Tie Ci: “…”

As if I were the promiscuous rake.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Wenliu also leaned over and whispered with a laugh, “What if someone takes a fancy to Brother Ye and desperately wants to follow you back to the mainland? My Brother Ye isn’t like those sailors – why fear some female demon? Just take them all in.”

While they were joking around, the cook walked past from ahead, bumping Tie Ci’s shoulder and dropping a lingering comment, “That’s right, just take them in. Young Master Ye has a grand family and great fortune – what’s there to fear about a few more concubines?”

Tie Ci said seriously, “Indeed, that’s nothing to fear. It’s just that when I take concubines, there’s one type I definitely won’t want.”

Xiao Wenliu turned out to be an excellent straight man, immediately playing along enthusiastically, “Which type?”

Tie Ci said, “Those with narrow minds who love to be jealous!”

Xiao Wenliu burst into hearty laughter, then glanced ahead and suddenly said, “Hey, hey, look at that.”

A burst of laughter erupted ahead. The cook had just reached the front when an oncoming girl lifted his hat, causing everyone to roar with laughter. The girl then grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the bonfire without giving him a choice.

The local islanders said something in an extremely cheerful tone. The boat captain translated, “He says the most beautiful and proud girl on the island found a young man to her liking right upon arrival tonight. The islanders are very pleased today.”

Tie Ci said leisurely, “…There’s another type of concubine I won’t take.”

Xiao Wenliu: “Hmm?”

“Those who attract bees and butterflies, leaving romantic entanglements everywhere – I won’t take them.”

The boat captain smiled with satisfaction over there, saying, “Excellent, what good fortune. Making the islanders happy right upon arrival. Pingzong is the island’s most precious girl – she usually doesn’t even participate in bonfire gatherings. Tonight we can definitely get through safely, and might even pay less in dowry gifts. There have been precedents of not charging money if they really take a liking to someone.”

Tie Ci nodded, “True. I have another good idea.”

Boat captain: “?”

“Why not just leave this fellow on the island as a son-in-law for Miss Pingzong, asking only that this ship passes the island safely from now on. What do you think?”

The boat captain stroked his chin, genuinely considering it.

Xiao Wenliu couldn’t stop laughing, “You all…”

She gradually caught on to the situation and actually developed a mischievous desire to fan the flames, calling out loudly to the front, “That brother there, Erdan says he wants to give you to Miss Pingzong as a son-in-law to ensure the ship’s future safety!”

In the distance, the cook waved his hand – unclear what he was trying to express – but the girl turned back to glance at several of them, nodded once, like a queen accepting advice.

Xiao Wenliu laughed at the sight, “This girl has quite an attitude. Is she the island chief’s daughter?”

The boatman said, “There’s no island chief here. Everyone has publicly elected elders who preside over affairs. I’ve traveled here often and heard that this island has several immortals with supposedly heaven-reaching, earth-penetrating abilities who have helped the islanders multiple times. The island’s current power is thanks to these few. This girl was left in a place where the immortals once appeared and was taken home by the islanders to be well cared for. Those immortals also look after this girl very much – whoever treats her well receives benefits, and whoever offends her surely meets a miserable end. Over time, this girl has essentially become a princess on this island.”

While listening to his explanation, Tie Ci thought indeed, without powerful figures backing them, this island couldn’t possibly be so arrogant.

Her gaze fell on the two people ahead and gradually noticed something wrong.

The fellow was being led along by the woman when he suddenly swayed to one side, but then immediately straightened up.

During this, the two were separated by the terrain. When the girl came to pull him again, that fellow dodged, but the girl still managed to grab him.

Tie Ci’s pupils contracted.

Granted, that fellow couldn’t conveniently display his full martial arts skills now, but would he be unable to avoid an ordinary fisherwoman?

She quickened her pace, following behind the two, and said to Xiao Wenliu, “Stay close to me, don’t wander around.”

Xiao Wenliu obediently followed.

Dancing had already begun around the bonfire. Sailors who traveled here regularly sat familiarly among the islanders. Some had already gone down to dance, and the boat owner seemed to have forgotten about Lan Xian’er, busily courting two island women on his left and right.

A large table displayed food. The fishermen were best at making fish soup – steaming hot and fragrant for miles around. A big man carried a scalding pot of fish soup around the venue. Everyone held a bowl, and when their turn came, they ladled a spoonful into their bowl.

There was also fish congee. Fresh hairtail of medium size had their heads, tails, and innards removed and cleaned. Someone stood live by the pot, using a small knife to slice fish meat into the congee pot. The knife was like snow, the fish meat like willow leaves – silver light flashed like falling snow, drawing cheers from the crowd. Then with a flourish, chopped scallions were scattered in. The congee was thick, the meat white, the scallions fragrant – excellent in color, aroma, and taste.

