Li Yundong suddenly spotted Su Chan not far from him, and his joy was almost uncontrollable; a wild voice seemed to be screaming in his mind: “Little girl, that’s my girl, I will never let her leave my side again!”
Li Yundong felt that simply watching Su Chan from where he stood made all thirty-six thousand pores on his body erupt in cheers and song, filling him entirely with an ineffable happiness and delight.
“It’s been so long, should I go up and give her a passionate hug? Or perhaps a fierce kiss? Or should I just offer a quiet greeting?” Li Yundong’s mind was churning fiercely as he hesitated, only to see the owner of the flatbread stall speak to Su Chan.
“One by one, sliced thin. My shaobing are crispy and hot, ah, want to try some, dearie?”
Faced with the owner’s warm greeting in the soft dialect of Wunong, Su Chan scuffed the ground with her toes, but her eyes were fixed intently on the steaming shaobing. She replied in the same soft dialect, “How much for one?”
The owner chuckled heartily. “One for ten cash.”
Su Chan hummed an acknowledgement but fell silent, standing before the stall, staring fixedly at the shaobing. Her hand went into her pocket but never emerged again—it seemed she was short of funds.
Li Yundong, watching from nearby, chuckled when he saw Su Chan could speak the local dialect but couldn't afford the food. Just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly saw a young man appear beside her, calling out loudly, “Miss, how many shaobing would you like? How much is that? I’ll pay for her!”
Su Chan turned her head in surprise to see a handsome young man smiling at her. Su Chan frowned, let out a cold snort, and said loudly without courtesy, “Do you think I can’t afford it? You need to treat me?”
With that, she pulled two coins from her pocket, slapped them onto the counter of the flatbread stall, grabbed one shaobing herself, and continued walking forward.
Seeing that Su Chan was unappreciative, the young man immediately followed, plastering a smile on his face. “Beauty, let’s be friends! At least give me some way to contact you! A phone number, a QQ ID, if not, even an email address would do! Or if you won't give me any of that, just tell me your name!”
Su Chan stopped, turning back to shout at him impatiently, “Aren’t you annoying? You’ve been harassing me for days! I’ve already told you, I have a boyfriend, stop bothering me!”
This young man was clearly experienced with women. He shamelessly persisted, smiling. “I’ve been watching you for days, and I’ve never seen your boyfriend appear. Beauty, don’t use that old line on me. Look, I even cut short my travel itinerary because of you—that shows sincerity, doesn’t it? At least tell me your name! It’s always good to have a few friends in this world!”
Su Chan covered her ears and quickened her pace, yelling, “You are detestable, go away, go away!” With that, she hurried down a small alley leading off the Seven Mile Shantang.
The persistent young man chased after her, following her down the alley. At a sharp turn, he suddenly realized Su Chan had vanished!
The young man was greatly shocked, his eyes wide as he looked around. He saw ancient-style blue brick houses on both sides, with no visible doors. The alley was quite shallow, visible from end to end, terminating in a wall—a dead end—yet he couldn't fathom where Su Chan had gone.
“Could she be a spirit or a demon? To disappear into thin air?” The young man stood there dumbfounded, scratching his head, before walking out dazedly.
As soon as he started walking out, he ran squarely into someone. The young man felt as if he had slammed into a wall; the impact nearly knocked the wind out of him, and with a cry of pain, he fell backward.
This person was none other than Li Yundong. Li Yundong had intended to teach this fellow who was harassing Su Chan a small lesson, so he deliberately pretended not to notice and bumped into him. He then feigned surprise, staring at the young man sitting on the ground, his eyes wide but remaining silent.
The young man, sitting on the ground, glared at Li Yundong, his face a mixture of shock and anger. He yelled, “Are you blind? Can’t you watch where you’re going?”
Li Yundong wasn’t sure if Su Chan was nearby, and he wanted to give her a surprise, fearing that speaking up would alert her. So, he deliberately blinked a few times, pretending not to hear, pointed to his ears, then to his mouth, and shook his hand.
The young man got up, cursing, “Damn it, I ran into a mute! Hey, watch where you’re walking next time!”
Li Yundong didn't get angry; he just watched the man with a gentle smile.
Since one cannot strike a smiling face, the young man couldn't press the issue further. He muttered under his breath and left, though he kept turning back every few steps, seemingly unable to comprehend why Su Chan had vanished into thin air.
Once the man’s figure completely disappeared, Li Yundong looked left and right. Seeing that no one was around, he leaped up onto the rooftops to search for Su Chan’s figure.
It didn't take long to spot the little girl walking along the flagstone bridge of the Seven Mile Shantang, nibbling on the shaobing in her hand as she went.
Li Yundong’s cultivation had reached a great level now, far surpassing Su Chan’s. Following behind her at a distance, she remained completely unaware, wandering aimlessly through the Seven Mile Shantang, simply passing the time.
As she walked, she gnawed on the shaobing, chewing each bite with painstaking care, masticating it for a long, long time before swallowing, treating it with immense reverence.
After finishing half the flatbread, the little girl carefully tucked the remaining half away. Then, she sat down beside the small bridge, took off her shoes, rolled up her trousers, and dipped her snow-white jade feet into the clear green river water. As her feet splashed gently, she hummed an unnamed little tune softly through her nose.
