Chu Zhishui found his shamelessness unbearable and really wanted to buy a pair of scissors at the supermarket to go home and cut off all the bamboo flowers, so he would stop playing this trick of transmitting fragrance.
Xin Yunmao deliberately teased her, dragging his feet to pick things, throwing several bottles of drinks into the shopping cart, before finally letting her out slowly.
Chu Zhishui glanced at the strange juices and realized he was attracted by the pretty packaging, reminding him, "Even if the taste isn't good after trying, you have to finish drinking it once you buy it."
"I will finish it," Xin Yunmao raised an eyebrow, "When have I ever wasted anything?"
"Tsk tsk, but you always look so serious when drinking."
"..."
The two of them, one human and one demon, finished buying hot pot materials and started wandering around other shelves, even spotting products from the Observation Bureau on the shelves.
Chu Zhishui had heard about it from her father before but was seeing it for the first time herself. Products like ginger candy and soup bags were prominently displayed, with popular and best-selling stickers next to them. She took out her phone to take a photo and sent it to the Economic Development Division group, wanting Jin Yu and Chen Zhuhui to see it.
"By the way, what were you doing before you left work?" Chu Zhishui said, "I wanted to call you to go to the vegetable field."
Xin Yunmao casually put his hands in his pockets: "Hu Chenrui called me to talk some nonsense."
"Nonsense?"
"About the dragon's remnant soul escaping from Kong Sang and now not knowing where it is."
Chu Zhishui was silent for a moment, staring at him hesitantly, "Our understanding of nonsense might be different. Isn't this an urgent matter?"
"It's just an eighth of his soul, meaning he hasn't regained his name, and it escaped from Kong Sang, where the memories related to his time in Kong Sang are sealed," Xin Yunmao explained, "According to Hu Chenrui's judgment system, Huaijiang and Qi Wu are the most dangerous. Qi Wu is where he was born, and Huaijiang is the site of the great battle. These two memories are the strongest."
"Kong Sang is considered less important, plus he's been weakened for a thousand years. Now that he suddenly sneaked out, if he encounters that cat leading the way, he might not even be able to win."
The dragon god's soul was torn into four parts, with Qi Wu and Huaijiang undoubtedly having the deepest resentment, representing the beginning and end of the dragon god. Yinhai and Kong Sang were much more peaceful.
Chu Zhishui was curious, "What memories are sealed in Kong Sang?"
"It's what Little Bianzi mentioned last time, about a human woman, I don't know the truth," Xin Yunmao said, "Hu Chenrui and the others think he escaped to find someone, otherwise why would that part of his obsession be so deep in Kong Sang, knowing he would be caught back sooner or later, yet still trying to escape."
Chu Zhishui frowned, questioning, "But it's been so many years, that woman must have passed away."
"Who knows, Hu Chenrui even asked me if humans have an afterlife," Xin Yunmao slightly raised his chin, proudly saying, "I told him, as someone who lives for a hundred years, I never think about such things, they are all illusory."
Chu Zhishui was amused by his words, looking at the seasonings in the shopping cart, murmuring, "Even if there is an afterlife, it wouldn't be what we understand. If there's no memory of a previous life, I definitely wouldn't be me. Various ingredients are similar, but with different seasoning and methods, they aren't the same dish."
"Even in this life, if a past choice had changed, I wouldn't be the current me. Everything is changing. I can't even figure out this life, how could I think about the next? Humans have always hoped for an afterlife, a bit like a subconscious psychological sustenance, similar to procrastination saying 'next time for sure'."
Because the current situation is average, so there's hope for change next time. But difficulties always follow, and next time will have its own troubles. It's more reliable to honestly solve the current situation.
Xin Yunmao: "So you also think their guess is illusory."
"It is, and you said the power in Kong Sang isn't strong, meaning that person isn't important to him, not as deep as the memories of fighting with you," she teased, "Thinking about it, it's like the mindset of some human men, not caring about these things when rising to fame and power, but once defeated and fallen, they remember the good of old lovers, and even try to escape prison to find their ex, yuck—"
Apart from feeling sorry for Xin Yunmao, Chu Zhishui didn't think the dragon god starting a war to give his lover eternal life was something touching, more like shifting the unjust title to others to cover up his own guilt and desires.
To destroy the world for unrequited love is such a shallow and ignorant thought, like "she just lost a leg but I lost my love."
Xin Yunmao, despite being mistreated for a thousand years, never harmed the innocent. Some things are seen through their essence, hidden for a while but not forever.
Hearing this, Xin Yunmao pushed the shopping cart, nodding proudly, "Indeed, that dragon isn't good, there aren't many male demons like me who are noble and family-oriented."
"That's true..." Chu Zhishui glanced at him, muttering, "But it feels weird when you boast about it yourself."
Does nobility not include modesty? How can he always brag about himself?
The one human and one demon pushed the shopping cart to the checkout counter, paid, and went home smoothly to prepare dinner.
The night was deep.
The night in Huaijiang City was quite quiet, with few colorful neon lights. Once the snack night market closed, it completely fell into silence. The new urban area had towering skyscrapers and various commercial districts, but the outskirts still had sparse buildings, with vast flat green farmlands.
