TSWPF -Chapter 406 The Swap

Li Qingning pouted her little lips and shook her head, refusing to speak.

Who asked him to laugh at her? She didn’t want to say anything.

“Brother Ming won’t laugh at you anymore, really,” the man in black said, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Come on, tell Brother Ming, okay?” As he spoke, he tossed her lightly into the air, then reached out and caught her steadily.

He noticed this little girl was surprisingly fearless—being thrown into the air didn’t scare her at all; she actually giggled with delight.

He had assumed girls were timid, but she was an exception—bold and brave.

Li Qingning laughed happily, shouting “Again! Again!”

This game was just too much fun.

The man in black continued tossing her until she finally called for a stop.

He pinched her small nose and asked if she was happy.

The little girl’s eyes squinted in pure joy, nodding vigorously.

Ever since she had played this game once, she had fallen in love with it.

“Since you’re having fun, shouldn’t you comfort Brother Ming a little? Hmm?”

The little girl feigned ignorance, looking at him innocently. “Brother Ming, comfort you for what?” She truly didn’t know—absolutely didn’t know.

The man in black raised an eyebrow, deliberately placing his hand at her waist. “You really don’t know?” he asked.

The moment she said she didn’t know, he planned to tickle her.

“I don’t know.”

No sooner had the words fallen than the man in black did just that, and the little girl laughed uncontrollably.

“Brother Ming, don’t… don’t tickle anymore! I know now!”

“Really?”

“Really.”

He glanced at her, then stopped, smiling with his lips slightly curved, waiting for her to comfort him.

The little girl rolled her eyes a few times and, seeing he was about to move again, started counting off on her fingers the perks of living in her house.

The man in black nodded, listening attentively, his eyes full of amusement.

After she finished, Li Qingning asked with a smile if he wanted to live in her house.

He sighed quietly to himself. He didn’t want to lie to the little girl. “I have something to attend to; I can’t stay for long.”

Hearing this, the little girl let out a small adult-like sigh. “Okay, then come stay again when you’re free!”

Brother Ming had been staying at her house for the past few days. She wanted him to take her up the mountain to play more; otherwise, who knew when it would happen again?

Seeing her disappointed expression, the man in black felt his heart soften, almost agreeing to let her keep him there.

Fortunately, he forced himself to resist, not voicing it.

Promises he couldn’t keep were better left unmade—he didn’t want to disappoint her.

“Are you hungry? Want to eat something? Wild chicken? Wild rabbit?” The man in black smiled, trying to distract Li Qingning.

At the mention of food, the little foodie’s attention instantly shifted. She swallowed hard, excitedly saying she wanted to eat both wild chicken and rabbit—grilled.

The man in black pinched her little ear, calling her a little foodie.

“Being able to eat is a blessing,” the little girl said confidently. “Do you want some? I’m really good at roasting wild chicken and rabbit. Want to try?” She blinked at him.

“All right, today I’ll taste Ningning’s cooking,” the man in black said indulgently. “Let’s go hunting.” Since the little girl wanted to grill wild chicken and rabbit for him, he had to support her wholeheartedly.

Li Qingning’s eyes widened in excitement. “Brother Ming, are you really taking me hunting? Really?” She had never hunted before—whenever she went up the mountain, she either picked feathers or gathered wild fruit.

Hearing his words, she was thrilled.

The man in black nodded firmly. “Would I lie to you?”

“Thank you, Brother Ming.” Li Qingning hugged his face excitedly and planted a kiss on his cheek.

At that moment, she completely forgot what her sister had told her—that she was grown up now and shouldn’t casually kiss others.

The man in black was momentarily stunned. Looking at her smiling face, he felt a warm rush in his heart.

No one had ever been this close to him, nor had anyone made him respond like this.

Perhaps it was because she had saved his life, or perhaps her pure smile simply made him see her differently.

Whatever the reason, he felt immensely grateful that fate had allowed him to meet her, to experience the happiness of being ordinary.

If not for his special identity, he would have wanted to take her with him and keep her by his side.

