Meishan Residence was small and exquisite, with breathtaking scenery. Xin Mei couldn't sit still after just one cup of tea in the main hall and went out to wander on her own, leaving behind two men—one silent and cold, the other uneasy and fidgety.
"General, p-please have some tea..." Meishan Jun's trembling hands poured the tea, spilling most of it on the table.
"General, p-please... have some tea snacks..." He offered a plate of pine nut candies, but half of them ended up on the floor.
Lu Qianqiao took a sip of tea and said calmly, "You seem afraid of me?"
"N-no, not at all..." Meishan Jun hung his head in shame. It was just that he had no idea how to handle this particular race, known for their prowess in both single combat and group fights. If he offended him, a single slap might be enough to reduce him to dust.
"I heard you know everything under heaven and earth. This time—"
"I know, I know!" Meishan Jun nodded eagerly. "I can guess what the General wants to ask. About how a War Ghost descendant with mixed human blood can survive the Transformation Tribulation at twenty-five—I can have Little Crow look into it. You needn't worry."
Little Crow had long been praised for its "third eye." This matter didn’t seem too difficult; entrusting it to the bird should be fine.
"Well... the task itself isn’t hard, but... um... my rule is that I don’t accept gold, silver, or treasures. If the General can outdrink me, then naturally..."
He stammered through the topic of payment, occasionally stealing glances at Lu Qianqiao’s expression. Seeing the man frown and reach into his robe, Meishan Jun startled and waved his hands frantically. "Such a small matter doesn’t require payment! No need, no need!"
Lu Qianqiao glanced at him and lowered his hand. "I’m not much of a drinker. I heard you’re a wine fanatic, so I brought ingredients used by my ancestors in sacred offerings as payment. But..."
He looked at Meishan Jun’s cowering posture and smiled. "Since you refuse, then my thanks."
...Karma! This was the karma of being as timid as a mouse!
Tears streaming down his face, Meishan Jun left the main hall, needing a quiet place to mend his shattered heart. Passing by the kitchen, he saw a group of white-robed, red-skirted Spirit Guards gathered at the door, clapping and cheering. Curious, he peeked inside and saw Xin Mei standing at the chopping board, wielding a massive cleaver as if it were a slender willow-leaf knife. The blade flashed, and in the blink of an eye, ingredients were neatly sliced—some into shreds, others into thin pieces—arranged perfectly on several plates.
A divine skill!
Meishan Jun trembled with excitement, rushing to the front and clapping vigorously. Xin Mei wiped her hands and asked, "Lord Meishan, I heard immortals don’t eat meat, so I prepared only vegetarian dishes. What do you like?"
Meishan Jun quivered. "I... I like tofu..."
She nodded, scooped a block of tofu from a basin, and tested the cleaver against it before deciding it wasn’t suitable. Someone nearby handed her a knife as thin as a cicada’s wing. She turned and smiled. "Then I’ll carve a Tofu Meishan for you. We’ll steam it."
Meishan Jun wept openly.
Thus, dinner that night unfolded like this: Tofu Meishan was steamed and served at the table. Xin Mei mercilessly picked up her chopsticks, plucked off its head, and placed it in Meishan Jun’s bowl, saying cheerfully, "Lord Meishan, this is your head. You eat first."He had never eaten such a soul-stirring meal before. Before he knew it, he had overeaten and could only groan while holding his balloon-like belly.
Xin Mei was quite concerned: "Lord Meishan, your stomach looks like it's stuffed with a ball. You should go lie down for a while, shouldn't you?"
Reluctant to leave, he seized the moment when Lu Qianqiao lowered his head to drink soup. He mustered the courage to reach for Xin Mei's snow-white hand, racking his brains for sweet words—first to praise her divine culinary skills, then to mention how she had carried him upstairs last time and tenderly cared for him, for which he hadn’t yet thanked her.
But just as he stretched out his hand, Lu Qianqiao set down his bowl and glanced at him.
He immediately withdrew his hand, dejectedly playing with his sleeve instead.
The white-clad, red-skirted Spirit Guards came in to clear the leftovers. Seeing Meishan Jun clutching his round belly in a daze, they couldn’t help but giggle. Meishan Jun flushed and glared at them. "No manners at all! Clean up and get out!"
