CHAPTER 47
Yan Hui laid on her bed the entire night. The pain in her abdomen had lessened quite a bit. The next morning, she ate an entire mantou. However right when she was going to eat a second one, she hastily covered her mouth. She ran, half bent over, to a large basin and promptly vomited.
Yan Hui felt like her stomach was trying to force its way out.
The room's door opened with a creak. It was Tian Yao. He heard her movements from next door. He saw Yan Hui puking like she had morning sickness and frowned: "What is it?"
"Don't make me talk." Yan Hui finished throwing up. She clutched her stomach and limply sat down on the floor. "Stomach hurts."
Tian Yao sat next to her. He clasped her wrist and measured its pulse. Tian Yao frowned even more: "Your injury contains magic."
"Well, duh." Yan Hui shook off Tian Yao's hand and crept back to the bed. "If it didn't have magic, then I would've been able to recuperate my inner breath during the night." Finished speaking, she reached toward the table to get a cup of tea.
Tian Yao took two steps forward and suddenly pressed Yan Hui's hand flat: "The tea isn't good for the stomach, yet you still dare drink it."
Yan Hui looked wide-eyed at Tian Yao. She said in innocent astonishment: "But I'm thirsty."
Tian Yao ignored her. He didn't say anything, only snatching away the cup in her hand and taking away the mantou on the table. Yan Hui was stunned. She slapped the table: "Give it back. What are you taking it away for?"
Tian Yao didn't even look back. Holding the edibles, he pushed the door open. When the door was about the swing close, only then did he turn to look back at Yan Hui: "Wait here."
The food had been taken away. Idly waiting here wasn't Yan Hui's style. She clutched her stomach and hurried after Tian Yao.
Yan Hui chased Tian Yao to the top of the stairs. He turned back to look at her. Perhaps because he saw she didn't have any issues with walking that Tian Yao didn't mind Yan Hui. He continued to the back courtyard, holding the food, and entered the kitchen.
Breakfast had just ended. The chefs in the kitchen were prepping for lunch. No one was using the fire yet. Tian Yao walked right in and with practiced movements busied himself with the pots and pans storage area.
Yan Hui moved closer to the doorway and watched him. She saw him pour out the tea and set aside the mantou. He washed the rice and then set the pot with rice on top of the fire to boil. He efficiently prepared the fish, removing the bones with just a few slices of the knife. Then with the back of the knife, he efficiently removed the spines on the back of the fish.
Yan Hui heard the knife rapidly chopping on the board as Tian Yao minced the fish with a few slices of ginger. In another pot of boiling water, he blanched the fish to removed the fishy taste. Then he scooped the minced fish into the pot with the boiling rice. Three chopped scallions were added, and then Tian Yao slowly stirred the porridge.
His movements were swift and skilled. It made sense. Tian Yao spent ten years without magic and lived in a small mountain village. There would be no one else to do the cooking and cleaning except for him. Tian Yao had to do everything himself.
Yan Hui watched Tian Yao's busy movements from behind. At some point while watching him, her thoughts began to drift. She remembered when he made mantou. Those were pretty good, and at the time they were living in a remote and bleak place. There weren't any good ingredients. Otherwise, Tian Yao's cooking might be even better than Fatty Zhang's cooking at Chen Xing Mountain.
And Tian Yao's every movement and even his bearing was so elegant. Even wielding a big iron pot didn't detract from him. Even if Fatty Zhang rode a galloping horse, he couldn't catch up to Tian Yao's handsome and sharp profile.
"If you were female, I'd marry you and take you home."
Yan Hui blurted out those words without her noticing.
The spatula Tian Yao was using suddenly grated against the pot. Even the porridge in the pot couldn't mask the sound.
Tian Yao turned his head and shot Yan Hui a look: "If you were a male, only then would you be entitled to say those words."
Yan Hui replied without thinking: "What male would treat you better than me?"
"......"
