"How extraordinary!"
Looking at the girl before him, Lian Youming could not help marveling at the unpredictability of life.
"Where is your grandmother?"
The girl still smiled. "She passed away. But not from illness. She died peacefully of old age, well fed and warmly clothed. Before she went, she even ate two baked flatbreads and a big piece of fatty pork."
Lian Youming was deeply moved by this. He merely nodded in approval and said nothing more.
Shorty Xu was also amazed to discover that his disciple actually knew Lian Youming. Clicking his tongue in wonder, he took the food and liquor out of his bamboo basket.
There was a roast chicken, a plate of sliced cured pork, several large steamed buns, and a small jar of sorghum liquor.
"Xu Baishi greets Senior Brother Lian!"
The girl respectfully cupped her fists toward Lian Youming again in greeting.
Lian Youming could hardly neglect the courtesy. He hurriedly returned her salute. "You're too kind, Junior Sister Xu!"
Shorty Xu found the sight amusing and could not resist interjecting, "All right, hurry up and have a bite. So, lad, what are your plans? Will you keep going, or come back to the Nature Sect with us for a couple of days?"
Lian Youming accepted a large steamed bun from Xu Baishi and took a bite before saying, "I'd like to keep going, straight to Mount Emei." Shorty Xu did not press him. With their martial arts at this level, he knew how hard it was to change their minds, so he advised, "All right. But don't rush into a fight with that bandit chief. You've only just begun learning that sword technique, and it still needs work. Once you reach Mount Emei, you can hone it against the monkey troops there. That mountain