Chapter 106: Departure!

Leaving the room, it was already near dusk.

At noon, out of habit, he had once again called her furen (lady/wife), which directly angered Li Qingluo.

And then, he had been dragged into dealing with it until now.

Fang Han leisurely returned to his quarters.

From afar, he could already see Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing. The former was tending to the flowers and plants, while the latter was practicing Lingbo Weibu.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Cheng Lingsu lifted her head slightly, cast Fang Han a glance, and with a half-smile half-tease said:

“Brother Fang, so your wish has been fulfilled? Well then, congratulations~”

Meeting those limpid, star-like eyes that seemed to see through everything, Fang Han’s expression didn’t change. He simply diverted the topic, speaking in a calm tone:

“Lingsu, that scroll of Xiao Wuxiang Gong, I’ve already sorted it out. Today, you and Wanqing should first read through it. Tomorrow, I’ll begin teaching you both how to cultivate it.”

Miss Cheng knew he was deflecting, but she didn’t call him out. “Alright~”

Over on the other side, Mu Wanqing had already stopped practicing her lightfoot movement. She eagerly ran up to Fang Han and asked:

“Fang Lang, why didn’t you come back last night?”

As she spoke, it seemed she sensed something. She leaned closer, sniffed lightly, and her face immediately changed. With cheeks puffed out in anger, she turned her head away:

“Oh! So that’s how it is! You went to be with that wicked woman, didn’t you?”

That wicked woman is really something.

Not only did she bully Master, now she even wants to bully me. Stealing my man! How hateful!

Fang Han glanced at Cheng Lingsu, who was covering her mouth, quietly laughing at the scene. He couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

That evening, it took him quite some time to finally coax the two of them into good spirits.

In the days that followed, Fang Han’s daily duties became even more demanding.

Not only did he need to help Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing practice Xiao Wuxiang Gong, he also couldn’t neglect Li Qingluo’s side of things.

It wasn’t about training anymore. She had already completely mastered Xiao Wuxiang Gong.

What remained was only accumulating her inner strength and gradually gaining deeper comprehension.

But could Fang Han afford not to go?

If he didn’t show up, Li Qingluo would once again burst into tears, scolding him as a dog of a man, threatening to slice him up with a knife…

🍃

At Yun Jin Lou.

Li Qingluo and Wang Yuyan were dining together.

Neither spoke, both quietly absorbed in their thoughts.

From time to time, Li Qingluo raised her eyes to glance at Wang Yuyan. She thought back to those days when, in a moment of panic, she had spoken too harshly. Now, looking at her daughter lowering her head, gloomy and sullen, she felt full of regret.

After all, Yuyan had only been concerned for her mother, which was why she had gone up to the attic.

Silent for a long time, Li Qingluo finally spoke softly:

“Yuyan, that day… your mother was in a bad mood. I said some heavy words. Don’t take it to heart, alright?”

Wang Yuyan stared at her mother in a daze, her mind a little incredulous.

She knew her mother’s temperament very well.

When had she ever shown such a gentle attitude?

And to even bring up this matter on her own initiative.

Though the words weren’t explicitly apologetic, the tone carried clear remorse.

The gloomy knot in Wang Yuyan’s heart instantly lifted.

Her expression brightened as she looked at her mother with joy:

“Mother, I didn’t take it to heart~”

Seeing her daughter’s expression, Li Qingluo let out a breath of relief. She picked some food for her daughter and smiled:

“Good, that’s well.”

Wang Yuyan chewed slowly. Every now and then, she sneaked a glance at her mother.

When she looked more closely, she noticed something different.

Mother… She seems even more beautiful than before!

And…

Her brows and eyes now carried a gentle trace of laughter. That was rare indeed.

Her mother had always been unhappy, her brows always furrowed.

But now, she seemed so cheerful.

Blinking, Wang Yuyan thought back to what she had seen that day. She hesitated before asking curiously:

“Mother, that day… Was that person your friend?”

Li Qingluo’s heart gave a little jump. She looked at Yuyan’s curious face.

She couldn’t decide—should she tell her?

If she said it directly, would it frighten Yuyan?

And how was she supposed to phrase it?

Surely she couldn’t just say: Your mother has a man outside.

But if she didn’t say anything, how would she ever bring him up?

Hesitating for a long while, Li Qingluo finally muttered:

“Mm, Yuyan, you guessed right. He is indeed a friend of your mother’s.”

The more Wang Yuyan looked, the stranger she felt. Her mother had never shown such expressions before. Suspicion grew in her tone:

“Then… since he is your mother’s friend, why didn’t you let me go greet him?”

It was rare for outsiders to visit Mantuo Villa. Naturally, she had wanted to meet him.

Li Qingluo felt the questions were becoming sharper and harder to answer.

Her expression grew more solemn as she cleared her throat:

“That… we’ll talk about it another time. Now, finish your meal.”

Wang Yuyan felt a bit disappointed, but seeing her mother’s serious look, unwilling to say more, she could only drop the matter.

