The people from Biyun Mountain received the sect master's order to bring Mu Ran back. They asked around the city and soon found Mu Ran's residence.
Speaking of which, Mu Ran was quite the figure in the rumors of Biyun Mountain. After all, throughout history, she was the only one who would rather be expelled from her clan than marry someone she did not want to.
In the past, when people spoke of her, they might have felt a bit of admiration.
But now, when people talked about her, they only treated her as a joke. She was short-sighted and threw away a good husband. How could people not laugh at her?
Mu Ran had actually married a mortal. Standing outside the door, they could see there were no defensive arrays to prevent enemy intrusions at all. She was completely defenseless.
The group of men didn't bother knocking; they simply flew right in.
As soon as they landed, before they could even let out a scream, an extremely cold restriction spell appeared on the ground. Blue lightning, like sinister, cold-blooded vipers, spread from the soles of their feet to their entire bodies. In the blink of an eye, their bodies shattered and turned into a bloody mist, vanishing completely.
The only disciple who was a step behind stood on the wall, watching his fellow sect members being obliterated without a trace in an instant. A strong chill rose within his body, and he subconsciously wanted to flee. Just then, the door to the inner room opened, and a well-rested girl walked out, stretching comfortably under the sun.
As if sensing something, Mu Ran looked up at the wall. It was bare; only the shadows of the trees swayed, and not a single person was in sight.
Thinking she was just overthinking it, she walked briskly into the kitchen and began to busy herself with tonight's New Year's Eve dinner.
Behind the tree, the Biyun Mountain disciple in green clothes was being choked by the neck. His face turned purple, and his eyes rolled back.
Cangshu Bai closed his eyes. Regardless of whether this disciple could withstand it or not, he ruthlessly probed his divine sense.
In just a moment, the disciple's soul was damaged. On the verge of death, he turned into a bloody mist.
Cold fish darted through the bloody mist, quickly swallowing the soul before it could dissipate.
Cangshu Bai opened his ink-black eyes and said with an unclear meaning, Biyun Mountain.
He wiped his hands with a handkerchief, picked up the things he had just bought, and walked into the house through the front door.
Mu Ran was steaming rice cakes. She looked back and smiled, Jinzhi, you're back!
The coldness around Cangshu Bai faded away, and a lingering tenderness appeared in his eyes and brows. He said softly, Yes, I'm back.
Mu Ran walked over and took his hand. I'm almost overwhelmed. Come and help me.
It was truly because she did too little work on a daily basis that she appeared so flustered. Seeing Cangshu Bai was like seeing a savior.
Generally speaking, cultivators lived much longer than ordinary people. Annual festivals obviously did not hold that much significance for them. Cangshu Bai, who had cultivated for over two hundred years, was naturally the same.
In the first year of his marriage to Mu Ran, the first festival they spent together was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
At that time, Cangshu Bai returned from finishing his work at the medical clinic and smelled a burnt, baked aroma.
Mu Ran walked out of the kitchen looking very embarrassed, holding a plate in her hands. She said in a low voice, Jinzhi, I made mooncakes. They might not be very successful, but I tried them, and eating them won't poison you.
Cangshu Bai looked at the charred black things on the plate. These are... mooncakes?
Mu Ran lowered her head, blushing even more furiously.
But later, Cangshu Bai still finished the excessively black mooncakes she made.
It seemed that from then on, Cangshu Bai recalled the taste of celebrating festivals during his childhood. Whenever a holiday came around, he instead became the one most enthusiastic about preparing for it.
Just like now.
He took over the work from Mu Ran's hands, finished steaming the rice cakes, chopped up the hen he bought yesterday, and put it into the pot with other ingredients to stew.
Mu Ran sat on a small stool sorting vegetables. Occasionally, she looked up at the fire, and then at the young man busy by the stove, unable to tear her gaze away.
Cangshu Bai had always been very sensitive to her gaze. He lowered his eyes to look over and asked softly, What's wrong?
Mu Ran told the truth, Jinzhi, you look so handsome when you cook.
He had no sharp edges, only a gentleness softened by the worldly atmosphere. Standing in front of the stove with his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his movements were steady and light. Even though it was the most ordinary domestic look, it made people feel inexplicably at ease.
Mu Ran thought to herself, he really gives off such a strong good husband vibe.
Cangshu Bai squatted in front of her and touched her face. You're purposely saying nice things to make me happy.
I'm not doing it on purpose, I mean it sincerely. Mu Ran's eyes shone even brighter in the firelight. I always feel that today's Jinzhi is more handsome than yesterday's Jinzhi, and tomorrow's Jinzhi will be even more handsome than today's Jinzhi.
Cangshu Bai's fingertips still rested by her cheek, his heart softening at these soft and warm words.
The firelight danced in his eyes, melting away his usual aloofness. A low chuckle rolled from his throat, carrying a hint of helplessness and an unconcealable indulgence. The pads of his fingers gently caressed her cheek, his voice as low as a whisper:
Smooth talker.
Mu Ran asked, Just tell me straight, do you like it or not?
Cangshu Bai fell slightly silent before saying, I like it.
Mu Ran revealed a victorious smile.
It was just the two of them at home. Like last year, although they didn't go all out, they still had everything they should have.
Mu Ran and Cangshu Bai ate the New Year's Eve dinner together and exchanged lucky money with each other. When the sound of fireworks rang out, she hugged Cangshu Bai, looked up, and smiled.
May we have today every year, and this present moment every year.
Cangshu Bai kissed her forehead. Peace and joy, year after year.
The firecrackers sounded for a long time tonight, and fireworks bloomed one after another in the night sky. It wasn't until midnight that all the commotion slowly died down.
Mu Ran stayed up late, finally keeping vigil for the New Year with Cangshu Bai until midnight. It was a new day, and only then did she climb into bed to sleep. She had been too busy and too tired today, so it wasn't long before she fell fast asleep.
Cangshu Bai, however, opened his eyes after she fell asleep. Under the covers, he held her hand, his gaze deep and heavy.
He had always been able to sense that Mu Ran was hiding something from him. Today, after probing the soul of that Biyun Mountain disciple, he finally understood exactly what Mu Ran had been keeping from him.
It turned out that she used to be the eldest young lady of Biyun Mountain. Simply because she was unwilling to marry Li Mohan, she resolutely refused the marriage and was driven out by Biyun Mountain.
And he had heard all about how those people on Biyun Mountain mocked Mu Ran.
Mu Ran was tenacious and independent, refusing to be manipulated by others. Even before marrying Cangshu Bai, she could live perfectly well on her own.
Cangshu Bai had never felt that Mu Ran was someone who coveted vanity.
When she married him, it wasn't because she was forced by circumstances, but because she genuinely liked him and was willing to spend her life with him.
At first, in order to hide his identity, Cangshu Bai couldn't provide Mu Ran with a luxurious life, yet she never complained. Later, as they spent more and more time together, he couldn't help but exhaust all kinds of disguised methods to let Mu Ran live a more comfortable and happy life.
