Chapter 103: Chapter 102: Regret
A few days after the Four Mountains Martial Arts Gathering, the students of Qig Mountain Academy began their vacation.
Xiaxia was picked up directly by her third uncle, Xia Dong, which was a great relief to Wen Qingye. Meanwhile, Wen Qingye was heading down the mountain with Little Yunshan.
Suddenly, Yunshan pointed forward with her little finger and said in surprise, "Brother Qingye, look! Isn’t that Sister Yuerou?"
Wen Qingye looked and saw Gao Yuerou standing not far away, watching the two of them. Her face was a little pale, but her eyes held a trace of joy.
Gao Yuerou smiled at Wen Qingye and said, "Qingye, let’s travel together. We can look out for each other on the road."
Wen Qingye nodded and asked, puzzled, "You don’t look well. What’s wrong?"
Gao Yuerou shrugged and smiled casually. "It’s nothing. I just didn’t sleep well last night."
Wen Qingye glanced at Gao Yuerou. For some reason, he felt she had changed a little, but he couldn’t put his finger on how.
Gao Yuerou lifted her head, took Yunshan’s hand, and patted the girl’s cute little cheek. "Let’s go," she said.
.....
「Five days later.」 The three of them arrived in Phoenix City.
Gao Yuerou looked at the familiar city before them and smiled joyfully. "We’re finally here."
Wen Qingye’s heart skipped a beat at her sweet smile, and he quickly turned away. ’It’s just a natural reaction,’ he told himself.
After a moment, Wen Qingye said, "Well, let’s part ways here."
"Okay." Gao Yuerou nodded. She was anxious, wondering about her mother’s condition.
Only after Gao Yuerou had disappeared from sight did Wen Qingye take Yunshan’s hand and head into the city.
Before long, a tall figure and a small one appeared at the entrance of the Zhang Mansion.
Yunshan looked around curiously and asked, "Brother Qingye, is this where you live?"
Wen Qingye gazed at the clean, tidy courtyard and the mostly refurbished brick walls, a warmth spreading through his heart. He knew Xiaoyun was here.
"Yes."
Just then, a graceful figure slowly emerged from the house, a broom in her hand. Her large eyes were fixed on Wen Qingye, glinting with a mixture of shock and delight.
"Husband!"
Zhang Xiaoyun cried out, looking at Wen Qingye before her in utter disbelief.
Wen Qingye smiled. "I’m back."
Joy filled Zhang Xiaoyun’s heart as she hurried toward Wen Qingye. It was then she noticed a little girl behind him—a very cute girl with big eyes, blinking as she stared at her.
Zhang Xiaoyun’s face suddenly flushed, and she grew flustered. "Husband, who is this child?"
At first, Little Yunshan was startled by Zhang Xiaoyun’s appearance and couldn’t help but hide behind Wen Qingye. But seeing that Zhang Xiaoyun was even more nervous than she was, she grew a little bolder.
Wen Qingye said gently, "This is Yunshan. Her family has passed away, so I’ve brought her back with me for now."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoyun’s eyes fell on Little Yunshan, filled with a trace of sympathy. She looked at the girl with pity and said, "Oh, you poor thing."
Wen Qingye patted Yunshan’s back and said, "Go with Sister Xiaoyun. She’ll get a room ready for you."
Yunshan shyly approached Zhang Xiaoyun and said in a small voice, "Sister Xiaoyun!"
Zhang Xiaoyun quickly replied, "Don’t be shy, don’t be shy. I’ll go get a room ready for you right now."
Wen Qingye watched Zhang Xiaoyun lead Yunshan away before slowly returning to the house.
Wen Qingye frowned as he looked at the Black Pearl and Rain Dew Flower in his hand. He knew these two items alone weren’t enough to heal the scar on Zhang Xiaoyun’s face. According to her, the scar wasn’t an acquired injury but congenital. This meant he would also need an Innate Grass, which could clear the meridians from birth.
According to this world’s classification, the Innate Grass was likely a Low-Level King Grade medicinal herb. King Grade was the rank above Ninth Grade, so it was clear that the Innate Grass was an extremely precious herb.
Wen Qingye noticed his surroundings were spotless, and the clothes in his room were neat as new. A warm feeling rose in his heart.
"Husband!"
The door opened, and Zhang Xiaoyun entered timidly.
Wen Qingye smiled and said, "What’s wrong? Why are you so nervous?"
Zhang Xiaoyun’s eyes were fixed on Wen Qingye as she said in a low voice, "It’s not that. It’s just... I haven’t seen you in so long, and now you’re suddenly back. I’m so happy, so very happy."
Zhang Xiaoyun gazed at Wen Qingye, her pupils trembling. After countless days and nights of waiting, the man before her had finally returned.
Wen Qingye stepped forward and hugged Zhang Xiaoyun tightly, whispering in her ear, "As long as you’re happy. How have you been while I was away?"
A blush spread across Zhang Xiaoyun’s face as she murmured, "I’ve been well. Father has been visiting often, and young men from Jishi Hall frequently come to drop things off. They even gave me many restorative pills."
Wen Qingye looked at the joyful Zhang Xiaoyun and didn’t speak, but his eyes were smiling.
"Actually, as long as I have you, I’m content," Zhang Xiaoyun finished, a deep blush creeping to the base of her neck as she hid in Wen Qingye’s embrace.
Hearing this, Wen Qingye couldn’t help but hold the woman in his arms tighter. He didn’t know why, but being with her made him feel an impulse to let go of everything, to feel a warmth he had never felt before.
"Tomorrow, let’s go back to the Wen Family together," Wen Qingye said.
"Huh? Do I have to go too?" Zhang Xiaoyun asked, flustered.
Wen Qingye looked at Zhang Xiaoyun and said with a smile, "Don’t you want to meet my mother?"
"No, it’s not that, it’s just that I..." Zhang Xiaoyun waved her hands frantically, her voice trailing off as she lowered her head.
"It’s okay." Wen Qingye looked at the woman before him. ’How could he not know what she was thinking?’
Wen Qingye said slowly, "Sooner or later, I will heal the scar on your face."
"But..." Zhang Xiaoyun was still hesitant.
Wen Qingye held Zhang Xiaoyun tightly and said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "You have to go, understand? No refusing."
Zhang Xiaoyun slowly nodded. "Okay. We’ll go together."
Wen Qingye nodded in satisfaction. He couldn’t help but think of the Liu Clan, and a sudden longing filled his heart.
Zhang Xiaoyun, nestled in Wen Qingye’s embrace, said, "Yunshan seems so pitiful, and so well-behaved."
Wen Qingye knew Zhang Xiaoyun had taken a liking to the little girl. ’Perhaps she sees a bit of herself in Little Yunshan.’
Wen Qingye nodded and said, "Yes. Her good behavior makes her all the more deserving of pity."
Zhang Xiaoyun suddenly lifted her head, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Husband, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," Wen Qingye said with a smile.
Zhang Xiaoyun’s eyes were fixed on Wen Qingye as she asked, "Do you regret marrying me?"
Never in her life had Zhang Xiaoyun been so nervous. Never. Her heart was in her throat.
"I do," Wen Qingye said, nodding gravely. His eyes met the gentle Zhang Xiaoyun’s as he continued, "I regret not marrying you sooner. Then you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much, to endure so much injustice."
Zhang Xiaoyun looked at Wen Qingye, tears welling up in her eyes. She felt that this single moment made her whole life worthwhile. All the suffering and grievances she had endured in the past slowly faded from her memory. At this moment, her entire world had narrowed down to this one person.
