Feng Nu, who was wearing white pants, poked her head out from the open door. Her facial expression became cold upon seeing Nian Bing. âSo the great Magic Chef of Ice and Fire has graced us with his presence. We are ble shop, do you not feel wronged by coming here?â
Nian Bing looked at Feng Nu. She seemed even prettier than before, giving off a thicker noble air than the last time they had met. âFeng Nu, you, IâŚâ In that moment, he did not know what to say.
âBig Sister, Iâm really hungry.â The little girl poked her head out from Nian Bingâs back. Her pair of big eyes gazed at Feng Nu with a curious look.
Feng Nu looked at the cute girl and couldnât help but shoot a surprised glance at Nian Bing. âShe is?â
Nian Bing smiled bitterly and said, âI picked her up on the street. According to what she said, she left home without any money.â
Feng Nu looked at Nian Bing with suspicion. Her expression showed her displeasure. She opened the door for them and said,âYou should come in first.â
âI have yummy things to eat.â The girl cheered and was the first to enter. As Nian Bing drew up alongside Feng Nu, he clearly heard her say in a low voice, âIf I find out that youâve kidnapped that underage girl, thereâs no need to doubt that I will be unpleasant to you.â
Nian Bing wore an innocent expression as he replied, âDo you really think that I am that kind of person?â
Feng Nu snorted and said, âYou can know someone for a long time without knowing their heart. Who knows what kind of hobbies you have.â After saying this, she couldnât help but smile. She tugged Nian Bing into the courtyard. The sight of her beautiful eyes rippling with feeling was indescribably moving.
âBig sister, what do you have here thatâs good to eat! Iâm really hungry.â The girl ran up to Feng Nu, tugging on her arm without a care in the world.
Feng Nu said tenderly, âLittle Sister, what is your name? Why did you disobediently leave home? Your family must be worried.â
Nian Bing nodded his head, saying, âThatâs right, you are really too naughty. I also donât know your name. Thatâs right, why canât I call you little sister, but she can?â
The girl blinked her eyes and said, âBecause Big Sister is more beautiful than you! My name is Xi Yun. I am actually very well-behaved, like an adorable kitten. So Dad and Mama like to call me Mao Mao1. You can also call me that.â
Feng Nu leveled Nian Bing a look and said, âMao Mao, donât mind him. Nian Bing, go and cook food. There are some ingredients you can use in the kitchen. Hmph, unfortunately for you, Iâve been throwing away quite a bit of stuff these days. I wanted to see when you would be coming here.â
Nian Bing went blank for a moment then said, âDidnât I tell you that I couldnât come for some time?â
Feng Nu replied ill-temperedly. âQuickly go and make food. Weâll settle our accounts in a moment. Little Sister, sit down and rest for a moment.â While saying this, she pulled out a stool for Mao Mao to sit on.
Nian Bing couldnât help but shake his head and just walked into the kitchen. Right now, besides the âdeceasedâ Zha Ji, the only one who could use such a commanding tone and leave him willing to make food was Feng Nu.
The kitchen did not have many ingredients, only a few kinds of green vegetables. In Nian Bingâs attentive hands, it was an hour before the delicious scent of Four Vegetable Soup wafted to the table in the courtyard.
âWow, what a good smell! Big Brother, why is the rice green?â Mao Mao looked at the savory rice in front of her as she asked.
Nian BIng smiled and said, âBecause Big Brother used the juices from the cooked vegetables to make it. The nutrition from the vegetables mixed completely with the rice as it steamed. Not only is the flavor quite fresh, it is also very nutritious. Eat a lot. Itâs a pity that thereâs only vegetables. If you want, you can contribute your fat cow and I can make you beef balls?
