Chapter 31, A calm pink day
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In the inn
It was currently morning and Tengfei just woke up. He noticed that Lihua was unusually not beside him, snuggling him.
He folded the bed sheets before stretching his body. Tengfei then refreshed himself in the bathroom before heading down the stairs. The young man wore his sandals before so.
When he approached the kitchen, he heard a loud sound that resembled a plate being shattered.
Hurrying towards the direction of the sound, he found Lihua having a frustrated look as she tries to put back the broken pieces of a plate on the ground.
You could even hear her whisper to the plate, "Stick together for me. Stick together... Please."
She then noticed Tengfei's presence before feeling flustered as she tried to hide away her mistake.
Tengfei sighed before smiling. He then asked, "It slipped didn't it?"
"No, it flew." Lihua replied before rolling her eyes.
"What?" Tengfei felt speechless from her sudden response.
Lihua knitted her eyebrows before yelling, "Of course it slipped! There's no other possibility! I barely ever washed dishes and never knew it was that easy for one to fall off your hands!"
Tengfei shook his head before saying, "A mere country bumpkin like me has lots of things to teach this pampered princess."
Lihua felt infuriated by his remark before crossing her arms.
The young man then approached the broken pieces of plate before he picked each one and then disposed them.
He then thought Lihua some tips when it came to cleaning dishes. At first, Lihua wasn't going to listen due to still being angry for being made fun off. But then she thought that her act was childish and so decided to listen attentively.
She eventually got the grasp of it... Though it took some time as she was a slow learner.
After that, both of them decided to get something to eat.
They looked around the city until they found a restaurant which looked pleasant and not so expensive.
At first, they were about to visit Tengfei's workplace, the jewel mantou. Unfortunately, it closed down.
Tengfei found it quite cute of Lihua to look really excited to the idea of eating food together in a place other than the inn.
When they entered, the aroma of delicious food engulfed them. It was a cozy place that looked like home.
They eventually ate to their fill. Enjoying the noodles and fried fish.
Before Tengfei was about to pay, Lihua stopped him and payed instead. This action puzzled him before Lihua said, "I... I used you a lot. I took too much money... So, it's only fair for me to this."
Tengfei tilted his head to the side slightly before replying, "And here I thought you’re going to be an eternal leech to my money."
His foot was stepped on afterwards. Just like before.
Soon, they left the restaurant.
Lihua's master wanted the princess to continue her training and so she asked to part ways with Tengfei.
Tengfei looked at her for a while before asking worriedly, "Alone again? Take me with you at least."
Lihua noticed that he was acting super caring. Not to blame him after witnessing his friend gone through a rough ordeal.
She looked at him before replying, "I'll be okay. Unlike before... I'll stay out of trouble no matter what."
"Even if you told me that, I still can't let you go alone..." Said Tengfei.
He then thought about the mysterious voice he heard before that led him to Lihua. How it's being related with the girl in front of him. He has a feeling that even if he asked, she'll not spill the beans. Though it hurts him that she won't share such an important secret.
Lihua grabbed his hands before replying, "This isn't like you. Straighten up and I'll promise you that no harm may befall me."
Tengfei surveyed her before asking, "Make sure you keep your promise. Just in case, I'll be nearby your training place. Fishing."
The princess nodded before separating ways.
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Tengfei was in the market, looking at the fishing supply. He eyed the wooden rod that has a crank attached to it. He immediately bought it and some new kinds of bait.
He took some time before he reached the pond.
Once he was there, a pink snake slithered through the grasses before circling around him. It was larger than before.
At first, Tengfei felt frightened but when he saw that the snake was rubbing its head upon his shoe. He calmed down.
The snake then slowly went up his body before wrapping around his neck. Not struggling him but becoming some sort of weird scarf.
Tengfei felt like he was about to faint any moment but he shook of that feeling. He then didn't mind the sleeping snake before finding a rock nearby the pond.
He sat down on one that looked comfortable enough. Tengfei then admired the scenery before he started fishing.
As he waits for the fish, he would whistle happily.
If anyone was here, their ears would bleed horribly.
Surprisingly the snake liked the tune as it hssed and swayed its tail with joy.
Tengfei noticed the snake's love with his tune and felt some sort of bond growing with it.
He then decided to give away more fish than usual today.
