CH 30

In the end, Bai Yi and his group didn’t leave. They continued to stubbornly follow behind Xia Zhi’s group, completely relying on them to clear the road. When Lian Hua learned about it, he pouted. This guy really knew how to make use of what’s available, but he didn’t have a bit of class.

Not bothering with that scum cousin of his anymore, Lian Hua began to search for Pig Leg from within the sea of people. Pig Leg was easy on the eyes, why would he have the heart to bother with someone else’s business?

If you want to grasp a man’s heart, you must first grasp his stomach! Lian Hua hauled ass and went to go find Aunt Li.

“Aunt Li!” Lian Hua smiled brilliantly.

“Little Hua! Come, come! Aunt Li will give you something to eat.” Aunt Li fondly led Lian Hua by the hand, intending to pull him into the support team’s tent, but Lian Hua quickly pulled her back. “Aunt Li, ” Lian Hua scratched his head, “Hehe, I want to make a few dishes that Brother Zhi would like. Auntie, can you tell me what he likes to eat? What are his taste preferences?” After speaking, he even used shining eyes to look at her in anticipation.

“So it’s like that!” Aunt Li saw Lian Hua’s eyes and became even more gentle, “Young master likes to eat sour and sweet things as well as mild flavors, but it can’t be too salty. Young master doesn’t like to eat celery or cilantro. He likes to eat mushrooms the most, especially enoki. In the past, he would frequent vendors that sold roasted enoki. Back then, the young master was so friendly…” Aunt Li started to chatter endlessly and grumble about old stories featuring their family’s young master. Lian Hua enthusiastically listened with great interest.

So it turned out Pig Leg also liked to eat street food! He actually thought that as soon as Pig Leg was born, he only knew how to go to high class restaurants and would never set foot in such loud and chaotic places. So it turned out Pig Leg was also a picky eater, who wouldn’t even touch food with cilantro in it. So it turned out that in the past, he would also catch worms and put them in his oldest brother’s clothes, which earned him an ass whooping. Best of all, he liked to eat mushrooms most! No wonder every time Lian Hua gave Pig Leg roasted salted mushrooms, Pig Leg would accept all of it. In no time, Lian Hua learned a lot about Xia Zhi’s past.

“In the past, Brother Zhi wasn’t anything like how he is now.” Lian Hua compared the past Pig Leg from Aunt Li’s words and the present Pig Leg and couldn’t help but imagine a younger, more tender, gentler and more adorable Xia Zhi. Even if he closed his mouth,(ˉ﹃ˉ) it still overflowed with saliva.

“Hmph.” Aunt Li suddenly got angry. “If wasn’t for the eldest young master[1] from the Bai family, the young master would not have left the Xia family to go to S city! He wouldn’t have argued with the Master or Madam either. I always thought that eldest young master Bai couldn’t be trusted, but the young master liked him and had a dispute with his own family. Even now, it has been several years since he has returned. No one from the Bai family is any good! Fortunately, the young master understands now, and he is even able to clearly draw the line with eldest young master Bai. It really is such a relief.”

Lian Hua felt rather awkward because his outer shell was also a member of the Bai family.

As if she remembered something, Aunt Li patted Lian Hua’s shoulder, “Of course, that doesn’t include Little Hua!” Aunt Li coaxed him as if sweet talking a child.

Lian Hua quickly changed the subject and asked how to cook rice. Before, he was a single bachelor who lived alone. He even had to study repeatedly in order to make instant noodles with dumplings. Fortunately, Lian Hua was not a person who couldn’t even differentiate between salt and sugar. With Aunt Li’s instructions, even the simplest roasting recipes turned out pretty good. Before all this, he only knew how to roast something until it was done and sprinkle salt on, but to think that such a simple dish required such skill. Hm, cooking was a high level technique.

Lian Yu contributed enoki mushrooms filled with energy. Before, Lian Hua suspected that these mushrooms would not sell because their caps were too small, so he forbade Lian Yu from making them. Now that he going to prepare more, he figured that he was giving these to his man to eat, so adding some energy would make them more delicious. Pig Leg had the spirit stream, so this kind of energy was not rare for him, but using it to improve the taste couldn’t be better.