“Brother Ming, what’s wrong? Not going hunting anymore?” Li Qingning waved her hand in front of him, puzzled.

The man in black smiled, tapping his left cheek. “This side hasn’t received a kiss yet. Kiss me here and I’ll take you hunting.”

Hearing this, Li Qingning didn’t hesitate, planting a kiss on his left cheek. “Can we go now?”

He kissed her forehead in return. “Return gesture.” Then he scooped her up and dashed deep into Ninghua Mountain.

The other black-clad men hiding in the shadows were horrified. “Is… is that really our master? Could he have been swapped?” The master before them was always cold and ruthless—how could he be smiling like an idiot?

“I… I also suspect a swap,” one of them admitted. They had never seen their master smile before.

Although he looked handsome when smiling, it was very unusual.

“What’s so special about that little girl that makes him act this way?”

“Remember when the master was gravely injured last time?”

“Yes, how could we forget? We were furious, almost went on a rampage.”

They had sworn never to let their master get hurt again.

“That little girl saved him then. Otherwise, he might not have survived.”

The other black-clad men widened their eyes in shock. “She saved the master? How? Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he replied. “I heard it with my own ears. No mistake.”

“Ohhh, that makes sense,” the others nodded in realization. No wonder the master was so kind to the little girl—she was his savior.

Since she saved the master, they should repay her kindness as well.

“Let’s go, let’s go hunting with the little girl too, make her happy.”

“All right…”

With that, over a dozen black-clad men vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, the protagonist—the little girl—was anxiously staring at a rabbit, tugging at the man in black’s sleeve to aim carefully.

The man in black glanced at her, held her little hand, and threw a stone.

“Hit! Hit!” the little girl jumped with excitement, dashed to pick up the fallen rabbit, and ran back. “Brother Ming, we have rabbit to roast!” She swallowed hard at the thought of the taste.

Seeing her so happy, the man in black couldn’t help but smile, wiping her forehead and guiding her to the side.

On their way, they hunted six wild chickens and five wild rabbits. The little girl couldn’t stop laughing from joy.

She carried one rabbit; the man held the rest. She hopped to the creek to prepare one chicken and one rabbit to roast.

“Let me do it,” the man in black said, seeing her roll up her sleeves. He hurriedly pulled her back.

Such a small child shouldn’t be doing this. Not in front of him.

Li Qingning grinned and obediently moved aside.

He efficiently prepared one chicken and one rabbit, leaving the little girl wide-eyed and full of admiration.

Who knew Brother Ming could be so skilled? Fast and elegant—it was impressive.

The man in black didn’t expect such praise for just simple preparation. He wondered if he should do it again…

As he considered this, his dozen subordinates reappeared, each holding hunted prey.

Before he could tell them to leave, they set the prey on the ground. “Little girl, for you. Thank you for saving our master.”

Li Qingning was dumbfounded. Looking at the men and the prey—wild chickens, rabbits, roe deer, all kinds of game—she asked, “Why… why are you giving these to me?”

She didn’t know them—why would they give her their hunt?

The men opened their mouths to answer but were interrupted by a single deadly glance from their master. Trembling, they saluted him and vanished.

“…” Li Qingning was once again flabbergasted. What was happening? Appear out of nowhere, vanish just as quickly, and say nothing.

She looked at the man in black. “Brother Ming, are they your companions? Why did they give me the prey?”

“Take it, and later bring it home for your sister and the others,” he said, calming her anxious heart with a smile.

He glanced at the prey and thought about adding more for them later so they wouldn’t wander off bored.

The black-clad men, having run ahead, felt a chill at the back and sensed danger approaching.

“I have a bad feeling… Did anyone see the master’s terrifying look? Is he upset?”

The others agreed—they felt the same.

They worried their master might punish them for ruining his heroic image in the little girl’s eyes.

They had hunted more and bigger prey than him; it would be no surprise if he punished them.

They exchanged glances, secretly regretting giving her the prey.

“Can we take it back?” one whimpered.

