'She can change her tune so fast!'
Watching this scene, Fang Yue knew instantly that the life-and-death farewell Zhang Shu had just performed was all an act.
And yet, it had felt so genuine and sincere. If she hadn't brought up that bowl of rice, he and the others probably would have never figured it out.
'Quirky, sly, a great actress…'
In that single moment, Fang Yue slapped several new labels on the girl. She was about his age, but since she'd started her discipleship before him, she was technically his senior sister.
'Alright then. Looks like the journey home with Zhang Shu won't be boring in the slightest.'
~~~~~~
They had been away from home for five days.
They had set out in high spirits.
On the return journey, however, they were eager to get home.
In just over a day, they reached the same riverbank where they had made their first camp.
The donkey cart was much lighter, after all, carrying only some medicinal herbs.
So, naturally, their pace was much quicker.
At their current speed, they were only a little over half a day's journey from Da Liushu Village.
However, the sky was already growing dark.
Traveling at night was too dangerous, so they had to make camp here.
"Master, I'll go catch a few fish. We can have grilled fish tonight." After setting up camp, Fang Yue volunteered.
Although the water level of the Xiahe River had dropped considerably, and this bend in the river was narrower than last time—only about three zhang across—it didn't affect the fishing.
Knowing Fang Yue's skill, Fang Hu nodded and told him to be careful.
Fang Yue immediately found his tools, cut a suitable stalk from a bamboo grove by the road, and fashioned a simple fishing rod.
After digging up some earthworms and gathering some grass to use as groundbait, Fang Yue went to the riverbank.
This spot was a short distance from the campsite. As long as they didn't speak too loudly, Fang Hu and Fang Ergou definitely wouldn't hear them.
Upon arriving here, Zhang Shu, who had been pretending to be a "lady" the whole trip, finally showed her true colors.
"Hey, Zhi."
"You, little pauper, you know how to fish? Can you even catch anything like that?"
"With just some grass and earthworms? That's a pauper's way of fishing alright. You'll definitely catch nothing!"
Zhang Shu stood beside Fang Yue, watching his movements and then looking at the murky river water.
She was highly skeptical that Fang Yue could catch a fish with such simple things.
At an age where she was naturally lively, she chattered away in front of Fang Yue.
She seemed to have forgotten her earlier attempt to trick Fang Yue with that bowl of spicy rice, and she probably had no idea that Fang Yue had seen what she did.
Therefore, Fang Yue was very wary of this girl.
"Shh, you have to be quiet when you're fishing. You're so loud you'll scare all the fish away," Fang Yue said, quickly trying to quiet the shouting, ever-questioning Zhang Shu.
The girl had a sharp tongue. Her voice might be pleasant to the ear, but the words themselves were anything but.
"Hmph. If you don't want to tell me, then don't. What's the big deal."
Zhang Shu snorted coldly, tilted her delicate, pretty little chin up, and shot Fang Yue a disdainful glance.
Then she went to a nearby spot on the riverbank, reached out her hands, and started playing in the water by herself.
Just then, the fishing rod bobbed.
A fish was clearly on the hook.
"A bite! A bite! Little pauper, hurry up and pull it in, or the fish will get away!"
Zhang Shu, off to the side, was actually more worked up than Fang Yue. Seeing the bite, she stopped playing with the water and shouted with joyful excitement.
However, her shout startled the fish, and it wriggled right off the hook.
"You!"
Fang Yue turned to look at Zhang Shu's innocent face. He wanted to scold her, but looking at her guiltless expression, he couldn't tell if she had done it on purpose or not.
"You... you little gremlin, go play somewhere else. Stop bothering my fishing."
"You dare call me ugly? Believe it or not, I'll beat you up!"
Zhang Shu narrowed her eyes and rolled up her sleeves, looking ready for a fight.
"If you get any louder, my master will definitely hear you. You don't want anyone to see you acting so unladylike, do you?"
With just that one sentence from Fang Yue, Zhang Shu's fire immediately died down.
Fang Yue had only just realized this during their journey. Zhang Shu was quirky and loved to play pranks, but in front of her elders, she worked hard to maintain a ladylike appearance. Though, perhaps the elders all knew her true personality and just didn't bother to call her out on it.
"Tch. It's obviously your own skill that's lacking. Don't get fierce with me just because you can't catch a fish!"
Zhang Shu pouted disdainfully, but she didn't actually come over to beat Fang Yue up. Instead, she just moved a little farther away.
After waiting a while longer and seeing that Fang Yue still hadn't caught a fish, she must have gotten bored. She sat down on a protruding rock, took off her shoes and socks, and dipped a pair of fair, delicate feet into the water, starting to splash around happily.
SPLASH~
Just then, water flew everywhere.
Fang Yue yanked his fishing rod, and a carp about a foot long was pulled from the water, landing on the ground behind him.
"He actually caught one. A blind cat bumping into a dead mouse."
Zhang Shu's somewhat vicious voice drifted over, and Fang Yue couldn't help but look in her direction.
He happened to see her pale calves and delicate feet.
After transmigrating to this world, he had only ever encountered sallow, skinny village girls who were tanned dark by the sun.
The only exception was Widow Yu next door, whose skin was much fairer due to her upbringing, but he had never seen a young girl like Zhang Shu before.
For a moment, his eyes were captivated, and he found he couldn't look away.
"Hmph, little pauper, what are you looking at? Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out."
Zhang Shu noticed Fang Yue's gaze. She didn't have the panicked reaction of an ordinary girl from that era; she just shot him a fierce glare.
But then, the anger on her face vanished, replaced by a look of terror.
"Ah! Little pauper, quick, look! What's that behind you?"
Fang Yue immediately spun around and looked at the water's surface. It was shimmering, but there was nothing there.
He instantly realized he'd been tricked. And just at that moment, a fist-sized rock landed in the river, splashing water all over his face.
HEE HEE HEE~
Immediately, the crisp, bell-like sound of laughter reached his ears. Zhang Shu was clutching her mouth, doubled over with laughter.
'A pity she hasn't developed yet, so there isn't much of a view.'
'She's just a little girl, after all,' Fang Yue thought. 'I can't really stoop to her level. Am I supposed to go over there and spank her? Besides, I'm probably not her match right now. After all, it seems even Fang Ergou has been put in his place by her a few times.'
"What's so great about an airfield anyway," Fang Yue muttered, wiping the water from his face.
"What did you say? What's an 'airfield'?" Zhang Shu heard him and looked completely puzzled, not knowing what the word meant.
But she could instinctively tell that whatever Fang Yue had said, it wasn't anything good. She was just about to retaliate.
Just then, she saw Fang Yue's expression turn to one of pure terror.
"Zhang Shu, get away from there! There's a tiger behind you!"