Chapter 222

Two days later, Mo Hua visited Mr. Zhuang again and played a game of go with Old Puppet.

As he left, he met Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi at the door.

During the New Year holidays, Mr. Zhuang took it easy and gave the Bai siblings time off.

They had come now to pay their respects to Mr. Zhuang.

Bai Zisheng's eyes lit up when he saw Mo Hua and asked, "Mo Hua, you're here to pay respects to Mr. Zhuang too?"

"Mm." Mo Hua nodded. "I've already seen Mr. Zhuang. I'm heading home now."

Bai Zisheng looked slightly disappointed, then asked, "Can I visit your home?"

"Sure," Mo Hua said, then frowned slightly. "Why the sudden interest in my house?"

Bai Zisheng replied without hesitation, "I want to eat meat."

"You're not short of meat—there's spirit meat even if you don't eat demon meat."

Bai Zisheng glanced around, then whispered to Mo Hua, "Snow Auntie's cooking is awful."

Bai Zixi gave Bai Zisheng a light glare.

Mo Hua could only laugh and sigh.

"Don't tell Snow Auntie, or she'll get mad," Bai Zisheng said.

"Don't worry," Mo Hua said. After a pause, he asked, "But will Snow Auntie let you go?"

"I've already thought of an excuse," Bai Zisheng said proudly. "I'll say I've been under your and Aunt Liu's care, so I want to visit and thank you properly."

"Fine. As long as you can convince Snow Auntie."

Bai Zisheng nodded. "Then it's settled—I'll tell Snow Auntie as soon as I get back."

"Do you have anything specific you want to eat? I'll ask my mom to prepare it ahead of time," Mo Hua said.

"Anything's fine, as long as there's meat," Bai Zisheng said, utterly unpickyp.

Mo Hua turned to look at Bai Zixi.

Bai Zixi thought for a moment, then whispered softly, "Anything's fine too."

When Mo Hua returned home, he told his mother about it.

Liu Ruhua was surprised.

She had only heard Mo Hua mention two siblings who studied with him under Mr. Zhuang—nobles from a great family, elegant in bearing and outstanding in both character and scholarship—but she had never met them.

Now that they were coming to visit, Liu Ruhua was naturally delighted.

"Though you're only registered disciples, studying together creates a bond deeper than ordinary sect mates—you must treat them well."

Mo Hua nodded.

That evening, Snow Auntie arrived in person with Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi to pay their visit.

Snow Auntie still wore a veil, but her attire was far more subdued, her icy demeanor softened, making her seem much more approachable.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi both wore light white, elegant dao robes—fine in fabric, yet plainly styled.

Yet their appearance and aura were so extraordinary that even the most modest clothing could not hide their exceptional beauty.

As soon as the Bai siblings entered, Liu Ruhua paused in surprise.

Bai Zisheng was handsome, with sharp brows and starlit eyes; Bai Zixi's skin was whiter than snow, her eyes gleaming like starlight, as if carved from pink jade.

She looked from Bai Zisheng to Bai Zixi, and couldn't help thinking:

"There are children in this world who look this beautiful."

Snow Auntie presented a gift: a first-rank hairpin, exquisitely crafted and ornate.

Liu Ruhua served them an array of pastries and snacks.

In the clean, tidy parlor, Mo Hua sat with Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi eating, while Liu Ruhua chatted with Snow Auntie on the other side.

Bai Zisheng glanced at Liu Ruhua and thought: So this is what someone else's mother is like—she smiles warmly, makes food for her child by hand, and looks at her child with affection.

Bai Zisheng lowered his eyes. His own mother never behaved like that, and rarely smiled.

Bai Zixi's expression remained distant, her lashes lowered, a faint shadow of sadness and envy passing through her clear, autumn-like eyes.

Mo Hua didn't understand why they seemed downcast, so he pushed the food box toward them:

"My mom made this specially for you—it's delicious."

Bai Zisheng's attention snapped to the food box. He took a bite of meat, his eyes brightening. "What kind of meat is this?"

