Crimson fire arrows tore through the night sky like a meteor shower. Amidst the swooshing sounds, they headed straight for Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji's room. In an instant, raging flames ignited, turning the room on the second floor into a sea of fire.
"It's starting, it's starting!" Meng Fuyao jumped up, not out of fear, but excitement. She stamped her feet and rubbed her palms together. "How unexpected! He actually dared to make a move!"
"What are you showing off for?" Zhangsun Wuji did not move, as if he did not see the fire above his head at all. He unhurriedly peeled a sweet potato and enjoyed it with Lord Ingot. "It wasn't Feng Jingrui who did it. Let me bet you that he was' not here 'tonight, and the arsonists must be from the Changtian Gang, who were' avenging their brothers who were killed '." "That's right, Feng Jingrui.
"I know that Feng Jingrui will push the blame for our ambush to the Eternal Sky Faction," Meng Fuyao said, giggling. "The Jade Pearl Kingdom is in chaos anyway. The Lulin is colluding with the Prince, and the Prince is colluding with the officials. Those within the capital have been forced out, while those outside the capital are still eyeing covetously. Since Feng Jingrui has no hope of becoming the Emperor, why not make the situation even more chaotic? If we die, wouldn't it be better for the Han Dynasty and Wuji Dynasty to attack Xuanji? Who knows, Feng Jingrui might even be able to fish in troubled waters. "
"So if Feng Jingrui wants to kill you, I have no qualms about it. He doesn't need to be responsible for Xuanji." Zhangsun Wuji stuffed a peeled yam into her mouth. "Fuyao."
"Hmm." Her mouth was bulging as she ate with all her might.
"Are you going to get rid of Feng Jingrui now?"
"It can't be." Meng Fuyao replied. "It's easy to kill him, but it'll be troublesome if he attracts more people. After all, we're in someone else's territory, so we can't be so high-profile …"
Zhangsun Wuji was just wondering why this person was so modest today, but he heard her say, "Why don't we wait until we move from the light to the dark all the way to the capital, and then round up the problematic ones and those who have harmed us and kill them together?"
… It was indeed the style of King Meng.
"Then …" Zhangsun Wuji smiled. "It seems that we are going to be hunted down."
Meng Fuyao did not bat an eyelid as he spoke about the difficult and unpredictable future.
"Oh." She rested her chin on her hand and thought seriously about how to escape. "How should we escape? Escape with three thousand people? That would be too disrespectful to Xuanji. "
"I think," Zhangsun Wuji smiled, "what Feng Jingrui said tonight at the banquet, something about spring on a red platform, sunset on a mountain peak, and beautiful water on a golden river, sounds very good."
"Ahhh, it's been a long time since I've traveled!"
Wiping her mouth, she stood up and looked up at the second floor. Then she heard the clamor of people shouting for revenge outside. She said, "They should at least fight before they 'disappear'."
She rolled up her sleeves, tied up her hair, and said with bright eyes, "My hands are itchy!"
"Wait." However, Zhangsun Wuji suddenly pulled her hand over and carefully looked at her fingers. He said, "Your fingernails grow out very easily. You should first trim them. Otherwise, if you break them in a fight, you'll easily hurt your fingers." He pulled her to sit down, took out a small golden scissors from his pouch, and started trimming her nails.
At that moment, there was a raging fire above them, and the surroundings were noisy. Outside the posthouse, countless people from the Heaven Sect were closing in on them with bows and knives in hand. At this critical moment, the two of them actually started cutting their nails in silence.
Zhangsun Wuji cut her fingers in a serious manner, moving them one by one. From Fuyao's angle, she could see that his forehead was as smooth as jade, his thin lips slightly pursed, and his nose as straight as jade. His cheeks were coated with a layer of reddish-gold from the firelight, giving him an almost radiant glow. However, his expression was one of rare concentration, as if the neatness of his fingers was more important than whether or not someone was going to besiege or even kill them.
In the midst of all the clamor, it was quiet here. Only the two of them could hear their long breaths and the sound of the scissors cutting their nails. It was subtle but crisp, and the more one listened to it, the liveliness of a minor tune.
The beauty of time was all in this moment.
Fuyao was sitting cross-legged in front of him. The embers of the fire were warm, and the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes had yet to dissipate. Lord Ingot was sleeping between the two of them, his belly as big as a mountain. Suddenly, he felt a sense of tranquility and warmth in this moment of uncertainty and danger. It was like many, many years ago, in her previous life, when she was on her way back from the hospital with her mother and came across a roasted sweet potato stall by the roadside. She bought one for a dollar, and the mother and daughter would stand by the roadside and share them. As they ate, they would look at each other and smile. They both felt that they were not just sharing a sweet potato, but also the warmth of winter, the feelings of sharing weal and woe, and the tacit understanding of companionship for a lifetime.
