Chapter 63: It Tastes So-So

Chapter 63: It Tastes So-So

Originating from n0v@lbin☆, this material safeguards undisclosed information.

"Elder, have you awoken?" Xiao Nanfeng forced a smile.

"Who did you say was a glutton?" The Lady Arclight glared at Xiao Nanfeng.

Xiao Nanfeng took a deep breath. Wasn't she unconscious? How did she know what I said? Was she just pretending to be unconscious?

"Elder, you must have misheard. I called myself a glutton, saying that I was craving food after seeing you eat," Xiao Nanfeng fibbed.

The Lady Arclight stared at Xiao Nanfeng aggressively, but her eyes flashed with a series of complicated emotions.

"Elder, when did you wake up?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously. He had grumbled about the Lady Arclight quite often these last few days, and was worried that she had overheard his inadvertent remarks.

However, the Lady Arclight ignored him. She commanded, "Lift me up so that I can get some air."

Xiao Nanfeng hurriedly helped the Lady Arclight to her feet. She was silent as she walked to the entrance to the lair, not even inquiring as to the fact that she was wearing Xiao Nanfeng's clothes.

The more erratic her behavior, the more insecure Xiao Nanfeng felt.

"There are many spirits in this hidden realm, and I don't know how many of the senior disciples are still alive. Now that you've awoken, Elder, they can all be saved," Xiao Nanfeng began.

The Lady Arclight turned to him. "You're worried about your companion, aren't you?"

"I am worried about Senior Sister Yu'er, Elder, but also about my fellow disciples," Xiao Nanfeng replied in a politic fashion.

The Lady Arclight rolled her eyes at him in disbelief, in a display of sudden and unassuming beauty. Xiao Nanfeng was caught unawares and was suddenly enthralled.

"I have been seriously injured by Marquis Wu, and I'm still in a very weak condition. However, my cultivation technique is rather unusual, and I'll grow stronger by the time I do," the Lady Arclight explained.

"Oh?"

"If you still have the food you fed me, I'll be able to recover more quickly," the Lady Arclight added.

Xiao Nanfeng blinked. Was she talking about the golden lotus root, or the golden sunfruit from ten days ago? Just when had she woken up?

Xiao Nanfeng wanted to clarify things, but he didn't dare to do so, because that could well destroy the facade of civility between them. He had grumbled quite often in earshot of the Lady Arclight, after all.

"I'm hungry!" The Lady Arclight looked toward Xiao Nanfeng. Her tone was demanding and not particularly courteous.

How was it? The Lady Arclight felt as though she were almost about to swallow her tongue! Where did Xiao Nanfeng pick up how to cook so well? His cooking was unbelievably delicious—when she returned to the sect, she intended to give the nominal disciples that served as her chefs a tremendous scolding. Just what had they been feeding her all these years?

"It was so-so. I hope you can improve your cooking skills," the Lady Arclight informed him, lifting her head up slightly.

"Only so-so?" Xiao Nanfeng was a little surprised.

Back in his previous life, he had been very into cooking for a period of time and had spent significant effort learning how to cook well. He was quite confident in his abilities, and he would be preparing his own meals even within the sect if not for his devotion to cultivation.

"You don't believe me?" The Lady Arclight glared at Xiao Nanfeng.

"No, of course not! You're far more experienced than I am, Elder, and have naturally eaten better food. I had some spare time after hunting, so I made you a little toy to while away your time." Xiao Nanfneg retrieved an erhu from his back.

He had been worried that the Lady Arclight would hold a grudge and try to make life difficult for him. She was too weak to do anything at the moment, but what about when she recovered her cultivation?

In order to attempt to repair their relationship, Xiao Nanfeng had personally crafted her an erhu based on materials he had found within the forest.

The Lady Arclight took the erhu, then looked at Xiao Nanfeng with some surprise. Complicated emotions flashed in her gaze. This was her first time receiving a musical instrument as a gift from anyone.

"Elder, I've already cleared out all the spirits nearby, and you've recovered enough to walk on your own now. I'm going to take a long trip, and it might be evening by the time I'm back. Please take care of yourself!"

The Lady Arclight nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng cleaned up after the meal, then left the valley quietly.

The Lady Arclight sat by the exit to the lair and watched Xiao Nanfeng's back, then the erhu in her hands. Her lips twitched and curled up. She felt the erhu carefully before slowly walking out of the lair.

Xiao Nanfeng was headed for the lotus pond where the toad spirits had been, curious if anything had happened since.

While he was still some distance from the pond, Xiao Nanfeng hid behind some trees and looked into the distance. He could see a few armored cultivators patrolling around the area.

"It looks like the toad spirits have left, and the armored cultivators' companions have found them. I can't stay in this region any longer—it's become far too dangerous," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

He silently retraced his steps and left the area, designating this patch of territory as forbidden land. It wasn't too far from the boar spirit's lair, either, so that lair was no longer safe.

On the way back, Xiao Nanfeng encountered a pheasant spirit, which he killed in no time at all.

"Haha, we'll have pheasant today! It's one of my best dishes, so I'd like to see you call it 'so-so' again—I'll make you swallow your tongue!" Xiao Nanfeng promised confidently.

He rushed back toward the lair, but as he drew close, he found two crow spirits hovering in the air, cawing at the valley.

"Has the valley been exposed...?"