If one were to speak of the most prosperous place in the Luofu Immortal Boat, without a doubt, it would be the Starship Sea.
However, if you were to ask a true local of the Zhengxun Hunting Flag, Old Luofu, where the best place for leisure is, very few would recommend that spot— to the locals of Luofu, the Starship Sea is akin to the “local's ‘Shabby Big Wild Goose Pagoda’” from Bai Yu's past life.
Only the ignorant outsiders would find it interesting and flock there!
In comparison, Changle Heaven is considered by the people of Luofu to be the place that embodies the “true essence of Luofu.”
Therefore, it’s no surprise that this place is worth its weight in gold.
Yet, within this absurdly expensive cave heaven, there stands a luxurious mansion adorned with exquisite gardens and landscapes.
Though it may not match the grandeur of the General's Mansion in the Divine Strategy Cave Heaven, it surpasses it in size and is even more lavish, showcasing the utmost craftsmanship.
The scenery within the garden is beautiful, with snow-white walls and tiger-skin stones following the terrain, covered in patches of moss and entwined with wisteria.
The winding, narrow paths reveal a series of independent gardens scattered like stars.
Clear streams cascade like snow, stone steps pierce the clouds, white stones serve as railings, encircling the pond's edge.
Amidst the splendid trees and dazzling flowers, a clear river winds its way through, and looking downstream, the view opens up, with flat areas where flying towers rise, intricately carved railings leaning against the mountain stones.
Upon closer inspection, one would find that this mansion is not entirely a product of human ingenuity; rather, it occupies a naturally beautiful spot in Changle Heaven, built upon the advantageous terrain of the mountains.
To have such a large estate in a place like Changle Heaven, where every inch is precious, is a feat that only a handful of wealthy individuals in all of Luofu could achieve.
The owner of this mansion is none other than the renowned president of the 'Minghuo' Merchant Association, Ting Yun.
Upon entering the mansion and passing through the main hall garden, Bai Yu immediately spotted Ting Yun, who had one hand behind her back and the other holding a folding fan, lightly waving it in front of her chest.
With a pair of fluffy ears twitching atop her head, her tail swaying behind her, the naturally charming peach blossom eyes glimmered with delight as they fixed on Bai Yu.
She looked as if she wanted to swallow him whole right then and there.
“Oh my, the busy little Major General has finally decided to come back and see this little girl!”
As soon as they met, Ting Yun teased Bai Yu in a playful tone.
Despite her words, the sweet and soft voice of the fox-woman, combined with the slight parting of her ruby lips, was irresistibly charming and never annoying.
“It sounds like I haven’t been home for days, but what about you, Sister Ting Yun? You’ve been out on business; when will you be back?”
Having grown accustomed to it, Bai Yu stepped forward, and as he reached Ting Yun's side, she skillfully linked her arm with his.
Ting Yun's fragrant and soft form pressed against him, and her fluffy tail, whether intentional or not, brushed against Bai Yu's lower back.
“Mind your manners, Sister Ting Yun. You wouldn’t want to attract the attention of the Earth Measurement Bureau for the terrible crime of ‘targeting underage citizens of the Immortal Boat,’ would you?”
Bai Yu's words immediately earned him a playful pout from Ting Yun, who then seemed to think of something, her fluffy fox ears twitching as she giggled, “Do those bureaucrats from the Earth Measurement Bureau dare to come after me? They should consider that their future general is someone I raised myself.”
“When you become a general, I’ll be able to wield power in Luofu Immortal Boat, making everyone cool off!”
The overly affectionate brother-sister duo walked side by side, and the maids they passed by bowed from a distance, only resuming their work once the two had moved on.
Years ago, the Immortal Boat Alliance had abolished the contract system, so there was no longer such a thing as ‘servants,’ but that didn’t stop those with sufficient wealth from hiring people to serve them.
Moreover, Ting Yun was generous with wages, and both she and Bai Yu treated their workers kindly, which motivated everyone to work diligently.
Dinner was served in a pavilion built over a lotus pond.
Light gauzy curtains hung around the pavilion, and the table in the center was filled with Bai Yu's favorite dishes.
