"Caught quite a few," Jun Lionhead said with a smile. "Perfect timing for your return—let's cook them up!"
"Alright!" Grace replied with a grin. "Master, just wait a moment—your disciple will whip up dinner right away!"
Grace grabbed the little bucket and hurried off to cook.
Jun Lionhead set down his fishing rod, glanced at Evan Xiao, and said, "Looks like we're out of firewood. Go gather some, will you?"
Evan Xiao paused for a moment, nodded, and went to the bamboo grove to collect a bundle of dry bamboo stalks.
Since Evan Xiao arrived in the Blue Moon Kingdom, there have been two people whose cultivation he can't see through.
One is Master Sage Dao.
The other is this man right here.
Who is he, really? Why does he live in seclusion here?
Why did he take Grace as his disciple—what's his motive?
...
Grace cooked the fish, made rice, whipped up a soup and a stir-fry, then called the two over for dinner.
Jun Lionhead looked at the dishes on the table and chuckled, "Ever since you left, I often regret taking you as my disciple."
Grace blinked. "Huh? Why's that?"
"Your cooking is amazing," Jun Lionhead said. "After you left, every meal I made tasted like chewing wax!"
Grace felt a pang in her heart, picked up some food for him, and said, "It’s all my fault for being a neglectful disciple! Master, eat up!"
Jun Lionhead nodded and picked up his chopsticks to eat.
He ate with gusto.
Yet every movement was refined and courteous, never rushed.
Evan Xiao watched him and asked, "Mr. Jun Lionhead, how long have you lived here?"
Jun Lionhead replied, "I've lived here since I was born."
"So, who taught you medicine?"
"My father," Jun Lionhead answered.
"So you've never left Lionhead Mountain?" Grace asked.
Jun Lionhead laughed, "Of course I've left! I go down the mountain all the time to buy rice."
"I mean, besides buying food, have you ever gone anywhere else?"
Jun Lionhead shook his head. "Nope."
Grace glanced at Evan Xiao, feeling a bit awkward to ask.
At that moment, Jun Lionhead said, "I've thought it over. You're a young woman—living up here with me isn't very convenient. So I've decided to go to Danyang to find you. You two showed up at the perfect time! After we eat, let's head down the mountain together!"
Grace stared blankly at Jun Lionhead. "Huh?"
"It's not just because I want you to cook for me," Jun Lionhead explained, seeing her face. "Before your grandmaster passed away, he made me promise to pass down our family's medical arts. You're my only disciple, so I'm leaving the mountain to teach you properly."
Grace coughed. "...Master, we've moved. We're living in Yan City now."
"Yan City?" Jun Lionhead was puzzled. "I thought you said your father was the Prime Minister of Blue Moon Kingdom. Why did you move?"
"A lot's happened lately. The whole Blue Moon Kingdom is gone," Grace said.
"Oh," Jun Lionhead nodded. "Then I'll just go to Yan City with you!"
Grace: "..."
"What's wrong?" Jun Lionhead noticed her odd expression. "Worried I'll be a burden? Actually, I have some savings. I can rent a place in Yan City."
"No!" Grace said quickly. "We actually came here to invite you down the mountain. Who knew you'd offer before we even asked—I'm just totally overwhelmed!"
"Really?" Jun Lionhead laughed. "Well, that's perfect then!"
...