The words made sense, but it seemed off when hearing them.
Tian Yao turned back to his cooking and concentrated on stirring the porridge. A fragrant aroma slowly arose from the pot. Yan Hui was heard off to Tian Yao's side, sniffing the air: "Smells so good." Her head stuck over Tian Yao's shoulder, and she stared wide-eyed at the porridge.
"You don't put much in it, yet it smells so good."
Fatty Zhang dropped another level in Yan Hui's heart.
Tian Yao glanced down at Yan Hui. She had been so mesmerized by the bubbling porridge that she wasn't even aware her head brushed against his shoulder. Tian Yao stepped to the side a little bit. Now Yan Hui thought that he was making room for her. Thus, she squeezed forward more and ended up back in his space.
This time, Yan Hui didn't declare she was under the influence of drugs, that he needed to move aside and not touch her or else her face would turn red and heart beat fast.
The fox lust fragrance wasn't as alluring to Yan Hui as the fish porridge was.
She was standing so close to Tian Yao, but she didn't even spare him a glance.
Tian Yao stirred the pot again. Actually, the porridge needed to simmer longer at low heat to become thicker. However, Tian Yao didn't know what came over him. He ladled out several large scoops: "Eat up." He placed the bowl next to the stove, making a crisp sound when the bowl was set down.
Yan Hui was like a small dog waiting impatient for food. Her head followed the bowl's movement. She stepped around Tian Yao, picked up the bowl, and started to eat.
Tian Yao watched Yan Hui out of the corner of his eye. He watched her blow at the porridge, take a bite, and then stare off into the distance. When she turned to look at Tian Yao, her eyes were filled with tears: "I didn't know you could make something so tasty."
Yan Hui's eyes filled with emotion: "My stomach is warm now. This bowl of porridge makes me want to worship you."
Tian Yao lightly coughed. He turned his away and was silent. A few moments passed while he gazed at the scenery outside: "I originally was going to make it even better. But then you were so hungry for it that I served some for you."
Yan Hui ignored him. She just hurriedly nodded twice and resumed eating.
Tian Yao didn't get any response. When he turned back, he saw Yan Hui was getting a second bowl. Helplessly, Tian Yao's mouth quirked into a smile that no one saw.
"Don't eat a lot. Be careful that your stomach might start to hurt again."
When Yan Hui first heard those words, she had no reaction. While she was still processing those words, Yan Hui continued to eat. Somehow as she ate, those words started to indescribably carry a coaxing and indulging tone.
This time when Yan Hui looked up, Tian Yao was standing at the doorway of the kitchen.
The steam from the porridge coiled and twisted, warming the atmosphere.
In the afternoon, Yan Hui's stomach was feeling better. She stopped being idle and went to look for Feng Qian Shuo.
Feng Qian Shuo was in his own room. When Yan Hui went to seek him out, there just happened to be a woman standing by his side. She was beautiful but couldn't hold a candle to Xian Ge.
Yan Hui shot the woman a glance then turned to look at Feng Qian Shuo.
Feng Qian Shuo also thoroughly looked Yan Hui up and down. He smiled and said: "When all is said and done, the xian cultivators truly are different. Yesterday, you were heavily injured. However after one night, you are as hale and lively as ever. Miss Yan's recovery is truly shocking."
"Clan Master Feng really believes I'm an immortal xian? An injury like that won't heal so quickly. My stomach still hurts."
Feng Qian Shuo fanned himself and laughed: "Ah, then why isn't Miss Yan carefully recuperating in her room? What did you come to find me for?"
"Before I arrived, I only had two things I wanted to say. But after entering, I suddenly have three things I want to say."
Feng Qian Shuo smiled: "Please speak."
"The first one is Feng Ming is now dead. Heavenly Fragrance can't make the fox lust fragrance anymore. Probably no one will go trap fox demons now. Clan Master Feng should set a date and send some escorts to bring the fox demons staying here to the border. I'm afraid if they were set free around the city, then those missing their neidan may harm people in a lapse of judgement."
