La luna brilla intensamente sobre las montañas desiertas y las flores llenan el cielo

Capítulo 86

"You came here to learn from a master, why are you going back to Xia Kingdom?" Long San asked.

“Recently, the two countries of Xiao and Xia seem to be at odds. I have heard that the situation at the front is tense and the atmosphere is not good. My hometown is a peaceful little county town, not far from the border. If the two countries go to war, it will inevitably invade there. I must go back to guard it and protect my fellow villagers.”

Are there large melon fields in your hometown?

“Oh, you asked something similar to what Miss Feng asked. There is indeed a place called Sweet Melon Village near our Shahu County. The watermelons produced there are crisp and sweet, famous throughout the country, and have always been a tribute to the royal family.”

"Are there any highly skilled martial arts masters in your area?" Ma Xinyun's martial arts skills were mediocre, far inferior to Nianyi's. He was single-mindedly pursuing martial arts, and if he had known there were good masters in his area, he probably wouldn't have traveled all the way to Xiao Kingdom to become an apprentice. Although Long San felt that Ma Xinyun's answer to this question would definitely be no, he still wanted to ask.

Sure enough, Ma Xinyun replied, "Of course not. Now that I've returned from my studies, I'm the best martial artist in our county, and I can take on apprentices."

After hearing this, Long San pulled his horse over and said to Ma Xinyun, "Go back to your hometown by yourself. I will take care of Feng'er. Farewell."

After finishing his sentence, Long San mounted his horse and rode away. It seemed that Feng Ning already had her final destination: the sandy land and lake in her memory, and the large melon field behind the house. Long San sighed. He had better tell her everything before she regained her memories, so that perhaps she wouldn't be so angry in the end.

That day, Long San found Feng Ning at the Xikelai Inn in Qingliu City. She was eating alone; the meal consisted of three dishes, a soup, and a basket of steamed buns—a rather lavish spread. Feng Ning ate intently as always, but a man approached, grinning and muttering something to himself. Long San walked in, and Feng Ning bluntly told the man, "Ask him." She pointed at Long San and then buried her head in her food.

Long San walked over, sat down next to Feng Ning, and asked the man, "What do you want to ask me? Go ahead and ask."

The man touched his nose and walked away sheepishly. Long San ignored him, only reaching out to grasp Feng Ning's hand and placing it in his large palm.

"Don't grab my hand, I want to eat." Anything that interferes with her eating is a big deal.

"You can eat with your right hand, what does it have to do with your left?" Long San was reluctant to let go, and he was pleasantly surprised that Feng Ning was actually being so kind to him this time.

"You have to hold the bowl while eating, that's more enjoyable." Feng Ning pulled her hand back and actually held the bowl while eating seriously. She added, "The food here is really good, Long San, you should learn from them."

"Okay, I'll cook for you when we get home."

Feng Ning was not fooled and replied, "Let me calm down first."

“You’ve been angry for a long time,” Long San sighed.

"You've been lying to me for as long as I have." This answer made Long San sigh even more.

However, Feng Ning's attitude was much better this time. She actually said to Long San, "Hurry up and eat. Are you hungry?"

Long San was overjoyed and nodded hastily. Feng Ning called over the waiter, ordered two more dishes, and ordered rice for Long San. Then she said, "Perfect timing. There were two of the specialties he recommended that I didn't dare to order because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to eat them. Now that you're here, I can finally try them."

"Okay." Long San was both amused and exasperated; it turned out he had this use after all.

"You'll have to pay for this meal."

"Okay." This was Long San's second action.

Long San rested his chin on his hand and looked at Feng Ning, hoping that she would ask him to fulfill his third function, such as: It's so cold at night, will you come and sleep with me?

Sure enough, Feng Ning took a few bites and then spoke up again: "Would you come with me to Yixiang Pavilion tonight?"

Long San had the word "good" on the tip of his tongue, ready to respond, but thankfully he managed to turn back in time: "What is Yixianglou?" Judging from the name, it was most likely a brothel.

