The dilapidated temple was silent, save for the occasional crackle of burning wood.
Xiao Man had finished the rabbit leg in a flash. Nan Shiying tore off another, offering it to her. Xiao Man shook her head, "Sister, you eat it. I'm full!"
"Grumble~"
But her stomach clearly disagreed.
The moment became a little awkward. Xiao Man cupped her stomach, a sheepish grin on her face as she looked at Nan Shiying.
"Eat!"
Nan Shiying pushed the rabbit leg into Xiao Man's hands. She broke off the rabbit's head, gnawing on it as she sighed, "It's a pity I didn't bring any seasonings. This rabbit head isn't spicy; half the flavor is gone!"
Although it was all bone, the shape of the rabbit head was somewhat daunting. Xiao Man had never eaten spicy rabbit heads, but judging by her lady's taste, food that could make her reminisce like this must be exceptionally good.
Xiao Man swallowed, her gaze full of longing as she looked at Nan Shiying.
"I understand, I understand. I'll let you try it when there's a chance."
She wondered if that kind of preparation still existed in Chuan Yu. When they returned to the mansion, she could have the master chefs in the small kitchen try it. It was time for them to develop some new dishes.
Xiao Man nodded, her mouth full of roasted rabbit meat, her mind already conjuring the taste of spicy rabbit heads.
After the two of them devoured a 'pitiful' little rabbit, Xiao Man squatted on the ground, using the small wooden stick that had skewered the rabbit to arrange the thoroughly gnawed skeleton, trying to reassemble the rabbit.
This habit stemmed from Old Poison.
Old Poison had said that anyone who studied medicine must understand bones. Since she was still young and hadn't yet come into contact with human bodies, she could practice on small animals first.
For instance, giving a roast chicken a dignified end after finishing it.
Thinking of Old Poison, Xiao Man's hands faltered slightly. She looked up, stealing a glance at Nan Shiying, then lowered her head. After fiddling for a moment, she couldn't help but look up at her again.
Nan Shiying, even with her eyes closed, could feel Xiao Man's intermittent gaze. She spoke, "If you have something to say, just say it!"
Xiao Man threw away the wooden stick and moved closer to Nan Shiying. "Miss, do you think what Chi Sha said was true?"
Nan Shiying slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at Xiao Man.
Xiao Man couldn't read her gaze, only feeling that her lady didn't seem to be taking the matter to heart. Yet, in the next second, she felt that her lady might simply be hiding all her thoughts deep within her heart, and she just couldn't tell.
"What do you think?" Nan Shiying asked, not answering directly.
Xiao Man shook her head, hesitant. "I don't know!"
She truly didn't know. Emotionally, she naturally didn't want to believe that Old Poison had been lying to them from beginning to end, that her meeting and acquaintance with her lady, and even her lady later becoming his disciple, were all meticulously planned schemes by him. However, rationally, their encounter with Mei Sha and the others was purely coincidental. Under such coincidence, how could the other party have fabricated everything in advance?
Moreover, Chi Sha had only revealed that name while under Mei Sha's control.
When all these things were connected, the veracity of the matter seemed undeniable. Their doubts were merely an unwillingness to believe in their hearts.
Nan Shiying ruffled Xiao Man's hair and smiled, "You should answer that you don't believe!"
Xiao Man didn't understand.
Nan Shiying offered no further explanation. Sometimes, trust was difficult to articulate. Nan Shiying believed in herself and her belief in Ji Jinmo, and therefore, she believed in Old Poison.
It was difficult to comprehend.
Yet, it was also very easy to understand.
Because she trusted her and Ji Jinmo's judgment of people, she believed Old Poison.
Of course.
She had thought and pondered a lot during this journey, and the conclusion she reached was still to believe.
Xiao Man scratched her scalp, completely unable to fathom why her lady was so certain. However, since her lady didn't wish to elaborate, she didn't dare to ask further.
But she did feel a sense of relief.
"Pah! Misfortune's mother opened the door for misfortune, misfortune... What the hell!!"
The innkeeper of Jinmen City's inn roughly pushed open the door of the dilapidated temple. Nan Shiying and Xiao Man looked up, their faces clearly illuminated by the firelight.
The innkeeper slapped himself, the crisp sound accompanied by a vulgar exclamation that echoed through the silent night. The waiter had felt a splitting headache all the way, wishing he could seal the gossipy mouth with tape. Seeing the innkeeper suddenly stop and spasmodically slap himself, the veins on his temples throbbed. He turned and reached out to the cook. Without a word, the cook placed the boning knife he was carrying on his shoulder into the innkeeper's hand.
Clutching the boning knife, the waiter swung it towards the innkeeper's neck without a word.
A cold wind howled in his ears. The innkeeper's brain, filled with countless "what the hells," frantically warned him. He dodged, his body running, his brain not yet processing what was happening. When he stopped, he had already darted to the center of the dilapidated temple, only two meters away from Nan Shiying, who was warming herself by the base of the statue of the Three Pure Ones.
"Ha, ha, what a coincidence!"
The innkeeper's head broke out in a sweat, his voice trembling. If he had a choice, he would rather be chased by Mei Sha than encounter this young master in this desolate wilderness.
The waiter, having missed his target, did not attack again. Instead, he casually threw the boning knife back to the cook and stepped into the dilapidated temple. He stepped in with his left foot and then stopped.
It seemed as if he was contemplating whether to retract his left foot and turn to flee, prioritizing his own safety over others; or to step in with his right foot as well, then perform a slide tackle, sliding directly to the innkeeper's side, and kowt to the siblings warming themselves by the fire.
Seeing the waiter stop, the cook pushed him forcefully. The waiter obligingly slid forward, following the intended path, and perfectly slid to the innkeeper's side.
The cook, carrying the boning knife, walked in, looking at the innkeeper and the waiter with surprise.
Then, ignoring them, he unceremoniously sat down on the ground.
Nan Shiying looked at the three people before her and remembered that their inn had been completely burned down by Mei Sha and Chi Sha.
She recognized the waiter and the innkeeper. The one looking at the boning knife was probably the inn's cook!
Wait, the cook?
"Can you make spicy rabbit heads?"
The innkeeper and the waiter both turned their heads to look at the cook, frantically giving him meaningful glances.
You damn fool, answer properly! The life or death of all of us depends on you!
"No!"
The cook replied.
He ignored the innkeeper and the waiter, stating coldly, "I'm not a cook from Chuan Yu." He then added, "However, if you want to eat spicy human heads, I can try!"
Damn it!!
The innkeeper and the waiter felt a dizzying sensation, their blood pressure rising, blood rushing to their heads. They wished they could give the cook a 360-degree spinning slap.
Are you out of your mind!
Spicy human heads!
There are only a few of us in this dilapidated temple. If she says she wants to eat, whose head will you chop off, whose head!!!!