Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 772 Mirage

"I'm not stupid," Guo Qingxue pouted, her eyes red-rimmed, her tearful appearance revealing her charming naivety.

Seeing her like this, Chen Xuan couldn't help but ruffle her hair, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His gaze drifted down to her ample bosom, and he whispered in her ear, "You've got your eye on my Xiaoxue, haven't you?"

Now that they're in a relationship, Chen Xuan won't pretend to be serious. He'll just tease her to add some spice to the relationship. Of course, if they weren't in a relationship, he'd be very proper around strangers.

He had personally experienced Guo Qingxue's large breasts, and he was not exaggerating. The day he took a shower, her bellyband was stretched out of shape. It's just that it's not obvious when she wears it normally; it's a hidden style.

Hearing Chen Xuan's breath near her ear, Guo Qingxue's ears immediately turned red, and a blush rose to her cheeks. She gently punched Chen Xuan and lowered her head shyly, saying, "Brother Chen, you're so naughty! You always tease me."

She didn't mind Chen Xuan's teasing; he was her sweetheart, and she felt her heart race, and she still felt shy.

"Whether I'm bad or not, Xue'er has known me for a long time. There are even worse ones out there. You're mine now. I didn't see you clearly when we were showering the other day. How about I take a good look at you when you have some free time?" Chen Xuan said, pushing his luck.

Her face was so red it was almost bleeding, and Guo Qingxue nearly buried her head in her chest, but somehow she nodded and hummed in agreement.

She regretted being scared away by Chen Xuan last time for months. She wouldn't run away again if the situation happened like that. Anyway, she had already received Chen's promise that she would be his sooner or later, so what was wrong with giving him her body?

Seeing her like this, Chen Xuan knew he couldn't bully her any longer, or she would bury herself in the sand.

He immediately dropped his frivolous demeanor and said seriously, "Xue'er, let's pay our respects to Grandpa one more time."

"Mmm," Guo Qingxue replied, no longer caring about being shy.

They placed the offerings brought by Chen Xuan, lit incense and candles to pay their respects, and Chen Xuan kowtowed a few times to Guo Qingxue's slight surprise.

Having already abducted someone's granddaughter, it was only natural for Chen Xuan to kowtow a few times. The deceased Guo Jinglong would also be his elder, and although this was not at Guo Jinglong's grave, Chen Xuan still had to fulfill his due respect.

With Chen Xuan's playful teasing and jokes, and having received his promise, Guo Qingxue's sadness was greatly alleviated.

Watching the wisps of smoke from the incense dissipate in the wind, Chen Xuan said, "Let's go back. Grandpa's spirit in heaven will bless us."

Guo Qingxue obediently stood up, nodded and said, "Grandpa will definitely bless us for meeting such a dazzling man as Chen Lang." Then she said somewhat shyly, "Chen Lang, if we get together like this, what will we say when we go back? Will Sister Qian Ning and the others laugh at me?"

"Don't worry, they'll only be happy. Xue'er, you know my wife has always been urging me to find more wives to have more children. They'll be overjoyed to find out you're with me. Just call me Brother Chen, 'Chen Lang' sounds weird," Chen Xuan said with a reassuring look and a smile.

Other men who go out and flirt with other women would cause chaos at home, but such things simply don't happen with Chen Xuan.

She nodded obediently and said, "Yes, I'll listen to Brother Chen."

At this moment, Chen Xuan took out a warm, smooth white jade pendant from his robes, took Guo Qingxue's hand, placed it in her palm, and said, "Xue'er, keep this jade pendant safe. After we return, I will have someone formally propose marriage to your Cold Mountain Sword Sect."

Since the girl has followed him, there should still be the proper procedures. Chen Xuan wouldn't wrong the girl who followed him. Of course, this kind of thing is naturally handled by his wife. There's no way around it; Chen Xuan doesn't have any elders to help him, and he doesn't really understand these procedures himself. He did learn some things when he accompanied Xiao Gao to study, but he's forgotten them all. Otherwise, how could the teacher teach new students?

Well, Chen Xuan already had a photographic memory; everything he learned was always in his mind. It was just an excuse he made for being lazy.

