Lave

Chapitre 54

"Second Young Master, how did you manage to eat chicken before?" Lan Qi asked again.

Ming Er thought for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "In the plate."

The second young master rarely even saw live chickens; what he saw most often were fragrant chickens displayed on plates on the table. In truth, in his twenty-odd years of life, he had never cooked a meal himself. He might not even know where the Ming family's kitchen door was. From a young age, besides martial arts, he had studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; he had even read books on mechanics and military strategy. But he had never learned to boil water or cook, nor had anyone taught him, nor had he ever considered learning. How could a pampered young master from a noble family, who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, possibly think of such things?

"The immortal Second Young Master Ming, the immortal Second Young Master Ming..." Lan Qi looked at the roast chicken on the fire, which was still plucked, gutted, and charred black, and then at Ming Er, whose sleeve had been burned off. She looked at him with surprise, "Are you really Ming Huayan, the Second Young Master Ming of the Ming family, whom all the old men and women in the martial arts world wished were their own sons, and whom all the young men and women longed for?"

Ming Er gave a wry smile, "Seventh Young Master."

Lan Qi held his golden, juicy roasted chicken in one hand and pointed at the dark, unrecognizable roasted chicken with the other, saying, "I really want to spread this chicken far and wide throughout the martial arts world so that everyone knows it was roasted by Young Master Ming. I want to see how those people laugh themselves to death."

"Sigh, Seventh Young Master also roasts them this way." Ming Er still didn't understand why.

Upon hearing this, Lan Qi covered his face, "I am ashamed to know you." Then, as if he had thought of something, he put his hand down, "Speaking of which, I just remembered that last time I went to Yingshan, I camped in the wild for a few days along the way. It was those two stupid boys, Ning Lang and Yuwen Luo, who delivered tea and food to you. Otherwise..." Lan Qi shook his head, feeling very sorry that he had not been able to see the Second Young Master Ming's incompetence earlier.

That day, Ming Er only ate wild fruit for lunch. Of course, he didn't expect Lan Qi to give him a chicken leg or teach him how to roast chicken.

In the afternoon, Lan Qi extinguished the fire and stored the embers, then sent Ming Er to gather firewood, on the grounds that he had already done so once.

Young Master Ming did not refuse. He thought he could hunt a pheasant while gathering firewood. He would keep a close eye on Lan Qi for dinner that night to see how he roasted that golden pheasant. He could learn a peerless skill so easily, he did not believe that he could not roast a pheasant.

Of course, Lan Qishao didn't forget to remind the Second Young Master that when gathering firewood, one should only pick dry pieces and not break off any green branches.

After Ming Er went to gather firewood, Lan Qi went into the cave to rest. As soon as he entered, he saw the stone tablet that Ming Er had finished. He glanced at it, and a faint, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips. He stopped resting, pulled down all the vines beside the cave, and then sat down on Ming Er's clean stone bed to start weaving the vines.

When Ming Er returned with firewood and a pheasant, he saw a hammock woven from vines hanging in the cave.

Lan Qi was sitting cross-legged on the stone bed he had made, with his eyes closed.

On the floor of the cave, there were two small wooden buckets placed side by side. One was empty, and the other was filled with water. Wild fruits of varying colors, such as green, yellow, and red, floated on the water, and a bunch of clean grass-like things were placed on the rim of the bucket.

He poured water, washed his hands, and then looked at Lan Qi. There was no movement, as if he didn't know he had returned. Of course, this was only on the surface.

The stone bed was large, and it was made by himself, so Ming Er didn't stand on ceremony and sat down at the other end to meditate and rest.

Time passed unnoticed, the sunlight gradually slanted, and the two people in the cave sat cross-legged on the stone bed, their eyes closed, as if they were resting or asleep, their expressions serene, and the cave was quiet.

This tranquility and serenity were rare for the two of them, yet it seemed to have always been so.

As dusk fell, Lan Qi finally opened her eyes, and Ming Er opened his eyes at the same moment. The two turned their heads to look at each other, and were stunned for a moment, as if they did not know where they were. In their bewilderment, they both smiled slightly. It was unclear whether it was because their meditation had calmed their minds or because of the faint red sunset shining into the cave. Their smile was just a simple smile.

Stepping outside the cave, there were two pheasants and a pile of dry firewood in the shade of the trees.

Lan Qi glanced at the two pheasants, then turned to look at Ming Er, a half-smile on her face.

