[Title here]

by Spring Trees

  Since they were heading to the mountain, they definitely couldn’t return by night time. Thus, preparations to camp outside was absolutely needed. He was just a fragile and normal person, unlike those highly skilled martial artists.

  Why did the gentle and touching emotion pass so fleetingly?

  In the end, it was caused by Mo Shu’s level of idiocy being unfitting for such a scenario and emotions, wasn’t it?

  I’m so dumb, always having an unrealistic expectation and fantasy for this fellow. I’m so dumb, didn’t I completely understand this fellow’s nature long ago? Why am I still moved by him? I’m so dumb, I really am…

  Throughout his walk back, Nan Ge Er filled his mind with resentment, a phrase repeated all over in his heart.

  Nan Ge Er had turned into Nan Lin Sao1

  * * *

  1 Nan Lin Sao: Nan Ge Er was referring to ‘Lin Sao’, aka Xiang Lin’s Wife, aka the female protagonist in the novel, The New Year Sacrifice, by Chinese author Lu Xun. One of her common phrases was ‘I’m so dumb, I really am’. More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selected_Stories_of_Lu_Hsun#The_New_Year_Sacrifice

  Chapter 26

  * * *

  When Nan Ge Er finished packing, he went up to the mountain with Mo Shu right away.

  Of course, those packed supplies were carried effortlessly by Mo Shu-xiansheng. Nan Ge Er followed behind, panting heavily as he climbed up the slope at a tortoise pace.

  The target of their current hunt was rumored to be living in the middle of the mountain, so they need not stay in the mountains for long. If they were lucky, they probably would just take three days to capture the hunted prey back home.

  Once Mo Shu settled Nan Ge Er down in a cave, he began finding traces left by the aforementioned prey. Before leaving, he even captured a pair of rabbits and foxes to ‘accompany’ Nan Ge Er. After warning Nan Ge Er repeatedly to not go out of the cave, he left the cave in a flurry while being pelted with stones by Nan Ge Er.

  Mo Shu returned at nightfall, noticing the ‘playmates’ he arranged to accompany Nan Ge Er had already turned into a sizzling dinner that glistened with oil above the bonfire…

  Nan Ge Er used his might in pulling the wild rabbit’s leg, which was roasted to an extreme toughness, as he mumbled to Mo Shu, “Don’t mind my amateur skills for now, fill your stomach up first.” In his hands was a half opened book.

  Wonderful, this child of mine won’t feel lonely at all.

  Mo Shu threw the prey in his hands down, walking over to work on the utterly tough meat for a second time.

  He cut a hole open, squeezing juices from various plants, before sprinkling a bit of salt taken out from his bosom. He flipped and roasted the meat again and again. Only when the slabs of meat gave off an alluring fragrance, did he cut a piece, and pass it over to Nan Ge Er, who was unaware that he had stopped tearing away the rabbit leg for quite some time. “Eat up.”

  Due to the awful record Mo Shu set all the time, so Nan Ge Er paused a little, before taking the object from Mo Shu’s hand.

  Despite feeling that he probably wouldn’t be poisoned to death, he still took a cautious bite, chewing it up. Following after, his delayed chewing hastened gradually. Giving Mo Shu an incredulous glance, he took another bite.

  Mo Shu had no need to ask Nan Ge Er for his thoughts about it; his reaction was the greatest answer. Moreover, he trusted his cooking capabilities; it was at least a few levels better than Nan Ge Er’s.

  With a chuckle, he picked up the rabbit leg, which was placed on the floor by Nan Ge Er, continuing to work on it.

  Noticing Mo Shu’s experienced movements, Nan Ge Er asked in the midst of his hecticness, “You seem to be good at this, huh?”

  Mo Shu lifted his head, looking at Nan Ge Er as he feigned a shocked expression, “Haven’t I told you before? I’m quite skilled in cooking and whatnot.”

  Nan Ge Er halted his mouth, glaring at him soon after, “You totally didn’t!”

  If I knew Mo Shu was proficient in cooking, I wouldn’t be cooking every day! Such a waste of time! It would be perfect if he just did it himself!

  Getting gloomier as his thoughts went on, all of the sudden, he recalled the numerous times when he asked Mo Shu proudly if the dinner then was tasty…

  Next, he compared the meat he roasted and the meat worked on by Mo Shu, flying into an involuntary rage out of humiliation right then, “Is it really fun to tease me?!”

