Chapter 35
The atmosphere was a bit somber as they left the Patriarch Hall, mainly because Qu Banqing’s face had darkened considerably, to the point where he was ready to denounce the Biluo Temple.
He would never set foot in this place again, not even for free-range eggs!
“What weak birth chart, short life, they say heavenly secrets shouldn’t be revealed, but this old man just blurts it out… it’s all a scam!”
Qu Banqing put his hands on his hips and lectured Ning Meow Meow like a teacher. “If you don’t believe it, it won’t come true. We’re in a new era, we believe in science!”
Ning Zhixia’s expression was incredibly complicated.
Of the three of them, one was covered in stray cats, and the other was still polishing his metal wings yesterday.
Ning Zhixia paused, thinking that he was probably the most scientific being among them.
But he didn’t dare say it out loud, only echoing, “Exactly, exactly…”
The overly enthusiastic stray cats were almost climbing onto Audrow’s head. He glanced at the young man, didn’t say anything, and simply grabbed a kitten by the scruff of its neck and pulled it down, his movements quite practiced.
It was almost noon. There was a newly opened vegetarian restaurant near the temple called Qingyun Lou, known for its delicious food. Unfortunately, when Ning Zhixia and the others arrived, the arrogant maître d’ looked them up and down and informed them that it was a members-only establishment, not a place for small-time influencers to take photos.
Qu Banqing, who had been looking forward to it, was instantly disappointed: “Forget it, we can eat somewhere else down the mountain…”
Ning Zhixia didn’t mind, and as for Audrow, vegetarian food wasn’t even in his dietary vocabulary.
Just as they were about to leave, a few female guests emerged from a private room connected to the corridor.
“Eh? Is that Xiao Ning?”
Mrs. Li called out tentatively, and when he turned around, she smiled. “It really is you, I was wondering why your shop was closed today, so you came to Biluo Mountain to pray to the God of Fortune…”
Her gaze shifted to Audrow, standing quietly beside him, and her voice faltered. “…Or the God of Marriage?”
Ning Zhixia paused. Why would three men pray to the God of Marriage?
He shook his head: “We came with a friend to get safety amulets.”
As they were talking, a young woman came out from behind Mrs. Li, looking curiously at the young men talking to her mother.
After Mrs. Li introduced them, she covered her face and exclaimed excitedly, “So you’re the owner of the Monster Manicure Shop?”
Ning Zhixia was a little surprised and nodded.
“Hello, hello, I’m a fan of Yin Fuliu, I love the press-on nails you made for her!” Miss Li had just returned from abroad, and her birthday party was in a few days. She was planning to dress up for the occasion.
Ning Zhixia paused: “But my appointments are fully booked for the next few days.”
Miss Li shrugged: “Don’t worry about that, I’ll take care of it.”
She smiled confidently, and left with her mother.
The waiters and the maître d’, who had been watching, were all shrewd and their expressions immediately changed.
The previously arrogant maître d’ quickly put on a fawning smile and invited Ning Zhixia and the others to a private room: “Sir, this way…”
Qu Banqing puffed out his chest and walked past him: “Hmph! We’re not eating here!”
They went to another older restaurant nearby, climbed the creaking stairs to the second floor, and sat by the wooden railing overlooking the lush greenery, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting dappled shadows on their shoulders.
The vegetarian dishes here were simple, mostly wild vegetables and steamed eggplant, and almost every table had ordered douhua rice.
Douhua was made from soybeans ground into soy milk and coagulated with brine. It looked uneven on the surface, but it was incredibly tender, easily breaking apart if the chopsticks were used with too much force.
But the locals were used to it and skillfully picked up the trembling douhua, dipping it in the sauce. The dipping sauce was homemade chili oil with soy sauce, MSG, pickled vegetables, crushed peanuts, and chopped scallions and cilantro.
Hundreds of ready-made sauce dishes were piled up in the kitchen, convenient for serving. If someone didn’t like a particular ingredient, they could make their own at the condiment station.