The jade pendant contained his pre-sealed true essence, which could be activated in times of danger for both offense and defense. If necessary, it could also be used to escape with her. How could he possibly protect his own little wife?

Actually, he initially planned to give Guo Qingxue a jade bracelet to keep her in place, but after thinking about it, he changed it to a jade pendant based on her situation. After all, she practices martial arts and uses a sword, and a jade pendant could prevent it from being damaged during martial arts practice or when fighting with others.

Holding the jade pendant in her hand, Guo Qingxue was overjoyed. She looked up at Chen Xuan with deep affection in her eyes and asked, "Is this a token of love that Brother Chen gave me?"

"Yes," Chen Xuan nodded decisively.

Feeling so sweet she could almost fly, Guo Qingxue tilted her head back slightly, revealing her snow-white neck, and asked expectantly, "Brother Chen, would you help me put it on?"

How could Chen Xuan refuse such a request? He took the money from her and smiled, "Of course, no problem."

Carefully helping her put it on, Guo Qingxue looked down at the jade pendant on her chest, pursed her lips and hesitated slightly. In front of Chen Xuan, she pulled open her collar to reveal a patch of snow-white skin, placed the jade pendant close to her skin, and said at the same time, "This is a token of love given to me by Brother Chen. I will always wear it close to my body."

Seeing that patch of snow-white skin, Chen Xuan's eyes widened. She wasn't trying to hide it from me at all. He felt a rush of heat to his nose and couldn't hear what Guo Qingxue was saying anymore.

Seeing that he didn't respond, Guo Qingxue looked up and noticed his gaze. Her cheeks immediately flushed, she straightened her collar, stamped her foot, and looked away, saying, "Brother Chen, you're so mean! How can you stare like that? Can't you look away?"

Knowing she was just shy, Chen Xuan said matter-of-factly, "Xue'er, you're mine now, what's wrong with looking at me?"

"I'm ignoring you," Guo Qingxue said reproachfully, then, as if possessed, blurted out, "Is it pretty?"

"Looks good," Chen Xuan nodded hurriedly.

Biting her lip, Guo Qingxue lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, and said, "If Brother Chen likes it, I can show it to you anytime. You just want...you want...you want to play with it, I'll do whatever you want."

As she spoke, she was so ashamed that she dared not look up at Chen Xuan.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Xuan said, both amused and exasperated, "Xue'er, if you keep acting like this, I won't be able to resist teasing you."

“I’m willing to let Brother Chen bully me,” she said without hesitation.

Patting her shoulder, Chen Xuan changed the subject, saying, "Let's go back first. Don't keep them waiting. It's not the right time to bully you in broad daylight."

"Yes, I'm ready for Brother Chen to bully me anytime," Guo Qingxue said in a low voice. Now that she had made up her mind, what was there to hesitate about? She no longer wanted to endure the agonizing emotions of the past few months.

On the other side, Xia Mei's face was full of worry. She wanted to go over and disturb him several times, but she held back. She had heard the little princess encourage Chen Xuan to go and accept Guo Qingxue. She knew it was inappropriate to go over and disturb him. But danger was rapidly approaching from afar. What if something happened if she waited any longer?

While she hesitated, Chen Xuan and the others were already heading back, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Using her lightness skill, she quickly approached the two and reminded them, "Congratulations, sir and Miss Guo, on your happy marriage! Sir, look over there, there's something going on."

Although business was important, Xia Mei didn't forget to offer her congratulations.

Chen Xuan glanced into the distance and said nonchalantly, "Aunt Mei, don't panic, I know. Don't worry, I'm here, everything will be alright."

Holding onto Chen Xuan's arm, Guo Qingxue subconsciously looked into the distance upon hearing this, and her expression immediately changed as she exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no, it's a sandstorm! We have to leave quickly, or we'll all be in danger!"

Just then, a fierce wind arose in the distance, whipping up a sandstorm that blotted out the sky and swept in, plunging the world into an apocalypse. Especially terrifying were the tornadoes that shot straight into the heavens within the boundless sandstorm. Faced with such the might of nature, the individual seemed so insignificant and fragile.

