Chapter 262: The Innocent Yueya

Duan Fengyun and Xuan Zhanglao walked out laughing; Duan Fengyun was also very curious about what Xuan Zhanglao and Yueya had been eating in this Hell Valley for so many years.

Driven by curiosity, Duan Fengyun walked toward their dining table full of anticipation.

On a raw, natural stone table sat some organic fruits and green vegetables.

Duan Fengyun pointed at the fruits and vegetables and said in disbelief:

"Is this all you have been eating for so many years?"

Yueya nodded and replied:

"Yes, Brother Qin, don't you eat this too?"

Yueya looked at Duan Fengyun with a puzzled expression; it seemed she had truly forgotten everything from before her faked death, even the fact that people eat meat.

Xuan Zhanglao looked at Duan Fengyun, confused, and said:

"Long Frost, are you unaware of the Tong Clan's rule against taking lives?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Fengyun cursed inwardly, wondering how he could have forgotten about that.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and had already thought of a response.

"Xuan Zhanglao, I apologize.

Because I have only had contact with the Tong Brothers and Yinxiu, and I saw them drinking and eating meat with me, I was unaware that your Tong Clan forbids taking lives.

No wonder I have never seen them kill anyone."

Xuan Zhanglao suddenly realized; indeed, if Duan Fengyun had never been to Shuiyue Dongtian, he would not have known about this rule of the Tong Clan.

Xuan Zhanglao then waved his hand and said:

"Qin Shuang, today you will have to settle for eating some fruits and vegetables with us to fill your stomach.

These fruits and vegetables were brought down by me before I came to Hell Valley, and they were grown by Yueya and me personally, so please feel free to eat."

Duan Fengyun looked at the table full of organic fruits and vegetables, and his appetite vanished instantly.

As a self-proclaimed carnivore, he really couldn't muster any interest in this pile of produce.

When Duan Fengyun arrived, he had seen a small river that should have had fish in it, so he decided to go fishing to provide a meat dish for Xuan Zhanglao and Yin Feng.

"Xuan Zhanglao, Yueya, you two go ahead and eat; I will go catch two fish to provide you with a meat dish.

Especially for you, Yueya, I don't even know if you've ever eaten meat, so today you must have a good feast."

Hearing that Duan Fengyun was going fishing, the curious Yueya stood up immediately and said:

"Brother Qin, can you take me with you?

I also want to see how you catch fish.

Grandpa Xuan doesn't take lives, and he doesn't let me take lives either, so I have never eaten meat."

Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"Of course you can; I will be responsible for catching the fish, and you can be responsible for helping me store them.

When we get back, I will be responsible for cleaning the fish, and you can be responsible for learning."

"Yay, yay!"

Yueya clapped her hands upon hearing this.

Xuan Zhanglao watched the cheerful Yueya, stroked his beard, and said:

"You two go ahead quickly.

Take some fruit with you to eat if you get hungry later."

It had been a long time since Xuan Zhanglao had seen Yueya smile so happily; for over a decade, Yueya had lived here in Hell Valley without any contact with the outside world, leading a peaceful and monotonous life.

Now, the arrival of Duan Fengyun had brought color to Yueya's life.

After Duan Fengyun led Yueya out of the cave, he asked: "Yueya, have you been bored staying in this Hell Valley for so many years?

Do you want to go out and see the outside world, meet people from the outside, taste delicious food from the outside, and wear those beautiful clothes?"

Yueya nodded vigorously and said:

"Of course I do, Brother Qin.

Grandpa Xuan and I have been in this Hell Valley for so many years, and I've been bored to death.

But Grandpa Xuan hasn't found a way out, so we have both had to stay here.

But now that you are here, Brother Qin, you must have many strange and wonderful things from the outside; if you tell me about them, I won't be bored anymore."

Looking at Yueya, who was still as blank as a sheet of paper, Duan Fengyun smiled and said:

"Yueya, don't worry, Brother Qin will definitely take you and Grandpa Xuan out.

It's not as interesting to just hear Brother Qin talk about it; you have to experience it yourself to feel the joy within it."

Yueya nodded her head repeatedly; she was now very much looking forward to leaving Hell Valley and seeing the vibrant world outside.

As they chatted, they arrived at the riverside; Duan Fengyun looked at a large tree nearby, flew up to retrieve a thick branch, and sharpened it against a stone on the side.

Duan Fengyun took off his shoes, rolled up his pant legs, and walked directly into the river.

He didn't expect the water in this river to be warm; it seemed the environment here was significantly affected by the Hell Fire.

Duan Fengyun raised the sharp branch and thrust it directly into the water, then lifted it gently, and a plump fish was speared right through its belly.

Duan Fengyun removed the fish and threw it onto the bank.

"Yueya, gather the fish; we will have a good feast when we go back later."

Yueya happily picked up the fish from the ground and threw them into the prepared basket.

One, two, three, four, five!

In order to let Yueya and Xuan Zhanglao experience the happiness of eating meat again, Duan Fengyun caught five fish in total.

Returning with a full harvest, Duan Fengyun brought Yueya back to the cave.

With limited materials, Duan Fengyun started a fire and made a delicious fish soup and grilled fish for the two of them.

