Chapter 37 - Oh No, Sister Goose!
After seeing off his beautiful superior, Li Nan Ke, exhausted from the day's events, fell asleep almost immediately.
He slept until the sun filled the windows and the water clock fell silent before finally opening his eyes.
Pushing open the door, he walked into the courtyard and took a deep breath of the fresh air. The faint fragrance of plants and trees dispelled his lingering fatigue, and his mind gradually cleared.
As usual, his wife's slender figure came into view.
Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders and back.
She was drying the freshly washed clothes in the morning sun, his clothes hanging beside hers on the bamboo pole, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene.
"Husband, you're awake," she said, turning to look at him with a gentle smile on her serene face.
Li Nan Ke grunted in response and, noticing the bamboo basket placed by the door, frowned and asked.
"Are you going up the mountain to gather herbs today?"
"We're running low on some herbs," Luo Qian Qiu explained.
Before her husband could persuade her otherwise, she smiled and said.
"I know it's been a bit chaotic these days, so I'll just gather herbs nearby. Sister Goose will accompany me this time. Nothing will happen."
Sister Goose?
What could Sister Goose do?
Could she peck at any Demonic Creatures or wild beasts they encountered?
Li Nan Ke complained inwardly, but he knew that his wife wouldn't listen to his dissuasion, so he said,
"I happen to be free today. I'll accompany you to gather herbs."
"No need, I—"
"It's decided!"
The man declared domineeringly.
Luo Qian Qiu blinked, slightly startled, then a smile curved her lips.
"Alright."
After washing his face with cold water and eating the kidney-nourishing porridge that had been prepared, Li Nan Ke carried the bamboo basket and went up the mountain with his wife to gather herbs. He also brought the firearm Caiyun had given him.
He now had three guns.
One was the flintlock pistol from the Red Rain dream.
One was the ordinary firearm from Caiyun.
And one was the innate, theoretically infinite-ammo super invincible big gun.
Each had its own strengths in terms of power.
But even with Li Nan Ke, fully equipped with firearms, protecting her, Luo Qian Qiu still had Sister Goose follow them.
Li Nan Ke was a bit unhappy about this.
Did she think he was less capable than a goose?
The mountain peaks rose layer upon layer, as if painted with vibrant colors.
Luo Qian Qiu didn't venture deep into the mountains. As she had said, she only chose a nearby forest to dig for herbs.
The beautiful trees and soft grass created a pleasant environment.
Li Nan Ke originally wanted to help with the digging, but after breaking five herbs in a row, he retreated under his wife's disapproving gaze and sat under a tree with Sister Goose in his arms.
I'll just continue to play the role of a bodyguard then, Li Nan Ke thought to himself.
Luo Qian Qiu also ignored her husband and carried the bamboo basket on her back, carefully digging up the herbs she found with a small shovel.
The mountain breeze blew gently, causing her white dress to sway.
From Li Nan Ke's perspective, it was like a scene from a landscape painting, elegant and refreshing.
Staring at this scene, he suddenly thought that it wouldn't be bad if his future days were as leisurely and carefree as this.
Even if his wife wasn't beautiful, as long as they cultivated their relationship, life would still be full of color.
The clouds dispersed, and the sun shone brightly overhead.
Before they knew it, it was almost noon.
Luo Qian Qiu had already collected half a basket of herbs, and a hint of fatigue appeared on her face.
"Let's take a break," Li Nan Ke said, handing her the water bag he had prepared.
"Thank you."
Luo Qian Qiu said softly, wiping the sweat from her neck with the back of her hand and taking a small sip from the water bag.
"If you're bored, husband, you can walk around."
"It's alright."
Since he was acting as a bodyguard, he had to be vigilant.
Who knew, the moment he relaxed, danger might strike. That wouldn't be good.
"Do you like being an official, husband?"
Luo Qian Qiu asked suddenly, sitting beside him, their shoulders touching.
Li Nan Ke shook his head.
"I don't know. I want to achieve something, but it seems too tiring. I'll just wait and see. Sometimes, you can't help but be swept along by the currents of life."
"Yes, you can't help but be swept along by the currents of life."
Luo Qian Qiu murmured, a deep confusion in her clear, icy eyes.
The gentle mountain breeze blew, and strands of the woman's hair brushed against the man's cheek, carrying a sweet fragrance. But Li Nan Ke couldn't be distracted, because he saw someone, a woman.
The woman was dressed in a green outfit, wearing a bamboo hat with a white veil covering her face.
She had a slender figure and a delicate waist.
The most eye-catching feature was the two silver short spears on her back. Upon closer inspection, they seemed to be one long spear divided into two sections, with a screw thread connection for easy carrying.
"Excuse me."
The woman in the bamboo hat said, her voice clear and pleasant.
"Are you lost, Miss?"
Li Nan Ke asked with a faint smile, his right hand resting on the flintlock pistol at his waist.
Luo Qian Qiu lowered her head slightly, staring at the herbs in the bamboo basket in a daze.
The woman in the bamboo hat noticed the man's action but didn't mind. She asked,
"Have you two seen a caterpillar? This big, very beautiful, with colorful stripes on its body?"
The woman gestured with her hands.
About the size of a thumb.
Caterpillar?
Li Nan Ke was baffled.
"Miss, if you want to catch caterpillars, you can go to the south. There should be plenty there."
"I'm not catching caterpillars."
The woman in the bamboo hat explained patiently.
"It's my pet. I kept it in a brocade box, but it escaped accidentally. If you happen to see it, please let me know. I'll reward you handsomely."
Wow, there were people who kept caterpillars as pets.
Li Nan Ke was surprised.
"I'm sorry, we haven't seen any caterpillars," he said apologetically.
"Alright then. Sorry to bother you."
The woman in the bamboo hat sounded disappointed and turned to leave.
But just as she turned, she suddenly stopped. Her eyes, through the gap in her veil, fell on Luo Qian Qiu.
"Haven't we met somewhere before?" she asked.
Luo Qian Qiu smiled gently.
"No, I think you've mistaken me for someone else, Miss."
"Perhaps."
The woman in the bamboo hat stared for a moment, then turned and left without another word.
Seeing the woman walk away, Li Nan Ke finally relaxed and released his grip on the flintlock pistol.
"There's no need to be nervous, husband. She meant no harm," Luo Qian Qiu said, amused and touched by her husband's reaction.
After all, he was only this nervous because he was worried about her.
"We should still be cautious when encountering strangers with weapons in this kind of place. Let's leave quickly," Li Nan Ke said, taking his wife's hand.
"Besides, girls who keep caterpillars as pets are not quite right in the head."
"Alright."
Luo Qian Qiu instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, but seeing her husband's worried expression, she hesitated and then nodded slightly.
"Sister Goose, let's go!" Li Nan Ke called out to Sister Goose.
But when he turned around, he saw Sister Goose craning her neck, staring at something, drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.
"What are you looking at?"
Li Nan Ke was curious and walked over.
On a leaf, there was a colorful caterpillar, like a toy, emitting an alluring fragrance.
Li Nan Ke sensed something was wrong and shouted.
"Sister Goose! Don't—"
But it was too late.
Sister Goose swallowed the caterpillar in one gulp.
And at that moment, the woman in the bamboo hat returned.