Chapter 21 - The Three Kings (2/2)

‘I’m going to get eaten!’ he thought to himself.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The pain did not come but instead, Lin Xiao felt something wet, and rough running across his cheek. Hesitantly, he opened his eyes to see the tiger staring at him.

“Huh…? Did you just… lick me?” Lin Xiao asked the tiger who happily let out a chuffle before licking Lin Xiao once more.

Long YinLian laughed when he heard Lin Xiao’s confused voice. “That one with you now is called Wang Zan. He’s the youngest… or at least I assume that he is. Seems like he likes you,” Long YinLian said with a smile. “This one here is Wang Lan, the oldest and then here is Wang Fan. Since they’ve brought dinner, I need to apportion them so they can eat. After that, I’ll make some proper dinner for you.”

Long YinLian quickly finished the congee and placed the bowl down. He went with the other two tigers who dragged the deer’s carcass along to a table in the cave. Lin Xiao watched as Long YinLian picked the carcass up onto the table and grabbed a carving knife. He saw how Long YinLian’s hand felt around the carcass before guiding the knife over.

“Master Long… maybe I should do it? It’s dangerous for you to handle the knife…”

“I’ve been doing this for a good year now. Don’t worry.”

Hearing the confidence from Long YinLian’s tone, Lin Xiao didn’t say anything again. He quietly scooped another bowl of congee and ate them quietly. After a while, his curiosity can no longer be contained. “Master Long’s eyes… how did you lose it?” Lin Xiao asked with a slight hesitation.

“My eyes? I was poisoned. At first, it wasn’t that bad at first. But I noticed my vision had slowly becoming worse and a year ago, I completely lose my sight,” Long YinLian answered.

“Do you know… who?” Lin Xiao asked again. This time, Long YinLian didn’t answer for a long time. When he did speak, he had changed the topic.

“Lin Xiao, how would you like your meat? Roasted? Or Braised?”

“I can eat anything you make. So Master Long can just cook however he wants,” Lin Xiao replied.

“Are you sure? Though you don’t remember, your palate may still remember the lavish food you tasted before this,” Long YinLian said as he began to prepare their dinner.

“I’m sure!”

“Alright, then don’t blame me if it doesn’t taste good.”

Few hours later, Lin Xiao eyed the food on his plate. It was… charred. It was a meat, and it is totally charred. He glanced at Long YinLian who ate it as if it’s delicious. ‘Maybe it does not taste bad after all…?’ he thought to himself before he took a bite. He instantly regretted it.

“Master Long… since I will be staying with you for a while, how about you let me cook? It is the least I can do,” Lin Xiao suggested. He was afraid that if he were to continue eating these, he’ll end up getting food poisoning.

“Well… alright then. That way, we can avoid having to waste food just because I accidentally added more seasonings. I’ll leave the cooking in your care, Lin Xiao.”

Since then, it was decided that Lin Xiao will be the one to cook food for them both. But Lin Xiao still let Long YinLian make herbal soup since he’s good at it. In fact, Lin Xiao also noticed that Long YinLian can brew a good tea. So, after he had recovered, whenever he went to the village he would always buy some tea leaves so that Long YinLian can brew them some tea.