Xiao Yueya looked at the fish soup and grilled fish, which were both aromatic and delicious, and gazed at Duan Fengyun with an expression of admiration.

"Brother Qin, you actually have such great culinary skills. Can you teach me in the future?"

Xuan Zhanglao also looked at Duan Fengyun with a look of surprise; he had not expected that Duan Fengyun, who appeared so frivolous, could actually have such a knack for cooking.

Duan Fengyun answered modestly:

"My cooking skills aren't that great; I can only say they are passable.

These are all things I figured out on my own after my wet nurse died.

Fishing alone, cooking alone, and learning how to survive alone."

Upon hearing Duan Fengyun's words, Xiao Yueya looked sympathetic.

She had originally thought her own background was miserable enough—being locked inside an Ice Coffin, not knowing who her parents were, having no childhood memories, and being able to live only in this Hell Valley, lonely with Grandpa Xuan.

But compared to what Duan Fengyun said—his entire clan wiped out, his only wet nurse leaving him when he was seven, and growing up all alone and helpless.

Looking at his skillful life skills, one knew he must have suffered a great deal when he was young.

Duan Fengyun did not say much more; he beckoned for Xuan Zhanglao and Xiao Yueya to eat quickly.

It was not because he was modest, but simply because he was truly hungry.

Since coming down from Hell Valley, he had not eaten anything, and having just caught the fish and cooked the meal in the river, he was truly famished.

As the fish meat entered his stomach, Duan Fengyun felt a warmth inside his body.

The bone-chilling cold of the cave, which he had felt before, could no longer be felt after eating the fish.

It was not just Duan Fengyun who had this feeling; Xiao Yueya and Xuan Zhanglao both felt the extraordinary nature of the fish meat.

Xiao Yueya said:

"I feel my body is so warm; I have never felt this warm before."

Xuan Zhanglao nodded slightly and said:

"Indeed, this fish must have absorbed the diluted magma that flowed out from the Hell Fire, possessing a certain amount of thermal energy, which is why we feel this warmth after eating it."

The three of them swept through the five fish like a whirlwind, eating them clean. Xuan Zhanglao, who usually appeared meticulous, finally set aside his dignity in the absence of meat for a long time and began to feast heartily with Duan Fengyun and Xiao Yueya.

After eating his fill, Duan Fengyun walked out of the cave. Now that he had found Yin Feng, it was time for him to go look for the Mangchang Xiaodao drawn by Jianghu Baixiaosheng.

At this moment, Xiao Yueya followed him out. She revealed the crescent moon on her face and smiled:

"Brother Qin, are you going somewhere?

Do you need me to lead the way for you? I am very familiar with this valley."

Duan Fengyun nodded. He was not prepared to hide anything from Xiao Yueya and Xuan Zhanglao; after all, he was definitely going to take Xiao Yueya out, and Xuan Zhanglao likely did not have much time left.

"Yes, Xiao Yueya, I want to go out and look to see if there is a way to leave Hell Valley.

You are more familiar with this place, so I was just about to ask you to come out with me.

Go ask Grandpa Xuan and see if he agrees to let you come with me."

"Okay, Brother Qin, wait for me a moment; I'll go tell Grandpa Xuan."

Xiao Yueya turned and ran into the cave, and after a while, she ran out smiling and said.

"Brother Qin, let's go. Grandpa Xuan has already agreed to let me go with you to find a way out."

After hearing this, Duan Fengyun took Xiao Yueya with him to find a way out.

At this time, Xuan Zhanglao, who was sitting cross-legged in the cave, looked at the backs of the two as they left with a satisfied smile.

He had long felt that his days were numbered, and before this, he had been very worried about what would happen to Xiao Yueya after he was gone.

Based on his understanding of Xiao Yueya, it was inevitable that she might do something foolish after he was no longer around.

Now that Duan Fengyun had arrived, Xiao Yueya had someone to look after her, so even if he died, Xiao Yueya would not be lonely.

Xuan Zhanglao looked in the direction Xiao Yueya and Duan Fengyun had left and muttered:

"Little Xiao Yueya, Grandpa Xuan really cannot bear to part with you.

Grandpa Xuan is leaving; you must take good care of yourself.

Qin Shuang, I hope you can take good care of Xiao Yueya. Furthermore, I hope you can also be like General Long Teng of the past, eliminating demons and defending the Dao, and avenge the Long Family!

My old friends, you must have been waiting impatiently for this old fellow, right?

I am coming to join you."

Having said this, Xuan Zhanglao closed his eyes with a smile; he had passed away peacefully.

At this time, Xiao Yueya, who did not yet know that Xuan Zhanglao had passed away, was still chatting and laughing with Duan Fengyun about life in the outside world.

"Brother Qin, are there many beautiful clothes and many delicious dishes outside?

Are all the people outside like you, Brother Qin, able to cook?

I really don't know if I will be unaccustomed to it when I get outside; I don't know how to do anything."

Along the way, Xiao Yueya was either asking about life outside or longing for life outside.

Provided for you by the great god Duan Fengyun, "Traveling Through the Heavens Starting from Wind and Cloud"