I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady got out the ingredients, fried eggs, and boiled dried noodles. Fang Ling and Nannan, the two little girls, helped by tending the fire.

With the family of five all pitching in, a rich, fragrant aroma soon began to waft through the air.

Under the tree.

Amidst the mottled light and shadows, the five of them—Fang Rui, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan—sat on stools, holding their bowls. As they ate lunch and spoke in low voices, the morning’s fatigue seemed to melt away.

...

Meanwhile.

There was Chang Qing, Elder Wang, and a woman—Chang Qing’s mother. She appeared to be in her forties and was well-preserved: buxom and full-hipped, with delicate features and fair skin. She was quite a beauty.

However, this family hadn’t seemed to prepare any pots or bowls, bringing only some cold, dry rations and pastries.

Chang Qing glanced over at the other group. Though partially obscured, his eyes landed on the exquisitely beautiful Third Lady, and a look of stunned admiration flashed across his face. He watched as she gently served Fang Rui his meal, her eyes soft, their whole family radiating a cheerful warmth.

He glanced down at the slightly stale pastry in his own hand, then couldn’t help but inhale deeply, savoring the fragrant aroma wafting from their camp. With a frown, he took a savage bite of his pastry.

”Young Master, how about I go over and buy some food from them?”

”No! Who knows if a common family like that even has clean bowls and chopsticks. The thought of eating their food makes me sick! Our pastries are better. The poor can’t afford something this exquisite. They’re refined, and very... UGH!”

...

”Hm?!”

Fang Rui suddenly frowned.

”Brother Rui, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady both looked over.

”It’s nothing! Nothing!”

Fang Rui shook his head.

There was no problem on their side. The real drama was with Young Master Chang’s party. What had he just seen? That Elder Wang had secretly pinched Mrs. Chang on the rear!

’But isn’t that Elder Wang supposed to be a guard? A lowly servant riding his... bah, I mean, *bullying* his master? As expected of a great house. Their circles are a real mess!’

Fang Rui snarked to himself, a cryptic look on his face. He glanced over at Chang Qing with an expression of pity. ’Gaining a new dad without even knowing it... a truly tragic figure!’

But it was none of his business, and he couldn’t be bothered to get involved.

Just then, Young Master Chang suddenly set down his pastry and walked over. The closer he got, the richer the enticing aroma became, forcing him to secretly swallow a mouthful of saliva.

”You there, young brother, about that...”

”If you have something to say, just say it.”

”What do you think of my donkey over there? See, I’d like to trade it for your horse. I can add some money to the deal—compensate you with ten taels of silver, even...”

Yes, Chang Qing didn’t want to buy a meal. In his heart, he still felt the Fang Family’s tableware was dirty and would be disgusting to use.

And trading a donkey for a horse?

The reason was simple enough.

He felt that for a man as debonair as himself, being paired with a donkey cart was simply too unsightly. Only a horse-drawn carriage was remotely worthy of his status.

—And don’t ask why he didn’t just buy a horse. In times like these, horses weren’t that easy to find. Hadn’t Fang Rui himself searched the Black Market for a long time without finding one?

’A donkey plus ten taels of silver for a horse is probably the market rate. But out here in the middle of nowhere, he wants to talk to me about market rate?!’

’Besides, do I look like I need the money? You want to talk money with me? Heh!’

Fang Rui rolled his eyes inwardly. ”No deal.”

”You... If this were any other time...”

Chang Qing couldn’t believe Fang Rui was being so difficult.

He was a scion of a great house! He had come over personally, spoken so politely, and even magnanimously offered compensation in silver coins. Shouldn’t this commoner be weeping with gratitude and handing the horse over for free? How dare he refuse?

The absolute nerve!

”And what about any other time? Or what, you want your Elder Wang to come trade a few pointers with me?” A wry smile touched Fang Rui’s lips.

He was itching to stretch his limbs and, while he was at it, make a show of strength.

His official status as an Entry Grade Martial Artist wasn’t quite intimidating enough. Revealing a Realm in the Seventh and Eighth Grades, showing off the talent of a ’normal genius,’ seemed like a good idea.

But that was the kind of thing you couldn’t just brag about yourself. It was much better to find a stepping stone to prove it. For instance: the aforementioned Elder Wang.

”Hmph. Uncouth!”

Chang Qing snorted, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.

This actually left Fang Rui stunned for a moment. ’Wait, aren’t you supposed to go crying to your guardian now? How can you just walk away?’

But after a moment’s thought, he figured it out: this Chang Qing had the mentality of an eleven or twelve-year-old boy—willful, self-absorbed, and obsessed with saving face. It was for this very reason that he didn’t want to be seen ’running to his guardian for help.’

Once Chang Qing had left.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family asked worriedly, ”Brother Rui, will it be okay, refusing him like that?”

Third Lady looked over as well.

”Mother, Third Sister, don’t worry!”

Fang Rui shook his head. ”If there’s trouble, believe me, we won’t be the ones in it.”

...

After lunch, they resumed their journey.

The afternoon passed without incident.

...

That night, the caravan reached another of its planned stops and made camp.

Since they had more time in the evenings.

Fang Rui had Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady take out some cured meat, intending to have a proper meal that evening.

But just at this moment—

”AWOOOOO!”

From the darkness, a chorus of wolf howls rose up, drawing rapidly closer.

The wolves had come!

...