"Here."
Ye Tian Yun offered the burger to the princess.
Princess Xin Xue Qing didn't show any shyness and held the burger.
"Have you ever had these things before?" She asked while staring at it with a frown.
Ye Tian Yun nodded his head, "Yeah, a close friend of mine once got me these."
"Oh?" Princess Xin asked, "How do you eat this? I am afraid history will repeat when I bite from any part, and the vegetables will pop out from the opposite."
Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Well, there's a specific way for this. Let me show you."
"A specific way?" She frowned, "Do tell."
Ye Tian Yun nodded, "See here."
Following the exact instruction Gao Xuan had once told him in the Gracious Sword Sect, he explained it to the Princess.
"As you can see, the thumbs and the pinkies are on the bottom. The middle three fingers on each hand are on the top. Because of this, the burger is divided visually into equal parts. If the burger is held uniformly, then its contents shouldn't spill out of the burger's backside."
"Ah, so that's how it is." Xin Xue Qing was impressed.
It's not usual to encounter someone who could tell how to eat a burger.
"You must be a huge fan of this burger," She added, "You even know such tricks."
Ye Tian Yun shrugged, "Just passing the knowledge. It's not a big deal."
Princess Xin thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know the girl who sells these burgers at that stall?"
The abrupt question surprised Ye Tian Yun.
He glanced at the stall but didn't find anything out of the ordinary.
"No, I can't even see her face. And I don't think I have ever met that girl." He replied.
Xin Xue Qing frowned, "Hmm, well, she has been glaring at me ever since you came here with the burgers."
"Oh, is she?" Ye Tian Yun shrugged it off, "Most likely a misunderstanding."
"I hope so," Xin Xue Qing smiled, "I already have lots of troubles on my plate. I don't want another person wishing me dead."
"Ah, you sound like you have a lot to talk about," Ye Tian Yun's lips curled, "So tell me, Miss. What's your addiction?"
"Addiction?" Xin Xue Qing was amused, "That's an interesting way of putting it. Well, I like to come here from time to time and enjoy my stay. Other than that, I like to cultivate on my own. But I don't get much time because of my other work-related matters."
Ye Tian Yun lightly nodded, "This garden lives up to its name."
"Are you going to be a regular visitor to this place?" The Princess asked.
Ye Tian Yun smiled.
'The fish has taken the bait?'
"I can't say," He replied, "I have my own work too. Today was a special case."
"Oh?" She asked, "What's today?"
"Well, my intuition brought me here, as if it wanted me to encounter someone important."
"Oh? Did you meet her?" Princess smiled with her eyes narrowed.
Ye Tian Yun turned towards her and stared directly in the depth of her eyes; he asked, "Have I? I wonder."
"Aish, you're strange." Princess shook her head, but a small smile was etched on her face.
Ye Tian Yun chuckled, "Some laugh at me because I am different, but I smile at them because they are all the same."
"Oh? What about me?" Princess Xin asked in curiosity.
"Well, how should I put it…" Ye Tian Yun took a deep breath, and once again, looking directly into her eyes, he said, "The chance of meeting another person like you is the only reason I talk to strangers."
"Hahaha," Princess Xin Xue Qing had a sweet laugh, "I must say, you're strangely interesting."
Ye Tian Yun handed her over a gourd of water, "Here."
They had finished the burger, and while she drank, he replied, "And you're gorgeous."
Wiping the water from the corner of her lips, she smiled, "Oh really?"
Ye Tian Yun shrugged, "I wouldn't lie on such a nice evening."
"It's indeed a nice evening."
"Well, I wish it could last a bit longer," Ye Tian Yun took a deep breath and stood up.
"Oh, you're leaving?" Princess Xin pursed her lips.
Ye Tian Yun gave her a genuine smile, "I can't stay here for long. Maybe tomorrow I will make some changes in my schedule to get more time to spend on this seat. Till then, farewell, milady."
[Xin Xue Qing. 3 Stars. Very intrigued and interested in you.]
And without waiting for a response, he turned around and left.
Princess Xin Xue Qing stared at the disappearing back of the young man whom she had just met.
This was by far the first time she had such a natural and normal conversation with someone outside of her family.
Staring at the path through which the mysterious young man had left, she couldn't help but want him to come back and talk more.
'Will he come back tomorrow?'
She was curious and excited.
'I will have Uncle Lou find more about him.'
'Oh no… I forgot to even ask for his name…'
She sighed.
…
A few moments earlier, when Jun Xie saw Ye Tian Yun leaving, he excused himself from the company of Ling Yun and his friend Feng Yun and followed Ye Tian Yun.
Upon reaching a blind spot, he enveloped Ye Tian Yun and himself in illusion, and to the normal eyes, both of them suddenly disappeared.
"How was it?" Jun Xie increased his pace and came shoulder to shoulder with Ye Tian Yun, "Did it go alright?"
Ye Tian Yun nodded, "It was alright. Oh, did you get the extra burgers?"
"Yeah, I did," Jun Xie nodded, "I got twelve more."
"Twelve?"
Jun Xie shrugged, "Five for us, and the rest for your family."
"Alright," Ye Tian Yun smiled, "Thanks."
"No need for that," Jun Xie shook his head, "I should have brought something for Uncle and Aunt, but I was so excited to know about my father that I totally forgot about it."
"Ah, don't mind that," Ye Tian Yun shook his head, "They were not expecting anything anyway."
"Well, it's the gesture that counts." Jun Xie shrugged.
Ye Tian Yun nodded, "True."
Jun Xie suddenly frowned, "How are you planning to get out? The gates are closed. If they open on their own, things might get complicated."
"I know," Ye Tian Yun nodded, "And we can't wait for someone either. Let's first check the arrays."
"Alright." Jun Xie nodded.
Both of them walked towards the wall and began to observe the wall.
"This…" They frowned upon observing the arrays.