“U-Uncle Baroque.”
Lin Ling stood at the door, stuffing the wood carving into the sleeve of her outer robe as she peeked cautiously inside.
Mrs. Nashi had already stepped in first.
Her back still looked gentle and poised.
However, the terrifying voice that had called out “Da~shi~” earlier was still echoing in Lin Ling’s mind.
It was too scary.
That was definitely not the voice of an ordinary mother.
It was like the voice prompt before a hidden boss enters their second phase.
Lin Ling swallowed hard and quietly scooted a bit closer to Baroque.
“Do we really have to go in?”
Baroque looked down at her.
Lin Ling’s expression was incredibly serious.
It looked like she was genuinely considering whether she should take this chance to make a run for it.
Baroque was silent for two seconds.
Then, he reached out his hand.
“Eh?”
Before Lin Ling could react, she was hoisted up by Baroque and slung over his shoulder like a sack of cargo.
“Whoa!”
“Uncle Baroque?!”
“Stop squirming.”
Baroque said expressionlessly:
“Didn’t you say you wanted to return that wood carving to them?”
“Well, yes, but still!”
“Then we’re going in.”
With that, he carried Lin Ling into the house.
Lin Ling lay flat against his shoulder, silently clutching the wood carving tight.
She felt like her dignity had completely plummeted.
The Great Miss Saintess was entering a resident's home via cargo transport mode.
If Phelan were to record this, she couldn't even imagine the consequences.
Baroque set her down on a chair.
Once she was steady, Lin Ling immediately smoothed out her skirt, trying to salvage a tiny bit of her image.
At that moment, Mrs. Nashi happened to walk out of the kitchen carrying two wooden cups.
“Please, have some water.”
“Thank you!”
Lin Ling’s eyes lit up.
She had been floating around all morning and then experienced the Dashi screaming incident, so she was indeed a bit thirsty.
She took the wooden cup, and after thanking her, she held it with both hands and took a large gulp.
Mrs. Nashi sat opposite her, hands lightly folded, her face still carrying a hint of nervousness.
“May I ask...”
“Is there a particular reason you two have come to see us?”
She asked cautiously.
Even though Baroque had said Lin Ling didn't care for formalities, having the Saintess and one of the Four Heavenly Kings personally visit was still not a small matter that an ordinary resident could take lightly.
Mrs. Nashi seemed worried that they had come for something unpleasant.
But when she looked up, what she saw was—
Lin Ling’s eyes turning red as she choked from drinking too fast.
“Cough, cough-cough!”
She had drunk too quickly.
Water went down the wrong pipe, and Lin Ling nearly jumped out of her chair.
Baroque sighed, reaching out to press a hand against her back to help her catch her breath.
“Drink slowly.”
“No one’s going to steal it from you.”
“Cough-cough... I was just, just a bit thirsty...”
Lin Ling struggled to explain while coughing.
Baroque frowned as he continued to pat her back.
Lin Ling even tried to wave her hand at Mrs. Nashi to show she was fine.
She ended up coughing again.
Mrs. Nashi: “...”
For some reason.
She suddenly didn't feel so nervous anymore.
After a while, Lin Ling finally recovered.
She let out a long breath and patted her chest.
“I’ve returned to the land of the living.”
Baroque looked at her.
“Almost choking yourself to death on water... you really are something else.”
“That was an accident.”
Lin Ling retorted solemnly.
“Even a Saintess can fall victim to a water-element attack.”
“You were just drinking water.”
Lin Ling pretended she didn't hear him.
She set the wooden cup down, then reached into the wide sleeve of her outer robe and rummaged around.
Baroque watched her, his brow slowly furrowing.
In the next second, Lin Ling pulled out the half-finished wood carving from her sleeve.
Baroque: “...”
He looked down at Lin Ling’s sleeve opening.
“Just how much stuff do you have stuffed in your clothes?”
Lin Ling held the wood carving, sounding perfectly justified.
“This is the Saintess’s secret warehouse.”
“That’s a sleeve.”
“A sleeve is the prototype of a mobile warehouse.”
Baroque decided to stop talking.
The moment Lin Ling brought out the wood carving, a low gasp came from the corner.
“My wood carving!”
Dashi had poked half his head out from inside at some point.
