That night, I still cooked many delicious dishes myself.
Not knowing what Ali liked to eat, I just made a little of everything.
At the dinner table, Ali looked at the feast spread before him.
Smelling the enticing aroma, he couldn't help but drool with happiness and asked me,
"Muye, you can cook?"
"Yes, I've cooked a lot these past few days while you were unconscious.
It's just that you never had the chance to taste it.
Today, you must eat to your heart's content and enjoy yourself."
As we were talking, Physician Luo and Xiao Cai had already started eating.
They were enjoying themselves immensely.
"Why didn't you wait for us?"
I looked at them, slightly annoyed.
Truly master and disciple, they were the same even when eating.
Physician Luo, in a rare display, pouted and said,
"With such delicious food right in front of us, who would listen to your nonsense?
I couldn't wait."
Xiao Cai chimed in,
"Me neither, I've been hungry all day."
"Hahaha"
Seeing them like this, I couldn't help but laugh out loud and said to Ali,
"Ali, you should start eating too, or they'll eat it all."
"Okay, Muye, you eat too."
"Mm, save some for us."
The meal was devoured by the group as if they hadn't eaten in years, like hungry ghosts reborn.
In the night, a gentle breeze blew.
Ali and I sat at the table, gazing out the window in a daze.
His complexion had improved greatly today, perhaps due to the removal of the toxins.
"I have already met Celestial Master Zhang."
I had to tell him about this.
"Really?"
Ali couldn't believe it.
He still thought that perhaps Muye was just saying it to make him happy.
So, I recounted the entire experience of meeting Celestial Master Zhang.
"That day, after you were stabbed by the Myriad Snow Spider, I also wanted to follow you to the grave.
Just then, Celestial Master Zhang descended from the heavens.
With just one move, he defeated the Myriad Snow Spider.
Then he brought both of us down the mountain.
After I explained to Celestial Master Zhang the purpose of our visit,
He told me to bring you to Physician Luo and promised to wait for us in Nan Hai City."
"I'm almost fully recovered now, let's go to Nan Hai City tomorrow."
I was a bit surprised and advised him,
"You've just recovered, you should stay a few more days."
Ali shook his head, indicating,
"No need. I trust Physician Luo's medical skills.
If he says it's fine, then it's fine.
Besides, if we delay too long, Celestial Master Zhang might lose his patience waiting."
Ali had a point. If we missed this opportunity,
We wouldn't know when or where we would meet him again.
I could only agree,
"Alright, then we'll head down the mountain tomorrow."
"Okay"
Ali looked at the only bed in the room and asked me,
"There's only one bed here. What about you and me?"
"You're weak, you sleep. I'm used to sleeping on the side."
Ali smiled slightly and said,
"Let's do it like before. Sleep in half, you sleep on one half, I sleep on the other."
I felt a little embarrassed and said,
"Is that okay?"
"Didn't we sleep like this before? There's nothing wrong with it."
Seeing his insistence, I couldn't say anything more and agreed,
"Alright, then we'll sleep in half."
Ali got up first and ran to the bed, his face beaming with joy.
"I want to sleep inside."
I also rushed over, pushed him aside, and said,
"No, I'll sleep inside, you sleep outside."
"Hey, I'm like this, just let me sleep inside."
I shook my head and explained to him,
"No, I don't feel safe sleeping outside. I'll sleep inside."
He seemed to sense something and looked at me with suspicion.
"Are you afraid of ghosts?"
I couldn't believe he guessed my weakness. I quickly shook my head and defended myself,
"No, of course not. Who, who's afraid of ghosts?"
"Hahaha, then I'll sleep inside, and you sleep outside."
"Don't! Alright, I, I admit, I'm afraid of ghosts."
"I knew it would be for this reason. It's been so long, and you're still afraid of ghosts."
"I don't know either. I guess I haven't accepted the fact that there are no ghosts."
"Really, you're too timid."
"No matter what, I want to sleep inside."
"Okay, okay, you can sleep there."
I chuckled and climbed onto the bed first. Ali lay on the edge of the bed with a helpless expression.
Xiao Cai, hearing the commotion in the room, curiously peeked through the crack in the door.
Physician Luo scooped him up, covered his eyes, and his expression was complicated.
"This is not something children should see."
Saying that, he carried Xiao Cai back to his room. Xiao Cai curiously asked,
"Master, why can't I look?"
Physician Luo was momentarily speechless. Although he had experienced much,
He found it difficult to explain such matters to Xiao Cai, so he explained euphemistically,
"They haven't seen each other for a long time, so they have a lot to talk about.
Let's not disturb them."
Xiao Cai, as if understanding but not quite, said "Oh."
Heeding his master's words, he obediently went to sleep.
