The clear night was dustless, and Bamboo Spring Mountain lay night-blue beneath the silver moon.
The lights of Bamboo Spring Temple glowed orange-yellow.
Old Hui Xian smiled as he watched Little Stone and Longface fight over dishes. The Little Snake Demon gritted his teeth as he gnawed on a bamboo shoot and swallowed it with difficulty. Eight dishes sat on the old, broken wooden table, its timber blackened with age; some were on plates, others in small wooden basins or earthenware jars.
Bai Yujun particularly liked the mushrooms gathered from the bamboo grove. They were fresh and tender, perfect with rice. A spoonful of broth over the rice made them even more delicious.
Wine Worm sat across from Bai Yujun, not daring to come close for fear that the dragon might accidentally pick him up with her chopsticks and eat him.
Bamboo Spring Temple was very small, and Old Hui Xian was likewise very tolerant. There were no stern rules. They could chat and laugh during meals, even stand up to snatch food. Of course, most of the time, Longface yielded to Little Stone and gave Bamboo Spring Temple's senior disciple some face.
The food on the table was quickly devoured. The mushrooms disappeared first, while the taro was eaten last.
After dinner, Little Stone and Longface scrubbed the pot, washed the chopsticks and bowls, while the Snake Demon Boy carried a blade on his routine nightly patrol of the mountain and temple.
Bai Yujun found a bamboo chair with a backrest and leisurely drank tea. Old Hui Xian took out needle and thread to mend clothes. He first measured the damage, then cut a piece of cloth from an old garment too worn to wear with old scissors. Bai Yujun helped thread the needle and watched the old monk