Chapter 7: A spoiled woman has the best life; Sign in at Yan Jue Palace!
"Alright!"
"Xue'er!"
"Let's not think so much."
"Let's eat!"
Ning Ye smiled slightly at Ning Xue'er. Future matters could be discussed in the future; for now, his priority was tonight's sign-in task.
"Mhm!"
Ning Xue'er nodded upon hearing him, then helped Ning Ye sit at the stone table in the small courtyard. After that, she methodically arranged plates of exquisite dishes on the table.
"Brother!"
"Open your mouth!"
"These are dishes Xue'er personally made for you!"
Ning Xue'er, being very sensible, picked up her chopsticks, served some food, and brought it to Ning Ye's mouth.
"You, little girl..."
"Brother is blind."
"Not crippled."
"I can still eat by myself."
Ning Ye reminded her, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"I don't care!"
"I don't care!"
Ning Xue'er shook her head stubbornly upon hearing him, then bit her lip pitifully and whispered, "Brother, in a few days, you'll be leaving Yan Capital to get married in Junlin."
"In the future, Brother won't be Xue'er's brother alone."
"Won't you allow Xue'er to take care of you a little more for these last few days?"
Hearing this, Ning Ye looked through the purple silk scarf at the mist welling up in his sister's beautiful eyes and could only nod in response, feeling a mix of amusement and helplessness.
"Alright then!"
"But I have to say, you little girl!"
"You're really cunning!"
Hehe!
Having received Ning Ye's permission, the mist in Ning Xue'er's beautiful eyes instantly vanished. A mischievous smile appeared on her exquisite, ice-and-snow-sculpted face, and she immediately said, "Brother!"
"Listen!"
"Open your mouth!"
"Ah~"
Ah!
Ning Ye helplessly opened his mouth and ate the food Ning Xue'er fed him. As the delicate flavors melted on his tongue, he had to admit that his sister's talent, both in cultivation and cooking, was incredibly formidable.
"Brother!"
"Your future sister-in-law is six years older than you!"
"What do you think?"
"Will Brother like Sister-in-law?"
Ning Xue'er asked curiously while feeding him.
"Of course I'll like her!"
Ning Ye nodded without hesitation.
As the old saying goes, a female junior three years older brings a golden brick, and in his opinion, Second Miss Jun's value couldn't be measured by just one golden brick!
Hmph!
Ning Xue'er couldn't help but let out a soft hmph, puffing out her cheeks, and grumbled with a hint of jealousy, "That's true!"
"Brother has always liked older sisters."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so infatuated with Luo Jia!"
Haha!
Ning Ye chuckled, then reached out and gently ruffled Ning Xue'er's soft, long hair, saying softly, "You're wrong!"
"My favorite is still my precious sister!"
"After all, my sister is so cute."
"Who wouldn't love her?"
"Naturally!"
Upon hearing this, Ning Xue'er couldn't help but puff out her chest, her eyes filled with pride, and the smile on her pretty face brightened by three points.
Clearly, Ning Ye's words made the little girl very happy. Just then, she seemed to recall something and spoke softly.
"Oh, right!"
"Brother!"
"Since you love your precious sister so much!"
"Then for these few days before you leave, can you stay by my side at all times?"
At this point, Ning Xue'er's beautiful eyes were filled with anticipation. Ever since her mother passed away, Ning Ye had accompanied her every night, allowing her to sleep peacefully.
But this had stopped a few years ago. She knew there were differences between men and women, and she knew her brother was infatuated with Luo Jia, but she didn't care about any of that. Without Ning Ye by her side, she almost suffered from insomnia every night.
"You little girl!"
"You're already seventeen!"
"How can you still say such shameless things?"
Ning Ye playfully pinched Ning Xue'er's cheek.
"I don't care, I don't care!"
Ning Xue'er bit her silver teeth, and mist gathered in her eyes again. She pouted, repeating herself, "Brother, in a few days, you'll be leaving Yan Capital to get married in Junlin."
"In the future, Brother won't be Xue'er's brother alone."
"Are you not even going to allow Xue'er to be closer to Brother for these last few days?"
'????'
Ning Ye was full of question marks, thinking how this little girl was using the same trick again, with the exact same words, not even bothering to change them.
However, after careful consideration, he still nodded and said, "Just this once!"
"Great!"
Ning Xue'er excitedly stood up upon hearing this, then gave Ning Ye a deep kiss on the cheek, thinking that her Master was indeed right: a woman who acts spoiled has the best life.
'You little girl!'
Ning Ye shook his head with a chuckle, feeling very warm inside.
And just as the atmosphere in the small courtyard reached its warmest point...
The transmission jade at Ning Xue'er's waist lit up. At this, the little girl's face fell, and she said to Ning Ye, "Brother!"
"Xue'er has something to do."
"I have to go now!"
"Go ahead!"
Ning Ye nodded, not intending to ask further, because he knew it must be a message from his sister's mysterious Master.
"Brother!"
"Xue'er will only be gone tonight."
"Starting tomorrow, Xue'er will stay by your side every day."
Ning Xue'er hugged Ning Ye again, then turned and left.
"Alright!"
Ning Ye smiled slightly, silently watching Ning Xue'er leave the Cold Palace courtyard, then looked up at the sky and murmured.
"Perfect!"
"Tonight's sign-in!"
"No one should be able to disturb me!"
...
Outside Yan Capital, in the Small Bamboo Forest, bamboo leaves drifted everywhere.
A Taoist nun in a green robe stood beneath the falling bamboo leaves, holding a whisk.
Before long, a graceful figure streaked through the air, stepping on the drifting bamboo leaves as she flew over.
The person who arrived was none other than Ning Xue'er!
"Master!"
"Brother is leaving Yan Capital in a few days."
"Can't your disciple rest for a few days to properly accompany him?"
Ning Xue'er spoke to the Taoist nun with a displeased expression.
Upon hearing this, the Taoist nun said nothing, merely flicking her finger.
Zheng!
A streak of silver light shot forth.
A sharp sword was seen embedded in the ground before Ning Xue'er.
"Xue'er!"
"Today's lesson — Falling Flower Divine Sword!"
"Begin!"
The Taoist nun's voice was calm, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Hmph!"
"Falling Flower Divine Sword or whatever, I already know it!"
Xue'er grumbled, then raised her hand, picked up the sharp sword, and flew into the air, beginning to perform her sword dance.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Above the bamboo forest, Sword Qi crisscrossed everywhere!
The trajectory of each of Xue'er's sword strikes was extremely mysterious and magnificent, as if naturally formed, incredibly sharp and stunning, perfectly aligning with the movement of the Dao!
"The myriad splendors fall into the Nine Heavens!"
"In just three short days, Xue'er has managed to cultivate the Falling Flower Divine Sword to such a realm!"
"This little girl's Martial Dao comprehension ability... it truly can be called unparalleled in the world!"
"In the future, even in the Immortal Palace, she will be able to hold her own!"
The green-robed Taoist nun looked at Xue'er, who was dancing with her sword in the bamboo forest, and nodded with satisfaction.
Just then, she seemed to think of something and muttered to herself thoughtfully.
"Once Tenth Prince leaves Yan Capital..."
"Presumably, Xue'er will have no more attachments here."
"That day, it will be time to take Xue'er home!"
...
The sun set.
Night fell.
In the Cold Palace courtyard, Ning Ye had already changed into a black robe. He untied the purple silk scarf wrapped around his eyes, folded it neatly, and placed it in his storage ring. Then, he put on a black mask and looked in the direction of Yan Jue Palace, murmuring.
"It's time!"
"It's time to go sign in!"