The Spirit Guards stuck their tongues out at him, swiftly picking up the bowls and plates before heading out. Suddenly, one of them tripped over the threshold, and a drop of soup splashed onto her red skirt. In an instant, she transformed into a little white paper figure, fluttering lightly to the ground, the soup stain still visible on the paper.
Xin Mei stared in astonishment.
Meishan Jun hurriedly waved his hands at her. "Don’t worry, these Spirit Guards are conjured through paper spirit magic."
Clutching his belly in agony, he shuffled over, picked up the paper figure, and tossed it aside. As it landed, it transformed back into a lively white-clad, red-skirted Spirit Guard, who turned to give the dumbfounded Xin Mei a cheeky grin before scampering off with the plates.
Xin Mei gazed at him sympathetically as he sweated profusely. "Lord Meishan, you really should go lie down. Be careful not to upset your stomach. I bet the stomachs of gossipy immortals aren’t very strong, are they?"
How gentle and considerate she was... Moved, Meishan Jun nodded. "Th-then I’ll go lie down in my room for a bit. There’s a hot spring outside, and clothes to change into. Feel free to bathe and wear whatever you like—don’t stand on ceremony."
Holding his belly, he was slowly escorted back to his room by two Spirit Guards supporting his arms.
Xin Mei was led by the Spirit Guards to the hot spring for a bath. A set of clean white robes lay by the pool, the fabric soft as silk and light as air. Once she put them on, she felt as light as a swallow.
The Spirit Guards explained with a smile, "This is why our master insists all visitors bathe and change before entering."
She slipped into wooden clogs and clattered her way to the guest quarters at the back, where she found Lu Qianqiao also dressed in white robes, leaning against a crabapple tree and fiddling with something in his hands. When he noticed her arrival, he merely gave her a fleeting glance before ignoring her.
"Lu Qianqiao, are you in a bad mood again?"
She suddenly moved closer, staring at his face.
She was so near that her breath seemed to brush against his skin. Flustered, he turned his head away and only spoke after a pause. "How did you learn to cook?"
She smiled. "My father never liked the food made by hired chefs, so I had to do it myself. Did you like it?"
When he didn’t respond, she frowned. "Was it not good?"
"...It was good."
"Then I’ll cook for you again next time."
His expression gradually softened, his brows relaxing as he looked down at the half-carved bamboo root in his hands. Quietly, he asked, "What about you? What kind of dolls do you like?"Xin Mei's eyes lit up instantly: "You're going to make a doll for me? I love that Celestial Lady from the opera stage—whoosh!—she chopped off people's heads just like that!"
"..." Who taught this child to be so violent?
He shook his head and began using a small knife to smooth the edges of the bamboo root. He felt her entire body lean in closer, a damp lock of her hair falling onto the back of his hand—cool, slightly ticklish, and a little... fragrant.
For some reason, his mood tonight had become exceptionally good, unprecedentedly so.
Suddenly, he noticed a figure swaying ahead. Lifting his gaze, he saw Meishan Jun with a face full of sorrow. Perhaps from overeating, he leaned against the wall as if about to collapse. After watching for a moment, Lu Qianqiao lowered his head and continued carving the bamboo root, leaving Meishan Jun behind, clutching his hair in frustration, his stomach churning with bitterness and tofu.
Did the general just glance at him? He did, didn't he? Was it a warning? A threat? A look of superiority? Or gloating triumph?
Meishan Jun agonized over that ambiguous gaze, unable to free himself from its grip.
Tonight, with such beautiful flowers and a bright moon, the gentle breeze carried an air of romance—perfect for a lovers' rendezvous. He had finally managed to conceal his balloon-like belly and came to discuss life and ideals with Xin Mei, only to stumble upon her sharing this romantic moment with someone else.
Sweet, gentle Xiao Mei—he had missed his chance in just a blink of an eye...
Tearfully, he returned to his room and spent the entire night tossing and turning, plagued by nightmares of Lu Qianqiao's enigmatic look, his stomach twisting in knots.