Ming Er simply wore a faint smile on his face.

Lan Qi took the empty bucket from the cave, and then, without any hesitation, took the pheasant that Ming Er had hunted, and walked towards the water pit.

Since neither side can succeed, it's good to live in harmony for the time being. Besides, the second young master has already made the first move, so he doesn't care at all.

Ming Er picked up the remaining pheasant and followed behind Lan Qi.

Upon reaching the water pit, Lan Qi first filled a bucket with water, then handed it to Ming Er and instructed, "Boil the water."

Thus, the Ming family's "Fire Cloud Palm" came into play once again.

As the water in the bucket bubbled, Lan Qi carried two pheasants and the water to a spot some distance from the puddle. He poured the scalding water over the pheasants, then tossed the empty bucket in front of Ming Er, who caught it with a quick reach. "Fetch water," Lan Qi ordered, and began plucking the feathers with practiced ease and skill. He then proceeded to gut the pheasants, again with equal efficiency and skill.

Ming Er handed over a bucket full of clean water. Lan Qi took it, washed the two bloody pheasants, washed her hands repeatedly, and then tossed the bucket back to Ming Er, who filled it with clean water again.

The two men, one carrying water and the other carrying a chicken, walked back together. The setting sun cast long shadows behind them, sometimes overlapping and sometimes separating.

In front of the cave, Ming Er set up a fire and lit a fire, while Lan Qi hung the pheasant up. Then, he took out what looked like grass from the cave. Ming Er watched, and Lan Qi didn't say anything. He just crushed the grass in his hand and sprinkled it evenly on the pheasant when it started to sizzle. He did this again and again until it was all gone.

That night, the Second Young Master Ming finally got to eat a long-awaited delicacy. The pheasant was not only fragrant and crispy, but also perfectly seasoned, and then he understood what Lan Qi's handful of things were for.

At that moment, Young Master Ming truly admired Young Master Lan, and his doubts deepened as well.

As darkness fell, the pale moon rose, and the stars twinkled, another day passed.

After the pheasant finished eating, it brought out the wooden bucket containing water and wild fruit from the cave.

"Sigh, these fruits are far inferior to the 'Silver Pearl Fruit'," Lan Qi sighed as she ate.

"Seventh Young Master, you can pick some if you want." The Second Young Master Ming ate the wild fruit with elegant manners.

Lan Qi glanced at him with her green eyes and said, "So the Second Young Master is so petty, still holding a grudge against that snake."

Ming Er looked at the two scars on his wrist, recalling the feeling at that moment, and frowned slightly.

Seeing his appearance, Lan Qi's green eyes flickered, she smiled, and then she got up and flew towards the woods.

A short while later, he returned, holding two "silver bead fruits" in his left hand and a three-foot-long, silver snake in his right. The snake was still alive, twisting and struggling, but it was caught by the hand and could not escape.

Upon seeing the snake, Ming Er's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

“This silver snake doesn’t eat the ‘Silver Pearl Fruit’ but loves its fragrance, so wherever there is ‘Silver Pearl Fruit’, there will be this snake coiled up. It’s a pity that the Second Young Master doesn’t know this.” Lan Qi shook his head and sighed as he sat down opposite Ming Er, completely disregarding his own schemes.

He looked at Ming Er with a smile, then casually put down the "Silver Pearl Fruit," switched his left hand to hold the snake, and with his right fingertip, he slashed across the snake's body. His internal energy spread, breaking the skin and flesh. With a flick of his fingertip, he took out the snake's gall, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it whole with a gulp. Ming Er's eyes widened in astonishment.

"You... eat like this?" Since falling into poverty, the worst food the Second Young Master Ming has ever eaten has been wild fruit. He has never even eaten a piece of raw meat, let alone this disgusting snake gall.

"Snake gall is the snake's most precious resource and should not be wasted," Lan Qi said as she shed the snake's skin.

“I know snake gall is a good medicine, but eating it raw…” That’s disgusting! Ming Er tried to remain calm, but his chest was churning.

Lan Qi glanced at him, a smile playing on his lips, and said nothing. His hands moved swiftly, and in a moment, he had shed the snake's skin and snapped off its head. With a flick of his wrist, he landed in the fire, leaving only the white snake meat in his hand. He placed the snake meat on the fire and said, "Snake meat is a delicacy, but I doubt the Second Young Master would want to eat it." He glanced at Ming Er, and sure enough, saw his eyes twitch, his gaze never falling on the snake meat. A thought struck him, and he slowly said, "I've heard that the reason this 'Silver Pearl Fruit' is so incredibly sweet is because this silver snake licks the fruit with its tongue every day, nourishing it with its saliva."

