"Why is your swordsmanship so good, Su Muyu?"
"Because I..."
"But you can make noodles this terrible!" Bai Hehuai angrily pushed the bowl forward. "I'm not eating this."
"I'll buy you osmanthus cake tomorrow to make it up to the Miracle Healer," Su Muyu said apologetically, then reached out to take away the bowl Bai Hehuai had barely touched. "And I’ll ask Wang Jie for advice..."
"Su Muyu." Bai Hehuai’s tone suddenly turned grave, her eyes gleaming with sincerity. "Promise me one thing, okay?"
Su Muyu rarely saw Bai Hehuai so serious. After a brief hesitation, he nodded. "Alright, tell me."
"Promise me," Bai Hehuai grasped his hand, her voice unbearably gentle, "spare Wang Jie... and spare me."
Su Muyu’s face flushed slightly as he withdrew his hand and continued clearing the table. "With enough practice, I’ll get it right. It’s the same with swordsmanship."
"Back then, out of a hundred Nameless Ones, why did only a handful like you and Su Changhe survive? Did the others not try hard enough? Talent matters in everything. When the heavens gave you the gift of wielding a killing sword, they took away your skill with a kitchen knife." Bai Hehuai sighed helplessly.
At the mention of the "killing sword," Su Muyu’s eyes flickered slightly. Bai Hehuai realized her slip, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
"That’s... not what I meant..." She scratched her cheek.
Just as Bai Hehuai floundered, a hen suddenly flapped into the courtyard, startling her. She stood up abruptly. "Why is there a chicken here?"
"Old Lady Chen from the village gave it to me. She heard I was learning to cook from Wang Jie and thought I could practice with it." Su Muyu darted forward in a flash, effortlessly catching the hen.
"If it’s fate," Bai Hehuai’s eyes brightened, "then let me show you my skills."
Half an hour later, the courtyard was filled with the rich aroma of meat and herbs. Bai Hehuai licked her lips, eyeing the pot of chicken with satisfaction. "Learned this from my master—medicinal braised chicken. How is it?"
Su Muyu licked his lips. "Smells amazing."
"Tastes even better!" Bai Hehuai eagerly scooped meat into her bowl.
Within moments, only an empty clay pot and a pile of bones remained on the table. Bai Hehuai patted her full stomach contentedly, then took out a silver needle to pick her teeth. Su Muyu sat beside her, his lips glistening with grease. "I had no idea the Miracle Healer was such a good cook. I’ve been embarrassing myself all this time."
Bai Hehuai waved a hand. "I’m not a good cook—this is the only dish I know. My master taught it to me when I was little. Because it’s the only thing I can make, cooking it always reminds me of him... and that makes me sad, so I rarely bother. Who knew I’d still be this good after all these years?"
Su Muyu paused, then sighed softly. "I’m sorry, Miracle Healer. I made you..."“Ah, you’re really no fun.” Bai Hehuai patted Su Muyu’s shoulder. “I’m old enough now—do you think I can’t accept such trivial matters? Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural course of life. Even a Miracle Healer can’t change that.”
Su Muyu nodded. “The Miracle Healer speaks wisely. So, what shall we eat tomorrow?”
Bai Hehuai’s face darkened. “Su Muyu, do you realize your image in my mind is rapidly deteriorating?”
Su Muyu shook his head. “That was genuinely my first thought. These days, every time we finish one meal, I have to start thinking about the next. It’s actually quite a bothersome matter, but there’s a bit of happiness mixed in.”
“Happiness?” Bai Hehuai pressed a hand to his forehead. “Where’s the happiness? I certainly don’t feel any.”
“My favorite part of the day is visiting the market. The hustle and bustle, the misty air, everyone talking loudly—there, I can feel something I haven’t in a long time…” Su Muyu looked down at his palm. “A sense of being alive.”
“Oh…” Bai Hehuai responded flatly. “You always seem so quiet, yet you’re quite sentimental…”
Just then, a messenger pigeon landed on the table.
This was clearly not another meal delivered to their doorstep.
Su Muyu stood up and removed the message tube from the pigeon’s leg. “But this pigeon, which keeps visiting us, reminds me that our current life is just an illusion. Only what’s written in these letters is real.”
Bai Hehuai sighed. “What does the letter say?”
“Chang He has reached an agreement with Uncle Seven Blades. Uncle will succeed as the head of the Xie Family and lead them in pledging loyalty to Chang He. The Soul Extraction Hall was burned to the ground before they returned—nothing remains. The Three Officials’ whereabouts are unknown. The Mu Family is temporarily led by Mu Qingyang, and Mu Zi Zhe has yet to be found.” Su Muyu flicked the note lightly, and it disintegrated into scraps carried away by the wind.
Bai Hehuai frowned slightly. “Did Su Changhe not urge you to return?”
Su Muyu shook his head. “Chang He’s last line said the time isn’t right yet. When it is, he’ll come for me—no need for me to go back.”
Bai Hehuai walked over and patted Su Muyu’s shoulder. “Then let’s not dwell on it. Better to think about what to eat tomorrow. In the morning, help me buy some herbs from the West Market—I’ve already written the list. Also…”
“Osmanthus Cake from Jinyue Pavilion.” Su Muyu smiled. “I remember.”
“If I eat ten pieces of Osmanthus Cake, I’ll take one bite of the noodles you make.” Bai Hehuai held up a finger. “How’s that for a deal? Don’t say I never support you!”
“I plan to go early tomorrow. I heard it’s Jinyue Pavilion’s monthly Flower Viewing Day—they sell Flower Viewing Cakes, their signature delicacy, but only once a month.” Su Muyu picked up the noodle bowl and headed to the kitchen. “Miss Li told me about it.”
“Flower Viewing Cakes! Tomorrow’s the Flower Viewing Day? I’ve been wanting to try them!” Bai Hehuai’s eyes lit up. “Su Muyu, if you bring me those cakes tomorrow, I’ll eat whatever you cook—every last bite!”
“You mean it?” Su Muyu turned back.
Bai Hehuai raised a hand. “The reputation of Medicine King Valley stands firm between heaven and earth. Would I ever go back on my word?”"Alright!" Su Muyu nodded. "I'll sleep for two hours, then wait outside Jin Yue Ji to make sure the Miracle Healer gets freshly baked Hanami cakes."
The next morning, at dawn.
Bai Hehuai: "No wonder these are famous Hanami cakes! So delicious! So delicious! Su Muyu, have one too."
That evening, during dinner.
Bai Hehuai: "Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh! Su Muyu, I'm going to kill you!"
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