The next day, he slept until well past noon. Remembering that Xin Mei was still at his residence, he felt both excitement and heartache. Sneaking toward the guest quarters to see her, he encountered a Spirit Guard sweeping the path along the way. Taking in his pitiful state, the Spirit Guard said, "Master, Miss Xin and the general are in the Phoenix Grove. Best not disturb them, eh?"
Meishan Jun flared up in anger. "Aren't I supposed to be your master? How come you're siding with outsiders after just one day?"
The Spirit Guard picked his nose. "Well, if you go, you'll probably just end up running back in tears. Why fight a War Ghost for a woman? Can you even beat him?"
...He felt like crying right then and there.
Yet, unwilling to give up, he skulked his way toward the Phoenix Grove. The phoenix flowers had already bloomed, their fiery hues stretching like crimson brocade across the landscape. Beneath a tree, Xin Mei sat sewing, the vibrant red casting a serene glow on her face—a picture of gentle beauty, the very image of a future virtuous wife and mother.
Glancing around and not spotting Lu Qianqiao, Meishan Jun's heart surged with joy. Straightening his clothes, he prepared to approach in his most dashing manner when suddenly Xin Mei held up the garment in her hands and asked, "What do you think? Does this look like a proper outfit?"
What she clutched was a garishly colorful... rag? A crumpled ball of fabric? A torn and mangled sleeve?
From the opposite side came Lu Qianqiao's voice: "That doesn't look like clothing."
Meishan Jun's hair stood on end as he realized Lu Qianqiao had been sitting with his back to him under the phoenix tree all along. Unlike Xin Mei, he held a bamboo root that was just beginning to take the shape of a doll.
Xin Mei examined the cloth from side to side, earnestly insisting, "If you look closely, it does resemble clothing. These colors would suit the Celestial Lady perfectly—bold and striking."
"...That's just a rag shaped like clothing," Lu Qianqiao finally told the truth.Xin Mei sheepishly put away the colorful fabric, then after a moment's thought, still tried to defend herself: "I... I'm actually quite good at everything except making clothes and shoes."
Lu Qianqiao seemed to let out a faint chuckle: "Go back and have Zhao Guanren make them. The clothes and wigs for the dolls have always been his job."
As if somewhat tired, he placed the bamboo root on the ground and stood up to walk around. When he turned, he spotted Meishan Jun hiding behind a tree, weeping.
The flame tree flowers were too bright and dazzling. He narrowed his eyes and stared for a while before confirming it was indeed Meishan Jun. Just as he was about to speak, Meishan Jun had already turned and fled with his face covered.
Did the general just give him another look? He did, didn't he? This time he definitely didn't see wrong! Lu Qianqiao was absolutely warning him! As a love rival!
He sprinted all the way back to his room. A sweeping Spirit Guard glanced at him and continued picking its nose: "Told you you'd come back crying..."
Ten days passed at Meishan Residence, yet there was still no sign of Little Crow returning from its mission to gather information for Lu Qianqiao. This was highly unusual, and even Meishan Jun, who had been obsessively dwelling on Lu Qianqiao's warning looks, finally realized this couldn't continue.
Coincidentally, the rain cleared that day, so he stood at the main gate blowing his greenwood whistle at the sky repeatedly. The greenwood whistle was spiritually connected to Little Crow's essence—normally, just one blow would summon it back no matter how far it had flown. But today was different. After blowing for nearly an hour, not even a single bird appeared.
Xin Mei stood beside him, helping scan the sky. Seeing Meishan Jun's face turning green with anxiety, she kindly comforted him: "Lord Meishan, maybe it got distracted by food outside, or perhaps it's being pestered by a pretty female crow. Don't worry, it'll definitely come back once it's had its fun."
Meishan Jun sniffled and looked at her with gratitude. Though this comfort somehow made him feel worse, this must be Xiao Mei's kindness!
He raised the whistle and blew again, then suddenly sensed something amiss. Looking up, he saw a small, exquisite carriage descending from the clouds, landing right at the gate. The door opened gently, and a charming face peeked out, smiling as it surveyed the three people at the entrance before saying, "Meishan, you're quite the irresponsible master, abandoning Little Crow outside like this."
With that, the figure stepped out—robed in wide sleeves, a golden crown glinting—none other than the long-unseen fox immortal Zhen Hongsheng.
In his hands lay a small, battered black lump—the missing Little Crow.
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