Chapter 45: Not So Simple
Old Master Tang stroked his prized beard with a small wooden comb, his face beaming as if he had found a treasure: “My precious disciple, you don’t need to learn formations today. Hurry down the mountain and change into a set of dry clothes so you don’t catch a cold. You’re covered in mud!”
This girl’s unyielding spirit and determination are perfect for learning formations!
He realized he had stumbled upon a gem.
Shen Xingnong nodded. She saw many crabs crawling by the lakeside and quite a few fish leaping about.
She walked over and tossed the lively little fish and shrimp back into the lake.
Only leaving a few larger fish, she would string them up with a rope and take them down the mountain later.
Ren Zishan: “…”
What is she doing?
Chu Tiankuo also bent down, picking up some small fish and shrimp and tossing them back into the lake.
Songbai, looking at the mud-caked figure, felt a surge of admiration from the bottom of his heart. He walked over, lowered his head, and picked up the small fish and shrimp, tossing them back into the lake.
Seeing this, Old Master Tang’s old face became even more satisfied. This disciple was good, very good!
He put away his wooden comb, walked over, and tossed the lively little fish and shrimp back into the lake.
Here we go again! Ren Zilin resignedly walked over!
Leaving only Ren Zishan standing there.
She looked left and right, then stomped her foot and walked over. Crouching before a small fish, she timidly stretched out her hand for a long time, not daring to touch it.
Finally, she closed her eyes and, with a loud “quack,” grabbed a fish and threw it toward the lake!
A wild bull grazing nearby glanced over, looked down at the lively grass carp in front of it, snorted impatiently, then lifted its hoof and kicked.
The grass carp flew up and landed in the lake with a “plop.”
So, following the incident of picking up grain in the alley, the group found themselves picking up fish, shrimp, and crabs by the lake.
The summer morning was pleasant, with a gentle breeze and just the right amount of sunshine. Even the loud “quacking” sound seemed melodious.
~
After more than fifteen minutes, the group finally finished tossing all the lively little fish and shrimp back into the lake.
Only a few large fish and some bigger shrimp remained.
Shen Xingnong found some waterweed, pierced the fish’s mouths with it, and tied up a few large crabs. The rest had crawled back into the lake.
Then she picked a few wild taro leaves and wrapped the shrimp in two bundles.
She handed Old Master Tang a few of the largest fish and crabs, along with a bundle of shrimp. “Master, this is for you.”
Old Master Tang happily accepted them. See, female disciples are the best!
They know to take the initiative to show filial piety to their master.
Such a thoughtful little cotton-padded jacket!
Old Master Tang said with a smile: “Alright, my precious disciple, go down the mountain now! Come back tomorrow at the hour of Chen.”
After speaking, Old Master Tang looked at Chu Tiankuo: “Beloved disciple, see your Junior Sister off. I’ll take my leave first!”
He was going back to roast fish and steam crabs.
As his words fell, a white shadow flashed, and he vanished into the forest.
Shen Xingnong went to the wild bull, grabbed its horns, and with a flip, mounted it.
The wild bull instinctively tried to resist.
Shen Xingnong tightened her grip on its horns: “Want another round?”
The wild bull, seeing Shen Xingnong’s “till-the-end-of-time” gaze, quickly sobered up and instantly became submissive.
She was tougher. She could ride it if she wanted!
Shen Xingnong waved to Chu Tiankuo: “Farewell, Senior Brother.”
Chu Tiankuo nodded. He glanced at Shen Xingnong and the wild bull, then used his Light Body Skill to depart.
Songbai quickly followed.
Ren Zilin watched Chu Tiankuo’s figure disappear. Remembering that they couldn’t enter the peach grove without Chu Tiankuo, he hurriedly threw a sentence to Shen Xingnong: “Junior Sister, we’re leaving!”
Shen Xingnong nodded.
Ren Zilin pulled Ren Zishan: “Little Sister, let’s go!”
