After regaining her composure, Ninger joined the group with her good friends Xiao Xi and A Jun. But as they passed the stable, something strange happened again...
The horses led by the trainer, Tian Ji, suddenly struggled stubbornly--it seemed as if they did not want to go home, but wanted to walk with everyone.
"Ah~"
The horses shouts rose and fell... Then Tian Ji seemed to understand something, and voluntarily let go of the reins, giving them their freedom--of course, only for a while, after all, they were the property of the royal family.
"Xiao Qianli!"
"Condensation..."
"Little mung beans?"
Then, the freed horses began searching for their friends. Xiao Qianli, the most impulsive, ran to Ah Jun, circled around him, and then leaned close to his face. He felt so good about him that he had the feeling of meeting a kindred spirit.
As for Ningshuang, being the goddess in the hearts of the horses, she approached her new friend with graceful steps rather than the impetuous manner of Xiao Qianli. The gentle beauty then shared a tender kiss, exchanging warmth. In terms of both appearance and demeanor, Ningshuang is undoubtedly one of the top-tier figures in the herd.
--To be honest, even other species, or even humans, might be so obsessed with it that they cant walk the path.
As the old saying goes, "A thousand miles of fate brings us together." Ajun and his horse, though just meeting for the first time, seem to have a bond stronger than that of old friends reunited.
-Well... no, somethings missing?
Hi, indeed, three are missing one... Only Xiao Xi stood there bewildered—his partner had vanished! It turned out that just moments ago, while Xiao Qianli was still searching for Ah Jun, Xiao Xi had already been paired with his own partner.
At that time, the scene was that the green-eyed and the narrow-eyed recognized each other from a distance, and their eyes met and exchanged their heart words. Although we did not know what they were thinking, it seemed that there was a very intimate feeling.
--At this moment, silence is better than sound...
As a result, the audience who were sitting there could not help but look forward to the next warm moment. Meanwhile, Xiao Xi, influenced by the environment, was also looking forward to the beautiful time with his partner.
Haha... Here I come, hmm—ha? Ah... Ah, wait a minute... Hey, where are you going?
——Here we go, finally... Xiao Xi, looks like you two are really close...
At that moment, Little Mung Bean approached his partner with utmost seriousness, leaving everyone breathless with anticipation for what would unfold. Yet the sad truth was stark: after passing the trainer, the horse cast a cold glance at Little Fat Man across the way, then turned away with a deep sigh, shook his tail, and finally trotted off home on his own...
The situation turned upside down in an instant. There was no tacit understanding, no communication, and no warmth left. Only Xiao Xi remained, still standing there, making excuses while making fun of herself: "Heh... well done! Anyway, I just dont like that... that look!"
——Hmm... This kid seems genuinely pitiful... If we must pinpoint the cause for this dramatic twist, perhaps their relationship wasnt as strong as imagined—maybe the kid was just being overly sentimental... Of course, theres also the possibility that Xiao Xis attitude toward her former partner during their initial meeting might have laid the groundwork for the sudden plot development.
Anyway, no matter what, Xiao Xi had to endure it. The scene had everyone in stitches, with the little princess laughing so hard she couldnt stop.
Fortunately, Xiao Xis mental resilience was extraordinary. In the blink of an eye, the child had already adjusted himself, regained his composure, blended into the crowd, and even smiled foolishly while waiting for A Jun and Ning er, all while reminiscing about the warmth hed missed those years...
Goodbye, Xiao Qianli!
"Condensation..."
"Come on, youre not hungry... Come on!"
But after a long while, Xiao Xi couldnt hold on any longer—after all, shed just been injured. Now, all she wanted was to heal with delicious food. So she kept reminding her lingering companion... Time to eat!
--Come on, children, eat!
Todays lunch was more subdued, and the venue was no longer the restaurant from yesterday but the large canteen at the Shipping Center. After all, the Imperial City was a world apart—separated by a vast distance from Zui Xian Lou! It would take at least a somersault cloud to reach there...
Fortunately, the communal buffet-style dining perfectly caters to childrens preferences—free and relaxed yet maintaining the imperial grandeur. Rows of signature gold-standard roast ducks, oiled and fragrant, await. Grab a piece of leg meat with skin, dip it in sweet bean sauce, add cucumber and scallions, then wrap it in tender spring pancakes. Roll it up neatly—then take an elegant bite. Hmm... absolutely heavenly, leaving a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth.