Now, after 19 years, she was once again sharing roasted sweet potatoes with someone in another world. The scene, the time, and the people were all worlds apart, but the feelings were actually similar.
The small scissors made a clicking sound as she cut her nails unhurriedly … She was a little distracted again. She thought back to many years ago, when she was young, it was her mother who cut her nails. After her mother fell ill, it was her who cut her nails. At that time, she never thought that many years later, in a different world, there would be a noble man who had never done any menial work, quietly and gently cut her nails on such a fiery night.
The man said slowly and calmly, "Fuyao, I hope to be able to roast sweet potatoes with you every winter and cut your overly long nails."
Fuyao sighed silently and patted his hand. She stood up and said, "I still think it's more realistic for you to fight with me now. Let's go."
The two of them leaped onto the top of the wall and looked down. Amidst the flickering flames, they first saw the 3,000 guards that Feng Jingrui had arranged to stay in the city. Because the posthouse could no longer accommodate them, they were now rushing towards the posthouse. Following that, they saw the 'anxious' local soldiers rushing out of the magistrate's office with extreme efficiency. They raised torches and appeared on all the roads leading to the posthouse. It looked like they were actively providing aid in the same direction, but in reality, they were blocking the cavalry's way. The streets and alleys of the small border city were narrow, so the cavalry could not advance at all.
Meng Fuyao hugged her chest and sneered. She lowered her head and called out to Tie Cheng, who was rushing over. "Go contact Ji Yu and ask him to follow the old method of the Black Wind Cavalry. Let's split up and head to Tongcheng, the capital city. Meet me there at the beginning of April."
Tie Cheng obeyed the order and left. Meng Fuyao looked at the tightly packed posthouse, where the cold gleam of iron weapons could be seen amidst the torches and cries of "Avenge my brother!". She could not help but laugh coldly. "Heroes of the underworld actually have military-made bows and crossbows? At this level of collusion, the chaos in Xuanji Nation is really unsalvageable. "
Zhangsun Wuji said, "I heard that the leader of the Changtian Faction was someone who almost made it into the Top Ten. He's not a mediocre person. You must be careful."
Meng Fuyao lowered her head and saw a bald old man in a red robe standing in the crowd at the front door of the posthouse. His temples were bulging, and his eyes were shining brightly. He was directing the attack on the posthouse. Her interest was immediately piqued, and she lifted her leg to run.
She sprinted like a thick black line, instantly drawing a whistling wind in the night. The flames that were rising from all directions were forced back by the fierce Gang Qi around her, and with a whoosh, they all stopped on the wall of the hostel's front gate. The crossbow bolts that were aimed at her all brushed past her clothes and flew sideways, nailing into the door. The front gate, which was already soft from the heat, suddenly collapsed with a loud bang, dust and wood splinters flying everywhere, smashing into a few of the Changtian Faction's subordinates who were the most active in attacking the gate, causing them to immediately bleed.
The shocking momentum startled the Changtian Faction members who were shouting at the top of their lungs. In that moment, Meng Fuyao retreated from the flames in front of her. Like a blade, she passed through the Changtian Faction members who had gathered together, like a dark-black long knife that sliced open the back of the giant green snake. Wherever she passed, bodies flew, and fresh blood splattered everywhere. Screams of agony quickly drowned out the cries of revenge.
The knife light was especially bright, and 18 arcs of light vibrated rapidly within the formation in a strange rhythm. The snowy light was like swords shooting in all directions, and the reflection of the flames became even more blinding. The people around could not help but raise their sleeves to cover their eyes, and for a moment, they could not see anything clearly.
Behind the 18 knife formation, the bald old man rolled up his sleeves, his palms thick and blood-red. It was obvious that he was practicing the Poison Palm. He stared at Meng Fuyao with a cold smile, waiting for her to meet the blinding knife light and close her eyes. This was a light formation taught by a strange person. Complemented by his Traceless Poison Palm, it was even more extraordinary. Countless top-notch experts had died to this move, and he believed that this girl, who had become one of the Top Ten at the age of 18, would not be an exception.
Meng Fuyao suddenly twisted her body in mid-air.
She charged forward so violently that no one would be able to overcome such a violent inertia. Yet, Meng Fuyao easily turned around like a fish in water, and lifted her leg to kick a member of the Changtian Faction who was charging at her. The knife light shone brightly, and with a scream, the person was skewered on the tip of the knife.