Uh, did Physician Luo misunderstand something?
Actually, nothing happened between Ali and Muye.
The next morning, I got up early to cook.
Physician Luo was also up quite early today. The sound of chopping firewood outside was incessant.
After breakfast, I brought up the matter with Physician Luo.
"Physician Luo, Ali is better now, we plan to go down the mountain today."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Cai was anxious and quickly asked,
"Why so soon?"
"Ali and I still need to go to Nan Hai City.
Someone is waiting for us there."
Ali also cupped his hands and thanked Physician Luo,
"Thank you, Physician Luo. Your life-saving grace is unforgettable."
Physician Luo frowned slightly and said,
"If you want to thank someone, thank Muye. She has fulfilled all my requests."
Ali looked at me upon hearing his words, his eyes filled with heartache.
"Muye, you must have suffered a lot for me."
"It wasn't too much. Fortunately, I was able to accomplish it all."
This time, Physician Luo surprisingly spoke up to persuade us to stay.
"Are you really not staying a few more days?"
"No, thank you for your trouble during this time."
I thought it would be best to go to Nan Hai City to find Celestial Master Zhang quickly.
He smiled slightly and suddenly praised me,
"The food you cook is quite delicious."
My heart skipped a beat.
I never expected to be recognized. I smiled sheepishly.
Xiao Cai looked at us with reluctance and asked,
"Do you have to leave today?"
I nodded and crouched down to hug him.
"Thank you, Xiao Cai. I don't know what I would have done without you during this time.
You've helped me a great deal."
Xiao Cai pouted, tears welling up in his eyes.
Ali also came over, patted Xiao Cai's head, and comforted him,
"Xiao Cai, although I haven't known you for long,
I still like you very much. Let me hug you too."
I released Xiao Cai, and Ali scooped him up.
He showered him with affection, kissing him repeatedly.
Xiao Cai, holding back his tears, was finally kissed by Ali until tears fell.
"Why are you crying?"
Ali looked at his tears with great concern and reached out to wipe them away.
I also comforted Xiao Cai, saying,
"Don't be sad, Xiao Cai. When you grow up, you can come find us."
Xiao Cai knew he was a man and that true men don't cry easily.
He extended his small hand, wiped his own tears, and forced a smile,
"Yes, I'm a man. Men don't cry."
"Yes, Xiao Cai is already a brave man."
Although Physician Luo was reluctant to part, he patted my shoulder and said,
"Since you must leave, then go."
"Physician Luo, thank you. Ali and I will be going down the mountain now.
Please take care of yourselves, Xiao Cai. If there's a chance, I'll come back to see you."
Xiao Cai also said,
"Brother, Sister, you must both be well too."
"Yes, everyone be well."
Looking at the tear streaks on his face, I couldn't help but kiss him repeatedly.
Physician Luo suggested,
"Since you are leaving now,
Xiao Cai and I will escort you. We'll see you off at Qian Li Stair."
"Okay"
So, accompanied by Xiao Cai and Physician Luo,
Ali and I walked out of the thatched cottage.
We walked through the vegetable patch and the small woods,
And arrived at Qian Li Stair, which seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance.
"We'll see you off here," I said.
Physician Luo looked at the foot of the mountain, then at us, and said,
"Let's go."
Xiao Cai also bid farewell,
"Brother, Sister, goodbye."
Ali and I also said goodbye to them,
"Xiao Cai, Physician Luo, take care. We're leaving."
"Go on."
After bidding farewell, I took Ali and slowly walked down the mountain.
When we reached the halfway point, I looked back.
In a daze, I saw Xiao Cai and Physician Luo still standing on the mountain, watching us leave.
"What's wrong?"
Ali, seeing me looking at the mountaintop, asked curiously.
"They're still there."
Ali also looked back and vaguely saw two tiny figures.
"It seems they really like you. We're already this far, and they haven't gone back."
"I heard before that Physician Luo had a peculiar personality, and it seems to be true.
However, very few people know that he is also a righteous and loyal person."
"Yes, he's indeed quite good."
"Alas, let's go."
"Okay"
Going down the mountain is different from going up. Going up is quite tiring, while going down is easier.
We hadn't walked for long before we reached the foot of the mountain.
As soon as we reached the foot, we heard the sound of fighting in the sky.
Looking up,
We saw a water snake made of water and a phoenix made of fire fighting in mid-air.
The water snake spat out a large volume of water, and the phoenix spiraled upwards, spitting fire in return.
Ali looked up and asked doubtfully,
"Who is fighting here?"
"I know who it is."
"You know?"
"Yes." I shouted to the sky,
"Young Master Shui Fang! Young Master Ying Lu!"
Hearing my call, the water snake and the fire phoenix swooped down towards us.