"It's rabbit meat," Mo Hua explained. "More delicate than ordinary spirit meat, chewy, fragrant—but very tedious to prepare."

"Normally, when I want it, my mom won't even make it for me. Today I'm just lucky to have you here."

Mo Hua took a bite himself and closed his eyes in satisfaction.

Bai Zisheng felt moved and thanked her warmly: "Thank you, Aunt Liu!"

Liu Ruhua smiled gently. "If you like it, eat more."

Bai Zisheng nodded eagerly, his earlier worries vanished.

Bai Zixi stared at the pastries before her, lost in thought.

The pastries came in every color and shape, each adorned with a different floral pattern.

Some bore osmanthus, others plum blossoms, peach blossoms, orchids—elegant, delicious, emitting a faint sweet fragrance.

She couldn't decide which to try first.

After hesitating, she began from the first one, tasting each in turn—some soft and glutinous, others crisp, with delicate floral notes.

Bai Zixi agonized for a while, then started from the beginning and tried them one by one—some were soft and glutinous, some were crispy, and there was a faint floral fragrance.

Seeing Bai Zixi enjoy the food, Liu Ruhua smiled, silently marveling: "This little girl—even eating looks beautiful."

Bai Zixi ate the pastries calmly, then noticed Liu Ruhua gazing at her with tender eyes. Unsure how to react, she lowered her head slightly, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks.

Bai Zixi was quietly eating pastries when she noticed Liu Ruhua gazing at her with gentle eyes. At a loss for what to do, she lowered her head slightly, a faint blush blooming across Bai Xi's fair cheeks.

Liu Ruhua watched, growing even more fond of her, poured a cup of tea, handed it to Bai Zi Xi, and said softly:

"There are still plenty of pastries—if you don't mind, take some back with you later."

Bai Zi Xi nodded and said softly, "Thank you, Auntie Liu."

Auntie Xue, seeing this, asked, "Sister Liu, I wonder how these pastries are made…"

Auntie Xue could also prepare some meals, but she wasn't exactly skilled—just barely edible, enough to fill one's stomach.

The three of them had gone out traveling to study under Mr. Zhuang, and all the meals along the way had been prepared by her.

Originally, Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi ate them without complaint, but ever since they tasted Liu Ruhua's cooking and had something to compare it to, they no longer much liked what Auntie Xue made.

Every trade has its specialty. Auntie Xue knew she wasn't skilled at cooking, but for the sake of the siblings Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi, she still wanted to learn as much as she could.

Liu Ruhua, seeing her extraordinary bearing—certainly not the type to have never lifted a finger, but probably with little exposure to such matters—began from the very basics: ingredients, heat control, steaming, boiling, frying, or pan-frying, explaining each one in turn.

Only then did Auntie Xue realize that cooking actually involved so much know-how; to make a dish that was appealing in color, aroma, and taste required many steps and patience—it was quite a labor-intensive affair.

Bai Zi Xi's expression was calm, but her gaze was entirely on Liu Ruhua, and she listened very attentively.

After a while, Seeing Mo Shan returned, and seeing there were guests at home, was slightly surprised.

With the year-end approaching, Seeing Mo Shan also had quite a few social engagements—welcoming guests, seeing them off, exchanging courtesies—and occasionally had to drink with his brothers from the Demon-Hunting Squad. He had been out and about for most of the day, only just now returning.

Liu Ruhua briefly introduced them, and Seeing Mo Shan smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. Seeing the looks and bearing of the Bai siblings, he was secretly astonished.

Young masters of such noble bearing, all studying under Mr. Zhuang together with Mo Hua—this showed that Mr. Zhuang was indeed an extraordinary master.

For Mo Hua to be accepted as a registered disciple by Mr. Zhuang was indeed an immense stroke of fortune.

In his heart, Seeing Mo Shan grew even more grateful toward Mr. Zhuang.

Bai Zisheng, seeing Seeing Mo Shan's tall, sturdy, and heroic build, his gaze sharp as a sword, his steps light, asked with interest, "Uncle Mo, you're a Demon Hunter, aren't you."