The people in the knife formation were stunned. Then, with a well-trained shake, the corpse was shaken off. But Meng Fuyao did not stop there. In an instant, she kicked a dozen times in mid-air, and the members of the Changtian Faction were kicked at lightning speed like rubber balls. They could neither escape nor hide, and one by one, they pierced through the knife formation. Before the formation could shake off the knife, they were already skewered by blood. Meng Fuyao, however, had already leaped into the air. Stepping on the corpses on the tip of the knife, she crossed the formation and headed straight for the Changtian Faction leader.
The old man snorted. His blood-red palm, which had been accumulating power for a long time, lit up. "Today, I'll take your place!"
He gathered 120% of his True Force and slashed out with his palm. The surrounding area was immediately filled with the stench of blood.
But Meng Fuyao suddenly disappeared.
With a light flip, she flipped over the head of the Changtian Faction leader. The moment he saw her disappear, he did not panic. Instead, he reacted quickly and flipped his palm backward. It was equally powerful and ferocious, and the stench of blood rose in all directions. The power of both palms was exactly the same, and both were equally agile!
But it was at the moment when he flipped back to face Meng Fuyao.
He suddenly felt as though there was a figure floating in front of him.
The feeling of catching a glimpse of a figure from the corner of his eye was strange and illusory. In that instant, the other party did not seem real, but more like an illusion created by the blinding light of the fire. In reality, there was still the knife formation in front of him, and Meng Fuyao had flipped behind him. At this moment, there should be no one in front of him.
But the old master, who had roamed the Xuanji Continent for decades and had experienced hundreds of battles, still felt that something was wrong. He immediately raised his palm and tried to counter with his other hand.
Unfortunately, he was still one step too late.
A hand suddenly reached out gently. As soon as the hand was raised, it closed in front of him. The wind that was flowing in all directions suddenly seemed to be stuck in place, even blocking the bloody palm that he had shot out.
The Eternal Sky Sect Master's attack paused slightly.
Behind him, Meng Fuyao shook her head without turning back, and immediately followed up with a Piercing Fist!
Punch like a hole, shattering your heart and liver!
"Bang!"
Amidst the clamor, only the Eternal Sky Sect Master heard the dull and hopeless shattering sound. It was as though the sky had collapsed and the earth had cracked. All his flesh, blood, organs, and consciousness were shattered and buried in an instant. He could hear the blood in his body rushing wildly, losing control of his organs, meridians, and heart. Joy soared in his body with unprecedented strength, but it was also the last revelry and extravagant joy of his life, like the last dance before a feast. Then, darkness descended, and all the sparks were extinguished.
He didn't even have time to cry out, nor did he have time to spit out a mouthful of blood before he collapsed heavily and hopelessly.
The last thought in his life was, 'Who … is that in front?'
The one in front was Zhangsun Wuji.
The Crown Prince, who was very lazy and did not like to fight, was lazily following behind King Meng. He floated around like a piece of cotton. When King Meng flipped over, the lazy cotton was flipped over and fell right in front of Changtian Gang's leader.
Being stuck there, the old man could only move a little.
How could the Eternal Sky Sect Master, who might not have been Meng Fuyao's match even with the saber array, withstand the shameless pincer attack of two black-bellied experts? It was only a matter of time before he died.
One move!
The Eternal Sky Sect Master was dead!
In the eyes of the stunned Eternal Sky Sect members, all they saw was Meng Fuyao charging over fiercely, kicking out dozens of people to the edge of the saber array in the blink of an eye. But when she reached the Old Sect Master, she suddenly flipped over, and a faint purple shadow floated over? Then, Meng Fuyao threw a punch.
The Eternal Sky Sect Master died.
The Old Sect Master, who had never lost a battle in the Xuanji Star Region and had almost won against the Ten Strongest many years ago, had died so easily?
Nothing could break a person down more easily than having their idol destroyed. Most of the Eternal Sky Sect members stopped what they were doing and began to retreat in horror. A few of the Vice Sect Masters and Big Boss flew over, but did not dare to get close. They exchanged hesitant glances and saw an opportunity in each other's eyes. The Sect Master was dead, and a new power struggle was about to begin. It was more important to preserve everyone's strength.
"Retreat!" one of the Vice Sect Masters bellowed. The Eternal Sky Sect members immediately withdrew their sabers and retreated.
