Chapter 178 Guan Yue confesses his feelings to Su Yuyao

Su Yuyao turned and ran back to the thatched hut, snatching the sleeping Xuanmiao from Qingyue's arms.

Qingyue said reluctantly, "Yao'er, don't take her out! Be careful not to wake Miao'er!"

"Mother, I'll show it to Brother Yue'er! I'll bring it back right away!" Su Yuyao said softly with a smile.

Su Yuyao carefully carried Xuanmiao out of the thatched hut. The bright moonlight shone on Su Yuyao's fair face, and the yellowish firelight was like a golden cloak covering Su Yuyao's plump body, radiating brilliance with every smile and movement of hers.

Guan Yue was stunned. Looking at Su Yuyao, who was as beautiful as a fairy, he seemed to see a faint light slowly igniting in his boring and depressing life. This faint light dispelled the stench all over his body and ignited his hope to live.

"Brother Yue'er," Su Yuyao said, unable to hide her pride, as she held Xuanmiao in front of Guan Yue and whispered, "Look! This is Xuanmiao! My daughter!"

Guan Yue inhaled the peach scent emanating from Su Yuyao, and the annoyance in his heart gradually dissipated. He looked at Xuanmiao in Su Yuyao's arms, with her long eyelashes, delicate nose, pink lips, and a little dried milk stain at the corner of her mouth.

“Mysterious…so beautiful! Just like you!” Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao again.

Su Yuyao handed Xuanmiao to Guan Yue, saying, "Give me a hug!"

"Me? You want me to hug you?" Guan Yue was flattered and somewhat incredulous.

"What?! You dislike me, fine, but you also dislike my daughter?" Su Yuyao said, raising her eyebrows.

"No, I'm afraid... you'll look down on me... for being clumsy..." Guan Yue recalled the humiliation that had just happened and couldn't help but feel inferior again.

"Come on! Sit down!" Su Yuyao, holding Xuanmiao, sat cross-legged on the ground. "If you sit down, there won't be any problem! It's just... won't you think my place is dirty?"

Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao and slowly sat down. "How could I find it dirty..."

"Give!"

Before Guan Yue could even prepare himself, a chubby baby was placed in his arms.

Guan Yue gently picked up Xuanmiao, who smelled of rich milk, and felt an indescribable excitement in his heart.

"Guan Yue, I need to discuss something with you!" Su Yuyao, seeing Guan Yue's infatuated expression, felt the time was right and spoke up, "You know that our Snow Mountain has four minor peaks, right?"

"Um."

"The peak of the Four Little Peaks, Buda Peak, was burned down for some reason..."

"Yes, I know, you burned it."

"Ah...cough cough, it doesn't matter who burned it." Su Yuyao cleared her throat awkwardly, then continued, "The four small peaks are currently managed by Lord Zheng Qing of the Buqiong Peak branch. However, there are too few people on Buqiong Peak, and the wolf clan members I sent can't really help the branch; they're just there to bolster its appearance. I'm thinking of getting some people from the Nine Suburbs Mountain to bolster the Buqiong Peak branch. Firstly..."

"good."

"Huh?" Su Yuyao was quite surprised by Guan Yue's straightforwardness. "I haven't finished speaking yet!"

"Who do you want?" Guan Yue looked up and stared intently at Su Yuyao.

Looking into Guan Yue's determined eyes, Su Yuyao said, "I want Baihu, Zangmao, and Fengzhan. As for the others... you can arrange them! But they must be reliable and dependable!"

"Okay," Guan Yue said with a smile, "Any other requests?"

Su Yuyao looked at Guan Yue with a puzzled expression and said, "Not yet, but... why don't you go and ask them if they agree?"

“No need to ask. Although we retreated to a distance in Xunyin Valley, we saw everything you did!” Guan Yue rarely smiled. “Your domineering aura on the arena made these children submit. They came here to join you.”

"Really?!" Su Yuyao couldn't contain her excitement and grabbed Guan Yue's arm, saying, "Then take them to Xuanfeng tomorrow and tell them they're going to Buqiong Peak to learn the Way of the Stele King from Lord Zheng Qing!"

