Qiu Chang patted Heng Deng on the shoulder and said, "Don't be afraid, foster father has another way to make sure you can eat the food I cook."
By now, Heng Deng no longer expected Qiu Chang to come up with any good ideas. "Maybe I'd better do it myself..."
"Don't talk. Foster father will treat you to roasted fish." Qiu Chang picked up a wooden stick, skewered the fish on the table, then summoned his Phoenix True Fire and roasted the fish right away.
The fish was roasted to a golden brown, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The meat was fresh, tender and springy, as if it were made by a culinary god.
Qiu Chang proudly handed the fish to Heng Deng and said complacently, "How about it? Isn't foster father amazing? Is one fish enough? Or should I roast a chicken for you?"
Heng Deng: "…"
After this incident, Heng Deng never let Qiu Chang into the kitchen again. No matter how much the latter begged and cajoled, Heng Deng firmly refused.
*
One day, outside the Phoenix Hall under the parasol tree on Ziwei Mountain.
A figure in red flitted about, dancing with a sword amidst the flying flower petals. The sword was like a white snake spitting out its tongue, hissing through the wind. The sword qi, like a swimming dragon, swirled around Qiu Chang, making his clothes flutter with every movement.
Sometimes his steps were as light as a swallow's, leaping up with the sword; sometimes they were as swift as thunder, causing the parasol tree leaves to scatter. Qiu Chang tapped his toes on the ground and waved out another streak of sword light.
"How about it?" Qiu Chang sheathed his sword and raised his eyebrows at the two children sitting under the parasol tree.
"Wow, so amazing!" Heng Deng praised without hesitation.
Hua Feijie was already used to Qiu Chang's swordsmanship, so his expression showed little surprise. But he still respected Qiu Chang very much in his heart. "Not bad. Of course, the divine lord is unparalleled."
Qiu Chang was so flattered that he almost puffed up with pride. He snorted twice complacently. "Do you want to learn? I'm in a good mood today, so I'll teach you."
Heng Deng's eyes instantly sparkled with stars. "Yes! Foster father, teach me!"
Although Hua Feijie didn't say whether he wanted to learn or not, his eyes were exactly the same as Heng Deng's.
Qiu Chang had long expected that these two children would want to learn. He had already prepared the swords. They were top - grade peach - wood swords, which were especially suitable for beginners. They not only wouldn't cause injuries but also could ward off evil spirits.
It was really killing two birds with one stone. Qiu Chang smiled contentedly and handed the two swords to the two kids.
Qiu Chang stood under the parasol tree again and slowed down his movements for them to watch. "Watch carefully. I'll only demonstrate one last time."
The two children sat huddled together by the tree, watching intently.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years had passed. Heng Deng had grown into a graceful young man. His facial features had gradually taken shape, and even his voice had become a bit deeper. When he spoke, his voice was low and powerful, very pleasant to hear.
However, Hua Feijie was still as tall as Qiu Chang's thigh, and now he was only as tall as Heng Deng's thigh. He hadn't grown at all. If you really wanted to know how much he had grown, Heng Deng had coaxed him more than once, saying that he had grown one or two millimeters. Maybe after another ten years, he would finally grow one centimeter.
Qiu Chang found that Heng Deng had become more and more mature - looking recently. He not only practiced magic well but also could cook and do laundry. Moreover, he especially liked to discipline people, but this person was limited to Qiu Chang.
Qiu Chang was extremely distressed. In the past, Heng Deng controlled his diet, and now he even started to control his drinking. If he was like this at such a young age, what would he be like when he grew up!
But today, Heng Deng had gone with Elder Bai to subdue demons and was not on the mountain. So Qiu Chang sneaked around half of the mountain and tiptoed into a cave, where he took out a jar of wine and started drinking.
The reason why Qiu Chang hid the wine so far away was all because of Heng Deng. Last month, Heng Deng had confiscated all the wine in his room. Qiu Chang had said all kinds of good and bad things, and even resorted to threats and inducements, but he still couldn't get the wine back.
So he hid it here.
After drinking almost half a jar of wine, Qiu Chang smacked his lips contentedly and left. When he returned to the Phoenix Hall and pushed open the door, he instantly sobered up, scared sober.
Qiu Chang asked guiltily, "Aren't you supposed to be out with Elder Bai subduing demons?"
"I'm done." Heng Deng walked up to Qiu Chang, leaned in and smelled him. "Foster father has been drinking again."
Now Heng Deng was as tall as Qiu Chang. In the past, Qiu Chang had to look down when talking to him, but now they could look directly into each other's eyes. All the panic in Qiu Chang's eyes was captured by the other.
"Can you believe me if I say it was Hua Feijie who drank and I was just chatting with him?" Qiu Chang forced a laugh.
"Of course not," Heng Deng said. "Hua Feijie is still young. He only likes sugar figurines and never drinks. Foster father, you'd better tell me the truth."
Qiu Chang slumped against the doorframe like a deflated balloon. He said dejectedly, "I only drank a little."
Heng Deng didn't believe Qiu Chang's nonsense at all. Qiu Chang reeked of alcohol. Heng Deng could smell it as soon as he entered the door. So he asked, "A little? How much is that?"
Qiu Chang replied cautiously, "… half a jar."
Heng Deng: "…"
"Confiscated." Heng Deng made a prompt decision.
From then on, Qiu Chang didn't dare to hide wine anymore. He would secretly go down the mountain to buy wine and then go to the rooftops to drink. On Ziwei Mountain, there wasn't a single house whose rooftop Qiu Chang hadn't been on.
Heng Deng naturally knew about this, but he turned a blind eye. As long as Qiu Chang didn't get drunk, he wouldn't pursue the matter.
On the 18th of July, it was Heng Deng's birthday. On this day, Qiu Chang, who hadn't been able to drink openly for a long time, got completely drunk. It was Heng Deng who helped him back to the room step by step.
"Don't... don't worry about me. I can... can walk by myself." Qiu Chang staggered as if he had no bones. Wherever Heng Deng directed him, he would go, but this guy still had a stubborn mouth.
Heng Deng wasn't in a hurry. He supported Qiu Chang with his hand, walked at a leisurely pace, and even indulged this drunkard with his words: "Okay, okay. Foster father is always right."
Heng Deng's tone was just like that of someone coaxing a child.
Heng Deng added, "You're such an adult. You don't even know to control yourself. When no one's around, you drink so much."
Qiu Chang said firmly. Although his tongue was a bit slurred, his words were still understandable. "Today... today is my son's birthday. As a father, I'm happy. What's wrong with drinking some wine..."
Heng Deng helped him onto the couch. But Qiu Chang sat on the couch and grabbed his sleeve, not letting him go. There was a silly look on his face. "Pretty lady, which sect are you from... Do you want to come home with me and be my... my wife of the mountain stronghold?"
"… No." Heng Deng pushed him back onto the couch.
Wife of the mountain stronghold?
Was foster father drunk stupid?
Qiu Chang said firmly, "My Ziwei Mountain is the richest!"
"Yeah, I know."
Qiu Chang continued, "Then... do you want to come with me?"
"How can I come with you, foster father?" Heng Deng tucked the stray hair behind Qiu Chang's ear, and his tone revealed a kind of doting.