Stunned.
Shen Zaixin and Xiu Jiming were momentarily speechless as they witnessed Lin Ling’s ferocious eating habits for the first time.
Neither said a word.
Instead, they watched her eat with smiles on their faces.
Lin Ling was currently gripping a roasted duck leg and taking two massive bites.
When she realized that no one else had picked up their chopsticks, she stopped, feeling a bit embarrassed.
She suddenly recalled how Lin Ke had been constantly advising her to be more lady-like while eating.
Feeling awkward, she began to put on an act, taking small, dainty bites of the roasted duck.
Xiu Jiming couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It’s fine. We’re all friends here. You can eat however you like.”
Hearing this, Lin Ling instinctively glanced at Shen Zaixin, who sat across from her.
Shen Zaixin felt a bit helpless and pushed his bowl forward with a smile.
“It’s all right. Go ahead and eat. Watching you enjoy your meal actually gives me a better appetite.”
Seeing this, the little fox stopped pretending and began to feast heartily.
Once they were full, Xiu Jiming planned to take Lin Ling around to see the sights.
Afterward, they would head to the headquarters of the Yunzhou Suppression Inspectorate to look into some issues regarding talisman cultivation.
Shen Zaixin thought for a moment before pulling a universe bag from his robe and handing it to Lin Ling.
“Ling’er, consider this compensation for the Fox Clan. Of course, the reparations for your people could never be limited to just this. This is only the portion I can personally provide for now.”
Lin Ling looked at him with confusion.
“The portion you can provide? Why must it come from you? Lord Shen, are you really that wealthy?”
Shen Zaixin immediately realized his slip of the tongue.
He quickly covered his mouth with his fan and laughed.
“Just a slip of the tongue, that’s all. It’s nothing. Go on, have fun.”
Xiu Jiming gave Shen Zaixin a brief look, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.
As the two left the restaurant, Shen Zaixin stood by the window and watched them walk away.
A sense of loss lingered in his heart.
He turned to the guard beside him and asked, “What do you think of Xiu Jiming’s idea? The Fox Clan guarded a territory for my Great Yu, ensuring the threat of demons remained confined to Yuzhou. The entire Great Yu owes them so many favors. How are we supposed to repay them?”
“Your Majesty, I believe Commander Xiu is right. Having Miss Lin Ling enter the rear palace is definitely not a good choice,” the guard replied after a moment of hesitation.
“I know. I just…”
Shen Zaixin hesitated, his eyes flickering with emotion. Ultimately, he sighed.
“Very well. Since I have already promised Commander Xiu, I will let them be.”
***
Xiu Jiming led Lin Ling toward a famous snack street in Longchuan County.
As she skipped along, she suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed Xiu Jiming’s sleeve.
The little fox wrote on her paper: ‘I remember you said you were going to capture Gong Xuance as well?’
Xiu Jiming glanced at her writing and smiled.
“I brought him. In fact, while you were at the restroom, I already handed him over to Shen Zaixin. As for Gong Xuance’s final fate, that is no longer for us to know.”
‘I see,’ Lin Ling wrote, her expression turning sentimental.
‘I’ve spent every day watching Gong Xuance play the fool. Now that he’s gone, it feels a bit empty without him acting like a jerk.’
Xiu Jiming’s brow quirked at her words.
“People always have to leave eventually. Do you have feelings for him?”
He wasn’t sure what had possessed him to ask such a question.
The little fox froze, her face twisting into a look of disdain.
She quickly scribbled on the paper: ‘What kind of weird things are you saying?’
Xiu Jiming said nothing further, but his expression calmed down.
Lin Ling sighed with emotion.
‘It’s just that lately, first Yu Yu left, and now we’ve left Yue Shan County. I probably won’t see Gu Xiao or Junjun for a long time.’
After writing that, she rubbed her face and smiled.
‘People have left, so I just feel a little lonely.’
Xiu Jiming smiled.
“Once you finish your cultivation and research here, we will return soon. We won’t stay here for long.”
Lin Ling waved her hands frantically and wrote: ‘There’s no need to be in such a rush! Longchuan is so big, and I haven’t seen enough of it yet. How could we go back so soon? It’s just a bit of loneliness. Besides, don’t I have you to keep me company?’
Realizing she had written something that looked suspiciously like a confession, Lin Ling hurriedly crossed it out and tried to block Xiu Jiming’s line of sight.
Xiu Jiming found it amusing and dodged her small paws, taking the opportunity to pinch her cheek.
Lin Ling turned her head to avoid his hand and gave him a contemptuous look.
She quickly wrote several large characters on the paper: ‘What are you trying to do? Are you trying to harass me?’
***
Elsewhere, Shen Zaixin looked at Gong Xuance, who had just been released from a spirit jade pearl.
With a half-smile, he said, “Brother Gong, it has been a long time.”
Gong Xuance flopped on the floor like a fish out of water, splashing around comically.
Once he realized he had finally been released, he looked around warily, only to meet Shen Zaixin’s mocking gaze.
His face immediately relaxed, and he sat on the floor with utter composure.
“Oh, it’s little Xiao. Where are we? Have we reached the Imperial Capital already?”
Shen Zaixin shook his head.
“This is Longchuan County. I have important business to attend to, so I am not returning to the capital yet.”
“As expected of the Son of Heaven. The security is so tight; I thought I might have a chance to escape.”
Gong Xuance looked at the layers of guards surrounding Shen Zaixin and sighed.
He sat cross-legged and said arrogantly, “I say, little Xiao—I am your mother’s good friend, after all. Isn’t it a bit much to treat me like this?”
“My mother misses you dearly. Why don’t you come back with me to see her?”
Shen Zaixin smiled, though the expression was sharp enough to kill.
At the sound of Shen Zaixin’s voice, the surrounding guards drew their swords.
In an instant, the room was filled with killing intent.
“Forget it. Your mother is terrifying. Only your father could put up with her. I have no desire to face that tigress.”
The guards continued to glare at Gong Xuance with hostility.
Gong Xuance threw up his hands helplessly.
“Don’t be like that. I don’t have any strength to resist right now. The seal my junior brother placed on me is far stronger than the mediocre techniques of your Hidden Mountain Rain Pavilion.”
“You all may withdraw,” Shen Zaixin said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
He smiled and said, “Gong Xuance, I have a mission for you. I wonder if you are interested?”
“I’m not,” Gong Xuance sneered, acting quite haughty.
“Your mother locked me in a dungeon for ten years, and you still want me to work for your Shi family?”
“Don’t be so quick to refuse. I believe you will be interested in this.”
Shen Zaixin smiled and gestured.
A guard stepped forward from behind him and handed over a file.
“Let’s hear it then.”
Gong Xuance was a bit surprised by how serious he looked.
“It concerns the meteorite that fell not long ago,” Shen Zaixin said, his expression turning grave.
“Oh?”
Gong Xuance’s eyes lit up, clearly intrigued.