"Okay." Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao and nodded with a smile.

Looking at Guan Yue's gentle face, Su Yuyao felt for the first time that Guan Yue actually had a kind of power that she could rely on. This power was somewhat similar to Xuan Feng's, but also somewhat different. She couldn't quite put her finger on how it was different.

"Ningbao! Eat some meat!" Ruixue plopped down next to Su Yuyao, holding a leg of lamb, and stuffed a piece of lamb into Su Yuyao's mouth. "Eat it while it's hot!"

"Ugh!" Su Yuyao covered her mouth and frowned, "It's hot! Ruixue! What are you doing?!"

Ruixue smiled sheepishly, tore off another piece of meat, blew on it, and stuffed it into Su Yuyao's mouth, "You haven't eaten properly yet, I was afraid you'd be hungry!"

"I'm talking about serious matters! You're just disturbing me!" Su Yuyao's furrowed brows quickly relaxed amidst the aroma of roasted lamb. "It smells so good! Brother Yue'er! Have a piece too!"

"Huh? I..." Guan Yue looked at the extremely unfriendly look Ruixue was giving him and awkwardly replied, "I don't eat meat."

Ruixue glared at Guan Yue. Although he didn't like Xuanfeng, Xuanfeng was, after all, the son-in-law of the wolf clan. But this Guan Yue...

"Your Majesty, this old servant will go and bring Miao'er back..." Su'e said softly.

Standing by the window, Qingyue looked at the wolf clan lads feasting on meat and drinking wine in the courtyard, and at Guan Yue, whose eyes gleamed as he looked at Su Yuyao, and couldn't help but feel even more worried.

Even if Yao'er and Xuanfeng are deeply in love, without the bond of marriage, what if someone steals them away... wouldn't their marriage truly be destined to be unfulfilled?!

She then looked at Langzhi, who was already slightly tipsy...

Langzhi lifted the wine jar and called out, "Yuqing! There's no more wine!"

Suddenly everyone fell silent, even the firewood in the campfire burned quietly.

"Yu..." Langzhi turned around and glanced at the hut, then suddenly snapped out of his daze. He rolled his eyes and looked around at the hut. Oh no! He'd really drunk too much! Why was he calling for Yu Qing?!

Su Yuyao glanced at Qingyue at the window, then at Langzhi, who was standing there in a daze. How could her father talk such nonsense! What if her mother got angry?!

Su'e nervously gripped her sleeves, glancing at Qingyue's expression.

Qingyue felt a sense of indescribable disappointment, but she did not get angry. Instead, she said calmly, "Su'e, bring Miao'er in. It's getting windy outside."

"yes……"

Su Yuyao's courtyard quieted down. The wolves lay leisurely on the ground to rest, while Guan Yue sat cross-legged on the ground watching Su Yuyao carry Xuanmiao away.

“Young Master Guan Yue,” Ruixue glared at Guan Yue and said, “Ningbao is Lord Xuanfeng’s woman, I advise you…”

"What's it to you?" Guan Yue gazed at Su Yuyao's thatched hut, reluctantly turning his gaze away, and said softly, "Su Yuyao has already divorced Lord Xuanfeng; she is now a free woman..."

Ruixue suddenly grabbed Guan Yue by the collar, glared at him, and said fiercely, "Ningbao isn't a free woman, she's still Lord Xuanfeng's woman! I advise you to stay away from Ningbao!"

Guan Yue turned to Ruixue, smiled, and said, "I should be the one advising you to let go!"

Ruixue was taken aback.

Guan Yue pulled the soiled collar from Ruixue's hand and gently dusted it off. "You like white ear fungus, right?"

Ruixue frowned slightly.

"So, what you feel for Su Yuyao... is it love?" Guan Yue slowly raised his eyelids to look at the stunned Ruixue, and asked with a smirk, "I can guarantee that I will be devoted to her wholeheartedly, what about you?"

Ruixue's stunned expression slowly turned into disdain and contempt. "Guan Yue, you're right. I love her, but it's not romantic love! We wolves uphold monogamy, so I know who the woman I truly desire is! As for Ningbao, she is my leader, my master, and my family! I want to ask you, you haven't had much interaction with Ningbao, yet you've suddenly developed feelings for her. What are your true intentions?!"

