TSWPF -Chapter 407 Getting Beaten

The man in black stood with his arms crossed, looking up at the sky, exuding an air of arrogance, as if to say, “If you come ask me, I’ll tell you—maybe.”

The other men in black exchanged a glance and then lunged at him, giving him a solid beating, demanding, “Are you going to tell us or not? Speak!”

The man in black raised his hands in surrender, muttering, “Speak… speak… speak…”

Satisfied, the others released him, urging him to hurry up and not stall.

He put his fists near his mouth, cleared his throat, struck a pose, and slowly said, “I saw Lord tossing that little girl around.”

The others snorted at him. “Didn’t we just see that ourselves? What’s so surprising?”

Although Lord’s actions nearly made their jaws drop at the time, it wasn’t exactly a secret.

The man in black touched his nose and, trying to maintain his voice, said, “I watched twice and still found it shocking. Lord completely overturned the image I had of him—it’s terrifying… absolutely terrifying.”

“You didn’t show that dumb look in front of Lord, did you?”

“Uh… I think… maybe I did…”

Hearing that, the others looked at him with pity, silently wishing him luck.

The man in black twitched at the corner of his eye and forced a bitter smile. “It can’t be that bad, right?”

The others chuckled twice at him.

“…”

He took a deep breath, patted his chest, and tried to sound optimistic: “It’ll be fine. Lord isn’t that petty.”

Inside, his heart was pounding like crazy.

“Thinking won’t help. Come on, let’s go hunting. We’ll roast some wild chickens and rabbits.” They envied the little girl, who got to taste the wild game cooked by Lord himself.

Was that actually the case?

Not exactly…

The one roasting the wild chicken and rabbit was Li Qingning. Someone else was assisting her, doing whatever she asked.

“Brother Ming, pass me some honey,” Li Qingning called without turning her head.

Hearing this, the man in black quickly handed over the honey and asked if she needed anything else.

Luckily, they had bought the honey along with other supplies—otherwise, he’d have had to go buy it.

Li Qingning brushed a layer of honey over the roasting chicken and rabbit with full concentration before turning to the man in black. “If I need anything else, I’ll ask you later.”

He smiled faintly, pinched her little nose, and said, “Alright.”

He had initially thought her offer to share roasted wild game was just talk, but she really knew how to cook—it looked quite delicious.

“Tired? Want to take a break?”

The little girl shook her head. “No, not tired. No need to rest.”

After a rare trip up Ninghua Mountain, how could she feel tired? Even if she played until nightfall, she wouldn’t feel exhausted.

The man in black looked at her face and saw that she genuinely wasn’t tired. He didn’t force her to rest, only telling her to speak up if she ever felt too exhausted—not to push herself.

The little girl nodded and turned back to watch the fire. She was afraid the heat would burn the chicken and rabbit, so she had to keep an eye on it.

Half an hour later, she rotated the meat, deciding it was done, and excitedly called the man in black over: “It’s ready to eat!”

She took a deep breath. The aroma wafted into her nose, making her mouth water.

She reached to pull a drumstick for him, but he quickly grabbed her hand, frowned, and gestured for her not to move. He would handle it.

He swiftly tore off a drumstick, waited until it cooled slightly, and handed it to her.

Li Qingning pushed it back into his hand, insisting he eat it.

Meeting her expectant gaze, he nodded and took a big bite.

“How is it? Tasty?” Li Qingning watched nervously, worried her cooking might disappoint him.

He nodded firmly. “Delicious.” To prove it, he took another big bite.

Seeing him eat with such relish, the little girl finally relaxed. She smiled, grabbed another drumstick, and bit into it heartily.

After swallowing, she frowned. “It’s not as good as my sister’s. My sister’s roasted wild chicken and rabbit are the best in the world—so good you’d want to eat your own tongue!”

“You did really well, too. Don’t underestimate yourself.”

“Really?”

“Really…”

Hearing this, she giggled. Even if her cooking wasn’t as good as her sister’s, it was still impressive.

