I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

A powerful voice boomed in his ears like thunder, and Bai Zhou felt a strong arm catch him.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a tall figure that blocked out the sun.

This is a tiger, a majestic tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead!

"Ah! I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking and accidentally bumped into you!"

Bai Zhou rubbed her head and stood up, then quickly apologized to him.

"It's okay. But next time, you'll have to catch it."

The big tiger showed no resentment towards Bai Zhou. Instead, it smiled, patted his head, and raised its right hand to hand him the wine bottle that Bai Zhou had thrown away.

"Oh, thank you so much. If this were lost, I wouldn't know how to tell you, sir."

Bai Zhou happily accepted the bottle and thanked the tiger again.

"Then hurry back, or your husband might get angry."

The big tiger pointed to Xi, who was about ten meters behind Bai Zhou, and urged him on.

"Thank you so much."

After finishing his sentence, Bai Zhou grabbed the wine jug and ran quickly toward Xi.

"Sir, I'm back."

Xi glanced at the large white tiger, then at Bai Zhou's hair, which was a little messy from being ruffled.

"Be more careful next time."

"Yes, sir. I saw a shop selling paper and ink earlier, it's not far away, let's go quickly."

Bai Zhou smiled as he carried the wine in his hand and strode forward. Xi quickly caught up with him and walked alongside him.

"Sir, what are you looking at?"

The guard, who followed quietly behind the white tiger like an invisible man, looked at his master with suspicion.

That child… He admitted that the other person was cute, but was it really worth his lord's attention?

"How lucky... Well, it's nothing, I just felt he looked familiar."

The big tiger chuckled, glanced at the shadows beneath the restaurant, and didn't tell his subordinates his guess.

"let's go."

He walked with his hands behind his back in the opposite direction from daylight.

At the end of that road lies the prefectural government office of Boyun Prefecture.

"Lu Yun's death has a great impact, and a major disaster is imminent. In order to prevent the security of Yongning Road from becoming more chaotic due to the death of a prefect, we must find out the truth of this matter as soon as possible and restore peace of mind to the people."

"Here."

■

"Sir, please don't just focus on painting as soon as you get back."

"Why don't you rest a bit before you start writing again?"

During the day, Bai sat on a chair by the window, looking at Xi, who had been curled up in bed writing and drawing as soon as she got back, with a worried expression on her face.

"Enough with the fuss. Don't I know my own body's condition?"

After finishing her writing practice, Xi put down her pen and looked at Bai Zhou, who was actually staring blankly at her, though he seemed to be watching her.

"What are you thinking?"

“I was thinking about that big film I accidentally bumped into this afternoon, sir.”

Bai Zhou recalled the tiger's robust body, then glanced at his own thin arms, which were barely any flesh on them, and tentatively swung his fist.

"That big film looks really powerful. There's always a gust of wind around him, a very strong wind."

"His Originium Arts seem to involve manipulating the wind, sir. Will I be able to possess such Originium Arts someday? I can't wait."

The daytime talk gained popularity, but the evening was not interested in these things.

No matter how powerful that tiger's Originium Arts are, all she needs is a painting to make him lose without even knowing how he got there.

A kid is a kid; he can't even tell who's more capable.

"Oh, sir, are you hungry? I'll prepare dinner for you. Would you like stewed fish again?"

"random."

Xi stepped down from the ground, her lotus-like steps light and graceful, and walked to the table.

"Sir, I'm going to buy you some food. Please don't drink alcohol beforehand."

Bai Zhou gave him some more instructions, then ran out as Xi pretended to tap her pen.

"Humph."

Seeing Bai Zhou leave, Xi withdrew her hand and sat quietly in the chair, waiting for him to return.

She's not someone who doesn't know how to control herself; it's just a little bit of alcohol, she wouldn't steal a drink, would she?

Xi thought for a moment, then gently lifted the lid of the wine pot and took a sniff.

The rich aroma of the wine is so enticing that even a novice can tell it's a fine wine just by smelling it.

But this level of alcohol wasn't enough to make her sneak a sip. After all, she'd had much better drinks before.

Xi gave a soft hum and put the lid back on.

"Zi~"

The small teacup was picked up, and the tea inside was drunk in one gulp.

"Sir, I'm back."

Just as I put down my teacup, Bai Zhou brought in the food.

"It's just tea."

Seeing Bai Zhou looking over, Xi put her teacup aside, indicating that she was just enjoying her tea.

"Sir! Drinking tea before or after drinking alcohol is a bad habit and is bad for your health."

Although he was certain that Xi hadn't secretly drunk alcohol, Bai Zhou still frowned.

"Only one cup."

Xi was not intimidated; instead, she straightened her back and replied righteously and firmly:

"If you can't drink alcohol, are you not allowed to drink tea either?!"

"I've been busy all afternoon and haven't even touched my water. Can't I even quench my thirst?"

"Waaah..."

As soon as the momentum on one side picks up, the momentum on the other side immediately drops.

During the day, he quietly set out the food and dishes, and then took the wine pot to pour wine for Xi.

"I will prepare hot soup for you from now on."

"It's good to know."

Xi picked up the wine cup, first sniffed it, and only after smelling the aroma of the wine did she take a small sip.

"Whoo~"

This wine is clear and mellow, with a sweet aftertaste; it's quite good.

"Sir, please have your meal first. I'll go check on the radishes and greens."

He picked up a few apples and went outside during the day.

"Don't let them get too much of a taste of sweetness."

Xi knew the nature of these ink sprites; if they were allowed to run wild outside, who knew what kind of trouble they would cause when they returned to the painting.

"Um, sir, I'll go down now and be right back."

Bai Zhou chuckled, then closed the door and ran away quickly.

As the footsteps outside gradually faded away, Xi leisurely enjoyed the wine and fish.

After an unknown amount of time, Xi paused, her bright iridescent eyes gazing out the window before looking away.

"..."

Footsteps sounded outside; daylight had returned.

"Sir, I almost didn't get to see you!"

Upon entering the room, Bai Zhou, his arm covered in blood, couldn't wait to recount the horrific events he had just encountered.

Twenty years later, the winds rise and the waves surge; beasts roam freely.

"I love red apples the most~, have you ever tried their sweet taste~?"

Humming a tuneless little tune, Bai Zhou carried four large apples to the animal pen.

"Radish, greens, come and eat an apple."

Ah Yao, who was bored and playing with each other by biting each other's lips, heard the call and immediately let go of each other and ran over with a "heave-ho" sound.

"So good, so good, you too, so good, so good. (=^▽^=)"

During the day, he stuffed two apples into the mouths of the radish and cabbage respectively, then gently stroked their heads and praised them for their quiet and well-behaved behavior in the afternoon.

"The gentleman is drinking again, and we can't stop him no matter what we do."

Bai Zhou then chuckled and began praising Xi.

"Although the gentleman enjoys drinking, he has excellent manners when drunk, much better than my second uncle. He would even pretend to be drunk and take me to play in the painting. My second uncle would only brag to me about what he did back then, and sometimes he would get scolded by my father... The gentleman is so nice. Hehe."

"Gah."

Radish swallowed the chewed apple, stuck out his tongue and licked Bai Zhou's hand, seemingly agreeing with his praise of Xi, or perhaps expressing that the apple was so delicious he wanted another one.

The green vegetable also leaned over and stuck out its tongue, trying to lick his face.