Chapter 681: Chapter 612, Chu Lang_1 Chapter 681: Chapter 612, Chu Lang_1 Having seen a real-life demonstration of water-floating, Daohua grew even more determined about mastering qinggong after unlocking the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and couldn’t wait to give the order to set sail, wanting to ask Gu Jian whether he knew anything about the Eight Meridian Pill.

Not long after the boat set out, Wang Manman came in and said, “Miss, Little Prince’s boat is up ahead.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua quickly stood up and walked to the window to look out, spotting De Fu standing on the boat ahead. She immediately chuckled and said, “Their speed is even faster than ours. Let’s go out and see.”

As the two boats drew near, Daohua noticed Xiao Yeyang was not coming out as usual and couldn’t help but wonder, Was Xiao Yeyang being haughty because today was his birthday?

After thinking it over, Daohua had a servant bring a plank to bridge the gap between the two boats, then she herself walked across.

De Fu was startled to see Daohua coming over by herself and hurried over, saying, “Miss Yan, take it slow, please.”

The current was swift in the middle of the river, and the boats would still shake even after stopping.

The gap between the two boats was barely two meters wide. Confident in her ability to cross quickly, Daohua stood on the plank as soon as it was in place and briskly walked toward the opposite boat.

Xiao Yeyang, inside his cabin, heard the commotion outside, dropped his uninvited guest, and stepped out swiftly. Just emerging from the cabin, he saw Daohua staggering across from the other boat and felt a tightness in his chest. He strode to the edge of the boat in a few quick steps and, setting his foot on the plank, reached out to grab Daohua.

With Xiao Yeyang’s assistance, Daohua quickly crossed the plank.

Once Daohua was steady, Xiao Yeyang looked at her displeasedly, “Why the rush? If you’d waited a moment, I would’ve come over. No need for you to come here. What if you hadn’t been steady and fell into the river?

Daohua was unperturbed, “I have great balance; I wouldn’t fall so easily. Besides, even if I did fall into the river, I can swim.”

Just as she was about to ask Xiao Yeyang what he’d been up to, Daohua caught a glimpse of a white figure standing inside the cabin.

Why does he seem familiar?

Suddenly, Daohua’s eyes widened in shock.

Isn’t that the man in white she saw at the dock performing the water-floating trick?

What was he doing on Xiao Yeyang’s boat?

Soon, Daohua figured it out. Xiao Yeyang had been talking with his brothers about catching the Monk earlier, so this man in white must be working for Xiao Yeyang.

Xiao Yeyang, seeing Daohua’s curious gaze fixed on the person inside the cabin and remembering that his conversation with the man had been interrupted, invited her into the cabin.

Watching Daohua enter with Xiao Yeyang, Chu Lang slightly raised an eyebrow.

Now, Daohua finally had a clear view of the man’s face, and a glimmer of awe flashed through her eyes.

The man in white appeared to be in his thirties or forties, gently waving a folding fan, his white robes billowing, eyes twinkling with a smile, the picture of a charming and dashing middle-aged gentleman!

Xiao Yeyang addressed Chu Lang with a less than pleasant tone, “Thanks for your help this time. If there’s nothing else, you can leave now.”

Despite Xiao Yeyang’s blunt hint to leave, Chu Lang continued to leisurely fan himself, pointed at Daohua with his fan, and smiled, “What about introductions?”

Xiao Yeyang: “…There’s no need for introductions, you can leave now.”

Realizing that Xiao Yeyang was undisguised in his disfavor, Daohua sensed she might have guessed wrong; the handsome man in white didn’t appear to be Xiao Yeyang’s subordinate.

Chu Lang laughed and shook his head, tapping the letter on the table with his fan, “After all, I did kill Monk Kong for you, and this is the thanks I get?”

Xiao Yeyang frowned, “I didn’t ask for your help.”

Chu Lang snorted with a laugh, “Alright then, my good intentions have been taken for bad ones again. If it weren’t for your…” Seeing Xiao Yeyang’s expression suddenly turn grim, Chu Lang stopped talking, appearing uninterested.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

As he stood up and walked out, passing by Daohua, he said with a smile, “This kid is both stubborn and smelly-tempered. It’s surprising you can endure him.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua was displeased and immediately retorted, “May I ask if you are very familiar with Xiao Yeyang?”

Chu Lang glanced at Xiao Yeyang, “… I often hear others speak of him.”

Daohua said, “Everyone has their own preferences and is inevitably biased towards certain people and matters. How can you judge someone through the words of others?”

Chu Lang was choked up and couldn’t find a retort.

Seeing Daohua defend him like this, Xiao Yeyang was very pleased. He walked up to her and pulled her behind him, then made a ‘please’ gesture towards Chu Lang.

Chu Lang looked at Xiao Yeyang, and then at Daohua, who was sizing him up with dissatisfied eyes from behind him. He fanned himself vigorously a few times with his fan, somewhat gloomily, before leaving.

Daohua walked to the window and watched as Chu Lang lightly tapped the water a few times and then gracefully reached the riverbank. She couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. Turning to Xiao Yeyang, she asked, “Who is that person?”

Xiao Yeyang grunted, “An annoying ghost.”

Daohua looked at the letter on the table, “Is that the secret missive you lost before?”

Xiao Yeyang nodded.

Daohua puzzled, “Why would that person help you then?”

Xiao Yeyang was silent for a moment, “That person never does anything without a profit, just not with a good heart, that’s for sure.”

Seeing Xiao Yeyang clearly disliked the man they had just encountered, Daohua didn’t ask any further, “Alright, today’s your birthday, don’t let some insignificant person affect your mood.”

Xiao Yeyang exhaled and looked at Daohua, “You’re right.” Saying that, he ordered to set sail.

Some time later, they arrived at Taohua Village.

…

Taohua Temple.

Seeing Xiao Yeyang come together with Daohua, Grandmother Gu and Gu Jian’s faces showed broad smiles.

Both knew today was Xiao Yeyang’s birthday, but neither had ever thought they could celebrate it with him, simply put, there was no reason to.

Today, seeing Xiao Yeyang’s arrival was truly an unexpected joy for them.

Grandmother Gu personally went to the kitchen and made Xiao Yeyang a bowl of longevity noodles.

Looking at the longevity noodles, Xiao Yeyang was somewhat surprised. Smiling at Grandmother Gu, he said, “Thank you, Granny, but you shouldn’t strain yourself cooking, considering your health.”

Grandmother Gu chuckled and shook her head, “It’s just a bowl of noodles, not too tiring. Try it, see if it’s to your taste?”

Xiao Yeyang hastily took a bite and then praised loudly, “Delicious.” Glancing at Daohua, he said, “I thought I wasn’t going to have any longevity noodles this year, but luckily Granny cares for me. Unlike some people, I guess they never thought to make them for me.”

Daohua understood the remark was meant for her and immediately said, “We don’t live together, so even if I wanted to, I couldn’t do it.”

Xiao Yeyang said, “You could have had someone deliver them to me after making them.”

Daohua replied, “By the time it’s sent, the noodles will have clumped together. With how picky you are, could you eat mushy noodles? That would just be a waste of effort.”

Xiao Yeyang, “…” Unable to argue back, he simply kept his head down and focused on eating his noodles.

Grandmother Gu watched the two banter with a smile. Seeing her grandson look slightly wronged, she couldn’t help laughing, “Wait for a couple of years, and you’ll be able to enjoy longevity noodles every year.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yeyang felt a stir in his heart and glanced at Daohua, then quietly continued eating his noodles.

Daohua, on the other hand, looked curiously at Grandmother Gu, feeling that there was more to her words than met the ear.