"Shall we go on a date?"

This was Hen Quexi falling once again into her consumerist habits from her past life! For instance, when a person goes to a supermarket, they might not just buy what they originally intended, but end up thinking of buying a whole lot of other things. Take grocery shopping, for example: once you finish buying the vegetables, you think that you might want some fruit after the meal, so you buy some fruit as well.

Then you keep thinking that once you have digested the meal and your stomach feels empty again, you could have a small snack. And so, snacks are purchased too. After buying a massive pile of items and dragging them home with great difficulty, you suddenly realize you have lost your appetite, or perhaps you are simply too full to eat anything at all.

Hen Quexi had fallen victim to this idealistically driven shopping mindset!

Leng Feng's mouth twitched slightly. "Aren't we just taking a stroll through the Whispering Forest?"

"That's right! But having these things with us just in case never hurts!" Hen Quexi replied with a wide grin, revealing eight pearly-white teeth.

"But if we take everything away, what will my master do if he needs to use them?" Leng Feng continued to press, thoroughly reluctant to haul these items along.

"Oh, that's fine! Didn't your master say he's preparing to go into closed-door seclusion right after we leave? Since he'll be in seclusion, he certainly won't need any of these things! Besides, by the time he finishes his seclusion, we might already be back!"

Hen Quexi replied unhurriedly with her eyes curved into crescents of a smile. Her reasoning was sound and airtight, completely blocking every excuse Leng Feng had for refusing to carry them. With a resigned sigh, Leng Feng nodded and flicked his hand toward the person-sized pots, pans, bowls, and ladles. He muttered inwardly to himself, why on earth did I even bring a spatial ring this large?

While other people used theirs to store precious treasures, he was actually using his to pack junk! Alas, Heavens, this Prince is truly losing his dignity day by day! Leng Feng shook his head bitterly, vowing that he must never let anyone find out about this humiliating episode.

Having packed everything away, and with nothing else to bring, Leng Feng signaled to Hen Quexi that they were ready to set off.

Under the beaming gaze of Elder Wuming, Leng Feng led Hen Quexi away from the Bitter Bamboo Grove. The moment their figures vanished from sight, Elder Wuming burst into hearty laughter. However, the second he stepped into the kitchen, a heaven-shaking scream erupted from him instantly.

"Heavens above! You cleaned out every single thing so thoroughly—what is this old man supposed to eat over the next few days? Even though I am a Martial Emperor, I am still human, and I still need to eat..."

That miserable cry startled countless birds into flight, but upon hearing it, Hen Quexi and Leng Feng merely chuckled and paid no heed to the old man.

"Right, why on earth do you want to go to the Whispering Forest this time? Don't tell me some nonsense about wanting to eat spicy roasted chicken! Is it because you handed the Crimson Phosphorus Pill over to the auction house, and you didn't want me interfering and messing up your plans? So you deliberately entangled me just to drag me away from Nine Heavens City, isn't that it?"

Leng Feng's stern and handsome face tightened, his eyes narrowing as he stared intently at the skipping Hen Quexi. With his nearly demonic intellect, he instantly exposed everything Hen Quexi was attempting to do.

The accusation startled Hen Quexi, causing her to freeze for a moment. Recovering quickly, she forced an awkward laugh. "You're overthinking it! Actually, the main reason I did this is simply because I like you and wanted to go on a date with you!"

Hen Quexi spoke dryly, feeling utterly guilty inside as she lowered her head and feigned shyness. In truth, it was all just a cover to hide her exposed intentions.