Meng Fuyao panicked. 'F * ck, how are we going to' disappear 'if you guys retreat? I can't play anymore, can I? ' Seeing that the Eternal Sky Sect was not only not avenging the Sect Master, but also retreating in an orderly manner, and that the local soldiers had finally 'arrived', Meng Fuyao was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, she waved her hands and chased after them, plunging into the crowd. "Ahhh … kill me, kill me, ahhhhh, I didn't bring any weapons …" Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she quickly knocked down one person and snatched his hat, then grabbed another and stripped his robe … She then blended in with the thousands of Eternal Sky Sect members retreating in a hurry.
On the 26th of the first month of the 30th year of the Xuanji Star Region, the Wuji Crown Prince and the Han Meng King were besieged by the Eternal Sky Sect for killing one of the Eternal Sky Sect's leaders. In the chaotic battle, the Eternal Sky Sect Master was killed, while the Crown Prince and the Han Meng King went missing.
= = =
The Golden River was born in Lishui, and its waters were like ripples.
The Lishui River of the Xuanji Nation was the largest river that traversed from north to south, and was also the mother river that nurtured countless children of the Xuanji Nation. Just like its name, Lishui River was clear and beautiful, with beautiful sceneries. It was especially famous for the Jade Peak section of the Jinjiang County. The mountains and rivers there were exquisite, and there were eighteen scenic sceneries, including the 'Beauty Bun', 'Full Moon Cliff', 'Jade Bamboo Fairy Platform', and 'Elegant Hairpin Peak'. The water was as clear as jade, and the winding river was known as the 'First Water of the Xuanji Nation'.
It was a spring morning, and a thin layer of fog had formed on the surface of the river. A small boat gracefully emerged from between the cliffs on both sides of the river. The boat lady skillfully rowed the boat, carrying a pale red glow as it broke through the fog. The delicate bow of the boat swept across the crystal clear water, and the sound of the boat echoed in the tranquil morning light.
"Hey, that's the boat lady." Suddenly, a clear voice came from the shore. Hearing the voice, the boatwoman looked over and saw a young girl in light green standing on the shore, waving at her. She was smiling and her posture was more graceful than the most beautiful Full Moon Cliff in Jin River. Her eyes were so bright that they seemed to thin the morning fog.
A slender man stood beside her, wearing a light robe that covered half of his face. He smiled at the clear surface of the river with his hands behind his back. The wind fluttered his robe, and when his eyes moved slightly, it made one's breathing become erratic.
The boat lady stared at the man and woman in a daze. She did not understand words like 'a pair of immortal lovers', but she instinctively praised, "What a beautiful pair!"
The girl was not angry at her dazed look, and happily patted an ingot of silver, saying, "We want to cross the river, please help us."
There were five taels of fine silver, which was equivalent to half a year's ferry fare for the boat lady. The boat lady quickly accepted it with a smile and poled the boat. The girl giggled and said, "I'll give you another five taels when we get off the boat."
The boat lady was overjoyed, but the girl immediately said with a smile, "But there are conditions." She counted on her fingers and said quickly, "First, you can't look too much. Second, you can't ask too much. Third, you can't make the food taste bad. One tael will be deducted for every extra glance, two taels will be deducted for every extra question, and three taels will be deducted if the food tastes bad."
The boat lady quickly shut up. She originally wanted to talk to the beautiful couple, but now she gave up and poled the boat silently. She heard the girl beckoning to an honest young man, "Tiecheng, please hurry up. I didn't say you can't look. Why did you turn your eyes away?"
She comfortably lay down on the plank of the boat, taking up the already small space on the boat. She put her hands on the pillow and said in an intoxicated manner, "Ah, these days, are really good."
The boat lady silently looked at this strange and clever girl. After a while, she finally said, "There's still one thing I have to ask."
The man smiled and said, "Don't listen to her. You ask."
"Are the guests brother and sister or husband and wife?"
"Brother and sister."
"Husband and wife."
The two voices had different answers. After a while, the girl sat up and kicked the man, saying, "You talk too much." She turned to ask the boat lady, "Why are you asking this? I'm really going to deduct the silver."
"The guests want to eat good food. Brother and sister eat like brother and sister, husband and wife eat like husband and wife." The boat lady smiled, her eyes curved. "If they are brother and sister, then I'll cook for the guests. If they are husband and wife, there's a guest from the capital who recently came to the Wu Family's boat restaurant after 18 turns. He makes excellent dishes, but I heard that he has a lot of rules. He only cooks three dishes a day at most. He also said that he only cooks for loving couples. If the two of you are not husband and wife, I won't bother to wave you over."