“Come, try this, ah~~~~”
Ting Yun sat close to Bai Yu, offering him a pair of jade chopsticks, her eyes crescent-shaped with a smile.
Bai Yu took the food she offered, unable to help but raise an eyebrow.
As soon as the dish entered his mouth, Bai Yu could tell it was made by a skilled chef; both the food and the wine were exquisite.
Seeing Bai Yu enjoying the meal, Ting Yun leaned closer, wrapping her arms around his waist, and looked up, “Little Bai, feed me too~”
“...Are you serious?”
Ting Yun immediately put on a pitiful expression.
With her natural charm, Ting Yun's pose made one’s heart flutter.
Bai Yu helplessly shook his head, picked up a piece of food, blew on it carefully, and then held it to Ting Yun's mouth.
Ting Yun opened her mouth to eat it, her face filled with happiness.
After dinner, Bai Yu and Ting Yun did not leave immediately but engaged in casual conversation.
As they chatted, they strolled along the pond's edge, their reflections shimmering on the water's surface, creating a picturesque scene.
This lotus pond was filled with various styles and types of lotuses blooming in competition, forming a breathtaking landscape.
Yet, no matter how beautiful the flowers were, Ting Yun's gaze remained fixed on Bai Yu; even when she occasionally looked away, it was only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the blooming lotuses before quickly returning to him.
“Have the matters of the merchant association been arranged?”
“I’ve done everything according to your wishes, Little Bai!” Ting Yun replied with a smile, mimicking Bai Yu's earlier tone, “Sister Ting Yun has been busy traveling the starry seas, exhausted from the journey, so please let the trivial matters be handled by others, allowing me to rest in Luofu— the Major General has spoken, and as a mere clerk of the Celestial Shipping Office, how could I dare not to listen?”
She called him ‘Little Bai’ one moment and then referred to herself as ‘a little girl’ the next, switching from ‘Sister’ to ‘Major General’ in a heartbeat, and before she knew it, she had opened her fan and was covering her face, giggling.
Once she had laughed enough, Ting Yun casually asked, “Are you feeling reassured now?”
She emphasized the words ‘reassured’ slightly.
Bai Yu felt warmth in his heart.
Ting Yun clearly guessed that his request for her to stay in Luofu was due to the potential dangers outside, but he hadn’t said it outright, and she was happy to play dumb and not ask.
Bai Yu couldn’t determine whether Ting Yun had been swapped by Huan Long before returning to Luofu or if she had encountered the train crew and then been taken by Huan Long afterward, but at least with him around, Ting Yun would be safer in Luofu.
As the sky began to darken, Ting Yun suddenly stopped, standing by the pond, lightly tapping her toes on the ground before gracefully turning around.
In the fragrant breeze, she tilted her head slightly, her peach blossom eyes once again captivating.
“Today, I inspected the merchant association and my feet are sore; I plan to enjoy a nice soak. Would Little Bai like to accompany me?”
Bai Yu looked up at the sky, pretending he didn’t hear.
Ting Yun shot him a glance, “What’s wrong? Are you scared? Where on your body have I not seen? Not to mention seeing, I even—”
“That was all when we were kids.”
Bai Yu quickly interrupted Ting Yun's teasing words.
This fox sister had been quite affectionate when he was still a little chubby kid, to the point where Bai Yu once suspected that Ting Yun was treating him like a pet.
“Alright, alright, I won’t make it difficult for you, but you can’t forget about ‘Sister Time’ before bed!”
“I know, I know.” Bai Yu elongated his tone, replying with annoyance, “Tail care, right? The comb for the tail has to be made of boxwood, and you need to apply some fragrant balm at the base, and finally, you have to carefully wrap the tail with plain cloud gauze…”
“As long as you know!”
Ting Yun suddenly leaned forward, standing on her tiptoes to plant a light kiss on Bai Yu's cheek, then gracefully walked away with a giggle.
It was unclear when it had started, but as long as Ting Yun wasn’t out on business, the task of caring for her tail before bed had fallen to Bai Yu during her stay in Luofu.
At first, Bai Yu thought that since Ting Yun had taken care of him while growing up, it was only right for him, as her brother, to show concern for her.
But it didn’t take long for him to realize that Ting Yun had ulterior motives from the very beginning when she made that request!