Arriving At The Capital - 2.2

"We should make camp here for tonight. We should arrive at the capital by tomorrow and since the sun is about to set, the city gates will be closed once night falls so it is best to rest here for tonight."

Nodding her head, Fan Zhu Xia slid off Baise in one swift motion making the spirit beast huff in appreciation as she led it towards a patch of grass that she spied at one side of the small clearing that Fan Hui Zhong found.

Just like her, Heise was also led by Fan Hui Zhong to stay with Baise before turning to her and said, "Stay here first, I'll go ahead and gather some firewood and see if I can catch something to eat. I'll be right back."

Smiling lightly at Fan Zhu Xia, Fan Hui Zhong quickly disappeared into the forest, his steps not even making any sounds, as if his huge hulking form was nothing but a shadow.

Looking around, she gathered some sticks and small fallen branches that were in the clearing as well as some dried leaves before she settled down and started to assemble it until it resembled a small, make-shift fire pit. Fan Zhu Xia surrounded it with a few small stones she picked up to make sure the fire won't spread before she snapped her fingers and a small flame appeared on top of her hand that she then threw towards the fire pit, lighting it ablaze.

Sitting down beside the camp fire as it crackled merrily, she brought out a pot, a water gourd, a few vegetables and some medicinal herbs that she grew along with a few cooking utensils before she started preparing it and throwing them into the pot. Filling it up with water and adding some seasonings and some of the dried meat rations they brought to it, Fan Zhu Xia then placed it on top of the small campfire before covering it with the lid.

As she waited for the soup to come to a boil, she just lazed around the campfire, bringing out a blanket and several pillows which she lounged against while bringing out a small wine jug and leisurely drinking wine. Less than an hour passed when Fan Hui Zhong returned, carrying two dead rabbits but now he was also wearing a dark black hood that also covered most of his face.

Seeing his appearance, a lazy smile formed on her lips as she tilted her head in question with her brows slightly raised.

"There are people watching." he complained in a low voice using one of his martial skills called Voice Transmission which enables the person speaking to limit those who can hear their voice to those they want to while skillfully skinning and gutting up the rabbits before cleaning them up and dividing them into smaller portions as he seasoned them.

Taking another sip of wine, Fan Zhu Xia took the firewood that Fan Hui Zhong gathered and proceeded to make another campfire and watched as Fan Hui Zhong placed the rabbit meat to roast on it while she used the same skill as she responded, "I know, they've been here since I started cutting up the vegetables."

"Hmph.. And you didn't think to cover yourself?" Fan Hui Zhong asked with a voice tinged with annoyance making her laugh.

"It was too late by then, they already saw me..."

Exasperated, Fan Hui Zhong no longer used his sound technique and asked "Why would you decide to go ahead and drink knowing that it's not safe to get drunk here?"

"No need to worry about me Father, I wasn't even drinking that much! Besides, I got thirsty." Fan Zhu Xia gleefully reasoned with him as he shook his head and looked at her balefully making her laugh even more.

After some time, their food finished cooking and Fan Zhu Xia removed the lid from the pot as she served the two of them soup while Fan Hui Zhong gave her some of the roasted meat as they ate with gusto while Zhu Xia continued to drink, continously trying to convince her father to drink to no avail.

Their carefree bantering as they ate carried the sound of their voices and enabled their observers hear their conversation.

In the distance, there was a small group of cultivators who were also gathered around a small campfire and eating while two of them were standing at the edge of their group, looking off into the distance.

Both were two young men that wore nicely embroidered robes that were of high quality. One had light-colored hair, the color of wheat while the other had dark brown hair that shone like newly polished wood and both had a countenance that could make any female swoon.

As they stared off into the distance, the male with the light-colored hair had a pondering look on his face while his friend looked over at him exasperatedly.

"Meng Yao, come on! I know what you are thinking, we are not going over there." the brown-haired youth told his friend when he saw the familiar mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Aww, come on Xian! Aren't you the least bit curious on who they are?" Meng Yao, the youth with the wheat colored hair tried to convince his friend, his eyes not once leaving the two people who were happily eating.

"I am not interested and you shouldn't be either! You can't just go around and approach random strangers like that. You can't just act like you do at the capital."

Hearing his friend start to berate him, Meng Yao sighed and gave one more longing look at the female dressed in red before he turned and resignedly said, "Fine! You win Xian, but when we return you have to go and accompany me during court for a week!"

"Ugh, so bratty. Fine, I'll do as my prince demands." he answered sarcastically receiving a slap to the back of his head which made scowl as his friend walked away and turned to look at him with a smug face.

"You better keep that promise Xian, remember, a week!"

With a laugh, Meng Yao strode off and entered one of the prepared tents and retired for the night, leaving his friend looking annoyed as he muttered under his breath, "I can't wait to get back to the capital!"