Using Aunt Li’s technique, Lian Hua began to roast dishes at the support team’s rest area. He even added Aunt Li’s secret ingredients, and as expected, it was more delicious than what Lian Hua could make on his own. Aunt Li coached him a few times before nodding her head in approval and leaving the rest up to Lian Hua. Lian Hua used lots of crystals to trade for lots of Aunt Li’s spices, all of which were high quality. Within their group, the buying and selling of crystals was allowed. As for his multitude of failed experiments, which had no supplementary energy included, Lian Hua admitted that they were failures, but the men who surrounded him stared until they drooled. As a result, Lian Hua threw his hands up and let them divide the spoils among themselves to eat.

“Brother Lian, today you’re so generous! Can you reduce the price of the vegetables a bit?” Alvin shamelessly voiced what everyone else was secretly thinking.

Lian Hua squinted his eyes at Alvin, then at the anxiously yearning faces of the men standing behind. Lian Hua threw his hands up again and a heap of vegetables sprouted up tidily on the ground. “Today, all of these are free…” The men clamored excitedly, “But tomorrow, it will be the usual price! If you want some, come early!” After speaking, he took the successful dish and fled.

“Brother Lian, you can’t be like that!” Alvin shrieked, “Hold up! Save some for me…”

Lian Hua used a large leaf to hold the roasted mushrooms, mixed in lettuce and tomatoes to compliment the dish, and ran extremely excitedly towards Xia Zhi’s tent.

Xia Zhi was currently cultivating. As the leader, he was forced to maintain the absolute power as the head. When Lian Hua entered, he could sense it, but he did not stop.

Lian Hua knew that Xia Zhi was especially earnest when it came to cultivating. He had no other choice but to set the leaf holding the roasted mushroom skewers aside before sitting cross legged across from Xia Zhi. *Siiiiggghh* The more he looked, the more beautiful Pig Leg looked. Lian Hua couldn’t helped it and scooted his butt forward, looked for a while, and involuntarily scooted even closer. He dragged himself closer until the distance between them was only a fist apart and he his face was next to Xia Zhi’s before feeling satisfied and stopping.

Holy shit, he could even smell the scent of incense off of Pig Leg’s body. Lian Hua silently breathed in deeply for a while before he closed his eyes in satisfaction and then began to cultivate. He didn’t want to lag too far behind Pig Leg. Today’s events were already a blow to him. He even wanted Pig Leg to come save him! He didn’t deserve to be called a real man. How could he allow his wife to come save him? Lian Hua thought too much again.

When Lian Hua opened his eyes, Xia Zhi was no longer next to him. Lian Hua was alarmed and searched the surroundings only to find Xia Zhi sitting on the mattress, getting ready for bed. Although it was said that cultivators did not need to sleep, Xia Zhi did not want to discard this habit.

Lian Hua looked at the roasted mushrooms that were set aside. The large leaf was lifted up, and there was nothing left inside aside from some bamboo sticks that were used to skewer the mushrooms. He couldn’t help but to smile brightly.

“Brother Zhi, how were the mushrooms? Did they taste good?” Lian Hua stupidly drew closer to Xia Zhi and his tan face even showed hints of rosiness. Omigod, Pig Leg ate my roasted mushrooms of love! I’m so happy.

Xia Zhi glanced at Lian Hua’s foolish appearance and gave him some face, “It’s edible.”

Lian Hua’s smile became even brighter, “Then next time, I’ll make more for you to eat. How does that sound? They’ll definitely be even more delicious than this time. Besides, I have lots and lots more mushrooms. I have different varieties for you to choose from. The enoki mushrooms are also most definitely more delicious than normal!” Lian Hua couldn’t wait any longer and immediately began to display his wares. Pig Leg, look! I have lots of good points. I have money (corpse crystals), authority (supernatural powers), a car?, a house? (at the YL base), and lots of minions! Why don’t you quickly marry me?

“How did you know I like to eat mushrooms?” Xia Zhi frowned and asked a question.

Lian Hua: “…” Can I say that Aunt Li told me? I even know some embarrassing stories from your childhood. Ack, I think it would be weirder if I wasn’t silenced!

“Ah, because… I guessed!” Lian Hua spoke decisively. Even if you beat him to death, he wouldn’t tell the truth! Aunt Li, you definitely have to keep this a secret!

“Really?” Xia Zhi didn’t believe him one bit.

“Brother Zhi, don’t worry about how other people found out. After all, they already know…” Lian Hua started to pull on Xia Zhi’s sleeves and used Bai Luan Hua’s killer move— blinking his eyes cutely.

Perhaps if Lian Hua used this move before, he would look a little adorable and pleasing to the eye. However, he forgot that at this moment, he was a coarse man! -_-/// Not only was he tan, he wasn’t much shorter than Xia Zhi. Lately, he had a big appetite and he had grown taller. Right now, his portrayal of a little boy (girl)? made Xia Zhi— so disgusted he wanted to vomit.

