The next morning, a faint light appeared in the east.
The fragrance lingered by the bedside.
Every morning, Little Li was nowhere to be seen, but Little Ke had long been used to it.
He silently estimated his cultivation progress, got up, and went downstairs. Ying Bing was already waiting for him there.
Today, the hotpot shop didn’t have its owner, but under the tree at the entrance stood a graceful figure.
Deep blue fish-tooth brocade covered her delicate figure, holding a long sword.
Through the gauze veil fluttering in the wind, one could almost see her serene gaze.
“Who is she?”
“Sis, this leg is longer than my life.”
“I wonder which great sect’s female hero she is.”
“I heard that the current top leader of the Qingyuan Sect is a woman of unparalleled beauty and formidable strength. Could it be…”
Wherever she appeared, she always became the center of attention.
“Let’s go.”
After a few seconds of eye contact, Little Ke smiled lightly and spoke.
Facing the morning breeze, entering the city, Little Ke finally felt the essence of wandering through the fast-paced martial world.
Within the city walls, carriages and horses flowed like water, people bustling like smoke.
Little Ke thought it had been a while since he last visited Little Princess Jiang and the kids, so he prepared to buy some food and visit them.
“Candied haws!”
“Do you like the big candied haws, Kezi? Yes!”
“Family members, today I’m giving you a treat! This exotic wine is usually priced at eighty-eight taels, but now it’s just eighty-eight…”
“Wrap all the candied haws for me.”
“Big Benevolent Man Ke? Haha, Big Benevolent Man Ke is eating my family’s candied haws!”
A stall owner was overjoyed.
Then, he took out a wooden sign and wrote on it:
“Candied haws, highly recommended by Big Benevolent Man Ke.”
This was highly effective; immediately, many people became curious and came to watch and buy.
“Big Benevolent Man Ke, try mine!”
“Do you like roasted yams?”
“Big Benevolent Man Ke, do you need clothes? My women’s wear is very beautiful.”
“Hey, where did everyone go?”
The scene became somewhat chaotic.
It took quite a while for Little Ke to squeeze out with the bamboo stick holding the candied haws, even using the Wind Shadow Step.
“Big Benevolent Man Ke?”
Ying Bing turned her head, puzzled why Little Ke was so famous in the city.
“It’s also because of you.”
“…”
After learning the details, Ying Bing recalled slightly, her red lips under the gauze veil gently pressed together.
Soon, they arrived at Mud Corner Lane.
As they entered, the originally messy courtyard had been cleaned up neatly. Although there were still many miscellaneous items, it looked tidy.
The roof of the dilapidated house was fixed, and even a stove was built in the courtyard.
“Big Brother Ke!”
“Stutter Sister, quickly look, Big Brother Ke is here.”
“Hey, who is that sister?”
“Wow, I’ve wanted to eat candied haws for a long time.”
The little ones all rushed over.
After some small talk, they found it strange—Stutter Sister talked about it every day, so why didn’t she come today?
Little Ke glanced and noticed a figure hiding behind the door of the house, only peeking out half her head, her face flushed, too shy to approach.
That appearance reminded Little Ke of a once timid cat from his previous life that would hide whenever strangers came.
Strangers?
Little Ke glanced at Ice Chunk, his head filled with questions.
You told me to find her, but you seem not to know her well?
What’s going on?
Ying Bing saw Jiang Chulong breathing steadily, though thin yet with rosy cheeks, her expression softened.
Little Ke tried waving to her:
“Chulong, I brought you some delicious food.”
“Mmm…”
Jiang Chulong then walked out with some tension.
Although blindfolded, she could feel it.
That sister is not a bad person.
Mud Corner Lane welcomed its chef.
Little Ke tied on an apron and started preparing today’s meal for the little ones.
Jiang Chulong secretly lifted her head to look at Ying Bing, noticing her gaze and hurriedly lowered her head again.
This sister seems more noble than the ladies in the palace…
Her aura is so strong.
“Big Brother Ke, I…”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing… I can help you… cook…”
She skillfully took out the Crimson Sky Sword to assist Little Ke.
Ying Bing stepped forward half a step and then withdrew.
Half an hour passed.
Just as the dishes were about to be served.
“Why are you here?!”
A frustrated voice suddenly came from the courtyard entrance.
It was a young man in fine robes, holding two strings of candied haws.
Plop—
The candied haws in his left hand fell to the ground.
“Luo Yu?”
Li Mo leaned back slightly, surprised to see him here.
“I waited for you guys at the prefectural office for a long time. Why didn’t you come as promised?”
“You guys have already arrived in the city.”
Luo Yu asked sternly and loudly.
“Eh… forgot.”
Little Li remembered he had forgotten something.
Well, he never intended to act with Luo Yu and the others anyway.
“How could you forget something like this?”
Luo Yu’s eyebrows furrowed into a knot.
“What have you been doing in the city?”
“Running a hotpot shop.”
Li Mo said seriously.
Hearing his matter-of-fact tone, Luo Yu felt a surge of anger.
Too unreliable!
He looked hopefully at Ying Bing:
“And what about you?”
“Counting money.”
Ying Bing didn’t even glance at him.
She didn’t even know this jumping-around fellow’s name.
Who are you? Not familiar at all.
Counting money? Isn’t that the boss?
Luo Yu’s vision darkened, feeling like he might vomit bl**d.
The right-hand candied haws also rolled to the ground.
Ziyang City is at the foot of Qingyuan Mountain. How could you be so indifferent about the safety of the people when you should be concerned, yet still have the leisure to open a broken hotpot shop?
Are you on vacation?
“Hmph, I thought you were somewhat decent, but now I’m deeply disappointed in you!”
“And Miss Ying Bing, how could you degrade yourself like this!”
Luo Yu angrily swept his sleeve and left.
Li Mo rubbed his forehead: “What’s going on?”
Ying Bing shook her head lightly, not understanding and not particularly interested.
They had just picked up their bowls to eat when they saw Luo Yu, who had stormed out, return.
Li Mo: “?”
“That, lend me two candied haws,” Luo Yu’s face alternated between green and white.
The candied haws he dropped were the last two, which he had finally managed to get.
“You still like these?”
Li Mo laughed and handed them over.
“Hmph… my sister wants to eat…”
Luo Yu plucked two candied haws from the bundle placed at the door.
Then, he turned his head repeatedly emphasizing:
“Don’t think I’ll forgive you just because of this. I’m still very disappointed in you.”
He pointed at the candied haws.
Just before leaving, he paused, his eyes scanning Li Mo and the group of little ones gathered around the table, then muttered sullenly:
“Recently, children often go missing.”
After saying this, he hurriedly left.
Of course, he wasn’t out specifically to buy candied haws, but rather to investigate.
For now, he hadn’t found any clues.
Li Mo: “…..?”
“Children going missing…”
Ying Bing pondered upon hearing these four words.
Li Mo looked at the little ones and asked:
“Have you seen any suspicious people around recently?”
“No, Brother Li.”
“We’re very alert. Kidnappers won’t trick us.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Yeah, Stutter Sister is very capable. She even made the big evil dog at the alley mouth submit. She will protect us.”
The little ones assured quickly.
Li Mo thought about whether he should take them to the shop, which might also help.
Eh… Is this considered child labor?
“Cough!”
An external cough sound.
It was Xiao Qian in disguise.
His expression was serious as he surveyed the surroundings.
When Li Mo approached, his first sentence was:
“Laughing Amitabha sent a message.”
…
PS: Happy Dragon Boat Festival everyone! Have you eaten zongzi today?