Guan Yue lowered his head, adjusting his clothes, and said softly, "Ruixue, the hardest thing for a person to do is to empathize. I don't understand the depth of your feelings for Su Yuyao, just as you don't understand how important Su Yuyao is to me..."

Qingyue took Xuanmiao with great interest, carefully placed her on the bed, and gently covered her with the quilt. Then she turned to Su Yuyao and said, "Yao'er, I'll sleep here with Miao'er tonight. You go to Xuanfeng's room! Su'e, go and tidy up Xuanfeng's bedroom!"

"Your Majesty! This old servant has already prepared everything! Miss Yao'er can go directly there!" Su'e said with a smile.

"I'm not going!" Su Yuyao frowned. "He and I are no longer husband and wife..."

Qingyue rolled her eyes. "You two aren't husband and wife? Haven't you done enough of what husband and wife do?!"

Su Yuyao blushed, lowered her head, and clutched the hem of her skirt, saying, "We...we didn't mean to...it's because..."

"Why?" Qingyue looked at Su Yuyao's flushed face and said with a smile, "Yao'er, I understand your difficulties and I understand your thoughts, but I've been through it all and I know which path you should choose now so that you won't go wrong!"

Qingyue sighed and looked out the window. "You heard it too, your father... We were forced to separate back then, so what's done is done. But Yao'er, you and Xuanfeng aren't being forced by outsiders, so why are you trying to break up your own marriage? Although you'll have to pay a high price to preserve this relationship, it's better than losing it completely!"

Su Yuyao looked up at Qingyue and saw reluctance and helplessness in Qingyue's eyes. Only then did she realize that Qingyue was also suffering great pain, and the source of this pain was her love for Langzhi!

"Mother, Father's love for you hasn't changed, and your love for Father hasn't changed either, so why can't you two continue to be together?"

“Yao’er, my love hasn’t changed, but the circumstances have. Now, I can’t abandon the Ice Wheel Palace to come to the Immortal Mountain, nor can I bear to let your father give up his thousands of years of cultivation to become a mortal and go to the Ice Wheel Palace with me… Besides, there are now people who can stay by your father’s side, and your father also…”

Qingyue's voice grew softer and softer, her confidence waning. She sighed deeply, "Yao'er, whatever you and Xuanfeng can't let go of, you must think of Miao'er! For Miao'er's sake, you should secure your position as Xuanfeng's rightful wife!"

Su Yuyao leaned over the bedside, looking at the sleeping Xuanmiao, "Mother, I have confidence that I can make a name for myself!"

"Silly child!" Qingyue said anxiously, "Even if you try your best, can you beat Xuanfeng? Can you beat Mother Yi? I heard that Mother Yi made you give up your position in the Heavenly Palace, but she didn't say that you and Xuanfeng's child couldn't be born! You have to think about Miao'er!"

Su Yuyao was swayed by Qingyue's words, "Mother...that may be true, but I..."

“Miss Yao’er, why are you making things difficult for yourself? The initiative is in your hands! In my humble opinion, it’s most important for you to settle Miao’er’s identity first!” Su’e said softly. “As for the rest, you can make plans slowly!”

Su Yuyao stroked Xuanmiao's face, sighed softly, and said, "Mother, you should rest..."

The campfire was still crackling, but the lively atmosphere had faded.

Langzhi sat alone by the campfire, staring blankly at the flames.

“Father!” Su Yuyao sat down by the campfire, looking at Lang Zhi’s forlorn expression. “You… and Aunt Yuqing…”

Langzhi covered her eyes and finally couldn't hold back her sobs, "Daughter, I..."

Seeing Lang Zhi's earnest and sorrowful figure for the first time, Su Yuyao couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

"Father," Su Yuyao's heart sank so much she could hardly breathe, "You...you've changed your mind..."

Langzhi cried even more bitterly.

