Chapter 13: The Girl and the Candied Hawthorn

Cao Kong couldn't help but laugh at Ao You, whose icy demeanor was now taut with nervousness. This dragon maiden appeared aloof, yet in truth, she was a natural recluse, unversed in human interaction.

Ao You, too, noticed the sly smile on Cao Kong's face and her gaze darkened. Suddenly, she struck with a dragon's claw, pinching Cao Kong's arm so hard it sent a jolt of pain through him.

Hissing in pain, Cao Kong's face twisted as he looked at Ao You, whose expression remained impassive, though her hand gripped so tightly that the veins stood out. "Let go," he complained through gritted teeth.

Still, Ao You ignored him and continued to squeeze, her beautiful brows furrowed in effort and her delicate face tinged with red—a sign of her blood and energy surging.

This made Cao Kong realize that although he had bested Ao You before, it was only due to the wonders of the Supreme Golden Light Art. In terms of sheer physical strength, he was no match for her.

People bustled by on either side, and Cao Kong was reluctant to draw attention by using the incantation, but their striking appearances had already made them the focus of many curious glances. Cao Kong, though never deliberately styled, still had the bearing of a celestial being, while Ao You—her skin like snow and jade, her beauty beyond compare—drew even more gazes.

So even just standing there, they attracted frequent looks from passersby.

Cao Kong gritted his teeth. "So many people are watching. Let go already, we have business to attend to."

"I won't," Ao You replied.

Seeing this, Cao Kong bore the pain, lifted his arm, and shook it back and forth. The girl was swung so her feet nearly left the ground, clinging to him until finally she lost her grip. Cao Kong rolled up his sleeve and saw the marks left on his arm, shooting Ao You a glare.

Noticing Cao Kong’s annoyance, the girl’s eyes brightened and she seemed pleased. Cao Kong responded with a cold snort through his nose, refusing to stoop to her level, though he silently vowed to return the favor one day.

Cao Kong had visited Yuhua City before, but only in passing, when he first joined Leopard Head Mountain. He had come and gone in haste. This time, however, as he watched the throngs of people, the lively markets, and the bustling crowds, his heart was moved in a new way, and he gained a fresh insight.

‘My master, the Supreme Lord of Salvation, once said that all worldly arts are part of the Way. This must be the flaw in my previous single-minded cultivation. Cultivation is not only about practice, but also about living. As the saying goes: when one walks among the dust of the world, that is when the heart is refined. Perhaps I should devote part of my mind to experiencing the myriad facets of the mortal world.’

With this realization, the eighty true words in his mind shone anew; beyond the sixteen golden characters he had already grasped, several more lit up, as if a sweet dew had been poured over him.

Cao Kong’s eyes gleamed. He longed to test the power of these four new words, but held back—having reached this point, there was no need to rush. He then led Ao You through the busy streets and bustling alleys.

It was curious: though this was Xiniu Hezhou, under the rule of the Kingdom of Tianzhu, the people’s language and appearance were no different from those of China, and the city was filled with restaurants and music halls, lively and prosperous.

Ao You still wore her frosty mask, but her dragon eyes, clear as autumn water, darted around in curiosity, taking in everything on both sides of the street.

The splendor of the mortal world was no mere boast. Whether in the underwater dragon palaces or the celestial courts above, there was always an abundance of divine aura, but little of the worldly charm found here.

Cao Kong, too, was observing the mortal world, while looking out for shops selling grains to make some purchases.

Before long, his sleeve was tugged—unmistakably Ao You again. Cao Kong’s arm still ached from her earlier pinch.

"What do you want?" he asked.

Ao You’s delicate nose twitched, trembling like jelly, as she murmured, “Didn’t you say you’d make it up to me? I want something tasty.”

She pointed to a stall selling roast duck.

Cao Kong also heard the sound of her swallowing and remembered that this girl, when hungry, could devour live pigs and sheep without a second thought.

His eyes then caught sight of something beside the stall: a rack made of wheat straw, studded with strings of bright red fruit. Beneath it sat a basket filled with the same fruit, which the vendor was busy threading onto sticks.

Cao Kong straightened up. “Of course, since I promised, I won’t go back on my word. But, Miss Ao You, you may not know—compared to roast duck, those beside it are a true delicacy of the human world.”

Ao You was half-convinced, but before she could object, Cao Kong enthusiastically seized her wrist and led her forward.

By the time Ao You realized what was happening, they were already in front of the candied hawthorn stall.

Before she could protest, Cao Kong let go of her hand, placed several copper coins on the counter, and picked up a skewer of hawthorn fruit to hand to her.

Ao You eyed him suspiciously, but took the hawthorn and prepared to nibble.

"Miss Ao You, you should eat it in big bites," Cao Kong encouraged. "Better yet, eat several at once."

Trusting his sincerity, Ao You popped a whole fruit into her mouth—just as Cao Kong added another one, stuffing it past her lips.

"Mmmph!" Ao You’s cheeks flushed an odd shade, but she obediently chewed the two together.

Then—

"Yuck, it’s so sour!"

The girl spat the hawthorn all over the ground, her large eyes misting with angry tears as she glared at Cao Kong, who was laughing heartily.

How dare this wretch deceive me?!

She immediately lunged at him, unconsciously summoning her magical power. Water shimmered in the air around her. Seeing this, Cao Kong hurried forward, "No, no, don’t! I’ll buy you roast duck to make it up to you!"

Her anger abated a little. Then she watched as Cao Kong took another skewer of candied hawthorn from the rack and, with genuine sincerity, said, “I shouldn’t have teased you. This thing really is delicious.”

Ao You remained unconvinced. Cao Kong demonstrated by biting several in a row and swallowing them all.

The girl let her magic fade and her anger subsided further, her eyes fixed longingly on his treat. Smiling, Cao Kong held out another skewer for her.

But having suffered once, Ao You hesitated, then pointed to the nearly finished skewer in Cao Kong’s hand. “I want the one you’re eating.”

Cao Kong paused, then handed it over. The girl gingerly took a bite, her eyes lighting up with delight and her brows arching in pleasure.

Delicious.

Without another word, she hoisted the entire rack of candied hawthorn onto her shoulder, right in front of the vendor.

Cao Kong could only laugh, stepping forward to hand the vendor more than enough silver to pay for it.

And so a strange scene unfolded in Yuhua City: a seemingly delicate girl carrying a rack of candied hawthorn followed a young man through the streets, while children gazed longingly at the fruit.

The girl guarded her treasure jealously, like a seasoned glutton. In the end, it took much coaxing from the young man before she reluctantly parted with a single skewer for a child.

After wandering for most of the day, Cao Kong finally found a grain shop and bought a vast quantity of grains, laden with bundles large and small.

The vendor kindly asked where he lived, offering to deliver, but Cao Kong politely declined—he certainly couldn’t admit to living as a monster atop Leopard Head Mountain.

Then, under the incredulous gaze of the shopkeeper, he gathered several hundred pounds of grain into his arms.

All along the way, the citizens of Yuhua City who saw him called out in admiration, declaring him a true immortal.