The city's utility poles had long disappeared, replaced by underground cable pipes, except for this undeveloped suburb, where many stone-gray pillars still stood.
A black shoe tip touched a utility pole, and a burning dragon flame appeared, revealing a man in black ancient robes. He had a handsome but grim face, his ancient robe billowing in the wind, with his left sleeve empty and flapping in the night, unlike the right sleeve hanging on his arm.
A thousand years had brought about earth-shaking changes to the world, and he had lost his name, now only called the dragon soul.
He no longer traveled with followers, and fewer people knew his might, but he knew he could still find the treasure bead.
The treasure bead would always accept him; he had left his mark on her.
But Huaijiang was where that bamboo was born, and he needed to be cautious in this area. Fortunately, the Observation Bureau below had his soul, and the Demon Suppression Robe originated from his demonic energy, which could confuse the senses and not immediately reveal him when he entered Huaijiang.
The dragon soul stretched out his right hand, his fingertips emitting black fire, searching for the treasure bead's whereabouts.
The night wind brought news of his lover, but unfortunately, the bamboo and the treasure bead were very close, even overlapping in their activity areas.
He had golden dragon eyes, now bursting with flames, seemingly incredulous, then surging with boundless anger.
Could it be that the treasure bead had been imprisoned by them all along?
The next day, the sun was bright, with not a single cloud in the sky.
On the open road, Chu Zhishui drove with Xin Yunmao and Chen Zhuhui, heading to the tea garden to see the ginseng fields and plant some fruit trees nearby. Xin Yunmao sat in the passenger seat, and Chen Zhuhui sat in the back, both familiar with the scenery along the way.
Gentle music flowed in the car, and Chu Zhishui suddenly remembered something, asking, "Isn't Zhuhui about to start school?"
"Yes, next week I have to go back to school," Chen Zhuhui sighed, honestly saying, "I don't want to go."
Chu Zhishui laughed, "I remember you were very diligent in high school."
"But many university courses are self-taught, different from high school, I'd rather stay in the bureau and read books," Chen Zhuhui said sadly, "The next time I come will be winter break."
"Then you can explore Yinhai in your spare time, and maybe brush up on your resume, it might help with your job after graduation," Chu Zhishui suggested.
"Zhishui, does the bureau hire people from outside?" Chen Zhuhui pondered for a few seconds, indirectly inquiring, "Did you directly apply for the job?"
"I was introduced, going through a different channel. The Yinhai Bureau doesn't seem to hire people, and even the service staff at the guesthouse don't have a formal position."
Chen Zhuhui was disappointed: "Ah..."
“You still have a few years before graduation, and the future is unpredictable.” Chu Zhishui understood her meaning and smiled, “We're not hiring for the next two years, but maybe when the Observation Bureau grows stronger, we'll need more hands.”
Chen Zhuhui heard this and couldn't suppress the smile that spread across her face, delighting in the thought, “Alright.”
The car stopped at the entrance of the tea garden.
As soon as Chu Zhishui and the others got out of the car, the trio of Old Bai, Huang, and Hei appeared, naturally gathering together.
Old Bai approached Chen Zhuhui with a beaming smile, “Zhuhui, I picked some mushrooms yesterday, I’ll bring them to you later.”
“Shall we plant the fruit trees first, and then head to the forest area?” Chu Zhishui turned to look at Xin Yunmao.
“Sure.”
With a snap of his fingers, Xin Yunmao caused several fruit tree saplings to appear on the ground, their roots still moist with soil.
Seeing this, Huang and Hei quickly stepped forward, efficiently handling the task, shouting, “Oh, there’s no need for Director Chu and the Divine Lord to do this, we can handle such a small job!”
Chu Zhishui said, “Plant them in the area where you usually rest. Zhuhui wanted us to plant these so you could also taste them.”
Old Bai wiped his tears with emotion, “Zhuhui is still so considerate, there’s no better child than her.”
Chen Zhuhui sighed, “Uncle Bai…”
Xin Yunmao followed the group for a few steps when suddenly he felt something, his calm expression slightly changing. He abruptly looked up at the sky and stopped in his tracks. After a moment, he unexpectedly said, “I’m going back.”
Chu Zhishui was puzzled, “Why?”
His face slightly tightened, “That dragon is in Huaijiang, and it’s now at the bureau.”
Huang and Hei, still carrying the fruit tree saplings, looked around at the two, confused, “What does the Divine Lord mean?”
“Are you going to teleport back directly?” Chu Zhishui worriedly asked, “Is it dangerous? Should we…”
In the next instant, a black rift opened, and Xin Yunmao’s figure disappeared within, his face now cold and guarded, leaving only a hasty sentence behind.
“No danger, but that cat is causing trouble again. I can’t let him ruin our ingredients for hot pot.”
Planting must be the obsession of plant spirits; Xin Yunmao had no interest in fighting, but he wouldn’t allow the dragon and the cat to destroy the vegetable fields.
She had bought hot pot seasoning yesterday, saying she would cook vegetables in it soon.
Chu Zhishui: “…”
Was this the focus of the matter! He rushed to the scene at high speed, not out of dedication to his job, but to protect the vegetable garden!
