Dao Of The Salted Fish

20. Now I’m a talisman cultivator! (Skipping sword practice! *victory V sign*)

The next morning, Wen Zhihao headed to the kitchens. To his surprise, Sun Fuyu was there.

“Shixiong!” Sun Fuyu called out. “Where were you?”

Aunty Chef Liu Jing gave Wen Zhihao a slightly disapproving look. “Cultivator Sun has been coming here for the last few mornings.”

Wen Zhihao immediately felt guilty. “I was in...secluded cultivation.”

Why weren’t there things such as phones? If there was, Sun Fuyu could have sent Wen Zhihao a message, or vice versa. In fact, meeting people seemed to be really complicated in this ancient world….

Sun Fuyu’s expression eased into embarrassment. “Oh.” His head dipped down.

Wen Zhihao was even more guilty. He couldn’t resist the urge to pat Sun Fuyu on the head. “Sorry, I should have told you. Don’t worry about your shixiong, I will do my best not to die! Has Sun-shidi worked hard the last few days?”

The warmth from Wen Zhihao’s hand spread across Sun Fuyu’s head. Words became stuck in Sun Fuyu's throat. Finally, he nodded and said a single, “En.”

“Then you deserve something yummy to eat,” Wen Zhihao said. He looked meaningfully at Liu Jing.

Liu Jing smiled in amusement. “I will make some dim sum.”

Wen Zhihao’s eyes brightened more than Sun Fuyu’s. “Thank you, aunty!”

“Thank you, aunty,” Sun Fuyu echoed.

Liu Jing rolled her eyes. “Go, go help Old Tang.”

As they helped Old Tang move goods around, Sun Fuyu spoke quietly to Wen Zhihao.

“You’ve missed sword practice lately…Cultivator Zhang is angry at you.”

Wen Zhihao laughed sheepishly. “Actually, he pulled me in front of the Elders yesterday.”

Sun Fuyu’s eyes widened in horror. “The Elders?”

“Yes, I will now skip all sword practices! Because I’m now a talisman cultivator!”

Sun Fuyu’s stomach dropped. If Wen-shixiong was now a talisman cultivator, doesn’t that mean they have no reason to speak with each other anymore…? Wait, Sun Fuyu still owed Wen-shixiong a debt from last time…

“Hey, hey, why the sad face?” Wen Zhihao poked Sun Fuyu’s soft cheek.

“...We won’t have sword practice together anymore…”

“Sun-shidi, be truthful, I am terrible at sword practice. This way, Cultivator Zhang doesn’t need to see my horrible sword form.”

“Then...then I’ll become a talisman cultivator too!”

“Sun Fuyu,” Wen Zhihao said seriously, “You have good swordsmanship. If I became a...crafting cultivator, would you still want to be a talisman cultivator?”

Sun Fuyu showed a frustrated expression. “Wen-shixiong…”

“Next time, I’ll tell you if I go into secluded cultivation. How about we take trips out every week, like we did a few days ago? Okay?” Wen Zhihao coaxed him. “In the meanwhile, work hard, and I’m sure you’ll advance quickly. I’m certain you will be able to become an inner disciple at the next Intra-sect competition!”

Sun Fuyu went from bright to determined. If Wen-shixiong said it, then it was true! “Yes, shixiong!”

“Good.” Wen Zhihao rubbed Sun Fuyu’s head.

At the end of the conversation, they had finished helping old Tang, and aunty chef Liu Jing had finished the first batch of stepped dim sum.

“Now eat, so you’ll have a lot of energy—er, qi—for your classes.” Wen Zhihao thanked Liu Jing and handed Sun Fuyu a plate of dim sum and dipping sauce.

Sun Fuyu nodded decisively. “Yes, Wen-shixiong!”

Liu Jing watched the two youths eating, barely able to suppress an exasperated smile. It made her remember that cultivators were not all serious and stiff-faced. In fact, many of them were just like children…

Wen Zhihao: Hey, I’m not a child! I was an adult who earned money and paid taxes!!!

Liu Jing: You’re not doing that now, are you?

Wen Zhihao: …. I concede....

