190: Chapter 190 Mo Han Feeds: Candied Hawthorns Taste Better Than Killing Someone?

The next morning, as the first rays of the sun rose.

Xu Chen pushed open the carved wooden door of the Bedchamber and stretched with a big yawn, his bones cracking crisply throughout his body.

Looking back, inside the inner room, Ye Qingwu, dressed in snow-white robes, was still asleep, hugging the quilt.

This usually aloof, proud, and lofty Sword Immortal Master had, last night, spared no effort to 'verify the Sword Dao'. Even with her Sage Realm cultivation, she couldn't withstand the bone-deep exhaustion now. Her sleeping face revealed a rare hint of laziness and satiation.

'Young Master.'

A cool, slender figure appeared like a ghost, soundlessly emerging from the shadow of a pillar beside Xu Chen.

Mo Han was still wearing that light green, close-fitting plain garment, and in her hands... she still held that broom, creating an extremely incongruous image.

Looking at the refreshed and energetic Xu Chen, her clear black-and-white eyes held not only the respect of a subordinate but also a trace of deep peculiarity.

As the sole eyewitness to yesterday's 'battlefield', she had seen with her own eyes how Goddess Jiang had barely left before this Sword Immortal Ye had 'walked right into the tiger's den'.

For the entire night.

The commotion coming from inside had been even more intense than the night before.

'What cultivation technique has this Young Master Xu... actually practiced?'

Mo Han silently analyzed in her heart, 'Doesn't he need to rest?'

'Throw away the broom.'

Xu Chen, not noticing his little maid's internal commentary on his private life, cheerfully straightened his sleeves. 'No cleaning today. I'm taking you out to do some proper business.'

'Proper business?'

Mo Han's gaze instantly sharpened. Her originally somewhat dull demeanor instantly turned fierce.

'Are we going to assassinate the leaders of hostile forces?'

With a flick of her wrist, a cold-gleaming dagger instantly slid into her palm. Her voice was low and icy. 'Please give the order, Young Master. This subordinate will go scout the location immediately.'

Finally!

Finally, were they going back to the old trade? She had long felt life in the Xu Family was too comfortable, so comfortable that her 'killing blade' was almost rusting.

'Kill your head.'

Xu Chen said with exasperation, raising his hand to give her not-so-bright forehead a light flick.

*Thwack.*

A crisp sound rang out.

Mo Han winced in pain, covering her forehead, looking at Xu Chen with a blank expression. The killing intent in her eyes instantly dissipated.

'I'm taking you to stroll around the market! To observe the lives of the common people! Understand?'

Xu Chen said, sounding like a disappointed mentor. 'All you know is fighting and killing. No sense of life's pleasures at all. Let's go!'

'Oh...'

Mo Han silently put away the dagger, rubbing her slightly reddened forehead. Although she didn't understand what observing could be done by 'strolling the market', since it was the Young Master's order, she could only obey.

...

Tianyuan City.

As the stronghold of the Xu Family, this city was not only home to countless high-level cultivators but also teemed with hundreds of millions of mortals and low-level martial artists living together. The atmosphere of the mortal world was extremely thick here, with bustling traffic and deafening noise.

Xu Chen concealed his aura, changed into ordinary brocade robes, and fanned himself with a folding fan as he walked along the bustling main street like a typical wealthy young master.

Mo Han followed closely behind him, half a step back.

Although Xu Chen had told her to relax, this girl clearly hadn't listened.

Her body was tense, her gaze sharp as lightning, constantly in a 'state of alert', frantically scanning the throats, hearts, and lower abdomens of every passerby around them.

'Thirty meters ahead on the left, that old man selling steamed buns. Calluses on his hands, wear on the tiger's mouth. Suspected hidden weapon expert.'

'Second floor of the tavern on the right, that woman pushing open the window. Her gaze lingered on the Young Master for three breaths. Suspected lookout.'

'Ten paces behind, two burly men following. Footsteps steady. Suspected body-refining assassins.'

'Young Master!'

Mo Han suddenly stepped forward, lowering her voice, her expression grave as she blocked Xu Chen's path. 'The terrain here is complex, the crowd dense, extremely prone to ambush. This subordinate suggests an immediate retreat, or we take to the rooftops!'

'Retreat my ass.'

Xu Chen had finally had enough. He snapped his folding fan shut and tapped it on her shoulder.

'Mo Han, listen to me. This is Xu Family territory. No one dares move against me here. And...'

Xu Chen pointed at the small vendors full of worldly atmosphere around them and said helplessly, 'Look at them. Who looks like they want to kill me? Put away that killing intent of yours. You're scaring the flowers and grass.'

