My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

78  Chapter 78: The Soul Fades Before Sunset

At dusk.

A touch of crimson lingered after rain, wisps of tender green merged with the mist, fading souls perished before the sunset.

An Jing changed his clothes at the alley entrance, then tucked his cloak into his small medicine box, and leisurely returned to Jishi Hall, thinking gleefully, "I wonder what delicious dishes madam has prepared today."

As usual, Zhao Qingmei was cooking in the back hall at this moment, while Tan Yun went to gather the herbs dried in the afternoon sun. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I wonder if that old rascal, Li Fuzhou, went to the brothels to listen to music again."

An Jing sighed at the peaceful and warm days and couldn't help humming a tune.

"Hmm?!"

As he approached Jishi Hall, he noticed the sign placed at the doorstep, and Tan Yun, who was sound asleep on the table.

"Wake up, it's time to eat."

An Jing couldn't resist walking over, picking up a book, and tapping her little head.

"Is it time to eat?"

Tan Yun instantly sat up, her eyes shining brightly.

"I asked you to mind the shop, and this is how you've done it," An Jing said irritably while holding the wooden sign, "All you ever do is eat and sleep, then sleep and eat."

"Husband, I...."

Tan Yun saw the sign and wanted to explain.

"Forget it, your excuses are plenty, just gather the dried herbs from this morning, and I'll let it slide," An Jing waved his hand.

"Alright, I'll go now."

Tan Yun looked at An Jing with puppy dog eyes and then headed towards the backyard.

"There might be some connection between these two...."

An Jing took out a box of pastries from the medicine box and threw it on the table, his mind filled with thoughts of the chill on He Ping's wife.

Vaguely, he felt that there was a good chance it related to Cao Ling'er, perhaps precisely to the sealing at Fa Xi Temple.

What exactly is this sealing anyway?

"Beneath the sealing is a strand of nature's spiritual energy; if I could obtain this strand, perhaps it would help me break through to the Earth Flower Realm."

Since the fight with Liu Qingshan, An Jing realized the profound strength of those on the Dragon List; encountering one, he absolutely couldn't afford to be careless or underestimate them.

That day at Reincarnation Hall, Tian Liu had not taken action, and the Xuanyi Guard experts also arrived belatedly; otherwise, even if he could have escaped that day, he would likely have suffered severe injuries.

Also, that last time at the Cao Family, he had encountered a black-clothed expert whose strength seemed not inferior to Liu Qingshan's, but this expert seemed wary, hence didn't go all out, and they only briefly exchanged blows once.

14:19

An Jing narrowed his eyes to slits and considered, "When this sealing breaks, it seems I will have to visit Fa Xi Temple again. If others are unaware, it would be best to covertly take that strand of nature's spiritual energy...."

"Husband."

Just then, Tan Yun carried over a sieve and placed it on the medicine cabinet, "It's all dried."

"Good, leave it there; I'll deal with it later," An Jing nodded and then said, "There are pastries on the table; go ahead and eat."

"I'm not eating."

Upon hearing this, Tan Yun shook her head like a rattle-drum.

"Why aren't you eating?" An Jing suddenly became puzzled.

Usually, when Tan Yun saw pastries, her eyes would light up, and she would get incredibly excited.

"Husband, haven't you noticed any changes in me lately?" Tan Yun sighed.

"Changes."

An Jing glanced at Tan Yun, "No, I don't think there's any change."

"Look closely," Tan Yun pouted, touching her slightly protruded belly, "I feel like I've gained quite a bit of weight lately."

Stupid husband, it seems like you don't pay any attention to me at all.

Since arriving in Yu State City, she had begun gaining weight at a visibly rapid pace.

An Jing began to look Tan Yun over upon hearing the news.

Her delicate face had indeed become plumper, but it also appeared more voluptuous, which gave her an added charm—no wonder Han Wenxin that boy had lascivious thoughts.

Yet, his eyes couldn't help but drift towards her full and perky figure, and he was greatly surprised inwardly, muttering, "I think, it's becoming increasingly difficult to handle."

"Son-in-law, what are you talking about?" Tan Yun was confused.

The son-in-law's words were odd, always containing some she couldn't comprehend, mystifying her.

An Jing laughed dryly twice, "Nothing... nothing. The mille-feuille on the table will taste bad once it cools down, you better eat it now."

"Mille-feuille!?"

Tan Yun's eyes brightened, her defenses instantly crumbled, and biting her lip firmly, she said, "Son-in-law, my stomach is this big, but you are half responsible for it, no, more than half!"

Saying so, Tan Yun picked up the mille-feuille and stuffed three consecutively into her mouth.

"No no no, I dare not take credit for this."

An Jing broke into a sweat on his forehead, and hastily waved his hand, while still occasionally glancing around the hall, cautiously asking, "Eh, where is the lady?"

Tan Yun feigned ignorance, "I don't know, I woke up and both Miss and Third Master were gone; they probably went to listen to the opera."

When the two left, she had fallen asleep; Tan Yun figured that they must have been discussing matters about the sect.

"They must be about to return soon."

An Jing nodded and said, "It's time to close up. When you eat, save some, don't eat them all."

Saying so, he took the wooden board and walked out the front of the hall.

"That's always possible."

An Jing smiled and prepared to latch the wooden board.

It was then, a tender figure stood not far from the door.

At that moment, a few strands of her hair fringed around her temples, and her eyes were slightly red, appearing quite haggard as she stared blankly at An Jing in front of her.

"Lady, are you back? Did you go with the Third Master to listen to the opera? Was it a tragic opera? I've told you before, those are all fake, it's better to just study the opera techniques at home.

This person was exactly Zhao Qingmei.

Li Fuzhou stood not far away, looking towards the Yu State River, as if he saw no one else.

"It should be said that you are the one who has come back," Zhao Qingmei looked at An Jing and said.

Upon hearing this, An Jing sensed something was amiss and stepped forward to ask, "What happened, did something happen?"

"Where did you go?"

A teardrop emerged in Zhao Qingmei's eyes, followed by a laugh.

An Jing laughed, "I went for a diagnosis and then met a former patient. He said I had saved his life, like a rebirth parent, and insisted on recognizing me as...

He hadn't finished his words when Zhao Qingmei embraced him.

The hug was somewhat uncomfortable for him, but also strangely comforting.

"Lady, what's wrong? Did you think of me while watching the opera?" An Jing, feeling the warmth in his embrace, smiled and said, "Hearing those tragic operas, did you fear that I would fail you?"

"Rest assured, although I am a simple man, but..."

He felt as if something had happened, yet as if nothing had happened.

"A simple man?" Li Fuzhou glanced at An Jing with a hint of threat in his eyes, while An Jing acted as if he heard nothing.

"I was thinking of you."

'Pfft' Zhao Qingmei laughed softly, saying, "I was thinking that you've been out all day and hadn't returned yet, I was worried you were dead somewhere out there..."

Tan Yun, listening, struggled to suppress her laughter, while Li Fuzhou had no reservations and burst out laughing.

While An Jing's smile gradually stiffened.