Chapter 38: Just How Big a Basket Can a Person Stab?!

Su Mo hadn't reached the doorway yet when she saw two Dragon Cubs pushing that dragon out.

Long Yan's mind is fuzzy now; he vaguely remembers what happened before the injury, but knows nothing of what followed.

But his two junior attendants say he was rescued by a female named Su Mo, and they praised her as if she were a fairy.

They said she is beautiful and kind‑hearted, a truly wonderful person.

Long Yan thought that he ought to thank her properly.

Before he could decide how to thank the girl named Su Mo, the two attendants pushed him out of the room.

"Sister Mo is just outside! She'll be delighted when she sees you awake."

Su Mo stared at the three dragons emerging, her steps halted, her arm still holding the freshly washed wild vegetables.

The moment Long Yan was pushed out by Nan Nan, he looked up and saw a person standing not far away.

As the sun set, a wash of colorful clouds fell on her, enveloping her in a faint halo; even the curve of her skirt became gentle.

In the instant their gazes met, Long Yan saw Su Mo giving a faint smile.

He recognized the person before him; that night he was injured, perched on a tree, and saw her sobbing, begging Snake Young Master not to break off the engagement.

From his viewpoint, he caught all of Su Mo's subtle gestures; he saw that she couldn't actually cry, yet she deliberately squeezed her own thigh.

Although she pretended to be deeply pleading, earnestly begging Snake Young Master not to break off the engagement, she was actually silently watching his expression.

When the other party finally said they wouldn't break the engagement, Long Yan saw the astonishment clearly in her eyes.

He just didn't know why Snake Young Master, who clearly disliked her, ultimately refused to break the engagement.

Because of this, Long Yan's impression of her was deep, huh.

Even after being unconscious for so many days, he recognized her at a glance.

Long Yan never expected that his rescuer would be her.

Su Mo, basket slung over her arm, walked up to him, tilted her head, examined him, and asked with a smile, "Awake? Any lingering discomfort?"

Long Yan sheepishly patted his head and stared blankly, shaking his head.

The next second, he saw the person before him, his eyes curving into a crescent.

"Take a moment to rest; I'll go prepare dinner."

Su Mo said so, then left with light, graceful steps.

The two Dragon Cubs immediately followed enthusiastically, "Sister Mo, we'll help you!"

Nan Nan walked a few steps, turned her head to the dumbfounded Long Yan and asked, "Minor General, why don't you come over to help?"

"Oh!" Long Yan replied absentmindedly and followed her.

Su Mo was cutting meat in the kitchen.

Long Yan was held between the two Dragon Cubs.

He stared at the busy Su Mo and asked blankly, "May I… what can I help with?"

Su Mo glanced at him, then smiled and pointed at the few fish being kept nearby, "Kill those."

Long Yan chuckled, nodded, and carried the fish out.

Nan Nan and Dong Dong also followed out, and Dong Dong, sounding nervous, asked, "Minor General, can you kill fish? Need me to help?"

Long Yan, brimming with confidence, replied, "No need, such a trivial matter can't stump me!"

…

Soon, Su Mo, who was chopping vegetables in the kitchen, heard a series of shouts from outside.

"Minor General, how did you let the fish get away!"

"It was too slippery…"

"Minor General, hurry and catch it!"

Su Mo, listening to the voices from outside, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

—

When Long Yan and the two, carrying the slain fish, returned to the kitchen, Su Mo's meat was already simmering.

Preparing to stir‑fry with another pot, Nan Nan giggled, "Sister Mo, let me stoke the fire for you!"

Long Yan quickly spoke, "I'll do it!"

Su Mo asked skeptically, "Can you?"

Long Yan: "I can!"

Dong Dong: "Sister Mo, Minor General's fire‑spitting skill is top‑notch!"

Su Mo glanced at the eager Long Yan and said, "Then give it a try?"

Long Yan took a slight deep breath, expelled a cluster of small flames, precisely igniting a dry stick in his hand.

Su Mo nodded, smiling with satisfaction, "Not bad~"

Flushed with praise, Long Yan's face showed confident radiance as he tossed the stick of fire into the pot.

Then he picked up a few more and threw them in together.

Huh, why did the fire go out?

He nudged it with a piece of firewood, but it still wouldn't light.

So he inhaled deeply and exhaled a massive blaze onto the kindling.

Su Mo, about to stir‑fry, suddenly felt a rush of heat sweep toward her.

Flames suddenly surged up from the bottom of the pot, startling her into a sudden retreat.

The flames raced straight to the ceiling, and before Su Mo could react, every wooden object in the house caught fire…

Fortunately, Dong Dong acted quickly, grabbed Su Mo with one hand, and flew out the doorway.

Nan Nan also fled quickly.

The three stood still, only seeing the flames leap onto the roof and spread in an uncontrollable manner.

Su Mo's mind was still in a hang‑up state, what was the matter?

I let him start a fire, and he actually burned my house?!

Is there anything more outrageous than this?

Nan Nan and Dong Dong reacted, anxiously shouting toward the inside, "Minor General!"

As soon as the words fell, the three only saw a charred Long Yan leaning against the wall and walking out.

"Cough cough~" he coughed awkwardly a few times, raised his hand and smothered a cluster of small flames above his head.

Feeling guilty, he said, "Um… I can still make up for it! I, I can spit water to extinguish the fire!"

Su Mo was speechless: "Then put it out quickly!"

Long Yan stepped back a few steps, took a deep breath, and sprayed at the flame.

But the fire not only showed no sign of weakening; it grew even more intense… crackle, pop, a raging blaze.

Su Mo: "…What exactly did you just spray? Are you sure it was water, not oil?"

Long Yan, with a soot‑blackened face, looked at her, sheepishly scratched his head and said, "Um, I think I sprayed the wrong thing—it was steam…"

"……"

Su Mo was numb; she knew this dragon was brainless, but she never expected him to be this outrageous!

She gritted her teeth and said, "Spit water! Quickly!"

Just then, the white cat in the corner darted out, limping on a leg while flicking flame from its tail.

Having finally flicked it out, it leapt to the side and sat cross‑legged.

The fire was too fierce; even with Long Yan and two Dragon Cubs spraying water together, the house was still more than half burned.

When the fire was finally under control, the two Dragon Cubs were already exhausted.

Looking at the still‑smoking house, Su Mo fell into silence.

Did she hold a grudge against this clumsy dragon from a past life? She doesn't expect him to repay the life‑saving favor, but at least he shouldn't repay kindness with vengeance!

Who would start a fire and burn someone's house? It's just too outrageous!

Now, of the three mud‑brick rooms plus a kitchen, only Su Mo's remains, barely intact; the room where Long Yan lived has already collapsed from the fire.

The main hall was also more than half burned.

The adjacent Thatched Cottage was also almost completely burned.

Heaven's father, her only fixed asset was reduced to ash by his single fire???

The courtyard was a mess, both tragic and oddly funny.

"You…"

"Me!"

Su Mo and Long Yan spoke simultaneously.

Long Yan, feeling guilty and not daring to look at her, lowered his head, apologized profusely, and carefully said, "Miss Su, it's all my fault, I… I'll compensate you! Okay?"

He was about to break down; the first time he set fire for the life‑saving benefactor, he ended up burning the person's house.

How big a mess can a person actually make…