"Fan Ge, are you there? Open the door quickly! I've brought you something delicious!"
A familiar shout came from outside the door, and Lu Fan couldn't help but smile, getting up to push open the courtyard gate.
He saw a robust young man with a tiger-like head standing outside the door.
The young man was around his age, holding an old porcelain basin in his hand, and the rich aroma of meat wafted over... it was turkey.
This young man was named Erhu, his family name was Li, and he lived in Xinghua Village, two years older than him.
Ever since Lu Fan and his Master came to the village half a year ago, Erhu often came to play with him.
After spending time together, the two had long become like brothers.
"It's scalding hot, Fan Ge, quickly take it!"
Lu Fan smiled as he took the porcelain basin, carried it into the courtyard, and placed it on the wooden table.
Erhu followed behind him, still muttering:
"My mother told you to come to our house to eat, but you insisted on not going, making me run this errand... I almost fell!"
He complained with his mouth, but his hands were not idle.
He nimbly ducked into the kitchen, took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, and served steaming hot chicken soup.
He handed one bowl to Lu Fan and held one himself.
The two young men ate meat and drank soup heartily in the courtyard, and just as they were enjoying their meal, light footsteps came from outside the door again.
A girl with pigtails entered the door with a smile, carrying a large plate of dumplings.
"Zhi Yu Meimei?" Lu Fan quickly put down his bowl and stood up, "Why are you here?"
The girl's name was Jiang Zhiyu, and she also lived in the village, a diagonal neighbor to Erhu's family.
In the past six months, besides Erhu, she was the most frequent visitor.
"My mother made dumplings and was afraid you were hungry, so she asked me to bring some over."
As she spoke, she placed the plate on the table, and her eyes caught sight of the chicken in the porcelain basin, and she immediately pouted:
"We were worried you hadn't eaten, but you two are eating so well! I haven't tasted chicken in ages."
She didn't stand on ceremony, sat down directly, and casually slapped Erhu on the back of his head.
"Didn't you see I arrived? Go get a bowl quickly!"
For some reason, Erhu had always been afraid of this girl who was younger than him.
He said "Ay" and obediently ran into the kitchen to get another set of bowls and chopsticks, and even served Jiang Zhiyu a full bowl of chicken.
Lu Fan looked at Erhu's timid demeanor and couldn't help but shake his head and laugh.
Although he had only known them for half a year, their feelings were already very deep.
Erhu's mother and Jiang Zhiyu's mother often invited him to eat at their homes, but he didn't want to bother them.
As a result, they always had Erhu and Zhi Yu bring him food.
This kindness touched him, but it also made him feel helpless.
He had nothing, and Cultivating resources were useless to them, so he could only silently remember this friendship in his heart.
The three sat in the courtyard, sharing a basin of chicken and a large plate of dumplings, and finally even the chicken soup was drunk completely clean.
"Fan Ge, I'm leaving now, I'll come find you to play tomorrow!"
Erhu wiped his mouth, picked up the porcelain basin, and ran off in a flash.
Jiang Zhiyu, however, stood up, tidied and washed the bowls and chopsticks, put them back in the kitchen, and then sat down in front of Lu Fan.
Her large eyes blinked, and she looked at him, saying:
"Fan Gege, tell me more about Cultivating? I want to Cultivate too."
Being stared at by her like that, Lu Fan suddenly felt a little uncomfortable, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes darted away.
"Cultivating... depends on talent. I don't know how to test talent. When my Master comes back, you can ask her."
Seeing him blush and avoid her gaze, Jiang Zhiyu burst out laughing.
"Fan Gege, why don't you dare to look at me? Am I not pretty?"
"No... no! You are very pretty!" Lu Fan quickly shook his head, blurting out what was in his heart.
Jiang Zhiyu was a little younger than him, born with bright eyes and white teeth, fair skin and red lips, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
"Then why don't you dare to look at me? Are you shy?"
She covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes sparkling.
Seeing this, Lu Fan's face became even redder, and he couldn't speak clearly: "I... I..."
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore, my mother is still waiting for me at home."
She stood up, lifting her chin arrogantly.
"Remember, you're not allowed to eat the food Erhu brings tomorrow first! Wait for me to bring it to you, otherwise, I'll make you regret it, hmph!"
After she finished speaking, she picked up the plate and turned to leave, her pigtails swaying behind her, exceptionally cute.
Lu Fan stood at the doorway, watching her figure disappear around the corner, then gently closed the courtyard gate.
As soon as the door was closed, the Tower Spirit's voice, full of disdain, came from his mind:
"You're too timid, kid. That girl clearly has feelings for you, but you don't even dare to look at her properly. How useless."
Being mocked by the Tower Spirit like this, Lu Fan's face immediately turned crimson.
"I... I'm not timid! I just... don't want to be delayed here."
He wasn't stupid; how could he not see Jiang Zhiyu's intention to deliberately stay a little longer each time she came?
But he knew in his heart that he would not stay in Xinghua Village for long.
From the moment he personally buried his sister and set fire to that home.
Only one goal remained in his heart.
Cultivate, constantly become stronger, and become a top-tier expert.
Hearing Lu Fan say this, the Tower Spirit stopped teasing Lu Fan, sighed softly, and said:
"Forget it... There are no resources now, so you should just practice the sword techniques and movement techniques I taught you."
"Got it."
Lu Fan replied in a muffled voice, drew out the spirit sword his Master had left, and silently practiced in the courtyard...