Having won the approval of the other two, Gong Xing’er finally felt at ease.

“Sister, then you won’t object to me and Brother Shiyi being together anymore, right?”

Gong Xinyue rolled her eyes, wishing she could simply collapse on the spot.

Finally, she looked to the others and said quietly, “I don’t have anyone I like, I don’t understand these things—you should ask everyone else what they think.”

“Oh.” Gong Xing’er nodded.

Her gaze moved to Duan Liuyang, who was sitting closest to her, and she asked, “Sister Liuyang, don’t you think Brother Shiyi is great?”

Duan Liuyang glanced in Long Shiyi’s direction and nodded. “Mm, he’s not bad at all!”

Gong Xing’er’s gaze then shifted to Yue Qinchun, and she asked with a smile, “What about you, Sister Qinchun?”

“I think what matters most is that you like him,” Yue Qinchun replied softly.

“Mm, I do like him!”

Gong Xing’er’s eyes curved with happiness.

“What about Sister Qiao Mu?”

She turned her gaze to Qiao Mu. “Do you approve of me and Brother Shiyi being together?”

“Long Shiyi?” Qiao Mu frowned.

“Mm-hm.” Gong Xing’er nodded immediately.

“I suppose it’s all right.” Qiao Mu’s mouth curved slightly. “Either way, if he ever mistreats you, I’ll teach him a lesson for you.”

“He’ll treat me well,” Gong Xing’er said with a smile. “He promised.”

Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow and looked away, nearly saying “well then, fine.”

“I used to think Qinchun was the purest, simplest girl around, but it turns out there’s someone even purer than her.”

“Sister Qiao Mu, do you mean me?” Gong Xing’er pointed at her own nose.

“Yes, I mean you.” Qiao Mu pressed her lips together and nodded firmly.

“No matter how good a promise sounds, it’s still just words. What if he goes back on it? Would you bite him?”

Qiao Mu’s years of experience had left her without such naivety.

But whether or not her own beloved would remain faithful to the end, she too had already accepted him.

“I trust Brother Shiyi,” Gong Xing’er said.

“I trust Brother Yinan too,” Yue Qinchun said.

Long Shiyi and Feng Yinan, who were chopping wood nearby, turned around together at the same time.

Looking at the girls in their eyes, the corners of their mouths lifted slightly.

Under the sunlight, both pairs of eyes were equally clear, with the faintest hint of a smile at the brows.

“I trust the two of them as well,” Feng Jiu’er suddenly spoke up.

“Thank you, Jiu’er,” Yue Qinchun said, her small face flushing red.

“Sister Jiu’er, Xing’er thanks you too. If it weren’t for you, I never would have found such a good man as Brother Shiyi,” Gong Xing’er said.

Yue Qinchun’s face turned rosy, and Feng Yinan, without even turning around, blushed as well.

Meanwhile, Gong Xing’er and Long Shiyi looked openly at each other, their faces holding nothing but smiles, without a trace of shy blush.

Gong Xinyue watched for a while, then gave a soft sigh.

“I still feel like…” She met Gong Xing’er’s eyes, unable to finish the sentence.

Gong Xing’er grew anxious and asked curiously, “Sister, what is it?”

Gong Xinyue shook her head. “Nothing. As long as Long Shiyi truly treats you well, what else is there for me to say?”

“Don’t worry!” Gong Xing’er patted her sister’s shoulder. “Brother Shiyi has always been good to me.”

“Brother Shiyi.” She looked up at Long Shiyi.

“Hey!” Long Shiyi answered.

“Isn’t that right?”

Gong Xing’er stood up, one small hand resting near her mouth.

“That’s right!” Long Shiyi waved his hand. “From now on, if there’s meat, Xing’er gets it first. If there’s no meat, I’ll find some for her.”

“Mm-hm.” Gong Xing’er nodded like a chick pecking at rice, then sat back down.

Looking around at everyone, she said, “Did you hear that? Brother Shiyi really is a good man.”

