68: Chapter 68 This servant is truly overwhelmed with other matters and has been unable to fulfill my duty as host.

Jiang Xuan nodded inwardly. To be able to open such a large cloth shop in a bustling, mixed-bag place like Tingfeng Town...

...surely required An Luoling to secretly provide support using her identity as a Cultivator in the past.

It was no wonder; beneath A Xiang's gentle and compliant exterior, there was always a faint, subtle air of elegance and nobility.

Yet in front of him, she always wore that timid, delicate expression, as if waiting to be plucked, a stark contrast.

Moreover, every time she came to the small shop to find him, the dresses she wore, though appearing simple and elegant, were shockingly smooth and tender to the touch.

Just as he stepped over the threshold, a sharp-eyed, pretty maidservant hurried over to greet him.

Sensing the ethereal and otherworldly Aura radiating from Jiang Xuan, the maidservant dared not be the slightest bit negligent and quickly performed a respectful curtsy:

"This servant greets you, Milord. Welcome to our humble shop."

Jiang Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the spacious front hall, seeing only three maidservants busy attending to customers.

He then asked, "Is your mistress, A Xiang, in?"

The maidservant nodded repeatedly and replied respectfully, "Mistress is currently in the Backyard entertaining an honored guest."

"I beg you, Milord, to please sit for a moment in the front hall while I go to inform the Mistress."

Judging by Jiang Xuan's exceptionally handsome attire and his composed demeanor, the maidservant guessed that this person was either wealthy or noble.

It was highly likely he was an exalted Immortal Master, so she naturally dared not delay in the slightest and trotted all the way to the Backyard.

Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

A dignified, beautiful figure with a lush and charming physique hurried out from behind the cloth curtain.

Today, A Xiang was wearing a pale yellow long dress that perfectly complemented her skin tone.

When her gaze swept across the front hall and locked onto Jiang Xuan, she froze in place, as if she had been hit by an immobilization spell.

She stared blankly at Jiang Xuan, her watery apricot eyes widening instantly, as if she couldn't believe that this noble Immortal Master would actually come to visit her in person.

Immediately afterward, her eyes reddened, and a layer of mist quickly spread across them.

That pitiful, teary-eyed appearance made one's heart soften instantly.

Subconsciously, A Xiang wanted to quicken her pace, yearning to throw herself into the broad embrace she had been thinking about day and night.

But when her peripheral vision caught the curious gazes of the surrounding customers and maidservants, reason forcibly held her back.

She stopped half a step in front of Jiang Xuan, suppressing the surging longing in her heart.

In front of everyone, she performed a proper curtsy.

Her voice was soft, sweet, and delicate, carrying a hint of barely concealed tremor: "A Xiang… greets the Immortal Master."

"I did not know of your esteemed arrival, Immortal Master, and failed to welcome you at the door. I hope you will forgive me…"

Seeing her trying so hard to maintain politeness and distance, Jiang Xuan understood perfectly well.

A Xiang was a widow, and this shop was full of prying eyes.

Her caution was merely out of fear that gossip would spread and affect his reputation as an Immortal Master.

But how could Jiang Xuan care about such worldly views?

A gentle smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he stepped forward.

In full view of everyone, without any hesitation, he reached out his large hand and firmly wrapped A Xiang's soft, jade-like hands, which had been hidden in her sleeves, into his palm.

They were warm, smooth, and tender to the touch.

"A Xiang, between us, why is there any need for such formalities?" Jiang Xuan's voice carried an unquestionable intimacy.

"We know and accompany each other; from now on, you must not be so distant."

A Xiang's lush body trembled violently as she raised her watery apricot eyes.

She gazed with eyes full of tenderness at the handsome, upright man before her.

Two lines of clear tears could no longer be held back, sliding down her fair cheeks.

"Immortal Master…" she called out softly, her voice filled with an inseparable sweetness and emotion.