Upon hearing this, Ming Er knew that Lan Qi had done it on purpose, but he couldn't help himself. He poured some water from the bucket and repeatedly washed his hands, because his hands had touched the "Silver Pearl Fruit" nourished by snake saliva that day.

"Hahaha..." Lan Qi couldn't help but laugh at Ming Er's actions, his laughter filled with great pleasure. After all, it was rare to see the Second Young Master Ming so easily subdued by him. Who would have thought that the composed and carefree Second Young Master Ming would have so many flaws? Haha, therefore he had to cherish every opportunity, otherwise he would despise himself. He picked up the "Silver Pearl Fruit," weighed it in Ming Er's hand, and asked, "Would the Second Young Master like one?"

"Seventh Master, just eat it." Ming Er didn't even glance at it.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Lan Qi casually poured some water to rinse his mouth and then put one to his lips, one bite at a time. Instantly, a sweet taste spread in his mouth, and a refreshing stream flowed down his stomach. In an instant, he felt relaxed and refreshed all over. "Delicious! Even better than 'Langgan Fruit'!" He put the last one in his mouth as well, and in a short while, he finished it all. After finishing the fruit, the roasted snake meat emitted a fragrant aroma. Lan Qi's appetite was truly large. He had just eaten a pheasant and a lot of wild fruit. Now, after taking off the snake meat, he began to eat it with relish, without even feeling that his stomach was bloated.

Ming Er didn't want to eat anything at the moment; the thought of eating made him nauseous. Looking at Lan Qi's eating habits, he said, "Seventh Young Master has quite an appetite."

"Of course we should try our best when there's food available," Lan Qi replied casually.

Upon hearing this, Ming Er's eyebrows twitched, and the doubts in his heart resurfaced once again, but he did not speak again, only looking at Lan Qi.

Lan Qi tore the snake meat in his hand and put it into his mouth one bite at a time. He stared at Ming Er with his green eyes and said maliciously, "What are snake gall and snake meat? I've even eaten rotten dead rats."

Sure enough, Ming Er's face changed upon hearing this, and he looked as if he wanted to vomit.

Lan Qi watched, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Ming Er took a deep breath; the cool night breeze made his chest feel a little better. "How could Seventh Young Master eat such things?" The six great martial arts families are not only renowned for their martial arts prowess, but they are also extremely wealthy. There's no reason for them to eat "dead rats."

Lan Qi smiled and said, "I was just kidding."

Ming Er smiled gently and said, "Seventh Young Master, I can tell whether your words are true or false."

Lan Qi raised an eyebrow at Ming Er upon hearing this, while Ming Er looked at him with a gentle expression, as if they were bosom friends.

"A fake immortal!" Lan Qi thought to herself, but she couldn't refute it in her heart. In this world, they were perhaps the people who understood each other the most. She looked away and gazed at the campfire. The firelight flickered in the night wind. For a moment, her mind went blank. Then, those distant memories suddenly rushed into her mind, flashing quickly before her eyes. She couldn't grasp them, and she didn't want to grasp them anymore.

Ming Er stared blankly at Lan Qi, as if lost in some memory. He remained motionless like a stone statue, with only the orange-red flames flickering in his blue eyes.

"In this world, I have eaten everything that is edible and everything that is not, except human flesh."

That sentence, a murmur like a dream slipped out unintentionally, drifted away in an instant with the wind, but Ming Er heard it.

Ming Er didn't speak. He simply took out a purple bamboo flute from his sleeve, and then a clear, melodious flute tune gently rang out in the night breeze.

The flute's melody is clear and gentle, like a mountain stream under the setting sun. There are no rapids, no roars, no surging momentum. Far from the hustle and bustle, it flows quietly by itself, through spring, summer, autumn and winter, through the years. Through the vicissitudes of life, through countless ages, it still flows quietly, as it has always been.

The flute music faded away in the stillness, and Lan Qi's gaze remained fixed on the fire, as if he were still there but his soul had flown far away. After a long while, he said, "I don't understand music, but this piece can calm one's mind."

Ming Er glanced at Lan Qi but said nothing.