"Good food …" The girl drooled and rolled her eyes. She looked very tempted but also a little resistant. The boat lady looked at her with a smile, then her eyes widened. She saw something move in the girl's sleeve, then quickly moved to her shoulder. Her shoulder bulged, then a small claw suddenly emerged from her collar, grabbing her earlobe and pulling, pulling and pulling …
Uh … what's that … "
Needless to say, it was the world's number one gluttonous sleeper, Yuan Bao, and his black-bellied and cunning master, as well as the world's number one ferocious and shameless Prince Han.
A three-person trip was a rare moment of leisure for the three of them. Xuanji's scenery was beautiful, and there were skilled craftsmen and craftsmen from all walks of life. Whether it was the market, the building supplies, or the scenery, everything was worth seeing. The three of them strolled leisurely and were only less than a hundred miles away from Taiyuan County.
Meng Fuyao sat there, still struggling with the name of husband and wife and the beauty of delicious food. Zhangsun Wuji said, "We are husband and wife, but this child just likes to throw a tantrum. Boatman, please wave us over."
"Alright!"
The boat lady tapped the pole, and the boat slowly sailed away. Meng Fuyao sat cross-legged, her eyes darting around. "I heard that they are looking for us very hard?"
"That's right." Zhangsun Wuji helped her to tie up her loose sleeves. "Of course, we are just putting on a show. Xuanji is very anxious. Both sides have sent their ministers and their men to guard Tong City, waiting for us to be found."
"What did Eleven say?"
"He failed to suppress the bandits and asked for punishment. But he wasn't there that night, so the county magistrate dismissed him. He redeemed his crime by performing meritorious deeds and continued to be in charge of clearing the Northern Underworld. I heard that he killed a few Changtian leaders, but I don't know if it's true. Even if it's true, it's most likely to be to support the leaders who have already submitted to him."
"Since ancient times, the police and bandits have always been a family." Meng Fuyao sighed. "I love the underworld."
"Stealing half a day of leisure," Zhangsun Wuji said. "Let's enjoy ourselves for now. When we reach Tong City, it'll probably be a mess again."
"I'm not interested in their affairs, as long as they don't provoke me." Meng Fuyao wrinkled her nose and suddenly asked, "What's that smell?"
She sniffed carefully, and her eyes slowly lit up.
The boatwoman turned around and pointed at a big boat with a red flag that read "Boat Food". She smiled and said, "We're here. It's the Wu family's boat. It's the biggest boat in Jin River. Guests, it's just in time for dinner. The chef from the capital is most likely going to cook."
Meng Fuyao was stunned. "It's only morning, how can it be time for lunch?"
"This guest from the capital is weird. He cooks in the middle of the morning every day, and before he cooks, you have to listen to him talk about national affairs. He talks about family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs. He's concerned about everything. He cooks, boils, and stews, and everyone gets a share."
Meng Fuyao let out a "Ha!" and became interested. "What an interesting person!" Leaping onto the sturdy, tall and beautifully decorated Wu family's ship, he saw the deck was quiet and nobody came forward to greet him. But he could vaguely hear someone talking loudly in the cabin, so he followed the sound and crept toward the source of the sound.
"… Today's latest news …" There was the rustling sound of paper being flipped. "… Wuji Crown Prince and Meng King of the Great Han have gone missing in Taiyuan County … Our Xuanji City is in troubled times now, and it's like adding oil to the fire. Actually, governing a country isn't much different from cooking. You can't use too much seasoning, and you can't use too much fire either. Look at how the Eleventh Prince is suppressing the bandits … the heat is too much … Speaking of heat, the restaurant hired a chef to test his skills. There's no need to cook any main dishes, just scrambled eggs! Scrambled bean sprouts! The scrambled eggs are golden and tender, and one egg is enough to fill a large plate. When the bean sprouts are scrambled, their color and shape remain the same … Raw? Tsk! Try it, try it, and the crunch will be heard. Oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, onions, and wine are all available … You can see the true skill in home-cooked dishes … Alright, if you don't talk about eating, you won't get to eat a single one. "
