Chapter 30: Bestowing the Dawn Rose upon Qian Renxue, an Invitation from the Ye Family of the Nine-Heart Begonia

It is not easy to be a hermit.

Li Zhexian’s plans to build a hut and go into seclusion had fallen through. There were two reasons for this: first, he had forgotten to inform Xue Qinghe, effectively standing him up; second, he was short on brewing equipment and still needed to ask Xue Qinghe for some.

By the side of Lotus Lake, the sun was blazing. Xue Qinghe sat alone on the bank, a fishing rod slanted into the water. Seeing this scene, Li Zhexian felt a bit guilty and quickened his pace as he approached. Before he could even offer a greeting, Xue Qinghe’s indifferent voice drifted over on the breeze:

"I wondered who it might be... Isn’t this the most renowned Sword-Wine of the Spirit Fighting Arena? What wind has blown you to this secluded lake?"

Li Zhexian was speechless. He had once again experienced the pettiness of the Saintess. He walked behind Xue Qinghe and said, "Qinghe, look back at me."

Xue Qinghe turned his face to the other side.

Li Zhexian: "..."

In the distance, within the reed beds, Pufferfish Douluo’s face was dark, and his fists were clenched so tightly they cracked. "Snake Spear, is this the deep brotherhood you spoke of? The Young Master’s current identity is the Crown Prince—how on earth does this look anything like a man!"

Snake Spear, usually composed, also wore a conflicted expression. Pufferfish made a move to rush out, saying, "I’m going to stop this!"

Snake Spear reached out and held him back. "Trust me, it will be fine. Li Zhexian has no idea of the Young Master’s true identity. The Young Master only reveals this side of himself when he is with him. Besides..." He looked toward the two figures in the distance, his voice deepening. "The Young Master is much more cheerful than before."

Pufferfish fell silent upon hearing this.

"Come to think of it..." Snake Spear squinted, staring at the young man in white, whispering in shock, "It has only been a day since we last saw him! This boy’s sharp edge has grown so bright it can no longer be hidden!"

Pufferfish also looked at what Li Zhexian was holding. "This spirit herb is pure and radiant—is it for the Young Master? Hmph, I suppose this brat still has a conscience; it is not in vain that the Young Master favors him so."

"If you won't turn around, I’m leaving then." With that, Li Zhexian stared at Xue Qinghe and began to walk backward, step by step. He had only taken one step when Xue Qinghe suddenly turned his head, the clear urgency in his eyes colliding with Li Zhexian’s smiling, expectant gaze.

"You..." Xue Qinghe’s delicate face flushed bright red. However, his gaze was immediately drawn to the object in Li Zhexian’s hand.

It was a rose that seemed to have been cast from the essence of dawn; its layered petals were as thin as cicada wings, flowing with a warm, luminous halo. A speck of liquid golden stamen pulsed with radiance like solidified morning sunlight.

"This... this is..." A dreamy look flashed across Xue Qinghe’s eyes as he slowly lifted his gaze to Li Zhexian.

"For you." Li Zhexian held the spirit herb out to Xue Qinghe. "This spirit herb is called the Dawn Glow Rose. Your Swan spirit has a light attribute. It should be beneficial to you."

Xue Qinghe’s heart trembled. He raised his hand, then suddenly retracted it, his delicate face flushing again as he carefully cradled the Dawn Glow Rose in his palms. "Thank you... I... I like it very much."

Li Zhexian lay lazily on the grass beside him, plucking a blade of grass and chewing on it. "Why are you being so polite with me? We’re brothers."

The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was filled with spirit herbs. He had always remembered the kindness of Xue Qinghe gifting him the Yaoguang Brew. Without that immortal wine, his wine spirit would not have transformed, and he would not have been able to comprehend the Yaoguang Sword. It was only natural for him to gift a spirit herb that suited Xue Qinghe.

Watching the young man in white beside him, a complex and indefinable look of shame flashed across the depths of Xue Qinghe’s eyes. He parted his lips to speak, but ultimately lowered his head in silence.

Li Zhexian seemed not to notice Xue Qinghe’s complex emotions, keeping his eyes closed as he lay there, speaking to himself: "Qinghe, I’m going into seclusion for a while. I probably won’t be able to come to Lotus Lake every day."

Xue Qinghe gave a low response. "Mm."

"Oh, right, one more thing..." Li Zhexian tossed a green silk pouch onto the grass beside Xue Qinghe. "Help me prepare some more brewing equipment. The list is inside..."

Xue Qinghe’s gaze fell on the green pouch, his eyebrows arching slightly. "The Dugu family’s Wishful Treasure Pouch? You’ve even been given this, Li Zhexian—are you becoming the Dugu family’s son-in-law?"

...

Receiving no response for a long time, Xue Qinghe looked over in confusion. He saw the young man in white lying beside him with his eyes lightly closed, his handsome profile looking peaceful and serene in the afternoon sun.

Xue Qinghe did not look away for a long time. Just watching him like this... his delicate face softened. He moved silently closer, then a little closer still. His slender frame tilted slightly, shielding the youth from the sun and leaving only dappled, gentle shadows.

When Li Zhexian woke up, the sun had already slanted toward the west. The two parted ways with a wave. Xue Qinghe, clutching the Dawn Glow Rose, watched Li Zhexian’s back as he gradually walked away. Pufferfish and Snake Spear appeared silently behind him.

On the way back to the palace, Xue Qinghe suddenly said softly, "How can someone lurking in the shadows... be worthy of such a brilliant, immortal flower?"

Pufferfish and Snake Spear understood the implication and hurriedly said, "Young Master, your identity must never be revealed! This concerns the grand plan of the Spirit Hall!"

"I know," Xue Qinghe’s voice turned cold abruptly. "You don’t need to remind me."

Li Zhexian returned to his small courtyard. He was packing his bags, preparing to move to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, when suddenly—knock, knock, knock. A knock sounded at the gate.

"Hm?" Li Zhexian was very surprised. "I just parted ways with Xue Qinghe, and the Dugu grandfather and granddaughter have gone off to hunt for spirit rings. Who else would come to my door?"

Opening the courtyard gate, a maid dressed in simple, elegant clothing stood on the steps, holding a gilded invitation with both hands. "Greetings, Young Master Zhexian. By the order of our household head, the Ye family of the Nine-Heart Begonia invites you to visit our estate for a talk."

Looking at the gilded invitation, Li Zhexian raised an eyebrow. The Ye family of the Nine-Heart Begonia? He had no dealings with them and they were worlds apart; why would they invite him? Li Zhexian initially wanted to refuse, but the legendary Nine-Heart Begonia, envied by the heavens, stirred his intense curiosity.

"I have already seen the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. I wonder what this Nine-Heart Begonia is like."

With his mind made up, Li Zhexian took the invitation and bowed. "Thank you for the trouble; I shall arrive shortly."

The maid bowed gracefully. "We await your arrival."

Putting everything he needed into his treasure pouch, Li Zhexian walked toward the Ye estate. He did not know the way, but that was not a problem. In the Heaven Dou Imperial City, whenever the "Ye Estate" was mentioned, the first thing that came to mind was always the Nine-Heart Begonia family.

At the end of the bluestone-paved corridor, two ebony doors stood quietly, with copper carvings of the Nine-Heart Begonia pattern wrapped around the door knockers. Li Zhexian looked up. A nanmu plaque hung above the lintel, with the characters "Ye Estate" inlaid in silver thread, tracing the vines of a begonia, with each stroke ending in a blooming flower petal.

"Truly wealthy," Li Zhexian sighed, stepping forward to knock on the door ring. "Li Zhexian, here by invitation."