The Endless Promise

14. The Shared Past 1

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Meanwhile, the two madams sat in a companionable silence.

Zhang Furen perfectly mixed the aromatic tea, and then filled two teacups with it.

"These tea leaves come from beyond Xing Dalu, and it's said to clear one's mind of strain and worry." She said, handing a cup to Xu Furen.

Xu Furen accepted the cup and downed the tea in an unladylike manner, and it scalded her throat. "Aargh!" She exclaimed, and slammed the cup down. "I don't need to clear my mind of worry! I need a solution!"

Zhang Furen just smiled at her, then handed her some water. "'If the old remains, the new has no room'. I offered you a solution years ago, but you didn't take it."

"Ehehe, Sister, your solution was a bit..." Xu Furen drifted off.

Zhang Furen had plainly advised her to eliminate Xu Weiyan.

Xu Furen did not like her adopted daughter, but still felt uneasy about going that far, and she quickly drank the water, then refilled her tea cup.

But this time she sipped the tea with proper manners and dropped the cup, admiring her friend's vast and well decorated bedroom.

When it came to wealth, the Zhang family surpassed the Xu family.

The Xu family had led the Yueyan Sect and its accompanying regions and provinces for generations, so it sat comfortably within wealth.

But the Zhang family was a monster in trade businesses across several regions, and had backing from a major family in the Huofeng Sect.

Also, for the first time in a long while, the Zhang family's heir was the best disciple in the sect, so their prominence was only growing.

All these, in addition to the fact that Zhang Cheng was rather tall and handsome, made him a prime catch for most families with daughters!

And Madam Xu had succeeded in 'catching him' for her own daughter.

Only to have him snatched away by Xu Weiyan!

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Under the Pine tree, Bailong recognized the voice before he turned.

'Xu Weiyan!'

The breeze chose that moment to blow a few colourful petals around them, which added to the beauty of the scene.

But Bailong waved the petals away, determined not to share such a scenic beauty with Xu Weiyan of all people.

He still remembered saving her life, only for his own life to be ended by her!

But surprisingly, what irked him the most was her stunt the previous night, when she had snuck into his room and then rendered him immobile!

In his thousands of years living, no one had dared do such a thing!

The sheer disrespect!

'Why is this improper woman here?!' He complained.

Just a while ago, he had lain on Luoyin's floor, assuming he had died again, but then something had tickled his nose.

The wind had blown in a few petals and one had landed right on his nose, making him sneeze himself awake.

But before he could rejoice over being alive, an insistent feeling settled in his chest, making him rise and get dressed.

He bundled his hair up, covered his face with a face veil (Luoyin had several of those), and then hurried out.

And now here he was.