  Tilting his head, Mo Shu grinned as soon as he saw Nan Ge Er’s irritated expression, “Mn.”

  “You!” Nan Ge Er’s blood boiled from his anger—seriously, he suspected that he might be puking out blood soon.

  “But mocking your cooking ability wasn’t the reason why I didn’t cook.” Mo Shu smiled while explaining, “Although I don’t know what others thought about it, I do feel that your meals are pretty good.”

  “Nonsense!” Nan Ge Er got even angrier, as he smashed the meat he had in hand towards Mo Shu’s body, “With that skills of mine?”

  He didn’t mind Mo Shu’s usual mischiefs at all, since he didn’t take it seriously. However, his decision for cooking meals and whatnot was made just because he wanted to do something for Mo Shu. Now, it turned into an object of ridicule instead, how could he not get angry by that?

  “Skills are just secondary.” Catching the food thrown over by Nan Ge Er, Mo Shu pierced it before continuing to roast and heat it up, “I just feel that it’s no fun to cook and eat alone, so I rarely cook.” He smiled while glancing at Nan Ge Er, who was infuriated but still listened to him, “Personally, I prefer meals cooked by others.”

  “Why did you roast meat so suddenly then?!” And even giving me a blow calmly while doing so!

  “Because I just decided to cook from now on.” Mo Shu chuckled.

  “Finally weary of my food?” Nan Ge Er grunted with a humph. He knew his culinary skills weren’t actually that great, but such thorough scorn still displeased him.

  “No.” Mo Shu smiled.

  The night blanketed down gradually, leaving only the slightly flickering bonfire. A hazy orange layer covered Mo Shu’s face, adding a bit of glamor to his entire face. His typically plain expression seemingly became rather gentle and warm too.

  “It’s just because I decided to cook tasty food for you.”

  “Huh?” Nan Ge Er was stunned for a while, blinking following after, “…Oh.” He didn’t have a full grasp of what Mo Shu meant, only capable of letting that single syllable out as a reply.

  “You’re too skinny.” Mo Shu continued.

  “…Oh.” Does my skinniness obstruct a DaYe like you? Are you going to say you will plump me up to eat in the new year after that?!

  “I can’t treat the wound in your heart. I only wish that by making your favorite food, you will at least look forward to every day.” Mo Shu whispered, before raising his head to face Nan Ge Er. “People that have no expectations for tomorrow die easily.”

  Usually, Mo Shu’s eyes looked clean and sharp, only displaying a bright acute air when drinking wine. Mo Shu’s eyes were pitch-black presently, as if containing a hollow-like, boundless experience.

  Nan Ge Er wasn’t able to look straight at Mo Shu’s current gaze, thus his eyes were casted away.

  He kept thinking that he couldn’t hide himself from the present Mo Shu.

  “Don’t die.” Mo Shu muttered, while reaching his hand out to pat the top of Nan Ge Er’s head.

  Nan Ge Er sensed him approaching, hence he trembled a bit. Nevertheless, he didn’t evade away.

  “Everyone likes you very much, including me. Now.” Mo Shu spoke, “So, I’m not fond of you dying.”

  The ‘now’ added behind Mo Shu’s words made Nan Ge Er felt a slight wish to believe in it instead. Neither did he believe Mo Shu would treat him well right from the start, nor did he believe people in Guang Tian would disclose the secrets there to him right at the beginning.

  He only learned about Guang Tian steadily by living there for almo
st three years.

  I guess people will grow emotions, unlike vegetation?

  Besides, he never had a heart of stone.

  His former cruelty stemmed from his need to be cruel. At present, he had no need to persevere and force himself in Guang Tian, so an inevitable bond towards the place would obviously arise in him.

  Nan Ge Er finally nodded his head, “…Mn, I- don’t dislike here.”

  He could only reply “I don’t know” to Mo Shu’s question in the past two years.

  Now, he finally could answer, “I don’t dislike”.

  He wasn’t sure if he liked it or not, since the prolonged darkness made him forget his exact desires and likes long ago. However, he, at least, was willing to stay.

  This just proves, I probably don’t dislike it here.

  An eccentric place, with noisy and outrageous residents in it, and a magistrate who often irritates others…

  But I don’t dislike it.

  Not expecting Nan Ge Er would tell him that then, Mo Shu was stunned for a moment, before chuckling.