Watching her from behind, Li Yundong saw the little girl situated perfectly within the ancient scenery—a small bridge and flowing water beside her, willows drooping over the stream, and white walls with black tiles, upturned eaves, and carved brackets behind her. She seemed utterly a part of the painting, the crucial element that brought life and vibrancy to the entire scene steeped in antique charm.
Li Yundong watched the little girl from afar, a smile touching the corner of his lips, soft as the water grass in the river below.
After playing in the water for a while, the little girl bent down and scooped up a handful of water. Not minding the dirt, she dug up some mud near a willow tree and began molding clay figures. Her nimble fingers worked quickly, and soon she had fashioned two figures, one large and one small. Playing with them, she talked to the tiny clay dolls, saying, “Little girl, you must listen to me. If you don't behave, your master won’t want you anymore!”
Then, she started playing with the larger clay figure, speaking in a rough voice: “My little girl is the best! Come here, have a bite! Master will make you delicious food!”
Su Chan pouted and slapped the back of her own hand, then returned to the smaller doll, saying pitifully, “Master, your little girl has no money left! If you don't make her something delicious soon, she’ll starve to death!”
Li Yundong’s heart twisted with emotion as he listened, and he could restrain himself no longer. He quietly approached the little girl from behind and whispered gently, “Little girl, what do you want to eat?”
Su Chan didn't react immediately. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then chirped out sweetly, “The little girl wants Beer Duck! The Beer Duck made by Master is the best! Mm, and I also want Fish Soup with Cabbage Hearts, mm, and I also want…”
As she spoke, her body suddenly jolted, and she spun around sharply, her eyes wide.
Su Chan looked up and saw a handsome, imposing young man standing behind her, smiling down at her—it was none other than Li Yundong!
Su Chan’s mouth fell open, as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. Her expression shifted from shock to ecstasy, then from ecstasy to grievance, then from grievance to sorrow, and finally from sadness back to a mixture of surprise and apprehension. She feared that what she saw was false, terrified that the Li Yundong standing before her wasn't real, worried it might all be an illusion or a dream.
Tears welled up in the little girl’s large eyes, growing thicker until they fell like pearls from a broken string, pattering onto the clay figures in her hands.
“Ma-Master?” Su Chan called out tentatively, her look of fear mixed with joy making her seem afraid that if she spoke even a tiny bit louder, the Li Yundong before her would shatter and vanish.
Li Yundong forcefully suppressed the surging emotion in his chest. He smiled faintly, opened his arms, and offered his embrace to the little girl: “It’s me, little girl, don't you recognize me?”
Hearing the voice she had yearned for and knew so well, Su Chan had no more doubts. She cried out loudly and threw herself into Li Yundong’s arms, clutching his clothes tightly, heedless that her hands were dirty, as if afraid he would run away and disappear.
Su Chan wept heart-wrenchingly. All the past longing, grievances, and fears dissolved in that instant. She held Li Yundong tight, as if she finally had support and someone who cared for her again.
Li Yundong affectionately stroked the little girl’s soft, dark hair, murmuring tenderly, “There, there, your master is back. The little girl won’t starve!”
Su Chan, who had been weeping loudly in Li Yundong’s embrace, let out a sudden giggle upon hearing this. She looked up, her cheeks streaked with tears, but the corners of her eyes curved upward, forming a crescent moon shape as she smiled: “Naughty! You’re the one who’ll starve to death!”
Li Yundong laughed and lightly tapped the tip of her nose: “No more excuses! I heard everything just now! How could the little girl be out of money?”
Su Chan’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she pouted petulantly. “You heard everything? That’s terrible! You were following me secretly and didn't even tell me!”
Li Yundong chuckled. “Wasn't I trying to give you a surprise? Little girl, how could you be out of money?”
The thought of her situation brought a fresh wave of sorrow, and tears began to fall again. Li Yundong quickly wiped them away with concern, cupped her face, and kissed her cheek, feigning anger: “If you cry again, I won’t want you anymore!”
Su Chan hastily wiped her tears, tilting her head up as if trying hard to force the teardrops back into their sockets. After blinking several times, deciding she didn't want to cry anymore, she lowered her head and said, “My Master was arrested, and I didn’t dare look for you, afraid of affecting your passage through the Heavenly Tribulation. So, I just ran back to where my Master used to live. But I didn’t have much money, and I’ve been going hungry these last few days.”
Li Yundong’s heart ached. He said, “Let’s not talk about anything else first. We’ll go back now, and Master will cook something delicious for you. Where are you staying?”
Hearing that Li Yundong would cook for her, Su Chan immediately pushed her sad thoughts aside, her face breaking into a radiant smile. She nodded vigorously: “I’ll take you there!”
Then, she stretched out her arms and demanded playfully, “But the little girl wants a piggyback ride!”
Li Yundong adored Su Chan. He smiled, turned around, and squatted down, saying, “Get on.”
As Su Chan turned to face him, she gasped in shock: Wow! There were two very distinct, dark handprints on Yundong’s white shirt—clearly from her muddy hands when she had been clutching him!
Su Chan’s heart sank. Fearing Li Yundong would get angry when he saw them, her mind raced to figure out what to do. She hid her hands behind her back, secretly rubbing them together to wipe off the mud from her palms.
Seeing that Su Chan hadn't moved, Li Yundong turned back with a smile. “What? You don’t want a ride? Then walk back by yourself!”
Su Chan anxiously replied, “Ride! Of course, I want a ride!” Without worrying about the dark mud stains on Li Yundong’s shirt, she jumped