Chapter Fifty-Three: Women Are Indeed Hard to Understand

Qin Xiaomo realized that she had no idea how many fruits there were, and suddenly a trace of unease welled up in her heart. She asked, “Are there many of these trees?”

Qian Mubai replied lightly, “Not many. As long as you like them, that's enough.”

At that moment, rose-pink petals drifted down from the giant tree above, carrying a fragrance that blended osmanthus with roses. In the sunlight, it looked like a rain of flowers. Qin Xiaomo lifted her head, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush against the falling petals. Her fair, flawless skin seemed to glow with a soft radiance, her lips as red as the petals, a delicate nose, clear bright eyes, and gently arched brows. Immersed in this romantic scene, Qian Mubai found himself entranced, as if she had always been there and never left.

“What are you thinking about?” Qin Xiaomo turned to see the heat in his gaze.

Startled by her question, he collected himself and asked cautiously, “Do you remember this place?”

“This place?…” Qin Xiaomo thought carefully, then answered, “I have no impression of it.”

“Think harder, on the tree trunk there—”

Before he could finish, a kindly but authoritative elderly voice sounded behind them: “You two, husband and wife, have come again to steal my Scarlet Spirit Pearls.”

Qin Xiaomo turned around, startled! Her eyes widened. “Aren't you... that...”

“Hahaha, young lady, you remember me?”

“Oh, right, the old man who stopped me under the city gate of Mirror Hollow City and brought me clothes, are you...?” She looked around and suddenly realized—he was Qian Mubai’s master.

“Yes, my foolishly devoted disciple finally brought you here. Just call me Master, like my disciple does.” He looked Qin Xiaomo up and down. “It appears you’ve reached the fifth tier of Earth Level, haven’t you? And in such a short time—most take three to five years to reach this level. Clearly, he was in quite a hurry.”

“My apologies,” Qin Xiaomo said earnestly, “we picked your fruit without your permission. I lack the ability to repay you now, but when I can, I will pick a whole basket to offer you. Please don’t be offended, Master.”

“What? You two picked a dozen, and that’s not enough? You want to pick a whole basket?” Patriarch Hongjun’s beard nearly flew off in fright.

“Not from this tree—from another,” she replied.

“Miss Qin, do you know what kind of tree this is?” Patriarch Hongjun asked.

Qin Xiaomo shook her head blankly.

“This tree is called the Scarlet Flame Vermillion. It takes ten thousand years to blossom and bear fruit, and each time, there are only sixty-six fruits. In all the Four Seas and Eight Desolations, there is only one Scarlet Flame Vermillion. Even the Heavenly Emperor, at a millennium celebration, would only dare ask for one or two to reward a meritorious celestial general. The idea of picking a basket—do not ever entertain it. I won’t hold you to repayment, just don’t go picking my fruit without permission again.” Hongjun hurriedly positioned himself in front of the tree, as if afraid Qin Xiaomo would get excited and pick a few more.

“Master, you’re so stingy! What’s the point of fruit if not to be eaten?” Qian Mubai couldn’t help but defend Qin Xiaomo.

“Don’t think I don’t know what’s on your mind. The effects of these fruits—” Hongjun stopped himself as Qian Mubai shot him a warning look.

Having just upset Qin Xiaomo in his impatience, Qian Mubai feared his master would reveal the fruit’s effects and make her angrier. After all, this was a rare celestial fruit in the heavenly realm. For immortals, eating one equaled ten thousand years of cultivation; for mortals, it could restore memories of past lives and accumulate spiritual energy and elixirs for cultivation. However, only one could be eaten at a time—eating more was no different from eating a radish, just a celestial fruit. That’s why, back in the Valley of Ten Thousand Treasures, he’d ached to see Qin Xiaomo eat them so casually.

“What effects does the fruit have?” Qin Xiaomo asked quickly.

“You’d best ask him. If there’s nothing else, do as you please. I’m tired after a run and need a rest.” Hongjun feigned a stretch and a yawn, then sauntered lazily back indoors.

“Immortals get... tired?” Qin Xiaomo muttered, glancing at Qian Mubai, who looked entirely innocent.

Suddenly, a black shadow shot toward Qian Mubai with such speed that Qin Xiaomo cried out, “Watch out!”

Before the words left her mouth, a creature as large as an elephant, covered in shaggy brown fur, with two red cloud-shaped markings on its haunches and a white, fox-like tail, turned its head to look at her. Good heavens! Its face looked just like a packet of crispy noodles—endearingly cute, with an inexplicable hint of spicy beef flavor. It had a lion’s mane, and its big whiskers made it look less dignified and more like a child who’d stolen his father’s fake mustache. Seeing a stranger, it bared its teeth, revealing a row of square, white, horse-like teeth so dazzling that Qin Xiaomo couldn’t help thinking this fellow could be the star model for any toothpaste company in the real world.

“Feifei, you’re back! Was it tiring going out with Master?” Feifei lowered its head, nuzzling Qian Mubai’s hand like a spoiled child. Qian Mubai smiled and patted Feifei's head.

“Feifei? This is Feifei?” Qin Xiaomo pointed at the big fellow, looking at Qian Mubai.

“Yes, it’s Master’s mount. Usually, it stays in the yard to guard the house. Feifei, make yourself smaller.”

As soon as Qian Mubai finished speaking, Feifei shook itself, sending clouds swirling a meter high into the air. As the mist dissipated, out jumped a creature about the size of a husky—still looking very much like a packet of crispy noodles. Watching it wag its tail at Qian Mubai, one would swear a husky’s soul dwelt within.

Seeing this, all of Qin Xiaomo’s displeasure vanished. She happily squatted down to stroke Feifei’s large head. “Oh! So you’re Feifei. How can you be so cute? Come, let me hold you and see how heavy you are.” She tugged at Qian Mubai’s sleeve, looking up at him. “Isn’t it just adorable?” Then she went right back to playing with Feifei.

Qian Mubai stood to the side, utterly baffled and at a loss. Wasn’t she just saying she wouldn’t play with it? Was her anger a phase? Was there more to come? She’d just been mad, and now her mood shifted so quickly—women truly were impossible to understand.

Seeing how happy she was, Qian Mubai asked gingerly, “Do you like it here?”

“I do. I feel safe and at ease here—I wish life could always be this simple.”

“You used to say the same thing,” Qian Mubai murmured to himself. But after eating so many Scarlet Spirit Pearls, why hadn’t she recovered her memories? “May I see your wrist for a moment?”

Qin Xiaomo, puzzled, extended her wrist.

Qian Mubai checked her pulse—her body was brimming with elixir energy and potent spiritual power, but since it hadn’t been refined, her body couldn’t absorb it. “I think it’s about time we returned.”

“But we just got here,” she protested.

“One day in the heavens is a year on earth.”

Obediently, Qin Xiaomo went to the door to bid farewell to Patriarch Hongjun. “Master, we’re heading back now. We’ll visit you again when we can.”

“Go on, we’ll be seeing each other again soon,” Hongjun replied with a kindly smile, sending them off.

Not long after, Qian Mubai heard his master’s voice sound in his mind: “If you ever steal my Scarlet Spirit Pearls again, I won’t tell you anything related to your wife in the future.”