Chapter 3

Cangshu Bai had accompanied Doctor Hu to gather herbs in the mountains last night, so the next day he could go to work at the town clinic in the afternoon.

As usual, he had lunch with Muran, cleaned up the dishes, and then prepared to leave.

At the main gate, he turned back.

Muran, full and content, sat on a chair, hands propping her chin on the table, eyes closed, her head nodding drowsily. She looked utterly comfortable and at ease.Sofas & Armchairs

Cangshu Bai said, "I'm heading out."

Muran's eyes opened a slit. "Oh, go ahead."

Cangshu Bai turned around again and said, "Ranran."

"Hmm?"

"I'm heading out."

Muran stared at him blankly for a moment before suddenly understanding. She got down from the chair, hurried over, threw herself at him, and hugged him, gently patting his back.Sofas & Armchairs

"Jinzhi, be careful out there. I'll wait for you to come home."

Cangshu Bai bent down, resting his chin on the top of her head, his fingertips lightly touching her green hair ribbon. The corner of his mouth moved slightly. "Wait for me to come back and make dinner."

Muran obediently hummed in agreement twice, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed his chin. "Hurry now, don't be late, or the boss will dock your pay again."

He ruffled the top of her head and chuckled softly.

Not long after Cangshu Bai left, Muran also tidied herself up and hurried out the door.

Aunt Wang was hanging laundry and saw Muran emerge from the neighboring courtyard. She remarked, "Xiao Ran, off to work in town again?"

Muran nodded, shaking the tool kit slung over her left shoulder. "I promised Shopkeeper Song I'd go help at the workshop today."

Aunt Wang said, "Your husband earns a decent amount. Why do you always tire yourself out going to town?"Marriage

"Aunt Wang, didn't you say it yourself? Things have been unsettled lately. I want to earn a bit more money and find a chance to talk to Jinzhi about quitting his job in town. Oh, Aunt Wang, please..."

Aunt Wang: "I know, I'll pretend I didn't see you, won't tell your man."

Muran grinned, waved her hand, and said, "Thanks, Aunt Wang! I'm off!"

Watching Muran's departing figure, Aunt Wang couldn't help but smile and sigh with admiration. "Those two really are like an immortal couple, their feelings for each other are so good."

In the past, if Muran needed to go somewhere far, a single flying talisman would get her to her destination at great speed. But now she had to save money, and she couldn't bear to spend it on things like talismans.

She walked for over an hour before reaching the town. It was bustling with people coming and going, very lively.

Perhaps what Aunt Wang said about demonic cultivators killing people more rampantly lately wasn't false. At the very least, she saw many more cultivators on the streets than before, creating a tense feeling of an impending storm.Visual Art & Design

Muran withdrew her surveying gaze and entered the Song Family Workshop.

Shopkeeper Song was past fifty but full of energy. He had been idly fiddling with an abacus on the counter, but upon seeing Muran, his eyes lit up. "Aiya, my Miss Muran, you've finally arrived!"

There happened to be customers casually browsing in the shop. Hearing the words "Miss Muran," two men looked over simultaneously.

Muran quickly said, "I'm just a country woman, Shopkeeper Song. Please don't call me that every time. I can't bear such a title!"

The two men traveling together glanced at each other and whispered.

"I thought she really was the young lady from Green Cloud Mountain."

"That young lady was stripped of her cultivation, expelled from the clan, and driven down the mountain three years ago for refusing to marry the young master of the Desireless Palace. If she's still alive now, she's bound to be in a wretched state."Native Americans

"That's true. I heard later it was the Second Young Lady Muran who took her place and married over. If she knew that the young master, who was comatose and considered a waste back then, has now awakened and inherited the position of Palace Lord, she'd surely die of regret."

Having broken away from the Muran clan on Green Cloud Mountain, a mere woman would surely have a hard life in this world where the strong prey on the weak.

The woman carving wood in this workshop was exceptionally bright and beautiful. Although she was working, her skin was delicate and fair, clearly well-cared for and having suffered little hardship.

How could she possibly be that Muran family's eldest young lady, who was expelled from the clan and whose fate, whether alive and begging for mercy, was unknown?

These two cultivators were dressed finely and looked unfamiliar, likely from out of town and probably from some famous sect.Agricultural Equipment

Usually, such cultivators looked down their noses and wouldn't fancy the things from these small places.

Shopkeeper Song didn't expect them to buy anything either and chatted idly with Muran, who was sitting at the workbench carving wood.

"That mirror you made last time, the girls in town loved it. Looking into it makes them look beautiful... beau..."

Muran said, "Beautified."

"Yes, yes, that's it, beautified." Shopkeeper Song clicked his tongue in wonder. "I really don't know where you get all these ideas, able to make so many peculiar and novel things. Oh, Squire Chen's daughter said she wants to order a batch of mirrors to give as gifts."

Muran nodded. "As long as the pay is sufficient, I'll make as many as needed."

A smile appeared on Shopkeeper Song's face. "Doctor Cangshu Bai is truly fortunate to have such a clever and skillful wife."Music & Audio

Muran smiled. "I think I'm the fortunate one to have such a good husband."

Speaking of which, Muran and Cangshu Bai's meeting wasn't some soul-stirring, epic tale.

Back then, she needed a place to stay, didn't want to attract attention, and had to save her spirit stones, so she rented a small courtyard in the sparsely populated outskirts.

At that time, Cangshu Bai lived across from her. Although they were neighbors, over half a year passed with them only catching occasional glimpses of each other when going out—mere nodding acquaintances who didn't even know each other's names.

Their true fate began on a rainy night.

Muran's roof leaked badly, flooding almost the entire room. Heartbroken over her furniture, she had no choice but to grab an umbrella and knock on the door across the way.

The door opened, revealing a young man in a blue-green robe, his dark hair unbound. "Can I help you?"Men's Interests

Raindrops clinging to the blue-green fabric rolled along its folds, adding a touch of refreshing moisture even more than the curtain of rain falling from the eaves.

She was soaked through and quite a sorry sight. Gathering her courage, she asked softly, "My roof is leaking and needs repair. Do you happen to have a ladder?"

The young man nodded. "Yes."

Her eyes brightened. "May I borrow it?"

He said, "The ladder is in the woodshed. I'll fetch it."

The young man in blue-green stood under the eaves and suddenly looked back at her.Men's Interests

The umbrella she held was tilted slightly by the wind, her shoulder already soaked through. Her light-colored dress clung to her body, accentuating her slender frame.

As if sensing his gaze, she looked up. Raindrops had dampened the ends of her hair, a few strands sticking to her fair cheeks and misting her dark, moist eyes.

Later, he said, "Let me help you."

On that rainy night, they exchanged names. After that, they became more and more familiar. Another half a year later, it seemed only natural that they got married.

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