Chapter 69: A Bet
When it came to being a lackey, Jiang Huai felt he had a talent for it.
He immediately assembled a fishing rod for Chu Xianning and attached the bait he had personally concocted. Chu Xianning accepted the rod and gazed at the raindrops skipping on the lake’s surface. She extended a hand, her fingertip gently tapping the air, and Jiang Huai felt a warmth spread across his skin.
This simple spell, used to slightly increase the temperature, was quite easy. Chu Xianning sat quietly by the lake, her slender calves swinging beneath her skirt. Jiang Huai’s gaze was drawn, but after only a few seconds, Chu Xianning stilled her legs and said in a cold voice, “You’re not allowed to look.”
“Looking won’t make a piece of my flesh fall off.”
“Keep looking and I’ll dig your eyes out.”
Reluctantly, Jiang Huai withdrew his gaze, muttering, “Master is getting stingier.”
“What did you say?”
Jiang Huai flinched, “Nothing.”
On such a stormy day, not even fish were willing to surface. It wouldn’t be easy to catch anything. Jiang Huai sat beside Chu Xianning for a long time. Cultivators could stay awake for days and go without rest for a month, their spiritual energy sustaining them, but Jiang Huai was not like that. His eyelids were growing heavy, and his head inadvertently leaned against Chu Xianning’s slender shoulder. Chu Xianning turned, about to say something, when she heard Jiang Huai murmur softly, “Mother… I’m so sleepy.”
The next moment, Chu Xianning’s hand grabbed his ear. “Do you want to die?”
“I misspoke, Master… I’m so sleepy.” Jiang Huai’s voice was filled with exhaustion. Chu Xianning reluctantly replied, “If you’re sleepy, sleep. You can go back to your room.”
“It’s raining heavily, I’m not going back alone.” Jiang Huai said, but he was secretly smiling, his head resting on Chu Xianning’s delicate shoulder. Chu Xianning was so thin, and it wasn’t particularly comfortable to rest on, but Jiang Huai felt like fireworks were exploding inside his heart.
When Jiang Huai was little, he often slept soundly at Chu Xianning’s side. As he grew older, those opportunities became rare. Chu Xianning’s body was warm, and her snow-white thighs were soft and springy. It was a pity that Jiang Huai dared not rest his head on her lap anymore.
Being able to rest on her shoulder made Little Huai very content. He could no longer fight off his sleepiness, and exhaustion soon washed over him. He drifted off into a deep slumber.
When he next opened his eyes, Chu Xianning was shaking him awake. On Chu Xianning’s fishing hook, a Snow Spirit Fish was wriggling, unable to escape. Jiang Huai’s eyes lit up. “Huh? Master, you’re so lucky.”
“I borrowed your lifespan in my heart to pray for this catch.”
“That’s good. Master, keep borrowing next time, I’ll lend you all of it.” Jiang Huai smiled as he removed the Snow Spirit Fish from the hook and placed it in the fishing net with the one he had caught. Standing up, he leaned against Chu Xianning and started walking back towards the mountain.
“You’re too close.” A hint of displeasure crossed Chu Xianning’s brows.
“I’m afraid of getting rained on.”
“Even if you were ten paces away, you wouldn’t get rained on.” Chu Xianning was annoyed by his blatant teasing. She had already shielded the raindrops within ten steps of her. Jiang Huai obediently moved a little farther away, feeling as though the faint fragrance he smelled at his nose had diminished slightly.
What kind of dream would he have tonight? He fantasized about hugging Master’s fragrant and soft body and sleeping soundly. Heh heh, so fragrant, perhaps his quilt would even be infused with her scent.
Chu Xianning looked at the strange smile on Jiang Huai’s face. What was this disobedient disciple thinking about now?
The two walked for a considerable distance before returning to the courtyard. Jiang Huai placed the two fish he had caught into a bucket. “I’ll make fish soup noodles with one tomorrow morning, and steam the other for lunch. Just the two of us.”
“I caught them, so you’re not allowed to eat them.”
“Then I won’t eat them.” Jiang Huai obediently agreed. His compliant demeanor actually made Chu Xianning feel a moment of guilt, but in the next instant, she became angry with herself again.
Why was she so easily swayed by him? The softer she was, the more he pushed his luck. If he dared to bring his junior sister to the courtyard during the day, would he bring her back to her room late at night to disturb her rest next time?
“I’m going to sleep.” Chu Xianning stopped looking at him and turned back to her room. Jiang Huai gazed at her slender back and whispered softly.
“Goodnight, Master.”
***
The next morning.
The courtyard was filled with the sound of rain. Droplets flowed down the tiles. The raindrops under the eaves formed threads. Jiang Huai woke up early. He was a little disappointed that he hadn’t dreamed of hugging Chu Xianning’s fragrant and soft body last night. He hoped he would dream of it during his nap today.
He went into the kitchen and took out the fish that had been kept overnight. He placed it on the cutting board and knocked it unconscious with a single blow. Then, he skillfully gutted and filleted the fish. Jiang Huai sliced the most tender piece of meat from the fish’s abdomen and set it aside to marinate with egg white, salt, and a little starch.
The remaining fish bones were chopped into small pieces. A little oil was added to the pot, and all the fish bones were placed inside, along with some ginger and green onions. They were fried until golden brown and crispy. Then, pre-boiled water was added, and the lid was placed on to simmer for twenty minutes. After twenty minutes, the fish broth turned thick and white. All the fish bones were then fished out with a sieve, leaving only the broth.
Jiang Huai had started kneading the noodles while the fish broth was simmering. Once kneaded, they were pulled into thin strands. A pot of fish soup noodles didn’t require many other seasonings. The noodles were added to the pot and, before serving, a little white pepper and salt were added for flavor.