20. Now I’m a talisman cultivator! (Skipping sword practice! *victory V sign*)

The next morning, Wen Zhihao headed to the kitchens. To his surprise, Sun Fuyu was there.

“Shixiong!” Sun Fuyu called out. “Where were you?”

Aunty Chef Liu Jing gave Wen Zhihao a slightly disapproving look. “Cultivator Sun has been coming here for the last few mornings.”

Wen Zhihao immediately felt guilty. “I was in...secluded cultivation.”

Why weren’t there things such as phones? If there was, Sun Fuyu could have sent Wen Zhihao a message, or vice versa. In fact, meeting people seemed to be really complicated in this ancient world….

Sun Fuyu’s expression eased into embarrassment. “Oh.” His head dipped down.

Wen Zhihao was even more guilty. He couldn’t resist the urge to pat Sun Fuyu on the head. “Sorry, I should have told you. Don’t worry about your shixiong, I will do my best not to die! Has Sun-shidi worked hard the last few days?”

The warmth from Wen Zhihao’s hand spread across Sun Fuyu’s head. Words became stuck in Sun Fuyu's throat. Finally, he nodded and said a single, “En.”

“Then you deserve something yummy to eat,” Wen Zhihao said. He looked meaningfully at Liu Jing.

Liu Jing smiled in amusement. “I will make some dim sum.”

Wen Zhihao’s eyes brightened more than Sun Fuyu’s. “Thank you, aunty!”

“Thank you, aunty,” Sun Fuyu echoed.

Liu Jing rolled her eyes. “Go, go help Old Tang.”

As they helped Old Tang move goods around, Sun Fuyu spoke quietly to Wen Zhihao.

“You’ve missed sword practice lately…Cultivator Zhang is angry at you.”

Wen Zhihao laughed sheepishly. “Actually, he pulled me in front of the Elders yesterday.”

Sun Fuyu’s eyes widened in horror. “The Elders?”

“Yes, I will now skip all sword practices! Because I’m now a talisman cultivator!”

Sun Fuyu’s stomach dropped. If Wen-shixiong was now a talisman cultivator, doesn’t that mean they have no reason to speak with each other anymore…? Wait, Sun Fuyu still owed Wen-shixiong a debt from last time…

“Hey, hey, why the sad face?” Wen Zhihao poked Sun Fuyu’s soft cheek.

“...We won’t have sword practice together anymore…”

“Sun-shidi, be truthful, I am terrible at sword practice. This way, Cultivator Zhang doesn’t need to see my horrible sword form.”

“Then...then I’ll become a talisman cultivator too!”

“Sun Fuyu,” Wen Zhihao said seriously, “You have good swordsmanship. If I became a...crafting cultivator, would you still want to be a talisman cultivator?”

Sun Fuyu showed a frustrated expression. “Wen-shixiong…”

“Next time, I’ll tell you if I go into secluded cultivation. How about we take trips out every week, like we did a few days ago? Okay?” Wen Zhihao coaxed him. “In the meanwhile, work hard, and I’m sure you’ll advance quickly. I’m certain you will be able to become an inner disciple at the next Intra-sect competition!”

Sun Fuyu went from bright to determined. If Wen-shixiong said it, then it was true! “Yes, shixiong!”

“Good.” Wen Zhihao rubbed Sun Fuyu’s head.

At the end of the conversation, they had finished helping old Tang, and aunty chef Liu Jing had finished the first batch of stepped dim sum.

“Now eat, so you’ll have a lot of energy—er, qi—for your classes.” Wen Zhihao thanked Liu Jing and handed Sun Fuyu a plate of dim sum and dipping sauce.

Sun Fuyu nodded decisively. “Yes, Wen-shixiong!”

Liu Jing watched the two youths eating, barely able to suppress an exasperated smile. It made her remember that cultivators were not all serious and stiff-faced. In fact, many of them were just like children…

Wen Zhihao: Hey, I’m not a child! I was an adult who earned money and paid taxes!!!

Liu Jing: You’re not doing that now, are you?

Wen Zhihao: …. I concede....