Qi Hao

This day, after Natsuhi finished breakfast as usual, he went to the back mountain to pick bamboo shoots. In the past six months, he had already picked several hundred catties of bamboo shoots. Some had already been brewed into bamboo wine, and some were taken by Ling'er to make porridge for their master and mistress. After half a year of picking, the bamboo shoots in the vicinity had been almost entirely picked by him. To pick more, he would have to go further.

Just as Natsuhi was considering whether to go deeper, a clear "Little Junior Brother" interrupted his thoughts. Immediately after, a red figure darted into his vision. In Great Bamboo Peak, only Tian Ling'er would look for him at this time.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong?" Picking the last bamboo shoot, Natsuhi jumped down from the bamboo with a thud. He never used Dao techniques to pick bamboo shoots, relying purely on his physical strength. Therefore, every trip into the bamboo forest was equivalent to a period of cultivation for him, and the results were remarkable. Not yet ten years old, he was already 1.4 meters tall. Although he was slightly shorter than elementary school students who had started developing early in the present world, he was considered quite good in this world. It was worth noting that Zhang Xiaofan was only half a head taller than him, and Zhang Xiaofan was already fourteen years old.

After Tian Ling'er lowered the Amber Ribbon to Natsuhi's side, she jumped down and said with a smile, "It's nothing. Senior Brother Qi Hao from Dragon Head Peak brought Lin Jingyu. They said there are some changes to this year's Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament and they came to inform us in advance. I thought it's been many years since you and Lin Jingyu last met, so I came to find you. Let's go, I haven't met the other genius from your village yet."

"Lin Jingyu?" Natsuhi was startled and the plot that he had already forgotten was recalled. In the original work, Tian Ling'er fell in love with Qi Hao because of this meeting. Qi Hao, from beginning to end, only said two sentences that couldn't even be considered sweet talk, at most they could be considered compliments. Coupled with a "Cooling Bead" that only had the effect of dispelling heat and cooling the body, as well as nourishing the skin, he captured Tian Ling'er's heart. Moreover, the skin nourishing effect was only rumored.

No, I absolutely cannot let Senior Sister be deceived by that scoundrel. I need to think of a way. Natsuhi, who was thinking about other things, seemed a little absent-minded, and didn't even pay much attention to Tian Ling'er.

"It seems Little Junior Brother really misses his family. However, Little Junior Brother, I, Tian Ling'er, promise you here and now that I will never let you be wronged again. From now on, you just need to be happy, and I will handle the rest." Seeing Natsuhi lost in thought, Tian Ling'er mistook it for him reminiscing about the past and secretly vowed to take care of Natsuhi.

After making up her mind, Tian Ling'er gently embraced Natsuhi and said softly, "Little Junior Brother, don't be sad. With Senior Sister here, everything will pass. We are family, and Senior Sister will take good care of you. In this world, only Senior Sister can bully you; no one else, not even Father and Mother."

Natsuhi was pondering how to deal with Qi Hao when he suddenly heard Tian Ling'er's words. His pupils contracted sharply. Feeling the girl's softness and unique fragrance, his heart began to beat faster. However, what followed was only a feeling of deep gratitude and sweetness. To have such a Senior Sister, this trip was worth it.

Natsuhi gently broke free from Tian Ling'er's embrace and said with a solemn expression, "Senior Sister, thank you. But Senior Sister, my strength is even greater than yours, so Senior Sister! I will take care of and protect you from now on." After speaking, without waiting for Tian Ling'er to react, he turned and ran towards the front mountain.

Tian Ling'er did not expect Natsuhi to say such a thing and was stunned for a moment. By the time she came to her senses, Natsuhi had already run several meters away. She snorted playfully and scolded, "You brat, stop right there! How dare you make fun of your Senior Sister? You're asking for a beating."

Hearing this, Natsuhi smiled slightly, turned his head, and made a face at Tian Ling'er, saying, "Senior Sister, if you can catch me, I'll make you a cake, a cake as big as a washbasin."

"Cake?" Tian Ling'er swallowed. The snacks Natsuhi made were very popular in Great Bamboo Peak, especially the large cake he made for her birthday. It was not only soft and sweet, but after being chilled in that cabinet called a refrigerator, it was the ultimate enjoyment during the scorching summer. There were also the ice pops; everyone in Great Bamboo Peak now ate at least three ice pops a day.

"For the cake, no, to make you fully understand what seniority is, this Senior Sister must catch you today." With a flick of her hand, the amber sash at her waist instantly flew out, heading straight for Natsuhi. The bamboo forest was immediately filled with their shouts, interspersed with bursts of heartfelt laughter.

When Natsuhi and Tian Ling'er, laughing and playing all the way, returned to the outside of Shou Jing Hall, they happened to meet Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan, who were walking side by side.

"Xiaofan, is this Jingyu?" Natsuhi asked, looking at the handsome and elegant man beside Zhang Xiaofan with surprise.

Zhang Xiaofan nodded and said, "Mm, Little Yun, this is Jingyu. He came with Senior Brother Qi Hao today. Oh, right, Jingyu, this is Little Yun."

Lin Jingyu noticed the two as soon as he came out. The first time he saw Natsuhi, he felt a sense of familiarity. He didn't expect it to really be Natsuhi, so he walked up and patted Natsuhi's shoulder vigorously, laughing, "It's been a few years since we last met, I didn't expect Little Yun'er to have grown so much."

Natsuhi smiled and said, "You too. In the blink of an eye, you've all grown up. I've heard your great name at Great Bamboo Peak. You haven't disgraced our Cao Miao Village."

Lin Jingyu smiled, remaining silent, neither denying nor affirming.

Tian Ling'er watched the three talking with a smile. Just then, Tian Buyi's voice suddenly came from inside Shou Jing Hall.

"What are you two still mumbling about at the door? Hurry up and come in, you have no manners."

Tian Ling'er frowned and said displeasantly, "Little Junior Brother, let's go in first. Lin Jingyu can be guided by Xiaofan."

Natsuhi nodded and said, "Alright. Jingyu, Xiaofan, you guys go play first."

Actually, Natsuhi wasn't very familiar with Lin Jingyu. They had only spent one day together in total, and now after more than three years, their friendship had long since faded. Natsuhi estimated that Lin Jingyu's situation was similar. After all, although the system had arranged an identity for him, this identity was basically that of an invisible person, so their relationship wasn't that close.

The two walked hand in hand into the hall of Shou Jing Hall and discovered that, except for Du Bishu, who had already left the mountain, and Zhang Xiaofan, who had gone out, everyone else from Great Bamboo Peak had arrived. A young man in white clothes in the center of the hall slowly turned his head upon hearing the sound. When he saw Tian Ling'er beside Natsuhi, his eyes lit up. When he saw their clasped hands, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Greetings, Master, Mistress, and all Senior Brothers!" Natsuhi and Tian Ling'er respectfully bowed to everyone present. After all, there were outsiders, and proper etiquette had to be observed.

Tian Buyi nodded with satisfaction and said, "This is Qi Hao, a disciple of our Dragon Head Peak's Uncle-Master Cang Song."