Chapter 1281: Eating Chicken

He knew the Shari River basin.

Sun Fuling asked, surprised, "Yes, it seems you paid close attention in class."

Panglong City offered a wide variety of public lectures, some of which taught about the geography and customs of the outside world, attracting large audiences.

"Dean Xu said they're an immortal-descendant family, and few of their younger generation venture out into the world."

"An immortal-descendant family?"

"Like Mr. Lu's family."

He Lingchuan let out a long "Oh" of understanding.

The Lu family of Bailie were descendants of immortals, with closer ties to Mount Ling than ordinary Daoist sects. Lu Xun had left, and Xin Yi had arrived. It was clear that Hanyuan Prefecture, like the Lu family, was considered "one of their own" by Mount Ling.

Mount Ling felt more at ease sending their own people as envoys to Panglong City.

"It seems Hanyuan Prefecture is doing quite well."

Children passing by greeted Sun Fuling. She smiled back, then asked He Lingchuan, "How can you tell?"

"Their younger generation doesn't need to venture out into the world, which indicates a strong family foundation and no need to struggle for a livelihood."

In fact, looking at it this way, the later Lu family still held territories, and Lu Zhensheng and others were also from influential families—though their family head was quite downtrodden.

But in times of chaos, how many minor powers could avoid feeling repressed?

"According to other cultivators from the east, Hanyuan Prefecture is a renowned and prosperous family in the Shari River basin."

A renowned family might not necessarily be wealthy, perhaps only inheriting fame from their ancestors; but a prosperous family? That meant they were currently rich and powerful.

"What is Xin Yi's status within Hanyuan Prefecture?"

Lu Xun was the head of the Lu family, who had personally traveled to Panglong Wilderness last time to serve as Mount Ling's contact.

What kind of person would Hanyuan Prefecture send to handle the task assigned by Mount Ling?

Sun Fuling shrugged, a gesture that added three points to her cuteness. "I'm not sure about that. Is Mr. Xin our topic of conversation for today?"

He Lingchuan quickly apologized.

He was currently swamped, only able to meet Scholar Sun every four or five days. Discussing work the moment they met felt a bit impolite.

The two walked out of Shumin Academy, hand in hand, in search of a good meal.

Sun Fuling looked around, sniffed the air, then suddenly pointed to a small, rundown shop on the street corner and told He Lingchuan, "Let's eat there!"

Their relationship was close enough that they no longer sought out fancy restaurants.

Seeing her eyes sparkle, how could He Lingchuan refuse?

The shop's facade was small, and the sign, "Old Fang's Kiln-Roasted Chicken," was written in the owner's own crooked handwriting.

But the aroma wafting from its kitchen was truly delightful!

This intensely rich, savory scent was its best advertisement.

The shop only had four small square tables and sold only three items:

Kiln-roasted chicken, pickled scallions, and wine.

Kiln-roasted chicken was different from beggar's chicken; its flavor was rich and mellow, baked in a special kiln. The aroma they had just smelled was that of freshly roasted chicken straight from the oven.

With a gesture, they ordered five chickens and began to feast heartily.

This was thanks to Panglong City's current abundance of goods from both north and south, and its rich resources. Three or four years ago, eating chicken so freely would have been difficult.

Whole chicken was best enjoyed torn apart by hand; peeling back the crispy, golden-brown skin released a rush of rich aroma and steam.

The aroma was absolutely intoxicating.

He Lingchuan meticulously peeled two large cloves of garlic, eating a bite of chicken with a bite of garlic.

The savory oil and pungent spice were a perfect match.

As the saying went, "Eating meat without garlic halves the flavor."

Sun Fuling's slender fingers were glistening with oil, yet she raised her cup and took a sip of wine. "I've wanted to eat chicken here for a long time, but no one would come with me."

She ate no slower than He Lingchuan, and not very delicately either; a sesame seed even clung to the corner of her lips.

He Lingchuan reached out to wipe it off for her, smiling. "You don't care about your image, but other scholars do."

Who among those who pride themselves on their status would dare to sit by the street, wildly tearing chicken apart with bare hands?

However, He Lingchuan wasn't surprised that Scholar Sun could tear hot chicken with her bare hands without fear. Just two months prior, he had secretly witnessed Scholar Sun pluck a glowing red charcoal from a stove, also with her bare hands, and with a perfectly natural expression.

Sun Fuling ate a pickled scallion to cut the richness, then also looked out at the long street. "Life is short, and disasters are long-lasting, so one should indulge in enjoyment."

"Indulging in enjoyment, yet we're still neighbors with a wall between us?" He Lingchuan couldn't help but retort.

Door Plank and Willow Twig had already jointly bought a house in the nearby small city.

Sun Fuling glared at him. "The city is abuzz with talk, isn't there another major war brewing?"

"It's inevitable," He Lingchuan said, taking a sip of wine. "As you said, Scholar, disasters are long-lasting."

Although Panglong City's northwest front had never been peaceful, the entire line had recently been in retreat, with no sounds of weapons to be heard.

This period of truce had lasted for quite some time.

But those familiar with Zhong Shengguang and General Hong's strategies, like He Lingchuan, knew this was merely the calm before a tsunami.

The next attack, if it came, would be overwhelming.

Ordinary soldiers and civilians were unaware of the Panglong City leadership's intentions, but having lived through years of war, they knew a major conflict was imminent when they saw the city and its surroundings preparing for battle and expanding their forces.

The current peace and prosperity, and the accompanying happiness, felt as fleeting and illusory as a dream.

Sun Fuling wiped her hands clean, took a small box from her bosom, and pushed it open in front of He Lingchuan.

"This is for you."

Inside lay a red string, meticulously braided with four small golden beads. Each bead was engraved with a character, which together spelled:

Peace and Joy.

"I learned how to braid this from other scholars," she said, pointing to the red string, then to the golden beads. "I also carved these myself."

She said earnestly, "I hope you return safely after this great battle."

Warfare was merciless; how many dreamt of in their boudoirs had become mere bones in the trenches?

He Lingchuan looked at his ten greasy fingers. "I'm very touched, but I can't move. Could you help me?"

His beloved was truly unique, choosing such a time to give him a gift.

Sun Fuling smiled and tied the red string of peace onto his left wrist.

He Lingchuan deliberately shook his wrist; the golden beads made no sound.

Sun Fuling laughed. "Why are you shaking it? I wouldn't tie a bell to you!"

He often led troops on ambushes; how could he wear jingling jewelry?

He Lingchuan picked up his cup and toasted her.

Before he could finish his sip of wine, two more people entered the shop. One of them said to the other, "My lord, this shop's kiln-roasted chicken is its most unique specialty."

He Lingchuan looked and thought, what a coincidence—it was Xin Yi, whom he had just met!

They had agreed to return to Ximo Ridge together that afternoon, yet here they were, running into each other again.

Xin Yi was also startled to see them seated. He waved his hand at the other person, who immediately withdrew.

He walked over and greeted them, "General He, Scholar Sun, seeing you two dining here tells me the food must be excellent."

As Zhong Shengguang's honored guest, He Lingchuan was very polite. "Why don't you sit and eat with us?"

It was merely a polite invitation, but Xin Yi took it seriously. He pulled over a chair and sat down casually, saying, "Obedience is better than politeness."