"… That Meng King of the Great Han …" There was the sound of a chair moving. "… Many people say that she is fierce, shameless, and lucky. She was born to turn misfortune into fortune. Usually, she has no roots and no foundation. How did she get to this stage? If you ask me, it's not that simple. It's like giving out sea cucumbers — dragon ginseng, plum ginseng, and sand ginseng — they're all dry, inconspicuous, dry, and can't be roasted, stewed, or stir-fried. How do you eat them? You have to give them out! How? Do you know how? What about you? You? You? Eh! You're a passenger on the ship, and you don't know how to give out sea cucumbers! Let me teach you a trick. Soak it in hot water, remove the layer of rubber inside, and peel it clean. Otherwise, the sea cucumbers won't be able to give out. Then fill the pot with hot water and keep it bottled. Pour it out overnight, and it'll be plump and round! The Meng King of the Great Han looks plump and strong today. He must have been soaked in hot water that day. If the water isn't hot, the sea cucumbers won't give out! “
"… Speaking of which, it's really not peaceful recently … Regent Xuanyuan died a few days ago." There was the sound of a chair moving. "Look at Xuanyuan's life last year. Outside the territory, inside the imperial court, inside the palace, inside and outside the government, everything was searched thoroughly. Big … big … It's like holding a banquet. The cold dishes start, followed by hot stir-frying, and the soup dishes last. The snacks are comfortable! The cold dishes have to be beautiful, so beautiful that they're not hot at all. There are so many varieties that it'll dazzle the eyes, and you'll eat it casually. It's like those random dishes in Xuanyuan's inner palace. The hot stir-frying has to hit you in the face like a thunderbolt, and the spicy and fresh fragrance goes straight to the chest. You'll be shocked before you even move your chopsticks. It's like when the Meng King of the Great Han killed a rabbit, or when the Crown Prince Zhangsun manipulated the old case in the Upper Abyss. It's shocking! The soup dishes last, and a big bowl of it. It's as simple as waving a knife. Those who deserve to die won't be able to escape. Look at that night. The commander rebelled and the Prince of Xiping rebelled. How many people died in the Xuanyuan Dynasty's palace? At the end, remember to serve a plate of fruit soup with snow-white red plums. The banquet's climax is the charred corpse that Regent Xuanyuan hung upstairs in the end … Alright, let's not talk about eating. I can't eat anymore. "
"Today, let's start the topic. This King of Han was the first to cause trouble in Wuji Nation." There was the sound of flipping paper. "At that time, Wuji Nation was fighting on two fronts against Gaoluo. King De thought he had an opportunity to take advantage of, but he was taken advantage of … Gaoluo Nation is by the sea. I've been there once, and the people by the sea served raw oysters. Have you ever eaten oysters? No? Hey, hey, white, yellow, black, red, raw! All the attendants at the table said 'eat raw meat and drink blood'! I said you guys don't understand. Seafood is not something that can be fried, steamed, or boiled. It's not fresh! That's it. Soy sauce, vinegar, and pepper powder. You guys probably don't know about pepper powder. Oysters have a cold nature, but this thing has a hot nature. Cold and heat are balanced, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis … Oh, oh, let's continue talking about fighting on two fronts. How can there be two fronts? What kind of person do you think Zhangsun Wuji is? Would he put himself in the position of fighting on two fronts? Poor King De. He doesn't know that people are casting a long line to catch a big fish … Speaking of fish … "
Meng Fuyao laughed silently.
Zhangsun Wuji laughed silently.
He really was the God of Cookery …
Moreover, he was someone who lived in politics. His eyes were like torches as he watched the situation. Yet, he was stuck in a pile of stir-fried dishes, eggs, and bean sprouts.
He was obviously well-versed in politics. Meng Fuyao's family history and Zhangsun Wuji's political maneuvering were all at his fingertips. He used food as an analogy to explain the profound in simple terms. Yet, he only talked about politics on an ordinary fishing boat on this side of the county. To a group of ignorant barefoot fishermen and tourists from all over the country, he talked about politics that no one could understand.
Was it a game? Was it a smiley face? Was it an unintentional vent? Or was it intentional?
Meng Fuyao peeked into the cabin. Inside the crude cabin, there were drooling guests everywhere. Rather than saying they were listening to national affairs, it was more accurate to say that they were intoxicated by the aroma of the food. A skinny man sat on a stool at the top of the table. He was wearing an ordinary green robe that was dripping with grease. There was even a vegetable leaf stuck to his collar. His sleeves were rolled up, and he was holding onto a few pieces of paper with messy ink stains. He was engrossed in his conversation.
Meng Fuyao clapped and strode in. "Well said! Well said! Well said!"
The man put down the paper. He was about 30 years old, with a slightly pale complexion. His eyes were thin, and he seemed to be short-sighted. He squinted at Meng Fuyao and then at Zhangsun Wuji. "Husband and wife?"
Meng Fuyao grinned. "What if they aren't?"
"Then get out." The man waved his hand impolitely. "Don't you know my rules?"
"Yes, I do." Meng Fuyao lifted her robe and sat down. "Since you're here, you naturally know the rules."
