A long silence followed.
After a long time, Xie Zhe pinched the bridge of his nose and recovered from this surprising story that was difficult to digest.
"Well...doesn't it matter if you tell us these things?"
"Although it is true that only our two families know about this matter, no one will believe it if we tell it." Ling Huan spread his hands, "After all, the servants can't control their mouths. But for so long, the neighbors have also Not much discussion. Because things get weirder, fewer people believe them, and everyone just mentions them in casual chat. After the limelight has passed, no one says anything. Besides, my cousin doesn’t go out very much, so she doesn’t see her very often. It’s nothing new to her.”
"Oh, I know." Zhong Lihan raised his chin and thought for a while, "Is your cousin in Jinyue City?"
"Hey, yes, how did you know?"
Jinyue City is also a neighboring city to this city. This city is called Feiyue City, and they are separated by a huge lake. The surface of the lake is a complete circle, like a shining pearl. Looking from a distance on the mountain, one can't help but marvel at the miraculous craftsmanship. Not only that, under the influence of spiritual power, weather, temperature, light and other environments, the lake surface looks yellow when viewed from Jinyue City, and green when viewed from Feiyue City. This is also the reason why the two cities got their names. where.
But the place they have to go to after climbing over this mountain is in the completely opposite direction to Jinyue City.
"Three years ago, I had never been here." Han Chang explained, "But I learned from some monster friends that Jin Yue City held a grand and luxurious... funeral. It is said that the ceremony lasted for seven days. Qiye, even the city lord also came forward."
"I think... it was that time." Ling Huan smiled bitterly, "I think I made such a big noise just to deceive others. When there were more people and busy people, no one would notice a girl anymore. She was locked up at home. , I couldn’t see my mother for the last time.”
Then there was silence again, and occasionally there was a sigh or two, and I didn't know who came from it.
As the room warmed up, Ling Hui untied the snow awning. Her hair was pulled out and curled under her clothes. The hair is healthy and beautiful, like dark walnut, with two strands on the left and one on the right. It seems that I did it for my own convenience. She took off the snow awning and folded it on her knees. She moved slowly and carefully, as if she were treating a piece of art.
"The fabric is good." Han Chang glanced at it.
"Yeah. This one is light aqua, embroidered with silver laurel." She smiled shyly, "This is one of the birthday gifts my cousin gave us when we were fourteen. It's the least valuable but it's my favorite. . Her piece is light yellow, embroidered with golden osmanthus. The cloth was torn off the same piece and then dyed. After using it, it has faded a bit. It used to be more colorful. "
The eyes of Xie Zhe and Han Chang were quite... loving? It seems a little inappropriate to say this, but it is really heartbreaking for such a little girl to go out alone for such a simple reason. She still doesn't know that people in the world are sinister, and hearing about it and seeing it are completely different things, and they can't spoil the girl's fun. Hopefully, she is really fully prepared.
It was already afternoon, but the sky outside still had no discernible color. It gave people no real sense of the passage of time. It only felt like every blink of an eye became longer. What's more, this room has no windows. If the three of them want to know what's going on outside the inn, they have to go to the corridor to see. They sat for a while, then Han Chang stood up and smoothed the wrinkled hem of his clothes.
"Are you hungry? I'll go to the kitchen to find some food."
"I'll go with you." Xie Zhe also stood up.
"No need? I'll just bring it to you. You have to go down and run."
Xie Zhe's tone did not allow for refutation: "It doesn't matter. I'm worried about you turning leaves and stones into food and serving them."
"Is the reputation of our fox demon really that bad? Only a low-class guy would use it in a dirty way, right?"
"Then who can say for sure."
Since he was determined to go, Han Chang wouldn't stop him. Ling Huan stayed here and watched. When the two people went downstairs, they didn't see the shopkeeper. They might have gone back to rest because it was full. They walked to the back kitchen, and there was no one there. There was only chopped firewood lying there. The cook probably thought it wasn't time to eat yet.
"What should I prepare first?" Han Shangyang rolled up his sleeves and acted like a young master cooking by himself. "Young Master has not eaten anything since last night. There is... some rice cakes in the pot. I'm angry. Let’s heat it up and help me find some soy sauce…”
After putting the wooden lid back on the cauldron, Han Chang put his arm directly into the stove. When it touched the hay, it immediately ignited, but his hand seemed not to be burned. He slowly pulled out his arms, clapped his hands, turned around, and met Xie Zhe's staring eyes.
To be honest, he was a little scared. After all, you have been talking to yourself for a long time, and even if the person behind you doesn't talk to you, he still keeps standing here and staring at you, which is weird.
"...Why are you standing there like a ghost?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Zhe took a step forward. He was about the same height as Han Chang, and they looked at each other. Han Chang took a step back and touched the stove. He tilted his head in confusion.
"Miss Ye has never seen much of the world, so she probably believes that you are harmless to humans and animals. But I am not as easy to deceive as she is."
"Ah - you are worried about this." Han Chang raised his hands to show that he had no bad intentions, "I am not following you, but I have my own things to do, so you don't have to worry too much."
