The next day.

Last night's heavy rain cleansed the earth, and this morning the air was filled with a unique moist freshness that comes after rain.

Fan Wubing leisurely opened his eyes and saw Xianchan snuggling beside him, curled up in a ball.

She was like this almost every day. Even though she had her own room, she would always appear on either Fan Wubing's bed or Fu Manman's bed in the morning.

Mornings seemed to be a special time for her.

No sooner had Fan Wubing woken up than she immediately woke up, making one wonder if she had actually been asleep.

"Good morning."

Xianchan showed a smile as radiant as a flower. She still couldn't speak, though it didn't seem to be due to any mental issue.

Stepping out of the room and standing on the balcony, Fan Wubing looked down and saw Fu Manman in the courtyard, dressed in a deep black winter outfit with a snow cape, pacing back and forth and muttering something.

"You're up." She looked up at him.

Fan Wubing asked, "What are you doing?"

"I had a bit of a breakthrough last night and gained some special insights, just trying to integrate them now."

"What's that complete Acquired Dao?"

"A strange name, called 'Celestial Lord of the Heavens, Xuanri Dao.'"

"That long?"

Fu Manman nodded, "Yes, and it's strange too, this Dao takes a path related to fire. My previous cultivation techniques and divine techniques were all related to water and ice, isn't there a bit of a conflict... I'm considering whether to change my techniques."

Fan Wubing said, "I don't think you need to. Fire and water aren't inherently conflicting, otherwise how do 'water' and 'fire' coexist in the Five Elements Earth Phenomenon Dao? Moreover, the fire in your Dao isn't ordinary fire."

"True, I need to find a good balance point."

Fu Manman started grooming Xianchan. Watching in the mirror, she saw Fan Wubing's fingers tapping away in the air and asked, "What are you doing?"

Fan Wubing said, "Do you have any musical instruments? Like a pipa, a zither, a xiao, or a flute?"

While braiding Xianchan's hair, Fu Manman asked, "What do you want them for?"

"I want to play music."

"Play music?" Fu Manman turned around, gave him a once-over, and laughed, "You can do that?"

"No."

"Then why suddenly?" She remembered something and suddenly widened her eyes, "You didn't really go to a brothel last night, did you? Heard the girls play beautiful music and got tempted? Did you even discuss musical skills with them?"

"You really have an imagination."

"Then why suddenly want to play music?"

Her hair was only half braided when Xianchan, a bit displeased, tugged on Fu Manman's arm to urge her to continue.

"Don't rush, Chan'Er, let me figure this out." Fu Manman seemed concerned about this, as he had never mentioned wanting to play music before, so she couldn't help but pay attention.

Fan Wubing said, "It's serious business, but I can't tell you."

Fu Manman asked, "Really serious business?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I trust you."

"Then do you have any instruments?"

"No."

Fan Wubing rolled his eyes dramatically, "Then why did you say so much?"

"Can't I just say it?"

"Asked for nothing."

The room fell silent.

Fu Manman finished grooming Xianchan's hair, remembered something, and said to Fan Wubing, "Oh, by the way, a new neighbor just moved into the courtyard next door."

"Hmm." Fan Wubing wasn't interested in neighbors.

"Tall, slender, fair and elegant, very good-looking."

"Hmm."

Fu Manman added, "Even greeted us in the morning, with a nice voice too."

"Hmm."

"Hey."

Fu Manman was a bit dissatisfied with Fan Wubing's perfunctory attitude... She wrinkled her nose, turned briskly, took a few steps, pressed Fan Wubing down, pinned his hands down, leaned her head forward, and bit his neck.

Fan Wubing winced at the pain in his neck and pushed her away, "You're at it again."

"It's a punishment, a punishment," Fu Manman stood, licking her lips, her eyes filled with excitement.

"You're doing something very dangerous." The wound on Fan Wubing's neck quickly healed, and he raised an eyebrow and glanced at her with an intense gaze.

Fu Manman didn't back down at all, "Who told you to be so perfunctory with me."

Her chest heaved, and a flush rose to her face, as if eagerly anticipating something that might happen.

A surge of heat rose in Fan Wubing's eyes, "Come here."

But Fu Manman didn't obey, sitting on the bed instead, smiling, "You come here."

So Fan Wubing got up and walked towards her.

After taking just two steps, Xianchan suddenly ran outside, flailing her arms and legs in excitement.

Fan Wubing's mind cleared instantly, realizing there was still a little cat around! He quickly stopped and followed to see what was outside.

It was snowing.

The snowflakes fluttered down from the sky like floating dandelions, dancing in the air as the wind blew by. The crystal-clear snowflakes reflected the pale light from above, momentarily dazzling, yet quickly embodying the gentle grace of this northern land.

Fan Wubing turned to Fu Manman, "You've gotten fat again."

These words were the fastest way to dampen Fu Manman's mood.

The enthusiasm she had just felt vanished immediately, replaced by a flush of embarrassment and irritation, "Don't need you to say!"

She too sobered up, went onto the balcony outside, and watched the northern snow with Xianchan.

Fan Wubing watched the big and small from behind, musing to himself that lately, being around Manman made him quite easily restless... Has she really grown more charming? Or is my fondness for her... truly that kind of affection? Or perhaps it's just like that night with Senior Sister Gu Lan, a youthful impulse.

He stared somewhat blankly at Fu Manman's backside, repeating silently to himself, "Not even sixteen, yet such a figure already? Thought she was like Qingyao... Can't underestimate girls in their growing years..."

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