Chapter 67 Guan Yue's Misguided Love, Su Yuyao's Self-Understanding
Qi Men and Guan Xiao had just stepped out of the Vermilion Bird Palace when they encountered a slightly tired Guan Yue and an enthusiastic Su Yuyao.
"Yao'er's back? Did you go out to play?" Qi Men looked at the procession of flowers blooming behind the two of them.
"Uncle! I went on an inspection tour with Brother Yue'er!" Su Yuyao said, linking arms with Qimen, her rosy cheeks upturned, still savoring the moment. "I ate roasted sweet potatoes, went to the hot springs, and even had steamed buns!"
"Oh, really? You've done so much!" Qi Men said, glancing at Guan Xiao.
Guan Xiao pinched the bridge of her nose somewhat awkwardly, avoiding Qi Men's gaze.
Guan Yue, seeing Qi Men and Guan Xiao's subtle actions, knew something was amiss! He then said to Su Yuyao, "Su Yuyao, take them back first. Come to my place tomorrow morning and continue sweeping the yard."
"Huh? I have to sweep the yard too?" Su Yuyao reluctantly let go of Qi Men's arm, pouting as she said, "Okay..."
Guan Yue watched as the last dish of white rice cakes, with its belly swaying, ran into the courtyard before asking, "Father, what happened to Lord Qi?"
"Sigh..." Qi Men chuckled helplessly, "The Wolf Clan has chosen Lord Xuanfeng as... their son-in-law!"
"What?!" Guan Yue stared at Qi Men in shock. "To be recruited as... a son-in-law?! Isn't that the same as... marrying into the family?"
"That's right!" Qi Men said, both amused and exasperated. "And Lord Xuanfeng agreed!"
"Huh?!" Guan Yue was shocked again. "No way... The wolf clan is recruiting a son-in-law, why didn't that alpha wolf named Ruixue mention it?!"
Qi Men suppressed a laugh and said, "Although Rui Xue is the alpha wolf of the wolf clan, look at him now. Under Yao'er's influence, he no longer resembles an alpha wolf! Not only has he learned to wag his tail, but even his howl has changed! I reckon Rui Xue hasn't been in contact with the wolf clan for a long time!"
"Lord Xuanfeng being chosen as a son-in-law by the wolf clan, what a joke that would be if word got out!" Guan Xiao sighed and smiled helplessly.
Qi Men finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, then said with some worry, "It's not a big deal if we become a laughing stock, but I'm afraid... the people of the Heavenly Palace won't take this as a joke..."
...
"This is outrageous!" Mother Yi exclaimed angrily. "Is this news even accurate?!"
"Your Majesty," Guiyue said, bowing, "the news has spread throughout all tribes and regions! It is true that Lord Xuanfeng has been chosen as a son-in-law by the Wolf Clan! Moreover, Lord Xuanfeng has already agreed..."
"You scoundrel! Bring Xuanfeng back to me! A dignified Heavenly Lord has actually run off to become a clan's son-in-law! Doesn't he have any shame?! Even if he likes that girl Su Yuyao, he should still marry her into the Heavenly Palace! How could he..." Mother Yi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest. She clutched her chest, took a few breaths, and said, "How could he... be chosen as a son-in-law!"
Guiyue hurriedly stepped forward to support Yi's mother, "Your Majesty, why are you so angry? The wolf clan is a barbaric tribe. They always act directly and never consider the consequences. The main issue is Lord Xuanfeng, how could he so easily agree to this..."
"That brat! He's infuriating!" Mother Yi gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and glared. "Where is that Su Yuyao?! Was it her idea?! Because of the mourning in the Heavenly Palace, marriages are forbidden, so she instigated Xuanfeng to marry into the Wolf Clan?!"
"Your Majesty, this old servant heard that Lord Xuanfeng gave the entire Chengma Peak mountain range north of Immortal Mountain to the Wolf Clan. The Wolf Clan leader, Sahan, built a residence for Su Yuyao on Chengma Peak, saying that he wanted Su Yuyao to be the leader of the Wolf Clan branch on Immortal Mountain." Guiyue rubbed Yimu's temples and said softly, "Lord Xuanfeng was forcibly taken as a son-in-law by Sahan when he went to inspect Chengma Peak! As for Su Yuyao, she seems to be unaware of this..."
