Watching the Mountain

Chapter 387: Chapter 209: Qing Xuan Dust-covered, Hidden Mountain Golden Core

After Teacher Qing Xuan finished his lesson with Xu Ran, he spent the rest of his time with Qing Li.

This time, he set aside his titles—Peak Master of Qing Xuan Peak and Qing Xuan True Monarch—and simply spent the last day with his daughter as a father.

Teacher Qing Xuan was usually a man who wore a serious expression. A smile rarely graced his features; he was stern and reserved.

Qing Li’s temperament was much like her mother’s. She was usually quiet and spoke little, only becoming more talkative when her emotions ran high.

Xu Ran had originally thought that Qing Li would be more talkative when she was with Teacher Qing Xuan.

A daughter could always be herself in front of her father, acting freely without reservation, even being playfully affectionate.

Just like Little Xiyue.

When Little Xiyue had first met him, she had been unwilling to say a single extra word. But after they grew closer, she had learned how to be playfully affectionate.

Of course, that might have been related to her experience of being abandoned.

Little Xiyue had never had the chance to be doted on by her parents as a child. That was why, after preparing to transform into the Vermilion Bird, she had spent the last moments of her life putting all her effort into being close and affectionate with Xu Ran.

Xu Ran’s mind drifted back to his final days with Little Xiyue. Back then, she had seemed to grow younger and more childish with each passing day.

’It’s a shame I didn’t know what she was planning back then. If only I had known...’

It was because of his time with Little Xiyue that Xu Ran assumed Qing Li would be the same way in front of Teacher Qing Xuan.

However, that wasn’t the case at all.

In front of Teacher Qing Xuan, Qing Li was just as quiet.

The relationship between this father and daughter was far more complex than Xu Ran had imagined.

After Teacher Qing Xuan finished his lesson, Qing Li walked in.

The father and daughter sat facing each other. Neither spoke; they just quietly looked at one another.

After a long time, Teacher Qing Xuan rose slightly, brewed a pot of Spirit Tea, and poured a cup for himself and Qing Li. He then spoke two simple words:

”Drink tea.”

”Oh.” Qing Li took the cup, blew on it gently, and took a small sip.

Then, the room fell silent again, punctuated only by the occasional sound of sipping tea.

Xu Ran wasn’t an impatient person by nature, but watching the father and daughter from outside the door, he felt a genuine sense of urgency, like countless ants were crawling all over him.

Teacher Qing Xuan’s gesture of pouring tea felt more like he was receiving a guest than spending time with family.

He was confused. ’Logically, since Teacher Qing Xuan wanted a daughter so badly back then, he should have doted on her immensely after Qing Li was born. Their relationship should have been incredibly close.’

’Why has it turned out like this?’

Xu Ran could tell that Teacher Qing Xuan must have had a lot he wanted to say to Qing Li, that he wanted to be closer to her.

This was the last day this father and daughter would ever have together. After today, they would never see each other again.

Knowing this was precisely why Xu Ran felt so anxious.

He didn’t want Teacher Qing Xuan to enter his Dust-covered seclusion with regrets.

As time ticked by, Teacher Qing Xuan and Qing Li continued to drink their tea in silence, looking at each other without a word. Outside, Xu Ran could no longer bear it.

He hadn’t wanted to disturb their time together, but things couldn’t just go on like this.

He sighed helplessly in his heart. ’To think that Teacher Qing Xuan, who always seemed so omniscient and omnipotent when teaching his students... would become as stiff as a block of wood and unable to express himself when it came to his own affairs.’

”Teacher, Qing Li, why don’t you two go for a walk? Take a look around Qing Xuan Peak, the Sect, and the scenery of the home you’ve always lived in.”

Xu Ran’s voice broke the silence in the grand hall.

Teacher Qing Xuan and Qing Li both turned their gazes to him.

A moment later, they turned back to look at each other.

”Shall we go?” Teacher Qing Xuan asked slowly.

”Yes, let’s.” Qing Li nodded.

A smile spread across Teacher Qing Xuan’s face as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He nodded at Qing Li. ”Then let’s go.”

”Mhm.” Qing Li nodded quietly.

Seeing this, Xu Ran discreetly withdrew, leaving the main doors for the father and daughter.

Teacher Qing Xuan was tall and upright, dressed in purple robes. Stern and unsmiling, he always wore a serious expression.

Qing Li’s appearance had never changed. She was petite and delicate with waist-length hair, a cream-colored dress, and skin as smooth as jade. She was a gentle and tranquil young woman.

The two of them walked side by side, not knowing where they were going. They just walked in silence, as if completing a task.

Xu Ran followed them from a distance, feeling a little helpless. ’I’ve already interfered once. This is their time together. I really don’t want to interfere again.’

Fortunately, after they had walked in silence for a while, Teacher Qing Xuan finally took the initiative to speak, which made Xu Ran sigh in relief.

’As long as they’ve started, once the mood is right, everything will be fine.’

He decided to follow them for just a little longer. Once they seemed more comfortable with each other, he would stop so as not to disturb them.

”You once said your talent for the medical arts was average and that most of the techniques in the *Mortal Medical Compendium* were pioneered by Hao Miaomiao and Chen Minghe. Now that you’re staying behind to pass on this medical text, have you mastered all the techniques within?”

Qing Li nodded, then shook her head. ”I’ve learned them all, but it feels a bit incredible. I don’t think I should have been able to learn them so quickly. Maybe I learned them wrong. I plan to review and study them all again from the beginning.”