A little while later.
At the dining table in Ping'an Pharmacy.
Jade platters and silver dishes were arranged one after another, their gleaming surfaces reflecting the warm, hazy glow of the delicacies. Every dish was a carefully prepared medicinal meal, its colors perfectly balanced, steaming hot and fragrant.
Wang Dong'er sat at the table, her blue-and-pink eyes sparkling.
Without the least bit of ceremony, she picked up a piece of Savage Ox meat and stuffed it into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out roundly as she ate at a brisk pace, even her chewing taking on a cheerful rhythm.
Beside her, Jiang Ci'an sat next to Xiao Xiao. As he silently placed food into Xiao Xiao's bowl, he casually asked, "So, you two just started fighting like that?"
Wang Dong'er nodded while chewing, then spoke indistinctly. "Mm... more or less. But who knew she was so strong!"
There was disbelief in her voice.
There was no helping it. She had thought they were the same age and wouldn't be far apart in strength, so a spar would just be for fun.
But who could've guessed this girl was so strong? She'd picked up a huge cauldron and swung it at Wang Dong'er. Who could take a hit like that?
Xiao Xiao gave a soft snort. "So, you admit you lost?"
Wang Dong'er swallowed the meat in her mouth and pouted. "I did not! You didn't beat me!"
"You're the one who flew around with your Martial Soul! I can't fly!" Xiao Xiao retorted, her eyes full of indignation.
Wang Dong'er snorted softly and raised her chin. Her long blue-and-pink hair swayed faintly in the lamplight, and her little face wore a proud expression. "That's called winning through wit!"
Xiao Xiao pursed her lips and narrowed her emerald eyes, her face turning into a (⩌⤚⩌) expression.
This girl... had no shame!
Listening to them, Jiang Ci'an had already pieced together what had happened.
While he had been away from the pharmacy, dealing with the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife outside the city, Wang Dong'er had suddenly dropped by.
Xiao Xiao had been cultivating, but naturally welcomed her. After all, Wang Dong'er was a tenant in their shop and a guest besides. She couldn't just leave her standing at the door.
Afterward, Wang Dong'er had become extremely curious about Xiao Xiao's method of cultivation and peppered her with questions.
Xiao Xiao had followed his instructions to the letter and not revealed the Martial Way cultivation method to outsiders, so she hadn't answered Wang Dong'er's questions.
But Wang Dong'er had been so persistent that Xiao Xiao had simply suggested a spar, so Wang Dong'er could experience it for herself.
Wang Dong'er had accepted without hesitation.
And then came the scene he'd witnessed afterward.
One girl chased the other along the ground, hefting a cauldron, while the other flapped her butterfly wings and flew through the air. Neither could land a hit, and neither would admit defeat.
Hard to judge.
Jiang Ci'an thought for a moment, then turned to look at Xiao Xiao, his gaze questioning.
Xiao Xiao blinked and looked away without saying a word.
Jiang Ci'an understood.
All right, that settled it. His childhood friend had done it on purpose.
As for Wang Dong'er...
Jiang Ci'an turned to look at her as she continued eating without slowing down. Her cheeks were stuffed, and her blue-and-pink eyes were fixed solely on the dishes.
Well, her eyes were clear and innocent. She looked very easy to fool.
Watching her, he couldn't help saying, "You can take your time."
Wang Dong'er looked at him earnestly, her blue-and-pink eyes filled with self-evident certainty. "It's delicious!"
"Do you usually not eat well?"
"Well, it's not that I don't eat well..."
Wang Dong'er paused and chewed a couple of times, her cheeks bulging. Only after swallowing did she continue:
"...It's just that my big dad and second dad make me eat bitter herbs or pills and things like that whenever they feel like it. Either I have no appetite for the rest of the day, or I feel sick of food all day..."
As she spoke, her little face scrunched up, as though she had remembered some unpleasant experiences. But soon, she smiled again.
"But yours are pretty good. I actually want more after eating them!"
Jiang Ci'an wasn't sure what to make of that.
The young lady had grown up eating rare treasures, and she was sick of all that stuff.
As for his medicinal meals...
These were the results of repeatedly testing for poison on Tang San. Every ingredient combination had been adjusted countless times, all to help the body absorb nutrients as efficiently as possible while still maintaining a good taste.
The young lady had spent so long flying around in the sky, and her Soul Power had been heavily depleted. Her body was in urgent need of energy, so it was no wonder she couldn't stop eating these carefully prepared medicinal meals.
Watching Wang Dong'er shovel food into her mouth, Jiang Ci'an felt some of the wariness he'd had because of her identity ease away.
After all, who could resist a gluttonous Big White Goose?
"Take your time. If that's not enough, I'll have the servants make more."
Wang Dong'er raised her head, food stuffed in her mouth, and looked at Jiang Ci'an. His face was reflected in her blue-and-pink eyes; her cheeks were full as she mumbled, "Mm... Jiang Ci'an, you're a good person!"
Jiang Ci'an: "..."
Thanks, I guess.
A little while later, they finished eating. It was already late, and the setting sun had dyed the horizon a deep orange-red as dusk slowly spread from afar.
Outside the main hall, a burly figure appeared with a servant.
The man gave Jiang Ci'an a slight bow, then turned to Wang Dong'er and bowed respectfully. "Young Mistress, it's getting late. It's time to head back."
Wang Dong'er had been chatting, but at the sound of his voice, her little face fell slightly and she sighed.
"All right, all right. I understand."
As she spoke, she rose to her feet reluctantly, turned around, and smiled at Jiang Ci'an and Xiao Xiao.
"Then I'll come by again tomorrow to play with you!"
She paused, her gaze settling on Xiao Xiao. A hint of defiant fighting spirit kindled in her blue-and-pink eyes.
"Once I've gone back and had time to reflect, let's go again tomorrow!"
Xiao Xiao blinked, apparently taken by surprise. But soon, a defiant look appeared on her little face, and she answered briskly.
"All right."
Wang Dong'er smiled, waved, and walked out the door with a light step.
Jiang Ci'an watched the blue-and-pink figure disappear from the pharmacy, then turned to Xiao Xiao. The corners of his mouth lifted as he chuckled, "Looks like we'll have another regular at the pharmacy."
Xiao Xiao said nothing.
Jiang Ci'an paused slightly, then asked, "What's wrong? You don't want her coming over?"
"It's not that," Xiao Xiao said quietly.
She didn't have a bad impression of Wang Dong'er.
Though they'd fought and Wang Dong'er was stubborn to the point of denying everything, she wasn't a bad person, and Xiao Xiao got along with her. Besides, she was pretty. Faced with a face like that, Xiao Xiao couldn't stay angry all the time.
It was just...
She was possessive about her food!
Jiang Ci'an looked at Xiao Xiao and had more or less guessed what she was thinking.
He was silent for a moment, then looked at Xiao Xiao, his tone turning a little serious.
"Xiao Xiao, you need to have a friend or two of your own. You can't stay by my side all the time. That's not good..."
"Why not?"
Xiao Xiao retorted at once.
She raised her eyes and looked straight at Jiang Ci'an, her gaze just as earnest.
Jiang Ci'an fell silent.
Was his childhood friend perhaps a little... too dependent on him?
Before you continue