Chapter 451: Departure – Bear Country! (3k)
The firewood in the kitchen crackled, and sparks occasionally flew. Faint steam rose like mist from the pot of hot water, seeping through the nearby doors and windows.
In the empty kitchen, the black-dressed girl and the girl in a white down jacket were busy making dumplings, each focused on their task. The former finished rolling the last dumpling wrapper and turned to look at the latter, who was sorting the uncooked dumplings into two piles. With a touch of amusement and incomprehensible confusion, she finally spoke:
“Why do you care so much about the promise between me and her… Do you… know I like her?”
Hearing this, Bai Zhi didn’t even look up. She still carefully picked up the raw dumpling wrappers one by one. After finally filling a small lunchbox with dumplings, she carefully used the special green ice cubes made by Su Jiu to freeze the box bit by bit.
After finishing this, she blew on her hands, which had turned red from the cold. Moments later, she moved closer to the stove, squatting down to warm them. Watching the steam, she chuckled and said, “She told me about your relationship on Penguin chat, but so what? Your relationship is yours, and my relationship with you is mine. As long as you don’t treat me as her replacement, that’s fine.”
“But… won’t you be unhappy?”
Washing her hands, Su Jiu let the cold water wash over them. She suddenly turned her head, as if seeing Bai Zhi for the first time. Under the firelight, the other girl’s small face, her expression and demeanor, were incredibly serene.
“Of course not. She helped me, and I won’t be ungrateful like those humans.”
Bai Zhi continued to warm her hands, her eyes comfortably narrowed. It was just like the first time she met Su Jiu. With her bold and passionate nature, she had even dared to force herself to become pregnant…
“Sigh…”
With a sigh, Su Jiu silently evaporated the water on her hands with external Qi. Then, she slowly walked towards Bai Zhi, finally standing behind her. She lowered her head and gently tidied the girl’s slightly messy green silk hair.
“Ah…”
Seemingly sensing Su Jiu’s actions, Bai Zhi first squinted her eyes to feel it. Then, she suddenly let out a low groan, opened her eyes, and chided playfully, “Hey! Woodhead, your technique is terrible! It feels like you’ve never used a hair stick before. You’re pulling out my hair by the roots like weeds!”
Immediately after, as if thinking of something, she slightly turned her face. A mischievous glint in her eyes, she covered her mouth and teased, “No wonder I only see you tie a ponytail every day. Could it be that someone doesn’t even know how to tie their hair properly? No way, right?”
“Heh heh…”
Looking at Bai Zhi, who had instantly reverted from “Miss Bai” to “Little Fool,” Su Jiu also revealed her dead fish eyes. She slightly bent down, her hands resting on the girl’s collarbone, and suddenly grasped them tightly. Veins slightly bulged, and she pinched the small, bun-like face with a seemingly kind expression.
This girl truly couldn’t leave even a sliver of a good impression.
Just as the two were about to have a “friendly” exchange, a resounding “Ding!” of a large bell signaled that midnight had passed.
Immediately after, a “Whoosh!” came from above. Both of them looked up. An orange-yellow spark shot into the sky, blooming into a chrysanthemum-like fireworks display in the night sky.
“Today is New Year’s Eve… In Huainan, this is the time for fireworks displays.”
Suddenly remembering something, Su Jiu chuckled softly. She slowly released her hand and then picked Bai Zhi up, finding a chair to sit on, her head resting on her shoulder.
“Lecher… This is the kitchen.”
Bai Zhi’s body trembled slightly. She felt her heart inexplicably quicken. She already had the other party’s child and could even play games of knowing each other’s depths with them.
What was happening…
“What’s wrong with the kitchen? We’re just watching fireworks together.”
With a faint smile, Su Jiu felt the warmth transmitted through her underwear to her thighs. She smelled Bai Zhi’s natural floral scent and instinctively tightened her arm around her. Their temples touched together in the dimly lit kitchen.
Bai Zhi could also feel Su Jiu’s gradually quickening heartbeat. Finally, she pursed her lips and leaned back slightly. What was this feeling?
So strange?
This feeling was like her heart fluttering, a little sweet, but also fearful that time would slip away.
The next moment, the sky was filled with “swooshing” sounds, as if announcing the arrival of New Year’s Eve. In an instant, the black curtain of night was adorned with spectacular fireworks. Specks of starlight fell into the pupils of countless sky gazers, brilliant and magnificent.
But for the two of them, the romantic atmosphere was even stronger.
“You are not anyone’s replacement. Our meeting, our acquaintance… everything is so lovely. What I like is Miss Bai, named Bai Zhi.”
Su Jiu looked at the fiery trees and silver flowers filling the sky. While Bai Zhi wasn’t paying attention, she squinted and leaned her face against hers, feeling the warmth transmitted between them. Her gentle voice flowed out like a trickle.
“You lecher…”
Feeling the warmth from their skin contact, Bai Zhi’s body stiffened slightly. She instinctively glanced sideways at Su Jiu, who was leaning against her cheek, and saw the serene smile on his face.
“Why are you saying such cheesy things! It’s making me so awkward…”
As her heart rate increased, Bai Zhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Her eyes opened and closed, and her lips suddenly curved upwards. She lay in his slightly petite embrace like a small cat, holding the storage bag containing the frozen dumplings.
