"Haha."
Gu Changqing chuckled as he watched Nalan Yanran, who had been following him all day, her hunger now apparent. She had only sipped a little water and hadn't eaten anything, so it was no surprise that her stomach was growling.
Goo~~ Just as Gu Changqing thought about it, Nalan Yanran's stomach emitted a loud, hungry growl.
Her face turned a deep crimson as she looked at him in embarrassment. "Don't laugh!"
"Call me Brother Qing, and I'll give you some of this barbecue. Otherwise, you'll have to cook it yourself."
Gu Changqing playfully waved the skewer of barbecue in front of her, enjoying the moment.
"Hmph, cook it yourself!"
Nalan Yanran, who had hoped for a taste of the barbecue, was reluctant to call him "Brother Qing" and instead decided to attempt grilling it herself, despite her inexperience.
She had been pampered since childhood, and the idea of having to prepare her own food was foreign to her. When she finally managed to cook some meat, Gu Changqing had already seasoned and devoured his portion with relish.
Goo~~ Nalan Yanran's stomach growled again, louder this time, as she watched Gu Changqing savor the golden barbecue. She swallowed her saliva, clearly tempted by the sight.
She tried a piece of her own grilled meat but ended up burning herself and had to blow on it to cool it down. To make matters worse, the inside was still raw.
The taste was unappetizing, and Nalan Yanran, exhausted and frustrated, found herself in tears as she threw the barbecue aside and huddled on the ground.
"Alright, don't be upset. I've got some barbecue ready for you."
Gu Changqing approached with a plate of properly cooked barbecue and offered it to her.
"Take it away. I don't want it!"
Nalan Yanran, still teary-eyed, turned away defiantly.
"If you won't eat it, I will. I made this specifically for you, and if you don't appreciate it, I'll just enjoy it myself."
Gu Changqing picked up a piece of meat and took a delicious bite.
Nalan Yanran stole a glance at him and noticed how carefully he had cut the meat. Her resolve wavered, but she remained stubborn.
"I'm not forgiving you this easily. I don't want it. I'm not interested."
She resisted the urge to taste the barbecue and turned her head away.
"Ah~~ open your mouth."
Gu Changqing squatted down in front of her, holding a piece of barbecue and gently urging her to eat.
Nalan Yanran, somewhat dazed, opened her mouth and let him feed her a piece. The tender and flavorful meat made her eyes light up, and she quickly finished it.
"Ah~~"
Gu Changqing continued feeding her until she had consumed an entire plate of barbecue.
"Here, wipe your mouth and have some water."
Gu Changqing took out a handkerchief, delicately wiped Nalan Yanran's mouth, and handed her a bottle of water. As she finished, he walked away with the empty plate.
Nalan Yanran's face flushed as she looked at Gu Changqing's retreating figure. A warm, inexplicable feeling rose in her heart, leaving her somewhat spellbound.
Perhaps it was Gu Changqing's considerate actions that had drawn her in. Within just two days, she had fallen for his gentle ways and even started calling him "Brother Qing," despite her initial reluctance.
After some playful bickering, Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran soon arrived at their first destination: Qingshan Town.
Qingshan Town, also known as Warcraft Town, was a bustling hub near the Warcraft Mountain Range. It was teeming with mercenaries, most of whom were rough men armed with large knives and wearing unkempt attire.
As Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran entered the town, their refined appearance attracted many curious stares.
"Tsk, who are these young masters and ladies out here practicing? Their demeanor rivals those from the imperial capital."
"This woman in white is stunning. She's even more beautiful than our local 'Little Fairy Doctor.'"
"I prefer our Little Fairy Doctor though. She's gentle and approachable. This woman in white looks like she's from a wealthy family—so delicate and aloof."
"And the young man in the blue shirt is quite handsome too. He looks like he was sculpted by the gods."
"Why are these distinguished young people visiting Qingshan Town? They don't seem to have any guards. Aren't they worried about their safety?"
Many of the mercenaries in Qingshan Town eyed them with curiosity. Some shrewd ones approached them.
"Excuse me, young lady and young master. Our Wolf Head Mercenary Group is the strongest in the Warcraft Mountain Range. We have hundreds of members, all at least Dou Zhe, and our leader is a two-star Dou Shi. We can handle any task you have. What can we assist you with?"
Several mercenaries, adorned with wolf-head badges, approached Gu Changqing and Nalan Yanran, their eyes lingering on them in a less-than-respectful manner.
Gu Changqing was immediately put off by their demeanor.
"I'm a man. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Get lost!"
Gu Changqing wasn't in the mood for pleasantries and dismissed them outright.
"There's no need to be rude if you don't want our services. We're not in your city!"
The mercenaries, taken aback, looked at him with annoyance.
"Really? Just leave!"
Gu Changqing's tone was unwavering as he gave them one last warning.
"Fine. If you're going to be disrespectful, we'll teach you a lesson so you know this isn't your big city!"
The mercenaries, angered by Gu Changqing's attitude, advanced toward him, fists ready. They didn't intend to kill, but they were more than willing to teach him a lesson.