Chapter 56 Protecting One's Own

Li Minghua felt the soft touch and warmth from the crook of his arm, his tightly pursed lips softened slightly, and his sharp gaze also subsided a bit.

She presented the sliced ​​pear to Tang Xiaoning's lips with unwavering certainty, her tone steady: "Yes. With an unstable foundation and newly formed cultivation techniques, it is not advisable to be distracted by long journeys."

Song Heng: "..."

He looked at the scene before him: one feeding the other as if no one else was around, and the other accepting the feeding with complete naturalness.

He finally understood that his cousin, whose temperament was as gentle as the misty rain of Jiangnan, probably already had someone she loved, and that person was a martial arts master who was fiercely protective of his food and whose inner strength was unfathomable!

He chuckled awkwardly, wisely refraining from mentioning the invitation again, and instead began discussing the local customs and traditions of various places.

But his gaze kept drifting uncontrollably toward the two girls sitting side by side.

Song Heng felt a mix of emotions, and could only pick up the tea, which had already gone cold, and take a sip as a cover-up.

Fortunately, Song Heng only stayed for the duration of a meal.

After seeing Song Heng's carriage off and watching it disappear into the alley, Tang Xiaoning's tense nerves finally relaxed.

She turned around abruptly, like a bird joyfully returning to its nest, and rushed into Li Minghua's arms.

She wrapped her arms around her neck, buried her face in the crook of her neck, and laughed so hard her shoulders trembled slightly.

"Hahaha... Minghua, did you see that? My cousin's expression afterwards, he didn't dare to look away when he was talking to me! And the way you looked at me..." She looked up, her eyes sparkling with laughter, "...it could freeze a bear to death!"

Li Minghua caught the person who rushed towards her steadily. The soft and fragrant body crashed into her arms, making her heart skip a beat and her ears blush. However, she still tried her best to maintain a calm expression: "His intentions are impure."

"Oh, it's not that serious, he was just being polite!" Tang Xiaoning stretched out her slender finger and gently poked her beautifully shaped chin.

"However..." she deliberately dragged out the words, leaning close to Li Minghua's ear, her voice so sweet it could drip honey.

"Our Lady Li has truly displayed her 'royal demeanor' to the fullest today!"

Sitting down, changing the tea, peeling fruit... especially that knife-wielding technique that cut through the fruit peel... wow, that was really impressive!

Upon receiving such straightforward praise from her beloved, a ripple of pride clearly spread across Li Minghua's eyes.

She stubbornly maintained her composure, saying, "It's my duty."

However, the arm around Tang Xiaoning's waist tightened even more.

"Yes, yes, protecting me is your most important and natural 'duty'!" Tang Xiaoning looked at her reddened ears with satisfaction, her heart melting completely.

She suddenly tiptoed and quickly gave Li Minghua a quick kiss on his hard, cold lips.

"This is a reward for you!"

Li Minghua froze instantly. Her usually cool and composed face flushed red, spreading from her cheeks all the way to her neck, and she even paused for a moment.

Looking at her innocent and helpless expression, Tang Xiaoning felt a surge of love in her heart, like a spring tide.

Her smile deepened, and she took Li Minghua's stiff hand in hers, interlocking their fingers and gently shaking it.

"Alright, alright, my 'official' heroine, stop standing there like an idiot! Let's go back!"

After this battle, Li Minghua seemed to have gained a deeper understanding of how to use her silent yet extremely oppressive "empress's aura".

As for Song Heng, the cousin who came from afar, after deeply experiencing Li Minghua's calm yet overwhelming "aura," he completely extinguished the last trace of thoughts in his heart that he shouldn't have had about being a "cousin."

After all, he was no match for that female knight-errant. People in the martial arts world are all impulsive, and their lives are more important.

The crisis was over, and life returned to its former sweetness.

However, Li Minghua seemed to have gained new inspiration from this "enemy repulsion" operation and began a secret study.

—How to date better.

That day, unusually, she didn't get up early to practice her swordsmanship. Instead, she took out a copy of "The Mirror of Love and Lust," a book she'd found at some bookstall, its pages yellowed with age.

She sat by the window, furrowing her brow as she studied, her expression as serious as if she were researching a martial arts manual.

Tang Xiaoning leaned closer curiously: "Minghua, what are you looking at so intently?"

