“Su Muyu, how did your swordsmanship become so excellent?”

“Because I—”

“Yet you can make noodles that taste this awful!” Bai Hehuai angrily pushed away the bowl of noodles. “I’m not eating this.”

“Tomorrow I’ll go buy some osmanthus cakes to make it up to you, Divine Physician,” Su Muyu said apologetically, reaching to clear away the bowl that had barely been touched. “Then I’ll ask Sister Wang again…”

“Su Muyu.” Bai Hehuai’s tone suddenly became extremely serious, her eyes gleaming with sincerity. “Will you promise me something?”

Seeing Bai Hehuai’s rare display of gravity, Su Muyu hesitated briefly before nodding. “Alright, what is it?”

“Promise me,” Bai Hehuai grabbed Su Muyu’s hand, her voice incredibly gentle, “spare Sister Wang, and spare me too.”

Su Muyu’s face reddened slightly as he withdrew his hand, continuing to clear the table. “With enough practice, one can succeed at anything. It’s the same with swordsmanship.”

“Why did only you and Su Changhe survive among the hundred Nameless Ones? Didn’t everyone else practice countless times too? Everything depends on natural talent. When the heavens gave you the gift of wielding a killing sword, they took away your talent for wielding a kitchen knife,” Bai Hehuai said helplessly.

At the mention of “killing sword,” Su Muyu’s eyes flickered briefly. Bai Hehuai realized her poor choice of words, and the atmosphere suddenly grew awkward.

“Um, I didn’t mean…” Bai Hehuai scratched her cheek.

Just as Bai Hehuai was fumbling for words, a hen suddenly flew into the courtyard, flapping its wings. Bai Hehuai jumped in surprise, standing up. “Where did this chicken come from?”

“Madam Chen from next door sent it. She heard I was learning cooking from Sister Wang and gave it to me for practice,” Su Muyu said, leaping forward with a light step and effortlessly catching the hen.

“If it’s destined,” Bai Hehuai’s eyes lit up, “then let me show you how it’s done.”

Half an hour later, a rich aroma of meat mixed with medicinal herbs wafted through the courtyard. Bai Hehuai licked her lips, looking at the pot of chicken before her, and smiled. “I learned this from my master—Medicinal Chicken Nest. How about it?”

Su Muyu licked his lips. “It smells wonderful.”

“It tastes even better!” Bai Hehuai eagerly began serving the meat into bowls.

In less than a quarter hour, only an empty clay pot and a pile of chicken bones remained on the table. Bai Hehuai patted her stomach contentedly and took out a silver needle to pick her teeth. Su Muyu sat beside her, his mouth still greasy from the meal. He mused, “I had no idea Divine Physician was such a good cook. I’ve been making a fool of myself all this time.”

Bai Hehuai waved her hand dismissively. “I’m not good at cooking, not at all. This is the only dish I know, taught to me by my master when I was young. Because it’s the only dish I know, making it always reminds me of him. Since thinking of him always made me sad, I eventually stopped cooking it. I didn’t expect that after all these years, my skill would still be this good.”

Su Muyu froze, then sighed softly. “I’m sorry, Divine Physician, I made you…”

“Ah, you’re so dull,” Bai Hehuai slapped Su Muyu’s shoulder. “I’m grown up now, can’t I handle such a small matter? Birth, aging, sickness, and death—it’s the natural way of things. Even Divine Physicians can’t change that.”

Su Muyu nodded. “Divine Physician speaks truly. So, what shall we eat tomorrow?”

Bai Hehuai’s face darkened. “Su Muyu, do you know how quickly your image is deteriorating in my mind?”

Su Muyu shook his head. “That was genuinely my first thought. These days, as soon as we finish one meal, I start thinking about the next. It’s quite worrying when you think about it, but there’s also a hint of happiness in that worry.”

“Happiness?” Bai Hehuai held her head in her hands. “What happiness? I certainly don’t feel any.”

“I love visiting the marketplace most of all. The bustling crowds, the misty air, everyone speaking so loudly—there, I can feel something I haven’t felt in a very long time…” Su Muyu looked down at his palms. “The feeling of being alive.”

“Oh…” Bai Hehuai responded flatly. “You always seem so quiet, yet you’re quite the sensitive soul…”

A messenger pigeon landed on the table at that moment.

This was certainly not another midnight snack delivery.

Su Muyu stood up and removed the message tube from the pigeon’s leg. “But this pigeon that keeps visiting us reminds me that our current life is false, and only what’s written in these messages is real.”

Bai Hehuai sighed. “What does it say?”

“Changhe has reached an agreement with Uncle Seven Blades. Uncle Seven Blades will succeed as the head of the Xie family and lead them in loyalty to Changhe. The Soul-Summoning Palace was burned down before they left, nothing remains, and the Three Officials are missing. The Mu family is temporarily led by Mu Qingyang, but Mu Zizhi hasn’t been found.” Su Muyu flicked the note lightly, and it shattered into fragments on the wind.

Bai Hehuai frowned slightly. “Didn’t Su Changhe urge you to return?”

Su Muyu shook his head. “Changhe’s last words were that the time hadn’t come yet. When it does, I won’t need to go back—he’ll come find me.”

Bai Hehuai walked over and patted Su Muyu’s shoulder. “Then let’s not worry about all that. Let’s think about what to eat tomorrow instead. In the morning, go to the West Market to buy some herbs. I’ve already written the list. Also…”

“Osmanthus cakes from Jinyue House,” Su Muyu smiled. “I remember.”

“Eat ten osmanthus cakes, and I’ll try one bite of your noodles,” Bai Hehuai held up one finger. “How’s that for a deal? Don’t say I’m not supporting you!”

“I plan to go early tomorrow. I heard tomorrow is Jinyue House’s monthly Flower Viewing Day, when they sell their Flower Viewing Pastries. It’s their signature item, but they only sell them once a month,” Su Muyu said, carrying the noodle bowl toward the kitchen. “Miss Li told me about it.”

“Flower Viewing Pastries! Tomorrow is Flower Viewing Day. I’ve been wanting to try those!” Bai Hehuai’s eyes lit up. “Su Muyu, if you bring back Flower Viewing Pastries, I’ll eat whatever you make tomorrow! All of it!”

“Do you mean that?” Su Muyu turned around.

Bai Hehuai raised her hand. “The Medicine King Valley’s reputation stands between heaven and earth—how could I go back on my word?”

“Good!” Su Muyu nodded. “I’ll sleep for two hours, then wait at Jinyue House’s entrance. I’ll make sure Divine Physician gets to eat fresh-baked Flower Viewing Pastries.”

The next day, morning:

Bai Hehuai: “These famous Flower Viewing Pastries really live up to their name! Delicious! Delicious! Su Muyu, you should have one too.”

The next day, dinner time:

Bai Hehuai: “Ughhhhhhhh! Su Muyu, I’m going to kill you!”