As he thought that, something was caught by his rod's hook.
He tried pulling as turns the crank but it was really tough. Tengfei had to stand up and use the rock to support his feet.
After a huge struggle of pulling and forcefully reeling the rod, he eventually won the tag of war.
What he saw on his hook was the biggest fish he ever caught, slightly but noticeably larger than a drake fish.
It was blue with large eyes. Wide and long. Sharp needles on it.
He dragged it on the ground before he watched the fish eventually die.
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Once dead, the needles around it enlarged and secreted purple goop at the base.
Tengfei was horrified and it goes the same with the snake.
The snake went to the ground before poking the fish with its tail. It was trying to find out if it was really dead.
Tengfei on the other hand, removed a book from his bag before scanning through it.
He found the drawing that looked similar to the fish before reading the description about it.
To his surprise, this fish in front of him was a really sought-after delicacy in a far rural village. Though it requires fine skill to serve it without getting poisoned.
He wondered if he should bother cooking this fish and follow the instructions.
Tengfei decided upon something after seeing the craving look the snake had. Its eyes were glued upon the fish as blackish goop was seen trailing of the corners of its mouth.
He decided to prepare the fish.
first, he needed to look for two supporting rocks and one wide darkish rock.
He set the rocks up in a way where one was elevated with the help of others support. Tengfei then grabbed some twigs and roots from the nearby trees before placing it underneath the flat rock.
His next task was to clean the fish and remove the poisonous parts of it.
This was the tricky part of whole preparation. Any person blindly cutting through the fish could risk harming his life. Even a professional butcher would still have the risk of getting harmed.
Though the Kian written text of instructions were clear and easy to follow. removing the risk factor of getting poisoned.
He followed it thoroughly. Carefully removing the head and paying attention to not touching any of the poison sacs.
Then he skinned the fish from the tail up. He removed the organs carefully. The liver and ovaries of this fish was particularly really poisonous.
After cleaning the fish and washing it, he then let it rest on a clean large leaf.
He moved to the set-up he made before. Afterwards he removed a small paper containing special characters. The young man then crushed a small blue crystal on top of it before the paper slowly gets engulfed in fire.
Tengfei laid the burning piece of paper on the twigs and roots.
He then nurtured the fire until it grew strong and large.
After knowing that the rock was hot enough to cook, he then placed the sliced pieces of fish meat on it.
Flipping it, when he sees the right color change. Placing the right amount of spices on it.
The snake watched the food cook patiently on the side.
It was intrigued as to what the human is doing with the fish.
The snake was further puzzled by the food offered to it by the young human. The food was nothing like he ever seen before. It was golden brown and fuming with steam. It gone close to the food before tasting it with its tongue, checking if it is safe to eat. After noting that it was safe. It took a large bite on it before swallowing it.
The snake's eyes widened before happily eating much more. It then took time to relish the taste. The flavor was nothing like anything it has eaten before. The snake felt very happy and delighted before eating without anything left.
Afterwards, the pink snake eyed Tengfei before giving an affectionate rub on his leg.
Tengfei felt proud and a sense of bond forming between them is starting to form.
The snake slithered on Tengfei’s body before wrapping around his neck loosely, just like before. The snake then felt calm before taking a nap.
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Tengfei, after a while, returned back to the inn. He found Li Meixiu stuffing herself in food. He decided to ignore her but before he could place his foot on the stair, the young lady called out for him before beckoning.
He felt puzzled before doing as told. Tengfei found and sit and sat nearby her.
The lady didn’t care that much about the young gray-haired man but more on the pink snake acting as a scarf.
She wondered why is a snake sleeping calmly on him? Is it his pet?
Tengfei gave a wry smile before asking, "Eh... What's up?"
Li Meixiu averted her look from the snake before taking a sip on her tea.
She then asked after surveying him, "How long have you known Zhou Huan?"
Tengfei pondered before replying, "Quite a long time."
The lady placed the tea on the saucer before saying, "Tell me about him. Since the first time you met."
Tengfei became dumbfounded before recalling a short moment where Zhou Huan boasted in the past that he would conquer many women.
He then, after a long while of silence, replied back, "Well... Our first meeting was quite memorable. As it was a bright and sunny day with birds chirping could be heard everywhere. Though the sound that accompanied it was... Zhou Huan's scream. He was running away from other servants who was chasing him."
