Wen Ning asked Chen Yang to send the Evil Flood Dragon's live location to his phone. Judging by its speed and route, it would reach the sea by tomorrow night at the latest.
With business settled, the two sat back down, finished the jar of huadiao wine, and polished off most of the food on the table.
Before leaving, Wen Ning grabbed a plastic bag and practiced a little thrift by packing up all the leftovers. These were premium dishes prepared by the City God Temple, after all, and they were highly nourishing for mortals.
Chen Yang saw him to the temple entrance. The wind and rain had eased considerably since his arrival.
Wen Ning walked home under his umbrella. By the time he arrived, sanitation workers had already sawn the tree at the entrance to the alley into sections and piled them by the roadside.
The sign for Old Liu's bun shop had been hung back up, too. It was crooked, but at least it hadn't fallen down.
As he pushed open the shop door, the scent of tea tree shampoo washed over him.
The Squirrel Spirit had finished bathing and left, and the elderly ladies had picked up their two toy poodles.
Big Yellow lay in the usual spot, holding down the peanut the Squirrel Spirit had left with one paw, licking it over and over, reluctant to eat it.
Wen Ning set the food he had brought back from the City God Temple on the table and said to Zhang Siyu,
"Good stuff. Dig in."
Zhang Siyu was sitting in the chair behind the counter.
Her posture was as prim as a schoolchild waiting for the teacher to hand out test papers.
The moment she saw Wen Ning come through the door, she sprang out of her