The man stared at her for a long time, then slowly climbed down from the chair and the table. "That's all for today."
There was a sigh of relief from the pain.
"Same old rules. Those who aren't husband and wife should get out." The man slowly walked towards the kitchen. "Or else … I'll make you spit out what you've eaten."
Meng Fuyao was drinking tea when she spat it out. Zhangsun Wuji smiled and patted her back. She looked back with tears in her eyes. "Why is this kid so messy in the wind …"
Fortunately, even though the child was messy and messy in the wind, his dishes were indeed fragrant and unparalleled. Sitting in the cabin, Meng Fuyao inhaled the enticing aroma from the kitchen and exclaimed in fascination, "It smells so good!"
"The pot has just been heated," one of the diners said lazily.
After a while, Meng Fuyao's eyes lit up. "Done, done!"
"The condiments have just been added," another diner said leisurely.
After a while, Meng Fuyao climbed up the chair and looked around. "Calm down, the fish has just entered the pot!" the diner shouted in unison.
…
Meng Fuyao had been tormented by the delicacies to the point where she could not sit still and was considering whether or not she should send 3,000 guards to help the chef light the fire. Suddenly, the curtain at the back of the cabin lifted and a pretty fisherwoman came in with a tray. She served the dishes to each of the diners and said in a crisp voice, "First dish, mandarin duck fish."
"Tacky!" Meng Fuyao curled her lips at the name.
But the appearance and aroma were indeed extraordinary. When the fish was served, it had a wide body and a long beak. The meat was crystal clear, and the jade-like flesh was covered with a layer of light yellow fish skin. The white jade plate was lined with yellow glass. The fish floated in the milky broth. The color was light, but the aroma was so strong that it made people want to pounce on it.
Meng Fuyao pounced on it and used her chopsticks to cut the back of the fish in half. "Half-half!"
The fisherwoman floated over and reminded them with a smile, "No sharing. Please share."
Meng Fuyao turned around and saw that all four sides were eating with their heads touching each other. No wonder they requested for it to be husband and wife.
"This dish has two flavors. The beginning and the end are light, while the middle is thick." The chef appeared at the cabin door with a spatula. "Husband and wife must sit facing each other and eat. At first, their taste buds are ordinary, but they will gradually enter the wonderful part. When the tips of their chopsticks touch, the fish taste is the best. It means that husband and wife have nothing to do with each other, but once they are fated, they will reach the same destination through different means.
He glanced at Meng Fuyao. "Don't eat if you don't know my rules. Those who don't will ruin my artistic conception."
"Where did all these stupid rules come from?" Meng Fuyao mumbled.
However, Zhangsun Wuji had already flipped his plate. Both of them took a side and laughed. "This is a good rule, very good, very good."
Helpless and unable to resist the temptation of delicacies, Meng Fuyao could only bury her head in her food. Indeed, the closer to the middle, the more delicious it became. The layers of taste lingered on the tip of the tongue, leaving an endless aftertaste. She really did not know how a mere fish could be cooked to such a distinct taste. When they were halfway through, their noses were almost touching each other's. Suddenly, a 'ding' sound was heard as the tips of their chopsticks touched. Meng Fuyao picked it up and saw that it was a fish ball. It was crystal clear, snow-white, and tender like a pearl.
"Alright, we've eaten the Double Happiness Fish Ball!" Cheers could be heard from all four sides. "Whoever gets it will have to bite off half and give it to the other party."
Meng Fuyao could not take it anymore. She put down her chopsticks and shouted, "So stingy! Can't you take out two fish balls?"
"Fish ball?" The chef looked at her with disdain and crossed his arms. Meng Fuyao felt her teeth itch as she stared at him. A lady at the table next to her laughed. "Miss, this is not an ordinary fish ball. It's a Seven Treasures Fish that swims from the Fufeng Inland Sea. Because it swims for a long time, its meat is very chewy, making it suitable for making fish balls. But because of the long distance, it's rare to find one in ten thousand. It's rare enough to have one per table. Even this one is worth a hundred taels of silver."
Meng Fuyao rubbed her nose and heard the chef's disdain. "Country bumpkin!"
Country bumpkin Meng had no choice but to push the fish ball away. She swallowed her saliva and said to Zhangsun Wuji, "You eat it."
She had sacrificed so much, but the chef was unforgiving and shouted, "Share the food! Share the food! Are you pretending to be husband and wife? "
"So what if I am?" She jumped up and rolled up her sleeves. "What can you do to me?"
