Chapter 38: Late-night Snack

Watching the child's stumbling steps, Cultivator Zhao shook his head with a smile. As he turned his head, three figures came into view.

Upon recognizing the arrivals, Cultivator Zhao didn't even bother to put away the roast chicken, hurriedly bowing. "This humble one has neglected his duties; please punish me."

Xiaoxue chuckled a few times. "Big Brother Zhao really knows how to enjoy life."

With the roast chicken in his hand, Cultivator Zhao didn't know whether to put it down or hide it. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Xiaoxue, you truly flatter me."

While the two were talking, Junior Brother Bai Ming quietly let go of the hand he was holding and pretended to act as if nothing had happened.

"It's just some food and drink, what's the harm in having a little? Brother Zhao, you are being too formal, right, Wanqing?"

Song Wanqing nodded, and Cultivator Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly offering a few apologies.

The three entered the Song Mansion.

Just after entering the main gate, Song Wanqing revealed a faint smile. "Do you want to eat too?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming pursed his lips. "A little. It seems to smell quite good."

Xiaoxue leaned in beside the two. "Then why don't we go eat something? We can pretend to be mortals once again."

Junior Brother Bai Ming nodded. "I think that's feasible. It would be best to conceal our appearances; otherwise, we might be easily recognized, and that would take the fun out of it."

Song Wanqing rested her chin lightly on her hand. "Then we shall do as you say."

The three made some preparations and left from the back door of the Song Mansion.

After leaving the Song Mansion, the three used spiritual power to conceal their appearances and employed breath-suppression techniques to hide their presence.

From the perspective of others, the three were just slightly more refined-looking mortals.

Xiaoxue was somewhat excited. "Alright, let's go."

Junior Brother Bai Ming echoed her. To be honest, Canglan City was so large that he hadn't had a proper look around yet.

He definitely had to experience it properly these next few days.

The group arrived at a restaurant.

Exquisite decorations covered the exterior of the restaurant, and several expensive red silk ribbons adorned the interior, giving it a somewhat grounded, festive atmosphere.

Xiaoxue found a seat and signaled for the other two to follow.

Junior Brother Bai Ming looked around curiously; the furnishings and utensils all exuded an antique charm, making him marvel at the sight.

Unlike the magnificent grandeur of the Song Mansion or the simple elegance of the Yuqing Sect, the architecture of this restaurant was closer to the descriptions of ancient buildings in his memories.

A menu was handed to him. Junior Brother Bai Ming took it to examine closely; it was filled with elegant vocabulary, making it impossible to determine the ingredients from the dish names alone.

What the hell is this?

Just use plain, easy-to-understand words for the menu!

What are the "Four Great Vajras"!

And what is this "Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers"!

Junior Brother Bai Ming unconsciously gripped the corner of the menu, a few beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"This… um…"

Damn.

I've embarrassed myself.

Xiaoxue looked curiously at Junior Brother Bai Ming. Seeing his conflicted expression, she didn't know what was going on. After waiting for a while, she felt bored and simply rested her chin on the table.

The waiter nearby patiently waited for the customer to order and skillfully introduced, "If you haven't decided what to eat, sir, why not choose our restaurant's newly launched set meal?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming was stunned. "There's a set meal?"

The waiter seized the opportunity to explain, "Yes, sir. Seeing that you've brought your wife and it's a family of three, why not choose this 'Happy Family' set meal? A family of three can even enjoy a discount."

Junior Brother Bai Ming glanced at Song Wanqing beside him. Seeing the woman nod, he felt reassured. "We'll take that one."

The waiter took the menu, his face beaming with a smile. "Alrighty, one 'Happy Family' set meal."

Xiaoxue's head snapped up from the table, her watery eyes filled with disbelief, while Junior Brother Bai Ming and Song Wanqing both wore smiles on their faces.

She exclaimed in surprise, "How did I become the child?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled. "It's because the appearance you're disguised as looks too young."

Xiaoxue pouted. "I only concealed it a little bit."

A steaming aroma wafted over as the waiter brought out several plates of food.

"Here you go, three guests. The food is here. It looks like the child has been waiting for a long time and is starving."

Xiaoxue helplessly pursed her lips, seemingly too lazy to waste her breath explaining.

Junior Brother Bai Ming waved his hand with a smile. "Not at all… these dishes look good."

The waiter said with some pride, "That's right. Our chef's skills are simply superb."

It's just that the naming is not that great.

Junior Brother Bai Ming thought about it again and suddenly realized something.

Could it be intentional? Creating these ambiguous names so that others are forced to order the set meals?

Seeing Junior Brother Bai Ming shaking his head and smiling, Song Wanqing spoke softly, "What are you laughing at?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming turned his head to look. "Nothing, I just suddenly found it quite interesting."

A chicken leg was brought to his lips, and a gentle voice sounded at the same time.

"Ah—open your mouth."

Junior Brother Bai Ming's body stiffened slightly. After hesitating for a few moments, he took a bite of the chicken leg in front of him.

Watching Junior Brother Bai Ming chew the food, Song Wanqing rested her chin lightly on her hands, revealing a doting smile.

He really is cute.

Feeling Song Wanqing's gaze, Junior Brother Bai Ming stopped his chopsticks. "Wanqing, you should eat too." He picked up a piece of beef and placed it into the woman's bowl.

Only then did Song Wanqing begin to savor it, a smile still lingering between her brows.

Watching the intimate actions of the two, Xiaoxue silently shoveled the food in her own bowl, eating with her head down.

Suddenly, two pairs of chopsticks reached into her bowl. Xiaoxue looked up and saw the gentle smiles of the two.

Hey, hey, hey, if you do this, won't I really become your child?

She muttered to herself, eating the food they had placed in her bowl in big mouthfuls.

After the three finished eating, they prepared to leave.

A table of customers nearby suddenly called out to the waiter.

"Bring two portions of roast chicken and three bottles of good wine."

"Alrighty."

So there are normal names after all; then why do you bother with all that fancy nonsense on the menu?

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled to himself, then left with the two beautiful women.

The fiery red lanterns appeared even brighter against the backdrop of the dark night, accompanied by red silk ribbons that kept it from looking monotonous.

Pairs of lovers shuttled back and forth on both sides of the street. Junior Brother Bai Ming secretly glanced at the beautiful woman beside him; in the eyes of others, they might also be a pair of lovers.

Perhaps even with a little one in tow.

Feeling Junior Brother Bai Ming's strange gaze, Xiaoxue was a bit confused, but she didn't pay too much attention to it.

Withdrawing his gaze, Junior Brother Bai Ming then noticed that the woman in green beside him had been staring straight at him, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

The two smiled at each other and then looked ahead.

Hmm, should we go back like this, or continue strolling around?

Just as Junior Brother Bai Ming was hesitating, Xiaoxue beside him suddenly pointed to a small stall.

There was a sparkle in Xiaoxue's eyes. "Let's go take a look over there."

Looking in that direction, Junior Brother Bai Ming discovered a rather strange-looking stall. Although it was called a stall, the items for sale were hanging one by one from the branches of a huge pine tree.

Countless red threads hung naturally from the branches, looking somewhat spectacular.

Crowds of couples were crowded there, their faces filled with expressions of either joy or disappointment.

Junior Brother Bai Ming was a bit puzzled. "What is that?"

A gleam of light flashed in Song Wanqing's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up. "Since you're curious, why don't we go take a look together?"

Looking at the woman's smile beside him, which seemed to hold a deeper meaning, Junior Brother Bai Ming was suddenly a bit curious. What kind of things were being sold? It was actually quite interesting.