Feng Qian Shuo nodded: "Of course. And the second thing?"
"The second thing is something I've discussed with you before. I left my sect recently. You probably know that. I walked down the mountain alone, penniless, and experience great suffering. Although I didn't come here to specifically help Clan Master Feng with a matter, in the end I still ended up helping Clan Master Feng with a matter, you see."
Feng Qian Shuo burst out in laughter: "Alright, alright, Miss Yan truly did help me out. Now that you're injured, I must extend a hand to the suffering beauty without hesitation." He folded up the fan in his hand and pointed south: "There is a jewelry store in a small village located 50 li (15.5 mi or 25 km) south of this city. The profit from the store these past two years hasn't been bad. As Miss Yan has spoken up, I will gift you the store."
Yan Hui's eyes immediately lit up: "Jewelry store?"
"Correct." Feng Qian Shuo smiled and dipped his head: "Is Miss Yan satisfied?"
Yan Hui originally planned to just ask for some money for traveling expenses. Just enough to make traveling the jianhu easier. Who would've know this fellow would so generously express his thanks?
Yan Hui was worthy of being called an expert at gold digging. Even an innocent girl would chase after such a generous hand; a wave of that hand and a jewelry store is given. Even one not chasing would feel helpless at that. [1]
"Satisfied."
Extremely satisfied.
Feng Qian Shuo was still smiling as gently as before: "And what is this third thing you had after coming in my room?"
When Feng Qian Shuo asked, Yan Hui's face stiffened in an instant. After thinking for a moment, she spoke: "Although you have money, a large house, and are handsome, your rooms are filled with concubines. At this rate, you'll double their numbers. I've thought about it. I want Xian Ge."
Feng Qian Shuo's smile was still there, but his tone hardened: "No."
Yan Hui pursed her lips: "I'm not one to meddle in another's business. I know Xian Ge truly likes you. But you have 100 concubines, and that number might even go up. I think that really wrongs Xian Ge. She's the type of girl that doesn't necessary deserve a better man but deserves someone who loves her whole-heartedly. I know you own Xian Ge's contract."
"I don't mean for Xian Ge to follow me right now. After all, it's not for me, an outsider, to say where she goes or who she follows. What she wants to do is up to her own desire. But I hope that if one day Xian Ge wants to leave, then there will be nothing to block her."
Feng Qian Shuo was silent for a long time. The fan in his hand remained closed, and he didn't tap it in this hand either. He just sat there holding it for awhile then said: "If I don't give you it, will Miss Yan try to take it?"
"We have a good relationship right now. Clan Master Feng, how could I try to rob you?" Yan Hui laughed. "But this relationship is based on Xian Ge being my friend and you having a good relationship with Xian Ge. If Xian Ge is no longer happy with you, then I'll steal from you."
Feng Qian Shuo laughed first: "Miss Yan is acting as a patron for Xian Ge while warning me at the same time."
"I wouldn't dare." Yan Hui said. "Since Clan Master Feng won't agree to my last matter, then there's nothing I can do. I'll leave now."
Feng Qian Shuo smiled: "Goodbye."
But when Yan Hui left, Feng Qian Shuo stood up and walked to the window. He watched Yan Hui leave the building and cross the courtyard to return to the building she stayed at. In that building, Tian Yao leaned against the windowsill on the second floor. Tian Yao was watching Yan Hui with an even expression on his face.
Feng Qian Shuo spoke: "Continue."
The beautiful woman acknowledge him and spoke: "Daoist Priest Ling Xiao's subordinate brings a message for Clan Master on his behalf. Keep careful watch over the disciple that was expelled, Yan Hui. Don't let her leave your sight."
Feng Qian Shuo's eyes slightly narrowed: "Then you send a message back to Ling Xiao. His disciple seems to have caught the attention of an extremely troublesome person."