Mo Han pursed her lips, feeling somewhat wronged.

In her world, there were only 'prey' and 'dead people', or 'people about to become dead people'. This kind of crowded environment was a nightmare for an assassin—full of openings, full of danger.

'Forget it. Looks like I need to find you something to do, to shut you up.'

Xu Chen sighed, his gaze sweeping over the noisy market street, finally settling on a vendor carrying a pole with a straw bundle.

On that straw bundle were skewers of bright red, crystal-clear fruits, gleaming temptingly under the sunlight.

candied hawthorns.

The corner of Xu Chen's mouth lifted. He strode over.

'Boss, one skewer.'

'Right away! Here you go, young master! Two copper coins!'

Xu Chen casually tossed out a piece of broken silver, took the skewer of candied hawthorns, and turned to hand it to Mo Han.

'Here, for you.'

Mo Han froze.

She stared at this thing before her, red as blood yet exuding a sweet fragrance, her whole body stiffening in place.

This was... candied hawthorns?

That thing Xu Chen had used to coax her on her first day, which she had regarded as an 'unattainable luxury'? She had always thought it was just empty talk from the Young Master, a painted cake. She hadn't expected... he actually remembered.

Subconsciously, she reached out, carefully taking the bamboo skewer. Her movements were so gentle, as if she wasn't holding a skewer of fruit but a fragile extreme dao imperial weapon.

'Eat it. Will staring make you full?' Xu Chen urged.

Mo Han opened her mouth, then hesitated.

'This... how do you eat it?'

Although she had killed countless people, proficient in three thousand assassination methods, she truly had... no experience with this kind of mortal snack.

Swallow it whole? Scrape off the sugar coating? Test it for poison with a silver needle first?

Looking at her dumbfounded expression, Xu Chen's mischievous side emerged again.

'You're hopeless.'

He suddenly leaned in, lowered his head, and right from Mo Han's hand, took a big bite from the topmost candied hawthorn on the skewer.

*Crunch.*

A crisp sound of sugar coating shattering rang out.

Half a hawthorn berry along with the sugar coating was swept into Xu Chen's mouth. He chewed twice, frowned slightly, and commented with a look of disdain:

'Too sour, not enough sugar. The boss skimped on ingredients.'

Mo Han's eyes widened, staring at the remaining half of the hawthorn berry on the skewer, still glistening with Xu Chen's... saliva.

This...

Did this count as... testing for poison?

'What are you dazing for? The rest is yours.'

Xu Chen looked at her unsophisticated expression and said with a teasing smile, 'What? Disgusted by this Young Master?'

'N-no... not at all.'

Mo Han quickly shook her head.

She looked at that half a hawthorn berry bearing Xu Chen's aura, her heartbeat inexplicably skipping a beat.

As if guided by ghosts and gods, she slowly raised her hand, brought that half a hawthorn berry to her lips, and took a small bite.

*Crunch.*

An indescribable flavor exploded on her tongue.

First, the extreme sweetness of the thin sugar coating, followed immediately by the slight tartness of the hawthorn flesh. Sour and sweet intertwined and collided in her mouth, finally transforming into a warm current that flowed down her throat and into her heart, which had been frozen for three thousand years.

Mo Han's pupils dilated slightly.

This was... sweetness?

Not cloyingly sweet like honey, nor fragrant with spiritual energy like spirit fruits. This was a pure, worldly joy belonging to the mortal realm.

'Is it good?'

Xu Chen's voice sounded by her ear, carrying a hint of gentleness.

Mo Han looked up at the man before her. Sunlight spilled on his profile, gilding him with a golden edge.

In that moment, she suddenly felt that the skewer of candied hawthorns in her hand was heavier than any dagger she had ever held.

And also... warmer.

'Mm.'

Mo Han nodded lightly, her voice soft but firm.

'Better than... killing.'

*Pfft—*

Xu Chen couldn't hold back a laugh. 'Obviously! If killing were edible, you'd have been fat long ago.'

He reached out and, with extreme naturalness, ruffled Mo Han's hair, messing up her originally meticulous hairstyle.

'If it's good, eat more later. Following this Young Master, you might not learn other skills, but I guarantee you'll become peerless in the arts of eating, drinking, and having fun.'

Mo Han didn't dodge, nor did she tense up like before.

She nibbled on the remaining candied hawthorns in small bites while feeling the warmth of that large hand on her head.

That warmth wasn't scalding, but it made her feel... very at ease.

As for the Young Master's saliva on it...

Well, it seemed... even sweeter.