A bowl of douhua, a dish of spicy sauce, and a bowl of rice, all for just ten yuan, a satisfying and affordable meal.
Ning Zhixia initially ate the douhua with his rice, then, finding it too troublesome, imitated Qu Banqing, asked for a large bowl, drained the douhua, placed it on top of the rice, poured the sauce over it, mixed it thoroughly, and ate it by the spoonful, much more satisfying than the dainty dishes at Qingyun Lou.
“Chirp, chirp…”
A small bird perched on a branch, fluttering its wings and hopping along the twig.
Audrow, his chin resting on his hand, watched it for a while, then extended a finger towards the bending branch.
The little bird tilted its head, tentatively took a step, and hopped onto his long finger: “Chirp, chirp!”
Ning Zhixia slowly put down his spoon, his mouth covered in douhua crumbs, his eyes curving into a smile as he watched the fairytale-like scene.
So harmonious, so close to nature, so…
Audrow suddenly opened his mouth wide, attempting to swallow the innocent little bird—
Ning Zhixia was startled: “Stop, stop, we’ll buy some small rice cakes later!”
Audrow stared at him silently.
Ning Zhixia quickly said, “Sweet ones, definitely delicious.”
Audrow raised an eyebrow, lifted his finger, and let the little bird go.
After lunch, as promised, Ning Zhixia took Audrow to buy rice cakes for dessert.
Both sides of the slope leading to the temple gate were lined with shops selling silver jewelry, jade, local specialties, and various snacks. The crowd of visitors bustled with activity, a red gate separating the human world from the divine.
“Rice cakes, white sugar sponge cakes, local honey…” Qu Banqing was immediately captivated, took out his wallet, slung it over his shoulder, said he’d be back soon, and disappeared into the crowd, his bargaining voice soon rising above the others.
Ning Zhixia also wanted to join the shopping spree, but he was pushed aside and told not to get in the way, so he obediently waited with Audrow under a plane tree covered in green vines.
Perhaps the Taoist priests on Biluo Mountain were truly skilled, but there were many visitors entering and leaving the temple. Ning Zhixia looked up at the birds flying through the swirling smoke, his eyes clear and bright, lost in thought.
“You already know that paranormal things exist in this world, don’t you mind drawing that fortune stick?” A light voice, almost drowned out by the surrounding noise.
But Ning Zhixia still heard it.
He turned around and saw Audrow staring intently at him.
Seemingly not receiving an answer, Audrow tapped his finger on the young man’s lips and said, his eyes narrowed, “Pay attention to me.”
I’m not a toy that makes sounds when you press it!
Ning Zhixia frowned and swatted his hand away.
“Actually…” He thought for a moment and said honestly, “It’s not the first time I’ve heard something like that.”
When he was young, his grandfather had also brought him to Biluo Mountain, and the abbot at that time had said similar things, advising him to stay in Yucheng. But it was too absurd, no parent would want to hear their child being called short-lived, so they hadn’t taken it seriously.
“But I’m still fine now, and I’m back, and I’ve met you guys…”
Perhaps as compensation for the short-life prophecy, Ning Zhixia had never had to worry about food or clothing, nor struggle for his future, his life relatively smooth and carefree.
He looked up at Audrow, a sincere smile on his face, “Don’t worry, no matter how long I live, my life has been worthwhile.”
Audrow gave a soft “hmm,” his expression unreadable in the dappled shade.
“I got it! Yay, I got it!”
Just then, a cheer erupted from the crowd not far away. There was a centuries-old tree on Biluo Mountain, and a stall next to it offered lucky bags and red ribbons. Ordinary people’s lucky bags contained auspicious words written on red paper, but this lucky visitor held an ancient copper coin in his hand.
Audrow asked, “Why is he so happy?”
It had been a long time since anyone had drawn a copper coin lucky bag. Ning Zhixia craned his neck to see, and hearing Audrow’s question, said excitedly, “It’s a good omen!”