"The sound of the flute can be so peaceful and leisurely, but life can never be like that." A look of melancholy rose in Lan Qi's eyes.

Ming Er stroked the purple bamboo flute in his hand and said, "Seven young men, so full of youthful vigor, how can they speak of such vicissitudes?"

"The vicissitudes? The experiences I've had..." Lan Qi paused slightly, seemingly unsure how to phrase it, the bewilderment in his eyes deepening, like a lost soul, "...are experiences you could never have in your entire life." He sighed softly.

Ming Er's grip on the flute tightened slightly. He looked up again; in the flickering firelight, Lan Qi's figure appeared exceptionally thin and fragile, as if a mere touch could destroy her. The flute subtly shifted its position, and the sword was ready to be drawn at any moment…

"Is the Second Young Master playing music to comfort me?" Lan Qi turned to look at Ming Er.

"I just wanted to make Seventh Young Master feel a little more at ease." Ming Er smiled gently, relaxing his grip on the flute.

"A desolate island on a cold night, with a lonely moon and stars, a campfire and the sound of a flute, and with a figure like the Second Young Master present, wouldn't a woman here be moved and fall in love?" Lan Qi narrowed her emerald eyes, her smile cunning and mocking. "Or perhaps, when she is heartbroken and sorrowful, she could be killed in one strike?"

“I did nothing wrong, but Seventh Young Master is just too suspicious.” The Second Young Master Ming smiled with a gentle and sincere expression.

"Second Young Master," Lan Qi smiled sweetly, but with a dagger hidden beneath the honey, "Do you think I'm such a stupid person?"

Ming Er shook his head, not arguing with him, looking somewhat helpless.

“You know me as well as I know you.” Lan Qi raised her chin and glanced at him with her emerald eyes. “So you can’t hide your thoughts from me.”

Ming Er looked at him with a faint smile, "I have some idea about Seventh Young Master's thoughts. Everyone has a heart of compassion, right? Seventh Young Master's past does make Ming Er feel sorry for him. I really wish I could suffer in his place."

"Ah, Second Young Master, I'm growing to like you more and more." Lan Qi looked at Ming Er with deep affection in her blue eyes.

"It would be my greatest honor," Ming Er replied with equal sincerity.

If Yuwen Luo were here at this moment, he would probably tremble and say: These two can really use anything as a weapon.

If Mingkong were here, he would probably sigh and say: "If these two children could be friends, the world would be at peace."

Lan Qi glanced at the purple bamboo flute in Ming Er's hand and said with a sneer, "I don't understand those refined arts like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, but I have heard Li Sanjue's zither playing. Her zither playing is unparalleled in the contemporary era. The second young master's flute playing is not inferior either, but in my opinion, the second young master is far inferior to Li Sanjue."

"My meager skills are no match for Miss Li San's." Ming Er smiled indifferently, not caring at all.

It's not a difference in skill.

"Oh?" Ming Er lowered his gaze, toying with the bamboo flute in his hand, and asked with a mixture of curiosity and casualness, "What's the difference?"

"The difference lies in the heart," Lan Qi said calmly.

Ming Er paused in his hand, which was playing with the bamboo flute.

"The music has both sorrow and joy. When Li San plays, the joyful part contains her happiness and pleasure, and the sorrowful part contains her pain and grief. She plays with her blood, her flesh, her heart, and her emotions, which is naturally moving and intoxicating. But the Second Young Master..." Lan Qi looked at Ming Er and said slowly and clearly, "The Second Young Master's flute music is just a flute melody, there is nothing in it!"

Ming Er raised his eyes, and for a moment his usually hazy eyes became clear and intimidating, a murderous aura... emerging.

"The Second Young Master's flute playing is just like the Second Young Master himself. He is perfect on the outside, but empty inside. Even the icy plains and deserts are better than the Second Young Master. At least there is ice and sand there. But the Second Young Master... nothing in this world can satisfy your heart." Lan Qi's bright blue eyes clearly reflected Ming Er. "The 'Lan Yin Bi Yue' of the martial arts world is nothing more than something that the Second Young Master wants to play with."

The murderous intent in Ming Er's eyes disappeared, and then a smile slowly bloomed on his face.

That smile was not gentle and refined, nor otherworldly and ethereal, nor elegant and composed, nor carefree and indifferent.

That wasn't the smile of the banished immortal, the Second Young Master Ming.