Qiluo's Triple Trouble

Zijin sighed, "In that case, you can keep it." With that, she withdrew her hand and turned to leave.

Dafulin was very surprised and could hardly believe her eyes as she watched her walk away.

"Your Highness, is Green Bridge Hanging River now a clean project?" Su Ming asked.

"Eh... yes." Dafulin hadn't quite recovered from her surprise, and hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. "Ah, there's no more ' Hanging River '." She added, "Now there's only the pure Green Bridge Project."

Without diverting water from the source of the Sang River, the water volume of Green Bridge is sufficient to enable its functions, and it has no fundamental impact on the overall design of the project.

"Then our transaction will continue," Su Ming said. He gave the princess a routine farewell, then turned and chased after Zijin.

Dafulin hadn't slept a wink last night and set off early this morning, leaving her somewhat dazed. She watched the two depart, shook her head, and decided to go back and think about these complex matters later.

The princess knelt down and carefully cleaned away the frost that had formed on the tombstone.

After remaining silent for more than ten minutes, she slowly stood up, stepped back, bowed, and then turned and left.

****

"I'm freezing! That girl's finally gone," Zijin complained, breathing out white puffs of air and holding her hands.

Before the tomb, Zijin and Su Ming reappeared. Zijin waved her hand, blasting open the earthen seal of the tomb, then used Levitation Spell to drag out the coffin inside, pushed off the lid, and revealed a half-human corpse that had begun to turn to White Bone.

She took out various magic array materials from the bag she carried with her and began setting them up with Su Ming. About half an hour later, the complex magic array was finally completed.

Su Ming carefully arranged Newman's small body, then took out the Deep Soul Cocoon from his pocket and embedded it in the corpse's forehead.

Having gone through so much, Su Ming was finally able to perform this task, which only morticians on Earth would do, with a calm mind.

"You'd better get started, you haven't had breakfast yet," Su Ming said.

Zijin took a step back. "You come here."

"Me?" Su Ming looked confused. "My proficiency in magic is far inferior to yours!"

"In understanding the White Bone Mark, you are now superior to me." The scholar smiled slightly and gestured for her to proceed.

Su Ming thought for a moment, then suggested, "Let's go together. This skeleton will be working for quite a while."

Zijin didn't refuse. The two of them each took off one glove, and their fingers intertwined in the cold wind, holding hands.

With their Mind Synchronization, the rune array unfolds around the two of them, the light of the runes outlining solid patterns on the snow and rapidly expanding in number and size.

The simplified White Bone Mark gradually took shape. An aggregate composed of countless tiny runes slowly rose from the center of the magic circle, shimmering with a mysterious light in mid-air.

Zijin's mental state fluctuated slightly, Su Ming quickly noticed.

[Sorry, did I remind you of bad memories?] He immediately realized the reason—twenty-seven years ago on the Plain of Despair, Miss Bone Dragon was imprisoned by such White Bone Mark.

Su Ming regretted his lack of consideration and asked Zijin to join him in casting the spell.

[It's alright.] Zijin gently shook her head. [I do have some unpleasant memories, but that's no reason to avoid them.]

Su Ming remained silent. Since his transmigration, he had learned a great deal from Zijin. Principles aside, when you truly see someone persevering, you are inspired.

Su Ming wasn't a diligent person, and many times he wanted to slack off. But he could always see Zijin getting up earlier than him, working seriously and attentively.

Why is this girl always so outstanding, it almost makes one despair?

****

The White Bone Mark sank into the halfling's skeleton. The Deep Soul Cocoon suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and Newman's soul was fully activated.

On the magic circle beneath their feet, the runes began to collapse and shrink layer by layer, eventually imprinting themselves onto the skeleton. At the same time, a soul imprint belonging to Newman appeared in Su Ming's sea of consciousness.

The magic circle dissipated in the cold wind, and a creaking sound came as the half-human skeleton slowly rose from the coffin.

"Long time no see, Little Button," Zijin said.

"Do I look alright?" Newman stretched his newly acquired skeletal body, the tiny skeleton a head shorter than the unicorn's loli form. "Thank you so much, Teacher Belladonna. I look forward to your guidance from now on!"

Protected by the Deep Soul Cocoon, Newman could probably maintain his sanity for several more years. He asked Zijin and Su Ming to continue their deal with Dafulin regarding the Green Bridge Project. In exchange, he would serve them wholeheartedly for the rest of his life.

