6: Full of thorns and defenses

Shen Jinhuan was sleeping in the room.

The twelve-year-old girl was curled up on her side, lacking a sense of security, looking pitiful.

She had a sweet sleep.

It was the best sleep she had had in recent months.

She didn't know how long it had been since she had slept on such a soft bed or under such a comfortable blanket.

A part of the girl's body was exposed from under the blanket.

Shen Jinhuan was wearing clean white undergarments; she had also changed into the Personal Disciple robes.

In her sleep, Shen Jinhuan vaguely heard a "knock, knock, knock" at the door.

The person's voice followed immediately after.

Her sweet dream could no longer continue, and she instinctively got up quickly.

She looked around the clean and tidy room, as if in a dream.

Shen Jinhuan pinched her thigh; it hurt... This was not a dream.

Only then did she recall everything that had happened today.

The person outside the door was still calling.

"Huanhuan? Are you awake?"

Huanhuan?

Shen Jinhuan's eyes lowered.

Who allowed him to call her Huanhuan... This nickname, only her mother had ever used.

What exactly did he want to do?

Shen Jinhuan quickly put on her clothes.

She opened the door.

Jiang Ning, who was outside the door, saw Shen Jinhuan, and his eyes lit up.

Dressed in the Personal Disciple robes, Shen Jinhuan looked less disheveled and more refined.

The fitted dress robe was on Shen Jinhuan's body, and a green and white belt around her waist cinched her slender waist, with a section of snow-white skin exposed at the collar of the robe.

Her collarbone, slightly revealed by the neckline, was very prominent on her chest.

Even after a year of torment, her delicate melon-seed face still had smooth skin.

On her face, those beautiful Phoenix eyes held vigilance and wariness.

The color is incorrect, but refer to the hairstyle and the style of the Personal Disciple attire.

Jiang Ning, who had originally thought his Disciple was beautiful, suddenly felt awkward.

"Uh... dinner..."

Shen Jinhuan pursed her lips, lowering her head without speaking.

After one breath.

She hummed.

"I'll go make it now."

She had previously been treated as a Utility Disciple and lived here, so the chores here had always been her responsibility.

Fortunately, Cultivators often used "Dust Cleansing Art" and didn't need to wash things.

Jiang Ning was at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, and he might not eat a meal even once a month.

Otherwise, she would have too much to do.

"No need."

Jiang Ning tentatively tried to pat Shen Jinhuan's head but was dodged.

He chuckled and said, "I'll make it today. Consider it my thanks for you always taking care of me before."

Shen Jinhuan looked at Jiang Ning with some surprise.

An Elder cooking?

Was he not afraid of it spreading and damaging his "reputation"?

Or was it... Shen Jinhuan extended her hand, palm up, revealing its pinkish-white skin.

Jiang Ning: "Hm?"

Shen Jinhuan sneered.

"What kind of medicine do you want to put in there? Stop wasting food. Just give me the medicine directly."

Jiang Ning's old face flushed.

This girl had been made prickly and wary all over by Chen Hai.

True, if it weren't for that, how could she have survived until now?

"It's just a simple meal, don't overthink it. If you don't believe me, come to the kitchen and watch me."

Shen Jinhuan gave Jiang Ning a thoughtful look.

Then she followed Jiang Ning into the kitchen.

Jiang Ning looked around.

"Where are the ingredients?"

Shen Jinhuan didn't speak, just watched with a somewhat amused expression.

Jiang Ning's head ached.

He immediately called for Utility Disciples and had them prepare some ingredients.

Once the ingredients were ready, Jiang Ning casually formed a hand seal and lit the firewood.

[Fire Manipulation Art (Proficient 13/200)]

Hm?

Jiang Ning was stunned by the prompt in his mind. So this was also part of the Golden Finger?

That's right, besides improving his Realm, Martial Skill abilities were also part of cultivation.

With an experimental thought.

