1220 Idle and carefree

"The withered old man shook his head. "No, no, this woman's identity is special, her constitution is also special. We can't let people in the village play with her casually. What she has in her belly...A gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen. This phrase is often used by men to shirk household chores.

The original intention was not to keep "men" away from the kitchen at all.

"A gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen, avoiding anything with blood and vitality." This saying means that a person of good character, a "gentleman," should not be involved in killing or harming living beings, showing compassion towards all life.

I'm not sure if my understanding is completely accurate, but it definitely isn't about making men avoid housework.

Mu Wanchen's usual diet is actually quite light, and sometimes I feel like he doesn't really eat much. At first, I thought he was scary, but later I realized he was just silent, enduring, low-key, even detached.

But I didn't expect him to cook me a meal on purpose.

He pulled me out through the side door not far. Here, exotic flowers and grasses grew everywhere, like a carpet of green.

There are some snow-white rabbits here, each raising their ears alertly at the sight of strangers.

Mu Wanchen casually picked up a small stone and threw it in that direction.

I thought he was going to hit the rabbit, but actually he just scared it away. Then he took my hand and walked up to where it had been, squatting down to dig for ingredients.

“When I was younger, I often made my own food… But after becoming the heir, there were so many things to learn, and attendants began to surround me. From then on, I rarely touched these ingredients… but I still remember what’s edible.” He crouched down and pointed to a fresh shoot.

The bamboo shoots were still dewy, and he dug them up. He wrapped the fresh shoots in bamboo leaves and continued to lead me forward.

The wild vegetables on the ground and the fruits growing on the trees, he could talk about them all, it felt like it was stirring up childhood memories.

"Back then, there wasn't so much chaos. I also thought that as long as I did a good job as a leader, I could ensure the people's well-being... Later, as I grew older, I gradually realized that my power was truly limited." Mu Wanchen let out a slight sigh.

“I thought that by respecting Heaven and honoring ancestors, we could gain their blessings and protect the people from disasters…… But in reality, the impending disaster would not be changed by any other force. Taoism says that the Great Dao is ruthless, this Great Dao refers to the laws of nature and all things, it is indeed ruthless……”

"I could see farther and more than others. I dimly foresaw the downfall of the tribe, trying my best to avoid making wrong steps, but ultimately, it was no match for natural disasters and human misfortune."

"Little Luo'er, before you appeared, I was already in a very irritable state... Mu Xiaoqiao said that when she met me at the time, she thought I was fierce and scary. She wasn't actually lying... At that time, I was already considering whether to let more women try planting the female gu... Maybe many people would die, but if I didn't try, I would never find a woman suitable for the female gu to parasitize..."

"The legend says that the Female Gu can nurture the Gu King, but I'm not sure if it's true yet—because a monster from a thousand years ago tampered with the ancient transmissions. The knowledge and traditions passed down through generations of Dīgǔ Guán Dīng might have been concealed or changed by him."

"He was ambitious, but he couldn't stand against the boundless power of the shaman. I have no ambition, but I also want to defy the shaman's decision..." He sighed deeply.

After you came into my life, my restless heart finally found its place. At first, I treated you badly, and I'm still reflecting on that now. Back then, I didn't have much feelings for you, which is why I hurt you so easily.

I pouted: "Let bygones be bygones. Even if I occasionally bring up the past, it's just to act cute or tease you. I don't truly hold grudges."

"I know," he smiled, turning to take my hands. "You look willful and arrogant, but you're not vengeful at heart. If your intentions were bad, the Emei worm wouldn't be so obedient. It would become irritable and violent, and might even backfire on its master."

"...That's dangerous." I stuck out my tongue.

I occasionally have out-of-place thoughts, though they are stopped by reason. They're just a fleeting moment of wickedness nonetheless.

The little wife, so soft and gentle, once had blood rushing to her head when she saw her loved one being hurt. She was reckless and wished nothing more than to inflict a thousand cuts on the perpetrator.

This is human nature, an instinctive feeling.

We can't jump out, we can only use reason to restrain evil thoughts and prevent our hearts from being occupied by negative energy.

"The shaman wants you to stay," I whispered.

Mu Wanchen frowned: "I don't want to stay... If this is really the Peach Blossom Spring, after I bring all my people here, I will have fulfilled my mission. I don't want to be a great shaman king or govern the people anymore. I want to do what I want to do—"

"What do you want to do!" a female voice suddenly called out from afar, rudely interrupting Mu Wanchen's words.

We walked along the foothills outside the side gate, in the distance there was an archway, not out in the wilderness.

The woman who interrupted Mu Wanchen's words stood outside the archway. She wore a plain linen shirt, with a half-updo of peach blossoms adorning her head. The rest of her long hair cascaded down to her waist, giving off a strong "cool" vibe.

Her expression was also very unfriendly.

Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes narrowed to slits, and she glared at the two of us.

"Fairy, is there something" I asked first.

For dealing with such uninvited guests, Mu Wanchen usually wouldn't tangle with them. It's better for me to step in instead.

"I have something to say, but it's not for you, it's for him!" The woman glared at me fiercely, then her eyes shifted to Mu Wanchen.

Mu Wanchen's expression was calm. He seemed to have seen this woman before, but he didn't even want to say her name.

"I heard that you have repeatedly refused to take a disciple of the God Witch as your concubine. How is it As direct disciples of the Great Shaman, are we not worthy of you, the Great Shaman King" she said with anger in her face.

Mu Wanchen didn't even bother to respond, turning his head and looking down at me: "Let's go to the other side to pick mountain goods... There are annoying things blocking the way here."

"Annoying thing! You dare call me a thing" The woman was about to draw her sword from her hip.

"Well, you're not a thing, are you" I retorted, taking a step back as Mu Wanchen held my shoulders and guided me towards the path we had come from.

"You!" The woman would not let it go, leaping in front of us.

Mu Wanchen's movements were even faster than hers. Before she had even landed and drawn her sword, Mu Wanchen had already retaliated with a backhand strike, using the hilt of her sword to slam into her wrist, causing her hand to go numb in pain.

"Dare you hit me!" she glared at Mu Wanchen arrogantly.

"You're brandishing your sword and showing off in front of the Princess, I didn't punish you, you should be grateful...Come on, don't get on anyone's nerves here." Mu Wanchen said displeasedly.

It seems that Mu Wanchen, this Great Shaman King, has a pretty high status... In the eyes of these people, the Great Shaman King is the king who rules humans entrusted by the Divine Shaman, and governs the people on behalf of the Divine Shaman.

But that can't be a reason for these birds to cling to him, can it I stared at Mu Wanchen without speaking.

Mu Wanchen helplessly shrugged: "I never thought about having a concubine. This is all the shaman's well-meaning words that caused a stir. She hopes that the Great Shaman King's bloodline will continue and multiply, so she said this."

"Which sentence" I frowned at him.

She said, “As for the disciples I personally taught, regardless of their age or number, I will choose them myself whenever I wish.”

...Your grandpa's, it doesn't matter how old or many!itious" because the Mu family's branch relatives are all involved in the yin-yang industry. So, ten miles and eight townships, whoever has some yin-yang matters, they all take pride in inviting Mu fam...