648: Chapter 59 Love rarely ends well; it's better not to love at all.

"Something to do? What could it be that he can't even stop for a meal?"

As soon as Tang Xuejian finished her puzzled remark, Jing Tian said, "Why not follow him and find out?"

With that, he stealthily set off after Xu Changqing.

Tang Xuejian followed without a second thought.

Seeing this, Lan Kui turned to Meng Li and asked, "Elder Brother Meng, how about we go and take a look too?"

"Sure," Meng Li agreed with a smile.

After speaking, he gave an instruction to Xu Maoshan, who was busy devouring his food, and left with Lan Kui and Hong Kui.

Once outside the Inn, the three of them glanced around briefly and spotted Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian not far away, maintaining a distance and following Xu Changqing with sneaky, furtive movements.

Meng Li smiled silently and walked over openly and confidently.

Lan Kui had originally intended to be sneaky as well, but seeing Meng Li's demeanor, she changed her mind and followed normally, just like Hong Kui.

Before long, the three of them saw Xu Changqing enter a pharmacy.

Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian, still sneaking around, met up. After just a few words, they fell into their usual bickering mode right on the spot, completely failing to notice that Xu Changqing had already left.

Seeing this, Lan Kui wanted to go over and remind them, but as soon as she took a step, a stick of candied hawthorn berries appeared before her eyes.

She was taken aback for a moment, then glanced to the side. Unsurprisingly, the candied hawthorn berries came from Meng Li, and both he and Hong Kui were already eating theirs.

Lan Kui instantly felt both amused and exasperated.

Weren't we here to follow and investigate? How did we end up snacking in the blink of an eye?

Though she mentally complained, her actions were honest. She reached out, took the candied hawthorn, opened her small mouth to take a bite, then looked back—Xu Changqing was already gone.

"Elder Brother Meng, Daoist Xu is gone."

Meng Li replied unconcernedly, "It's fine. If I'm not mistaken, he probably came to buy something for Miss Zixuan."

No sooner had he said this than Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian in the distance also realized Xu Changqing had disappeared.

Jing Tian simply chose to turn back, and happened to see Meng Li and the other two. He walked over with Tang Xuejian.

"Elder Brother Meng, Hong Kui, Lan Kui, why are you all out here too?" Jing Tian asked.

Meng Li casually replied, "Finished eating, came out for a stroll to aid digestion."

Jing Tian looked at him, Hong Kui, and Lan Kui, each holding a candied hawthorn and munching away, and felt somewhat speechless.

Your mouths haven't even stopped. And you call that aiding digestion?

Tang Xuejian then asked, "Did any of you see where Grandmaster Changqing went just now?"

Meng Li shook his head. "Didn't notice."

After speaking, he changed the subject. "We're going to stroll a bit more. Do you want to join us?"

Tang Xuejian asked curiously, "Mr. Meng, aren't you worried at all about the outcome between Grandmaster Changqing and Sister Zixuan?"

Meng Li said, "What's there to worry about?"

"One of them is a Descendant of Nüwa who has lived over two hundred years, and the other, after regaining his memories, has essentially lived two lifetimes. By age, even your grandfather Tang Kun would have to call them grandpa and grandma. They've experienced far more than ordinary people and know how to handle things themselves."

Tang Xuejian: "..."

Her grandfather Tang Kun would have to call Xu Changqing and Zixuan grandpa and grandma?

This...

She tried picturing the scene, found it somewhat unimaginable, and then felt particularly awkward.

After all, she had been calling Zixuan "sister."

But what Meng Li said was true, and she couldn't refute it.

Jing Tian, standing beside her, said, "What Elder Brother Meng says makes sense. But since White Tofu is part of our group, I still think it's necessary to show some concern. Pig Woman and I will go back to the Inn and wait for Zixuan and White Tofu. Elder Brother Meng, sisters, since you're in the mood, keep strolling."

"If you come across anything tasty, remember to bring me some."

This last sentence was directed at Hong Kui and Lan Kui.

Meng Li and Hong Kui nodded.

Lan Kui agreed with a smile, "Alright. Goodbye, Brother. Goodbye, Sister Xue Jian."

After Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian left, Meng Li casually tossed away the bamboo skewer, took one hand each of Hong Kui and Lan Kui, and continued strolling with them.

Hong Kui struggled slightly.

Although she had been more intimate with Meng Li and their relationship was established, holding hands in public was a first, and she felt a bit uncomfortable.

However, after struggling a couple of times without breaking free, she let him be.

Lan Kui on the other side was even more bashful.

Seeing she couldn't break free, she blushed and called to Meng Li, "Elder Brother Meng, there are people everywhere."

"So what?" Meng Li retorted with a smile. As he spoke, he lightly tickled her palm a couple of times with his fingers. "It's just holding hands."

Lan Kui was left speechless. Seeing that Hong Kui didn't mind either, she let him hold her hand.

With that matter settled, the three of them began strolling normally through the nearby streets.

See something tasty? Buy it!

See something fun? Buy it!

They only returned to the Inn after exploring the entire vicinity, by which time it was evening.

As soon as they entered the Inn, they saw Jing Tian, Tang Xuejian, and Xu Maoshan all in the main hall on the first floor.

Remembering Jing Tian's words, Lan Kui had brought back a pile of delicious snacks. She smiled and said, "Brother, Sister Xue Jian, Elder Brother Maoshan, we brought lots of tasty things for you. Come and try them."

As she spoke, she placed the snacks she was carrying on the table where Jing Tian and the other two were sitting.

Seeing the delicious food, Xu Maoshan's eyes lit up. While thanking her, he eyed the snacks, trying to decide which one to try first.

In contrast, Jing Tian, who had made the request earlier, reacted rather blandly.

Tang Xuejian also wasn't very enthusiastic.

Hong Kui sensed something was amiss and asked, "What happened?"

Tang Xuejian replied gloomily, "Sister Zixuan is leaving tomorrow."

"Leaving? Going where?" Lan Kui asked.

"Back to Nanzhao, and she won't be returning later," Jing Tian answered. As he spoke, he took a meat bun handed to him by Xu Maoshan, took a fierce bite, swallowed, and continued, "She said it's a decision she and White Tofu made together..."

"...and that she's thought it through clearly. Grandmaster Changqing is Grandmaster Changqing; he is not Gu Liufang, nor is he Lin Yeping," Tang Xuejian picked up where he left off. Then, she took a pear from the snacks on the table and bit into it with a venting force. Chewing, she added, "What does 'thought it through clearly' mean? To me, it looks like Grandmaster Changqing is forcing her to leave. After Sister Zixuan waited for him for so long, how heartless!"

Xu Maoshan sighed with emotion, "They loved each other so deeply in their previous two lives, but now they're breaking up. Sigh."

Meng Li shook his head. "It's normal. If love bears no good fruit, better not to love."

"Who says there's no good fruit..."

Hearing this, Tang Xuejian instinctively retorted, but stopped mid-sentence.

Because she suddenly remembered that the outcomes of Xu Changqing and Zixuan's previous two lives were indeed not good.

So, she could only change her words: "The previous lives are the previous lives. In this life, Grandmaster Changqing knows everything, so it's definitely going to be different."

Meng Li glanced at her. "You're thinking too simply."