Li Minghua quickly closed the book, tucked it behind her back, and said with a slight blush, "...It's nothing, just a casual read."

"Idle reading?" Tang Xiaoning didn't believe it at all and reached out to snatch it. "Let me see! Is it a newly published storybook?"

The two joked and fought over it, but the book "The Mirror of Love and Lust" eventually ended up in Tang Xiaoning's hands.

She opened it and found it full of clichéd scenes like "talented scholars and beautiful women meeting under the moon" and "strolling hand in hand through the lantern market as bright as day".

Next to it were crooked marks made by Li Minghua in charcoal pencil, such as writing "I don't understand why we are crying?" next to "holding hands and looking at each other with tearful eyes", and drawing a circle next to "exchanging tokens of love".

Tang Xiaoning chuckled and pointed at the annotations: "Miss Li, are you... studying military strategy?"

Li Minghua was a little embarrassed by her laughter. He snatched the book back and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Now that...now that our status has been confirmed, I should...make some progress."

She paused, then looked at Tang Xiaoning, her eyes filled with uncertain anticipation: "The book says that beautiful women all enjoy strolling under the moon, boating on the lake, and admiring the lantern market... Do you... like that?"

Tang Xiaoning's heart softened completely when she saw her earnestly seeking advice.

Her wooden-chested heroine has actually started secretly studying dating guides!

This unexpected cuteness is absolutely irresistible!

She suppressed a laugh, took Li Minghua's arm, tilted her head, and said:

"I do like it... but those are other people's preferences. As for me..."

She deliberately drew out her words, and seeing Li Minghua's slightly nervous expression, she said with a grin:

"I love being with you, no matter what we do! Even just like now, playing books and talking, I'm happy!"

Li Minghua was stunned for a moment. Looking at her bright smile, the sense of frustration he felt from failing his "homework" instantly vanished.

She took Tang Xiaoning's hand in hers and asked in a low voice, "So... what do you want to do today?"

Tang Xiaoning's eyes lit up: "Hmm... I want to go to the market! Just the two of us! Without Xiao Cui!"

“Okay.” Li Minghua nodded without hesitation.

Although there are many people around, with her there, Xiaoning will definitely be protected.

And... this seems to be a kind of "traveling together"?

After quickly tidying up, the two quietly slipped out of the mansion through a side gate.

Having been away from the bustling market for so long, Tang Xiaoning felt like a bird released back into the forest, finding everything new and exciting.

Li Minghua dutifully played the role of both a guard and... a mobile wallet.

Her gaze never left Tang Xiaoning, while she also had to be mindful of her surroundings, which was more mentally taxing than practicing a complex sword technique.

Tang Xiaoning lingered in front of a clay figurine stall, her fingertips brushing over an adorable doll before landing on a majestic military general.

"Minghua, look!" Tang Xiaoning picked up the clay figure of a military general and held it up to Li Minghua's face like a treasure, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Doesn't this one with the stern face look like you?"

The clay figure has rough lines and a serious expression that is somewhat comical.

Li Minghua lowered his eyes and examined him carefully for a moment before commenting seriously: "...It doesn't look like him. My nose is more prominent than his."

Her tone was very serious, as if she were recounting some important news from the martial arts world.

"Pfft..." Tang Xiaoning couldn't help but chuckle, putting the clay figure back in its place and gently poking Li Minghua's arm with her fingertip. "Yes, yes, yes, Miss Li is the most 'sturdy' in the world!"

She deliberately emphasized the word "straight," and Li Minghua seemed unaware of the double meaning in her words. However, her earlobes were subtly flushed again, and she subconsciously raised her hand to touch the bridge of her nose.

The stall owner, an older woman, watched the two sisters and cheerfully chimed in, "Young lady, you have good taste! These military generals are selling very well. Why don't you buy one for your friend?"

Upon hearing this, Li Minghua stiffened slightly, his eyes quickly sweeping over Tang Xiaoning, only to see that she was just giggling and not refuting him.

Her heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, but her face tensed up even more. She only mumbled an "Mmm" and quickly paid the bill.

Tang Xiaoning held the little clay figure, her fingertips tracing the "straight" nose, a smile never fading from her lips.

When Tang Xiaoning arrived at a sugar painting stall, she couldn't move any further.

The golden syrup glistens enticingly in the sunlight.

