A fish-belly white rose along the eastern horizon, and the earth gradually brightened.
Day had finally broken.
Besides the conversation between Little Girl and the youth, many other sounds now filled their ears.
"Fairy won't talk to you anymore. It's time to make breakfast. Big Ping'an and Niu Niu will be waking up."
Little Girl took out the iron pot set to one side.
Soon, the fragrance of plain rice porridge wafted over.
"Do you want some?" Little Girl glanced at the youth.
The youth pressed his lips together. "...Yes..."
He was a little embarrassed, but hunger ultimately overcame reason.
He had yet to reach the stage of cultivation where he could forgo grain and sustain himself on the spirit qi of heaven and earth.
Food prices inside Demon-Suppressing Pass were extremely high, and he had sneaked away from home.
He had brought little money for food, so he went hungry one meal and ate his fill the next.
Little Girl ladled him a large bowl.
The youth rubbed his hands on the hem of his clothes, accepted the porridge, and thanked her.
At that moment, Old Ox woke up too.
Little Girl patted Old Ox's head and introduced him. "This is our Niu Niu."
"...Greetings... Niu Niu..."
The youth found that name truly strange.
But then Little Girl said she had learned her alchemy and spells from Niu Niu beside her.
The youth took a few more looks at the enormous Black Ox.
Black Ox drank his porridge with his head down, paying no attention to his gaze.
Li Ping'an rolled over, and after eating breakfast,
he crouched beside the wall and wiped his face and hands with pristine white snow, counting that as washing his face.
Then he cleaned his mouth with a toothbrush made from horsehair.
He