Section Five: Unrecognized Reunion (Part Two)

Qiuye shook her head repeatedly, clearly annoyed.

“I have to ask, are you even a woman? Who would deliberately let others see such an ugly scar on her face?”

July was unconcerned. “Only the senior sisters care about their looks because they’re beautiful to begin with. I’m not pretty, so there’s no need for me to care.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you—who ever told you that you’re ugly?”

July answered without thinking, “The stern Sect Leader, of course.”

“I only remember her saying your eating habits were unbearable, never that your features were ugly. If you think you’re not pretty enough, it’s only because you never bother to dress up or wear makeup.”

July thought about it and realized that was probably true, but she still didn’t mind. “Anyway, since I’m ugly to begin with, what’s the point of dressing up? Spending money on powders and rouge is less worthwhile than buying food.”

“Nonsense! How can you be so foolish, not even knowing what you look like? If you were truly ugly, do you think Master would be fond of you?”

“What does Master’s liking for disciples have to do with appearance? Master isn’t even a man!” July scoffed, utterly indifferent.

“How silly you are! Our Master was once renowned for her exceptional beauty. How could she ever favor a homely female disciple?”

“Thank you for your comfort, Elder. But I’ve always known I was ugly and never cared about my appearance. Your kind words don’t make me happy. What would make me happy is if this inn would hurry up and bring out the food!”

Qiuye was exasperated. “You’re impossible!”

Qiuye was not one for strict etiquette and didn’t demand it from July either. Though their statuses were worlds apart, they got along like sisters.

At that moment, a woman pushed a wooden cart over, calling out that she was selling Gulu fruits.

Everyone in the inn rushed to the door, clamoring to buy, all famished. In the blink of an eye, half the cart was gone.

Bu Jingxian waited for the others to finish buying before getting up. Just as he was about to go over, a diner bit into a Gulu fruit, spat it out in disgust, and cursed, “Sour!” He tossed the fruit onto the ground, where it rolled through the dust and only stopped when it bumped into a table leg. The fruit still pleaded with its former owner, “Please eat me! I may be a little sour, but that sourness has its own special flavor…”

The diner ignored it, happily munching on another fruit and declaring it sweet.

The fruit seller apologized profusely, but the diner waved it off. Everyone knew you couldn’t tell a Gulu fruit’s taste from the outside, so it was pointless to argue. Seeing that the diner wasn’t unreasonable, the woman relaxed. Hearing Bu Jingxian call her over, she quickly handed him two fruits.

After taking the coins, she watched Bu Jingxian stoop to pick up the discarded fruit. He rinsed it with tea from the table, then cradled it in his hand with a smile.

“If he won’t eat you, I will.”

The fruit cheered, “Thank you for eating me, thank you!”

“Shall I start with your head? Your jaw must be hurting.”

“Yes, yes, bite my head! I may be sour, but I’m deliciously sour!” Bu Jingxian chuckled, having heard every fruit praise itself like this—he didn’t believe it for a second. Grinning, he bit into the head. The sharp sourness made him gasp, but he didn’t mind and finished the fruit in a few hearty bites. Then he picked up one of the new fruits, chatting with it as well. This one, oddly, wanted to know what it felt like to be bitten and asked him to start with its face.

As soon as he did, it yelped in pain and begged him to bite its head instead.

July had already bought two fruits and was cradling them in her arms. Seeing Bu Jingxian pick up the fruit that had been bitten and thrown away, she felt a sudden fondness for him. Since childhood, she had regarded Gulu fruits as friends and couldn’t bear to see them abandoned to rot; she would always pick them up and eat them, regardless of others’ opinions. But this was the first time she’d seen someone else do the same. Her previous dislike faded, and she found herself studying the handsome, roguish young man with new appreciation. One of the Gulu fruits in her arms impatiently piped up, bringing her back to the moment.

“Eat me! I’m so sweet, truly sweet! You’re such a beautiful lady—what an honor to be eaten by you…”

July couldn’t help but smile. She knew well that Gulu fruits would say anything to be eaten. She decided to tease them, tapping one lightly with her finger and feigning doubt.

“You look like a sour one to me.”

“I’m really sweet, I promise!” the other fruit quickly chimed in, seizing the opportunity to sell itself. Though the fruits competed to be chosen, they never insulted each other or claimed that the other was sour—one of the reasons she still liked Gulu fruits.

Qiuye, growing impatient, said, “Hurry up and eat. The roast lamb’s here.”

“No,” July replied, placing the two fruits on the bench beside her. She reassured them, “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you uneaten. But before I do, let me tell you about some human delicacies—things you’ve never heard of in the mountains. That way, your journey to this world won’t be in vain.”

The two fruits were especially worried they’d be left uneaten.

“We’re the tastiest thing you’ll ever try, please don’t—”

“Relax, I won’t waste you. I just want to share some new things about the world before I eat you.”

The fruits quieted down, listening obediently as July pointed to the roast lamb on the table, explaining how it was made, and describing what the sheep had been like when alive.

The fruits were enthralled and joyfully exclaimed, “There are sheep in the mountains too, just like the ones you describe…”

While July chatted with the fruits, Qiuye was left out. The fruits, clever yet simple, shouted their excitement so loudly that Bu Jingxian at the next table could easily guess what the woman was talking about with them. He, too, felt a warmth toward her; he never expected anyone other than July would treat Gulu fruits as friends.

He couldn’t connect the beautiful woman before him with the July he remembered: self-effacing and shy, dark-skinned and so thin she was almost nothing but bones. The woman now, though scarred, had skin as fair and well-cared-for as a noblewoman’s, and she seemed intimate with Qiuye, with no trace of deference. He naturally assumed she was someone of equal rank to Qiuye, or from a powerful family. It never occurred to him that Elder Qiuye’s behavior was utterly unlike the usual image of a Flying Immortal Sect disciple.

Bu Jingxian soon realized why the other diners, despite having nothing to eat, had not left.

An entire roast lamb was devoured by Qiuye and the unknown woman, torn apart with their hands until only bones remained. Even then, each clung to a big bone, gnawing and sucking the marrow. Not only did they eat a lot, but they ate quickly. When they finished, they licked their fingers with lingering satisfaction.

Never mind that they were women—few men could eat that much. And they weren’t just any women, but disciples of the renowned Flying Immortal Sect. Even among common folk, most would mind their manners and never behave so unrestrainedly.

Yet they were utterly unconcerned, as if they didn’t notice the crowds packed inside and outside the inn, watching and gossiping.

Once the lamb was gone, a whole pig was carried in, then a whole cow. The six carts that had arrived earlier were indeed all for them. They demolished six carts’ worth of pork, beef, and lamb in just half an hour.

The waiter approached, grinning. “Have you two ladies had enough?”

Qiuye glanced at the sky. “I thought our guests would arrive after two hours of eating, but still no sign… Should we eat for another half-hour?”

July considered. “Let’s not. What if the food arrives just as they do? That would be awkward. Let’s just have some wine and cold dishes while we wait.”

The waiter, delighted, agreed and went inside, promising fresh meat dishes would be ready in half an hour. When the diners heard the women weren’t eating anymore, ninety percent of the crowd dispersed. Clearly, most had only been there for the spectacle; with nothing left to see, they’d rather find food elsewhere than wait.

Bu Jingxian saw a large group of officials and military men approaching from the direction of the new city. Fearing that Ling Luo might be among them—though they shouldn’t recognize him—he worried that Zheng Linran would be there as well, and he had no wish to see that woman. So he instructed the waiter to send his food to his room as usual, paid with silver, and returned upstairs.