20 Camping

A merry fire danced in the center of the clearing. Mo Xian had managed to catch a rabbit, which he then skinned and cleaned. It was now roasting above the fire in several different pieces. The delicious scent of fresh meat wafted towards Wang Jingyuan. Her stomach rumbled softly.

"It'll be ready in a few moments." Mo Xian rotated the skewers. "If only I had some salt with me. The rabbit tastes much better with seasoning."

Wang Jingyuan was actually surprised at Mo Xian's outdoor abilities. From the looks of him, he seemed to be a rich man's son who grew up pampered and taken care of by numerous servants. She didn't think he would even want to do gruesome work of skinning and cleaning wild game, much less actually be able to. He also started the fire with only one strike of his flint. "Childe Mo, you're very good at this."

"What, roasting a wild rabbit? Or do you mean camping in general?" Mo Xian checked on the meat again.

"Both," Wang Jingyuan said.

"Well, the more you do it, the better you become at it." Mo Xian lifted a skewer with a large piece of the back leg. "Here, Miss Wang. This one is ready. The meat is tender and juicy; I think you'll like it."

"Thank you." Wang Jingyuan took the skewer. She had never eaten rabbit before, but this one smelled delicious. Although she was hungry, she thought it was impolite to start eating alone so she wanted to wait until Mo Xian also had a piece to eat. "Childe Mo, I didn't think you would be the type to camp outside in the wilderness a lot."

Mo Xian raised an eyebrow at her. Wang Jingyuan didn't want him to take offense, so she hurriedly tried to explain. "I don't mean anything by it, I just thought you looked, you know, very clean and well-dressed, and not like normal citizens."

That sounded worse than before. She tried again. "Well, I mean you are a normal citizen, but you're not, like, a peasant—at least, I don't think you look like one—" God, the explanation was a train wreck.

Mo Xian watched in amusement as she stumbled over her words. "I know what you mean, Miss Wang."

"Please don't take offense, Childe Mo. I'm not very good with words, as you can tell." Wang Jingyuan gave up and said sheepishly.

"None taken. I didn't think I would ever know how to do these things, like starting a fire or cooking wild game, but life works in funny ways." The flames cast shadows across Mo Xian's face, and for a brief moment, Wang Jingyuan detected a hint of sadness in his eyes. Then it was gone. "Well, it's always better to learn more skills. You never know when it might come in handy. Imagine having to ask a lady to skin and clean wild game; I would die from shame."

"I'm afraid you would be disappointed, Childe Mo. I don't know how to skin and clean a rabbit," Wang Jingyuan confessed.

"I would be a little concerned if you did," Mo Xian said. "A lovely lady like you should not dirty your hands with such tasks."

Wang Jingyuan blushed as Mo Xian looked over at her, his eyes twinkling. Did really think she was lovely? Wang Jingyuan always considered herself average looking. No one ever told her she was lovely before. She felt her heart flutter.

She didn't know, but Mo Xian meant every word he said. The campfire cast a warm glow on her, making her eyes shine brighter and her cheeks rosier. The day they first met, she had appeared like a goddess descending from the heavens. With the sun shining down on her ebony hair, the wind ruffling the skirt of her hanfu, and the fierce determination in her eyes, Mo Xian had decided that Wang Jingyuan was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

"Ah, it looks like this piece is ready too." Mo Xian turned his attention back to the cooking meat. He picked it up and took a bite. "Mmm, it is good. You better start eating, Miss Wang. It won't taste good if it's cold."

Glad for the distraction, Wang Jingyuan took a bite of the meat. Even though it was not salted or seasoned, it was still, surprisingly, very tasty. She finished the entire piece within minutes and licked her lips with satisfaction. She cast her look at the rest of the meat still cooking on the fire, debating whether she should ask for another piece.

"Miss Wang, was it good?" Mo Xian's eyes were smiling as he asked. He had watched her wolf down the entire chunk of meat, and surprisingly found it endearing. All the girls he knew ate with tiny bites and could scarcely finish a small bowl of rice. Wang Jingyuan was a refreshing experience for him. She was someone who appreciated food.

"Yes, it was very delicious," Wang Jingyuan declared. She eyed the rest of the meat and wrestled with herself. At home, she ate a lot because she had a big appetite, but here, she kind of wanted to maintain the "lovely lady" impression that Mo Xian had of her.

With a smile, Mo Xian picked up another skewer and handed it to her. "Since it's delicious, Miss Wang, you should eat more. I don't cook rabbit very often, you know."

Seeing Wang Jingyuan's hesitance, Mo Xian held the meat right up to her lips. "Say 'ahh'," he urged. Wang Jingyuan obliged and took a bite of the tender meat. "There you go. Now take the skewer and eat it all."

Wang Jingyuan did, and as Mo Xian passed the skewer to her, their fingers brushed against each other. Wang Jingyuan felt her cheeks heating up again. She was glad that the firelight masked the pink on her cheeks.

As the fire crackled, the pair finished their dinner in comfortable silence. Mo Xian got up to collect more branches for the fire. Wang Jingyuan sat with her back against a tree and Feng Ming Sword across her lap. She unraveled the black cloth that covered the sheath and admired the dark mahogany sheath, decorated with tendrils of gold flames. The golden phoenix on the cross-guard looked as if it was about fly into the heavens. She ran her finger over the phoenix and rubbed away a speck of dust. In the firelight, the phoenix seemed to glow. Wang Jingyuan could never tire of admiring the sword.

"Miss Wang, your sword is very beautiful," Mo Xian commented. He had returned from his little expedition and carried an armful of branches, which he dropped in a heap beside the fire. Wang Jingyuan nonchalantly began to wrap the sword up again.

"Thank you, Childe Mo." As she covered the sheath and golden phoenix with the black cloth, Mo Xian watched her curiously. When they were traveling, Wang Jingyuan always kept her sword wrapped up in the black cloth. She was careful to not reveal the phoenix design, which seemed to be a defining characteristic of the sword.

Although Mo Xian was not an expert in weapons, he could tell that this must be a top grade sword, if not one of the best. Most people would be showing off their weapons if it was top grade. Why was Wang Jingyuan so intent on hiding it from the view of others?