Ren Zishan didn’t move, looking around: “Big Brother, is this the deep mountains? Isn’t it unsafe to stay here for long?”
As she spoke, she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Xingnong and the wild bull.
Hearing this, Ren Zilin also thought of something and said, “Junior Sister, I’ll escort you out. It’s not safe here.”
Shen Xingnong waved her hand: “Thanks, but no need.”
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Shen Xingnong took out a piece of candy, fed it to the bull, and patted its head: “Let’s go!”
The wild bull munched on the candy and resignedly started walking.
For the sake of this delicious treat, it would indulge her!
Ren Zishan, hearing this, frowned: “Second Brother, let’s hurry up and leave! She’s very capable; she doesn’t need your protection. I still need to catch up with Brother Tiankuo! Otherwise, we won’t be able to enter the peach grove.”
Ren Zilin also felt that Shen Xingnong was capable and didn’t need protection.
“Junior Sister, then we’ll take our leave first.”
As his words fell, he grabbed Ren Zishan by the collar of her back and used his Light Body Skill to depart.
Ren Zishan: “…”
Ren Zishan’s protesting voice came from afar, “Second Brother, let go of me! I’m going to tell Father!”
Hearing this, Ren Zilin could only put her down. His little sister was the apple of their family’s eye. If she told their father, he would be in trouble.
Ren Zishan glared at Ren Zilin and looked back.
A bull was slowly walking.
She didn’t know who gave her the courage to dare to ride such a ferocious wild bull. If she got trampled to death, no one would even know.
“Second Brother, wait, carry me. I fell when the wild bull was chasing me earlier, and my foot hurts.” Ren Zishan stopped walking.
Ren Zilin had no choice but to stop and squat down.
Ren Zishan climbed onto his back.
With Ren Zishan on his back, Ren Zilin immediately used his Light Body Skill to leave, and in an instant, the figures of the bull and the two people disappeared.
Ren Zishan looked back.
She patted Ren Zilin’s shoulder: “Second Brother, let’s slow down. We can’t catch up with Brother Tiankuo anyway.”
Ren Zilin finally came to his senses, understanding the reason behind his little sister’s many requests, “Are you worried that Junior Sister will encounter wild beasts?”
Ren Zishan rolled her eyes: “Why would I worry about her? It would be best if she got eaten by wild beasts, then Old Master Tang would take me as his disciple. I would become Brother Tiankuo’s Junior Sister.”
Ren Zilin stopped and walked slowly with her on his back: “Are you sure that Old Master Tang would take you as his disciple without Junior Sister?”
Ren Zishan: “…”
She slapped Ren Zilin’s shoulder: “Of course!”
Ren Zilin’s face contorted in pain. He continued, adding insult to injury: “Even if Old Master Tang takes you as his disciple, are you sure the Crown Prince would acknowledge you as his Junior Sister?”
Ren Zishan: “…”
Second Brother is the worst!
Ren Zishan waved her hand and slapped Ren Zilin’s shoulder hard: “I don’t care, I want to be Old Master Tang’s disciple, I want to be Brother Tiankuo’s Junior Sister. You have to help me think of a way! Otherwise, I’ll tell Father and Big Brother that you’re bullying me!”
Ren Zilin: “…”
Heavens, could you please send someone to take this willful and unreasonable sister away?
Taking her back to the capital would be fine too!
As long as she’s not by his side, anything would be better.
Behind the two, a bull carrying a person leisurely walked down the mountain.
~
Halfway down the mountain, a black figure watched a bull slowly pass by outside the peach grove. He picked up a light blue bundle from the table and turned to descend the mountain.
Songbai, holding a pot with a seven-leafed plant, followed.
He looked at his master’s elegant and cold figure, feeling a bit confused.
His master had been standing here for so long, just to wait for Miss Shen to safely walk out of the depths of the forest?
If that’s the case, why didn’t he escort her personally?
He realized that he was finding it increasingly difficult to understand his master lately.
