Chapter 449: Characters · Wu Yingxue (Part 2)

"Master, I was amazing!"

"You wouldn't believe how clever those fish were. First I did this and that, then I did that and this, and then—splash!—I fell into the water before I finally caught them."

"Well? Am I not amazing?"

Pingshui County at night.

Quiet and dim, the crescent moon caressed the Milky Way, drowning out the clamor of the day.

By the light of two or three candles in a cramped little room, Wu Yingxue, wrapped in a thick quilt, vividly described the fishing process to Xu Xi.

The candle flames flickered.

Like delicate stardust dancing in the darkness.

Casting alternating light and shadow upon the girl's face.

Xu Xi smiled and gave his affirmation: "Of course, no one is more amazing than you."

As he spoke.

Xu Xi ladled out a bowl of fish soup.

The steaming, milky-white fish soup was made by the Princess herself. Her skills weren't exquisite, and there were no aromatics to enhance the flavor, but in these times of food scarcity, it was already a rare treat.

Before even taking a bite.

The scent rushed eagerly into his nostrils.

"Master, please eat quickly."

Wu Yingxue tugged at her quilt.

Wrapping herself more tightly.

She urged him, watching Xu Xi, wanting him to eat the fish.

"No, Yingxue, you eat first."

The two or three candle flames flickered, hazy and weak, providing a distinct kind of light in the dim room that illuminated the man's lean face.

That was what he said.

Tonight's hero was the Princess.

She had brought back fish, easing the pressure on their food supplies, and had even fallen into the water and caught a cold for it.

A hero should receive a hero's treatment.

"But, Master, this fish…"

"No buts. You need to rest well."

Holding the bowl in his left hand, Xu Xi used a spoon in his right to blow the heat off the fish before bringing it to her lips.

Wrapped in her quilt, Wu Yingxue blinked.

She saw.

The fish soup in the spoon glistened with oil under the candlelight, circles within circles, ripples spreading.

Perhaps the quilt was working.

A faint warmth rose in her heart, prompting her to part her lips and take the fish and soup into her mouth.

"Mmm, it's delicious~~"

"As expected of my cooking~~"

The corners of the girl's mouth turned up slightly as she looked at Xu Xi, who was right before her, delighting in her own culinary skill.

…

…

The passage of time always brings many changes.

Not just to people.

But also to the world.

Using Pingshui County as their Foundation, the Qiuhuo Army radiated influence outward. People's lives changed month by month, and the sickly pallor gradually vanished from their faces.

That band of "criminal subjects" who once could have died by the roadside at any moment.

Before anyone realized it.

Had become a colossus that the Great Qian Imperial Court could no longer ignore.

Xu Xi was not in a hurry to advance. After discovering that something was wrong with the Martial Arts World, he halted the offensive against Great Qian, allowing the people of the Qiuhuo Army to recuperate in the rear.

Naturally.

As Xu Xi's Great General of the Expedition.

During days without major military operations, Wu Yingxue became exceptionally idle.

The sun was bright and the weather was clear.

The young woman, dressed in red and white Martial Artist robes, lay leisurely in the shadow of a tree root, looking up at the sky and reminiscing about the past.

"Xue'er, come quickly and try on these clothes. They are quite beautiful."

"Oh, Mother, I told you I don't like them."

"Yes, yes, Mother knows. Xue'er wants to be a heroic knight-errant who rights wrongs; you don't like needlework and makeup."

"Then why do you keep…"

"Mother just thought that perhaps you might need them in the future."

…

"Wow, so amazing~~"

"The hero in this book is so amazing. I want to be a hero too."

"No, I must become a hero!"

"Hahaha, what ambition! As expected of my daughter!"

…

Childhood memories had become bubbles.

Beautiful, blurry, and hard to find.

The deceased could no longer be seen, leaving only voices and smiles that grew more indistinct by the day.

"Stars, huh…" Looking up at the daytime blue sky, the young woman recalled Xu Xi's words: those who pass away become stars hung high in the sky, continuing to watch over their loved ones on earth.

It sounded very much like a lie to trick children.

But she was willing to believe it was true.

A gust of wind blew, carrying half a blade of grass, brushing past Wu Yingxue's cheek and flying into the distance.

Her thoughts were still drifting.

But the faces appearing in her mind were no longer those of her parents.

Instead, it was a clearer existence with whom she spent every day and night.

What kind of emotion was that exactly?

Wu Yingxue couldn't explain it. She only knew that she liked being by Xu Xi's side; there was a unique sense of peace and tranquility.

"In Mother's words, this is called—"

"One thing conquers another?"

"Or, uh, the wanderer finds home?"

Lying in the shadow of the tree canopy, the Princess's brow furrowed as she mobilized her limited store of knowledge to ponder the emotional relationship between herself and Xu Xi.

Suddenly.

An unexpected, urgent shout.

Interrupted the Princess's thoughts.

"This is bad! This is bad!"

"Little Master Wu, something terrible has happened!"

Several familiar women ran from a distance, shouting loudly as they hurried.

Wu Yingxue scrambled up immediately.

Her blood and Qi surged, and she pushed off with her feet.

She rushed toward the women, her expression grave: "What happened? Has a Demon Tide broken out, or is Great Qian attacking?"

In her understanding, such were the things that constituted a "terrible event."

However.

The women looked at each other and gave a different answer.

It wasn't an [enemy].

Yet it was worse than an [enemy].

"Little Master Wu, hurry back! Some shameless vixen has gone to see the Great Master!"

Wu Yingxue's eyes widened: "What?!"

The women urged her: "Go quickly, they even brought a matchmaker to the door."

This news was too sudden, like a bolt from the blue, exploding in her mind with a bang.

Wu Yingxue froze for a few seconds.

The expression on her face changed rapidly.

First shock, then bewilderment, then helplessness.

"I'm going now!" With blood and Qi surging through her meridians and Xiantian Astral Qi allowing her to glide through the air, Wu Yingxue erupted with her full strength, returning to the city at maximum speed.

By the time she reached her destination.

She saw.

At the entrance, where blue bricks paved the way, Xu Xi was smiling gently as he saw off a family.

Did he agree?

Wu Yingxue was nervous. She feigned indifference on the surface, but inside she was incredibly anxious.

Pretending she had just happened to return, she naturally moved to Xu Xi's side and asked, "Master, who are they?"

"It's nothing much."

Xu Xi turned and walked into the house side-by-side with the Princess.

"Just some business about a matchmaker proposing a marriage."

"Then, then did you… agree?"

"Of course not."

Xu Xi curled his index finger and lightly tapped the girl's forehead: "Don't overthink things. I have no plans to marry for the time being."

"And—"

Xu Xi paused and added.

"I'm not familiar with that girl; I've only seen her a few times. Perhaps she wouldn't mind marrying me, but—"

"Rather than the commands of parents and the words of matchmakers."

"I prefer the process of meeting, getting to know, and understanding each other."

Wu Yingxue's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled.

She lightly rested her fingers on her chest.

Her heartbeat was strong.

"That's great, Master didn't agree."

The Princess's eyes narrowed. Beyond her relief, she felt that Xu Xi's words must definitely be hinting at something.

That's it, Master likes her!