Yang Guo: I'm invincible in the opening battle against Aunt Guo!

Huang Rong clearly recognized Li Mochou as well.

He whispered to Guo Fu and Yang Guo, "When you eat, don't cause trouble, and don't look around too much."

Guo Fu curiously stole a few glances at the beautiful, aloof Taoist nun and the two older sisters opposite her, but was stopped by Huang Rong's gaze.

Yang Guo, however, appeared very relaxed.

While eating, he began to tell some "stories" in a low voice, seemingly to liven up the somewhat dull atmosphere.

These stories have naturally undergone his "localization" adaptation, removing overly modern elements, but the core remains the same as those tender, misunderstanding-ridden, and reconciliation scenes found in modern romance dramas.

"...After passing the imperial examination with flying colors, the scholar did not forget the girl in his hometown who had waited for him for many years. Instead, he refused the marriage proposal from the prime minister's daughter and resolutely returned to find her. However, the girl, having received no news for a long time and pressured by her family to marry, had become a nun in despair..."

Yang Guo's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but rather gentle and persuasive, conveying a complex plot and genuine emotions.

Guo Fu listened intently, and even Huang Rong tilted her head slightly, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

Although these stories are somewhat bizarre, the unwavering devotion and steadfastness in their portrayal of love are truly moving.

They spoke in hushed tones, which Li Mochou and her disciples could naturally hear.

Lu Wushuang was young and captivated by the story, so she couldn't help but prick up her ears and even slowed down her eating.

Hong Lingbo carefully observed her master's expression.

Li Mochou appeared indifferent as she ate, but her fingers tightened slightly as she held the chopsticks.

The words in the story, such as "becoming a nun," "unfaithful," and "waiting devotedly," are like fine needles, quietly pricking some long-buried scars in her heart.

She couldn't help but glance at the boy telling the story again. Was he telling these things unintentionally or intentionally?

The meal was finished amidst everyone's own thoughts.

Huang Rong got up first and led Guo Fu back to their room.

Yang Guo was a step behind, paid for his meal, and then turned and went upstairs.

As I walked to my room and was about to push the door open, the door to room number nine across the hall creaked open.

Li Mochou came out.

She had removed her whisk, and her apricot-yellow Taoist robe looked exceptionally soft in the glow of the corridor lanterns. Her long, black hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks.

After washing away the dust of the journey, her skin appeared even more radiant, her features exquisitely beautiful. The mature charm that emanated from her cool elegance held a breathtaking allure in the quiet corridor.

The two met at the door.

Yang Guo stopped what he was doing and nodded slightly in politeness.

Li Mochou's gaze fell on his face, the dim light in the corridor making his handsome features appear even more profound.

For some inexplicable reason, perhaps it was the stories told during dinner that stirred up my emotions.

Perhaps they simply wanted to see the handsome young man's reaction.

She suddenly spoke, her voice no longer as cold as it had been during the day, but instead carrying an indescribable languor and provocation, as she softly asked:

Am I good-looking?

The question came abruptly and directly, with a Li Mochou-esque willfulness and undisguised nature.

Yang Guo was slightly taken aback, and then the usual smile on his lips deepened.

He didn't hesitate at all, nor did he show the flattery or panic that an ordinary man would feel when approached by a stunningly beautiful woman.

He met Li Mochou's gaze calmly and uttered two words clearly:

"nice."

His answer was crisp and clear, his eyes bright and certain, as if he were stating a simple fact.

There was no flattery, no frivolity, only pure appreciation.

Li Mochou was clearly taken aback by his direct and frank answer, and paused for a moment.

Then, the corners of her rosy lips slowly curved upwards, revealing a faint yet captivating smile that could outshine any flower.

There was a hint of amusement, a hint of satisfaction, and perhaps even a hint of pleasure that she herself was unaware of.

She didn't say anything more, but just gave Yang Guo a deep look, then turned around, pushed open the door, and went into her room.

The door closed gently, shutting out the slender figure in apricot yellow and that meaningful smile behind it.

Yang Guo stood at the door of his room, stroked his chin, and recalled Li Mochou's smile and question, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

Li Mochou, the Red Serpent Fairy... she is indeed an interesting woman.

He pushed open his door and went inside.

Silent all night.

The soundproofing at Ping An Inn was adequate, and since neither party intended to cause trouble, they spent a peaceful night together.

The next morning, both sides set off almost simultaneously.

Before leaving, Yang Guo retrieved from the waiter the packets of spices and seasonings he had specifically asked to buy the previous evening.

Those were the "essential barbecue ingredients" that he had gathered from memory and had the waiter collect as much as possible.

Huang Rong neither confirmed nor denied this, simply assuming it was just the young man's desire for food.

Guo Fu, however, was full of curiosity and pressed Brother Yang for what delicious food he was going to make.

Coincidentally, after leaving the inn, the two groups of people, one after the other, ended up on the same official road, and their directions seemed to be roughly the same.

Li Mochou, riding her horse, looked at Huang Rong and the other two not far ahead, especially the back of the young man in the green robe, and a hint of surprise flashed in her phoenix eyes.

This route... could they also be heading to Zhongnan Mountain?

She secretly became more attentive.

As the sun rose higher, around noon, there was a sparse grove of trees beside the official road, a perfect place to rest.

Huang Rong found a clean, shady spot under a tree, and the three of them dismounted.

She took out the dry food and water bag she had prepared beforehand—still just white steamed buns and pickled vegetables.

When traveling, it's good enough to have enough to eat.

Guo Fu was used to it, and took the steamed bun and nibbled on it.

Looking at the large, white steamed bun in his hand, Yang Guo really couldn't muster any appetite.

The steamed buns were big and white enough.

But it still wasn't as delicious as the abalone made by Aunt Guo.

If it were a past life, then it wouldn't matter.

Having been spoiled by Huang Rong's exquisite cooking skills on Peach Blossom Island for the past two years, I've developed a certain aversion to food that's purely for filling my stomach.

He smacked his lips and muttered, "This steamed bun... makes me miss the abalone from the seaside."

"Abalone?" Guo Fu blinked. "What kind of fish is that? Is it delicious?"

Huang Rong glanced at Yang Guo, knowing that this boy was thinking about random things again, and said calmly:

"In the middle of nowhere, why bother with all that formality? Eat quickly, we still have a long way to go."

Yang Guo smiled and said nothing more, but his gaze drifted to the woods beside him.

He quickly stuffed the steamed bun down his throat, gulped down some water, and stood up, saying:

"Master Gan, Sister Fu, please have a seat. I'll go for a walk in the woods and see if I can find some 'wild game' to change things up."

Having said that, without waiting for Huang Rong to nod, he swayed and gracefully disappeared into the forest.