licking the tabletop with its paws.

It was as if he was saying that he wanted to eat too.

"What would you like to eat, vegetables?"

Song Chunxue looked at the basket of vegetables with water droplets hanging from it and asked, "Shopkeeper, can you sell me a pound of vegetables?"

The stall owner glanced at the horse beside her and said, "Alright, five coins a pound."

"Your horse is really clever; it won't eat grass but only vegetables," the stall owner said, wearing an apron and standing by the stove. He scooped up some hot soup, sprinkled some scallions on top, drizzled a small spoonful of oil, and placed it in front of Song Chunxue. "Your noodles are ready. Enjoy!"

“My horse is indeed very intelligent,” Song Chunxue said, raising her hand to stroke the horse’s head. “Thank you for your help, shopkeeper.”

While eating noodles, she thought of Xie Zheng again.

She even got to eat the noodles he made himself, how could she forget?

They were about to become Daoist partners, and the date had been set. How could they just forget about her like that?

Fate is truly playing cruel tricks on people.

As I ate, the noodles in my mouth became increasingly bland.

"What's wrong? I didn't put any chili in my noodles." The stall owner came over and placed a bowl of soup in front of her. "Would you like anything else? It's free."

"It's nothing." Song Chunxue raised her sleeve and wiped away her tears without any regard for her image, then scooped up the noodles and ate them in big mouthfuls.

"Here, add some flavor. Life's tough these days. You don't look poor by your clothes, but times are hard. And you're leading a horse, are you going to visit relatives?"

Looking at the braised tofu in front of her, Song Chunxue felt a warmth in her heart. "Thank you."

It's nothing serious; everything is trivial except for matters of life and death.

The sound of him stubbornly eating the vegetables was quite pleasant to hear, and he finished a pound of vegetables in no time.

Then, he raised his head and reached into Song Chunxue's sleeve, eating it like grass.

"Not enough to eat?"

"How about we go buy some vegetables from the uncles and aunties who sell vegetables? I'll take them to the river to wash them for you." Song Chunxue pointed to the stall owner's bamboo basket. "They're just doing business. They only prepared that many vegetables today. If they run out, they'll have to go buy more."

"Yes, yes, I can't feed your horse anymore, I need to cook noodles." The stall owner took out a carrot and handed it over. "Here, have a different one. Your horse is so handsome, its coat is so shiny, it must be worth a lot of money."

"Pfft~"

The stubborn donkey immediately raised its head and snorted to express its dissatisfaction.

“You can’t say that. He can understand human speech. You’ll get kicked if you try to measure his value with money.” Song Chunxue smiled as she stood up and placed a silver ingot on the table. “Thank you for your kindness, stall owner. Keep the change.”

"So many?" The stall owner quickly wiped his hands on his apron. "These are the change I need. I can't take advantage of you."

"I can't take advantage of you. I've made a fool of myself in front of you, so please forgive me. Consider it hush money." Song Chunxue waved her hand with her back to him. "Goodbye."

The stall owner laughed; this woman was really interesting.

However, judging from her attire, she doesn't seem like a resentful woman confined to her chambers. Her words and actions are very pleasant to behold. How could someone like her encounter such a difficult situation?

Oh well, the customer's here, he has to keep doing business.

They're a wealthy family, why is he worrying about such trivial matters?

She led her stubborn donkey to the vegetable vendor and bought a basket of various kinds of green vegetables.

Then, she carried a basket to the riverbank, washed the vegetables, and said, "Here, eat slowly. I'm going to rest over there for a while."

She was referring to the willow tree lying across the water not far away, which she thought looked like a deck chair.

"Shh~"

A whistle sounded, neither too close nor too far. Song Chunxue put her hands behind her head and saw Tu Dan'er walking on the pebbles not far away.

"Uncle-Master," Tu Dan'er trotted over, looking rather melancholy, "Don't be so sad. Things will always turn around eventually. But we're in the same boat now. Can you take me with you wherever you go?"

"Where else can I go?" she said softly, looking up at the willow branches swaying in the azure sky. "What about the long wind and long clouds?"

“I didn’t let him come, after all, I’m the one who understands you best right now,” Tu Dan’er said with a sigh. “It feels like my love has been misplaced, it’s too painful, and I don’t want too many people to see it.”

"..." Song Chunxue wanted to laugh, but couldn't.

Was he heartbroken by that young Taoist nun?

That's true. Young people's world is still very small, and their first heartbreak will be unforgettable.

Good.

Perhaps, in the eyes of a highly accomplished master like her, her experience was nothing.

So what if you were forgotten by the person you love...

How could she not count it? Every time she realized this fact, she felt a dull ache in her heart.

But it's not like they're going to die or live.

After all, she's past that age.

"Go back now, I'll be back tonight. I won't run away from home, don't worry."

Although she can be quite ruthless, she will slowly withdraw her feelings once she is forgotten.

But it was only the first day, and she was still reluctant to leave.

She still wanted to find out in person how Xie Zheng, who had forgotten her, viewed her as Master Song.

Putting aside their feelings, they could be considered disciples of the same master.

It can't be that you dislike her and keep your distance from her.

If that's the case, she'll return to the Taoist temple on Wuquan Mountain tomorrow to continue her secluded cultivation.

“Uncle-Master, I can’t go back. Master and Uncle-Master told me to stay with you. Don’t be too sad or do anything rash,” Tu Dan’er scratched his lower eyelid. “Do you want to eat fish? I’ll go fishing for you.”

"What about Xie Zheng? Is he feeling unwell?"

“This…” Tu Dan’er stammered.