After seeing what was in Lin Ling’s hand, his eyes lit up instantly, and he rushed out of the room.
“Da~shi~”
Mrs. Nashi’s voice rang out again.
Dashi froze mid-dash.
Lin Ling watched with her own eyes as he transformed from an “excited child” into a “child with survival instincts activated.”
The movement was as smooth as a rehearsed play.
He came to a steady halt in front of Lin Ling.
Then, he stood straight, bowed his head, and gave a deep bow.
It was all done in one fluid motion.
“Thank you very much for finding my wood carving!”
His voice was clear.
His attitude was upright.
There was even a sense of maturity that comes after being disciplined by house rules.
Lin Ling held the wood carving, stunned for a moment.
“Actually, you don't need to be so formal...”
She scratched her cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Dashi remained in his ninety-degree bow.
“Mom said that when someone helps you, you must thank them properly.”
Lin Ling peeked at Mrs. Nashi.
Mrs. Nashi was sitting poised to the side, a gentle smile on her face.
She looked very gratified, yet also very intimidating.
Lin Ling immediately handed the wood carving over.
“Here.”
“Make sure to keep it safe next time.”
Dashi carefully took the wood carving.
His hands showed that he cherished this item much more than Lin Ling had expected.
The wood carving wasn't finished, and the edges were rough enough to be uncomfortable, yet he still held it in his arms like it was some kind of treasure.
Seeing that her child could at least thank someone properly, the smile on Mrs. Nashi’s face softened.
“Don't say that.”
She looked at Lin Ling.
“You came all this way specifically to return the wood carving for this child. He’ll be happy about this for a long time.”
Dashi clutched the wood carving and muttered a protest:
“Not that long...”
Mrs. Nashi looked at him.
Dashi immediately lowered his head.
“I’ll be happy for a very long time.”
Lin Ling couldn't help but chuckle.
But just as the atmosphere was beginning to soften.
Grumble.
A faint sound rang out.
The room fell silent for a moment.
The smile on Lin Ling’s face froze.
She slowly looked down at her stomach, her face beginning to turn slightly red.
Betrayed.
She had been utterly betrayed.
They were in the middle of a heartwarming scene, so why did her stomach have to make a noise right now?
Mrs. Nashi, sitting opposite her, had naturally heard it.
Quite clearly.
“It seems the Saintess is a bit hungry?”
Lin Ling’s face began to flush.
“It’s just that my breakfast might be... digesting rather proactively.”
Baroque glanced at her.
“Speak like a normal person.”
Lin Ling looked down.
“I’m hungry.”
Mrs. Nashi chuckled softly and turned toward the kitchen.
“If you don't mind, you’re welcome to stay and have lunch with us.”
“I don't mind, I don't mind at all!”
Lin Ling looked up instinctively.
After saying it, she felt she had answered a bit too quickly, so she tried her best to add:
“I mean, thank you for having me.”
Mrs. Nashi’s smile deepened.
Before long, she came out carrying lunch.
The food was set on the wooden table.
A few slices of cut bread.
A small bowl of hot soup.
And a dish of deep-red dipping sauce that looked like fruit jam.
It wasn't a lavish meal.
Lin Ling’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the food.
“Is this fruit jam?”
Dashi immediately huddled by the table.
“It’s made from Sour-Sweet Fruit.”
“Mom just got some today.”
“It’s really delicious.”
Lin Ling nodded solemnly.
“It sounds like it has great research value.”
Baroque sat to the side and glanced at the dish of jam.
“It seems the recent harvest has been good.”
He spoke up:
“The vegetables and fruits from the humans’ side are already ready for harvest?”
Mrs. Nashi nodded.
“Yes, Lord Baroque.”
She pushed the bread toward Lin Ling.
“The quantity isn't large yet, but we’ve already been able to distribute some.”
“Everyone is very happy.”
At this, she looked at Dashi.
Dashi had already quietly scooted next to Lin Ling and was whispering to her about the best way to dip the bread into the jam.
Lin Ling was listening very intently.
The two of them were discussing it as if they were in an important academic conference.
Mrs. Nashi’s gaze slowly softened.
“This is all thanks to the Saintess.”
She said softly.
“Now, the children can finally grow up healthy and happy.”
She looked at Lin Ling.
Her eyes were filled with gratitude toward her.
Rate on N.U.