Just now, Zijin was confiscating Dafulin's scholar's badge, and it was Newman secretly stopped her. Even though he was the other Titled Scholar participated in the deliberation that Zijin mentioned, which led to the stripping of Dafulin's scholar status.

"A pleasure to meet you, Master Newman!" Su Ming greeted.

"And unfortunately," Newman said, shaking his thin, bony arm, making a "crackling" sound. "It's good that you're not afraid of the cold, though these joints probably need some oil."

"Has he always been this argumentative?" Su Ming asked.

You'll get used to it.

"You two." Newman turned around, looking at Su Ming and Zijin, "Hmm... I'll prepare the gifts later."

What gift?

Su Ming and Zijin looked at each other in confusion, only to realize that their hands were still clasped together.

The two immediately let go.

"Huh, not yet?" Newman said.

"Remove the word 'still'," said Zijin.

****

The two men and the skeleton began cleaning up the scene; the frozen- Jimite was stuffed back into the coffin and the lid was closed again.

"Please warm my bed for me, it's my fault." Newman patted the coffin lid. "I'll be back in a few years."

The coffin was placed back into the tomb and buried.

After quickly restoring the burial mound, the two people and the skeleton turned and left. They had arrived early that morning on snowmobiles; the seats were more comfortable than the staff, and the snowmobile had heating.

"Your student is really something," Zijin said to Newman.

"Dafulin is truly talented," Newman remarked with some emotion, "But she didn't take the right path."

"No, I meant she was a disciple of the sect," Zijin said. "So, is what the Second Princess said true?"

"... It's true." Newman sighed, "Such a young and beautiful girl pursuing me, even stripping naked and crawling under the covers late at night, I simply couldn't resist!"

"You're so lucky!" Su Ming exclaimed enviously. "Wait a minute, didn't Princess Dafulin say nothing happened?" he asked doubtfully. "She spoke so earnestly, yet she was lying?"

Newman was silent for a moment, then sighed and replied, "Yes... but... it's no different than if it hadn't happened."

Su Ming was filled with question marks.

"Don't say anymore, it was a huge blow to me," Newman said again. In the cold wind, the small body of the half-human skeleton old man looked particularly desolate.

"Alright then." Su Ming didn't press the matter further.

****

"Actually, Dafulin's romantic fantasies faded after that day," Newman continued after a while. "Today, her behavior in front of you was somewhat of a performance."

"At least on the morning of the Winter Solstice Festival, they came to mourn you with red flowers. This wasn't an act, was it?" Zijin said. "Dafulin didn't know we were coming. Who was she putting on this for?"

"... So they're just reminiscing about me as if I were a forgotten love," Newman said self-deprecatingly. "Indeed, the dead are always the best!"

"Poor princess, you've been fooled by this disrespectful old man," Zijin concluded.

"Hey, I'm the victim here!"

The three chatted as they approached the snowmobile.

After all that fuss, the sun had finally risen completely. The morning sunlight shone brightly on the car.

"Dafulin was actually somewhat powerless to control her own destiny," Newman couldn't help but defend the princess, his small, bony fingers lightly tapping the car door. "After all, she's royalty; there are some things—"

"Her lack of control over her situation represents the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people," Su Ming retorted. "We have no right to forgive her."

"... Young friend, you're even better at arguing than I am!" Newman said.

"I wouldn't dare accept that!" Su Ming shrugged.

Zijin extended her hand to Newman. "Alright, at least I'm not the only Titled Scholar anymore." She grasped Newman's small, bony claw, her voice unusually gentle. "Welcome back, Newman!"

"I'm really looking forward to fighting side by side!" Newman replied earnestly, and then he was lifted into the air, his vision spinning.

When he came to his senses, he found himself thrown into the snowmobile's bed by Zijin.

Su Ming and Zijin had already gotten into the driver's seat, started the car, and drove away.

****

When the three-person team plus the skeleton team returned, only Younier from the three-person team plus the beast team that went on the night tour of Bubing City last night was up and preparing breakfast in the dining car.

This was the first time Su Ming had seen this noble lady cook, and he couldn't help but walk over to take a look out of curiosity.

Younier was intently simmering a pot of braised pork, the rich aroma filling the carriage. Judging from its appearance, the pork was a bright red color, and the sauce was thick and flavorful, looking quite delicious.

A hearty breakfast is common in this other world because it involves a lot of physical labor, otherwise one wouldn't be able to sustain oneself through a busy morning. Su Ming has almost gotten used to it now.

