Chapter 31 My Heart and Soul Are Trembling
Ning Jue remained silent for a long time.
Bai Hua raised her eyes and stared at him. Her gaze was gentle, but in Ning Jue's eyes, it was intensely present, direct and sharp.
It wasn't that her gaze itself was sharp, but rather that her casual question prompted him to conduct a profound self-analysis in a short time, revealing only his inferiority and despicable qualities.
Facing one's own shortcomings is not an easy thing.
Ning Jue turned his gaze away, his voice hoarse, and said with difficulty, "You'll know later."
after?
Bai Hua was slightly taken aback, but then realized that the young master simply couldn't find any fault in her, nor did he have any ill intentions as he claimed, which was why he couldn't list any and simply dealt with the matter so easily.
The two stopped talking about it.
The atmosphere fell into an unusually quiet and stagnant silence, with only the sound of each other's soft, rhythmic breathing.
Suddenly, a gurgling sound came out, clear and distinct.
The two looked at each other, and Bai Hua's cheeks quickly flushed red. Embarrassed, she lowered her eyes and covered her abdomen with her hand, which seemed to suggest that she was trying to hide something.
Ning Jue asked, "Are you hungry?"
Bai Hua hesitated for a moment before nodding: "I went to the deck to find something to eat, but I didn't get to eat any of the delicious fish skewers. Instead, I was dragged back by the young master."
Her tone carried a hint of resentment, and her voice was slightly reproachful.
Ning Jue straightened his face and said seriously, "Why are my people eyeing other people's grilled fish skewers?"
Bai Hua blinked and replied blankly, "I saw a lot of customers gathered around the charcoal stove, many of whom were eating heartily with bamboo skewers in their hands. I guessed that we could line up to get fish skewers or exchange them for money. Anyway, the young master carries a lot of money with him, enough for our daily food expenses."
From the very beginning, when I would meticulously calculate the cost of even a simple Monkey King mask with him, to now, I've long since become accustomed to the unclear financial dealings with him.
Ning Jue liked it this way; the more ambiguous it was, the better.
However, there were obvious flaws in her statement.
Ning Jue was incredibly perceptive. He sized her up for a moment and asked directly, "Did you go over to join in the fun because there were quite a few onlookers eating so heartily, or did you mistake that person for me?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua felt guilty and her eyes darted away, but she refused to admit it: "How could that be... Young Master's figure is as tall and majestic as a pine tree, standing out among the crowd with outstanding demeanor and extraordinary bearing. How could A Peng be so blind as to mistake him?"
She fawned over him and tried to outsmart him.
Ning Jue narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on her: "You've already called that person 'Young Master,' and you still say there isn't one?"
He even heard that...
Bai Hua's face flushed red, and she could no longer be stubborn. She had no choice but to admit, "It's not entirely my fault... That person was about the same height as you, and he was wearing the same color robe. Plus, there were so many people surrounding him. I just misjudged him for a moment. It wasn't a big mistake."
Ning Jue scoffed, not intending to let her off easily: "You were just saying you had outstanding charm and extraordinary demeanor, were you just lying to me? Otherwise, how could you suddenly become someone with a similar figure, just another face in the crowd?"
She had no idea that the young master was so eloquent and persuasive, and that he would not tolerate the slightest grievance.
Bai Hua had no choice but to coax him.
After thinking for a moment, she said sincerely, "Even if the back view is close, it is only the back view. Young Master's face is as beautiful as jade, and he is far more handsome than that person. If you only see the back view, you might mistake him, but once he turns around, it's like heaven and earth. A-Peng will naturally only have eyes for Young Master."
Her eyes were bright and sparkling, her dark eyelashes curled, and she looked up at him with lively expression, her voice so sweet.
Ning Jue was slightly taken aback, then stiffly turned his eyes away and said, "Where did you learn this flattery skill from?"
Bai Hua shook her head in denial: "No way, A Peng is just telling the truth."
