"Does this work?"
Liu Nanfeng placed the pearl that Feng Hongjin had given him last time into it.
The pearl was sky blue, and the reflected water also turned sky blue, making it exceptionally beautiful.
"Wow..." Feng Hongjin's eyes lit up with surprise.
This effect couldn't be seen in the river water.
Liu Nanfeng had specifically consulted Su Jinxiu. This pearl was considered a treasure; long-term wear could nourish the body and moisturize the skin.
Of course, this was only for ordinary people. For Su Jinxiu, it was nothing special.
"But I gave this to you." Feng Hongjin tilted her head back, looking at him.
"So?" Liu Nanfeng looked at her with some confusion.
"You want to use your stones to decorate my house, but you can't."
"Uh..."
"Haha." Su Jinxiu couldn't help but laugh beside them.
Feng Hongjin reached into her clothes and pulled out a small pouch.
It was the same one Liu Nanfeng had seen before, round and like a small sachet.
She rummaged inside and then indeed pulled out some colorful stones.
Red pebbles, white pearls, green cat's eyes, yellow gold ingots, purple crystals...
Liu Nanfeng was a bit surprised to see the little one pulling out a handful of treasures from that tiny bag. He didn't expect the little one to be such a rich lady.
"There are many sunken items in the river. She's collected quite a lot of good things over the years." Su Jinxiu picked up the pebble from the table and examined it.
"But she doesn't care about value; she only picks things with pretty colors."
Among all the items, the pebble had the lowest value.
From ancient times to the present, countless ships have sunk in the river, carrying untold treasures.
The little one, being small in stature, loved to burrow through these shipwrecks, exploring and playing, naturally picking up many things she considered "good."
The little one placed these items into the fish tank. As they swayed with the water, they immediately shimmered with colorful light.
Suddenly, the little one leaped upwards, transforming into a cute little carp and falling into the fish tank, splashing a small wave of water.
The little one was not even as big as a palm, covered in red scales, and extremely adorable.
This was the first time Liu Nanfeng had witnessed her transforming into a fish, and he found it incredibly magical.
The little one swam a couple of laps in the fish tank, blew a few bubbles, then leaped out of the water, transforming back into a cute little doll.
"Alas..." she sighed.
"What's wrong?" Liu Nanfeng asked curiously.
"It's too small, I feel uncomfortable." Feng Hongjin said.
"It is a bit small. Well, you should take this fish tank back as a toy. Don't stay in it," Liu Nanfeng said with amusement.
"Dinner is ready." Su Jinxiu called out.
Feng Hongjin's attention was immediately drawn, and as she was about to run towards the dining table, she saw Moyu, who was confined in a cage nearby. She immediately crossed her hips, tilted her head back, and walked proudly past it.
"Meow." Moyu let out a displeased meow from its cat bed.
Hearing this, Feng Hongjin immediately ran over, no longer daring to dawdle.
"Scared the big evil dragon."
"Alright, don't meow. I'll get you something to eat in a moment," Liu Nanfeng said to Moyu in the cat bed as he walked over.
Worried about scaring Feng Hongjin, he hadn't opened the cat bed's door since returning.
"Meow."
Moyu hugged its head with its front paws, not wanting to pay him any mind.
After dinner, Liu Nanfeng sent the little carp back and warned her not to run onto the embankment again. If he found out, he wouldn't be her friend anymore.
Upon hearing this, the little carp finally showed some fear and nodded obediently.
"That's better."
Liu Nanfeng handed her the fish tank he was holding. However, it was no longer filled with water, but with snacks.
The little one reached out to hug it. The items were a bit much, and she seemed to be struggling to hold them.
"Hongjin." Just then, a shout came from the river.
Then, Zhu Yuchan emerged from the river.
"Miss Yuchan." Liu Nanfeng quickly greeted her.
He had initially thought of calling her "Miss Zhu," but it felt like it might carry some ambiguity and not sound good.
"Young Master Liu."
Zhu Yuchan bowed slightly to Liu Nanfeng and then regarded him with some curiosity.
"What is it?" Liu Nanfeng spread his arms and looked at himself. Was there anything wrong with him?
"Nothing, I just feel that since we last met a few days ago, Young Master Liu seems to have changed quite a bit." Zhu Yuchan covered her mouth and chuckled.
"I've been exercising recently," Liu Nanfeng quickly said.
He finally realized that he had changed a lot lately, becoming much more robust and sturdy.
"Sister Yuchan, please help me hold this."
Feng Hongjin could barely carry her small fish tank. Zhu Yuchan finally realized and quickly reached out to take it.
Seeing the snacks in the fish tank, she said to Liu Nanfeng, "You've spent money again, Young Master Liu."
"It's not much money. I won't delay you any longer. Hurry back," Liu Nanfeng said with a smile, waving goodbye to Feng Hongjin.
Feng Hongjin also raised her small arms and hopped along.
"Did you remember what I told you?" Liu Nanfeng reminded her again.
"I remember," Feng Hongjin said loudly.
