Chapter 21 You're so kind, Morax is really beautiful.
Jinlan is good at grasping the key points. When he heard Qiao Xi say this, his worry disappeared and his inner turmoil subsided.
He simplified this sentence to "Morax and I often make eye contact".
Then his brain started to automatically go through the process.
Since he can't be caught secretly shipping couples, he's developed his own method: whenever he starts shipping, he puts on a thoughtful, furrowed-brow expression.
Qiao Xi, biting into her pancake, asked, "What are you thinking about? Why do you look so bitter and resentful?"
Jinlan shook his head solemnly, then moved a small stool closer to Qiao Xi: "How did you make eye contact? Tell me more?"
Qiao Xi frowned, warily distancing herself from Jin Lan: "What mischief are you plotting?"
Jinlan laughed it off: "Oh dear, I'm just worried that the Emperor will see me neglecting my duties."
Qiao Xi understood. She could completely comprehend Jin Lan's anxiety at that moment, so she finished the entire pancake and sauce in one go, puffed out her cheeks, and patted Jin Lan's shoulder with a muffled pat:
"Don't worry, it's really nothing. When he tests me and I can't answer, he just stares at me. At most, he makes me squat in a horse stance as punishment. But this is your day off. He's so reasonable, he definitely won't blame you."
Jinlan once again extracted the key word "punishment" from this sentence.
Influenced by Qiao Xi's melodramatic stories, a vivid image formed in his mind. He tried to conceal the strange glint in his eyes and cautiously asked, "A reprimand?"
Qiao Xi was speechless: "...Get out."
Jinlan blinked innocently.
Qiao Xi looked at Jin Lan with a complicated expression for a moment, then sighed, thinking that perhaps Jin Lan didn't understand the meaning of the word. She earnestly instructed Jin Lan, "Don't listen to the story in a confused way and misuse the words."
Jinlan nodded seriously. He could see that, for the sake of his friendship with Qiaoxi, they could only secretly ship them as a couple. Thinking this, he scooped up another big spoonful of jam for Qiaoxi.
With food to eat, Qiao Xi forgot all her unhappiness and asked Jin Lan, "Want to go to the barbecue tonight? It'll be crowded and lively."
After listening to Qiao Xi's description, Jin Lan asked, "Is the Emperor going too?"
“Of course,” Qiao Xi said, munching on a pancake and pointing to the mushrooms behind her. “I just picked these with him. We’re going to eat them tonight.”
Jinlan looked at the basket of mushrooms and started again: "Did you go pick them alone with the Emperor?"
He deliberately emphasized the word "alone," yet he was afraid that Qiao Xi would overhear something; in short, he was tormented by this contradiction.
Qiao Xi nodded frankly: "Yes, I already told you, he's a really nice person, even the little animals like him."
Jinlan looked at Qiaoxi and nodded seriously, her brows furrowed so tightly she almost twisted them into a knot, trying hard to suppress the question that was on her mind: If small animals like them, do you like them too?
But he held back. Since Qiao Xi and the Emperor were going, he should go too. So he nodded and said, "You go first. I'll finish cooking the rest of the strawberries and bring them over tonight."
Qiao Xi smiled and said, "Then I'll wait for you."
As she was about to leave, Jinlan suddenly called out to her, "Qiao Xi."
"What?"
"Your face is filthy."
As she spoke, Jinlan took a cotton cloth from the side, dipped it in water, and naturally began to wipe the stains off Qiaoxi's face.
Jinlan is two years older than Qiaoxi. When they first met, after Qiaoxi learned about Jinlan's strange hobby, she not only agreed to keep it a secret for him, but also offered to tell him stories.
Jinlan would also hide the snacks and fruits she obtained during patrols, and sneak away to the Bamboo Garden behind Liuyun and Yixiao's backs to give them to Qiaoxi as a midnight snack.
It's fair to say that a large part of the weight Qiao Xi has gained in the past six months is thanks to Jin Lan.
One of them was a transmigrator from another world, who identified herself as an orphan.
One was an orphan who grew up on the charity of many families. After becoming the squad leader of the Qianyan Army, he devoted all his time to his work and had no family or friends.
The two had each other's secrets and quickly built a strong friendship.
This friendship has nothing to do with gender or age; to Jinlan, Qiaoxi is like his own sister.
They are family.
Their actions were also natural.
Coincidentally, Morax's position provided a perfect view of Qiao Xi and Jin Lan.
He watched as Jinlan naturally wiped Qiaoxi's face, and Qiaoxi accepted it habitually. The scene was intimate and heartwarming, and he couldn't help but press down the corners of his lips.
But then, the scene changed. He saw Qiao Xi wiping her hands on Jin Lan's clothes. Then, when Jin Lan realized that Qiao Xi was using him as a rag, she slapped the girl hard on the back. Finally, Qiao Xi picked up a stick from the ground and was about to hit Jin Lan.
These two kids turned on each other so quickly, they both seemed determined to destroy each other.
Morax: "..."
Seeing the scene turning chaotic, Morax called out from afar, "Qiao Xi."
His voice was completely flat, yet it made Jinlan's heart skip a beat.
Jinlan looked over and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Qiao Xi smiled and waved to Morax. Seeing that Jinlan had been at a disadvantage because of Morax's unexpected appearance, she felt a little proud and said to Jinlan with a smile, "See? He's here to pick me up."