Hearing his words caused the young lady to be more intrigued as she slowly chews the food.
Tengfei then continued, "I helped him out and managed to persuade the other servants due to my status. Though when everything is over, Zhou Huan came up to me before saying, 'You owe me one, you stole my preys.' before walking away."
Hearing that caused the young lady to drop her food. Though she picked it right back up before it touches the ground.
The young man observed the lady's expression but felt disappointed as it was like a doll. He hoped to at least see some sort of reaction. He then continued, "After that day, I started hanging out with that weird fellow. Immediately after we became really good friends."
"I see." She then closed her eyes before indulging in thought. After a while she asked, "Did he have any personality change?"
Tengfei was puzzled by that question. He had to think a while before replying, "Personality change doesn't seem like the correct words to say. It's more like he becomes serious in times and you could barely recognize him. There're also times when he's weak and fragile. Till now... I wonder what his past was like."
Li Meixiu nodded and heard it through.
She then stirred her tea while losing herself into a trail of thoughts.
Before Tengfei could ask about her opinion... He noticed that the air was stiff. Hard to breath. Killing intent was pointed at him.
He turned to find a red-haired girl covered in sweat.
She had her eyes half closed as she stared at him with no expression.
Tengfei felt like death looms over.
He couldn't say anything before he was forcefully dragged by the silent Lihua to the room.
As they were on the stairs, Lihua heard the young lady Li Meixiu, "I was not planning on stealing him."
Which made her 'humph' before marching up the stairs with Tengfei. Though she was constantly turning back and eyeing the pink snake on Tengfei.
When they reached inside the room, Lihua gave a cold look at the young man behind her before asking, "Explain yourself."
Seeing that her mood was bad and was staring daggers at him... he couldn't help but answer, "See here... You might be feeling really angry right now but please try and calm yourself. There's exactly nothing in between me and that lady."
Lihua snorted before replying, "That might be true for now but who knows how you'll act in the future! That lady is obviously your ideal image of the perfect woman!" She then looked at her own figure.
Tengfei couldn't help but dryly laugh before asking, "I never thought of you to be the jealous type."
Lihua became flustered before rebuking, "Why would I be jealous of her! My standing with you is far superior than her!"
The young man's heart started racing after thinking through the feelings she has for him. It's only natural to act like her if he was in her shoes. Thinking of another handsome man having a conversation with Lihua caused him to feel quite annoyed.
He then sighed before patting the head of hers. Tengfei then said, "I have zero intention of chasing a woman that resembles a doll. And... I'm sorry for not looking for you after I was done with fishing." The snake around Tengfei awoke before slowly slithering through the wooden flooring before finding a comfy place to sleep.
The princess closed one of her eyes as her other stares intently on the young man in front. She then crossed her arms before saying, "I forgive you."
When Tengfei was about to remove his hand from her head... Lihua puffed her cheeks before forcing him to keep on patting.
This caused the gray-haired young man to wryly smile before thinking, 'She's starting to grow addicted...'
After that, Lihua took a bath before Tengfei took his turn.
When they sat on the bed, Lihua looked upon the pink snake on the corner before Tengfei, "So, did you successfully capture it?"
"Somehow it became attached to me after serving it cooked food. Mayybe it never tasted anything aside raw."
Lihua's eyes beamed with excitement before saying, "Amazing! By recalling the story, you told me earlier, this beast must be really frightening but now it's in your control!"
Hearing her words caused him to be puzzled before asking, "I feel like after it grew bored of me, it would just return back."
"Well that's quite likely and since we're not rich, we can't purchase a servitudal seal for the beast."
Tengfei nodded his head even though he doesn't understand how the servitudal seal works but has a basic idea.
After settling down, Tengfei suggested Lihua to eat dinner with him.
The princess asked as to what they're going to eat. She's even willing to cook even though the amount of food recipes she knows is really limited
Tengfei brought out a leaf package which contained the fish he cooked before. He explained about the food before asking if she could cook some rice. She happily complied.
They ate dinner before the day end.
Though while they were sleeping, Tengfei told her, “Your perfect the way you are.”
Lihua smiled happily before hugging the back of his. Unlike before, the heart of Tengfei was raising and couldn’t keep calm.
Eventually he slept but took so much time.
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