Mao Mao was obviously frightened by Nian Bing. âI donât want! You canât eat cow cow. Cow cow needs to squeeze out milk for Mao Mao to drink.â
Feng Nu looked at them in suspicion. She asked, âCow, where is this cow?â
Mao Mao looked at Nian Bing with big eyes. âYouâre not allowed to say it. Big Sister, Mao Mao is not allowed to tell you or else you will have to die.â
Hearing her say something like this, Feng Nuâs suspicion intensified. âThey why does Nian Bing know?â
Mao Mao, while shovelling the rice and veggies, said intelligibly, âBecause Iâm waiting till after I finish eating to kill Big Brother who knows my secret!â
Feng Nu looked at Nian Bing in surprise. âShe wants to kill you?â
Nian Bing shrugged his shoulders and said, âShe is very naive. Who let me know her secret? Itâs okay to let her kill me. Anyways, after she has finished eating, I will leave her. Itâs likely that I will never see her again.â
Feng Nuâs expression changed slightly and she said, âYouâre leaving?â
Nian Bing nodded his head and said, âI need to leave. You know about the Magic Chef of Ice and Fire. I received news that the king of the Ice and Moon Empire has sent out an order for me to enter the palace. If I donât leave, I wonât have any freedom. Feng Nu, is the True Sun Knife ready?â
Feng Nuâs eyes flashed with a strange light. After a long while, she nodded and said, âIt has been ready for the past few days. You should leave soon. Perhaps after you leave, I will also leave here.â
Nian Bing asked in surprise, âYouâre leaving too?â
Feng Nu gave Nian Bing a strange look. She said, âI had already planned on leaving when you had come before. There is nothing here that would make me willing to stay. But because of your arrival I had to stay here for several months. When Iâm done eating I will go bring out the stove. After the True Sun Knife is completed, I will leave here.â
Nian Bingâs heart felt tight. âThen will we see each other again? Where do you plan to go from here?â
Feng Nu lowered her head, making Nian Bing unable to see the red light flashing in her eyes. Mao Mao raised her head to look at Feng Nu, her large black eyes holding a hint of surprise. Feng Nu said, âI will probably go to the Clear Wood Empire. There are some things I need to find there. If fate is willing, we will see each other again.â
Nian Bing believed that Feng Nu undoubtedly wanted to find ores used for forging. Regretfully, he said, âItâs too bad I promised a friend to first go to the Profound Orchid Empire. If not, we couldâve travelled together.â
The meal progressed in silence. The most cheerful one was Mao Mao. Although they were just vegetables, their exquisite flavor was brought out in Nian Bingâs hands. This simple dish really showcased his consummate culinary skills. Mao Mao consumed a quantity of food disproportionate to her body size, with the majority of the food entering her stomach. Feng Nu, who usually had a big appetite, did not eat much. During this time, her eyes held a hint of hesitation as she occasionally glanced at Nian Bing. There seemed to be something she couldnât decide on.
After the meal had been cleared out, Feng Nu moved to clean up but was stopped Nian Bing. âI havenât seen you for many days.I will clean up.â Having said this, he very quickly gathered up the bowls and chopsticks and walked to the kitchen.
Nian Bing had just walked away when Mao Mao impatiently tugged Feng Nuâs hand. In a low voice, she said, âBig Sister, Big Sister, arenât you from the Phoenix Clan?â
Hearing this sentence, Feng Nuâs whole body shook. A scorching stream of air automatically streamed out. Grabbing Mao Maoâs hand, she said, âHow do you know this? Who are you?â
Mao Mao spoke in a pained tone. âBig Sister, youâre hurting Mao Mao. You have the aura of a phoenix on you! So thatâs how Mao Mao knew. Daddy took me to visit your Phoenix Clan before.â
A name flashed through Feng Nuâs mind. In a low voice, she asked, âYou are Dragon Summoner Mage Xi La Deâs daughter?â
Mao Mao said, âYeah! Yeah! Big Sister, you know my dad?â
Feng Nuâs eyes shone. Her facial expression had become soft once more. âI know him. Of course, I know him. The greatest genius summoner mage of the blank people, Xi La De. How could I not recognize him? You guys shouldâve been at Phoenix Clan ten years ago. Your father had helped us with an important matter. He is definitely an unbelievable genius to be able to reach such heights with his summoning magic cultivation. Itâs just a pity that his summoning magic leans towards darkness. However, seeing you, it seems that it hasnât had any effect on him. Mao Mao, when you said you wanted to kill Nian Bing, is it because he found out about your summoning magic?â
Mao Mao nodded and said, âThatâs exactly why! Daddy told me before that if an outsider finds out about my summoning magic, I need to kill him. If not, our clan will be attacked by bad people. Big Sister, because he is a mage it will be very difficult to kill him. Can you help me? Daddy often said that the Phoenix Clan are natural warriors. You can definitely kill him.â
Feng Nu smiled lightly and said, âGood Mao Mao, listen to Big Sisterâs words. Do not kill him. He is a good person and wonât leak out your secret. If your father asks, you can tell him a daughter of a phoenix vouches for him. Then your father wonât blame you, okay?â
Mao Mao nodded her head and giggled. âOkay! Mao Mao doesnât want to kill people anyway. Big Sister, thank you. Itâs good that I donât have to kill anyone. Big Brother Nian Bing also makes really delicious food, so Iâm not that eager to kill him.â
Feng Nu said with some bad humor. âYou silly girl, you ran away from home only partly learning summoning magic. If you wanted to kill him, you would need to study for at least five more years with your dad. He is not that simple. His Ice and Fire Magic Source is just as mysterious as your familyâs summoning magic. Mao Mao, you need to remember, that you must never ever leak Big Sisterâs identity to him.