  “And also.” Nan Ge Er’s tone was icy cold, but a storm could be faintly heard from the calmness.

  “Hm?” Mo Shu smiled lightly, rubbing Nan Ge Er’s head again.

  “Take your dirty and oily hands off me!” The roar rang out, enveloping the entire area.

  Chapter 27

  * * *

  Thus, after staying on the mountain for three days, Mo Shu really did drag a fiery-red beast over during the night of the third day.

  Nan Ge Er’s book was almost completely read.

  He lifted his gaze up, just in time to see Mo Shu displaying a graceful and ethereal posture, while strolling slowly over—if the beast, which he dragged like a rug, in his hand was ignored.

  Nan Ge Er glanced at the flame-like redness of the beast’s skin, only feeling a bit of familiarity with it. However, he couldn’t find the right word for it, just frowning while mulling what exactly it was in his heart.

  “What’s wrong?” Mo Shu walked to the mouth of the cave, asking casually when he noticed Nan Ge Er was deep in thoughts. Following after, he sliced off the forelimbs of the beast. Its meat was then taken, washed, coated with ingredients and roasted.

  Nan Ge Er obviously wouldn’t reply to the question Mo Shu blurted. He simply followed Mo Shu back into the cave, sitting by the side while watching him working busily. The fragrant roasted meat lured away every single bit of his thoughts in an instant.

  Mo Shu’s skills were, of course, not weak at all. Although he claimed he was just relatively skilled, in truth, his skills were exceptional. Nan Ge Er felt that the palace cooks of Bei Jun probably couldn’t even hold a candle to the fellow’s skills.

  Once Nan Ge Er finished a huge chunk of meat, Mo Shu refused to give him more—after all, Nan Ge Er had a frail body condition, unable to eat so much in one go.

  Two days ago, he just gave Nan Ge Er a huge amount at once. In the end, he couldn’t digest it all, the stomachache in the midnight causing him to barely sleep at all.

  Yesterday, he merely gave him a bite-size, which made him uncomfortable the whole day too.

  Thus, Mo Shu was unhurried at content as he ate under the anxious eyes of Nan Ge Er.

  After waiting for a long while, he reckoned he wasn’t able to snatch a piece from Mo Shu this time. Therefore, he turned his gaze towards the wild beast, which was thrown haphazardly near the opening of the cave.

  What exactly is it? It just feels – so familiar.

  While pondering, Nan Ge Er stood up and walked over.

  “Where are you going?” Mo Shu asked behind him.

  “This thing just feels so familiar.” Nan Ge Er scrutinised the wild beast up and down, perplexed.

  The wild beast wasn’t quite big, around the same size as a horse. The tiger-like head had a scarlet horn on its upper part. Two glittering teeth protruded out, still appearing formidable and fierce even when killed by Mo Shu.

  “Ah.” He remembered.

  “Ah?” Mo Shu stopped eating, looking at Nan Ge Er, who was dazed by that time.

  “Mo Shu…” Even Nan Ge Er noticed the tremble in his voice.

  “Hm?” Seeing that Nan Ge Er wasn’t in any danger, Mo Shu continued chowing down.

  “Hands off, stop eating…” Nan Ge Er whispered, frustration plastered all over his face.

  “Why not?” Mo Shu’s confusion was evident.

  “This is a Cloud Beast!” Nan Ge Er let out a shriek at last.

  “Cloud Beast?” Puzzlement clouded over Mo Shu’s response.

  “The one and only sacred beast in the whole continent, the protected animal treasured by all countries!” Nan Ge Er dashed over, attempting to snatch away the meat from Mo Shu’s hands.

  Mo Shu dodged agilely, “No can do. I can’t let you be wilful today; you’ll get a stomach ache if you eat that.”

  What the world is up with the child pacifying tone of yours?!

  Nan Ge Er blacklined, “Who wants to eat your meat?”

  “So you want to eat me huh?” Mo Shu smiled rather sinisterly all of the sudden, before spreading his hands out, making a heroic pose, “Come on, I won’t resist.”

  Hanging around in the red-light district for such a long time, Nan Ge Er obviously knew he was teased by Mo Shu, the heartless fellow. However, he didn’t care about attacking back then, merely grabbing Mo Shu’s hands, “It’s a Cloud Beast!”

  “So what if it is a Cloud Beast?” Mo Shu finally gave a definite answer to Nan Ge Er’s bewildered question.