Mother Yi was so angry that her temples throbbed. "You don't need to speak up for them! Who can force Xuanfeng with his temper?! It must be Su Yuyao's doing! Go and summon Su Yuyao to me! I want to ask her properly! Is it because I sent Feihua to the Immortal Mountain to recuperate that she deliberately went against me!"
"Your Majesty! Please don't upset yourself!" Guiyue stroked Yimu's chest and said, "I heard that Su Yuyao was extremely jealous of Xuanfeng taking care of Feihua, and was severely reprimanded by Qingyue. Later, Su Yuyao offered to take care of Feihua herself. She not only took Feihua to the academy, but also took Feihua to inspect the hall with Lord Qimen."
"What? She's taking care of Feihua?" Mother Yi was shocked to hear this, then began to worry, "Can she take good care of her? What if she tries to harm Feihua?!"
"There's no need to worry about that. If Su Yuyao's heart wasn't pure, Consort Qingyue wouldn't feel at ease returning to Binglun Palace." Guiyue smiled as she saw that Mother Yi's anger had subsided somewhat. "Your Highness, you've met Su Yuyao yourself. Although her appearance is average, she's a smart girl. She put thought into offering to take care of Feihua! As for... the Wolf Clan's search for a son-in-law, it's probably because Chief Sa felt sorry for Su Yuyao and demanded an explanation for her! And Lord Xuanfeng was determined to marry Su Yuyao, which is why he agreed to let her marry into the family. Why don't you give your approval once the mourning period is over and let Su Yuyao marry into the palace? Wouldn't that solve everything?"
"Hmph! And you even spoke up for him!" Mother Yi's anger had subsided considerably, but she still said with some dissatisfaction, "Although we can marry Su Yuyao into the palace, this matter has already disgraced the Heavenly Palace! That brat! He really needs to be taught a lesson..."
"Your Majesty..." Guiyue said softly with a smile, "Lord Chiyan is already waiting outside. Let him come in and chat with you to relieve your boredom..."
Her mother's eyes suddenly softened, and she said softly, "Let him in..."
A refined and elegant man entered, knelt down, and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well!"
“Crimson Flame,” Imam stretched out her hand, “come here…”
Chi Yan hurriedly stepped forward and grasped Yi Mu's hand, "Why are your hands so cold, Your Highness?"
Mother Yi sighed deeply, shook her head, and said, "I'm so angry with Xuanfeng! He handed over the Wuji Dao Sect without consulting me, and now he's married into the Wolf Clan! He's absolutely infuriating..."
“Your Majesty,” Chi Yan gently pulled Yi Mu into her arms, rocking her like a baby, “Don’t be angry. Xuan Feng must have his reasons for doing this.”
Yi's mother leaned against Chi Yan's chest, her heart gradually calming down. She shed her imperial status and, like an ordinary mother, confided in Chi Yan, "He has his reasons, but he never communicates anything to me! The things in Wuji Dao, his secret engagement with Su Yuyao, being chosen as a son-in-law by the wolf clan... If he could come back and talk to me more often, there wouldn't be such a deep rift between us. I only know everything about him through others..."
“You and Xuanfeng are mother and son after all, there will always be a chance to bridge the gap. However… we cannot let outsiders take advantage of this situation at this time…” Chiyan said, patting Yi’s mother’s shoulder.
Yi Mu looked up at Chi Yan, "Chi Yan, what have you discovered?"
Chi Yan gently kissed Yi Mu's forehead, removing the hairpin from her hair as he said with a doting smile, "Silly girl, how could I not see it? Chao Xi has planted people in Wuji Dao and is stirring up trouble in the south. He has gone so far as to do so much, yet you haven't done anything to him. What are you waiting for?"
With her eyes slightly closed and her hair loose, Yimu leaned close to Chiyan's chest and whispered, "I want to see just how big his ambitions are! And... what exactly is the purpose of the person who started this conflict?"
Chi Yan gently stroked Yi Mu's long hair, "Yi Guo, you're too tired, you need to relax..."