When finished, the congee maker lifted that huge pot with one hand and swung it in an arc. Those facing his swinging direction quickly extended their bowls, and the flung congee landed with a plop in the bowls – not too much, not too little, exactly one bowl. Each swing made one bowl. The person kept turning directions continuously. The natives all received theirs with smiles, but some sailors weren’t skilled yet and caught inaccurately, getting splashed in the face with hot congee. The islanders would burst into laughter, and the sailors, covering their scalded red faces, didn’t dare get angry and just grinned sheepishly.

Miss Pingzong led the cook to sit in the center. When the congee flew over, it became less aggressive. Without waiting for the cook to reach out, the girl caught a bowl and brought it to the cook’s lips first.

The islanders laughed.

The cook accepted it.

The girl stared at him and opened her hands.

The cook saw hot congee whistling toward them, caught a bowl with one hand, and placed it in the girl’s outstretched hands.

The girl smiled with satisfaction.

Tie Ci looked up and caught sight of the girl’s smile, couldn’t help being stunned.

The young woman had deep features, long narrow profound eyes, and her eyebrows and eyes were somewhat close together, making her long eyebrows press down over her eyes. When her eyes moved, it added several parts mysterious and profound feeling. Her thin lips curved delicately and beautifully, her skin crystalline like honey – she really was a beauty with very distinctive charm.

Looking at the other young women by the bonfire, most were also beautiful. No wonder the boatman had given such warnings.

She was momentarily distracted and didn’t notice the congee had already flown to her. She instinctively raised her hand, then became aware and caught it in a fluster. When the congee flew to Xiao Wenliu, she was even more flustered catching it, her movements clumsy, drawing snickers from the crowd. The congee-flinger’s gaze slid past them.

The fish soup was scalding hot and delicious, the fish congee even more fragrant and smooth. On this somewhat cold late autumn island night, drinking a hot bowl was nothing short of ultimate enjoyment, yet Tie Ci found it tasteless.

Beside Tie Ci sat Dan Shuang, beside Dan Shuang sat Shorty, beside Shorty sat Tall Guy. Shorty whispered to Dan Shuang, “Miss, wanted to ask you – why didn’t Sister Chi Xue come this time? Her injury… isn’t it getting better?”

Dan Shuang rolled her eyes, “Little worrywart, don’t worry needlessly. My sister is doing very well, just that the poison wound hasn’t healed yet. She’ll come once she’s better.”

Shorty sighed in relief. Tall Guy said, “Told you not to worry, nothing will happen, yet you’re anxious all day long… Hey, ask her if her arm is completely healed. Don’t want to leave some lasting problem – a perfectly good young lady turning into a one-armed river dragon.”

Shorty was about to relay the question when Dan Shuang had already said, “Hey, you ask that big fool if his leg is healed. Has he become a cripple?”

Tall Guy: “Tell her not to trouble herself with concern. Even if she becomes a one-armed river dragon, I won’t become a cripple.”

Dan Shuang: “Tell him some people, even if their legs aren’t crippled, their eyes are!”

Tall Guy: “Tell her…”

Shorty looked left, looked right, slowly stood up with an embarrassed smile, “Well, your saliva is splashing on my face. You two should just face each other and spray directly…” Having said this, he jumped back and hurriedly escaped.

Both Tall Guy and Dan Shuang felt awkward for a moment. The two glared at each other once, then each turned their heads away.

A moment later, Tall Guy took his bowl to eat congee. When he sat back down, he was closer to Dan Shuang.

Dan Shuang glanced sideways, her face frosty, but she didn’t move either.

She held her bowl to drink when suddenly Tall Guy’s spoon reached over, blocking her spoon. Dan Shuang’s eyebrows shot up. Tall Guy said coldly, “How greedy! Opening your mouth to drink without checking if someone poisoned it!”

Dan Shuang knocked his spoon away with hers and sneered, “My master already drank, your master drank too. Are you suggesting you’re cleverer than both of them?”

“Being cleverer than you is enough,” Tall Guy said. “My master isn’t afraid of poison. Can yours handle it?”

Dan Shuang opened her mouth to say yes, thought about it, and held back. She handed over her spoon, “Fine then, you test for poison.”

Tall Guy actually lowered his head and drank a sip from her spoon.

Then both of them froze.

Tall Guy suddenly backed away. Dan Shuang stared down at the spoon without speaking, but slowly her ears turned red.

After that, neither spoke nor drank congee. Those two bowls sat between them, slowly losing their heat in the night sea breeze. In the wisps of steam, there was quiet and tenderness.

Tall Guy quietly took away his congee bowl. Dan Shuang also inconspicuously moved her bowl away. The distance between them grew closer again, yet neither looked at the other or spoke.

Someone was beating drums, but no one went down to dance until Miss Pingzong leisurely finished her soup, smiled charmingly, stood up and pulled the cook along, walking into the center.

Only then did everyone start pulling their companions down to join.

Author’s Note: I estimate I’ll finish posting by this afternoon, so everyone might as well read together this afternoon.