  The continent of this world was collectively called Yun Lu Continent. Rumor had it that it was a single country in the beginning, only slowly breaking into four countries later on. Cloud Beasts were a exceedingly rare and unique beast on the continent; alleged to be fierce and abnormal; and a symbol of royalty since ancient times. Even if the person who found a Cloud Beast was a commoner, the person would still receive a commendation from the country, with the highest prize being a noble title of a prince.

  As it was difficult for Cloud Beasts to reproduce, kings in various countries would always mate them with other beasts. The resulting mixed-blooded baby beasts would be weak. The unbeautiful colors they possessed weren’t quite important, since most of them died before they reached adulthood. He had never seen such a bright red colored and strongly built Cloud Beast, even in Bei Jun country.

  That was just the reason why the thought of his dinner actually being a Cloud Beast never came across Nan Ge Er’s mind at that moment…

  His present level of shock was comparable to, after eating a satisfied barbeque in his former twenty first century, being abruptly told the thing he happily ate was actually panda’s meat.

  Alright, if he recalled correctly, Mo Shu planned on making him clothes from the fur of a Cloud Beast…

  Nan Ge Er’s eyes bulged out, stunned as he looked at Mo Shu’s indifferent face, “This is a Cloud Beast! A Cloud Beast!” he could only repeat dumbly at the moment.

  “Mn.” Mo Shu nodded his head, “The quality of meat is slightly tender. Most importantly, its fur is pretty good for keeping warm, and it isn’t heavy either.” Thinking for a bit, he continued, “Plus, it is easier to hunt, so it can be considered a suitable hunting target.”

  “No, it’s not that!” Nan Ge Er screamed uncontrollably, “This, this…” his fingers quivered as it pointed at the Cloud Beast, almost fainting over.

  Oh my god, I just – ate a Cloud Beast! And Mo Shu – killed the most protected animal of the entire continent!

  “Calm down.”Mo Shu found the rare panicky expression of Nan Ge Er to be rather funny, but perplexing, “Although I don’t know why you’re so concerned about a wild beast, I’ve killed it anyway, so what can you do?”

  Killed it anyway, killed it anyway, killed it anyway…

  Those few words occupy Nan Ge Er’s entire mind.

  Mo Shu continued finishing the meat in hand calmly, raising his head after that to look at Nan Ge Er, “Do you
really like this? If you like, I can capture a small one to rear back at home. But this type of wild beast is difficult to tame, and will probably die.” Pausing for a moment, he spoke again, “But, the younger beast has a softer fur, its meat is much more tender too. It can be eaten even if it dies, so it’s okay too.”

  Nan Ge Er’s pair of eyes widened—he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

  How could someone state his wish of eating the sacred beast of Yun Lu Continent so brazenly? Even thinking of eating the child after eating its parent!

  “Should I catch it tomorrow?” Mo Shu was still contemplating, “but capturing a baby beast isn’t quite appropriate.”

  Nan Ge Er wasn’t able to listen on anymore. He grabbed Mo Shu’s hands again, looking at him with sincere eyes, “You don’t need to, really. Don’t capture it anymore. Please just let it live on well. You’ve already harmed its dad, even planning to harm the son now. This is seriously inhumane.”

  “True enough.” Mo Shu nodded his head, deeply agreeing, “Hunting baby beasts is indeed unlawful.”

  It isn’t a normal wild beast!

  Nan Ge Er wanted to howl those words to him, but after noticing Mo Shu’s collected expression returned, he could only feel pain in his balls.

  …Forget it, I reckon the people in Guang Tian didn’t even care if it is a sacred beast.

  They only differentiate beasts by how delicious their meat is.

  But, why did such a sacred beast, last seen in Yun Lu Continent a long time ago, appear on the mountain of such a small district like Guang Tian?

  And judging from Mo Shu’s tone, there seemed to be quite a few of them?

  While Nan Ge Er was mulling over that, Mo Shu spoke up, “Well, this is actually a female. So, it should be the mother; the one I harmed is a mother.”

  Nan Ge Er squatted down with a single bit of expression, picking up a bone left on the floor, and throwing it at Mo Shu’s head. After that, he told a barefaced lie calmly, “Sorry, my hand slipped.” Despite ‘awarding’ Mo Shu that bone, he still didn’t feel appeased at all. He only felt his entire heart being replaced by just one word – frustration.