"Brother Ling Feng, you're back."
Seeing Ling Feng return, Xiao Yi Xian happily went to greet him. But when she noticed Feng Baobao behind him, she stopped in front of Ling Feng and asked him a question.
"Brother Ling Feng, who is this big sister...?"
"Her? Her name is Feng Baobao. From now on, she'll be your personal bodyguard."
Ling Feng stepped aside and introduced Xiao Yi Xian and Feng Baobao to each other.
"Baobao, this is Xiao Yi Xian. From now on, protect her properly and don't let anyone bully her, understand?"
"Gotcha."
That classic Sichuan flavor-it was still the familiar flavor Ling Feng knew.
"Grrrr~"
Just then, as Xiao Yi Xian was about to get acquainted with Feng Baobao, music suddenly rose from the temple of her five internal organs.
Ling Feng looked toward the sound, only to meet Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. She immediately lowered her head a little in embarrassment.
Feng Baobao was straightforward. Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's stomach growl, she said, "You're hungry, huh? I'll catch you some wild game."
Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head even further. Ling Feng smiled at the sight and said, "Wait here for a bit. I'll find you something to eat."
"Brother Ling Feng, be careful."
"Don't worry."
With that, Ling Feng went off to find food, while Xiao Yi Xian and Feng Baobao sat down nearby and began chatting.
The two seemed to hit it off, and soon they were talking about everything under the sun.
About half a cup of tea later, Ling Feng returned, carrying a Demon Mountain chicken that stood a full meter tall.
These Demon Mountain chickens weren't actually magical beasts, but a type of wild animal, commonly known as ordinary beasts.
Demon Mountain chickens weren't very powerful, but their meat was excellent. They lived in mountain forests and were usually extremely difficult to catch. Ling Feng had been lucky enough to encounter one and bring it back.
"Sister Bao'er, do you know any really powerful Dou Techniques?"
"Uh... yep, yep."
The moment Ling Feng returned, he heard Xiao Yi Xian and Feng Baobao talking.
"Xu Si put a set together for me before. Come on, come on, attack me first, and I'll show you."
"Oh, okay. Here I come..."
Hearing Feng Baobao's adorably clueless words, Ling Feng seemed to remember something. His expression changed instantly, as though he had been struck by lightning.
"Wai-"
Before he could finish, Feng Baobao had already begun teaching the Awei Eighteen Forms.
"Spot the opening, then strike with your palm. This one's called Old Man Pushing a Cart..."
"Holy! Fuck!!!!"
Seeing Feng Baobao's demonstration pose ahead of him, Ling Feng's eyes instantly bulged. He crashed on the spot, with nothing left in his mouth or mind but those two words: Holy fuck.
The next moment, Feng Baobao's voice reached his ears again.
"Then comes... ****..."
"Baobao, stop right now!!"
Ling Feng couldn't stand still any longer. He hurriedly burst forward at full speed and put an immediate stop to this lesson that was decidedly unsuitable for minors.
"Brother Ling Feng, you're back."
Seeing that Ling Feng had returned, Xiao Yi Xian greeted him with a smile.
Ling Feng gave her a sheepish smile, then turned to Feng Baobao and warned her, "Baobao, don't teach Xiao Yi Xian any more of these things, understand?"
"Oh, gotcha."
Naturally, Feng Baobao wouldn't object to what Ling Feng said. Xiao Yi Xian, however, didn't understand. She stepped forward and asked him, "Brother Ling Feng, why won't you let Sister Bao'er teach me that Dou Technique?"
"Uh... well... those moves she just showed you aren't suitable for you."
Ling Feng found it rather difficult to explain and stumbled over his words.
"But they are. I think this Dou Technique suits me quite well. The moves are a little strange, but I feel like it's a very powerful Dou Technique. I really want to practice it."
Xiao Yi Xian spoke with utter innocence. Ling Feng was momentarily stumped, but as his mind spun, another idea came to him. Raising an eyebrow, he told her, "Anyway, you can't learn this. Even if you want to learn it, I'll teach you myself later. But you can only use it on me, understand?"
"Oh."
Although Xiao Yi Xian didn't understand why Ling Feng was being so demanding, she felt that he wouldn't hurt her, so she agreed without thinking too much about it.
Seeing this, Ling Feng secretly chuckled. His smile was a little wicked and laden with meaning.
"This chicken... is so big. I've never seen such a big chicken. It'd definitely taste great as beggar's chicken."
Just then, Ling Feng suddenly noticed Feng Baobao crouching at his feet, staring at the Demon Mountain chicken in his hand as she spoke with an adorably vacant expression.
As she spoke, Feng Baobao took the Demon Mountain chicken from Ling Feng's hand and began preparing it.
Ling Feng let her do as she pleased, while Xiao Yi Xian watched curiously. About half an hour later, the three sat beside a fire, looking at the mud-coated ball nestled in its center.
"Crack!"
A crisp sound of cracking clay came from the fire, and Feng Baobao knew her beggar's chicken was ready. She immediately picked up a branch she had prepared earlier and levered out the mud-wrapped Demon Mountain chicken. Then she set down the branch, picked up a hard stone the size of two palms, and smashed it hard against the ball of mud.
Soon, most of the mud had been knocked away. Feng Baobao peeled back the next layer of leaves, and a rich fragrance instantly spread through the air, whetting their appetites.
"Grrrr~"
The temple of Xiao Yi Xian's five internal organs grew even more boisterous. The noise embarrassed her a little, but her body was honest, and she kept swallowing.
"Eat."
Tearing off a large drumstick, Feng Baobao handed it straight to Xiao Yi Xian.
"Thank you, Sister Bao'er."
Hunger left Xiao Yi Xian little room to worry about decorum. She happily accepted the drumstick, thanked Feng Baobao, and began eating.
"Hss, hss~"
It was a little hot, and Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help hissing. Ling Feng found her especially adorable like this and smiled warmly. "Eat slowly. Don't burn yourself."
Feeling terribly embarrassed, Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head slightly and murmured a response. Feng Baobao, however, didn't think nearly as much as Xiao Yi Xian did, nor did she have any notion of being ladylike. She simply grabbed a drumstick and dug in with relish.
Just then, Xiao Yi Xian also took a bite of the beggar's chicken. The flavor, unlike anything she had ever tasted, made her beautiful eyes light up. Looking at Feng Baobao, she asked curiously, "Sister Bao'er, this beggar's chicken is delicious. How do you know such an unusual way of preparing food?"
"Mmph... it's nothing. I know lots of other-mmph-ways, mmph..."
Feng Baobao answered while eating, her words barely intelligible. But her uninhibited manner made Ling Feng beam with delight.
Xiao Yi Xian smiled too and complimented Feng Baobao. "Sister Bao'er, you're so clever."
"Gulp... people are always calling me a dummy, but I'm not dumb at all. Most of the time, I'm smart as hell."
Feng Baobao swallowed a mouthful of food, then looked at Xiao Yi Xian and delivered another of her classic lines.
After saying that, Feng Baobao even made an "OK" gesture at Xiao Yi Xian. The familiar sight left Ling Feng momentarily dazed, the words "smart as hell" echoing in his ears. Then he couldn't help laughing again.
"You're exactly the Sister Bao'er I know..."