Chapter 53 - I Like You
"Of course I like you."
Luo He's expression was somewhat perplexed; he was a bit confused as to why Su Huanhuan would ask this kind of question.
"If I didn't like you, why would I be so good to you?"
Could it be she took him, Luo He, for a fool?
"You... when did it start..."
"It had to be that time at the Black Copper Gate, back when I pulled you out of the nearly closed gate, and you told me that sooner or later you would repay this favor."
"At that time, I already thought you were a pretty cute person."
"Is, is that so, that early, huh..."
"However, as for being Dao companions or what not, aren't you thinking a bit too much? I have no thoughts in that regard."
Su Huanhuan's subtle expression stopped abruptly.
She turned her head to look at Luo He, a dangerous smile on her face.
"Why? Explain clearly."
"Mm... perhaps our perspectives on observation are not quite the same."
"For me, seeing someone I like be able to walk towards a good future is something worth striving for."
"So you actually don't need to take what I've done to heart."
"...So, you just see me as a child you like, is that it?"
"Eh, don't say that..."
"Damn fox..."
Su Huanhuan gnashed her teeth and clenched her fists; she swore that if it weren't for being unable to hit him, she would absolutely have smacked his smiling face right now.
"Before, when you wore a mask and kept your mouth shut, I couldn't tell. The thoughts in your damn fox brain are really infuriating."
"You just wait for me. One day, I'll make you get to know me, Su Huanhuan, all over again."
"Alright, I'll be waiting."
Luo He still smiled faintly.
"But regardless of the reason, it's true that I always wish you well, Su Huanhuan."
"Just like how you always thought of my well-being before, but I rejected you and didn't explain, and you were very angry."
"Now I can explain it to you."
"...Who was thinking of your well-being? So sentimental."
"Although you don't say it, I've always known."
"......"
She's shy. So cute.
Su Huanhuan turned her head away, as if somewhat unable to bear this atmosphere of exchanging sincerity for sincerity.
"Alright, you're just like a milk puppy I fed when I was little."
"Clearly I just gave it something I didn't want, yet it would still wag its tail happily for ages, treating it like some kind of treasure, looking so pitiful."
"My wishing you well is also for my own benefit, understand?”
Using harsh words to conceal her own thoughts was Su Huanhuan's consistent method; in the past, she had relied on this to make herself seem mysterious in front of others.
But it was a pity that today she had used the wrong method in the wrong place, making this conversation somewhat comical.
Luo He was amused in his heart and followed this conversational thread, smiling as he said:
"Think back on our previous conversation."
"Don't you think that pitiful milk puppy, wagging its tail happily for ages, seems to be you..."
Luo He chose to make a tactical interruption before the ice could form in Su Huanhuan's eyes.
Looking at Su Huanhuan's cold expression, Luo He's smile remained.
"However, there's one point in that sentence of yours that needs correcting."
"It's not that I treated it like some treasure; it is a treasure."
"A treasure very precious to me."
"......"
Su Huanhuan had almost forgotten where this person before her had been, and what he had experienced in the past.
The comfort from a selfish demonic cultivator like herself was actually that significant to him?
Heh…
Heaven truly is blind.
"So, what's your answer?"
Facing Luo He's question, Su Huanhuan let the expression on her face fall, and once again put on that smile she was most familiar with.
"Since things have already been said to this extent, there seems to be no reason to refuse."
"But you've finally gotten a new lease on life with great difficulty; is there nothing else you want to do?"
"As it stands, helping you is the thing I want to do most."
"...Don't always say things that make people feel awkward in such a deadpan serious manner."
"Does it?"
"It does. If you absolutely must say them, you can only say them to me."
"That I can't guarantee..."
Su Huanhuan glared at Luo He.
"However, this young lady must remind you of one thing first."
"Right now, I'm considered to be incompatible with both the Righteous and Demonic Paths.
You don't even have to think about it—there will definitely be no shortage of troublesome matters along the way. Are you sure you want to wade into my muddy waters?"
"Mm."
Luo He smiled and nodded his head.
"I couldn't ask for more."
"Good. You're the one who said it."
"In the future, even if you cry and shout with regret, I, this young lady, will not let you go. Be mentally prepared."
Su Huanhuan felt Luo He must be a fool, to treat the slight sentiment from a demonic cultivator like her, whose mouth was full of benefits, favors, and schemes, as some extraordinary thing.
But anyway, this proposal only had benefits for Su Huanhuan, so she naturally was happy to accept it.
When the time comes, she'd let that stupid fox suffer losses to his heart's content, then she'd jump out and mock him.
Inadvertently, Su Huanhuan suddenly realized that from beginning to end, she seemed to have never once thought about whether Luo He would use or harm her.
Truly strange, when had this peculiar trust been established…
However, it wasn't unpleasant.
"Then, we have a deal."
Luo He said faintly.
"Mm."
"What do you plan to do next?"
"The people from the Remnant Moon Sect probably won't be able to pursue us here for a little while. I plan to recuperate here for a bit, and then head north from this back mountain, until I reach the territory of the Righteous Path Immortal Alliance."
"It's actually safer there, and the things I'm looking for are also in that region."
"I'll listen to you."
Luo He nodded his head.
"Ahem... Well then, Little Luo, ah, come quickly and help this young lady cultivate."
"Little Luo? Are you calling me?"
"That's right, what's wrong? Is it not okay?"
"Mmm... why don't you just go back to calling me stupid fox? It sounds a bit more pleasing to the ear."
"Your preferences really are strange."
"Let's wait a bit on the cultivation; I have a matter to attend to."
As Luo He spoke, he walked towards the outside.
How did this damn kid come back again?
Watching Luo He's departing figure, Su Huanhuan raised her eyebrows.
...
"Um..."
"What are you doing here?"
"Wuaah!"
Liu Miao was startled by the suddenly appearing voice, but she quickly steadied herself to avoid spilling the earthenware pot in her hands.
She looked at Luo He, who had appeared beside her at some unknown time, and said somewhat indistinctly:
"Uh, uh, that... Mr. Ghost..."
"My name is Luo He."
"Oh, oh, then, Luo He Ghost... High Immortal..."
"Forget it. What are you doing on the mountain? Didn't I tell you not to come yesterday?"
"I, I came to give you this."
Liu Miao nervously uncovered the earthenware pot in her hand and presented it to Luo He.
She didn't know if cultivators liked mortal delicacies and was also a little afraid she might end up making a blunder instead of being clever.
But... since she had run back to Xianfeng City yesterday, out of breath, she had only then discovered that the heavy feeling she had felt on her back at that time was these two winter bamboo shoots...
So he really was a good ghost... Uh, alright, at least he was very good to her.
Moreover, he had only ever appeared in that bamboo forest; perhaps he was the guardian spirit of that place or something.
But not only had she misunderstood him and caused trouble, she had even received a favor from him in return.
Thinking about it carefully, it was somewhat embarrassing...
That's why she thought of also bringing over some of the dish made with those two winter bamboo shoots.
You see those people making offerings, aren't they all like that? Holding food and presenting it before the altar as a tribute; presumably, it's useful.
Although she herself would get cravings looking at those tributes...
Luo He looked at the earthenware pot in the young girl's hands. She had held it tightly all the way, and it was sealed very well; it was still steaming now.
It was a pot of winter bamboo shoot stewed chicken, its soup white, its flavor fresh, steaming hot.