Another rolled his eyes. “You think so?” Once given, the prey couldn’t be reclaimed.

Wouldn’t that ruin the reputation of the Netherworld Assassins?

“What to do? I don’t want to be punished!”

“Maybe we’re overthinking it; he’s not that petty,” someone suggested hopefully.

The others scoffed. “Don’t dream. He WILL punish us.”

“Why so pessimistic? Do you really think he’s that petty? Anyway… I believe he won’t be that petty.”

“Yeah, believe all you want, but speak with certainty, not weakly.”

The others sighed again.

One black-clad man’s expression turned strange. “The master is looking for me.”

Could punishment really come this fast? Would it scare him?

Could he avoid seeing the master? He didn’t dare.

The others silently wished him luck.

“Take care, brother.”

“Take care…”

The man in black approached the master solemnly, kneeling on one knee and bowing respectfully.

The master glanced at him and instructed him to fetch some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.

“…” Oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar? The man in black was dumbfounded—he wasn’t being punished?

“Can’t do it?”

He nodded furiously, holding back laughter. “I can find it, I can do it…” A trivial task compared to punishment—like heaven.

The master gave a sidelong glance, a faint smirk—he knew exactly what his subordinates were thinking.

“Return within half an hour.”

“Yes…”

“See, your companions are amazing too, gone in a flash,” Li Qingning said admiringly.

“…” He felt a bit annoyed. His little girl shouldn’t admire anyone else. “I’m better than him, watch.” He disappeared and reappeared in an instant.

He repeated this several times, earning continuous awe from the little girl.

Her little mouth mumbled, “So amazing, Brother Ming, you’re so amazing.”

The man in black never imagined he’d use his extraordinary skills to win a little girl’s favor.

If it were before, he would never have thought he’d do such things.

Fortunately, his subordinates hadn’t seen this side of him—otherwise, his image would have been ruined.

Seeing her so happy, he felt it was worth it.

“Brother Ming, when will I be as amazing as you? Disappear in a flash and appear again?”

If she could be as skillful, she could freely play in Ninghua Mountain without her sister worrying.

She pinched her little arm, glanced at his, and sighed, wondering when she’d grow as capable as him.

“…Martial arts aren’t achieved overnight,” he said, holding her close. “Take your time, don’t rush. I didn’t become this skilled overnight either; it took years of practice. You’re young—practice slowly, and one day, you’ll surpass me.”

“Surpass you?” She had little confidence in herself.

He nodded firmly. “You will.”

For now, the goal was to make her happy.

Hearing his repeated assurances, the little girl grinned, nodding. “I’ll practice hard, and one day, I’ll surpass Brother Ming.”

Even if not, half as skilled as him would be enough.

The man in black ruffled her hair. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Brother Ming, will you come play with me again?”

He gave her a firm answer—whenever he was free, he would come.

Hearing this, she smiled, hugging him tightly. “Brother Ming is so good.”

“What’s good about me? Hmm?”

She counted his virtues carefully, listing them all clearly.

He asked if she really thought he was that good—was she teasing him?

She shook her head. “You’re really that good.”

Hearing her confirmation, he hugged her and tossed her into the air several times. She laughed uncontrollably.

The man who had gone to fetch the condiments returned and saw this scene, dumbfounded.

He suspected the little girl might be the master’s illegitimate daughter—how else would he play so willingly with her?

The master caught her safely and gave his subordinates a warning glance, nearly making them drop their items.

They quickly placed the items on the ground and left, hearts pounding.

Back among themselves, they scrutinized the returning subordinate. “Where did you go?”

The man simply said, “The master sent me to get oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.”

“What?”

“You heard right—oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar.”

“Are you kidding? Why would the master…?”

He glanced at them. “I’m not kidding. The master wants to roast wild chicken and rabbit for the little girl.”

The others gasped—they had almost forgotten this.

They envied the little girl—getting to eat what the master himself roasted.

“Guess what else I saw? I promise it’ll shock you,” the subordinate teased.

The others, intrigued, asked what it was…