Pretense

The smell of various spices wafted through from the hut as Song Jia brought out the pot and Lu Ping brought the plates and utensils.

Lu Ping then set it up on the table, serving them the food as Song Jia sat across Sun Xun and Lu Ping sat next to her.

"Go ahead.. It's only a simple meal.. Please bear with it.." Song Jia gestured for them to start eating.

"Ah.. you're too kind little brother.. This smells so good! I bet it tastes good as well." Wan Yan beamed at her. He glanced at his master who didn't start eating yet.

He scooped up some sauce from the dish and tasted it. "Mmmm! This is so good! Have you trained as a chef?! You should work at a restaurant.. No, in the future you should own a restaurant!"

"You're too generous with your praise, big brother.." Song Jia chuckled. "Eat up, Ping'er.."

Lu Ping nodded, her head lowered, appearing shy. She scooped up some sauce as well and tasted it. Surprise was written on her face.

"Mmmmm!!!! It's so delicious! I didn't know you could cook so well! Ah! It would be nice to eat more of this in the future!" Lu Ping looked at Song Jia with admiration. Her eyes were shining brightly. A silly smile appeared on her face.

'How did my mistress learn how to cook so well? I don't remember her having some sort of training by someone.. Still, if my mistress could cook this from time to time.. Ah.. I would also learn from her so I can cook her delicious food as well..'

The look of admiration plastered on Lu Ping's face made Wan Yan shiver.

"Haha.. In the future you'll be the one cooking delicious food for me.." Song Jia chuckled at Lu Ping's reaction. 'It would be best to teach her how to add more flavor to her cooking, else I'd keep eating bland foods here.'

Wan Yan almost spit out the food in his mouth when he heard the words spoken by the young boy.

"Big brother, are you alright? Slow down a little.. Here, have some water.." Song Jia poured him a cup which Wan Yan instantly gulped down.

He wiped his mouth with his arm sleeve, frowning.

Sun Xun only began to eat and was pleased to know it was really delicious. In all of the places he've been, this food in front of him had the most flavor. It certainly stimulates the appetite.

Actually, they were not robbed or have run out of fasting pills. For him, he doesn't need it anyway. His level of cultivation allowed him to not feel hunger anymore as long as he has enough spiritual energy stored. However, when he smelled the aroma coming from the hut, he couldn't help but be curious if it would taste as good as it smelled.

They had just arrived via a portal when his nose and stomach were enticed by the food.

However he was even more surprised that the people they met are a pair of young individuals who had different last names as Wan Yan pointed out. Not only that, the one who claimed to be older brother is actually a girl in disguise.

From how the two were dressed, as well as their temperament, it would seem that the one pretending to be a boy has superior status than the other. But from how unafraid the other was to the 'boy', their relationship seemed to be good or that the 'boy' treated her well.

But in Wan Yan's eyes and ears, they were a pair of youngsters playing house.

As the four were eating heartily, Wan Yan still could not suppress his thoughts.

Especially when he kept observing the pair's body language.

Lu Ping kept serving Shi Jin. Whenever he runs out of meat, she would scoop some and put it on his bowl of rice.

"Ahemm.. Little brother, can I ask you something?" Wan Yan's cheeks began to redden as he prepared to state his question.

"Go ahead, big brother.."

"Umm.. Why do both of you have different last names?"

"Ah. It's because we don't have the same parents.." Song Jia blurted out.

"Eh? Then you are..cousins..you're cousins, right?" Wan Yan really hoped they were at least cousins. But then again, cousins would even get arranged to marry.

Song Jia has already thought it through. If she would lie about their relationship that couldn't be backed up by anyone, she would just be inviting trouble.

"No, we're not."

Wan Yan's eyes widened, his lips trembled. He glanced at his master who was peacefully eating. 'Master, are you really not going to say anything?'

"Little brother, can I say something? I hope you both won't get offended."

"Sure, don't stand on ceremony big brother. Say what's on your mind." Song Jia smiled.

Sun Xun who was only listening quietly to their exchange secretly glanced at the young girl toying with his guard's mind. A faint smile appeared on his face briefly, then it was gone.

"Both of you are young, of the opposite sex and not blood related, don't you think it's unwise to spend your time alone here in the back of the mountains? How will she get married in the future if it was known?"

To Wan Yan's credit, he really did look to have genuine worry for the two so Song Jia was not angered by his words. She was only amused.

"Ah.. Big brother, I apologize for causing a misunderstanding. Lu Ping is actually a maidservant who was sent to assist me in my needs here."

Song Jia was not finished speaking yet but her words made Wan Yan even more shocked. 'Assist his needs? Oh my god! What were the people thinking?!'

"I am actually here to cultivate and train martial arts. Lu Ping is here to make sure things like my meals are taken care of. My cultivation is not that high so I still need to eat, sleep and other things. Also, Lu Ping has started training as well, so I have a sparring partner."

"Ah! I see! But couldn't they have gotten you a male servant?"

"She is one of my senior's trusted servants so he's more at ease to send her here with me. Also, this place is protected by an array, so nobody should be able to enter."

It's without saying that she saw through their pretense.

"Ah.. This.." Wan Yan scratched his head, embarrassed.

He glanced at his master who only slightly nodded.