Wu Chang Jie

10

If you win first place during the Jiaolong assembly, have you thought about asking the emperor for a reward?"

"Son hasn't thought about it."

"No matter what the reward is, it will not be a sword quenched by the Shen Nong Ding."

Zong Zi Heng stared at his own reflection on the water's surface, thinking about the conversation he had with his mother before he left, and couldn't help but be baffled.

"Big brother, the sweet potatoes are baked. They smell so good."

Zong Zi Heng came back to his senses, "Coming." He hurriedly washed his hands and collected his emotions.

After spending time away from Wuji Palace, Zong Zi Xiao had almost gone crazy from playing around. This was his first time leaving the palace since he was born. Everything looked fresh to him. He got tired of staying in the inn and insisted on sleeping in the wilderness. It just so happened that there was an evil spirit causing trouble on Mount Gutuo. Zong Zi Heng planned to deal with them at night, so he settled down nearby.

"Your Highness, try some." The roasted and tender sweet potatoes were handed to Zong Zi Heng.

For this trip, Emperor Ninghua had assigned them two high-ranking cultivators as escorts. They were a pair of brothers named Huang Hong and Huang Wu.

Zong Zi Heng said, "Bring us some wine."

Huang Wu brought the flagon over, and Zong Zi Heng poured three goblets* of wine and handed two to them: "It has been a long journey for you two."

The two of them were flattered: "Your Highness, this is what we should be doing."

"There is no need to be so formal outside of the palace." Zong Zi Heng laughed, "This Xiaoyaoniang is a good wine. It is light and sweet at first, but the aftertaste is endless. The so-called free and unfettered* is like an immortal. It would be boring for me to drink alone. Come on."

The two accepted the goblets of wine from Zong Zi Heng and drank.

Zong Zi Xiao eyed the wine: "Brother, can I..."

"No."

"Just give me a little taste. I've never had wine before."

"How old are you? Who would dare to give you wine?"

Huang Hong and Huang Wu laughed together.

"There is no need to be so formal outside the palace. That's what you just said." Zong Zi Xiao was climbing onto Zong Zi Heng's shoulder, "Big brother, let me try, is it really that good?"

Zong Zi Heng looked skeptically at him and curled his lips in a smile, "Okay, I'll give you just a little taste." He took his thumb and dipped it into the wine and wiped it onto Zong Zi Xiao's lips.

Zong Zi Xiao curiously stretched out his tongue and licked it. His little face suddenly changed: "Yuck, yuck, so spicy."

The three of them laughed out loud.

Zong Zi Xiao said angrily, "That's disgusting!"

"You're the one who wanted to taste it. You can't blame others." Zong Zi Heng smiled and put him on his lap, "Come, drink some water."

Zong Zi Xiao took a few gulps of water and finally calmed down.

After eating, the sky was getting dark, and the two brothers leaned against each other to enjoy the sunset.

"Brother, where is the evil spirit and when will it come out?"

"You'll have to ask it yourself. For now, we can only wait." Zong Zi Heng flicked his finger at the spirit-attracting talisman placed at the side, which would burn up whenever a ghost appeared within a li radius.