From ancient times to the present, she had not entered human society to learn many complex principles, but she understood the concept of “loving the house and spreading its tiles.” And the person who had generously helped her…
She didn’t dislike him.
…
The next day.
As the thin mist dispersed and the sun just peeked over the horizon, Su Jiu went to the post office. She spent some money to expedite the dumplings to a castle near Eagle Country, then left the post office alone, exhaling a puff of white mist.
“It’s New Year’s, and Dragon Country is as lively as ever… Unfortunately, this year I have to accompany Little Fool, so I don’t have time to leisurely celebrate the Spring Festival.”
Standing amidst the increasing crowd, observing the colorful decorations everywhere and hearing the vendors’ cries, she shook her head and walked back in the direction she came.
At the Su residence, she happened to meet Su Xingguo, who had gone out early with E Huo. Father and daughter met and chatted for a while. Su Jiu explained her thoughts and general plan.
After hearing this, Su Xingguo simply waved his hand with a smile and said with a hearty laugh, “As long as you are safe, it doesn’t matter if you celebrate New Year’s Day or not. We martial artists don’t care for such formalities.”
He paused, scratched E Huo’s head, and feigned seriousness, “As her mother, don’t let her starve. Look how greedy she is, eating all night.”
“Old man, don’t listen to this little girl’s nonsense. When have I ever let her starve… It’s more like she’s exploiting me.”
Looking at E Huo’s pocket full of snacks, Su Jiu responded helplessly. Then, she looked down with a hint of embarrassment and sighed, “This year, I’ll let Xiao Yu accompany you. After I’m done with things in Bear Country, I’ll return to Magic City to see you.”
“Inside are some magic crystals and half-king level medicinal herbs. Don’t refuse, your daughter still has plenty.”
After saying this, she thought for a moment, took out another storage bag from her skirt pocket, and before the other party could refuse, she stuffed it into his coat pocket.
Having done that, Su Jiu put E Huo into the spiritual space to eat. Then, she walked towards the hall, passed the stone path, and saw Bai Zhi sitting gracefully, along with her grandfather Su Zhou and others.
She then stepped forward to bid farewell, giving everyone a plausible reason and talking for nearly half an hour. Finally, she extricated herself from the crowd of relatives, took Bai Zhi’s hand, and was about to leave…
“Cousin Su Jiu! Wait up!! I have something for you!”
At this moment, a male voice sounded. Su Ze waved his hand and quickly stepped forward, handing her an alchemical artifact that looked like a small tomato. Seeing Su Jiu hesitate, he quickly explained:
“This is a walkie-talkie that can be used for contact when there’s no signal. Bear Country has been unstable lately, and it’s very dangerous for you as a priest. I’ll be going to Bear Country too. Although big cousin doesn’t have much skill, he’s still a Battle King!”
“Aze!” Another male voice suddenly echoed in the hall. Su Jiu looked over and saw her frowning eldest uncle.
“That’s it then. If you encounter danger, Cousin Su Jiu, you must press the button on it immediately!”
Without waiting for her to say anything, Su Ze waved goodbye and walked towards the hall, his Holiday smile returning to his face.
Looking at the green button on the alchemical “tomato,” Su Jiu couldn’t help but inwardly complain, “Who designed this? It’s really ugly…” After complaining, she put the little gadget into her pocket. After all, it was a gesture of goodwill.
With everything done, Su Jiu took Bai Zhi and left the Su family. Realizing that there were no flights to their destination, they took a train to Fuzhou’s Qiancheng Post Station. They spent tens of thousands of yuan to rent two Qiancheng birds that could travel to the Akans Mountain Range in Bear Country.
Due to the special environment of the mountain range and the recent rampant chaos caused by monsters, flights were prohibited. Even Qiancheng required signing a death waiver to rent.
“You’ll have to wait. A few people are also going nearby.”
Handing over the Qiancheng, the shop owner took the death waiver, scanned the two of them, shook his head, and warned, “You’re looking for a Snow Demon too, right? I have to tell you, those humanoid monsters are not as gentle as you think. If you don’t have the strength, it’s best not to go. Lately, many adventurers have lost their lives for money.”
Hearing this, Su Jiu and the two exchanged glances. They indeed wanted to try their luck and find a Snow Demon that could control wind and snow for assistance. After a moment of thought, the former took out a few bills and handed them over, asking curiously, “Boss, is the Akans Mountain Range very dangerous now?”
The shop owner unobtrusively pocketed the money, then tore off a piece of betel nut, chewed it, and shook his head with ingrained wisdom, “You young people! That mountain range is dangerous at any time. It’s a human forbidden zone designated by Snow Demons. It’s thousands of kilometers long, and even a High-Rank Battle General can’t guarantee survival.”
He paused and continued, “And lately, those Snow Demons seem to have gone mad, searching for something unknown, even disregarding other species who engage in combat with them… If you go provoke them now, you’ll likely be working hard for little reward.”
“Boss! Is our Qiancheng ready? For our graduation project, we’re counting on the Snow Demon to provide material proof.”
Just as Su Jiu was about to interject and ask about other circumstances, a clear and somewhat young voice suddenly sounded from behind them.