She had to admit that even a few words of coaxing from her, though not entirely sincere, were enough to please him.
Fine, he reluctantly decided not to hold it against her for mistaking someone else on the deck.
Just as Ning Jue was about to look away, Bai Hua's gaze stopped at the collar of his robe. She paused for a moment, then looked thoughtful.
"What's wrong?"
Looking at the exquisite embroidered patterns on the collar, Bai Hua asked in confusion, "Just now in the cabin, I noticed that you were missing two sets of robes from your bag. One set is currently on you, but where is the other one?"
For Bai Hua, this topic was perfectly ordinary, but for Ning Jue, it was extremely sensitive.
He remained composed and spoke calmly: "I washed it along with the one I wore yesterday, and it's in the washroom waiting to dry. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Bai Hua said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking that if you have any dirty clothes, I can wash them for you. But we've only been on the boat for one night. Why are you changing your clothes so often?"
Ning Jue's eyes darkened slightly as he replied, "I accidentally got some soup on my clothes, and they look dirty. I need to clean them up as soon as possible."
Bai Hua didn't suspect anything: "But did a few drops accidentally drip while drinking the seaweed soup?"
Ning Jue nodded in agreement with her guess.
Bai Hua added, "From now on, if you have any clothes to change into, just give them to A Peng. Anyway, I have to wash my own clothes every other day, so we can do it all together."
The stains on those two robes weren't seaweed soup.
It would be inhumane to pretend nothing happened and let her wash it.
Ning Jue couldn't guarantee that his clothes would be clean in the future, after all, there were too many uncontrollable accidents when sharing a room with her.
So he replied, "No need, let's wash separately."
Bai Hua pursed her lips, unable to force the issue, and didn't understand why the young master had suddenly become so distant and polite towards her.
Ning Jue changed the subject: "Let me take you to eat something first. If you want grilled fish, don't worry about other people's, we'll grill it ourselves."
"May I?"
"Um"
Bai Hua's eyes lit up, and her mouth moved slightly. She was indeed craving the fresh aroma of grilled fish. The pungent smell that had wafted across the deck earlier was truly tempting.
...
The two went back up to the deck. There were fewer guests coming out of the cabin than before, and the crowd that had been watching in the middle had long since dispersed.
Ning Jue found the boatman who had invited them onto the boat, and rented a roasting oven with silver. Bai Hua watched from the side and couldn't help but widen her eyes. The young master actually took out ten ingots to give to him.
Is this oven made of gold? It's so expensive!
Bai Hua felt it wasn't worth it.
While the boatman went to the warehouse to move the oven, Bai Hua muttered, "Did the boatman rip us off?"
Ning Jue was used to it: "Things are valued for their rarity. It's not easy to get fresh, grilled fish while adrift at sea. If it weren't for yesterday's storm that washed live fish onto the deck, they wouldn't be able to do this business. It's a business that they can only do once every few months, so of course they have to make a profit."
The young master was very knowledgeable and gave a detailed introduction, which Bai Hua found fascinating.
After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "Is the ten ingots of silver just for renting one oven? Do they cover the fish and meat?"
Ning Jue curved his lips slightly. He had seen her look distressed and resentful about the ten ingots of silver when he took out the silver to pay the boatman.
She had just said that the purse he carried was heavy enough to cover the expenses of the two of them, but now that he has only paid ten ingots, she is already worried again?
Ning Jue chuckled and replied, "Don't worry, I still have enough silver. I won't go broke. Ten ingots of silver can not only rent the stove, but also cover all the fish skewers, charcoal, oil, chili peppers, and salt."
Bai Hua knew her worries were unnecessary and felt a little embarrassed, replying, "That's good."
The boatman was quite honest; the fish skewers he gave them were very fresh and varied.
Bai Hua didn't understand the intricacies of the process, so she stood quietly behind Ning Jue, watching him take the fish skewers and carefully inspect each one, looking quite professional.
