Chapter 16: He saw me pinching his face.

Jinlan's feelings were very complicated at this moment. He wanted to see. It could be said that if the current scene was really as he imagined, it would fulfill his ultimate fantasy of shipping a couple.

However, Qiao Xi was his good friend, and she had told him so many melodramatic and tragic stories about him, which made Jin Lan feel that he would be letting Qiao Xi down if he continued to pry into her life like this.

As a result, Jinlan fell into a rather painful internal struggle.

In the end, the power of friendship triumphed over everything. Jinlan had no idea what else might happen next, such as losing all her clothes.

But in order to remain good friends with Qiao Xi, he decided to leave.

Jinlan also planned to stand guard nearby to protect Qiaoxi's privacy and prevent anyone from getting close.

Just as he was about to leave, Morax took a few steps back with the bamboo pole, revealing Qiao Xi's back completely. From this, Jinlan realized that the Emperor was just training Qiao Xi in horse stance, not the messy yellow waste he had imagined.

Jinlan felt extremely ashamed, and he began to feel sorry for Qiao Xi.

This chubby girl only thinks about food. She even likes the boy she has a crush on because of his food. How could he think of her like that? It's really inhuman.

Jinlan silently clenched his fist, deciding to take the strawberries and his treasured milk to make something delicious for Qiaoxi later.

However, since Qiao Xi and the Emperor are only engaging in positive and healthy activities, there's nothing wrong with him watching, right?

Having finally gotten to see the interaction between the two, he couldn't help but indulge himself.

With that thought in mind, Jinlan hugged the strawberries and hid in the bushes to watch. Although he only saw Qiao Xi's back, he could already imagine her bitter face from the way her legs were trembling from practicing the horse stance.

He had seen Qiao Xi's face scrunched up before, and just imagining it made Jin Lan suppress his laughter.

His ability to suppress laughter was quite poor. After a few unsteady breaths, Morax, who was standing in the middle of the lake, noticed something was wrong and looked towards the bushes by the river. He soon met Jinlan's gaze.

For Jinlan, the brief eye contact felt like an entire primordial world had separated them.

Jinlan panicked. After a moment of mental blankness, her first reaction was to hurry up and slip away. Before leaving, she didn't forget to take the strawberries with her—she still had to share them with Qiaoxi.

Jinlan ran wildly with strawberries in his arms. He hadn't done anything wrong, but he had an inexplicable feeling of guilt. He ran as fast as he could and tried to reassure himself: There are so many people in the Thousand Rock Army, the Emperor definitely doesn't remember him.

As he ran, Jinlan suddenly stopped. He remembered that it was a coincidence that he had left Qiaoxi to pick strawberries.

Firstly, his fishing rod broke, but the bamboo in the Bamboo Garden was all planted by the True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng, so how could it break so easily?

Secondly, he was captivated by the sudden scent of strawberries, but now, even when holding strawberries, he doesn't smell the same enticing aroma as before. So how was that aroma produced?

Then, considering that Morax appeared after he left, Jinlan had an answer in her heart: it must be that Lady Luck was on his side.

Anyway, it couldn't have been the Emperor's doing on purpose; the Emperor wouldn't have that much free time.

*

In the middle of the lake, Qiao Xi's legs were shaking like a sieve; she could barely hold on.

Morax sighed helplessly and said to Qiao Xi, "That's enough."

"I'm saved!" Qiao Xi almost couldn't catch her breath and collapsed onto the ice. She didn't care whether she would freeze to death or whether Morax would think she was a good student—she thought the good student image of her had long been shattered. She lay on the ice and muttered, "My legs seem to be gone."

"It's still there," Morax kindly reminded her.

The ice surface reflected the winter sunlight, breaking it down into seven colors. Qiao Xi rested her face on the hood of her cloak, looking at Morax.

Morax remained expressionless, appearing very serious, truly very serious.

Morax just looked down at her without saying a word.

Qiao Xi had read countless melodramatic stories, from ancient times to the modern era, from fantasy to reality. At this moment, she didn't know whether it was the dazzling whiteness of the snow or the solemnity of the bleak sky that made her uneasy.

She actually asked Morax a strange question.

"Morax".

"Um?"

How full do you usually eat at meals?

"......"

The wind blew quietly across the ice. Qiao Xi's rosy face was pressed against the ground. Morax knelt down on one knee and handed her the bamboo pole in his hand.

Qiao Xi was holding onto the bamboo pole, and Morax was pulling a little harder. Little did he know that Qiao Xi, whose foot was on the ice, lost her balance and bumped into Morax while holding onto the bamboo pole.

She was pressed firmly against his chest, able to feel the warm rise and fall of his breath.

Seriously, this is so melodramatic.

Qiao Xi wondered if this was the retribution for always telling Jin Lan melodramatic stories.

But shouldn't the retribution fall on Jinlan, who loves melodramatic stories?

*

Jinlan has already suffered enough retribution.

After exchanging a terrified glance with Morax, he fled down the mountain, where he unfortunately encountered Liu Yun, Gui Zhong, Maxius, and the True Lord of Die Shui.

Jinlan has no immortal power, but he is a member of the Thousand Rock Army.

In keeping with the proper conduct of the Thousand Rock Army, he greeted the immortals and then continued running with a blank mind.

