CHAPTER 246: 0166 SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, DRAW A LINE (2 IN 1)

The sky outside the window is overcast, but the rain has weakened considerably.

Miss Yun is sitting on the threshold, facing the curtain of rain beyond the eaves, with a small, warm fire stone the size of a candied fruit in her pocket.

Xu Chang’an specially found this fire stone for Yun Qian; it certainly wouldn’t be the inferior product used by ordinary disciples, since he is the steward of the Steward Hall.

Therefore, this exquisite little fire stone will also become one of her treasured possessions in the future.

Yun Qian feels the lingering youthful aura in the room behind her, and traces a straight line in the earth with her fair fingers.

Her fingers stain with mud; she lowers her head to look at the dirt under her nails, softly clenching her fist.

An overcast sky exhibited the ecosystem of the small courtyard.

Since the girl has married, she occasionally considers matters from her husband’s perspective.

Her husband’s perspective is, naturally, the perspective of "Dao."

Where there’s light, there’s shadow.

Where there’s birth, there’s death.

Where there’s yang, there’s yin.

Where there’s rain, there’s sunshine.

That’s how the world remains fair.

The differences between advances and retreats, gains and losses, good and evil, beauty and ugliness, even male and female, are like this.

Yet, this world is not purely dualistic. The delicate gray area forged by the intersection of light and shadow is what truly deserves attention and contemplation.

Thus, the name Li Zhibai is quite well chosen, as though she appears to be a female crown, she is actually a fake Daoist nun.

The Zhou Yi hexagrams used by Daoists emphasize vast inclusivity from macro perspectives, and micro illumination encompassing creation and annihilation. The curve separating the Yin-Yang Fish is incredibly significant.

This is where yin and yang converge, and likewise, life and death.

Life and death are merely the endpoints of a line; the importance lies not in life and death themselves, but in the area between them, the traces left by living, the experienced life.

Yun Qian understands this, which is why she likes to trace lines.

When she initially released the "system" suppression on Xu Chang’an, she drew a line on the bed to remind herself not to confuse priorities.

Making her husband happy is the most important thing in the world; life and death are insignificant.

——

Yun Qian gently holds the soil in her hand, seriously pondering a matter at this moment.

In this world, there must be reciprocity for fairness.

She would heed Xu Chang’an’s words, so if she borrowed a knee pillow, she would return one.

The refined gray area in between is indeed crucial, but if there is one, there must be two. Where there’s birth, there must be death; where there’s a beginning, there will definitely be an end, and this is the fundamental rule of the universe.

Unfortunately, this is the rule of the great Dao, not Miss Yun’s rule; however, now that she is Xu Chang’an’s "wife," she must recognize this rule.

What if this time Xu Chang’an hadn’t gone to the island to find her? What would have happened?

"..."

Yun Qian’s hand holding the soil slightly halted; she lowered her head, reached out, and cleansed the mud in the accumulated water, a strand of dark hair falling beside her ear.

She casually shook her head.

If Xu Chang’an truly hadn’t sought her out but grown as the Child of Heaven — as the Heavenly Dao’s chosen "darling," a guide with Li Zhibai’s temperament would inevitably appear in his life to lead him forward.

Because the rules Li Zhibai represents are crucial.

Whether a hidden strong figure is needed as a master by the Child of Heaven, or the rules she represents, the presence of Ms. Li in her husband’s life... is all predestined.

Being sheltered by a woman stuck below the Qiankun Realm.

Under disaster, triggering breakthrough, or driving fragrant jade’s demise to promote the Child of Heaven’s growth... it’s all too common.

Without Li Zhibai, there would be Zhang Zhibai or Wang Zhibai, so if Yun Qian wasn’t present, Li Zhibai’s existence is heaven-arranged as a pawn.

"Pawn... pawn?"

Yun Qian felt it possible that Li Zhibai wasn’t a pawn, but...

wife.

This is very possible.

Currently, besides her, Li Zhibai is the person Xu Chang’an appreciates the most.

Actually, if Yun Qian didn’t exist, Li Zhibai, ordinary in appearance and gentle in nature, perfectly matches Xu Chang’an’s taste in women... as for teacher and student, isn’t there yet any title of mentorship?

Back in the day, Yun Qian and Xu Chang’an were also unequal in status.

But the world doesn’t operate on "ifs"; now Yun Qian is married to Xu Chang’an... but Li Zhibai has still appeared.

With Yun Qian by Xu Chang’an’s side, would Heaven dare to arrange his life?

Certainly not.

Therefore, Li Zhibai’s identity shifts, becoming a puppet Heaven presents to please her?

It seems like Li Zhibai uses Yun Qian as a puppet for makeup, but could it be the reverse, with Li Zhibai being the puppet?

After all, all of Li Zhibai’s actions aim to make Yun Qian happy; be it rouge, or the cultivation technique she’s intending to teach Xu Chang’an.

Where there’s yang, there’s yin; did it match this cultivation technique?

Yun Qian stretched lazily.

She was simply musing idly, without a hint of jealousy, just letting mundane thoughts disperse in boredom.

Her husband’s respected individuals, regardless of identity, cannot be puppets controlled by others... therefore, today’s Li Zhibai hasn’t any massive backing of worldly force.

Li Zhibai is simply Li Zhibai, a most ordinary cultivator, uninfluenced by anyone, purely the respected teacher of Xu Chang’an, with actions stemming sincerely from her heart.

Yun Qian clearly knows this fact, thus thinks her husband’s current system is quite a clever child.