Xu Chang'an listened intently, not even noticing that he had unintentionally drained the tea from his cup.

He thought it was just a casual conversation, but unexpectedly... there was an inexplicable charm between Zhu Pingniang and the Female Shopkeeper's dialogue... something he'd never seen before, something behind the flourishing facade of the brothel.

Lately, Xu Chang'an was also pondering what a so-called goal truly was, which is why he always felt that he wasn't making any progress.

Those who value power will climb higher, those who value silver coins will make money, those who value women will seek pleasure in the brothel, everyone has goals, more or less, but their intrinsic value ultimately comes from their own heart.

Thus, Xu Chang'an believed that as long as one is satisfied with their goals, there's no such thing as being successful or unsuccessful.

For instance, if Miss Yun's goal is to have a child, who can say it's not ambitious?

This is indeed quite ambitious, and although Xu Chang'an personally thinks cultivation is better, he wouldn't correct her thought.

Xu Chang'an looked earnestly at the Female Shopkeeper in front of him.

"Sister." At this moment, the Female Shopkeeper had only Zhu Pingniang in her eyes. She whispered, "I… I don't regret following you, this is the most correct choice."

Not regretting is the correct path.

She did not regret becoming one of her girls and felt happiness because of it.

So, when her own daughter wanted to pursue this happiness, she wouldn't mock her naivety.

If she could live again, and choose to be an ordinary person or one of Zhu Pingniang's girls, she would without hesitation choose the latter.

"Enough with the sentimentality." Zhu Pingniang scoffed and released her hand, saying helplessly, "You silly girl, this is your only achievement in this life."

"Sister always said I had no prospects, and I became like this because I blamed you." The Female Shopkeeper squinted, as if returning to her girlhood.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Pingniang's mouth twitched: "Silly girl, I also told you to consider yourself more, not always think about me, didn't you listen?"

Earlier, when she heard the little girl saying she wasn't lacking money and only entered the brothel to make money for her, Zhu Pingniang knew it was this girl's influence.

"You don't lack silver, do you think I do?" Zhu Pingniang stared at her.

The Female Shopkeeper glanced at Xu Chang'an, feeling a bit warm in the ears. She stood up, leaned close, and whispered in Zhu Pingniang's ear, "I never considered whether Sister wants it."

All she knew was that she wouldn't give these to anyone else, only to Miss Zhu.

"Silly girl."

"Hmm?"

"You are beyond saving."

"Sister says so."

"..."

The Female Shopkeeper gazed at the Zhu Pingniang before her, seemingly untouched by time, and she looked at her foolishly for a while, feeling that to be liked by such a perfect Miss Zhu… truly was the young lord's blessing.

She pondered if such a presentation could make the young lord feel Sister's goodness?

The Female Shopkeeper frowned.

She felt it was unlikely.

Without personally experiencing it, one could never understand why she would rather be a courtesan and still like Zhu Pingniang.

This place, after all, was a brothel, a place of the ephemeral, how could Xu Chang'an perceive the goodness and gentleness of Zhu Pingniang towards her, this was crucial.

"After all... Sister, you always shy away, clearly caring about me, yet still calling me a silly girl." The Female Shopkeeper gently sighed, "If you were more straightforward, how could there be anyone in the world who wouldn't like you?"

"...???"

Zhu Pingniang's head was filled with question marks.

Hearing this, Xu Chang'an deeply agreed.

Could Senior also be a tsundere character?

Thinking it over, she always teased him when they met but never crossed the line, and whenever he got into trouble and she complained, she would still earnestly help him resolve it.

"Silly girl." Sensing Xu Chang'an's gaze, Zhu Pingniang gritted her teeth: "What nonsense are you talking about."

"Ms. Zhu." The Female Shopkeeper met her eyes: "Is there anything in your life that makes you proud whenever you think of it?"

"Me?" Thinking of a certain silly girl in the Chaoyun Sect, Zhu Pingniang smiled, "Yes, the most prideful... is that without spending a single Spirit Stone, I tricked the famous Hidden Immortal and Alchemy Grandmaster to join the Sect and obediently practice alchemy for me."

Xu Chang'an: "..."

He wasn't a fool.

Was Senior talking about his teacher... talking about his teacher, right?

Hidden Immortal?

Alchemy Grandmaster?

Tricked?

Without spending a single Spirit Stone…

What a tool person.

Xu Chang'an recalled Li Zhibai's worn Daoist robe and frugal life, unable to stop his eye corner from twitching.

The Female Shopkeeper was also stunned, though she already knew Zhu Pingniang had connections with the Immortal Sect, she didn't quite understand it.

And since Zhu Pingniang had spoken, there was no point in hiding it from Xu Chang'an. After all, given the peculiar traits of Li Zhibai, even if she didn't say it, Xu Chang'an's astuteness would likely lead to the revelation.

After the joke, Zhu Pingniang fell silent, then said again: "Is there anything in your life that makes you proud whenever you think of it? Seriously speaking, yes, there is."

"What?" The Female Shopkeeper curiously asked.

"When I was young, I fell in love with a silly girl." Zhu Pingniang blinked, "Does this count as something I'm proud of?"

"It certainly does." The Female Shopkeeper was quite speechless.

Actually, at least seventy percent of women had, during girlhood, liked a female around them, so this was not surprising.

However.

Isn't it a bit much to say this in front of the young lord?

And besides, this so-called girl is presumably the Hidden Immortal you tricked into the mountains before.

...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.