Patting her little hand, Chen Xuan gave her a reassuring look and smiled, "It's just a sandstorm, Xue'er, don't panic. It looks tough, but it's really nothing special, and it won't last long."

Then, he added enthusiastically, "Don't you think this is a unique experience? I've never seen a sandstorm like this before. It must be really fun to be in it. You guys were always saying you were bored the other day, but now you've had some fun, haven't you? This desert trip has definitely been worthwhile."

“Brother Chen, what time is it? You’re still thinking about playing? That’s a sandstorm, it’s terrifying. Tornadoes are sweeping around, accompanied by lightning and thunder. It’s enough to make your heart tremble,” Guo Qingxue said with a look of panic.

She was only at the acquired level of cultivation, and how fragile she was in the face of the might of heaven. Not to mention her, even a top-tier expert like Xia Mei would be in great danger facing such power of heaven and earth. Perhaps she wouldn't be in mortal danger, but she would definitely be in a sorry state. And that was only in the case of an individual. Don't forget that there were quite a few of them. That's why Xia Mei looked so worried earlier. She had no confidence that she could protect everyone.

She might be able to resist the sandstorm within a certain range by channeling her inner energy, but who knows how long that will last? Once her inner energy is exhausted, she will be in danger.

Shaking his head helplessly, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "I told you I'm here, it'll be fine. It's just a sandstorm. If I wanted to, I could easily part it in the middle. Come on, let's go to the sand dunes first; the view is better from there."

"Are you really alright?" Guo Qingxue was still a little worried. It wasn't that she doubted Chen Xuan's strength, but mainly because an individual was too insignificant in the face of the power of heaven and earth.

As they quickly returned to the top of the dune, the sandstorm's force had already alarmed the little princess and her companions. They all got out of the carriage and looked in that direction. Some of the palace maids and eunuchs with low cultivation levels who were with them showed signs of panic; they had never seen such a scene before.

Even a princess like herself couldn't help but feel flustered in such a situation. However, being a princess, she was the head of the household when Chen Xuan was away, and she remained composed, calmly instructing, "What's the panic? It's too late to escape now. Everyone, get moving! Drive the carriages to the back of the sand dune and form a circle. If we all work together, we can definitely weather the storm."

She may not have experience dealing with this situation, but she is well-read and quickly came up with ways to minimize the danger.

Chen Xuan and the others had already returned. He said in a relaxed tone, "Wife, there's no need for this. Let's just maintain the status quo. A mere sandstorm can't harm us."

Upon hearing this, the little princess felt instantly relieved. With her husband's words, there was no problem. He always made her feel so at ease. Even if the sky were to fall and the earth were to collapse, as long as he was there, there would be no difficulty that she could not overcome.

"Let's do as the master says. Everyone just needs to watch," the little princess waved her hand and gave the order.

She then glanced at Chen Xuan and Guo Qingxue, who were still arm in arm with her, and, ignoring the impending storm, her eyes lit up as she smiled and said, "Husband, it seems you've won over Xue'er too! I have another little sister now, how wonderful, this family is even more lively now."

"Hehe, I knew it! Master has gained another wife," the little maid said with genuine joy, her face showing that she had already guessed.

Yunlan and Yunxin happily replied, "Welcome, Xue'er, to our big family! Please guide me in the future."

Guo Qingxue felt a little embarrassed by their words, and subconsciously let go of Chen Xuan's hand, lowering her head and saying shyly, "Sister Qianning, it wasn't Brother Chen who tricked me into marrying him. I liked him and took the initiative. Please don't blame me, Sister Qianning. Also, if I cause any trouble for everyone in the future, please forgive me."

Their harmonious and joyful demeanor showed no sign of the impending storm, leaving Xia Mei, who was about to speak, at a loss for words.

Just a few days ago, he had taken Yunlan and Yunxin as his wives, and now he's confirmed his relationship with Guo Qingxue. Chen Xuan knew he was indeed a bit of a womanizer, and felt somewhat embarrassed. He quickly changed the subject, clapping his hands to remind everyone, "Alright, everyone, look over there, the storm is coming soon. This is quite rare; who knows when we'll encounter it again?"

Such a storm would be a disaster in a town, but in the desert, it was just a novel experience for Chen Xuan and his companions.

