Chapter 126: The Warm Welcome
Chapter 126: The Warm Welcome
"Why every time she returns to the City, there are more people following her? What is she doing inside that abandoned manor of hers?"
"Look! Unlike the last time, these are just young children. But what is she going to do with these kids?"
"What else could she do? Since those with sane minds have refused to follow her ridiculous orders, she’s now trying to bully these poor kids."
Loud gasps were heard in response to the last statement and everyone’s gaze turned hostile as they watched Chen Xiang Ling’s carriage passing through the main market street.
"I can’t help but feel pity for the County Magistrate and his family. Who knows why heaven punished them in such a way."
Inside the carriage, Xiang Ling was sitting with her eyes closed and a calm expression decorated her face. She didn’t appear the least bit fazed after listening to the harsh words of the citizens that her enhanced hearing picked up quickly.
"What a warm welcome." Zhe Yuan’s sarcastic comment forced her to open her eyes and she turned her gaze toward the merman who was sitting on the left seat in the carriage while Li Xian was sitting beside her.
"What welcome?" Li Xian asked as he had no idea of the conversation that was taking place outside the carriage among the people who noticed Xiang Ling’s carriage and the young children who were following behind.
Before Zhe Yuan could have even opened his mouth to reply, Xiang Ling quickly said, "It’s nothing."
Li Xian looked at the two of them with suspicion-filled eyes before he looked away and closed his eyes. He had been extra silent since the night of the banquet and it was for no other reason but his embarrassment that he was unable to get rid of after waking up the next morning and recalled what happened the night before.
If not for how busy Xiang Ling was in taking care of the patients and wrapping up before returning to Dongzhi City, she too would have spent the time feeling embarrassed whenever she looked at these two men.
A couple of minutes later, the carriage stopped outside the main entrance of the Chen Manor. Zhe Yuan climbed down from the carriage first before he helped Xiang Ling down the steps. Li Xian followed behind them along with the group of youngsters from the Lin family’s Village.
Uncle Sun welcomed them at the entrance along with Fu Xiao and other servants of the manor. They all seemed happy and excited to see Xiang Ling after half a month. However, Xiang Ling’s eyes kept searching for someone else.
Noticing her searching gaze, Fu Xiao held back her smile before speaking, "Master Wei is on his way."
Xiang Ling opened her mouth to tell the girl that she wasn’t looking for Wei Guang but she didn’t get the chance as her gaze caught the sight of a man hurrying toward the direction of the main entrance. He wore a light blue colored robe that almost looked white. The upper half of his long black hair was gathered and secured at the back of his head with a white jade hairpin while the lower half of his hair was left loose.
His gaze collided with Xiang Ling’s and the two of them almost forgot about the world that existed around them for a few moments. At first, they both were frozen in their places but then Xiang Ling saw him heading toward her. The next thing she knew, she was wrapped up in his arms as he pulled her into a tight hug.
There were shocked gasps and muffled giggles as everyone watched the public display of affection between the couple. And among them all, there was a little groan that didn’t skip Xiang Ling’s attention. It brought a smile to her lips as she imagined the look on Zhe Yuan’s face.
The two of them finally pulled away from the hug a few moments later, smiling as they looked at each other. "I’m so happy you are finally back. I missed you so much." Wei Guang confessed as he gave her hand a little squeeze before finally letting go of it.
"I missed you too." Xiang Ling replied and would have once again thrown herself into his arms if not for the sudden sound of throat clearing that finally pulled her attention toward the spectators who were present there.
It was Uncle Sun who had cleared his throat and as soon as Xiang Ling’s gaze landed on him, he pointed in the direction of the children and asked, "My Lady, what about these kids?"
"They will be staying here in the Manor from today onwards. Arrange their rooms and clothes. After they have eaten their lunch, bring them to the Main Hall." Xiang Ling directed and Uncle Sun immediately accepted the task. He led the group of youngsters toward the Servant Quarters.
Once everyone had left, she turned her attention toward Wei Guang and the two of them started heading toward their courtyard. "How has been everything here? Did you enjoy being the master of the manor?" She teased him only to receive a long sigh in response.
"You left such a huge responsibility on me. It’s a miracle that I survived." Wei Guang replied as he took hold of her hand and entangled their fingers together as they kept walking.
Xiang Ling was surprised to hear his response. Who would have thought that the Night Immortal, who ruled the entire Celestial Realm and kept all the Celestial beings in order, would find it hard to keep a little manor in order?
"What are you thinking about?" Wei Guang asked when he noticed her silence. Shaking her head, Xiang Ling asked about the two men who had been appearing in her thoughts just as much as Wei Guang during her stay in the Lin Family’s Village. "Where are Xin Cheng and Dao Ming?"
Wei Guang shook his head and let out a sigh as he answered, "Those two have been acting so weird ever since you left. They always leave at dawn and return at dusk. I have no idea what they have been doing these days."