"Well, that little bit of emotion just now vanished instantly."
Zhang Shaozhong complained, but his eyes were full of laughter. "Fine! Braised pork it is! Plenty!"
"Yay! Long live the head of the household!"
Night Enchantress cheered, like a child who had just received candy, completely losing the ruthless demeanor she had when teaching the killing techniques.
Although Ling Qingxue didn't say anything, the corners of her mouth seemed to curve almost imperceptibly. She turned around and silently walked to the corner of the spirit-gathering array where she usually meditated to continue her cultivation. However, her back looked more relaxed than usual.
Zhang Shaozhong wiped his sweat and looked at the two masters who were "in their places" in the courtyard. He felt both amused and warm.
He wasn't idle either. After a short rest, he began practicing the few insidious... no, "practical" moves that Ye Meier had taught him earlier in the courtyard, while savoring the profound feeling of Ling Qingxue guiding him to refine energy.
He became so engrossed in the practice that he didn't snap out of it until the sun was high in the sky and his stomach started growling.
"That's enough, take a break, kid!"
Night Enchantress had finished her cultivation sometime earlier and was now sitting cross-legged on a rocking chair on the porch, leisurely sipping... cola?!
She shook the can, "If you keep practicing like this, I'm afraid you won't have the energy to make braised pork tonight."
Zhang Shaozhong calmed down, panting as he walked over. Looking at the cola in her hand, he said speechlessly, "Big sister, your style is too erratic! Just a moment ago you were a powerful figure in the demonic path, and now you've become a lover of sugary soda?"
"What do you know!"
Ye Meier rolled her eyes at him, "This is called experiencing the customs of another world! Your world is just average, but this thing called 'Cola' and that 'spicy strip' thing are actually quite interesting."
She clicked her tongue and said, "It's just not strong enough. It can't compare to our 'Blazing Flame' back home. I'll let you try it another time."
Zhang Shaozhong imagined the scene of the witch drinking strong liquor from another world and shuddered. He quickly changed the subject: "I'm going to take a shower and then go buy groceries."
When he finished showering and changing his clothes, he found Ye Meier still slumped in the rocking chair, and Ling Qingxue had also finished her meditation and was sitting on the stone bench next to her, holding the black token she had obtained from the black market yesterday, with a faint spiritual light swirling around her fingertips, as if she was examining it carefully.
"Well, fairy? Have you found anything?" Zhang Shaozhong asked, leaning closer.
Ling Qingxue shook her head, her brows furrowing slightly: "The restriction is extremely ancient and complex, far beyond my current understanding. Forcing an attack might damage the internal structure or even cause unforeseen consequences."
She handed the iron piece to Zhang Shaozhong, saying, "You can keep this for now. The chaotic energy is mysterious; perhaps you will have the opportunity to unlock it when your cultivation improves in the future."
Zhang Shaozhong took the still warm iron plate. It felt heavy in his hand, and its rusty appearance made it hard to believe it was a treasure.
"Okay, I'll keep it for now." He casually stuffed it into his pocket.
"Let's go, let's go buy groceries!"
Ye Meier threw away the empty Coke can, jumped up from the rocking chair, and naturally took Zhang Shaozhong's arm. "I'll personally accompany you to the market and be your bodyguard!"
Zhang Shaozhong's arm froze instantly. Feeling the soft touch on his arm, his face flushed slightly. "N-no need, right? It's very close..."
"Close to what?!" Ye Meier retorted confidently. "What if some fools set their sights on this 'moving treasure trove' of yours? Don't forget you're now a 'Tang Monk's flesh' imbued with chaotic energy! You hypocrite, are you going or not?"
Ling Qingxue stood up, straightened her skirt, and said calmly, "Let's go together."
The tone left no room for argument.
Zhang Shaozhong: "..." Well, going to the market with a fairy and a witch escorting you, this is quite a show of power.
Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded in the market: an ordinary-looking college student walked in front, followed by two women with strikingly different personalities, yet both breathtakingly beautiful, on either side of him.
One was dressed in white, aloof and ethereal, like a fairy untouched by worldly affairs; wherever she went, even the noisy hawking seemed to fall silent. The other was alluring and seductive, her eyes sparkling with charm, curiously looking around, seemingly interested in everything.
This combination is guaranteed to turn heads!
The vegetable vendors, the shoppers, and passersby all stared in disbelief and started discussing it amongst themselves.
(P.S.: Since moving to this small courtyard, Zhang Shaozhong is the one who usually goes to buy groceries. The two women, Xian and Mo, rarely come, so Zhang Shaozhong is quite familiar with the vegetable vendors!)
"Oh my, Zhang, where did you meet these two beautiful girls?"
"The white one on the left looks like it stepped out of a painting..."
"The one on the right is much better! Look at that figure..."
"This kid's got some lucky ladies..."
Zhang Shaozhong felt his scalp tingle from being stared at and just wanted to finish buying the goods and make a quick getaway.
He walked to the butcher's stall with practiced ease: "Uncle Wang, give me three catties of pork belly, with a good balance of fat and lean meat."
"Alright, Xiao Zhang!"
While cutting meat, Uncle Wang at the butcher stall couldn't help but glance at the two people behind him. "Having guests over today? And who are these two...?"
"Uh, a distant cousin!" Zhang Shaozhong quickly made up a story.
"Oh—cousin—" Uncle Wang drawled, his eyes saying "I don't believe you for a second," and he smiled ambiguously.
Hearing this from the side, Ye Meier chuckled and leaned close to Zhang Shaozhong's ear, whispering, "Honey~ your excuse is so lame! Do you think anyone will believe it?"
The warm breath brushed against his ear, and Zhang Shao's hand trembled, almost causing him to miss the meat that Uncle Wang was offering.
Although Ling Qingxue didn't speak, her cool gaze swept over Ye Meier's hand holding Zhang Shaozhong's arm, then casually moved away, looking at the vegetable stall next to her, as if the vegetables there were particularly eye-catching.
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