The man in black smiled at her and asked if she had learned from her sister.

The little girl was so young—how could her sister let her do such heavy work?

“Yes…” Li Qingning nodded. “I can roast wild chicken and rabbit, and I can cook…” She knew so much! If only he had more time with her, he could experience it too.

Cook?

The man in black looked at her small arms and legs, frowning tightly. “You’re too young to cook! What if you get burned?” How could her sister let her do this? Didn’t they have a cook at home? “Did your sister make you do it? Huh?” If it was really her sister’s idea, he’d have to talk to her seriously later.

Having a child do such things—what kind of thing is that?

Li Qingning nodded. Before he could get angry, she added, “My sister said the more skills you learn, the more chances you have. All the siblings at home must learn. No slacking off.” Then she recounted the hardships during the famine years.

The man in black was silent for a moment, then reached up to ruffle her little head. “Your sister is right.”

If only he had met her during those years, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. Thinking of all the hardships she endured made his chest feel heavy and painful.

The little girl lifted her head proudly. After a moment, she mechanically turned to him and asked if he had washed his hands.

He hadn’t washed them, had he? He just touched her hair?

Seeing her expression, he shook his head playfully. “No, I haven’t.” Then he patted her hair.

“No! Don’t touch my hair!” Li Qingning squealed and scrambled away.

He laughed and chased her. No matter where she ran, he could catch her.

After a while, he scooped her up, not letting her play further. It was time to finish the roasted meat and head down the mountain.

The little girl giggled, and he played with her a bit longer.

“Eat now, or the meat will get cold and won’t taste good,” he said, lightly patting her back. “Aren’t you worried your sister will worry about you?”

“…”

The little girl looked at him in mock indignation. Was he deliberately making things difficult for her?

He smiled at her forehead affectionately. “You, huh!”

This little girl feared nothing… except her sister.

Li Qingning pouted, got down from his arms, took the roasted rabbit leg he handed her, and devoured it.

After playing all this time, it was time to head back. Otherwise, her sister would scold her and forbid future trips.

“Eat slowly, don’t choke.”

No sooner had he spoken than she started coughing violently, covering her mouth. The man in black immediately patted her back gently.

After a while, she calmed down.

She gave him a side-eye and said he was a jinx.

As soon as he spoke, she choked.

He patted her little head sympathetically. “Do you want to keep eating?”

“Yes! Why wouldn’t I? The more it made me choke, the more I want to eat!” The little girl bit into the meat in defiance.

Seeing her expression, he smiled helplessly and picked up another rabbit leg, eating elegantly himself.

Watching him, she felt a little embarrassed and slowed down her own eating.

He looked at her. “Are you full?”

“No…” She felt self-conscious eating roughly while watching him eat so gracefully.

“Why are you eating so slowly? Don’t like it?”

How could she dislike her own cooking? She frowned, exhaling, “I’m trying to learn to eat as gracefully as you, got it?”

He almost spat out his meat, turning his head and covering his mouth, finally bursting into laughter after swallowing.

How could this little girl… be so cute?

“What’s so funny? Nothing to laugh at!” Li Qingning rolled her eyes at him. She wouldn’t play with him anymore.

No—she wouldn’t tell him the truth anymore.

The man in black laughed until his stomach hurt, then slowly stopped, watching her roll her eyes at him repeatedly.

“You don’t need to imitate me. Just be yourself,” he said, rubbing her head. “Everyone has their own uniqueness. Don’t feel you need to copy others, understand?”

Li Qingning tilted her head, then nodded after a moment.

Then she went back to eating in her own style.

After finishing, Li Qingning washed her hands, frowned, and pointed to the game on the ground. “What now? How do we carry it back?”

He told her not to worry; someone would deliver it home. Then he passed instructions to his subordinates.

“Let’s go.” He carried Li Qingning and left Ninghua Mountain.

Once home, the guards informed her that Li Qingling was looking for her, asking her to come over.

Li Qingning swallowed and nervously headed to find her sister, wondering what she wanted.