Chapter 495 - 225: It is Only Right to Pledge Myself to You
Chapter 495: Chapter 225: It is Only Right to Pledge Myself to You
"But I don’t really want to..."
"Why?"
"If it weren’t for you, I would’ve died long ago. The opportunities Yuqing Pavilion received were also because of you.
"When it comes to Talent and comprehension, I’m far inferior to my senior sister. After Master... after Li Nanchen and Zhang Fang died, she was the one who should have inherited the position.
"Me taking it feels like I’m stealing something that belongs to her."
Fang Shuwen couldn’t help but laugh.
"That’s not how these things work, and you shouldn’t think that way.
"But ultimately, it all depends on what you want. If you’re willing, then the position is yours.
"If you’re not, no one can force you."
Zhou Qingmei said in a low voice,
"Compared to being the future Pavilion Master, I’d rather stay by your side and be a Little Guard with you.
"Oh, right, take me to see One Square House."
Fang Shuwen nodded and led her out of the Ancient Quiet Pavilion.
One Square House wasn’t far. After opening the door and stepping inside, Fang Shuwen smiled.
"There’s nothing here yet. Feel free to look around."
But Zhou Qingmei loved it.
"It’s better that there’s nothing here! It means I can furnish the place.
"We can put some flower pots here, a table over there... If someone comes, they can sit here and talk with you.
"We’ll also need a tea set, placed right here, ready to be used at any time.
"And there’s a second floor! We can add some furniture, make a bedroom or something... You can rest here in the future."
She chattered on endlessly, but Fang Shuwen just folded his arms and listened, not feeling the least bit impatient.
Only when she had more or less finished did he pour her a cup of tea to soothe her throat.
"I’ll leave all the decorating to you. If nothing unexpected comes up, I have to go on a trip in the next day or two. You can decorate One Square House however you like during that time."
"Where are you going?"
Zhou Qingmei asked hurriedly.
"Out to sea."
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"There’s a grudge that needs to be settled."
Zhou Qingmei looked at him without a word.
Fang Shuwen just shook his head gently.
Their understanding of each other seemed innate. A single glance, a simple shake of the head, and everything was communicated.
Zhou Qingmei sighed.
"I understand. I’ll wait for you here."
"Mm."
Fang Shuwen nodded, then took out his handwritten copy of the Nine Yin Scripture from his robes and handed it to Zhou Qingmei.
"While you’re staying in Julu City, you don’t have to come to the shop. If anything needs to be arranged, just tell others to do it.
"If you get bored, practice your Martial Arts.
"This Technique is eclectic and all-encompassing.
"You should cultivate it diligently. It will definitely benefit your Martial Arts."
"Mm."
Zhou Qingmei agreed and put the handwritten manual away.
She gave Fang Shuwen a reluctant glance.
"When are you leaving?"
"It’s hard to say. It should be in the next day or two."
Fang Shuwen felt a bit regretful as well. He hadn’t seen Zhou Qingmei in so long and had expected them to be a little distant with each other.
But unexpectedly, seeing her again made his heart race even more.
But they had only just reunited, and now they had to part ways again.
The look in Zhou Qingmei’s eyes just now had shown her desire to go to sea with him.
However, this trip was to Undying Island to face the unfathomably profound Undying Dragon Emperor, and Fang Shuwen couldn’t be sure how dangerous the journey would be.
’I’d be fine on my own... But even though Zhou Qingmei has cultivated the Golden Jade Divine Technique to the Fourth Layer and gained twenty years of Inner Strength from a Yuqing Fruit, it’s still hard to say if she’d be completely safe against such an opponent. It’s better for her to stay in Julu City and wait...’
Zhou Qingmei understood what Fang Shuwen meant and didn’t press the issue, merely feeling the same regret he did.
This made Zhou Qingmei, who hadn’t planned on going home anyway, want to go home even less.
Time was precious, and she wanted to spend a little more of it with Fang Shuwen.
As it happened, Fang Shuwen felt the same way. Even though he felt it was a bit improper, he couldn’t bear to send her back.
This was somewhat different from how he used to think.
Initially, his feelings for Zhou Qingmei had been just a hazy sensation.
But this time, they were far more intense.
Although neither of them had confessed their feelings, it was as if they had reached a silent understanding.
Fang Shuwen felt this was probably because of Yu Yaoguang and Miao Feichan.
The first step is always the hardest.
The first affection he’d accepted was Yu Yaoguang’s, through her forceful methods. Miao Feichan had been influenced by Yu Yaoguang, and Fang Shuwen hadn’t shied away then either.
Perhaps his heart had been opened to loving more than one person. Faced with the still-naive Zhou Qingmei, Fang Shuwen didn’t intend to leave behind any regrets this time.
Before he transmigrated, he had believed in monogamy. But having lived in this world for twenty years after crossing over, he naturally wouldn’t act with the same mindset he had before.
Fang Shuwen recalled the phrase Mo Beidou had wanted to say but didn’t: pluck the flower when it’s ripe for picking; don’t wait for a barren branch. He suddenly thought, ’He was so damn right.’
And so, for the rest of the afternoon, Fang Shuwen led Zhou Qingmei on a leisurely stroll all around Julu City.
Although the two of them had grown up on completely different paths, their knowledge of Julu City was about the same.
Familiar sights from the past felt completely different seeing them again today.
Perhaps it was because there was someone new by his side.
They spent time together until evening, when Fang Shuwen took Zhou Qingmei directly back to the small courtyard where he lived and introduced her to Fang Dabao.
"After I leave, I’m entrusting this courtyard to you. Find someone to come over and help with the daily cleaning.
"Help me add a few things to the house, too...
"Fang Dabao is too big to take to sea, so I’m leaving him with you for now.
"But those are all minor things. The most important thing is this stone stele."
Fang Shuwen led Zhou Qingmei over to the sword stele in the courtyard and said,