Su Yuyao gently placed her hand on Langzhi's shoulder. She saw that before dawn, Yuqing had brought water to help Langzhi shave and wash his face; she also saw that when Langzhi pushed the manure cart into the yard, Yuqing had already set out hot soup and dishes on the table; and she saw Yuqing, wearing a headscarf and with her arms tied, feeding chickens, planting vegetables, and tidying up the tomb by the raised manure pitchfork...

With tears in her eyes, Su Yuyao withdrew her hand. She didn't have the courage to watch any longer. She understood Lang Zhi's change of heart, but she couldn't forgive his betrayal!

Langzhi wiped her face, her eyes red as she looked at Su Yuyao, her lips trembling as she asked, "Daughter... what did your mother... say?"

Looking at Lang Zhi's uneasy eyes, Su Yuyao knew that Lang Zhi still deeply loved Qing Yue, but his love was too vast.

“My mother… wants to sleep with Miao’er…” Su Yuyao couldn’t bear to say Qingyue’s exact words.

Langzhi froze for a moment, then tears welled up instantly. He covered his face and cried uncontrollably, his sobs causing the wolf pack to become restless.

Su Yuyao didn't know how to comfort Langzhi, so she could only wait silently for Langzhi to finish crying.

Ruixue looked at the crying Langzhi in surprise, "Why is Lady Langzhi crying?"

Guan Yue frowned. He knew all too well that, out of gratitude, Yu Qing had given up a room for Lang Zhi in the mountain god's tomb under her control. She not only took care of Lang Zhi's daily needs but also helped Lang Zhi collect and dry manure... It seemed that feelings had developed over time!

“Daughter, I was wrong… I had some wicked thoughts! But I can guarantee that I have absolutely, positively done nothing to betray your mother!” Langzhi said, patting his chest.

"Father, when you went to the snow mountain to find me this time, did you not plan to come back?" Su Yuyao asked softly.

Langzhi wiped her face again and sighed, "Who would have thought I'd be back!"

Watching two people who loved each other yet suffered together, Su Yuyao suddenly understood Qingyue's worries. No matter how deep the love, it couldn't withstand prolonged companionship…

If Qi Lan treats Xuan Feng the same way Yu Qing does, how long can Xuan Feng stay by my side?

Guan Yue stood up and, under Ruixue's supervision, knelt on one knee in front of Su Yuyao.

"Su Yuyao!" Guan Yue said solemnly, "I... want to go to the snow mountain with you!"

"Hmm...Hmm? Ah?" Su Yuyao looked up at Guan Yue in disbelief.

"No way!" Before Su Yuyao and Lang Zhi could speak, Ruixue objected loudly, "Young Master Guan Yue! I don't care what your intentions are towards Ningbao, but as members of the wolf clan, we do not welcome you!"

Langzhi wiped away her tears and looked at Guan Yue with a puzzled expression. "Guan Yue, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly decide to go to the snow mountain? Could it be... that your father has found someone new?"

Guan Yue rolled his eyes speechlessly. "It has nothing to do with my father! It was my own decision!"

After saying that, he looked at Su Yuyao firmly, sighed deeply, and said resolutely, "Su Yuyao, I'm willing to give up everything in Jiujiao Mountain to go with you. Do you... want me?"

Su Yuyao's eyes widened in surprise. She had never imagined that Guan Yue would give up anything for her!

She reflected on her past with Guan Yue, and everything seemed normal! Had she overstepped her bounds? Had there been any misunderstanding? Had she given any wrong signals?

“Su Yuyao,” Guan Yue noticed Su Yuyao’s confusion and surprise, “this is my own decision, and it has nothing to do with anyone else!”

Su Yuyao looked closely at Guan Yue. She could sense his inferiority complex, his grievances, and his urgent desire to escape, but she couldn't see what had happened. Why...?

“Brother Yue’er, you are the King of the Nine Suburbs Mountain Hall, you are Xuan Feng’s right-hand man, your responsibilities are very heavy, why do you want to come to the snow mountain with me…”

"For no reason other than wanting to live for myself," Guan Yue said with a wry smile. "You...don't want to?"

“I…” Su Yuyao hesitated, unsure how to answer Guan Yue. Although she didn’t know if Guan Yue truly felt the way she thought he did, as the leader of the Snow Mountain and also Xuanmiao’s mother, she would never allow Guan Yue to do anything to harm Xuanfeng.