Mao Mao blinked her eyes and said, âBig Sister, you donât need to worry. Mao Mao is the most the most obedient. She wonât say anything.â
Obedient? An obedient kid who left home? âMao Mao, wait for me to help Big Brother Nian Bing with something, then I will send you home. If you go off by yourself, your dad and mom will definitely be extremely worried.â
Mao Mao pouted. âI donât want to; itâs so boring at home. Every day, Daddy makes me stare into a crystal ball and says it will raise my spirit power. Itâs too boring, not fun at all. Itâs not easy for me to run out. Mao Mao just wanted to spend more days playing.â
Feng Nuâs brow wrinkled. âBut your parents will worry! Donât tell me you want them to worry? Mao Mao, listen well. I will make you go home.â Because of the relationship between the Phoenix Clan and Mao Maoâs father, Feng Nu would definitely help her.
Mao Mao lowered her head and said, âFine, I will go back with Big Sister.â
Right at this moment, Nian Bing finished putting things away. He came out of the kitchen and said while smiling, âI made quite a bit of food today but I didnât think that it would all be eaten. You shouldnât be called Mao Mao, but Zhu Zhu instead.â2.
Mao Maoâs eyes suddenly twinkled. âThatâs right, Big Sister, is there anything else to eat here? Mao Maoâs pets havenât eaten anything; they are definitely hungry. Dan Dan the cow is the best; heâs fine with eating grass. The others are not obedient. They are very picky with what they eat.â
Nian Bing said in surprise, âMao Mao, why did you talk about yourâŚâ
Mao Mao smiled and said, âBecause Big Sister is a good person! I already told Big SIster.â
Nian Bing looked at Feng Nu strangely. He really did not understand how Feng Nu had bribed Mao Mao in that period of time. It seemed that his charm was far below Feng Nuâs. âMao Mao, do your pets want to eat something?â
Mao Mao said, âOf course they do. They usually stay in my space, but they need to eat every once in awhile. I havenât had anything for them to eat this entire time. I could only let them drink Dan Danâs milk. Since Iâve left home, they havenât eaten till they were full.â
Feng Nu smiled and said, âThen call them out. Big Sister does not have any meat here, but I have some grain.â
Mao Mao said excitedly, âOkay! Finally, I can let them out for some fresh air. If theyâre picky this time with the grain, then theyâll just stay hungry. Big Brother, Big Sister, I will let you see my four greatest summoned beasts. I, whose name is Xi Yun, summon you. Come out, my pet. Tian Tian.â A red hexagram appeared on the ground. Nian Bing could clearly feel a spiritual power much greater than his own fill the air. In a flash of red light, a creature appeared on the ground. It was actually a fat rat.
The big rat was about half a meter in length. For scale, its body was about as fat as the cowâs head. Besides itâs pointy snout and slender tail, itâs whole body resembled a gray ball. The moment it appeared, itâs pointy nose had stopped sniffing around. When itâs nose pointed at Feng Nu, it suddenly trembled. It scrambled on the ground and did not dare to budge.
Seeing the fat rat, Nian Bing was thinking from a chefâs perspective, âIf I fried the skin in oil, the flavor wouldnât be too bad. It would be good seasoned with a bit of salt.â
Mao Mao said, âThis giant rat is the laziest out of all my creatures. It will just sleep then eat, then eat and sleep the whole day. Making it do work is the most difficult thing ever. I, whose name is Xi Yun, summon you. Come out, my pet, Na Na.â The red light flashed again. This time a red fox appeared next to the big rat, Tian Tian. It was obviously very delicate and small. It blinked its small but spirited eyes. It combed itâs luxurious fur, and seemed to smile malevolently. It immediately climbed onto the giant ratâs back. Tian Tian squeaked twice in protest, but under the tyrannical abuse of the fox, it could not help but lower itâs head. The fox looked all around, feeling superior, but suddenly sensed the special aura emanating from Feng Nuâs body. Immediately, it used its tail to cover its head like an ostrich.