—Ah! Thats it! Ill try it... Oh, the flavor is absolutely exquisite—sweet and crisp, tender and juicy, so satisfying! I wish she could taste it too!
Beyond that, the cafeteria has everything you could want—food, drinks, snacks, fruits, main dishes, and side dishes. Whether its savory or sweet, fried, stir-fried, steamed, or boiled, kids can get whatever they want...
The key was that you could eat whatever you wanted without spending a penny—get whatever you liked, and it was all yours. Xiao Xi was over the moon, feeling a bit self-conscious and over-the-top.
The little princess was also in a much better mood... Although the incident had somewhat eased her relationship with the boy, the emotional knots were not yet fully untied. Now that there was no need to arrange seats, the girls mood naturally improved significantly.
So, after lunch, the children will start their journey home for the Spring Festival...
In the Guardian World, the period leading up to the Spring Festival marks the peak of the annual Spring Festival travel rush. While the population of the Suoluo Continent isnt as large, its strictly protected natural areas and limited transportation options still create a bustling scene of people jostling and horses racing, though the skies remain relatively clear. After all, during this time, land transportation offers the best perks—free access, who wouldnt love that!
As for the Spring Festival travel rush in the air, it is a little different. Because of the situation of too many monks and too little porridge, the lively sky still maintains the tranquility and openness of the past--the transparent blue sky, the leisurely white clouds, the free-flying birds... are the original dream of nature.
Of course, the saying too many monks and not enough porridge here refers to transportation. Although modern technology has already realized humanitys long-term vision, airplanes are banned on the continent of Suoluo. The reason for this is probably related to the concept of the guardian.
In this developed era, they always maintain traditional living habits, and with the support of necessary technology, they try to avoid conflicts with the natural environment--pollution, destruction, occupation... all of which are strictly controlled.
Of course, there are many examples of violations, but they all require some great ability--but even the most powerful master can not escape the vast net of heaven, and the punishment is also a first-class stick... Starting from prison, staying to reflect?
That said, the food in this prison system is ok--free, plenty, with food and drink, and someone is in charge. You can eat unlimited amounts of rice wine steamed buns and rice with vegetables, light and delicious.
This steamed bun, crafted with traditional methods, is a culinary treasure exclusive to the prison camp. Its exceptionally fluffy texture carries the delicate aroma of peach blossom wine, offering a sweet and subtly salty flavor. The mouthfeel is rich yet not sticky, with a slightly springy texture that makes your mouth water just thinking about it...
So, there are indeed foodies who take deliberate risks to taste this delicacy – otherwise, theyd never get to enjoy it... Even Duanmus family, a culinary powerhouse, cant resist their craving and must seek help to bring it along. Yet no matter how diligently their experts study and replicate the recipe, that signature flavor remains uniquely authentic. After all, the taste of memory isnt something anyone can recreate!
As a result, the sizable prison became a daily overcrowding, and recently it has become even more exaggerated, becoming a celebrity-like existence. For this reason, the league was finally forced to order that the wine-brewed steamed buns must be limited, and anyone who thinks they can get away with it will be disqualified and fined.
Therefore, such delicious food is naturally a perennial bestseller, highly praised, and often ranked among the top three trending topics. There is even an advertising slogan: "If you want to eat wine steamed buns, please recognize the Guliang family. With a thousand-year-old ancient recipe, it is only to wash away the negative of the soul!"
—Well... since the fermented rice cake works so well, I should let her have a bite too. That way, we can clear up the misunderstanding between them.
This noodle dish is naturally Xiao Xis favorite... But right now, hes brainstorming suggestions for the little princess—this girl is way too rebellious, and I cant stand her. How could A Jun possibly tolerate her? Still, even the high-quality imitation made in the imperial city seems to lack something. Whats the secret recipe behind it?
"Xiao Xi, youre talking to yourself. What are you thinking?"
"Ah... Hey, dont look at me like that. Its nothing, I was just distracted, haha!"
"Um?"
Hey, Ajun and Ninger, look! Wow, amazing!
"What is that... thats a wildebeest?"
"——Its terrible to be illiterate... Let me tell you, they are..."
Hey, this guy... he should give you some rice wine steamed buns!
"Hmm, what are you talking about?"
"No, it has no horns but wings... Oh, I see... Xiao Xi, its the celestial horn beast!"
Hey! Youre such a person...