Cheng Mo stepped back, resembling a child who had made a mistake, avoiding Xiangbei's gaze like a guilty culprit. He understood the unspoken questions in her eyes and realized that entering her boudoir without notice was improper. "Xiaobei, it's all him, that Qiao Ziqiu. He said you made milk tea and potato noodles for him first..." His voice grew quieter as he spoke, and under his girl's gaze, he knew his actions today were impulsive, and the reason too childish. However, he didn't regret it; the moment he saw her, he knew he would come, even if just to catch a glimpse of her without any reason.
She couldn't help but chuckled softly. Chengmo looked at her; her laughter was beautiful, like the warmth of the long-awaited sun in the coldest winter. It gently shone on your heart, neither scorching nor leaving you feeling unresponsive, just perfectly right, causing his heart to melt into a clear pool of water.
"Alright, stop explaining, little naive ghost. Have I not made enough fresh food for you? Since you're here, just stay and rest for a bit. When I come back, we can discuss what to do next together." Xiangbei was planning to check the situation in the valley where they had hunted last time. The frightened little animals should be returning by now. "Or perhaps you'd like to come with me and enjoy the scenery in the valley?"
"Are you trying to avoid this king? Dream on." Cheng Mo slung the basket at the corner of Xiangbei's wall over his shoulder and headed out.
"Wait, I'll go find dear brother Chen for a dark-colored outer garment to change into before going out. It's getting dark, and you're shining like silver. Do you have to be so flashy? If my mother sees you like this, how will you climb the mountain?" Xiangbei stopped him, giving instructions.
"You're right, but you don't need to go out," Cheng Mo lightly snapped his fingers, and a figure flipped in from the window eaves. Taking off the black stealth cloak, leaving only the inner sturdy outfit, the figure disappeared with another flash.
"Alright, can we leave now?" Cheng Mo tossed the silver robe onto the sofa behind the folding screen and turned to come out in night attire.
They then discreetly made their way toward the mountain crevice pathway leading to the hot spring valley. The pit they dug for trapping wild boars during the previous hunt had long been carefully concealed with soil and grass. However, the scene by the waterfall pool in front of them wasn't the expected sight of sheep grazing and deer roaming the valley. Instead, several rarely seen wild Southern mountain water buffaloes unexpectedly appeared in their line of sight.
Upon closer inspection, the water buffaloes were located near the northwest corner of the hot spring, and all of them either had suckling calves or pregnant cows. Distant tiger roars mixed with the moos of the buffaloes, making the young calves visibly nervous.
"It seems to be a herd of water buffaloes. Hide here and don't move until I come back," Cheng Mo instructed Xiangbei before swiftly flying toward the northeast exit of the valley.
Seizing this rare opportunity, Xiangbei had no intention of waiting. As soon as Cheng Mo left, she took advantage of the cover of the trees at the foot of the mountain, sneaking near the herd of buffaloes. Quickly, she moved several unsuspecting cows with their calves grazing near the edge of the grassland into her spatial storage. Selecting a meadow by the Peach Blossom Pavilion's water channel, she settled them before stealthily returning to the mountain crevice to wait for Cheng Mo.
"Xiangbei, I need to quickly go back and discuss a strategy with Cheng Tian and the others. There's an unusual concentration of a large herd of wild water buffaloes outside the valley.
Several ferocious beasts are attacking them. This isn't a good sign. Tigers and leopards don't usually gather in herds, and they tend to stay deep in the mountains. Your estate isn't particularly high, so there shouldn't be many fierce animals. Now, with them so close, I'm concerned for your safety."
"You're just worrying without reason. They probably followed those wild buffaloes here. There are over a dozen skilled hunters in my family's estate. Just a few days ago, they successfully hunted a small herd of water buffaloes. They're experienced.
You go back and attend to your matters. I'll discuss it with my father and the others. We might seize this opportunity to hunt something even larger! I want to try and domesticate some buffalo calves."
"Alright, I estimate you'll have about two days to prepare. I'll send a few people up here. Don't oppose it," Cheng Mo saw her about to protest and raised his index finger to hush her.
"No objections. Since we parted, I've been constantly concerned about your safety and your life. I'll have Duo'er come up to help you with needlework. Be a good girl, embroider your dowry, and wait for me to come marry you, okay?"
Until Cheng Mo led her back to her own small building, Xiangbei was still lost in the vortex of his affectionate gaze.
In her mind, there were only a few words: "dowry, marry you." Is he really going to marry her? Soon? Without marrying Qiao Er? Without needing to marry Qiao Er? At this moment, Xiangbei Tong was completely unaware that she hadn't even considered the previous excuses she gave Qiao Er about being too young and waiting for her career to be on track.