Yun Jinnian pursed his lips into a smile, "What would Seventh Brother like to say?"
Yuwen Ya was somewhat embarrassed by Yun Jinnian's question, "I just want to say thank you!"
"Thank me for what? All I did was what I should do, and the benefits I got are not minor either!"
As Yun Jinnian spoke, he tapped his coin purse.
Yuwen Ya couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't worry, I've already instructed my men not to let word out about you receiving the Spiritual Poisonous Insect!"
"I'm just afraid that the people from Nanjiang will find out sooner or later!" Yun Jinnian was also worried.
After all, the Spiritual Poisonous Insect wasn't raised by her, and if the people from Nanjiang came looking for it, she would have no choice but to return it.
That's why she decided to continue using it to search for the Snow Lotus, at least to find the Snow Lotus before those people from Nanjiang managed to track her down.
Yuwen Ya was also somewhat worried.
Chu Yu said coldly, "We won't return it to them. What can they do, forcibly snatch it?"
"It's not the likelihood I fear but the possibility," Yun Jinnian retorted. "Uncle, let's set out early tomorrow morning to search for the Snow Lotus!"
"Let's eat something first!"
Yun Jinnian broke off a piece of steamed bun and handed it to Chu Yu, who happily accepted it and stuffed a piece into his mouth, "Not bad, bake some more later so everyone can taste something different!"
A pot of meat soup, buns.
They ate with great pleasure.
After dinner, Yun Jinnian sat on her little bed, playing with the Spiritual Poisonous Insect.
The insect was indeed very spirited; it gleefully ate the Snow Lotus leaves that Yun Jinnian gave it. After eating, it would roll around joyously. When Yun Jinnian fed it a little more, it started to roll again. After consuming a small piece of the leaf, it refused to eat any more and just gazed at Yun Jinnian's fingers eagerly, waiting for her to prick her finger and feed it a few drops of blood before contentedly getting ready to sleep in its little cauldron.
"You little thing!"
The Spiritual Poisonous Insect looked up at Yun Jinnian when she called it.
"Will you take us to search for the Snow Lotus tomorrow?"
The Spiritual Poisonous Insect cocked its head and thought for a moment, then nodded its head and crawled towards the little cauldron to sleep inside it.
"What a cute little thing!" Yun Jinnian said as she pulled out some cotton and sewed a small quilt out of silk for the insect, covering it up.
The Spiritual Poisonous Insect looked at Yun Jinnian groggily, rubbed the little quilt, and snuggled inside to sleep.
Yun Jinnian then got up and went to find Chu Yu.
"How did it go?" Chu Yu asked.
"We've agreed, it will lead us tomorrow!"
Yuwen Ya was overjoyed, "That's wonderful!"
Chu Yu could hardly contain his joy, "Then get some rest. We'll head out first thing in the morning!"
They needed to find not only the Snow Lotus but also a place where it could be cultivated.
Yun Jinnian returned to her tent, and had Hemei and Henuan squeeze onto the little bed with her. At first, the children were reluctant, but after Yun Jinnian insisted, they took off their shoes and lay down next to her.
After a long day, Yun Jinnian was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.
Only then did Hemei and Henuan sit up, giving up their spots to Yun Jinnian so she could sleep more comfortably.
The two curled up together and also slept soundly.
Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside the tent, there were two basins of charcoal fire. At one point, Granny Qian came in to let fresh air circulate inside the tent.
Outside the tent, a group of people were on patrol. When the cold became unbearable, they would take a swig of strong liquor to warm up a bit. When their shift was over, they could enter the tent to warm up and rest.
As dawn broke, everyone already had hot water boiled and porridge cooked.
Granny Qian took the lead in making steamed buns, accompanied by pickled vegetables, making for a good breakfast.
Yun Jinnian unusually ate an extra half bowl of porridge and also made some rice soup to feed to the Spiritual Poisonous Insect. The insect took a sip, spat it out disdainfully, amusing Yun Jinnian greatly.
After squeezing a few drops of blood to feed it, she pressed down on its head and said, "You're in charge in a bit, little creature. Once we find the Snow Lotus, I'll let you drink plenty of blood, until your belly is so full you can't take anymore. How about that?!"