He gently placed his mother's head on the soft pillow and removed her elaborate clothes layer by layer. He pressed his warm palms against her fair shoulders, his fingers stroking the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders.
A slight soreness made Yi's mother frown.
"Igo, relax..." Chi Yan's gentle voice made Igo's mother relax again. She closed her eyes and felt Chi Yan's fingers melting her skin little by little, felt his hot palms working her arms, felt his broad hands pushing her breasts, and felt her breasts rotating on his fingertips.
Yi Mu's chest heaved with the force of the crimson flames, while the crimson flames' hands leaped over the mountain peaks and slowly pushed towards her lower abdomen, their fingers gradually probing towards the babbling forest...
Yi Mu parted her red lips slightly, uttering coquettish whimpers. Chi Yan leaned down and used the tip of his tongue to caress her breasts. The babbling brook turned into a trickle, and Chi Yan transformed into a thirsty beast, greedily lying on the riverbank to drink. He quickly stirred the water with his tongue, feeling the river swell.
Finally, the river submerged his body, and he released his passion to the fullest in the water...
Yimu responded to Chiyan's caresses and surges. At this moment, she thought of nothing, simply emptying herself completely. There was no scheming, no mutual exploitation. She was his Yiguo, and he was her Chiyan...
Yi's mother lay in Chi Yan's arms, Chi Yan stroking her buttocks, "Yi Guo, Tide, he..."
"Chiyan, I know what he's done. Don't worry, I have a plan." Mother Yi hugged Chiyan, speaking with rare ease, "Sleep..."
...
"Longjing! Say that again?!" Xianming asked blankly, holding the teacup to her lips. "What happened to Xuanfeng?"
“Xianming Jun… Lord Xuanfeng… has been chosen as a son-in-law by the Wolf Clan!” Longjing said in a low voice.
Xianming, holding the teacup, looked at Longjing with a mixture of doubt, disbelief, and anger. He suddenly threw the teacup, smashing it at Longjing's feet.
"Fool!" he muttered, clenching his fist. "All this effort I've put in, is it just to make him a son-in-law of the wolf clan?!"
Longjing had never seen Xianming so angry, so he could only stand with his head down, looking at the broken teacup at his feet.
"Where's Tide? What's he doing?"
“Tide Lord… is busy with matters in the south…” Longjing replied in a low voice.
"How is the flood situation in the south?" Xianming asked, frowning.
"It washed away several villages, but did not cause too much damage."
"Useless!" Xianming said angrily, "So timid and hesitant! What about the Dao of Limitless Emptiness?!"
Longjing looked up at Xianming, whose face was full of anger, and said, "Wuji Dao is not peaceful either. Lord Zeyuan seems to be dissatisfied with Chaoxi Jun's seizure of power. He has made it clear to Chaoxi Jun that he wants to manage Wuji Dao alone and has completely rejected Chaoxi Jun's previous arrangements. He is currently rearranging manpower and establishing a new system."
"What?! Zeyuan actually defied the tides?" Xianming suddenly felt that nothing was going right, and none of the things he had expected were happening as planned.
The floods in the south are not severe enough to harm Yi's mother; Ze Yuan is disobedient, so he cannot interfere in matters within the Wuji Dao; Fei Hua's matter will not affect Su Yu Yao's feelings for Xuan Feng for the time being, but Xuan Feng has actually married into the wolf clan, thus losing the initiative!
"This is fucking terrible!" Xianming slammed her fist on the table. "Does Yi's mother know about this?"
"The entire Heavenly Palace knows..." Longjing dared not look at Xianming's face any longer.
"Any news from Young Master Fu?"
"Young Master Fu sent word that Su Yuyao, along with Feihua, went to inspect the halls with Lord Qimen."
Xianming calmed her anger, took out a green teacup, gently moistened it with boiling tea, and said quietly, "She still has the leisure to inspect the branches? It seems she's really not in a hurry. Well then, let's think about how to add fuel to the fire..."
...
"Brother Yue'er! Brother Yue'er! I'm here! Are you there?" Su Yuyao stood at the courtyard gate and looked inside.
Guan Yue straightened his sleeves and walked out of the house. Looking at Su Yuyao, who was standing properly at the door, he said, "Come in!"
