Chapter 366

On a snowy day, Xuanxu seemed like a celestial paradise.

The lake’s frozen surface reflected like a clear mirror, while clouds and mist billowed softly in all directions.

The pavilion at the lake’s center appeared like a heavenly palace, framed by the ethereal surroundings.

Qiu Qiu was clutching a scripture in her hands, standing with He Zhizhou behind her.

Both had their backs to Qiu Baishuang, who couldn’t see their expressions but could hear snippets of their conversation.

“Qiu Qiu, have you learned to compose poetry yet?”

He Zhizhou spoke with great confidence: “Come, let’s hear you recite a poem right now. Show your teacher how well you’ve progressed!”

“I’ve learned it!”

Qiu Qiu was equally pleased with herself, brimming with ambition.

“Then… then I’ll… I’ll write about my mother!”

Lady Yunshang, renowned as a beauty in the cultivation world, had inspired countless poetic tributes filled with flattery.

But it was the first time her child had ever written a poem for her.

“Sigh, Qiu Qiu truly takes after you more.”

Qiu Baishuang secretly transmitted his thoughts to his wife, smiling as he said, “Now I’m upset. You’ll have to make it up to me.”

Lady Yunshang cast him a mock-angry glance, though her lips curved into a small smile.

Meanwhile, Qiu Qiu had already begun her composition: “Ahem—‘Ode to Mother!’”

Qiu Baishuang and his wife listened with gentle smiles, joking, “This poem should be framed and displayed in our study.”

But soon they heard their daughter loudly recite:

“Always forcing me to study,
Cooking like she’s adding arsenic!”

Lady Yunshang’s expression immediately shifted.

Qiu Baishuang’s smile froze, his face turning pale, while their precious daughter continued proudly:

“After one bowl of soup,
Father fell dead on the ground!”

Disaster.

This poem was a curse.

By the time she finished reciting it, her father was dead, her mother was furious, and Qiu Qiu was destined for a sleepless night of tears.

Lady Yunshang’s face turned ashen, then pale, her emotions stormy.

Qiu Baishuang consoled her while inwardly feeling grateful—thank heavens the poem wasn’t titled Ode to Father!

“I’ve found my rhythm! I can compose another one—Watching the Snow with Brother He in the Lake Pavilion!”

Qiu Qiu, having caught the poetic flow, bounced excitedly on the spot, declaring her next work:

“The world blanketed white,
Adorned in snowy delight.
Snow falls heavily—”

“See? Our daughter is so talented! This poem is so lively and cheerful; it’s truly delightful to hear,” Qiu Baishuang said in a gentle tone, attempting to soothe his wife.

Just as his words landed, Qiu Qiu paused, seemingly contemplating her next lines.

Then, in a clear, childlike voice, she recited:

“—Just like my mother’s cooking laced with arsenic!”

Qiu Baishuang: …

What “learned poetry”?

She’s completely ruined it!

Just how obsessed is she with criticizing her mother’s cooking?

—Though, admittedly, her cooking is quite awful.

Lady Yunshang decided she had enough of the little poets in the lake pavilion.

After stomping her feet in frustration and ruffling her hair in annoyance, she turned to leave and find Gu Lu instead.

Gu Lu was in the tea room with Ning Ning and Zheng Weiqi, quietly drinking tea.

What a well-behaved child!

Lady Yunshang expressed her thanks and picked Gu Lu up into her arms.

Meanwhile, Qiu Baishuang glanced around curiously.

“Strange, where’s Brother Pei? I remember he has a close relationship with Taoist Friend Ning.”

Upon hearing Pei Ji’s name, the child in her arms looked up with a smile and answered softly, “Brother Pei Ji said it’s time for him to ‘be a duck.’”

(T/N: means to be a prostitute)

Be… a duck?

Lady Yunshang froze.

Was this meant literally or metaphorically? If it was literal, disciples of the immortal sects usually abstain from eating, so why would cooking be necessary?

But if it was metaphorical…

Tentatively, she asked, “Do Xuanxu Sword Sect disciples… also personally do that kind of thing?”

“Yes,” Ning Ning replied with a smile.

“Although Xuanxu is an immortal sect, practicing swordsmanship is very costly. There’s no choice but to rely on him.”

Practicing swordsmanship is expensive, so they rely on him?

Lady Yunshang’s heart trembled.

“And your master has no objections to this?”

Why would their master object? Did the cultivation world also have old-fashioned ideas like “gentlemen shouldn’t cook,” believing it beneath the dignity of a swordsman?

Not wanting to perpetuate outdated notions, Ning Ning quickly shook her head.

“Master fully supports it! Without Pei Ji, none of us would have food to eat!”

So it all comes down to Pei Ji being manipulated by Tian Xianzi! XuanXu Sword Sect—what a shameless, heartless sect!

Lady Yunshang was so shaken that she just wanted to bang her head on the ground, and she gripped her husband’s arm tightly.

That innocent young man bore humiliation upon humiliation just to feed a group of starving disciples and elders.

From this moment, Tian Xianzi lost all respect in her eyes.

He was no longer a complete person but a parasitic giant baby, sucking the life out of others!

As they conversed, a slender figure walked in from outside, snowflakes scattered across his form.

Pei Ji had returned from the kitchen, his entire being chilled.

Snowmelt washed away the scent of cooking smoke, but Ning Ning hurried to him, exclaiming, “You’re done so quickly?”

“Mm.”

His tone carried a hint of helplessness, his dark eyes filled with gentle light.

“Don’t touch me, I’m dirty.”

After all, the kitchen was full of oil and smoke.

Lady Yunshang’s heart shattered completely.

She wanted so badly to tell the poor boy: No! You’re not dirty at all! It’s this hypocritical world around you that’s filthy! You’re clean—so clean, especially your crystal-clear heart!

“What’s dirty about that?”

Ning Ning ignored his protests, standing on tiptoe to brush the snow off his head.

Seeing his jade-like face flushed from the cold, she cupped his cheek to warm it with her palm.

“There, is that better?”

“Whoa, why’s it so lively here?”

He Zhizhou entered with Qiu Qiu in tow, grinning widely.

“Xuanxu is bustling today! Laughter fills the tea room! Gu Lu is my little darling, and Qiu Qiu is such a good baby!”

This guy is crazy! He has gone crazy with oily speech! His speech is obviously abnormal!

Lady Yunshang shuddered as Ning Ning whispered something to He Zhizhou. His grin grew even wider as he nodded and exclaimed, “Great! Pei Ji’s going to be a duck again! I’ve been looking forward to it!”

He paused and added, “When you have time, you can teach me and Junior Brother Lin Xun some experience. We can’t rely on you alone to support us. It will definitely be much easier if we work together.”

Lady Yunshang was dumbfounded.

This, this, this—he’s actually passing on experience and recruiting others to join in! Tian Xianzi’s disciples are all jumping ship one after another! For them to sink to such poverty and still manage to keep going, the Xuanxu Sword Sect is truly… truly crippled yet indomitable!

Qiu Qiu ran over to her mother for a hug.

He Zhizhou followed her gaze and noticed Lady Yunshang’s deeply bewildered expression.

Though the analogy wasn’t quite right, her gaze at Pei Ji resembled that of a grieving heroine looking at a selfless and determined hero.

He Zhizhou scratched his head.

“City Lord and Lady City Lord, would you like to try some of Pei Ji’s roasted duck? He’s amazing at it, and we all love it.”

Roasted duck.

Ah.

It turns out it was the ‘duck’ she had misunderstood.

Lady Yunshang held her daughter’s small hand and murmured dazedly, “Oh… sure.”