Chapter 5: Smoke Rises from the Jade in the Warm Sun of Lantian (Part 1)

At this moment, Nian Bing's mind was already active, ignoring Chenchen's attack on himself. Turning to the beautiful woman, he said, "Auntie, you really look like my mom, I, I…" saying at this point, his eyes unavoidably reddened again.

The beautiful woman comforted, "Child, don't cry. If you wish, auntie can be your mother, would that be alright?" The glory of motherhood made her subconsciously say this. As the words left her mouth, she realized she might have been a bit reckless. After all, she didn't know anything about the old man and the young boy standing in front of her, but given her status, how could she take back what she had already said?

Nian Bing glanced at Chenchen on his side, whose face was disgruntled. He suddenly shook his head and said, "No need. Thank you, Auntie, but after all, you're not my real mother, and I don't need pity." His eyes revealed a hint of determination. At this moment, despite his chubby child's body, he seemed to stand taller.

The beautiful woman was secretly surprised. With such a temperament at such a young age, this child is bound to stand out when he grows up. Thinking so, she took out a jade token from her bosom and handed it to Nian Bing, saying with a smile, "It's okay; us meeting is also fate. This jade token is my token. It has my name on it. If you encounter any trouble in the Oulan Empire in the future, showing it might be of some help."

"Mom, how can you give the Tianhua Token to him? I've asked for it so many times, and you never gave me one." Chenchen glared at Nian Bing. If her mother weren't here, she might have tried to snatch it back.

The jade token felt warm and smooth in his hand, as if a gentle stream of air flowed from it along his palm into his body, making him feel very comfortable. Gratitude shone in Nian Bing's eyes, and he didn't decline, "Thank you Auntie. Auntie, you are a good person indeed."

Feeling slightly worried that Nian Bing might unwittingly break the hypnosis seal, Cha Ji pulled him away, saying to the beautiful woman, "Madam, we must get going. Thank you for your concern for this child." After that, he took Nian Bing to the big tree, pushed the wooden cart, and headed in the direction of Bing Xue City along the avenue.

Watching their departing figures, Captain Feng approached the beautiful woman and murmured, "Madam, it seems somewhat inappropriate to give the Tianhua Token to such an ordinary person. I'm afraid the Duke will..."

The beautiful woman snorted dismissively and said, "What do you know, have you ever seen an ordinary child who can cast low-rank magic at just over ten years old? I have a premonition that this kid will make a name for himself on the continent in the future. You should keep an eye on the long-term, Captain Feng. I suggest you manage your subordinates better. Eat something and prepare to set out. Chenchen, let's go back to the carriage and rest." Saying this, she took her daughter's hand, and by the time one blinked, they had disappeared behind the curtain of the carriage.

Although Captain Feng was rebuffed, there was no sign of discontent on his face. His gaze fell on the subordinate who had lost his sword earlier. He walked over in a few steps and said indifferently, "Hand over your feather."

The knight shuddered, saying nervously, "Captain, I..."

Captain Feng's eyes gained a stronger hint of iciness as he repeated, "Hand over your feather. I don't want to say it a third time."

The knight, as if all his strength had been lost, regretfully took out a bluish feather about thirty centimeters long from his breastplate and handed it to Captain Feng.

With a cold voice, Captain Feng declared, "When a child snatched your sword, you lost your qualification to be a Silver Wing Knight. I declare, from now on, you're demoted to a knight apprentice, and I'm confiscating your feather. You'll receive your punishment when we get back to the camp. Do you accept?"

The knight lowered his head, staring at the faint scratch mark left by a sword on his Silver Armor, and said, "Yes, captain."

Captain Feng swept his gaze over the other knights, his voice grave: "You all should know what you're here for—to protect the dignity of knights, even if it means risking your own lives. From now on, everyone should stay alert and vigilant. If we see a repeat of today's events, the punishment will be far more severe."

…

His conversation with the elegant lady incited strong longing for his mother within Nian Bing, making him more silent than usual. Concerned that he was upset, Cha Ji began to recount amusing incidents from his own past as they trudged along. Despite his melancholy, Nian Bing was still just a boy, and it was not long before he regained his typical lively demeanor thanks to Cha Ji's stories.

"Master, that lady also gave me a jade token," Nian Bing started, having tucked the jade token into his chest pocket earlier on when he had had to push the cart. There was an inexplicable aura about the token which felt warm to the touch—it was one reason he had managed to recover his composure so quickly. As he spoke, he took one hand off the cart and reached into his pocket to retrieve the token.

The token wasn't large, being rectangular in shape and about as long as Nian Bing's little finger. It was milky white and warm to the touch. On the front was an incredibly lifelike bird, a phoenix, and embedded in the phoenix's eye was a small red gemstone that seemed to draw attention to the majesty of the jade token. A tiny hole was carved into the top for threading a string through. A faint layer of white mist blanketed the token, barely visible unless under direct sunlight.

Cha Ji noticed what Nian Bing held in his hand. Having been too concerned with getting away earlier, he hadn't noticed the lady had given Nian Bing anything. Now that he saw the jade token, he couldn't help but gasp. As a former Ghost Chef, he had seen a thing or two; Nian Bing might not know any better, but how could he not recognize it?

"Pearl in the ocean, the moon is crying, Hetian jade in the warm sun," he muttered. "My goodness! This is a famous piece of Hetian jade. That woman is too generous."

Nian Bing, puzzled, asked: "Master, is Hetian jade precious?"

Cha Ji took the jade token from Nian Bing to examine it more closely. "Of course, it's valuable," he exclaimed, "Not only is this Hetian jade, but also the rarest type—mutton fat jade. I once had a friend who dealt in jade, and he told me that mutton fat jade is the supreme variety of jade. Its lustre is inherent, its texture like congealed fat. Resilient yet delicate, dense but warm, it is said to soothe one's mind, repel evil spirits, and promote health when worn. It's truly a sight to behold. Just look at this token, doesn't it exhibit all of these qualities? Along with the exquisite carvings on its surface, it's definitely a treasure. Wearing it can stabilize one's emotions. Indeed, for a chef, a calm mind is crucial." He turned the token over to reveal three carved ancient characters—'Yu Ruyan'. "This must be the lady's name," he said. "She certainly lives up to her name. However, she seems too generous."

Nian Bing chuckled, "That lady is nice. Once I learn my culinary skills, I'll cook the most delicious meal for her."

After giving it some thought, Cha Ji handed the jade token back to Nian Bing. "Let's get going. Once we reach Bing Xue City, I'll get a red string for you to wear it around your neck. It will garner its effects gradually when it's close to your skin," he said.

As they continued on their journey, they had only moved a short distance when they heard the fast-approaching and rhythmic sound of galloping hooves from behind. Turning around, they saw the very same party that Yu Ruyan had been a part of earlier on. However, this time around, the party didn't stop, instead galloping past them at full speed. As Nian Bing glanced towards the coach, he caught sight of the curtain lifting slightly as Chenchen shot him a provocative look. Before Nian Bing could return the glare, the party had already moved a hundred meters away.

Cha Ji noticed the dissatisfaction on Nian Bing's face and chuckled, "What, did you fall for the little lady? There certainly seems to be a gap in status now, but you never know what the future holds. We'll talk about it once you've grown up."

Nian Bing grunted derisively, "Like I'd be interested in her. She's so stubborn and bratty, just looking at her is irritating."

Cha Ji chose to remain silent, an enigmatic smile on his face, "Fate has brought you together on this road. Who knows, you might run into her again when you travel to the Oulan Empire in the future. It's getting late; let's hurry on. We need to find a place in the city to stay overnight."