Su Yuyao tiptoed into the courtyard, tilted her rosy face up, blinked her big, watery eyes, pouted her rosy lips, and smiled at Guan Yue, saying, "Brother Yue'er! Will you take me with you again?"
Guan Yue stared blankly at Su Yuyao's exquisite face, which was free of makeup. "Oh, you... scan it yourself first... try to calm down and feel it with your heart."
"Oh...feel it with your heart..." Su Yuyao seemed to understand but not quite. She tiptoed to get a broom and slowly swept the yard.
Sunlight shone on Su Yuyao, casting her clumsy figure in the bluestone courtyard.
Guan Yue carefully observed the dirty girl. Her hair, which had been loose yesterday, was now braided into two pigtails and hung on her chest. Her sloppy dress was now neatly arranged, and even her shoes, which had been covered in dust yesterday, were now clean.
Guan Yue smiled slightly. For the first time, he felt respected, rather than kept at a distance.
Su Yuyao swept very carefully. Although she didn't know how to feel with her heart, it was able to calm her restless heart down.
She looked at the smooth ground and gently swept it with a broom. There was no dust, but she could feel a slight breeze.
One sweep, two sweeps… she swept slowly, and suddenly, she seemed to see a vortex, an invisible yet real vortex. Not wanting the vortex to dissipate, she could only carefully gather it with the broom, sweeping gently…
As the cyclone grew larger, Su Yuyao eventually lost control and became disoriented.
Looking at the dissipated vortex, she exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Yue'er! Did you see that? I just swept up a vortex! It just dissipated!"
Guan Yue nodded with a slight upturn of his lips.
He looked at Su Yuyao, whose face was flushed and whose forehead was covered in sweat, and said softly, "Have some water!"
"Okay!" Su Yuyao smiled brightly.
Guan Yue turned and went into the cave behind the house, where a small stove warmed amber-colored tea. He picked up the teapot, filled a pale blue teacup, and carried it back to the courtyard…
Su Yuyao stood at the gate of the courtyard, holding a broom and a water bottle, gulping down water until not a drop was left.
"You...you even brought a water bottle?!" Guan Yue asked, somewhat surprised.
Su Yuyao put down the kettle, wiped her face, and said, "Okay! But don't worry, I left it outside the gate, so it didn't dirty your yard!"
"Oh, it's alright..." Guan Yue said awkwardly, holding his teacup.
"Brother Yue'er, do I still need to sweep the yard?" Su Yuyao asked, sticking out her belly. "Let's do something else. Sweeping the yard all the time is boring..."
Guan Yue glanced at the teacup in his hand and said, "Put the broom back and come with me."
"Okay!" Su Yuyao took out a handkerchief, wiped the broom handle, put it back in the corner, and asked excitedly, "Are we going to patrol?"
Guan Yue carefully observed Su Yuyao's every move. This dirty girl he disliked wasn't so dirty, nor so hateful...
"No need for patrols today, I'll teach you meditation." Guan Yue led Su Yuyao toward the cave behind the house.
"Ah... meditation..." Su Yuyao followed Guan Yue shyly, "Brother Yue'er, I'll fall asleep during meditation..."
"It doesn't matter."
"Oh..." Su Yuyao reluctantly moved forward, "Brother Yue'er, how about..."
Guan Yue turned to look at Su Yuyao, "Don't worry, I'll teach you, you won't fall asleep."
"Ah, hehe." Su Yuyao laughed awkwardly a few times, sighed, and followed Guan Yue into the cave.
A faint aroma of tea wafted through the cave. Guan Yue placed the teacup he was holding back by the brazier.
"Huh? There's a heater here?" Su Yuyao examined the heater with interest and asked, "Did you just get this?"
Guan Yue frowned slightly, turning to look at Su Yuyao, "New equipment?"
"Ah!" Su Yuyao quickly covered her mouth. Oh no! She let it slip! She glanced at Guan Yue and met his questioning gaze.
Su Yuyao forced a smile, "Hehe, I couldn't resist yesterday, so I peeked out from the doorway..."
Guan Yue frowned again. "At the door?"
Su Yuyao frowned, glancing guiltily at Guan Yue's expression, "Ah... anyway, it's not too far from the door..."