After dinner, Li Qingluo returned to her room, sat before the dressing table, and carefully applied her makeup.

Creaaak!

The sound of the door opening behind her.

Li Qingluo heard it clearly, and a smile spread across her face.

The days that followed were calm and uneventful.

🍃

In the blink of an eye, ten more days passed.

Within these ten days, Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing had both succeeded in mastering Xiao Wuxiang Gong!

With Fang Han’s guidance, their progress was naturally swift.

He had carefully observed Li Qingluo’s cultivation process, developed the duqi method, and could easily lead them through the doorway.

In the end, not only had they mastered Xiao Wuxiang Gong, even Fang Han himself, without realizing it, had begun to generate strands of Xiao Wuxiang Neili!

It saved him the time of cultivating it on his own.

With Xiao Wuxiang Gong mastered, his primary goal for coming to Mantuo Villa was now complete.

It was time to leave.

Thinking this, Fang Han looked at the blissful Li Qingluo and felt a headache coming on. After a moment of hesitation, he carefully said:

“Qingluo, in two days, I must leave.”

As soon as the words fell, Li Qingluo’s expression froze, her eyes full of sorrow as she stared at him.

Fang Han explained softly:

“I had originally planned to spend about a month here. Once Xiao Wuxiang Gong

was cultivated, I intended to set off.”

Li Qingluo spoke faintly:

“Then what about me? You toyed with me, and now you wish to walk away just like this?”

As she spoke, she recalled how at the beginning, Fang Han had approached her only to pry out the secret of Xiao Wuxiang Gong’s formulas.

Now that all the formulas had been revealed to him, and he had mastered Xiao Wuxiang Gong, did that mean she was useless and would be discarded?

Her eyes reddened, tears welling up.

Fang Han gently wiped her tears and shook his head:

“Don’t let your thoughts run wild. I have no intention of abandoning you. I’m telling you this because I want you to decide—do you wish to come with me, or remain at Mantuo Villa?”

Li Qingluo’s mood eased at those words. She lifted her eyes to look at him.

She did wish to follow him. But if she left, what would happen to Yuyan?

Her own parents had died when she was young.

Must her daughter endure that same pain of separation?

That was absolutely impossible.

But if she didn’t go with him, and remained alone at Mantuo Villa, that too was…

Li Qingluo felt her chest tighten with frustration.

Fang Han saw her inner conflict and understood.

Li Qingluo’s circumstances were different from Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing.

The latter two had no real burdens, and their hearts were entirely set on him, so they could travel the world at his side.

But Li Qingluo had her daughter, Wang Yuyan, to care for. With her childhood trauma, there was little chance she would leave.

Besides, Fang Han had no pressing need to take Li Qingluo along.

In fact, he preferred for her to stay in Mantuo Villa.

So after some thought, he said:

“You don’t need to worry. I’m not leaving forever. Once my business is done, I’ll return here to find you.”

But Li Qingluo remained unconvinced:

“Where are you going? And for how long?”

Fang Han thought for a moment before replying:

“As for where, there’s no harm in telling you. I plan to head to Leigu Mountain first. There…”

He paused mid-sentence, glancing at Li Qingluo.

Now that I think of it… with this relationship between us, doesn’t that make Wu Yazi my father-in-law?

Li Qingluo frowned:

“What are you going there for? Must you go? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay here at Mantuo Villa?”

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, her gaze filled with longing:

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we spent our whole lives here together?”

Seeing him shake his head, Li Qingluo’s expression dimmed instantly. She fell silent.

During the following two days, she clung to him even more tightly, though she wasn’t keen on talking much.

On the third day, when Fang Han had finished packing his things and came to bid her farewell, she refused to see him at all.

He didn’t press.

Instead, he knocked gently on the door and said with resolve:

“Once my matters are settled, I will return to see you.”

But as soon as he said it, Fang Han froze.

Hm… why does that sound like I’m setting up a flag…

If this were the real world, I’d definitely counter it by setting up an opposite flag. But in this life simulation, well… never mind. It won’t matter much.

Seeing no response from within, he shook his head lightly and said:

“Qingluo, I’m leaving now!”

With that, Fang Han turned and departed.

🍃🍃🍃

FOOTNOTES

* * * * Furen (夫人)– A respectful form of address for a married woman, here used by Fang Han to address Li Qingluo. Contextually, it can mean “lady” or “wife.”

* * * * Lingbo Weibu (凌波微步)– “Graceful Steps upon the Waves,” a legendary lightfoot martial arts technique from Tianlong Babu, allowing one to move swiftly and unpredictably.

* * * * Xiao Wuxiang Gong (小无相功)– “Little Formless Skill,” a profound martial arts technique focused on adaptability and mimicking other styles.

* * * * Duqi (渡气)– A specialized breathing technique for guiding internal energy during cultivation.

* * * * Neili (内力)– Internal force or inner energy cultivated through martial arts.

* * * * Leigu Mountain (擂鼓山)– “Drum-Beating Mountain,” a location from Tianlong Babu tied to the Xiaoyao Sect and its master Wu Yazi.