Today was truly a magical day.

On the other hand, Qiao Xi nestled her face against Morax's chest for a moment before quickly leaving.

Morax realized this time that the girl's face was indeed quite elastic. He couldn't help but think of the last time they ate together, when Qiao Xi ate bowl after bowl, completely absorbed in her meal.

Qiao Xi wiped her face: "Sorry, the ice was too slippery."

“It’s alright,” Morax said.

As soon as he finished speaking, several familiar figures emerged from the bushes opposite.

Liu Yun, Gui Zhong, and others appeared one after another.

They all appeared on the other side of the river, and Qiao Xi exclaimed with delight, "Master!"

As she spoke, she looked up at Morax again, and Morax nodded gently at Qiao Xi.

Qiao Xi smiled at Morax again, then ran towards Liu Yun.

Liu Yun opened her arms early to welcome Qiao Xi.

Upon seeing this scene, Gui Zhong couldn't help but cover his face and smile.

Qiao Xi rushed into Liu Yun's arms: "Master, you've been gone for so long, I missed you so much."

Liu Yun touched the back of Qiao Xi's head: "It doesn't seem like you've been gone for very long."

Qiao Xi raised her head and smiled at Liu Yun.

Liu Yun pointed to the immortals beside him and asked Qiao Xi, "Do you still remember these uncles and aunts?"

Qiao Xi looked over and said understandingly, "I remember."

Gui Zhong and Li Shui looked at each other in bewilderment: Uncle and Aunt?

Marcus has a panda eye with a big question mark.

Qiao Xi scratched her head: "But, aren't these terms like 'uncle' and 'aunt' a bit inappropriate?"

Gui finished speaking and said, "Just call me 'older sister'."

Li Shui counted on her fingers: "Xiao Xi calls Liu Yun 'Master,' and also calls us 'brother' and 'sister.' Isn't that too confusing?"

Gui Zhong was stunned.

Marcus was stunned.

Liu Yun frowned.

Qiao Xi pondered.

Before Morax arrived, the group reached a consensus: they would all call him "Master".

Seeing this, Morax couldn't help but suppress the urge to facepalm.

*

On the way back to her cave, Qiao Xi passed by a strawberry patch and glanced at it a few more times, wondering where Jin Lan had gone.

Her gaze was too obvious. Morax followed beside her at a leisurely pace, gently reminding her, "He should have gone back first."

To Qiao Xi, who was completely unaware of the situation, this was tantamount to leaving without saying goodbye. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes, but Morax caught it and looked at Qiao Xi with some curiosity.

Qiao Xi didn't react at all. She just nodded and said, "Maybe something happened in the Qianyan Army and they need to call him away. After all, he is the squad leader of the 99th detachment of the Qianyan Army."

Morax frowned slightly.

For some reason, he thought of the time not long ago when Qiao Xi cautiously asked him in the snowstorm, "Can you tell her before you leave in the future?"

She seemed to dislike leaving without saying goodbye.

But she was making excuses for others leaving without saying goodbye, and although she looked a little sad, she held back.

It's less about disliking it and more about being afraid of it.

I'm afraid of someone suddenly leaving.

Morax suddenly called out to her, "Qiao Xi."

Qiao Xi stopped in her tracks.

The sound of the winter wind whistling through the forest was amplified, and gray sparrows darted back and forth between the trees. Liu Yun and the others chatted and laughed ahead, their pace undiminished.

Only Maxius seemed to notice the change and glanced back.

As Qiao Xi and Morax stopped walking, they gradually distanced themselves from the others.

Qiao Xi looked at Morax blankly: "What's wrong?"

Morax paused for a moment, as if the transition was abrupt, but his tone was very calm. He stepped forward and told Qiao Xi, "Your hair is messy."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently smoothed the hair at Qiao Xi's temples.

The whole process was quick and brief, so much so that Qiao Xi only felt the other person's fingers quickly brush against the downy hair by her ear before everything returned to calm.

She said naturally, "Thank you."

“You’re welcome,” Morax replied.

Maxius the Panda was filled with confusion. His forehead was contorted in a pretzel-like frown as he thought, "What is Morax doing? How strange! Is this a new hobby? Wait, is this even a hobby?"

Marcius still couldn't think that much. He was here because he was the hearth god, and the people here had a lantern festival before the New Year to pray for the coming year. His appearance was to ensure that the fire in everyone's stove would not go out during the time before the lantern festival.

Marcius shook his head and skipped after Liu Yun and the others.

However, Liu Yun also noticed that Qiao Xi and the Emperor had not followed in time.

They turned around to look, and at that moment, Morax and Qiao Xi were already walking towards them as if nothing had happened.

It had been several months since the True Lord of Flowing Water and Die Mountain last saw Qiao Xi. Now, he stood there, watching Qiao Xi walk towards him.

After Qiao Xi arrived, he couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek, laughing, "What a chubby little girl."

Qiao Xi didn't mind the face-pinching, but this was the first time she had heard someone say she was fat.

Morax stood to the side, looking at the index finger and thumb that touched Li Shui and Qiao Xi's cheeks, and then at the part of Qiao Xi's cheek that had been pinched, and couldn't help but frown.

A note from the author:

----------------------

No update tomorrow! [heart emoji]