“We heard!” Gong Xinyue nodded, though she was sighing inwardly.

Her sister being foolish was one thing—but Long Shiyi seemed to be just the same.

Did the two of them even truly understand what it meant to be husband and wife? Were they certain they could stay together for life?

To any clear-eyed observer, it looked more like the bond between siblings.

“Xinyue, you shouldn’t think too much either. Things will work themselves out when the time comes, and besides, we’re all here—it’ll be fine!”

Qiao Mu picked up her bow and stood.

“Let’s head out. It’s been a while since we’ve gone hunting.”

“Good, let’s go!”

Yue Qinchun and Gong Xing’er stood up together.

Feng Jiu’er patted Gong Xinyue’s shoulder and stood as well. “None of us understand young love, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be happy.”

“You’d better think about yourself instead. We have so many brothers around here—pick one properly, and don’t let your little sister get married before you.”

“Xinyue, Long Yi is good. Long Yi is the leader of the Twelve Flying Dragon Riders, and he’s excellent in every respect.”

Qiao Mu suggested.

“Long Yi?” Gong Xinyue pieced together a face in her mind, her cheeks reddening.

“He’ll be a high official someday—how could he ever look my way?”

“Sister, you should really give it a proper look,” Gong Xing’er said. “I think Jian Yi is good—he’s a rare beauty of a man in this world.”

“Jian Yi is off the table for us,” Qiao Mu said, shaking her head, and glanced briefly at Feng Jiu’er.

“Long Yi, then. Both their names have a ‘Yi’—close enough, might as well make it work.”

“Pfft!” Gong Xinyue laughed.

Feng Jiu’er couldn’t help laughing too. “Either would be fine! Let’s just see how fate plays out.”

“Once fate arrives, Xinyue, there’ll be no escaping it, however much you try to dodge.”

“Everyone’s got their gear ready, right? Today, let’s have a contest—see who can hunt the most.”

“Sounds good.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

Several of the girls nodded one after another, making their final preparations.

Soon, they set off into the mountains, with Xing Zizhou clearing the way in front and Jian Yi guarding the rear.

Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, Xiao Yingtao, Gong Xinyue, Gong Xing’er, Duan Liuyang, and Yue Qinchun walked in the middle.

Everyone carried their own equipment—some had proper bows and arrows, others carried the makeshift bows they’d just made, while some carried short blades or throwing darts.

Xing Zizhou spotted a wild hare and stopped in his tracks.

Xiao Yingtao understood his intent and quietly stepped forward.

With a swish, a hidden weapon flew from her hand and struck the hare in a vital spot.

The hare didn’t even have time to cry out before it died on the spot.

“First catch, mine.” Xiao Yingtao ran happily toward her prey.

“Sister Xiao Yingtao is amazing! I didn’t even catch a clear look at what happened,” Gong Xing’er said, full of admiration.

“Her darts have long since become deadly accurate—you should learn a thing or two from her,” Qiao Mu said softly.

“Mm-hm-hm-hm-hm.” Gong Xing’er nodded fiercely. “I want to learn. Sister Xiao Yingtao, teach me how to throw darts.”

As Xiao Yingtao and Xing Zizhou walked back together, Xing Zizhou carried the hare in his hand.

Xiao Yingtao’s darts had become more and more refined—for such small creatures, the smallest darts sufficed.

A single “dart” ended it instantly, sparing the little creature both excessive bleeding and unnecessary suffering.

“Not bad at all!” Xiao Yingtao nodded with a smile.

“Fresh meat to eat today,” said Yue Qinchun, still eating fruit.

A short blade hung at her waist, a gift from Feng Yinan for her own protection.

Yue Qinchun strolled along as leisurely as if she were on a sightseeing trip, thinking to herself that with so many capable sisters around, she wouldn’t need to lift a finger today.

“Three o’clock direction.”

Feng Jiu’er’s eyes flickered, and she picked up the bow she’d just made and moved off.

A gust of wind passed, and Jian Yi’s figure had already disappeared from view.