Chapter 48 All Pretense Shattered

Upon hearing this, Yan Chixia was overjoyed.
"Xiaomeng is absolutely right. Xiaomeng, Pinecone, Sister, I will now use my 'Paper Talisman Art' to conjure up a table full of delicacies for you to enjoy..."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Rabbit Xiaomeng beamed. "Brother Yan, where are your talisman papers and ink? I'll fetch them for you."

As she stood up to get them, Yan Chixia waved his hand.
"No need, Xiaomeng. I have ready-made paper talismans in my pocket... Just sit here and wait to taste the feast."

Hearing this, Rabbit Xiaomeng plopped back down, unable to hide her impatience.
"Great! Brother Yan, hurry up! I can't wait any longer!"

"Hehe..." Bai Xiaoyue couldn't help but laugh. "Xiaomeng, you little glutton, can't you be a bit more ladylike?"

"Giggle..." Rabbit Xiaomeng made a silly face. "Sister Bai, don't laugh at me. I haven't tasted Brother Yan's cooking in days, and now I'm absolutely craving it... Once I get a bite, I'll be as proper as you like!"

Her words sent everyone into fits of laughter.

Yan Chixia, smiling, reached into his pocket and drew out a folded paper talisman. With a swift motion, he unfolded it and, grasping one corner, gave it a flick. In a flash of golden light, seven or eight dishes of fresh, mouth-watering food appeared, large plates and small bowls landing together in the center of the grass where they sat.

Bai Xiaoyue, Rabbit Xiaomeng, and Pinecone all widened their eyes in amazement. They saw the food included crispy fish fillets, bamboo shoots with cashews, pine nut pastries, green vegetable fish strips, salt-baked shrimp, honey-glazed ham, lettuce with almonds, carrot shreds with cashews, and, in addition, a fragrant whole roast chicken—truly a feast for the senses, each dish enticing and aromatic.

"Wow!" Rabbit Xiaomeng, mouth watering, exclaimed, "Brother Yan, you're amazing! All these delicious things are my absolute favorites... Oh, there's so much, which should I eat first?" Her black, shining eyes darted about as she pondered, then she seized a piece of honey-glazed ham and stuffed it in her mouth, singing its praises as she chewed, "Delicious, delicious—sweet, fragrant, and crispy—so good! Sister Bai, Pinecone, Brother Yan, don't just sit there, eat with me!"

As she spoke with her mouth full, her words were muffled and incoherent, making everyone laugh. Pinecone couldn't help but tease her.

"Hehe, Xiaomeng, you just said you'd be ladylike once you started eating. But look at you now, wolfing things down—there's nothing ladylike about you at all! You've thrown propriety to the wind!"

"Heehee... Pinecone, are you silly?" Rabbit Xiaomeng mumbled as she chewed, "With all this delicious food in front of us, why wait? Who cares about being ladylike or not?"

Pinecone was left speechless by her retort.

"Haha..." Bai Xiaoyue smiled radiantly. "Xiaomeng is right! Who cares about manners now? There are no outsiders here, let's all throw caution to the wind and feast together! Come, Pinecone, little brother, let's all join Xiaomeng and enjoy ourselves."

"Yes!" Yan Chixia said happily. "Sister, Pinecone, Xiaomeng, let's eat and chat together..."

And so Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Pinecone, and Rabbit Xiaomeng began to enjoy the meal together.

Rabbit Xiaomeng, always quick with her tongue, spoke to Yan Chixia between bites:
"Brother Yan, do you know? While you were away from the cave these days, all those carrot and vegetable seeds we planted have sprouted! There are so many green leaves, left and right, it's beautiful!"

"Is that so?" Yan Chixia smiled. "Then it sounds like we'll have a good harvest soon."

"Of course." Rabbit Xiaomeng's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. "Brother Yan, especially the carrot shoots—they've grown this tall! We're about to have a bumper crop, I'm so happy! Heehee..."

"Heh..." Pinecone, munching on a pine nut pastry, laughed. "Of course you're happy, Xiaomeng. Carrots are your favorite!"

"Haha..." Bai Xiaoyue couldn't hide her own delight. "You reap what you sow, as they say. When those carrots and vegetables are ready for harvest, we'll be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. That's truly something to be happy about." As she spoke, she picked up a crispy fish fillet, tasted it, and smiled at Yan Chixia, "Little brother, your 'Paper Talisman Art' has improved greatly! Now you can conjure so many dishes at once, and each one is a delicacy. It's really impressive!"

"Thank you for your praise, Sister!" Yan Chixia beamed. "Let me share some good news: In the past half month, not only has my 'Paper Talisman Art' improved, but my swordsmanship and inner energy cultivation have also advanced a lot. If this continues, I think it won't be long before I break through the 'Heart Awakening' stage and enter the 'Golden Core' realm..."

"Really?" Before Yan Chixia could finish, Rabbit Xiaomeng interrupted, marveling, "Brother Yan, you're amazing! I must take you as my role model, work hard in my cultivation, and strive to reach the 'Foundation Establishment' stage soon..."

"And me!" Pinecone chimed in, not to be outdone. "I'll also take Brother Yan as my example and work hard together with Xiaomeng..."

"Excellent!" Bai Xiaoyue immediately praised. "Xiaomeng, Pinecone, you two are wonderful!" Then she turned her bright gaze to Yan Chixia, her eyes sparkling. "Little brother, I remember you said that once you reach the 'Golden Core' stage, your master will teach you how to set up a protective barrier? Well, your wish is about to come true! I'm truly happy for you!"

Yan Chixia, who had been brimming with joy, suddenly grew worried at her words as he remembered that Master Qingxu had been away from Qingxu Temple for a long time without any news.
"Sister, Master has been gone for so long and still hasn't returned... I wonder where he is now, or how he is faring? It's truly worrisome..."

Bai Xiaoyue's heart sank at his words, and she too began to worry, but she comforted him gently:
"Don't worry, little brother! Your master is skilled and experienced. Wherever he is, he'll be safe..."

"Danzi—"

Before Bai Xiaoyue could finish, a hoarse and desperate cry rang out.

Startled, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Rabbit Xiaomeng, and Pinecone all turned toward the sound. Not far ahead, a ragged, blood-streaked Taoist appeared before them.

It was none other than Master Qingxu, clearly gravely wounded.

"Dan...zi..." Master Qingxu mustered the last of his strength to call out once more, staggered forward a few steps, and then collapsed headlong to the ground...