"Disciple, have you changed your clothes yet?"

Su Bei sat idly on a small stone by the sea, skipping stones across the water.

He had eventually promised to spend the day with her, though he wasn't sure how many such warm days they'd have in the future.

"Master, I'm almost ready... just a bit longer."

"It's been an hour."

"Why rush, Master? We're going shopping. How could I go without tidying up a bit?"

Women are pretty much the same everywhere; after about half an incense stick, Xiao Ruoching emerged shyly from behind the banana leaves.

Even though Su Bei saw her every day, he was still momentarily dazzled when Xiao Ruoching came out.

Her thick, dark hair cascaded down, casually tied up or let loose in front of her. Her skin was fair and delicate, her face carefully powdered. Wearing a moon-white long dress of simple elegance, she looked stunning.

The dress was not too high nor too low, perfectly modest, just revealing her full, rounded calves and smooth knees, and a flat tummy tucked under the skirt, accentuating her graceful, curvy figure, indescribably beautiful.

"Master, how do I look?"

Xiao Ruoching twirled around, holding her skirt.

"You look stunning beyond words!"

"Really?"

"When would I lie to my disciple?"

With the red morning sun casting a glow, a rosy blush graced Xiao Ruoching's cheeks. She tugged at her skirt and softly said:

"Well then, Master, let's go..."

Linking arms with Su Bei, Xiao Ruoching walked up the path leading to the coastal city-state.

The city buzzed with life. People thronged, Sea Tribe jostled against Sea Tribe, like a boiling pot.

Yet the disciple's painstakingly decorated and powdered look truly drew attention, catching the eye of passers-by—men, women alike. Perhaps Xiao Ruoching hadn't strolled outside the Sect for a long time, everything seemed so unfamiliar as she strolled, arm-in-arm with Su Bei, glancing around.

"Master, what's that? It looks delicious."

"Roast pig skin."

"Oh, doesn't sound tasty—huh? Candied hawthorn! Master, I want to eat that!"

"That's for kids."

"I want to eat it."

"...Buy it."

Faces of passersby streamed around them; the hustle and bustle of carriages and people weaved through, with merchants' cries piercing the air from afar, occasionally punctuated by a long neigh from a horse.

Feeling as if surrounded by a vivid, vibrant tapestry, Su Bei couldn't help but pause, gazing at the radiant sun.

The disciple offered Su Bei a hawthorn first, then nibbled on the sugar-coated berry, her beautiful eyes crinkling and twinkling.

"Tasty, very sweet."

"Do you like sweet things, disciple?"

"I like anything tasty."

"...Oh."

"What's that? Sticky cake? I want to eat it!"

"...Buy it."

"Why do people eat seaweed? It doesn't look tasty."

"Do you want a roasted sea bun, disciple?"

"Yes! Eat it!"

"Do you want to eat sugar-glazed lotus root?"

"Yes! Eat it!"

Su Bei: "..."

Foodie.

Ever since they entered the shop-lined street, Su Bei's hands were filled with snacks, as the disciple tasted just a bite of many dishes before handing them to him. She darted into other snack shops like a wild horse.

This peculiar pair attracted attention. Street vendors knew business would come glancing at the two, eagerly stepping up with smiles promoting their snacks.

Xiao Ruoching was open to trying anything with a simple "Eat," leaving Su Bei to obediently pay from behind.

Each time she received food, she'd first push it into Su Bei's mouth, claiming he should try first, while secretly gauging his expression; if he frowned, she'd never take a second bite.

This made Su Bei a bit helpless.

The Sea Tribe vendor selling sea buns smiled broadly, saying:

"Young man, you're lucky to marry someone who can eat like this, good for having kids..."

Su Bei immediately sweated, explaining with a bitter smile:

"This is my disciple."

Is there such a matching master and disciple pair?

The smiling elderly lady seemed to understand anyway, saying cheerfully:

"Oh! Men should marry several, so marrying a disciple is nothing!"

Su Bei: "..."

But Xiao Ruoching wasn't shy, laughing softly at Su Bei's worried face.

She smiled playfully, tapping Su Bei's head:

"Master, they say we're a pair, when will you marry me?"

He looked at Xiao Ruoching, responding gently without directly answering:

"Disciple, don't move."

"Hmm?"

The woman tilted her head.

The sun shone brightly, illuminating Xiao Ruoching's beautiful face, her hairpin sparkling with light.

Banana leaves lined the streets inside the city, gently caressing her fingertips, the breeze softly fluttering her long moon-white dress, and the banana trees swayed gently, mesmerizing.

Su Bei leaned closer to her cheeks, wiping away crumbs from the corner of her mouth, carefully cleaning them with a silk handkerchief from his pocket.

Xiao Ruoching stood still, exuding a luscious, soft sweetness.

Her eyes reflected the man's figure completely, their breath mixed amidst the faint warmth; Su Bei's gentle, serious cleaning made her brows curve softly and naturally, murmuring:

"Master?"

"What is it, disciple?"

Su Bei placed the silk handkerchief back into his pocket, asked blankly.

"Master will cultivate to Mahayana, right? You won't leave the disciple, right?"

Su Bei chuckled bitterly:

"Depends on fate."

"I don't care, promise the disciple, pinky swear, okay!"

In her memory, anything her master had promised while pinky-swearing would surely happen.

Like on that cliffside night, he promised he'd protect her forever.

Su Bei didn't extend his pinky, but instead held her hand:

"Your master will try his best."

Not getting the desired answer, Xiao Ruoching seemed unhappy, she turned her head slightly, sulking, wanting him to guess her emotions.

Su Bei wasn't some low-emotional anime protagonist, he tidied the disciple's hair:

"Your master won't leave the disciple."

Xiao Ruoching turned back, eyes full of doubt, staring at Su Bei for a while:

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to my disciple."

"Reward Master with a sesame pancake."

Xiao Ruoching casually shoved half-eaten sesame pancakes into Su Bei's mouth, he chewed, feeling it dry, no wonder she handed it over.

Stopping at a tea vendor, Su Bei pointed at the tea leaves in the rattan basket:

"Disciple, do you drink tea?"

"No, it's bitter."

"Hmm, with a bit of milk and preserved fruits, much better."

"Is that drinkable?"

"Just try it."

"I won't try it."

"I'll make some for the disciple when we return, you can try."

"If it's not tasty, I won't drink any, and don't waste it, drink all yourself."

"..."