"I don't really believe what the monster says. It's best if you are willing to act alone and don't cause trouble."
"Oh, I don't know the way."
Zhongli Hanshang suddenly showed a sly smile, and that expression could be called the most classic fox smile. Xie Zhe frowned and did not dare to be careless. Han Chang put down his hands and rested them on his hips, smiling unabashedly.
"why are you laughing?"
"Hahahaha... If you really think that I am an ordinary vixen, I would like to thank you."
"You are not ordinary." Xie Zhe shook his head slightly, keeping his gaze on his face, "You are not a simple fox spirit - you are a nine-tailed demon fox. If the fox demon does not eat people, it will take hundreds of years to get one just by practicing. Tails. You have nine tails, but you have never eaten anyone. You must be thousands of years old. You may not have killed anyone, but the fox clan has always been cunning and cunning, so I find it difficult to believe you."
Han Chang suddenly stopped smiling. He put away his expression, stretched his neck forward, and stared at Xie Zhe's brow. They were so close that Xie Zhe felt a little uncomfortable. Although his legs didn't move, his head moved back a little.
"You...opened your heavenly eye?" Han Chang raised his eyebrows, "No wonder. You are destined to be a Buddha, but you don't practice enough, it's a waste."
Xie Zhe said calmly: "I know. But you are indeed a nine-tailed demon fox, and you didn't even refute me. So I have doubts about your story and the purpose of your story. According to what you said , when the immortal took you in ten years ago, your cultivation was beyond the reach of ordinary monsters, and even far better than him. But I have never heard of anyone meeting such a disciple. So, you are lying. .”
"I'm not lying. It's up to you to believe it or not about my age. When my brother and I met him, we even had trouble transforming. Our immortal skills were all learned from the immortal, although he did not teach us After being accepted as his disciple, we are just practicing with his human disciples. I am not lying to you that I am looking for someone. Just like Miss Ye’s cousin, Wenjiu is also a relative of mine. I must know what happened to him. What. If you want to stop it... I won't be as calm as I am now. You said you are an Onmyoji, but you don't have any weapons on your body. I'm afraid you are just starting out, and you can only use your words. Like you - upright and honest An upright guy will suffer no less than Miss Ye when he enters the arena."
Zhongli Hanshang did not give in, and his tone was extremely determined. After saying that, he smiled again, and when he narrowed his eyes, he looked like a cunning fox. He didn't know how much Xie Zhe weighed. If he knew his situation and dared to talk like this, he might have some backup plans. But he knew that Xie Zhe was inexperienced, so when it came to taking action, it was not certain who had more skills.
"You won't be the first monster I fight."
"I don't want you to be the first person I kill either."
It was clear that the first side was fine, calm and calm, with almost no ripples. For some reason, the two of them are now at war with each other, and neither of them seems to back down. There was a burning smell coming from behind. Han Chang sniffed it, turned around and ignored him, and took the spatula to dig at the bottom of the pot. He left his back to Xie Zhe so confidently and boldly, which made him a little confused.
Although he didn't know the details of this old fox, he already knew clearly that this guy was not easy to deal with. It would have been easier if he had just acted with Miss Ye, but looking at his current posture, the fox was determined to lead the way and would not let go. He felt that he was so honest, why did he admit his destination so easily at that time. But after thinking about it, Ye Linghua was afraid that he would still confess calmly, so that was no problem.
The two of them were carrying a plate of rice cakes filled with juice. They were dark and looked unappetizing. When they walked into the house, Ye Linghua's eyebrows immediately wrinkled.
"Didn't you bring the coal..."
Xie Zhe didn't even want to take a look at Han Shang, who was chewing loudly and excitedly. This made Ling Hu doubt the taste of monsters and the edibility of the unknown thing in front of him.
"This is a rice dumpling. Have you never eaten it? The rice stuck to the bottom of the pot is still black even if you don't pour soy sauce on it. Try it?"
The plate was stretched out in front of Ling Huan. She reached out hesitantly and picked up a corner of a small piece of rice cake.
"I've never eaten it before." She tentatively pulled off a corner with her teeth and chewed it twice. "Hmm...it's not bad, but it feels a bit toothsome."
"I won't feel tired after being hungry for a while. I have to make do with many things when I'm away from home."
Han Chang put the plate of rice cakes on the triangular table and sat aside. Xie Zhe remained silent, not looking at anyone. Ling Hu always felt a little strange, but couldn't explain why. She felt a little strange, because the atmosphere just now... although it was a bit dignified, it was not as dignified as it was now. It was as if some conflict had occurred between the two of them during her absence. Ling Huan didn't dare to ask any more questions and just chewed his food silently. She knew they would be together for a long time.
"Are you...really a fox demon?"
Ling Huan suddenly said this. She was really curious, because she didn't know that monsters also cooked - if the leftover bottom of the pot was considered a dish. Han Chang was happy and asked: "Is this still fake?"
"Then, can you... let me see the prototype? My cousin has touched a little fox, but I haven't. I want to touch it too..."
Xie Zhe glanced over and saw Han Chang's face turning green.
"no way!"