The rice steamer next to him was steaming. Su Ming opened it and saw several trays of brightly colored steamed buns inside, emitting an enticing aroma.

"Not bad!" Su Ming exclaimed sincerely. Since boarding the ship, the task of cooking had been taken care of by Hansite and Qiluo, two foodies, so this was the first time he had witnessed Younier's culinary skills.

Hansite was the second to get up. As he walked into the dining car, Younier brought out the steamed pastries and placed them on the table with a thud.

Hansite's expression froze when he saw Younier's actions.

"What's wrong?" Su Ming reached out to grab the steamed bun, but his expression changed the moment he picked it up—the bun was surprisingly heavy!

Hansite poked the steamed bun with his spoon, but the dough didn't budge. He sighed helplessly, "It really is a dense, unleavened bun. I wonder what she used to dye it."

"... Wasn't it made with mixed grain flour?"

Hansite picked up a shiny green bun and sniffed it. "Hard to say!"

Qiluo, the last to get up, skipped and hopped in. Seeing the colorful steamed buns on the table, she happily wagged her tail, "Hansite, you've made breakfast!"

Before Su Ming and Hansite could stop her, Qiluo used her hooves to lift the entire drawer and dumped all the steamed buns into her mouth.

After taking a few big bites, Qiluo's body suddenly stiffened. She clutched her throat in pain, making whimpering sounds as she struggled.

Su Ming was utterly impressed by the unicorn's bravery in eating dough balls with unknown additives like this.

Qiluo struggled and finally spat out the pastry stuck in her throat, avoiding becoming the first unicorn in history to choke to death on a steamed bun.

Hansite supported the unicorn, feeding her water and helping her catch her breath.

"Younier is, after all, a noble lady; she doesn't know anything about food," he told Su Ming. "What's most frightening is that the things she makes always look incredibly deceptive!"

"So that's why you've always prevented her from cooking?" Su Ming finally understood the reason.

"I heard about her 'glorious deeds' on my very first day on the island," Hansite said in a low voice. "Once, Younier helped the cook at the mine, and as a result, the entire Brown Gold Island shut down for three days."

"..."

Su Ming and Hansite returned to the dining table and found another pot of braised pork on it. The thick, dark sauce piled high with chunks of meat, the caramel-colored gravy coating the striped texture of the meat, giving it an enticing sheen.

The two looked at each other, neither daring to pick up their chopsticks.

Su Ming picked up the basin and went to Qiluo, who was lying on the ground looking upset. "Um, I cooked some meat. Would you mind trying a piece?"

"You're still the best." Qiluo sobbed as she looked up and stood up, following the aroma. She snatched the bowl from Su Ming's hand and poured the entire bowl of braised pork into her mouth.

The next moment, a piercing wail echoed throughout the entire carriage.

****

Su Ming chopped some vegetables and sliced meat, and cooked a large pot of noodles, so that everyone could finally have breakfast.

Qiluo's courage was admirable. She rinsed her mouth for a long time before struggling to return. She glared resentfully at Su Ming, her eyes bloodshot, and picked up the bowl full of noodles to show off.

True foodies are resilient and fearless in the face of setbacks.

"Um, Qiluo," Su Ming said awkwardly, "Eating ginger in winter is good for your health."

According to Su Ming and Hansite's assumption, Younier was nothing more than a culinary disaster caused by the wrong seasoning, but they never expected it to be a huge bowl of ginger.

Younier explained that she thought it was boiled potatoes because the outside of the pile was brown and the inside was yellow when cut open.

This reason is irrefutable!

In a sense, Younier's ability to make ginger look like braised pork demonstrates her astonishing talent for cooking, even if it's a mishap.

"Hmph!" Qiluo ate her normal food and didn't bother to argue with Su Ming. She finished a bowl of noodles and then ran off to the stove.

"I only cooked one pot—" Su Ming hurriedly shouted.

In a fit of vengeance, Qiluo picked up the pot and shoved the rest of the noodles into her mouth. Then, for the third time this morning, she froze and began to vomit violently!

Younier ran over in surprise, "Oh, this is what I cooked for the Frostmane Giant Wolf!"

"Liar!" Qiluo could no longer hold back her tears. "How could Frostmane Giant Wolf eat something so disgusting!"

"They're constipated," Younier explained earnestly. "I bought some herbs in Bubing City last night. Because they tasted so bad, I just cooked them with some noodles."

"You're all bad people! Bad people!" Qiluo burst into tears.