"Then do you remember what I said?" Feng Hongjin's big eyes were full of anticipation.
"I remember. As long as I have time, I'll contact you with the echo shell," Liu Nanfeng said with a smile.
"Okay."
Feng Hongjin happily took Zhu Yuchan's hand, and they returned to the river together.
"Hongjin, do you really like Young Master Liu?"
"Yes, yes, of course."
"How much do you like him?"
"As much as... as much as the river water."
"Then it seems you like him a lot."
"Yes, because he's the best person, a good friend..."
Liu Nanfeng, standing on the bank, couldn't hear the conversation between Feng Hongjin and Zhu Yuchan in the water. He looked at the rolling river and turned to walk towards the embankment.
This section of the river embankment was sparsely populated. After walking a short distance, he encountered an old man.
He was thin, wore a long robe, had a long face, and a beard on his chin. Upon seeing Liu Nanfeng, he was startled. He cupped his hands and smiled faintly.
Liu Nanfeng was also stunned for a moment, then nodded to him.
Name: Bai Xinghe
Race: Goat Spirit
Cultivation: Five hundred and sixty-seven years
Identity: A wild goat of the mountains, traversing mountains and rivers, observing the stars at night and the wind and clouds by day, thus knowing all matters under heaven.
Previous Cause: Not triggered
"Hmph."
Just then, a cold snort came from the side.
The goat spirit Bai Xinghe didn't dare to turn his head and hurried away, as if chased by a dog, disappearing in an instant.
Liu Nanfeng was somewhat dumbfounded. He turned to look at the source of the snort. Ao Jiangyue was sitting on the embankment, the river breeze gently blowing her hair. Under the orange sunset, she looked like a perfect painting.
Liu Nanfeng thought for a moment and walked over.
Ao Jiangyue looked at him with a peculiar expression.
"Um..."
"What?"
"Doesn't your butt get hot?"
Liu Nanfeng pointed at the embankment that had been baking under the sun all day.
Ao Jiangyue: ...
Ao Jiangyue never expected Liu Nanfeng to ask this question, and for a moment, she didn't know how to answer. She just glared at Liu Nanfeng "fiercely."
"Have you been secretly protecting Hongjin?" Liu Nanfeng asked again.
"Is that what you think?" Ao Jiangyue asked.
Her words were as cold as her demeanor.
Liu Nanfeng nodded. Thinking back, every time he saw Feng Hongjin, he seemed to see her figure nearby.
However, Ao Jiangyue shook her head and said, "Because I am waiting for someone."
"Waiting for someone?"
As Liu Nanfeng was about to ask further, Ao Jiangyue transformed into a wisp of mist and disappeared into the river.
"So mysterious, not even explaining clearly," Liu Nanfeng muttered and walked back home.
After walking for a while, he smelled the aroma from a barbecue stall across the road, and Liu Nanfeng suddenly felt hungry again.
He had eaten a lot for dinner, but now he was hungry again.
He took a Snickers bar from his pocket and popped it into his mouth, feeling a wave of relief spread through his limbs.
It was fortunate that Su Jinxiu was wealthy, otherwise, with his meager manuscript fees, he probably wouldn't even be able to support himself in the future.
Smelling the pervasive fragrance and patting his stomach, Liu Nanfeng decided to go home. Su Jinxiu had told him to go and come back quickly when he left.
"I'm back." Liu Nanfeng opened the door and called out cheerfully.
Su Jinxiu came out of the kitchen upon hearing him and then said, "Was Hongjin safely sent back?"
"Yes, Zhu Yuchan came to pick her up," Liu Nanfeng replied.
Then he sniffed the air, looking a bit puzzled. "What's being grilled now?"
He had never smelled this scent before.
"I collected some ginseng previously. This morning, I had Huamei arrange for someone to send it over. Drink it later."
"Ginseng?" Liu Nanfeng was a bit surprised.
"Yes, try how the ginseng works. If it's effective, I'll have Huamei arrange for someone to collect more."
As Su Jinxiu spoke, she suddenly walked forward, plucked a long strand of hair from his body, and held it up.
"Uh..."
Seeing this strand of hair, Liu Nanfeng was also a bit bewildered. When did it get stuck on him?
Su Jinxiu held the hair between her fingers, remained silent, and looked at him with a smile.
Liu Nanfeng saw that the hair was long and straight and suddenly remembered Ao Jiangyue, whose long hair had been lifted by the river wind.
"Do dragons also shed hair?" Liu Nanfeng asked, puzzled.
"Dragon?"
Su Jinxiu glanced at the long hair in her hand and then said, "This can't be Hongjin's. Her hair is finer."
"Uh... I wasn't talking about her, but Ao Jiangyue."
"Huh? When did you meet her? Tell me properly."
Su Jinxiu pulled Liu Nanfeng to the dining table and sat opposite him, looking as if she was ready to listen to every detail.
"We don't exactly know each other, it's just..."
Liu Nanfeng recounted the whole incident.