Ali, startled, covered his eyes with his hands, thinking they were coming to harm him.
As the water snake and the fire phoenix were about to land, they transformed into human forms and landed beside Ali and me.
"Miss Muye, Young Master Ali."
They cupped their hands.
Ali lowered his hands upon hearing their voices and saw two young men.
Moreover, they recognized him.
Seeing Ali's confused expression, I introduced him,
"Ali, these two are the young masters I met when I came to Qian Cao Peak.
This is Shui Fang, and this is Ying Lu.
It was they who escorted us up the mountain."
Only then did Ali understand why they knew him and said gratefully,
"Thank you both, young masters. I am truly grateful."
"Hahaha, Young Master Ali, you're too kind. It was just a small favor.
Just call us Shui Fang and Ying Lu. Calling us 'Young Master' feels unnatural."
"Hehehe, yes, Shui Fang, Ying Lu."
I chuckled.
Ying Lu looked at Ali carefully, his face full of surprise.
"I didn't expect Muye to have such a way.
To actually get Physician Luo to treat Brother Ali."
Shui Fang also said in surprise,
"Yes, he's known as a ruthless great physician who doesn't save the living and ignores the dead.
Muye really has a way."
I smiled sheepishly. It seemed they had misunderstood Physician Luo. I explained,
"Physician Luo is actually not as bad as the rumors say. He's a pretty good person."
"Is that so? That's rare. It's seldom that someone speaks so highly of him."
"Hahaha, when you have time,
You can go up and get to know him."
"It's not impossible. Let's find a time."
Shui Fang asked curiously,
"Since you have no more matters here, where are you going?"
Ali replied,
"We're going to Nan Hai City."
"Nan Hai City?"
Shui Fang and Ying Lu said in unison.
Hearing our voices, they didn't sound like people from Nan Hai City.
So, their curiosity was piqued again.
Ali explained,
"Muye and I have a friend in Nan Hai City, and we need to find him."
Shui Fang said with regret,
"I see. That's a pity.
We were hoping to keep you here for a few more days."
I said,
"We still need to get to Nan Hai City, so we can't stay."
Ying Lu also expressed some regret.
"That's fine then. It's several hundred miles from here to Nan Hai City.
And you don't have horses or anything else.
Walking there would probably take several days.
Shui Fang and I can help you."
I looked at him doubtfully and asked,
"How can you help?"
"Leave it to us."
Saying that, they leaped onto a tree and each plucked a leaf.
They flicked the leaves at our feet, and instantly, the leaves transformed into small boats, floating in mid-air.
Looking at the adorable little boats, I was filled with surprise.
"Wow! This is so cute! How did you do that?"
Shui Fang laughed and said,
"It's a small matter. We're glad you like it.
This flying boat can take you to Nan Hai City quickly.
We hope you have a safe journey."
Saying that, the two of them exerted force with their fingers, striking the small boats.
The small boats immediately began to shake and flew forward rapidly.
Bouncing in the boat, I waved goodbye to them,
"See you again if fate allows."
Ali also shouted, "Two gentlemen, see you again if fate allows."
Shui Fang and Ying Lu waved goodbye from afar.
The small boats flew swiftly, and in just one day, they brought Ali and me
To a town called "Nan Feng Town" not far from Nan Hai City.
Then, Ali and I rented two fast horses in the town and headed for Nan Hai City.
After a night of fast riding, we arrived at Nan Hai City, passing through Fen Shan.
Nan Hai City is located in the south. It was formerly the territory of the ancient demon tribe, Wan Gu Kingdom.
Ten thousand years ago, it was the royal city of the Demon King Mo Ye Duo.
Upon entering the city, the first thing that met our eyes was a prosperous ancient capital.
The pedestrians on the streets all held round fans or folding fans, dressed elegantly.
Every smile and glance was filled with charm, and the passersby were all courteous.
Could this be the legendary land of scholars and poets?
I was somewhat excited.
I was thinking that my hidden literary talent had nowhere to be released.
Now, it was time to show my damned charm.
"What are you smiling at?"
Ali looked at me, puzzled as to what was so funny.
I snapped back to reality, feeling a bit awkward, and gave a silly smile,
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"By the way, where should we look for Celestial Master Zhang?"
Looking at the vast street and the people coming and going,
I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to ask Celestial Master Zhang precisely where to find him.
Ali looked at my crestfallen expression and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He guessed immediately that I had forgotten to ask for the meeting location. He said understandingly,
"It's okay.
We can find a place to stay first, and then look for him."
He pointed to a tall, exquisitely built building ahead and said,
"Let's go there!"
I looked up and saw the words written in red ink hanging in front of the building:
"Yue Lai Inn."
Before I could react,
Ali grabbed me and we ran towards it, entering the inn.