TheLazyDreamer
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14. An Unexpected Conversation
🕑 Added 2025-03-30 15:26:30 +0000 UTCThe next morning, Bai Yunxi woke up with a slight headache. She instinctively rubbed her temples, her mind still weighed down by exhaustion.
The aroma of Spirit Calming Congee filled the air—a warm, lightly sweet dish made from Moon Lotus Grains, Azure Dew Leaves, and a few strands of Mist Ginseng.
These ingredients helped ease spiritual fatigue and clear the mind.
"You should eat while it's warm. It'll help with the headache," Su Kang said, his voice calm as he set the bowl before her.
The steam carried a soothing aroma, mingling with the crisp morning air. Bai Yunxi hesitated briefly before picking up the spoon.
The first sip spread warmth through her body, dulling the ache in her head. A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"Thank you," she murmured.
They ate in silence.
For the next few days, their journey continued. Conversation between them remained sparse—neither awkward nor forced, just a quiet understanding.
Eventually, they approached Linjiang City, a bustling hub nestled in a wide river valley.
Su Kang hesitated but ultimately decided to stop there under the pretense of restocking supplies and purchasing spiritual ingredients for meals.
"I'll be heading into the city for some things. Would you like to come with me?"
Bai Yunxi considered staying behind but, after a moment of thought, nodded. "I'll go."
The city was lively, its streets filled with merchants and cultivators. A few Foundation Building families resided here, giving the place a sense of stability.
Su Kang led Bai Yunxi through the market, stopping at various stalls to pick up Sky Jade Mushrooms, Fire Mist Peppers, and White Spirit Beans—all useful for enhancing cultivation meals.
After finishing their shopping, Su Kang led Bai Yunxi through a quieter part of the city, where the lively chatter of the marketplace faded into the tranquil murmur of flowing water.
The scent of grilled spirit fish and fragrant tea wafted through the air as they arrived at a riverside pavilion.
The waiter guided them to a private seating area on the third floor, offering an open view of the waterway below.
The golden hues of the setting sun shimmered on the water's surface, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Su Kang ordered a few dishes:
Phoenix Tear Soup – A rich broth made from Celestial Pheasant Essence and Moonflower Roots, known for revitalizing the spirit.
Cloud-Fried Spirit Carp – Lightly fried fish infused with Drifting Cloud Herb, giving it an ethereal taste.
As they waited for their meal, Bai Yunxi remained quiet, her gaze drawn to the flowing river.
As their meal was served, Su Kang broke the silence.
"As a mother… how would you feel if Li Fang openly voiced his love and gratitude toward you?"
Bai Yunxi paused, setting down her jade chopsticks. She contemplated the question, her gaze drifting toward the streaks of light outside the window.
"Li Fang already speaks through his actions… even if he doesn't say it often, I know."
She traced the rim of her teacup with her finger, her expression softening.
"But when he does say it… it reminds me that beneath the genius, beyond the talent and cultivation, he is still my little boy. There’s a unique warmth in hearing it spoken aloud."
Su Kang nodded slowly. "I understand."
She continued, perhaps sensing something unspoken in his query.
"If you feel the need to say such things to your own family, Su Kang, you should."
"I will. I don't want to have regrets."
She blinked, a trace of confusion in her gaze. "Regrets?"
Su Kang didn't elaborate, only smiled.
Bai Yunxi exhaled lightly and leaned back in her seat. "Good. One should live without regrets."
He nodded.
They finished their meal in comfortable silence and left the city as the stars began appearing in the sky.
As their boat sailed through the night sky, the moon's silver glow illuminated the world below.
Bai Yunxi sat outside, gazing up at the stars. There was a serene stillness in her posture, as though she were lost in distant thoughts.
After a brief hesitation, Su Kang joined her.
"I once heard a story when I was a child," he said, eyes lingering on the endless expanse above. "They say that when good people die, they become stars in the sky."
Bai Yunxi didn't turn her head. "That's the first time I've heard something like that."
Su Kang let out a soft chuckle. It was a memory from his past life, a simple tale told under a different sky, yet it resonated here.
"Maybe they were just trying to say that the dead ascend to the heavens, watching over us from above. That we should live strongly, so they won't be disappointed."
A gentle breeze passed between them. Bai Yunxi's voice was quiet. "Do you believe that?"
He thought for a moment before answering.
"Even if it's false… I think we still have to carry their dreams. If we let their wishes and hopes for us die, if we forget what they sacrificed for, then they are truly gone—forgotten by both people and the world."
Bai Yunxi finally turned her gaze toward him. In the silver moonlight, there was a rare softness in her expression.
"Sometimes… you don't feel like a junior at all," she admitted, her voice quieter than she intended.
Su Kang chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"That's because I'm already 'Senior Su' to many cultivators. Many elders from established families, even ancestors of smaller clans, offer me respect. Do you think I haven't seen the world?"
Bai Yunxi shook her head, a soft smile gracing her lips.
"You're right. Forgive my presumption. You are indeed already an accomplished adult, a prominent figure."
Yet, inwardly, she reflected on her own thoughts.
I misjudged him… by the remarks he made five years ago, assuming he was still the same.
"You need to see more of the world too, Miss Bai," Su Kang said, his tone shifting back to gentle reassurance.
"Your heart needs to untangle… Then your cultivation will soar like a phoenix once more."
Bai Yunxi's gaze drifted back to the stars, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "We will see about that."
They stayed outside for a long time, neither feeling the need to break the silence.
The vast starry sky stretched endlessly above them, its gentle radiance casting a serene glow over the drifting airship.
No words were exchanged—only a shared stillness, a rare moment of unspoken understanding.
Eventually, without a word, they turned and made their way back inside, their footsteps light against the deck.
---
From then on, they settled into a quiet rhythm. For weeks, they traveled across the land, drifting from one city to another.
Bai Yunxi found herself enjoying the simple pleasures—strolling through lively markets, tasting local delicacies, and losing herself in the bustle of ordinary life.
Each time, she watched as he carefully selected another piece of jewelry—deliberate, as though choosing something specific.
It was a quiet ritual of his, one she didn’t quite understand. And yet, she never asked why.
During their journey, he always stayed close—a steady, comforting presence. At night, they would sit together under the vast sky, watching the drifting clouds and twinkling stars.
Some nights, they talked until dawn. Su Kang shared stories—his own adventures, and sometimes even Li Fang’s.
Be it their awkward moments or amusing mishaps, he told her everything. Bai Yunxi’s chuckles would ring softly in the night, carried away by the wind.
In just a few days, they would reach Liyun City.
One evening, as Su Kang prepared dinner in the cabin, Bai Yunxi sat across the table, quietly watching him.
A strange thought crossed her mind.
If she hadn't known his age… she might have thought he was already in his thirties.
Once the food was served, they ate in companionable silence.
Yet tonight, something lingered in the air—an unspoken question pressing against Bai Yunxi’s heart.
She set down her chopsticks.
She had heard plenty about her son and his future wives, yet Su Kang had never once spoken about his own love life.
"Su Kang," she called softly.
He glanced up from his meal, meeting her gaze.
"Do you have a fiancée?" She hesitated for a brief moment before adding, "Or… someone you like?"
His hand stilled, chopsticks hovering above his plate. For a fleeting second, surprise and joy flickered across his eyes.
But in the next breath, he composed himself, his expression settling into quiet calm.