"Brother Yue'er, listen to me. Jiujiao Mountain is the closest major hall to Yuantun Palace. Xuanfeng must have been very confident in your abilities and trusted you a lot to arrange for you to go here! Snow Mountain is an extremely cold place, and life there is monotonous and bitter. It's not that I don't want you to go, but with all your abilities, why do you want to bury them in the snow mountain?"

"For you!" Guan Yue said with a smile, casually, "I want to follow you, that's all."

Su Yuyao now knew what that source of strength was: an inexplicable emotion!

"Brother Yue'er, what... happened?" Su Yuyao asked cautiously. She seemed to be able to sense Guan Yue's vulnerability, but she still wanted to figure out why Guan Yue would suddenly develop such unrealistic feelings for her.

Guan Yue lowered his head, looking at his trouser legs scratched by tree branches, and gave a wry smile. "You...don't want me?"

Su Yuyao's heart clenched. She looked at Guan Yue, whose expression was extremely broken, and slowly released her Qi field, reaching out towards him...

As she probed, she was surprised to find that Guan Yue's aura was drawing closer to her! She could feel a gentle, sorrowful yet incredibly strong force enveloping her! This force seemed to be comforting her equally sorrowful heart, and also seemed to be seeking shelter within her.

Guan Yue slowly raised his head and looked at Su Yuyao. His once clear and aloof eyes had now turned melancholy and helpless.

“Brother Yue’er,” Su Yuyao looked at Guan Yue’s longing eyes, “you want to go to the snow mountain, what are you trying to escape?”

Guan Yue's eyes trembled slightly, and his eyes gradually became moist.

Su Yuyao's heart skipped a beat. This escape felt so familiar! That sorrowful and desperate expression! She looked exactly the same when she fled to the snowy mountains!

But the reason I ran away was... Brother Yue'er?!

Su Yuyao's gaze shifted downwards, and she noticed several red marks on Guan Yue's fair neck!

Su Yuyao stared wide-eyed in disbelief as she pressed her face against Guan Yue's neck. This was... a hickey?!

Guan Yue realized that Su Yuyao had discovered something and quickly shrank back.

"Don't move!" Su Yuyao pressed close to Guan Yue's neck. Oh my god! It really was a hickey!

"Cough cough!...Cough cough!" A few uneasy coughs came from the air.

Su Yuyao didn't care at all; all her attention was on Guan Yue's neck.

"Brother Yue'er, what happened to you?" Su Yuyao asked, tilting her head.

Su Yuyao's eyes sparkled even more brightly in the moonlight, her lips, exuding the scent of peaches, were slightly pursed in front of Guan Yue, and her voluptuous figure swayed gently in front of her.

Guan Yue quickly looked away, composed himself, and swallowed hard.

"Is this... a kiss?" Su Yuyao asked softly, slowly extending her finger toward Guan Yue's red mark.

"What are you two doing?" A deep, cold, and extremely familiar voice drifted from above Su Yuyao's head.

Su Yuyao was startled, and cold sweat instantly seeped from her pores.

She glanced around, her eyes wide. The wolf pack had somehow formed a neat line! Even the white tiger and the Tibetan cat had sobered up and were kneeling awkwardly on the ground! Langzhi and Ruixue were looking at Su Yuyao's back with slight fear…

She slowly turned her head, and before her was that long robe she knew all too well! Following the robe upwards, she saw the belt she had tied herself, and from the belt upwards, she saw the chest she longed for, and above that... was a gloomy and cold face!

"Hehe..." Su Yuyao laughed awkwardly, "My lord, you're back?"

Xuan Feng frowned slightly, glanced at Su Yuyao kneeling in front of Guan Yue with her buttocks sticking out, then looked at Guan Yue who was pressed so close to Su Yuyao, and asked in a gloomy tone, "Shouldn't I have come back?"

Guan Yue was startled and quickly staggered to his feet, "My lord..."

"You," Xuanfeng glared at Guan Yue, then looked down at Su Yuyao and said sharply, "You, come in with me!"