Ning Jue asked, "Are you sure there weren't any spotted mantis shrimp mixed in?"
This fish has an unremarkable appearance and is often mixed in with small, miscellaneous fish. It contains toxins and can easily cause stomach pain if eaten by mistake.
The crew member quickly assured him, "Young master, don't worry. We have over ten years of experience at sea. Our eyes are sharper than a sieve. We'll make sure you get on board safely and off board comfortably."
Ning Jue nodded and then instructed, "Skewer a few more strings of ribbonfish. By the way, are there any onions on the boat?"
As he asked the question, he took out some loose silver and handed it to the other party, showing that he was very knowledgeable about the rules of the martial arts world.
The crew members responded enthusiastically, grinning broadly: "Yes, yes, I'll go get it right away."
After saying that, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he took the initiative to help light the charcoal fire and set up the stove so that guests could directly take their ingredients and start grilling.
After everyone left, Ning Jue took three skewers in each hand and grilled all six together.
Bai Hua found everything novel and interesting. Seeing the fish skin turn golden and crispy, she asked curiously, "Young master, what kind of fish is this? I don't think I've ever seen it before."
"Never seen ribbonfish before?"
"No, the one you're holding in your right hand."
Ning Jue replied simply: "Sardines."
Bai Hua stared intently, a look of sudden realization appearing on her face.
She thought to herself, "There's an old saying that goes, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles,' and today I truly understand that sentiment."
However, this experience will probably only happen once.
After she and the young master parted ways, there would likely be no one to take her to see the vast sky and feel the boundless distance.
Knowing that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Bai Hua cherishes this moment all the more.
The fish was quickly grilled, and Ning Jue gave it to her to try first.
Perhaps it was because I had been hungry for so long, but even though there was only a little coarse salt as a seasoning, it still tasted so delicious when I chewed it. The skewers were coated with a little bit of onion flavor, which was just right.
The fish skin was golden brown, and the flesh was tender and cooked. Bai Hua held the skewers in both hands and ate them with satisfaction.
Ning Jue smiled and flipped the dishes even faster, afraid of not being able to keep up with her speed.
Seeing how hard he was working, Bai Hua took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and leaned over to wipe his sweat.
Ning Jue seemed to be taken aback, then tilted his head and moved closer to her.
The actions were somewhat ambiguous yet natural, and neither of them felt uncomfortable.
Ning Jue handed the second skewer to her after it was cooked.
Bai Hua took the hand, but instead of biting it first, she held it up and fed it to Ning Jue's mouth, wanting him to take the first bite.
The two thought of each other, felt comfortable together, and interacted intimately. If outsiders were to see them, no one would suspect that they were faking their marriage.
However, if we were to compare them more closely to ordinary couples, they would probably be more like lovers in the throes of passion than a respectful and courteous couple. Their feelings for each other are at their most intense.
...
I originally thought that setting up a stove on the side of the boat to roast food would be quiet and wouldn't attract any onlookers.
Unfortunately, some people don't know their place and insist on coming here to cause trouble.
It was the young master that Bai Hua had mistaken for someone else. At this moment, he had changed out of the white robe that was similar in style to Ning Jue's and was now wearing dark black clothes.
Looking at them side by side, they are completely different, with no resemblance whatsoever and their overall feel is entirely different.
Even more obviously, this person was not as tall as the young master. There were many people gathered earlier, so Bai Hua did not take a close look, but now, in a horizontal comparison, he was clearly shorter.
It's her fault for being so blind; she couldn't possibly get it wrong.
The other person approached with a smile, gesturing for the servant behind him to bring over the tray, and said ingratiatingly, "It's just a small token of my appreciation. These are ready-made cooked fish skewers, young master and young lady, please enjoy them to your heart's content. This way you won't have to suffer the hardship of grilling them, and you can eat your fill in no time."
Bai Hua remained silent, standing quietly behind Ning Jue, waiting for his decision.
