Cangshu Bai whispered, "Unique?"
Mu Ran nodded with a smile. "That's right. I'm only making a Mahala for you; I won't make one for anyone else."
The world was filled with countless little trinkets, tens of thousands of them without end. Yet, the moment something became "unique," it was transformed into a rare treasure.
Cangshu Bai held the small, colorful wooden figure in his hand. His thumb gently brushed over the clumsy yet earnest carvings, while the faint fragrance of wood lingered at the tip of his nose. This was a Mahala hand-carved and hand-painted by Mu Ran herself. The tiny wooden man’s features were painted with an adorable, naive charm that actually bore a slight resemblance to his usual gentle demeanor.
He lowered his eyes and let out a low, brisk laugh, like a night breeze brushing across spring waters; every ripple it created landed on the softest part of one's heart.
Mu Ran rested her chin in her hands, watching her husband’s joyful expression with great interest.
He was usually indifferent toward everything. Even when he was happy, his emotions rarely showed any significant fluctuations. It was a rare sight to see him display such unreserved delight and excitement.
Mu Ran felt a great sense of accomplishment. This feeling was even more exhilarating than when she "helped" him and caused him to lose control.
Thus, she decided to add a little more fuel to the fire.
"Jinzhi," she called out sweetly.
Cangshu Bai looked up. "I'm here."
"You are the most unique existence in my heart. In this whole world, you are the person I love most."
Cangshu Bai gave a soft "mm" in response, appearing relatively composed on the surface.
Mu Ran’s eyes darted around. Suddenly, as if facing a great enemy, she grabbed his hand and pulled him down to sit beside her. Leaning in close, she touched his earlobe and said with exaggerated concern, "Oh no, oh no! Jinzhi, your ears are frostbitten! They're so red!"
Cangshu Bai: "..."
Mu Ran couldn't hold it in any longer and was the first to burst into laughter. Her body swayed unsteadily, but he caught her firmly by the waist.
She said, "Jinzhi, you're so silly."
Cangshu Bai looked down at her. "You don't like it?"
She shook her head. "I like it. I'd like you no matter how silly you were."
She spoke earnestly, with the unique charm and protectiveness of a young woman. Seeing this, a surge of warmth welled up in Cangshu Bai’s heart, nearly overflowing.
In his life, he had seen countless rare treasures and divine immortal weapons, but in his eyes, they were all nothing more than ordinary objects. Yet, the tiny Mahala held in his palm at this moment outweighed everything else in the world.
He carefully placed the wooden figure into a small wooden box.
"I will cherish it," Cangshu Bai said, raising his eyes to gaze at her with deep affection. His fingertips lightly brushed a stray lock of hair from her temple. He paused for a moment, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance, yet he spoke honestly. "Ranran, I have to go out tomorrow morning."
The smile on Mu Ran’s face faltered slightly. She subconsciously gripped his sleeve, a flash of confusion crossing her eyes. "Go out? Where to? Will you be gone for long?"
The demonic cultivators had been growing increasingly rampant lately. Every time she was separated from him, she felt a sense of unease.
Cangshu Bai immediately sensed her tension. He quickly took her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand to soothe her. His voice grew even softer. "It’s not far, just outside the city. My father owned a plot of land there. Now that I’ve returned, it’s best if I visit the clan and arrange for the land to be transferred."
He never spoke of slaughter or danger. He glossed over all the darkness, leaving her with only the most peaceful explanation.
However, looking into Mu Ran’s eyes, which were filled with absolute trust, the guilt in his heart began to climb again.
Mu Ran understood. Although she was reluctant, she nodded sensibly and quietly suppressed her anxiety. Instead, she reached out to straighten his collar and said softly, "Then you must be careful. Come back early. I’ll wait for you to have dinner."
"Alright." Cangshu Bai leaned down and pressed a kiss as light as a feather onto her smooth forehead. "I promise you, I will be back before the sun sets."
He never broke his word. If he promised her something, he would certainly do it.
That night, Mu Ran slept soundly in his arms. When she opened her eyes the next morning, Cangshu Bai was already gone.
There was only a bed warmer in the covers, still keeping her feet toasty.
Even though Cangshu Bai had to go out, he had still prepared breakfast in advance. The bowl of millet porridge was placed in a pot of hot water to keep it warm. When she got out of bed and finished washing up, it was still hot when she sat down to eat.
Mu Ran wasn't used to this.
Ever since they moved to Bishui Town, she didn't have to go to the workshop and he didn't have to go to the clinic. The two had been inseparable. Now that he wasn't home, the house felt exceptionally cold and quiet.
To dispel this bit of separation anxiety, Mu Ran decided to find something to do.
She picked up her toolbox and went to the mouth of the alley, knocking on a large gate.
After a long while, an elderly woman slowly opened the door. Perhaps because of her age, she hadn't slept well; the dark circles under her eyes were heavy, and her complexion was quite haggard. However, upon seeing Mu Ran, she forced a smile and tried her best to appear kind and amiable.
"Young Lady Mu, you've come again."
Mu Ran acted like a total innocent, showing a wide, guileless smile. "That's right, Old Madam. I've come to help you fix things."
"This... really, there's no need. It's too much trouble for you..."
"Don't be a stranger. A neighbor nearby is better than a relative far away," Mu Ran said as she walked into the courtyard with a smile. "What else do you have that needs fixing? Bring it out, and I'll help you."
The old woman was forced to smile and say she would go inside to check.
The residences in this alley were all unclaimed properties; she had only moved in temporarily. Where would she find so many things to fix?
But remembering the restriction placed on her by that man, she could only dutifully serve as a plaything to help Mu Ran pass the time. She went as far as to deliberately break a chair and bring it out for Mu Ran to repair.
Mu Ran pulled up a small stool and sat in the courtyard. While soaking up the sun, she took out her tools and began hammering away at the chair.
Sitting under a tree, the old woman asked tentatively, "Your husband didn't accompany you today?"
Without looking back, Mu Ran replied, "Jinzhi had business to attend to today. He won't be back until evening."
The old woman felt suspicious.
She stole another glance at the jewelry and clothes Mu Ran wore from head to toe. Even the pearls used to decorate her embroidered shoes were extraordinary. If she hadn't tried to attack Mu Ran before and sensed her killing intent—causing those treasures, which were disguised as mundane items, to release a counter-attack—she wouldn't have realized that the girl was covered in rare treasures.
And these treasures, besides protecting Mu Ran, would naturally alert their master to any changes in her whereabouts.
That man's protection of Mu Ran was thorough and absolute, as if he needed to control every breath she took. This level of possessiveness and desire for control was terrifying to the extreme.
He actually left Mu Ran alone for an entire day?
Could he have gone to wipe out the Everlasting Sect?
The old woman was startled by her own thought.
How could that be?
Who would be crazy enough to single-handedly wipe out a major sect?
However, the Old Man Longsword from the rumors—the one who was sinister, cunning, and committed all sorts of evil—might actually do it. It was said that he was the one who slaughtered the Cangshu family in Song City and killed the third young master of the Mountain City of Zhenyue. He was truly audacious.
