Fragrance...
"You still want to eat me or what—?"
Shen Le clutched the Brush Pot and took off running. Behind him came a series of whooshes, as large swaths of leaves drifted after him like flying darts, outlining his body from all around:
[Shen Le, slow down!]
[What's that on you? It smells so good!]
[Don't go! Everyone who sees it gets a share!]
What did they mean, everyone who saw it got a share? They hadn't even seen it—did they want a share just because they were separated by a wall? Shen Le pressed close to the base of the wall and sprinted with his head down, glancing sidelong at the leaves around him.
"Ah Lu, take it easy! Watch out or you'll go bald!"
So many leaves had already flown out. If any more flew out, they would all fall off!
[It's fine! I can take them back!] Ah Lu shouted. Sure enough, a light breeze spun around, and the leaves that had shot over floated up, swaying as they blew back next door.
So they could grow back onto the tree!
No wonder Ah Lu had used leaves as darts without feeling the least bit bad about it!
Shen Le raced back and set the Brush Pot on the workbench. Instantly, the little ones all crowded around with a clatter:
[What is it?]
[Shen Le, what good stuff did you bring back?]
[It smells so good!]
[Give me some! I want a taste too!]
The most reserved, Little Ink Marker, merely sent out an Ink Line and circled around him once. The most impatient were the Silk Skirts—
Myriad Strands of Black Hair surged out from the Buddhist Shrine, already covering half the tabletop.
The tips of the hair rose and rapidly brushed over the surface of