Chapter 2672 - 2671: Do You Like Me
Li Xiaonian knelt on the ground for a long time, and it wasn’t until all the heroic spirits had dispersed that Ling Feng went over to help her up.
When Li Xiaonian stood up, she stumbled a bit from kneeling too long, but fortunately, Ling Feng held her steady.
Surprisingly, there were no tear stains on Li Xiaonian’s face, only a determined look. Her voice was a bit hoarse as she said, "Since those from the Three Realms want to provoke us, then we’ll show them,"
"Though our Xuanxu Realm is not a major world, and without the protection of a great existence like the Lord of the Three Realms who can create worlds, still, not just anyone can act recklessly here!"
"I want those sneaky murderers who crept in here,"
"to pay for blood with blood!"
A large group of soldiers suddenly ran in from the cemetery gate in the distance, led by the new Royal City guard general, Li Feng.
He led the guards to kneel on one knee behind Li Xiaonian and said immediately:
"Your servant has arrived too late to save you, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
At the side, Wei Dong also knelt down but said nothing.
Li Xiaonian waved her hand, indicating Li Feng should spare the formalities: "Spread my order, the entire nation is entering Level 1 combat readiness, residents should stay indoors unless necessary,"
"At the same time, increase the number of daily patrols, three shifts a day, including nighttime patrols. Report immediately if any suspicious activity is found,"
"Also, recall one-third of the soldiers from the borders to strengthen the defenses of the Royal City and other major cities!"
Wei Dong hesitantly said, "Your Majesty, what has happened, do we need to..."
"Someone has come to provoke us, and we can’t just sit back and let them slaughter us? I must ensure they understand that not just anyone can come to the Vermilion Bird Kingdom and make trouble!"
"Yes!" Wei Dong no longer hesitated and bowed in salute.
Then Li Xiaonian adjusted her emotions and turned to Ling Feng, who looked worried, saying, "Those matters just now are important, but what’s more important is improving your strength. As long as you can control that Chaos Sword, we’ll have some confidence,"
"And about that visitor from the Three Realms you mentioned earlier, I suspect it’s not dead. It intended to use the spirits of the fallen to hold you back, then escape by itself. We need to find it quickly, or more people will perish!"
Ling Feng nodded: "Leave this matter to me. After all, I want to learn more about the Three Realms from its mouth. I absolutely cannot let it get away."
Li Xiaonian nodded slightly: "Alright then, you can let go of my waist now."
Ling Feng glanced at his hands on Li Xiaonian’s slender waist. Unable to resist, he squeezed twice before releasing them reluctantly.
Li Xiaonian blushed from the squeezes, giving Ling Feng an annoyed look, then pouted, gesturing that many people were watching.
Ling Feng, however, just smiled mischievously.
"I’ll have the artisans come to tidy up the cemetery. For now, I must go inspect the soldiers, so act on your own, and just inform me if anything comes up." Li Xiaonian deliberately turned her head away, avoiding Ling Feng’s gaze.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ling Feng cupped his hands, a smile in his eyes.
Li Xiaonian gave him a reproachful glance before leaving with Li Feng and Wei Dong.
Ling Feng looked at the woods behind the cemetery, where Wu Yang had slipped away into the shadows earlier. At that time, he couldn’t pursue due to the threat and disturbance of the wraiths, for he was already exhausted.
Now that the wraiths were entirely gone, Ling Feng sighed before flipping onto Little Fei’s back. Little Fei flapped its wings and dived into the forest.
...
A week later.
"Benefactor, are you satisfied with the food?" Little Chen, who was helping in the shop, asked with a smile.
Ling Feng picked up a perfectly roasted piece of duck, placing it into his mouth. After savoring it, he nodded in approval: "The roast duck is delicious. Paired with white porridge and greens, it’s simply exquisite."
Having tasted ample delicacies from the mountains and seas, Ling Feng had thought no dish could impress his picky palate until these days of dining with Little Chen had shown him otherwise:
The taste of greens can be so enthralling, roast duck so tender and juicy, even simple white porridge can evoke nostalgic flavors.
As the warm porridge flowed down Ling Feng’s throat, an inexplicable emotion stirred within him.
"As long as you like it, benefactor, I was worried you wouldn’t enjoy these plain things." Little Chen said while serving more food with a smile.
Wang Tian, who was recovering from a severe injury nearby, also smiled and said, "Benefactor, if it’s not enough, we have more here, plenty to go around!"
For the first time in the shop, Wang Tian’s wife appeared. Though her complexion was not as rosy as a healthy person’s, her face beamed with happiness.
An understanding daughter, a responsible and hardworking husband, and a little shop; what more could one ask for in life? Having returned from the brink of death, Wang Tian’s wife appreciated life even more, grateful to Ling Feng for curing her illness.
Ling Feng spent these days eating at Little Chen’s family shop because, among all the dining establishments in the Royal City, theirs suited his taste the most, making him reluctant to leave.
Even though Ling Feng had done a great favor for Wang Tian’s family, and they didn’t mind him dining there daily, Ling Feng insisted on paying each time, like any other guest.
Despite Wang Tian’s reluctance to accept, Ling Feng argued that as a king, not paying while eating out wouldn’t be proper? After much persuasion, Wang Tian finally accepted the payment.
"Little Chen, how old are you now? Aren’t you considering finding a good suitor? Do you really not have someone you fancy?" a customer familiar with Wang Tian asked.
"Uncle Li, I’m still young. I don’t want to get married too early; I want to spend more time with my parents!" Little Chen pouted.
Wang Tian chuckled helplessly: "I’ve had matchmakers look for potential suitors for her, but this girl has high standards. Many talented young men fancy her, but she doesn’t see any of them as suitable,"
"While my friends are becoming grandparents, my daughter is still at home, much to my anxiety." Wang Tian looked at Little Chen and smiled wryly.
"Dad, stop talking. There are so many people around." Little Chen shyly covered her face and ran behind her mother.
Wang Tian’s wife affectionately patted her daughter’s head and glared at Wang Tian, saying, "You just want to marry her off. I don’t want that. Isn’t it nice having her at home with us, lively every day,"
"When she actually gets married one day, you’ll be the one crying!" The woman pinched Wang Tian’s arm.
"Alright, alright, whatever you say!" Wang Tian lamented.
"Hahaha," Uncle Li laughed, "I bet Little Chen like this must have someone special in mind already, right?"
Seeing her secret exposed, Little Chen blushed, waving her hand, "You all are just teasing me. I won’t talk to you anymore."
Head down, Little Chen twirled the corner of her clothes, sneakily glancing at Ling Feng, who was engrossed in thought while eating.
Ling Feng frowned slightly, searching for Wu Yang for days yet finding no trace. Even deploying Little Fei to rouse the city’s insects yielded no clues.
This frustrated Ling Feng, making him question if Wu Yang had returned to the Three Realms.
Wang Tian’s wife shot a knowing look at Little Chen; as her mother, she easily grasped her daughter’s thoughts, but she only smiled, choosing not to reveal them.
After several glances at Ling Feng, Little Chen finally mustered the courage to walk over and ask, "Do you like me?"