Jiang Ning took a knife and cut the pork belly sent by the Disciple into pieces of lean and fatty meat.

No prompt appeared.

He felt a slight regret.

Jiang Ning threw all the meat pieces into the iron pot, then added water, green onions, ginger, and poured in some yellow wine before covering the lid.

Afterward, he picked up a potato nearby and skillfully peeled it with a knife.

Peeling a potato without a peeler was Jiang Ning's first attempt, but all of Chen Hai's proficiency was integrated into him.

As a Cultivator at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, he was still capable of an operation like peeling.

Shen Jinhuan watched as the dirty potato was cleaned in Jiang Ning's hands, then peeled, sliced, julienned, and finally washed in clear water.

Her beautiful peach blossom eyes were slightly shocked.

He really could cook.

More than half an hour later.

Shen Jinhuan sat on a small stool in the kitchen, dozing off.

Jiang Ning glanced at her.

The sleepy little girl, without all her prickliness, was quite cute.

"Dinner's ready."

He took the opportunity to pat the little girl's head, which made Shen Jinhuan very displeased.

He took out a porcelain plate and served the braised pork, which had already been reduced.

The pork belly was lean and fatty, and the caramelized sugar and soy sauce dyed it dark red, making it very appetizing.

Another plate of stir-fried julienned potatoes.

Dinner was ready.

Jiang Ning observed Shen Jinhuan swallowing, smiled, and didn't expose her.

"Huanhuan, you go get the rice, I'll take the dishes to the courtyard."

Shen Jinhuan heard Jiang Ning call her "Huanhuan" and didn't say much, she took a bowl, rinsed it with water, lifted the lid of the rice steamer, and began to serve rice.

Soon after.

The Master and Disciple sat on the stone stools in the courtyard.

Each had a bowl of white rice, and in front of them were two very appetizing dishes.

Shen Jinhuan, who hadn't had a good day since being abandoned by Chen Hai, felt hungry just by looking at them.

"Eat a piece of braised pork, see if Master's cooking is good."

Jiang Ning put a piece of braised pork into Shen Jinhuan's bowl.

Shen Jinhuan did not refuse.

She just looked at Jiang Ning, then carefully used her chopsticks to pick up a piece and put it in her mouth.

It was perfectly seasoned, the fatty meat was springy, the lean meat wasn't dry, and the aroma enveloped her taste buds.

Shen Jinhuan didn't express any emotion, but her eating speed increased significantly.

Jiang Ning noticed Shen Jinhuan picking at the dishes with her chopsticks, wolfing them down.

But she still hadn't touched the piece of braised pork he had given her, and he sighed.

What could be done about that?

Slowly, then.

Jiang Ning didn't believe that this person couldn't be warmed up.

The Master and Disciple didn't say a word while eating.

Jiang Ning also didn't know how to start a conversation.

After a moment of thought.

He finally spoke when Shen Jinhuan was about to put down her bowl.

"Huanhuan."

Shen Jinhuan looked up at him.

Jiang Ning said gently, "How is your cultivation progress?"

Shen Jinhuan said with a smile.

"Doesn't Master know Disciple's cultivation progress?"

After saying that, she regretted it.

Now that she finally had a few good days, why would she anger Jiang Ning?

So she honestly corrected herself and replied, "Early Stage Body Tempering, about to enter Middle Stage Body Tempering."

Shen Jinhuan's progress was also seen in the Bixiao Sect, but these were all Utility Disciples.

As a Personal Disciple, even with poor talent, with enough resources, one could reach Late Stage Body Tempering.

Jiang Ning pondered for a moment.

"Once your injuries heal, I will personally temper your body. For now, you should rest well and apply your medicine on time."

"Mm."

Shen Jinhuan replied very coldly.

"However." Shen Jinhuan put on a smiling face, "Master had best go check the Sixth Peak's storeroom first."

After saying that, she put down her bowl and went straight back to her room.