Seeing that Taishang Laojun wasn’t laughing, I thought he was quite cute. I patted him, but he didn’t respond. When I patted harder, he flung me away with even more force! I’m dizzy, the charm of the internet…
Finally, I cleared my throat and asked: “Can I add you?”
Taibai didn’t look up: “Confirmed.”
This communication felt awkward, but at least he acknowledged me: “Why did you catch Wangzai?” Did Wangzai commit a crime? Impossible. Apart from being lazy and gluttonous, he had no serious flaws.
“Hm?” I realized Taishang Laojun was ignoring me, chatting with someone else. I imitated QQ’s chirping sounds and repeated my question.
Taishang Laojun responded, “He stole my immortal pill.”
I quickly replied, “How could he? From what I know, he only sneaks snacks. Could there be a mistake?” I had little faith in the Heavenly Court’s judgment.
“No mistake. He admitted to stealing the pill to become human. With his cultivation, he could only transform into a minor.”
“What? He’s a minor?” I was shocked. So, Wangzai was just a kid? No wonder he was a bit greedy and playful! Should I avoid harming the flowers of our motherland? Troubled…
“Yes, he’s probably only six or seven years old.”
“Ah?! Cough cough!” I choked on my tea. Seriously? Making me have a relationship with a six or seven-year-old kid? I slumped on the table. “So he became human by taking your immortal pill?”
The old man dropped a thunderbolt of a statement: “Age isn’t a problem!”
“The problem is he’s underage! The country doesn’t even allow registration!” I felt wronged.
“By your calculation, he’s six or seven hundred years old. What’s there to fear?”
I crashed to the ground. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Unfortunately, my gritted teeth threat was ineffective because I forgot those two “chirp-chirp” sounds, so he didn’t receive it! Frustrating.
Unexpectedly, the old man consoled me: “He’s just curious after coming down the mountain.”
He’ll adapt after a while.”
“Chirp-chirp—Is that so? I’ll take your blessing,” I said weakly.
“Bread will come, milk will come…” I’m dizzy. Old man, have you even seen milk?
Forget it. I look outside; Taibai should be back soon.
Then Taibai rushed in carrying a furry little creature, shoving it into my arms. “Okay! Go back quickly! In case those guys bury you, it won’t be good.”
“Oh!” I remembered the situation and grabbed Wangzai to run. After a while, I ran back: “By the way… how do I go down?”
Taibai pointed to the right, indicating that jumping down would be okay.
I ran again. From behind, I heard Taishang Laojun’s voice: “Hey—add me—I’m Heavenly Court’s Handsome Guy, my number is…”
I slipped and crashed to the ground.
Heavenly Court’s Handsome Guy = Taishang Laojun…
“What about bathing and using the toilet?” I asked, looking smugly at Wuchen’s face as it turned red.
“We’ll come along too,” Xiaozizi and Feng Qingyin walked in.
Black lines. How could I forget this trio was inseparable? Every time I teased Wuchen, Xiaozizi found an opportunity to tease me back. Ugh… times have changed!
“About yesterday…” Mu Jiyu also walked in, looking very investigative.
“None of your business!”
I and several men spoke in unison.
“Cough, just asking…” Mu Jiyu laughed awkwardly and quickly changed the subject, “Where are Yiqing and Meng Yu?”
“Accompanying Shiran sunbathing,” Wuchen chuckled, “Wangzai had an incident yesterday, and Shiran is feeling quite down. Unexpectedly, these two who always fight over food are so close.”
“The cat from the Flower Gate Master’s family is extraordinary, having two living people accompanying it to cheer up,” Mu Jiyu laughed softly. He was determined to believe I was a cat demon. Are cat demons this beautiful and cute? Seriously!
I decided not to argue: “Master Mu, since Yiqing has been found, we should be leaving. We have matters at home.”
“Oh? In such a hurry? Does Yiqing know?”
This implied that I couldn’t prove Yiqing was mine! I smiled with a forced expression: “Yiqing is mine in life, and mine in death.” I firmly stated my position.
“Flower Gate Master, if I say that in your previous life you were my wife and I’m determined to marry you, would you have to come with me and marry into the Mu family?”
“Well, that sounds good…” I blurted out without thinking. A beautiful man throwing himself into my arms! But seeing the looks from my husbands, I quickly added, “Just a hypothetical, of course.”
“Ah, what a pity… if only it weren’t just a comparison…
Mu Jiyu realized he had misspoken and laughed awkwardly: “Since Flower Gate Master is so resolute, let’s travel together.”
“Oh? Okay, I’m going to the capital. What about you?” Traveling with someone who enjoys comfort is truly pleasant; I was looking forward to his carriage.
“What a coincidence, I’m also going to the capital, just on the way,” Mu Jiyu first expressed surprise, then laughed happily.
“Why are we going to the capital?” Feng Qingyin frowned, recalling their days in the imperial palace.
I patted his hand: “Our father is turning sixty.”
“Huh? Sixty years old? Is it Lord Shi?” Mu Jiyu looked at us in surprise.
“Ah? We’re not only traveling the same route, but our destination is the same too?”
“Your… father?” Mu Jiyu began to imagine something.
“Enough, stop thinking nonsense. I divorced Jin Mo long ago. He just doesn’t want to acknowledge it publicly.” I patted Mu Jiyu’s shoulder.
“Ah, no wonder,” Mu Jiyu seemed somewhat distracted.
“No wonder what?” I asked curiously.
“No wonder he’s been fighting recklessly everywhere,” Mu Jiyu shook his head with a laugh.
“Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to arrange things.” Mu Jiyu was the first to leave.
The husbands busied themselves packing and preparing gifts for their first meeting with their father-in-law.
I took a moment to gaze out the window at the spring scenery and sighed softly, wondering how that guy was doing.
*
“When are they going to serve the food? I’m starving,” I said, patting the table.
“Just wait a bit longer,” Mu Jiyu replied, also impatient.
Xiao Zizi’s group was better equipped, as these men had developed a habit of bringing snacks.
Meng Yu handed me the last thin pancake: “I’m full. Eat more and don’t go hungry.”
Everyone paused to watch him. After a moment, they resumed their tasks, puzzled by how he could be full without eating.
“This inn is really run-down,” Shi Ran remarked as he came downstairs, the old stairs creaking with each step.
“At least it’s habitable, but why is the food taking so long?” I complained while eating the pancake.
Just then, Wang Zai, our scout, returned and jumped onto the table.
He instinctively grabbed Feng Qingyin’s hand, nibbled the steamed bun, then rolled off. In the next moment, a black-clothed handsome man sat steadily on the chair. Tapping the table, Wang Zai looked gleeful: “They’re waiting for a hen to lay eggs, and someone’s been sent to catch fish.”
We all wilted instantly. This small, shabby shop didn’t even have ingredients to cook, finally clarifying what the shopkeeper meant by “absolutely fresh.”
“Second brother, let’s stay here tonight. There are no inns for the next thirty li,” a burly man entered, carrying a large sack.
“Okay,” came a muffled voice from a shorter, fat man. He glanced at us and sat down in a corner.
The muscular man followed, casually throwing the sack on the ground and pulling out an oil-paper package. When opened, the fragrant aroma of marinated beef spread. He spread the food in front of the fat man, then pulled out another package of five-spice dried meat, reaching into the sack again.
We stared hungrily, occasionally wiping away saliva. Damn, it’s all Mu Jiyu’s fault for forgetting to bring dry rations! As the big man reached into the sack again, I thought, “desperate times call for desperate measures.”