The fish slices that had been cut earlier were already marinated. They were lightly blanched in the fish broth for a short while until cooked through. The heat was just right, making them crisp and sweet. The fish slices were placed on top of the noodles, the broth was poured into the bowls, and a few tender green scallions were added as a garnish. Two bowls of fish soup noodles were ready.
Just as Jiang Huai, holding an umbrella, carried the noodles to the pavilion, he timed it perfectly. Chu Xianning opened her room door. She was wearing a snow-white dress, the hem not too long, revealing her slender, well-proportioned, snow-white calves below her knees. Her white and tender little feet, bare of socks and shoes, stepped onto the damp bluestone without attracting a speck of dust.
Chu Xianning sat opposite Jiang Huai. Just as Jiang Huai lowered his head to steal another glance, Chu Xianning picked up her chopsticks and poked towards his eyes. Fortunately, Jiang Huai reacted quickly. He looked up at Chu Xianning with a wronged expression, but she merely glanced at him coldly, her warning very clear.
Previously, the disobedient disciple had only dared to sneak glances from the corner of his eye. Now, he dared to stare openly without reservation. The little bastard was gradually turning into a big bastard as he grew older.
The two began to eat their noodles in earnest. Jiang Huai had also prepared a little soy sauce on the side. Chu Xianning ate half of the fish soup noodles first, drank some broth with her spoon, and then added soy sauce to the remaining half.
Over the years, Jiang Huai had made fish soup noodles for Chu Xianning many times, and she really liked the taste. So, whenever he misbehaved or did something wrong and wanted to please her, he would make this for her.
If Chu Xianning ate it, it was as good as her forgiving him. Of course, there were times when she refused to eat the noodles. That time was likely when Chu Xianning found her lost icy silk white socks in his room.
But it was truly a beautiful misunderstanding. Jiang Huai had accidentally collected them along with his clothes when he tidied up. He had only held them for a moment, contemplating them, intending to return them to Chu Xianning, when she pushed the door open and entered.
As he recalled, that time he was not only scolded as a “little slut dog” by Chu Xianning but also whipped several times while hanging from a tree.
After breakfast, Jiang Huai cleared away the bowls and chopsticks and returned to the pavilion. He gathered the chess pieces and looked at his Master. “Let’s play two games?”
Chu Xianning picked up a chess piece, signifying her assent.
Much of their past time had been spent like this. Now, Luo Qingyu was not here, and only the two of them were in the courtyard. The sound of rain whispered in their ears, yet the world seemed incredibly quiet.
Jiang Huai always liked to steal glances at Chu Xianning’s collarbone while playing chess, which often distracted him. This time, he was once again soundly defeated.
“Shouldn’t you be focusing on how to restore your cultivation?” Chu Xianning raised her eyes slightly, her gaze fixed directly on Jiang Huai.
“I’m already flipping through old scrolls on refining medicine. In a few days, I have something to attend to and need to descend the mountain. After that, I’ll have to go on a long trip to Ziyun Pavilion to get some medicinal materials to try refining them. Master, you don’t need to worry about this. It will take at most a year; within a year, I will rebuild my Qi Sea.”
“Boast, keep boasting.”
“……” Jiang Huai’s mouth twitched slightly. “Really, don’t worry. Although Granny Jiuy’s medical skills are a bit better than mine, given time, I will surpass her. That prescription is not needed, and I won’t have any designs on Luo Yueguan.”
Chu Xianning glanced at him askance.
A moment later, Jiang Huai quickly added, “I haven’t had any designs on Master either. My filial piety towards Master is as clear as the heavens.”
Chu Xianning sneered and said nothing.
Your filial piety is truly…
“Then what if you don’t achieve it within a year?”
“Who am I? Chu Xianning’s direct disciple. How could I not achieve it?” Jiang Huai said with no seriousness on his face. Chu Xianning looked at his playful demeanor, slightly displeased. “I’m not joking with you.”
“I’m not joking with Master either, don’t worry. When have my promises to Master ever not been fulfilled?”
“Then what if you can’t do it?”
“Master, you tell me.”
“If you can’t do it, then I’ll have you ride me around the sect.” Chu Xianning tilted her chin slightly.
She knew the disobedient disciple was fixated on his reputation.
Jiang Huai’s eyes twitched slightly. “Do you have to be so vicious?”
“Then you should focus, instead of flirting with junior sisters all day.”
“Alright, alright, I know. It’s just that these things can’t be rushed!” Jiang Huai replied guiltily. Chu Xianning was right; he had been flirting with Wen Wanwan every day for the past few days, and it was absolutely true.
“So, you agree?”
“Does Master not believe me at all? Heh heh, then what if I really recover my cultivation within a year?” Jiang Huai looked at Chu Xianning, his eyes full of anticipation. Chu Xianning was silent for a moment and then turned her face away. “Then I’ll agree to one condition from you.”
“Any condition?” Jiang Huai was suddenly intrigued.
Chu Xianning suddenly had a bad feeling. Why did she have the inexplicable feeling that she was digging a hole for herself? Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. “Nothing excessive.”
“What? That’s completely unfair. If Master wins, she has to ride me around the sect, and won’t I be laughed at by all the junior brothers and sisters in the sect? Unfair, unfair.”
“Then what do you want?”
“If I really achieve it…” Jiang Huai racked his brain, trying to think of a reward that wouldn’t get him beaten to death by Chu Xianning if he said it now.
***
ps: Let me test you all, what kind of reward can be asked for that won’t get you beaten to death by Chu Xianning, but will still let you take advantage?
