"Young man, here you go. Fifteen roasted sweet potatoes in all."
"Okay, thanks, boss."
Xiao Xiao took the bag and turned to leave.
The Pipa ghost followed close behind.
Xiao Xiao walked into a nearby park.
Though it was still early, the park wasn't deserted.
A few elderly people were doing their morning exercises.
He could also hear some old women practicing their singing, their voices clear and high.
Xiao Xiao headed toward a secluded spot.
The hubbub gradually faded away.
A gust of wind swept past. Xiao Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly and raised a hand to brush aside his dangling hair.
"Rustle, rustle~"
The crisp sound of branches and leaves brushing against each other came from not far away, rising and falling.
Xiao Xiao looked up. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
Here it was.
The elegant fragrance of bamboo leaves lingered in the air.
The morning sunlight fell in dappled patterns.
Xiao Xiao walked deeper into the bamboo grove.
The surroundings gradually grew dim.
Xiao Xiao stopped.
"This spot will do."
Then, as if sensing something, he shifted the bag in one hand aside and accurately grabbed a certain monster by the scruff of its neck with his other hand.
"Awwooo~"
Little Taotie kicked and thrashed with all its might.
The Pipa ghost stared curiously at the Taotie in Xiao Xiao's hand.
Though it had seen it many times before,
the Taotie was always sprawled on Xiao Xiao's head, and its entire body was as black as his hair. So this was the first time the Pipa ghost had gotten such a clear look at the Taotie's whole body.
It rather changed the Pipa ghost's earlier impression of it as cold and aloof.
So... it was a lively little monster after