"There was a bit of wind by the river just now, maybe it blew off then."
Su Jinxiu looked at the long hair on the table and then carefully put it away.
"Why are you keeping it?"
"It might be useful in the future," Su Jinxiu said.
"Useful? For what?"
"You'll know in time," Su Jinxiu said, appearing to be in a good mood.
"Do dragons also shed hair?" Liu Nanfeng asked this peculiar question again.
"How would I know? But no matter what kind of monster it is, after transforming into a human, it naturally develops some human habits. For example, I sometimes shed hair too."
Hearing Su Jinxiu say this, Liu Nanfeng finally remembered that it was indeed the case.
"But she said she was waiting for someone. Who is she waiting for? And why has she been following Feng Hongjin?"
Upon hearing this, Su Jinxiu's movements visibly paused.
Then she said, "She must be protecting her safety. Ao Jiangyue and Feng Hongjin's mother are both from the dragon race. Perhaps Hongjin's mother asked her to do it."
"Is that so?"
Liu Nanfeng felt it wasn't that simple, but he didn't press further.
Instead, he continued, "I also met a goat spirit earlier. I remember you told me before that there aren't many demons left, but why have I been encountering them so frequently recently? It feels like there are still quite a lot."
Su Jinxiu's expression became slightly serious upon hearing this, and then she smiled brightly, "That just means you have a connection with demons. Your childhood friend is a monster, and your wife is also a monster."
Saying this, she started to giggle herself.
Liu Nanfeng thought about it and realized it was indeed the case. It seemed he was naturally connected to demons, and he started laughing too.
"You're wearing the amulet I gave you, right?"
"Of course, I always wear it."
As Liu Nanfeng spoke, he pulled out a red string from his collar, to which a jade bone resembling a bamboo joint was attached.
"When there are many monsters, there will be chaos. If you encounter any danger, it will protect your safety," Su Jinxiu said, feeling slightly relieved to see Liu Nanfeng wearing it obediently.
"Yes, I know."
He knew Su Jinxiu meant well for him and wouldn't object, even though a grown man wearing a red string around his neck looked a bit feminine.
"Drink the soup and see how it tastes."
Su Jinxiu got up and walked towards the kitchen. In fact, the protection she had left on Liu Nanfeng was far more than this.
"Why does it taste strange?"
Liu Nanfeng sniffed the ginseng soup in the bowl. He always felt a hint of earthy smell, which wasn't pleasant.
"To avoid destroying its nutrients, I specifically didn't add any other ingredients. It might not smell or taste good, but it will definitely be very nourishing," Su Jinxiu explained.
Liu Nanfeng scooped a small spoonful and took a sip. Immediately, a bitter taste exploded on his taste buds. It truly didn't taste good.
But in an instant, a warm current burst within his stomach and spread to his limbs and bones. A slight sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Is the ginseng this effective?" Liu Nanfeng was also very surprised.
With just a small sip, he felt his entire being become incredibly clear, and his body felt invigorated and full of energy.
"Because this ginseng is at least a hundred and fifty years old," Su Jinxiu explained with a smile.
"Wow, then it's very expensive, very valuable?" Liu Nanfeng was startled.
"It shouldn't be cheap," Su Jinxiu said casually.
"This... won't this be too wasteful?"
Liu Nanfeng looked at the pale yellow ginseng soup in the bowl. This wasn't soup; it was gold, no, more valuable than gold.
"As long as it's useful to you, it's all worth it," Su Jinxiu said with a smile.
"Wife..." Liu Nanfeng was very touched.
"Alright, drink it quickly," Su Jinxiu urged.
She also wanted Liu Nanfeng to improve his strength as soon as possible, not just to protect himself, but also for...
Hearing this, Liu Nanfeng drank heartily again, finally chewing and swallowing the ginseng pieces at the bottom of the bowl.
He was completely immersed in the pleasure of his body being strengthened, not even noticing when Su Jinxiu had brought up all the ginseng soup.
After finishing the soup and eating the ginseng, Liu Nanfeng, who had only been slightly sweating earlier, was now drenched in sweat, soaking through his clothes.
But he felt incredibly good. His entire body felt clear and revitalized, brimming with energy that had nowhere to be released.
His mind was sharp, as if a long-standing burden had been lifted, his thoughts becoming more agile. The entire world seemed more vibrant and colorful.
"How is it? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Seeing Liu Nanfeng sitting there in a daze, Su Jinxiu walked over with some concern and placed her hand on his shoulder.
Liu Nanfeng felt a coolness spread through his body from his shoulder, instantly suppressing the heat within him.
"Wife." Liu Nanfeng reached out to embrace her.
"Go take a bath first, you're all wet." Su Jinxiu dodged him with a look of distaste.
"Okay."
Hearing this, Liu Nanfeng happily ran towards the bathroom.
Looking at Liu Nanfeng, who was acting like a child, Su Jinxiu chuckled.
Then she turned and walked towards the room to get him clean clothes.
If only it could always be like this.