Chapter 108: Sweet Potatoes

Whoosh… whoosh…

Strong winds carried fine rain through every crack in the old, broken temple.

In the only sheltered corner, a small bonfire crackled and popped, its flames dancing in the gloom.

Gu Ning’an held two bamboo skewers, each topped with a sweet potato.

As the flames licked at the potatoes, their skins turned an enticing rosy hue, and the rich aroma was enough to make one’s mouth water.

“Once the honeyed glaze seeps out, they’ll be ready to eat,” Gu Ning’an said, setting the skewers on a makeshift stand of stacked stones.

With a flick of his thoughts, five streams of Worldly Qi emerged from his palm, corresponding to Li Xunshan, Ren Yue, Patriarch Ren, Wei Hai, and Wen Songmo.

Reaching into his wide sleeves, he drew out the Hongchen Sword, which appeared instantly in his grip.

Carefully channeling his magic, Gu Ning’an guided the Worldly Qi, strand by strand, into the sword.

Half an hour passed, and all five streams of Worldly Qi merged fully into the blade.

The Hongchen Sword hummed softly, emitting a faint spiritual glow before falling silent again.

This time, integrating the Worldly Qi felt much easier than before. Likely due to the sword already containing ten streams of Worldly Qi, it had grown increasingly accommodating, showing no signs of damage from bearing so much power.

“Miss! Stop chasing me!”

“I’ve only seen your face once, but you’ve been after me for a whole day and night!”

“Please, spare me!”

A desperate wail pierced through the rain.

Gu Ning’an placed the Hongchen Sword aside, picked up a bamboo skewer, and removed a roasted sweet potato. After blowing on it to cool, he split it in two.

Crunch! The crispy, charred skin cracked audibly, revealing golden, syrupy flesh that stretched into strands as it broke apart.

Tap, tap, tap!

Hurried footsteps echoed before halting abruptly at the temple threshold.

A soaked young man, drenched from head to toe, scanned Gu Ning’an for a moment before cupping his hands and saying, “A female demon is chasing me. Please, sir, don’t give me away.”

With that, the young man walked straight into the temple, glanced around, and scrambled up onto a beam using a nearby pillar.

Ignoring the young man, Gu Ning’an focused on eating his sweet potato. After all, it wouldn’t taste as good once it cooled down.

Not long after, another figure entered the temple—this one also drenched. It was the black-clad woman.

Upon spotting Gu Ning’an, she paused momentarily, clearly surprised to find a scholar calmly eating sweet potatoes in an abandoned temple on a rainy day.

“Sorry to disturb you,” she said, cupping her hands briefly. She stepped further into the temple and removed her soaked veiled bamboo hat.

The wet, heavy hat blocked out the faint light, making it difficult to discern anything in the dim parts of the temple.

The black-clad woman’s appearance was striking—skin as fair as jade, rosy lips, and a pair of elegant, spirited eyes. Her refined beauty carried a hint of boldness.

With her sword in hand, she carefully examined the water stains on the ground. Noticing they ended abruptly near a pillar, she glanced at Gu Ning’an and smiled faintly.

“Sir, you might want to move your sweet potatoes. They’ll gather dust if left there for too long.”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Gu Ning’an replied, shifting the sweet potatoes further from the fire.

Whoosh!

The black-clad woman suddenly raised her sword and threw it. A flash of cold light shot toward the beams above!

“Ahh!” The young man hiding on the beam let out a startled cry and rolled aside, falling directly to the ground with a loud thud!

Dust billowed as he hit the floor.

Amidst the swirling smoke and dust, Gu Ning’an casually waved his hand, dispersing the debris that had rushed toward him.

“Ah! My back!” the young man groaned in pain. Upon landing, he had been pinned to the ground by the black-clad woman’s foot.

“Spare me, madam! You’re merciful and magnanimous, please don’t hold this against me!”

“I’ve been an orphan since I was a child, wandering alone and suffering terribly…” The young man sobbed dramatically, painting his life as an unending tragedy.

Thud!

The black-clad woman kicked him aside. She leaped into the air, pulled her sword from the beam with a swift motion, and said coldly, “The next time you see a woman, curb your frivolous tongue. If I catch you again, I won’t let you off so easily!”

The young man clutched his chest as he scrambled to his feet, forcing an awkward smile. “Understood, madam, I’ll remember your wise teachings…”

Ignoring him, the black-clad woman walked to the temple’s entrance. A flash of green lightning illuminated the sky, and the rain outside poured even harder.

She sheathed her sword and turned to Gu Ning’an, bowing slightly. “Sir, may I share the fire with you for a while?”

“Feel free,” Gu Ning’an replied absentmindedly, continuing to peel and eat the remaining half of his roasted sweet potato.

Thanking him, the black-clad woman sat near the fire to warm herself.

Not far away, the young man rubbed his chest, grinning as he approached the two. He bowed and introduced himself. “I’m Ying Du, ‘Ying’ as in ‘always winning,’ and ‘Du’ as in ‘never losing.’”

“And may I know your esteemed names?”

Gu Ning’an glanced at him and smiled faintly. “Gu Ning’an.”

“Great name!” Ying Du praised enthusiastically before turning his gaze to the black-clad woman.

She initially ignored him, but considering she was benefiting from Gu Ning’an’s fire, she felt it inappropriate not to introduce herself. With a measured tone, she replied, “Liu Feixue.” (Willow Flying Snow)

Ying Du clapped his hands. “Wonderful! A beautiful name for a beautiful lady…”

Clang!

Her sword left its scabbard slightly, and Ying Du shrank back. “Apologies, my tongue slips sometimes…”

Realizing Liu Feixue wasn’t the sociable type, Ying Du shifted his attention to Gu Ning’an. This remote and desolate temple, with a scholar leisurely roasting sweet potatoes despite the chaos outside—his calm demeanor suggested he was no ordinary person.

But where did this confidence come from? That wooden sword of his?

It looked like a toy for children…

Gurgle, gurgle!

The sound of stomachs growling broke the silence, coming from both Liu Feixue and Ying Du.

Liu Feixue’s face flushed red, and she turned her head away, refusing to look at the enticing roasted sweet potato.

Unbothered, Ying Du shamelessly bowed toward Gu Ning’an. “Mr. Gu, care for a little wager? We’ll bet on that uneaten sweet potato of yours. What do you say?”

Hearing this, Liu Feixue immediately interjected, “Mr. Gu, don’t pay him any mind. He’s a trickster!”

“Hey!” Ying Du retorted, annoyed. “I was planning to split half with you if I won. After chasing me all day and night, aren’t you starving too?”

Clang!

Liu Feixue’s sword rang out again, and Ying Du hastily apologized. “I was wrong!”

Gu Ning’an picked up the bamboo skewer and handed it to Liu Feixue with a smile. “You can split it between the two of you.”

“Mr. Gu, this…” Liu Feixue hesitated to accept, but her growling stomach wouldn’t let her refuse.

Meanwhile, Ying Du quickly grabbed a small piece of the sweet potato without waiting, ignoring whether it was hot. “The rest is yours,” he said casually before chomping on his piece and thanking Gu Ning’an.

Gurgle!

Liu Feixue’s stomach growled again, drawing another flush to her cheeks. She muttered her thanks as she took the bamboo skewer, broke off a piece of the sweet potato, and tossed it to Ying Du. “Half each. No need for your charity.”