Xia Zhi pushed Lian Hua aside in disgust. He frowned and said, “Don’t make that kind of face. Just looking at it makes me feel uncomfortable.” In order to show the truth behind those words, Xia Zhi rubbed his arms, which had broken into goosebumps.

Lian Hua: “…” I… I feel so attacked! In the blink of an eye, Lian Hua wilted.

Although he had insulted someone, Xia Zhi didn’t dwell on the topic. In order to appease Lian Hua, who seemed to have fallen from the skies, Xia Zhi took the lead and said, “Next time, you can make soup.”

Soup? Lian Hua recovered his fighting spirit and started to ask about Xia Zhi’s tastes. Although Aunt Li had told him everything, Lian Hua wanted to hear it from Xia Zhi’s own mouth.

Xia Zhi looked at Lian Hua for a bit, and finally started to think about what he liked and what he hated. He never really thought about these kinds of things. After thinking for a while, he would quickly open his mouth and say a few things.

“Brother Zhi, what else do you like to eat? I’ll make it for you to eat!” You can’t fool me! Looks like the effects of the roasted skewered mushrooms was great!

“For now, just this!”

Xia Zhi didn’t notice one bit that his attitude towards Lian Hua had changed. Before, why would he have the patience to answer such worthless questions?

Lian Hua didn’t notice either. Right now, his heart was filled with happiness because he was finally able to close the distance to Pig Leg. He was in such a good mood that he felt like he could fly to heaven.

“Brother Zhi, where do I sleep tonight?” After conversing with Xia Zhi for a few hours, Lian Hua was a little tired. He would never admit that he purposefully chose a time late in the evening to bring Xia Zhi mushrooms! He didn’t want to get out and make his own tent.

Xia Zhi stared intently at Lian Hua who lowered his head guiltily. “Just stay in here!” Xia Zhi took out a set of bedding for Lian Hua from his pocket dimension. Lian Hua accepted the bedding and silently gestured OK behind his back.

Xia Zhi’s tent was a large one designed to fit multiple people. Adding one Lian Hua wouldn’t make it crowded. As the whole team was looting the mutated ivy plant’s cave, they didn’t leave and made camp right there. Bai Yi claimed a small portion of the spoils and left with his followers to find a clean house in the village to stay in. Xia Zhi didn’t want to see him, so he just had to follow behind.

Xia Zhi lay in his own bed. Lian Hua slowly came closer and placed his bedding next to Xia Zhi. Seeing that Xia Zhi didn’t refuse, he scooted his bedding closer before feeling satisfied. He lay down and turned to stare at Xia Zhi’s side profile.

Xia Zhi ignored Lian Hua and went to sleep. Lian Hua looked for a while and soon he was also asleep.

After confirming that its master really was asleep, Lian Yu silently jumped out from Lian Hua’s pocket. When Lian Hua went to sleep, he didn’t usually undress, so it was hard to wriggle out.

Lian Yu gently pulled down the tent’s zipper and crawled out after making a small hole. The corners of Xia Zhi’s eyes twitched, but he ignored Lian Yu, turned over, and continued sleeping.

“Big White, Big White, I came to play!” Lian Yu excitedly jumped around. Big White lay in front of Xia Zhi’s tent. It was responsible for keeping guard at night.

“Grr grr…” Big White roared softly.

“Don’t worry, I snuck out!” Lian Yu jumped on Big White’s head.

“Grr…”

“Master won’t let me play with you, but too bad, I like playing with you!”

“Grr…”

“In the future, I can only sneak out to play with you. We can’t meet honorably[2].”

“Grr grr…”

“You’re not allowed to say that my master is spouting nonsense, or else I’ll get mad. I won’t come to play with you anymore!”

“Grr~”

“It’s good that you understand that you were wrong. This one will generously forgive you!”

The author has something to say:

A lot of little sisters (fans) are only commenting that the couple is being counterattacked (when the pairing is backwards, or the “shou/uke” counterattacks against the “gong/seme” to become the lead in the relationship) t^t but this author bacteria loves this kind of awesome yet awful misdirection. It was set up like that even from the beginning, t^t

Translator’s Notes:

[1]In the raw, Aunt Li refers to Bai Yi as “great young master” because he is the first in line to become the next head of the family. It sounds kinda awkward, so I used my best judgement.

[2]This sounds A LOT like they’re having an illicit affair.