Feng Ning glared at him with disdain: "Third Master Long, what are you pretending for? What else can this name be good for besides a brothel?"

Long San sighed, "Feng'er, don't be naughty. There's nothing fun there."

"I wasn't going out to play." Feng Ning lowered her voice: "I saw an assassin with a mark on his arm, the same one as the horse-faced, triangular-eyed guy who tried to kill me. He went into Yixiang Pavilion, so I wanted to check it out. But it's not convenient for a woman to go to that kind of place, so it would be better if I had a man with me. I was just wondering who to ask, and you're here just in time."

Long San's face darkened: "If I hadn't shown up in time, were you planning to bring a stranger along?"

Feng Ning blinked: "I won't just find a stranger. I'll find a trustworthy, upright stranger." Long San's face turned even uglier. Feng Ning quickly smiled and took his arm: "Long San, you're the best. You're right. It's better to have someone to look after us. Will you take me tonight?"

Long San stared at her and made a condition: "From now on, I'll stay with you, and we'll never sleep in separate rooms again."

The author has something to say: Regarding Shahu Lake, in reality it's a scenic spot in Yinchuan, Ningxia. It truly is half sand and half a vast lake. The reed marshes where Zixia Fairy rowed her boat at the beginning of *A Chinese Odyssey* are located there. I wanted to write about a unique place, and that's when I thought of it. However, the Shahu County and Shahu Lake I'm writing about here don't refer to Yinchuan; it's a fictional location, borrowing the name and features.

64

64. The perfectly coordinated Long San and his wife...

Upon hearing Long San's request, Feng Ning turned her head away, curled her lip, and said, "Shameless."

"How is that shameless? We are husband and wife, this is how it should be."

"I'm still angry with you, it's shameless of you to bring it up like that."

"Back when you lost your memory and I hadn't fallen for you yet, didn't you also say we were husband and wife? When you had nightmares and needed someone to keep you company, shouldn't I, as your husband, accompany you? Do you remember how you insisted on staying in my bed and wouldn't leave? Weren't you shameless too?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Ning's face flushed red. She knew she was in the wrong, so she pouted and remained silent. Long San held her hand and coaxed her softly, "We're both shameless, that's why we can be such a loving couple."

"Pah." Feng Ning spat lightly, her face flushed, and said, "Then I'll go myself. I don't need anyone to cover for me. I'll figure it out myself."

Long San glared at her, and she glared back defiantly. The two locked in a battle of wills, until finally Long San gave in: "Alright, alright, you can't go on this adventure alone. I'll go with you."

Long San did as he was told. He went out for a while and returned half a day later, having bought two sets of magnificent men's clothing, one large and one small. He also acquired a jade crown to tie his hair, a jade belt to encircle his waist, rouge for his face, eyebrow pencils, a jade-ribbed fan, and a whole host of other items. When he returned, he found Feng Ning sitting lazily in the room, resting his chin on his hand, waiting for him.

Long San put his things down, sat down next to Feng Ning, reached for the teapot on the table, and poured himself some water. The tea was at the perfect temperature, neither too hot nor too cold, just right for his palate. Long San had been walking for half a day and was quite thirsty, so he gulped down two cups before stopping.

He finished his tea, looked at Feng Ning and smiled: "You've been secretly following me all this way. If you care about me, why didn't you come out and help me carry my things?"

"How could I feel sorry for you? I was following you around to keep an eye on what you were doing. Who feels sorry for you? I don't feel sorry for you at all!" Feng Ning turned her head away, refusing to admit it.

Long San smiled and drank another cup of tea: "This tea is really delicious. If you didn't care about me, why would you come back and prepare tea for me?"

"Hmph, who cares if you're thirsty or not? I brewed it for myself." Feng Ning's words were a bit like trying to hide something, and she blushed as she thought about it. She jumped up and started rummaging through the things Long San had brought back.