"Uncle, I want a big phoenix!" she exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the spinning wheel in a clear voice.

"Alright! Phoenix brings good fortune!" The stall owner replied with a smile, his wrist nimbly turning, the scalding syrup seemed to come alive, outlining the outline of a magnificent tail feather.

The sweet aroma of sugar filled the air.

Li Minghua stood half a step to Tang Xiaoning's side, his gaze shifting from the bustling crowd to Tang Xiaoning, who was intently watching the sugar painting.

She was so engrossed in watching that her fair cheeks glowed a healthy pink with excitement and warmth, and her lips were slightly parted, like a child waiting for candy.

Li Minghua stared blankly, his fingers gripping the money bag clenching slightly.

“Miss Li,” Tang Xiaoning suddenly turned her head, winked mischievously, and pointed at the bubbling golden liquid in the sugar painting pot, “Don’t you think this looks like the ‘honey mixed with oil’ described in the book?”

Li Minghua was taken aback, recalling a similar description in the book "The Mirror of Love and Lust," and his heart skipped a beat, but he pretended to be calm and commented: "...just syrup."

His voice was just a little lower than usual.

"Oh dear, how unromantic." Tang Xiaoning deliberately scolded her, but moved even closer, her shoulder almost touching Li Minghua's arm, pointing to the phoenix that was about to take shape.

"Uncle, make your tail curl up a little more... Yes, yes, make it look more spirited! It's better when they're in pairs!"

"In pairs?" The old man traced the curve of the tail feathers as he chuckled and teased, "Young lady, a phoenix doesn't usually come in pairs; that's for mandarin ducks! But phoenixes are noble, so one is best!"

Tang Xiaoning didn't explain, she just smiled and secretly nudged Li Minghua with her elbow.

Li Minghua felt as if he had been electrocuted where she touched him, a slight tingling sensation shooting straight to his heart. He tightened his grip on the money bag, but his gaze was unwilling to leave that bright smile in the sunlight.

"Here comes the phoenix! Here you go!" The old man handed out the crystal-clear, wings-like sugar phoenix.

Tang Xiaoning held the sugar phoenix up to Li Minghua's eyes and waved it around; its wings seemed to be flapping. "Look! It looks just like a divine bird reborn from the ashes! Minghua, don't you think it's beautiful?"

Li Minghua's gaze lingered on Tang Xiaoning's eyes, which were glistening with syrup, and he responded softly:

"Hmm...it's beautiful."

I don't know if I'm referring to the phoenix or the person in front of me.

A drop of melted sugar syrup slid down the stick and landed on Tang Xiaoning's fingertip. Li Minghua instinctively reached out to wipe it, but stopped halfway and silently handed her a clean handkerchief.

Tang Xiaoning took the handkerchief, wiped the stickiness from her fingertips, and looked up to meet Li Minghua's focused and gentle gaze.

The two stared at each other silently, the noisy sounds of the surrounding market seemingly fading away in an instant, leaving only the sweet aroma of syrup flowing quietly between them.

Just then, a little baby being held in his mother's arms looked at the golden sugar phoenix, stretched out his little hand, and babbled that he wanted it too.

Looking at the chubby, pleading-eyed baby, Tang Xiaoning was overcome with maternal instinct. After hesitating for a moment, she said to Li Minghua, "How about... we give the baby to this little one?"

Li Minghua frowned slightly as he looked at the phoenix sugar painting that was about to be given away, and said to Tang Xiaoning, "This is yours."

Tang Xiaoning paused for a moment: "But that little baby..."

"First come, first served." Li Minghua's logic was clear, and his gaze turned to the bewildered little child.

Although she had no expression, the meaning in her eyes was clear: This is someone my people have their eye on, you'll have to wait in line.

The little guy pouted and burst into tears when he saw Li Minghua's "cold" gaze.

The child's mother quickly tried to comfort him, glancing at Li Minghua with some embarrassment.

Tang Xiaoning was also at a loss for words, and quickly tried to smooth things over. She tugged at Li Minghua's sleeve and whispered, "Minghua, why are you arguing with a little kid..."

Looking at the crying baby and then at Tang Xiaoning's somewhat helpless expression, Li Minghua seemed to realize that he had overreacted.

She pursed her lips, silently took out a piece of silver from her purse, handed it to the child's mother, and said stiffly, "Don't cry, buy some candy."