Audrow frowned, not quite understanding: “Is it that rare?”
“Yes!” Ning Zhixia explained enthusiastically, “Think about it, so many lucky bags, so many people drawing, and you’re the one who got it. The rarer it is, the happier the person who gets it, especially since it’s a lucky charm that grants wishes, tsk, tsk, what a good sign!”
He then ran off and drew one himself, eagerly opening it.
“Oh… as expected…” Ning Zhixia looked at the red paper with auspicious words written on it.
But it was fine, he folded it into a small triangle and put it in his phone case.
Audrow watched quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Okay, time to find Banqing…” Ning Zhixia, worried that his friend would go on a shopping spree, looked up and heard Audrow call him.
“Your hand.” Audrow said.
“Oh…”
Although puzzled, Ning Zhixia obediently extended his hand, and something cold landed on his palm.
A gust of sandalwood-scented mountain wind blew past, silver-gray hair brushing against the young man’s shoulder.
Audrow took the rough lucky bag and tossed it into the trash can, his casual voice lingering in the young man’s ear—
“Here, rarer than a copper coin.”
Ning Zhixia froze, looking at the fan-shaped, shell-like object in his hand…
A scale.
“Heave-ho!”
Qu Banqing put a box of nuts into the car trunk, looked at his loot with satisfaction, and clapped his hands.
Like a pilgrimage to the West, they had come with light luggage, but were returning fully loaded, the trunk almost overflowing.
Ning Zhixia sighed, “Isn’t this too much?”
“Too much? Not at all!” Qu Banqing’s eyes widened. “Those fox cubs are like gluttons, every time they come, they devour snacks like there’s no tomorrow. And Popokula, guzzling soda until he changes color and still not stopping…”
Ning Zhixia looked at Audrow, who had calmly eaten two bags of white sugar rice cakes, and thought, That’s true, fortunately, we’re well-off, otherwise we couldn’t afford to entertain these foodies.
They encountered some traffic on the way back and arrived home near dusk. Qu Banqing planned to cook some noodles for a simple dinner. Audrow was already eating his usual sashimi, attracting a chorus of meows from the kittens.
“Shoo, shoo, don’t rub against me.”
Ning Zhixia walked past with his tablet, tickled by Fatty Orange.
He opened the platform app to check tomorrow’s appointments and received a message from the platform.
His first live stream had performed well, and according to the campaign rules, his replay was featured on the homepage of the live stream section.
Such a result for a first-time streamer was impressive, and the platform suggested he stream regularly, offering potential collaborations for offline projects in the future if his popularity continued to rise.
Ning Zhixia thought it sounded good and readily agreed.
Platform representative: “Mr. Ning, will you really stream?”
Ning Zhixia: “Yes, yes, yes…”
Platform representative: “Then when will you stream next time?”
Ning Zhixia: “Next time, next time…”
Platform representative: “…” He could already smell the scent of a procrastinator!
Ning Zhixia, having dealt with the platform representative, continued browsing and stumbled upon Miss Li’s post—
[High price for a Thursday appointment slot at Monster Manicure Shop! Urgent!]
“Where has the algorithm taken me, people are even buying appointment slots now?”
“What kind of nail salon is this, is it that irreplaceable?”
“@MonsterManicureShop, this one, haven’t been to the physical store, but their press-on nails are amazing!”
“What, press-on nails, how did you know I got the summer limited edition?”
“Did I not send it? I got the summer limited edition.”
“Hello, OP, tomorrow’s appointment is mine, I’ve been waiting for a long time, don’t think you can just buy my time!”
“5000 yuan.”
“Mwah, sister, tomorrow’s appointment is yours!”
“Damn… witnessing the power of money firsthand…”
“Wuwuwu, come and devour me, a poor, useless worker bee!”
Ning Zhixia stared blankly at the post, and soon, he received a message from tomorrow’s customer rescheduling, and another from Miss Li confirming her appointment time.