She thought she had won, but little did she know that Jinlan had been banging her head against the wall in a daze.
Qiao Xi said to Jin Lan, "I'm leaving now. You must come tonight, I'll come to pick you up."
Jinlan nodded and smiled, "Okay."
*
On the way, Qiao Xi carried a small basket on her back and seemed to be in a good mood.
All around was quiet, save for the unique sound of footsteps on snow and the wind, sounds that belong only to snowy days.
Morax glanced down at the girl beside him, then continued looking ahead. In a flat voice, he asked, "In a good mood?"
Qiao Xi nodded vigorously: "Today is the first time I've won against Jin Lan in the first round, and I have to thank you for that."
As he spoke, he smiled slightly at Morax.
Morax paused for a moment when he saw Qiao Xi's smiling face, then took the basket off his back and unexpectedly stuffed it into Qiao Xi's arms.
Qiao Xi was thrown downwards, and she stood there in a daze, staring at Morax.
But Mocas didn't look at her. After stuffing the basket, he turned and left. Qiao Xi didn't care whether she was in a daze or not, and quickly followed with the basket of strawberries.
Morax stopped matching Qiao Xi's pace and walked ahead without turning his head: "Weighted training."
Qiao Xi paused, her mind blank for a moment, and after understanding what Morax was saying, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly. But she couldn't show her resentment, so she could only do what he said.
Morax is really unpredictable. He can start training whenever he wants, anywhere, and he doesn't care about time or place when he remembers.
It really is—
Qiao Xi took a deep breath, holding the heavy strawberries, feeling that her footprints in the snow were even deeper.
She was behind him, making faces at Morax's back.
Suddenly, Morax stopped and turned to look at her, looking down at her with a blank expression.
Qiao Xi was taken aback, then forced a smile: "What's wrong?"
Morax: "Are you insulting me?"
Qiao Xi paused: "You're mistaken. In my heart, you are strong and powerful. I would never do such a thing."
But her feigned expression was ultimately unskilled.
Morax took a step forward, and the difference in height cast a shadow. In the twilight, the shadow was stretched long, and the oppressive aura was like a collapsing mountain.
Qiao Xi looked at him and asked cautiously, "You're not planning to throw me off the mountain now, are you?"
Morax was slightly taken aback, somewhat unable to keep up with the child's train of thought, and he felt a little like pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I have no such plans."
Qiao Xi laughed, looking much more sincere: "I knew it! Morax, you're not only amazing, but also beautiful. You definitely wouldn't leave me behind, haha."
She gave two dry laughs.
Morax frowned.
She just used the phrase "not only, but also," but generally speaking, "also" is followed by emphasis and is more important than "not only."
So why did she put "good-looking" after "also"?
Furthermore, why would she have such a bizarre and absurd idea as to be thrown off the mountain? During the time he was away, what kind of image did this girl form in her mind?
Morax was somewhat helpless.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“Okay!” Qiao Xi agreed readily. “I told you Morax is a super nice person.”
"Okay, I understand."
"That super nice Morax, could you help me carry a basket?"
"cannot."
"Hey? This is really heavy. I'm exhausted and you'll have to carry me back."
"...Give me the one with the mushrooms."
"Are strawberries good?"
"Qiao Xi, don't push your luck."
*
As the sun was about to set, Liu Yunyi and the others had already set up the barbecue grill outside the Immortal Cave on Tianheng Mountain.
Morax carried the basket of mushrooms and strode easily toward the cave.
Qiao Xi was left far behind by him, barely clinging to life, carrying a heavy basket of strawberries on her back, walking along with a sense of utter despair. She felt that along the way, Morax had stopped caring about her life or death at some point.
As she reached the intersection, a familiar voice came from behind her.
"Qiao Xi!"
It's brocade blue.
Qiao Xi turned around as if she had seen a savior, and she shouted, "Hold on tight, I'm just a hair's breadth away from death!"
Jinlan ran over through the snow, put the strawberry jam jar on the ground, and went to take the basket behind Qiaoxi.
Qiao Xi hugged the jar of strawberries, rubbing her lower back and shoulders, and complained to Jin Lan as she walked: "My back and waist are sore from Morax all the way here, but I can't blame him. I'm just too bad at it and need to practice more."
Jinlan then seized upon the strange detail: "Because the Emperor's back aches?"
Qiao Xi didn't understand. She pointed to the basket and said, "No, it's because of this that he won't help me."
Jinlan nodded: "Oh."
Qiao Xi gave him a strange look.
When the two arrived at the cave, the meat and vegetables were already being roasted. Xiao and Yingda were lying on the tree, while the rest of the yakshas were under the tree.
Gui Zhong and Liu Yun seemed to have some disagreement over a mechanical blueprint, but they quickly smiled at each other and reached a consensus.
Morax, Yixiao, and Lishui are drinking tea.
Morax put down his teacup and glanced at Qiao Xi from afar.
Qiao Xi's hair was messy and looked dusty.
She also saw Morax, and in that instant their eyes met...
Qiao Xi recalled the flattering remark she had made not long ago.
Morax is really beautiful.
A note from the author:
----------------------
No update tomorrow, Monday! [Please!]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