Guan Yue turned his back, took a breath, suppressed the upward curve of his lips, then turned back and looked coldly at Su Yuyao, saying, "Sit down."
Su Yuyao pouted and sat cross-legged on the futon with some regret. She thought she could go out and play like yesterday, but she didn't expect to be punished by sitting. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have come!
Guan Yue squatted down in front of Su Yuyao and whispered, "Close your eyes and look inward at the tip of your nose."
Su Yuyao sighed helplessly and obediently closed her eyes as Guan Yue instructed.
Guan Yue stared blankly at Su Yuyao, who was sitting cross-legged in front of him like a porcelain doll. He calmed himself down, reached out and covered Su Yuyao's head, slowly releasing his Qi.
Su Yuyao closed her eyes and waited for a while, then suddenly felt a warm sensation on the top of her head. "Hmm? My head..."
"Don't move!" Guan Yue's voice was soft but filled with undeniable authority.
Su Yuyao pursed her lips. Her head was getting hotter and hotter, and finally she felt a slight burning sensation. "But..."
"Don't move!"
Su Yuyao had no choice but to grit her teeth and endure the burning sensation. Just when Su Yuyao was about to give up, a beam of light pierced through the top of her head and shone into her mind.
The light slowly flowed towards Su Yuyao's forehead, lingered there for a moment, and then gently flowed down through her nose and mouth. Su Yuyao held saliva in her mouth and swallowed gently, allowing the Qi to flow down and gather at her heart.
Su Yuyao felt her head was so bright it was dazzling. Before she could adjust, her chest became bright again, as if a moon was slowly appearing on her chest.
The Qi flowed down to Su Yuyao's navel, where it gathered into a small vortex in her dantian. The Qi vortex then slowly flowed downwards.
"Mmm!" Su Yuyao felt the warm Qi flow sliding over her sensitive areas, then slowly rising from her buttocks and gathering at her tailbone.
Su Yuyao's face gradually turned red, and she slowly curled up her body.
"Don't move!"
The Qi flow lingered at the coccyx for a while, then slowly rose up the spine, finally returning to the top of the head.
“Remember,” Guan Yue said softly, “this is the path of Qi flow. Open the top of your head and let the light in, illuminating your forehead, your chest, filling your dantian, passing through the golden light, from the dragon bone, back to the Baihui point.”
Following Guan Yue's guidance, Su Yuyao mentally retraced the entire route again and again.
Guan Yue's voice gradually faded away, leaving only a faint silence in her ears. She felt the warm current slowly receding from the top of her head, but it seemed as if three eternal lamps had been lit in her forehead, chest, and dantian.
"Boom! Rumble—!" A thunderous sound exploded in Su Yuyao's ears, as if a bolt of lightning was about to strike.
"Ah!" Su Yuyao screamed, covering her ears and shouting, "Help!"
"Su Yuyao!" Guan Yue called softly.
"Huh?" Su Yuyao slowly opened her eyes. In front of her was Guan Yue with a deadpan expression. She hugged herself tightly and said, trembling, "I was so scared! There was thunder just now!"
Guan Yue seemed to smile slightly and said, "Congratulations, your meridians are now open!"
Su Yuyao wasn't happy. Her heart was still pounding, and her body was trembling slightly. "Xuanfeng, where are you? I'm so scared!"
Looking at the frightened Su Yuyao, Guan Yue said with some self-reproach, "I'm sorry, I was too hasty."
"I... I knew I wasn't suited for meditation..." Su Yuyao said, her voice trembling with tears in her eyes.
"Su Yuyao, you did very well, extremely well! You have a high level of comprehension. I only guided you through it once, and you actually opened up all your meridians on your own!" Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao with great admiration. "You are truly talented, you did an excellent job!"
"Me? You did well? I really did well?" Su Yuyao tilted her head and looked at Guan Yue. "You're the first person to praise me!"
Guan Yue smiled and nodded, "You did a great job!"
Su Yuyao's face suddenly lit up, and she said with a smile, "Then when Xuanfeng comes back, tell him that I did a great job! He has never praised me before! I want him to praise me too!"
Guan Yue nodded, but for some reason, he couldn't smile anymore.
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