Oh my! The power of money!
“What’s wrong?”
Qu Banqing called him several times for dinner but got no response, so he came over with a bowl and his eyes widened at what he saw.
“Meow Meow…” Qu Banqing muttered.
Ning Zhixia looked up, confused: “Hmm?”
Qu Banqing patted his head affectionately and said with certainty, “You’re not a little piglet, you’re a little golden pig!”
Ning Zhixia puffed out his chest proudly: “Oink, oink!”
He went to tell Audrow about it, and Audrow asked, “Why didn’t you just charge her a 5000 yuan reservation fee and compensate the original customer with a free service?”
Ning Zhixia was shocked: “You’re so evil.”
“Am I…”
Audrow looked at him lazily, his cold fingers reaching for the young man’s chin…
“Crash—”
With a loud bang, the front door was kicked open, and several tall figures, bathed in the blood-red moonlight, stood at the doorway, their hooves clattering as they cautiously peered inside.
“Centaurs?”
Audrow narrowed his eyes, masking the flicker of killing intent, and almost instinctively pulled the startled, yelping young man behind him.
“What are you doing here?” Harpas’ face contorted. “And why are you shielding him like that?!”
“I live here rent-free.”
Audrow said matter-of-factly, holding Ning Zhixia’s wrist and waving it in front of them. “So I’m responsible for protecting him.”
Ning Zhixia interjected: “You can pay rent and protect me.” After all, fresh sashimi was expensive.
Audrow retorted, “You’re so greedy.”
Ning Zhixia: “…” Finally, your turn to say that.
Mili muttered sarcastically, “So pitiful, doesn’t the Bureau’s powerful one have his own place?”
“No.” Audrow twirled an ice crystal between his fingers, a smirk on his face. “I can just steal yours in the Barrenlands.”
“In your dreams!” Harpas stomped his hooves, making the floor tremble.
Ning Zhixia immediately jumped out: “Don’t fight, don’t fight!” With this kind of bombardment every few days, no one could stand it, especially since Qu Banqing had just cleaned!
As soon as he spoke, the centaurs fell silent, pacing restlessly outside. Anyone who tried to squeeze inside was kicked by their brothers.
Ning Zhixia asked helplessly, “What are you doing here?”
The centaurs, seeing that he had spoken, huddled together and whispered, then pushed a representative forward.
Mili, holding a box, cautiously stepped halfway inside: “We, we brought you some gifts…”
Ning Zhixia pursed his lips and didn’t reply. If they opened a box of shiny gems and said something annoying again, he would chase them away with a broom…
When the box opened, Ning Zhixia’s expression froze. The small, glittering stones in the light, as common as dust in the palace gardens, were the things he hadn’t taken.
“Human, we didn’t mean to harm you, we hope we’ve chosen the right gifts to earn your forgiveness…” Mili and the centaurs behind him lowered their heads obediently, their hooves pawing the ground nervously.
Audrow watched for a while, then sat back on the sofa, making space for the young man behind him.
“Uh, okay…”
Ning Zhixia gratefully accepted the box, and seeing that Harpas’ forehead was smooth and unblemished, his annoyance lessened considerably.
He scratched his face embarrassedly, patted Harpas’ red hair, and told them his name: “I accept your apology. If you don’t mind, please call me by my name.”
Names were important to monsters. Hearing this, the centaurs’ eyes lit up, and they wagged their tails, surrounding Ning Zhixia and happily tapping their hooves.
Qu Banqing came downstairs with the vacuum cleaner, saw the scene at the door, and asked, stunned, “What’s going on?”
Ning Zhixia shook the box and said awkwardly, “I think they’ve learned the magic of friendship?”
Qu Banqing rolled his eyes and snorted, “Really? I’d like to give them a gift.”
Ning Zhixia was curious: “What?”
Qu Banqing said coldly, “A magic cloak.”
The centaurs were confused, but Audrow gave Qu Banqing an approving look.