However, the other person's gaze rudely bypassed Ning Jue and openly swept over Bai Hua, burning hot and making her uncomfortable.
Ning Jue's face darkened. He exerted his strength and shoved a half-cooked skewer of ribbonfish straight into the man's face without any regard for the consequences. The force he used was enough to cause the skewer to penetrate the man's skull.
In a flash, the servant beside the other party acted quickly, catching the meat skewer and averting a bloodbath.
The price he paid was that his palms were scalded and bled, leaving them a bloody mess and excruciating pain, but he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
Ning Jue's actions this time made the other party realize that they were not ordinary people who could be bullied at will.
Even if they really had designs on Bai Hua, they didn't dare to risk provoking her again. In the end, the two of them didn't even dare to leave their names, and staggered away with the tray in their arms.
During that frantic escape, I lost quite a few cooked fish skewers.
There were many children running and playing on the deck. Upon seeing this, they all rushed around and crawled on the ground as if they had found treasure, vying for those expensive fish skewers. Whoever grabbed them first would be lucky enough to eat them.
While things were in chaos over there, Bai Hua and Ning Jue found peace and quiet here.
Ning Jue asked her, "What would you like to eat next?"
Bai Hua thought for a moment and replied, "Ribbonfish, then."
She was clearly making things difficult for him on purpose.
The only skewer of nearly cooked ribbonfish, which he had just temporarily used as a weapon, was now inedible.
Ning Jue looked troubled, thought for a moment, and asked, "I'll go find the boatman to buy some more."
"No need." Bai Hua didn't really want to eat it, but she took the opportunity to remind him, "You can't waste food like this in the future."
Looking at the children dressed in coarse clothes scrambling for food on the deck, Bai Hua was moved to speak.
Ning Jue nodded and readily agreed, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
When traveling in unfamiliar places, having a top-notch swordsman by your side provides a great sense of security.
And most importantly, this top expert listens to you; the experience is simply amazing.
If I had to describe that feeling specifically, it would be... a sense of pride and satisfaction, like someone who's riding on someone else's coattails and has powerful backers.
Bai Hua thought about it thoughtfully and realized that she had found a very powerful backer.
...
They returned to the cabin.
As soon as he entered, Ning Jue immediately got to work.
He was strong and easily separated the two small beds, placing them back in their original positions, leaving enough space for someone to pass through.
Bai Hua waited on the side, watching the young master's orderly movements, trying her best to control her thoughts from wandering and thinking about random things.
But the images kept flashing through her mind, one after another reminding her that on that large, combined bed, the two of them had slept, lay down, and embraced... The more she thought about it, the redder her ears became.
She forced herself to control her thoughts, turned around to look out the porthole at the sea and the seagulls, until she completely banished the image of the young master from her mind.
Ning Jue patted her shoulder, indicating that the bed had been made and she could lie down and rest.
Bai Hua avoided meeting his gaze, whispered her thanks, got into bed, draped a blanket over herself, and enjoyed a relaxing nap after her meal.
Living on a ship, time passes somewhat chaotically. No matter how late you slept, it's not impossible to take another nap now.
After they lay down, they didn't continue talking, and the cabin became unusually quiet for a moment.
After a while, Bai Hua thought of something and casually reminded him, "Young Master, why don't you put the Qingying Sword on the table? Otherwise, if it's pressed against your back, it might wake you up when you're asleep."
Ning Jue held his breath and paused before asking, "Did I hurt you last night?"
Bai Hua frankly admitted, her voice carrying a slight complaint: "Yes, it's hard and uncomfortable, and it's really rubbing against me. I tried to move the Qingying Sword aside, but it wouldn't budge no matter how hard I tried."
"I understand, I'll be careful."
After saying that, Ning Jue didn't reply. He turned over, his back to Bai Hua, and slowly opened his eyes, revealing a dark and sinister look in them.
If this doesn't count as provoking...
She really has a knack for hooking him without him even realizing it, and making him restless and unsettled.
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