Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Just Hasn’t Grown Any Taller

Inside the inn, Qin Yuan still wanted to pry out details, but the old lady was advanced in years, could not stay up late, and shied from talking about the town’s strange happenings. Seeing she was unwilling to speak further, Qin Yuan let it go.

After taking a small lodging fee, the old lady left them alone, went up to the third floor to rest, and told them to take any rooms on the second floor as they pleased, since none were occupied.

Qin Yuan searched the inn top to bottom and, finding nothing amiss, set his worries down for the moment.

He picked a concealed spot and sent a voice transmission through a communication jade slip to Dai Zhou: Dai Zhou, we have found an inn with someone in it; the location is…

After the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, someone rapped lightly at the inn’s front door.

Qin Yuan opened it. It was Dai Zhou and the other three.

He stepped aside to let them in and asked in passing: how were things on your side?

Wan Li Xuan shot a glare at Lin Dao, who walked in last, and huffed: it is all Lin Dao’s fault. If he had not been timid and overcautious, we might have caught that suspicious person.

Qin Yuan looked to the more familiar Dai Zhou: what suspicious person?

Dai Zhou explained: here is what happened. Yu Shuang discovered someone seemed to be watching us in secret. Wan Li Xuan immediately went to give chase, but Lin Dao stopped him. By the time we moved, the person had already gone.

Though he did not openly blame Lin Dao, the tilt of Dai Zhou’s words made it plain he felt that Lin Dao’s delay had cost them the clue.

Forget it, said Qin Yuan. He felt it a pity, but there was no need to dwell on it now. It is dark, and there is something wrong with this town; it could be dangerous to wander about. We will decide our next step at first light.

All right, said one.

For now, there is nothing else we can do, said another.

Qin Yuan turned and saw Yu Ruan Ruan walking out from the kitchen with a tray of steaming dishes. He asked with mild curiosity: Ruan Ruan, where did these mortal dishes come from?

Keeping their cover as ordinary people, Yu Ruan Ruan explained softly, a sweet smile at her lips: to avoid arousing the old lady’s suspicion, I borrowed the small kitchen and made a few dishes. Come and have some.

No wonder you are Junior Sister Yu, someone exclaimed; you think of everything.

Junior Sister Yu is so skillful, another chimed in.

Rong Shu watched Yu Ruan Ruan soaking up their praise and thought: [Honestly, we could just pretend we brought our own dry rations.] But since the mood had finally eased, she decided not to spoil it. Still, this place felt very strange, and she did not trust food cooked from the inn’s ingredients: [I should not put that into my stomach.]

Just then Yu Ruan Ruan called to Rong Shu, who sat a little apart: junior sister, come taste it with us.

Rong Shu sighed inwardly: [Well, there goes the mood.] She shook her head slightly: no need, Senior Sister; I brought dry rations.

She made a show of pulling out a wrapped bundle from her bosom. Everyone knew it actually came from her Storage Pouch, but with a mortal in the inn the group had been careful not to reveal any techniques. So they watched as Rong Shu drew out a flat cake, tore off a piece, and popped it into her mouth, chewing with relish.

Silence followed. Somehow the food cooked in the inn’s kitchen no longer seemed so fragrant.

Rong Shu had prepared the cakes before they set out. Back at the sect she had subsisted on Fasting Pills, so the fresh ingredients they issued had been ignored in a corner. Fortunately, provisions from the sect canteen kept for months without spoiling. Before departure she threw everything into a great stew, then compressed it into portable cakes.

Senior brothers and sister, come taste my cooking, Yu Ruan Ruan began to say, but on the other side Lin Dao was already striding toward Rong Shu with his hand out: give me a piece.

His calm voice made Yu Ruan Ruan’s smile stiffen for a heartbeat.

Seeing that it was Lin Dao asking, Rong Shu immediately broke off a generous chunk and handed it over with a guileless grin: here you go, Senior Brother.

Lin Dao could see her attempt to ingratiate herself; he lifted an eyebrow but said nothing, took the cake, and sat to eat. Better to mooch this little girl’s rations than to risk food made from unknown ingredients in this inn. At least it was safe to swallow.

Qin Yuan suddenly felt like asking Rong Shu for a cake as well, but the sight of Yu Ruan Ruan’s faintly embarrassed expression pricked his heart. He spoke gently: Ruan Ruan, I will try your cooking.

All right, Third Senior Brother, she answered, confidence returning to her smile.

As Qin Yuan took the first bite, he thought: [At worst I will quietly take an Antidote Pill later; I must not let Ruan Ruan feel hurt.]

As for Dai Zhou and the other two, they had gossiped about Rong Shu behind her back; now, guilty, none of them dared ask a not?so?familiar Rong Shu for food.

Yu Ruan Ruan did have some skill with a wok; after tasting her dishes, Dai Zhou and the others’ eyes brightened, and compliments tumbled out as if Spirit Stones were nothing.

So tasty, said one; Junior Sister Yu, you really put your heart into this.

Junior Sister Yu is so beautiful and cooks so well, said another; as a Senior Sister, I am genuinely envious.

Junior Sister Yu’s craft is superb, said a third.

Of course, hot, fragrant food had to taste better than some dry, leathery cake.

Rong Shu ignored the little flurry around Yu Ruan Ruan and munched her own cake in satisfaction. Noticing Lin Dao was nearly finished, she asked in a small voice: Senior Brother, do you want more?

Lin Dao shook his head: no. He had only meant to put on a show.

Lowering his gaze to the slender little girl before him, he thought she really should eat more. After months of cultivation, she was no longer the skinny, malnourished thing she had been when she first entered the sect; her qi and blood looked much better now. [She just has not grown any taller.]

Oh, said Rong Shu. She did not know what Lin Dao was thinking; seeing he did not want more cake, she sat quietly to the side and chewed. Lin Dao was a bit of a mystery, far from simple as he appeared. Still, she had not sensed any malice from him; that time on the Flying Boat had been more an accidental “friendly fire.”

Thinking of this, she let out a small breath: [Mm… I can try to cultivate some goodwill. If it does not take, then keep my distance; at the very least, do not provoke him.]

Little girl, do not sleep too soundly tonight, Lin Dao said coolly by her ear, and Rong Shu’s heart tightened.