Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts - Chapter 500

The Kingdom of Qi, the residence of the Duke of Annan.

A young woman dressed in a pale pink long dress stood beside a small lake, watching the fish swimming leisurely at the bottom.

She held fish food in her hand and scattered it from time to time.

More and more fish swam toward her, crowding beneath the bridge, piling up on top of one another.

Even though these koi fish were all plump and well-fed, showing no signs of hunger, they still acted as if they didn’t know what it meant to be full, eagerly wanting to eat more.

After finishing the fish food in her hand, the young woman simply gazed blankly at the koi in the lake.

However…

Although her eyes reflected the shimmering koi, her mind was far from them.

Her thoughts drifted somewhere unknown.

“I say, little sister, all you ever do is feed fish, read books, or listen to music. It’s been so many years—can’t you at least consider going on a matchmaking meeting? You’re already a grown woman.”

The eldest son of the Duke of Annan—Nan Kun—walked over and spoke to his younger sister.

Nan Wenmo, one of the two most renowned talented women in the Kingdom of Qi, glanced at her brother and rolled her eyes.

“Feeding fish, reading books, and listening to music—these are things I enjoy doing. Matchmaking is not something I want to do. Since that’s the case, why should I bother with it? Why make things difficult for myself?”

Nan Kun’s brows twitched. “That’s true, but, little sister, you’re not getting any younger. If you don’t get married soon, you’ll really become an old maiden.”

He sighed in frustration.

All their other siblings were already married—except for her.

Of course, he knew exactly why his sister refused to attend any matchmaking meetings.

It was all because of that man from the Kingdom of Wu—Wu’s current Prime Minister.

Nan Kun actually admired Xiao Mochi quite a bit.

Not only he himself, but even the emperor held Xiao Mochi in high regard. The emperor had even extended a very generous offer to Xiao Mochi—an offer that no scholar could easily refuse.

If Xiao Mochi came to the Kingdom of Qi, not only would he be able to showcase his talents and ambitions, but he could also marry Nan Wenmo.

Yet Xiao Mochi refused.

And he refused so decisively, so firmly, that there was no room for negotiation.

Now, Xiao Mochi was the Prime Minister of Wu, while his sister was the daughter of the Duke of Annan, one of Qi’s most renowned talented women. How could they possibly be together?

If his sister insisted on being with Xiao Mochi no matter the cost, she might even be expelled from the family.

“If I don’t get married, then I don’t get married. It’s not like I ever planned to. Besides, brother, what kind of nonsense are you saying? How am I an old maiden?

With my current cultivation level and lifespan, I should still be considered a young girl, right?

Besides, passing on the family line—that’s something you, Second Brother, and Third Brother can handle. Even Fourth Brother can do it. It has nothing to do with me.

Whether I marry or not… it really doesn’t matter.”

Nan Wenmo spoke lightly, countering every single one of her brother’s arguments.

“It’s not just about passing on the family line, but you’re a woman—you can’t possibly spend your whole life—”

“Miss, a letter for you.”

Before Nan Kun could finish speaking, a maid approached, handing a letter to Nan Wenmo.

Nan Wenmo took the letter, opened it, and began to read.

The more she read, the more her brows furrowed, and the tighter her lips pressed together.

Nan Kun watched his sister, his expression growing increasingly serious.

If his guess was correct, this letter had to be from the Kingdom of Wu.

More specifically, it was likely about the Prime Minister of Wu.

Nan Kun knew that his sister had quite a few friends in Wu—some of them were even officials in the court, and one of them was a prince.

That very same prince was also Xiao Mochi’s close friend.

At his sister’s request, the prince would sometimes send letters to her, updating her on recent happenings concerning Xiao Mochi.

After finishing the letter, Nan Wenmo carefully put it away and looked at Nan Kun with a determined gaze.

“Brother, I have to go to Wu.”

“???”

Nan Kun’s mind went blank for a moment, wondering if he had misheard her.

“Little sister, have you forgotten something? You’re still under house arrest! Forget going to Wu—you can’t even leave the capital.

And don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what Mother said. If you go looking for Xiao Mochi again, she’ll disown you as her daughter.”

“That’s why I need your help, Brother.” Nan Wenmo smiled sweetly.

“No, no, absolutely not! I refuse!”

Nan Kun rejected her immediately without even thinking.

His little sister rarely asked for favors, but whenever she did, it was never anything good—especially not now.

“Brother, just help me this once. Just this once, I promise. I’ve never asked you for anything before, have I?

Remember the last time you went to the pleasure house to discuss zither techniques with that courtesan? Who do you think covered for you?

If Sister-in-law finds out about that, you might not be able to step into your room for a whole month.”

Nan Wenmo clung to his arm, shaking it playfully.

If it were his wife acting coy like this, Nan Kun wouldn’t mind.

But his own sister?

He felt utterly powerless against her.

Still, no matter how difficult it was, he had to resist.

If something happened to Wenmo, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

“No way!” Nan Kun shut his eyes and steeled his resolve. “Absolutely not! Anything else, I might agree to—but not this! Even if you tell your Sister-in-law about the pleasure house, I still won’t help you.

If something happens to you, what then? I’d never forgive myself!”

“I won’t get into trouble, Brother, I promise.”

The moment those words left Nan Wenmo’s mouth, Nan Kun gave her a look of utter disbelief, as if asking, Do you even believe that yourself?

“Brother! Whether you agree or not, you’re still going to help me! I’m telling you—I’ll do whatever it takes!”

That was her final move.

“You—!?”

Before Nan Kun could react, he realized something was wrong.

He reached out and pressed his finger against his sister’s forehead.

But the mischievous and clever little sister standing before him… had already turned into a paper doll.

“Wenmo… ah…”

Nan Kun let out a long sigh, shaking his head as he gazed into the distance.

Beyond the capital of Qi, Nan Wenmo rode the Winds of Turning Pages, vanishing into the horizon.