The chef did not answer and pointed at a sign on the hatch. Only then did Meng Fuyao see that it said, "Pretending to be husband and wife, please take off your clothes and swim back to shore in public."
"Ah … why didn't you remind me?" She poked Zhangsun Wuji. The boat was in the middle of the water, and the river was very wide. Swim back? That would be terrible.
"It's okay," Zhangsun Wuji said with a smile. "I don't think I'll lose out no matter what." He picked up the fish ball and said, "Why are you arguing with him? Won't it be over if you eat it? "He gently bit off half of the fish ball and fed it to her mouth, which was about to scold him.
"…"
Zhangsun Wuji tasted it and nodded. "Hmm, it tastes good." He suddenly reached out and patted the back of her neck. "Did you choke?" he asked with pity. "Calm down."
Meng Fuyao's eyes were filled with tears.
When the second dish was served, Meng Fuyao struggled out of her near-death state. Her eyes wandered around and focused on the dish instead of Zhangsun Wuji. The name of the dish was Peach Blossom Spring.
Sure enough, the dish was delicious. It was a clear soup with light pink conch meat floating on it. It looked like peach blossoms falling from a clear stream. The aroma was strong but not strong, just like the days when Shi Shuliu was a carefree immortal in Peach Blossom Spring.
The head chef said, "Starting from this dish, I will examine the relationship between you and your husband. This is the famous Peach Blossom Snail from Jinjiang Lishui. This dish is a great test of one's culinary skills. If it's cooked well, it will be delicious beyond compare. If it's not cooked well, it will be hard to swallow. It's also like the relationship between husband and wife. Whether it's a loving couple or a bitter couple, let this snail tell me."
Just as Meng Fuyao was thinking about the relationship test and the conch meat, she heard the chef say, "Ask all the husbands, 'How many conches does your wife have with her slender fingers? How many dustpans? '"
'Bang!' She burst into flames again. 'What a tricky question!' Who would be so bored as to count the number of conches in his wife's hands? Not to mention whether the husband would know about the number of conches in his wife's hands, even Meng Fuyao herself had never thought of looking at conches in such a boring manner.
Sure enough, more than half of the people could not answer. The chef did not stand on ceremony and ordered them to pay for the meal. The women were given a small boat to sit on while the husbands took off their clothes and rolled into the water, swimming strenuously in the chilly early spring water.
The corner of Meng Fuyao's mouth twitched. She was happy to see that the women had a boat to sit on. Poor Zhangsun Wuji, he was going to suffer a little. On second thought, a lascivious glint appeared in her eyes. 'Ah, the Crown Prince will take off his clothes, ah, the Crown Prince will swim naked, the number one benefit in the world, free of charge to see someone's beautiful figure …'
The sound of the water splashing could be heard continuously. The question was so weird that almost no one could answer it. The fisherwoman pursed her lips and smiled at Zhangsun Wuji, her eyes wandering around his body. Meng Fuyao was furious when she saw that. 'Shameless! Wait to see a naked man! '
The chef sat on a throne above the table and glared at Zhangsun Wuji. "You, huh?"
Zhangsun Wuji sipped his tea slowly, his long eyelashes slightly lowered. He had always been calm and collected, making it difficult to guess what he was thinking.
"If you can't guess it, then take ten steps outside and step into the water." The chef waited for a while. Seeing that he did not answer, he climbed down in disappointment and walked in. He yawned lazily and said, "Looks like I don't have to cook the third dish for today."
"Seven conches, three dustpans."
Zhangsun Wuji suddenly spoke in a clear voice and leisurely manner. Then, he slowly lifted his cup and sipped his tea.
Meng Fuyao was shocked. She immediately raised her claws and compared them carefully. After a while, she put them down and continued to stare blankly.
Zhangsun Wuji glanced at her with a smile and suddenly whispered in her ear, "Don't talk about your fingers. Ask me about all the changes in your underwear from the time I met you until now, and I can roughly tell."
"…"
"Bang!"
After a quarter of an hour, Meng Fuyao finally realized that she seemed to have been seen through by someone. She fiercely punched out …
"The third dish!" The chef clapped his hands, ignoring the "only loving couple" who had passed the test and were being chased around the cabin full of smoke. He said loudly, "Exclusive to distinguished guests. Please enjoy it in my cabin!"
He was the first to enter the cabin. Meng Fuyao and Zhangsun Wuji looked at each other and followed. The man made a few turns and stopped in front of a cabin door.
The cabin was narrow and the passageway was deep. When the door was opened, the cabin was dark. Something flashed in the cabin, and a fishy smell assaulted their nostrils.
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