Yesterday, when everyone had gone up the mountain, they had walked a long way down a nameless path.

The path had originally not existed—it had been cleared by Feng Yinan and Yue Qinchun, and simple formations had been set up around it.

These formations were not meant to harm anyone; they were meant to keep anyone who wandered in by mistake from entering this area.

After Feng Jiu’er finished her morning meal, she joined Qiao Mu’s group to help with the work.

After watering the plants, Yue Qinchun picked a few wild fruits and sat down beside them.

“Jiu’er, we’ve finally been waiting for you all to come. Did you know? Yinan doesn’t kill living things.”

“Aside from when we go out, I never get to eat fresh meat—normally all we have is dried meat bought from outside.”

Not far away, Feng Yinan, who was chopping wood, heard Yue Qinchun’s complaint, and his grip on the axe tightened.

“It’s fine, he’ll get used to it slowly.” Long Shiyi comforted her gently.

Feng Yinan glanced up, nodded, said nothing, lowered his head, and went back to chopping wood.

Everyone knew that Feng Yinan refused to kill living creatures.

He ate meat, but he never killed.

He could hear the cries of small animals, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Feng Jiu’er looked at Yue Qinchun, then let her gaze fall on Feng Yinan.

“Give him a little more time. For your sake, perhaps he’ll manage it.”

“No need.” Yue Qinchun raised her eyes, deliberately raising her voice.

“Actually, he doesn’t need to understand—it’s enough that I do.”

“Besides, we don’t even know when we’ll be leaving. You all can teach me, and I’ll learn.”

Yue Qinchun met Feng Yinan’s gaze, smiled, picked up a fruit, and took a bite.

“You should hurry up and finish chopping the wood—patch up the weak spots quickly, and we’ll be safer.”

“Mm.” Feng Yinan nodded in response.

Yue Qinchun kept smiling as she went on eating her fruit.

Watching the little girl look so happy, Feng Jiu’er felt somewhat comforted.

“Today, I guarantee you’ll get to eat fresh meat—as much as you want!”

Yue Qinchun turned her gaze back to Feng Jiu’er and nodded eagerly.

“Great! I want it roasted.”

Not far off, Jian Yi returned carrying a bundle of firewood on his shoulder.

Everyone looked up, turning toward the sound of footsteps.

“Brother Jian Yi is really so handsome!” Gong Xing’er couldn’t help but sigh. “He looks just like an immortal descended to the mortal world, like in the books.”

“Even carrying firewood, he looks so good! So handsome!”

“I told you Jian Yi is good-looking. I’ve always thought Jian Yi is more handsome than the Prince, but nobody ever agreed with me.” Long Shiyi looked toward the girl and raised an eyebrow.

“Brother Shiyi, I agree with you,” Gong Xing’er said with a smile. “I also prefer Jian Yi.”

“The Prince’s expression is too cold—it scares me a little.”

“Don’t worry, I’m scared of him too,” said Long Shiyi, glancing at Feng Jiu’er, giving a light cough to hide his laughter.

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze drifted back and forth between the two of them, finally landing on Gong Xinyue.

“Xinyue, so it seems your little sister and Long Shiyi have become close enough to be like sisters?”

“More or less,” Gong Xinyue said, shaking her head.

“I used to think Long Shiyi liked Xing’er—if Xing’er had someone to look after her, I, as her elder sister, could finally retire from the job. I didn’t expect… sigh!”

“Sister, what are you talking about? Xing’er is still young.” Gong Xing’er frowned.

“Jiu’er, I don’t like what you just said. I’m a grown man standing seven feet tall, and you’re calling me a ‘sister’?” Long Shiyi frowned as well.

Feng Jiu’er curled her lips slightly and looked at Long Shiyi.

“Brother Shiyi, discussing with a little girl whose man is more handsome—isn’t that the kind of thing only women do?”

Long Shiyi’s brow furrowed even deeper. His eyes darted about, as though he’d suddenly understood something.

“That was just an opinion. I like women, not men.”

“I like Xing’er—who says I don’t?”

“Xing’er, do you want to be Brother Shiyi’s woman? From now on, whatever you want to eat, Brother Shiyi will get it for you.”

Gong Xing’er, holding the half-finished bow she’d been making, stood up and trotted over to Long Shiyi.

“Brother Shiyi, is that true? If I’m your woman, can I eat meat every day from now on?”

Long Shiyi took the bow from Gong Xing’er’s hands, bent it forcefully, and handed it back to her.

“There you go,” he said, smiling as he looked down at her.

Gong Xing’er took back the bow she’d never been able to bend properly, and examined it carefully.

“It’s really fixed!” she suddenly cried out in delight, jumping up.

“Brother Shiyi, how do you know how to do everything? You’re amazing!”

Long Shiyi met her gaze, nodded, and said, “Your man has to be formidable!”

“All right, go on and play. This tree is about to fall anyway.”

“Mm-hm.” Gong Xing’er hugged her bow and walked back, seemingly having forgotten all about becoming Long Shiyi’s woman in exchange for meat.

Still, the joy and happiness on her face were completely genuine.

“Yinan, step aside. I’ll take care of the rest.” Long Shiyi’s booming voice rang out.

“Brother Shiyi, go for it!” Gong Xing’er cheered happily.

“You got it!” Long Shiyi replied.

Soon, after a loud “bang,” a large tree crashed down, snapping many branches in the process.

Gong Xing’er hugged her bow and jumped up happily.

“Brother Shiyi, amazing!”

Long Shiyi gave her a proud grin in return and waved his hand.

Gong Xing’er nodded and went back to sit on her little wooden stump.

She had no idea that, at that moment, several pairs of eyes in the group were watching her.

“Sister Qiao Mu, look at this bow of mine…”

When Gong Xing’er looked up, she realized everyone was staring at her.

She blinked, startled, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Xing’er, have you really decided to become Long Shiyi’s wife?” Gong Xinyue’s brows knit slightly.

Even she herself didn’t know how to put her own feelings into words.

“Mm-hm,” Gong Xing’er nodded. “Sister, didn’t you say Brother Shiyi is pretty good?”

“Brother Shiyi is indeed good—he’s never broken a promise he’s made.”

Gong Xinyue raised an eyebrow, took a deep breath, and looked toward Long Shiyi, who was still wrestling with the tree.

“He really is good—honest, straightforward, uncomplaining—but…”

She looked away, gazing at those eyes as clear and clean as jade.

“But Xing’er, do you understand how important marriage is for a woman?”

“How important is it?” Gong Xing’er blinked. “Having meat to eat every day, being happy every day—isn’t that already good enough?”

“Pfft!” Duan Liuyang couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Slightly embarrassed, she covered her mouth and said, “Actually, what Xing’er says makes sense. Nothing matters more than being happy.”

“And if there’s meat to eat, that means life is going well.”

“If a man treats you well, keeps you happy, and makes sure you always have what you like to eat, I’d be willing too.”

“Even though all Yinan ever prepares for me is dried meat, we’re happy together, and I’m content with that,” said Yue Qinchun, still eating her fruit.

As she ate, she watched the man she liked, occasionally exchanging tender glances with him.

Her joyful expression was contagious.