The little princess said no more, gave Guo Qingxue a gentle smile, then turned to look at the sandstorm that was engulfing the sky and said with deep agreement, "I must say, it's really terrifying. In the face of such power of heaven and earth, an individual is simply as insignificant as dust."

"Master said it's alright, so I'm not afraid at all," the little girl said nonchalantly.

However, Chen Xuan turned around and looked at her speechlessly, feeling both amused and exasperated. "You said you weren't afraid, so why were you hiding behind me?"

"Hey? Husband, look! How can there be a city inside that sandstorm that blots out the sky!" The little princess pointed ahead, looking surprised and incredulous.

"What? There's a city inside a sandstorm?" Chen Xuan asked, puzzled. He turned around and raised an eyebrow slightly.

The little princess was right; there was indeed a city inside the sandstorm. To be precise, the city wasn't inside the sandstorm, but above the churning sand, high in the sky, and clearly visible.

The city suspended in the sky above the sandstorm was enormous, with its walls extending for dozens of miles to the left and right, but much of it was blurred and could not be seen, as if it had been cut off by an invisible force, leaving only the city standing tall in the sky.

However, although the city was magnificent, it was not intact. Instead, it was dilapidated, with pits and craters all over the walls, covered with bloodstains and remains. The mutilated corpses of unknown creatures could be vaguely seen, which was extremely horrifying.

Furthermore, flames were shooting into the sky from within the city, though much of it was obscured by the angle. On the city walls, soldiers and civilians were fighting against something, their faces filled with despair, as if they were silently screaming and shouting.

Moreover, the city seemed to be in dire straits, deathly silent, oppressive, and bloody, presenting a gray and gloomy state that made people feel depressed and desperate.

The scene wasn't frozen in time. Chen Xuan could see people fighting and scrambling on the city walls. Their targets were bizarre creatures surrounded by gray mist, ferocious and bloodthirsty. Not only did they eat people, but anyone injured by these creatures would not only lose their minds and become violent, but would also twist and turn into a monster!

It was thanks to Chen Xuanxiu's high level of skill and good eyesight that he was able to see many details, while the little princess and the others could only see a city hanging in the sky above the sandstorm.

The sight was so bizarre that Chen Xuan wanted to go up to the sky and even get a closer look, but he suppressed the thought because of the sandstorm and the safety of the little princess and the others.

After scanning the area, Chen Xuan said thoughtfully, "That's not real, just a mirage. Speaking of which, shouldn't mirages appear on foggy days? Do sandstorms also produce mirages?"

Chen Xuan had never paid attention to the possibility of mirages during sandstorms, and was genuinely surprised.

Hearing this, the little princess exclaimed in realization, "So it was a mirage! I thought the sandstorm had actually blown a city here. I'd only ever heard of such things before, I never imagined I'd actually see it with my own eyes. It's truly amazing!"

"How could that be? Even the strongest wind can't blow a city into the sky," Chen Xuan said, both amused and exasperated.

Then he frowned slightly. In Chen Xuan's memory, many mirages had real-world counterparts. So, does that mean there really is a city in an unknown place experiencing everything in the mirage?

However, it's hard to say, since many mirages present images that have no real reference and are bizarre and have no origin.

The city depicted in the mirage was in ruins; the name on the city gate was barely legible, only half a character remained. I couldn't recall any name matching that half-character. I'll look into it when I have time to see if I can find any actual source.

Chen Xuan carefully memorized every detail of the mirage, intending to find its actual origin later.

The mirage didn't last long. As the sandstorm that blotted out the sky approached Chen Xuan and the others, perhaps due to the angle or a change in the magnetic field of the surging sandstorm, the mirage gradually faded and disappeared after twenty or thirty breaths.

But that scene was deeply etched in Chen Xuan's mind. For no reason, he had a premonition that he might encounter such a creature surrounded by gray mist in the future, and he felt an instinctive aversion and rejection towards that creature.

"It disappeared so quickly! This is the first time I've seen something like this in person. I haven't had enough yet," the little princess said, still wanting more.

The others shared a similar sentiment, and were not too worried about the impending sandstorm.

...(End of this chapter)