How could she not understand that Jiang Xuan was using the most direct way to support her in front of others, declaring the extraordinary relationship between them.

Jiang Xuan chuckled and raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Alright, there are too many prying eyes here. Let's go somewhere quiet to talk."

A Xiang nodded repeatedly, feeling the scorching temperature from his large hand, and felt as if her entire heart was soaked in a honey pot.

The two of them walked through the front hall, holding hands openly, and headed towards the Backyard.

Leaving behind a crowd of customers and maidservants in the shop looking at each other in dismay.

But the entire place was dead silent; no one dared to gossip even half a word.

A Xiang had personally called him an Immortal Master; with such a distinction between immortals and Mortals, if anyone spoke recklessly, they feared they wouldn't even know how they died.

Arriving in the Backyard, just as Jiang Xuan lifted the door curtain, he saw a girl who was extremely eye-catching sitting under the small pavilion in the courtyard.

The girl was dressed in a pink long dress with cherry blossom patterns and a front-opening design, her figure slender and graceful, with jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall.

Her features were extremely delicate, and her entire being radiated an outstanding temperament.

Seeing the two walking over while holding hands, the girl stood up calmly, performed a graceful Mortal greeting, and said in a crisp, pleasant voice:

"Zhuang Yun greets the Immortal Master."

Jiang Xuan smiled and nodded slightly in return.

But when he probed slightly with his Divine Sense, a trace of surprise arose in his heart.

This girl named Zhuang Yun clearly had no cultivation at all; she was an out-and-out Mortal.

Yet, around her body lingered a pure and misty Spiritual Qi.

This was clearly because she was wearing a protective Magic Treasure, or her body had been nourished by Heaven And Earth Treasure for many years.

This was enough to show that a powerful Cultivator stood behind her as her backing.

At this moment, A Xiang was being held tightly by the hand by Jiang Xuan, her dignified and beautiful face already flushed crimson with shyness.

She steadied herself, looked at Zhuang Yun, and said in a voice as soft as water:

"Miss Zhuang Yun, besides the requirements we just agreed upon, is there anything else that needs to be added?"

Zhuang Yun's gaze swept calmly over their tightly clasped hands. With a sharp and clear mind, she immediately replied with a smile:

"I am naturally at ease with Mistress An's work."

"It only needs to be finished within a month. I will send someone to pick it up personally then."

"However, at that time, I will need to trouble Mistress An to personally accompany the convoy to Luoying Valley to guide the venue setup."

Hearing this, A Xiang nodded earnestly and guaranteed, "Please rest assured, Miss Zhuang Yun."

"I will definitely finish on time and will not delay your important matter."

Hearing this, a light and appropriate smile bloomed on Zhuang Yun's lips.

"Since that is the case, I will not stay any longer, lest I disturb Mistress An and the Immortal Master from catching up."

"This young woman will take her leave first."

A Xiang looked apologetic and said softly, "We have an honored guest today, and I am truly stretched too thin to fulfill my duties as a proper host."

As she spoke, she reluctantly released Jiang Xuan's warm, large hand and turned slightly to the side: "I will see you out, Miss."

Zhuang Yun just shook her head gently and said understandingly in a soft voice:

"Please stay, Mistress. If the Immortal Master is neglected because of me, that would be Zhuang Yun's fault."

After speaking, she once again gracefully curtsied towards Jiang Xuan.

Then, carrying a faint scent of cherry blossoms, she turned and left with light steps.

By the time Zhuang Yun's footsteps could no longer be heard outside the moon gate of the Backyard, the faint scent of cherry blossoms had completely dissipated.

A Xiang's taut, lush body finally completely relaxed.

She could no longer suppress the longing in her heart and threw herself straight into Jiang Xuan's broad embrace.

Her two soft arms tightly wrapped around his waist and back, pressing her whole body against him tightly,

Greedily inhaling the pleasant, crisp scent on him.