劍問蒼天 - 第139章 偶遇 - 翰墨軒

Zhou Yixuan, thus snubbed, grew even more furious and was about to say more when Xiao Wan cut in beside him, scolding, "Grandfather!"

In recent years Zhou Yixuan had come to dread this sharp-tongued granddaughter of his above all others. He subsided into mumbling, though he kept muttering under his breath, plainly most unwilling.

Xiao Wan paid him no mind. She turned to Xiao Hui with a smile. "Xiao Hui, do you remember me? I gave you candied hawthorns to eat, remember?"

Xiao Hui fixed his eyes on Xiao Wan, all three blinking away, then suddenly nodded and grinned, and even wagged his tail twice—who knew whether he had learned that years ago on Dazhu Peak of Mount Canglan from that yellow dog, "Big Yellow."

Xiao Wan burst out laughing. "I never thought you'd remember me. Come here." She beckoned to the monkey.

Xiao Hui's eyes rolled. He reached up to his head, seeming slightly puzzled, and by habit tried to scratch it—but with a wine flask in one hand and a chicken leg in the other, both were occupied, so he simply rubbed the chicken leg against his furry head a few times, leaving a few spots of grease.

Xiao Wan covered her mouth and laughed softly. Xiao Hui looked at her smile and grinned back, then slowly shuffled over to the table in front of her and crouched down.

Zhou Yixuan, the Wild Dog, and Boss He in the distance all stared wide-eyed.

Xiao Wan studied the monkey a moment, then drew a silk handkerchief from her bosom and frowned. "Put down what you're holding."

The three-eyed monkey hesitated, gave two chirps of protest—plainly reluctant—and Xiao Wan gave him a light tap on the head. "Hurry up!"

Xiao Hui pouted, set the chicken leg back on the plate, stealing one more glance at it, then was about to set down the wine flask when he suddenly raised it to his lips for a great gulp, and only then put it back on the table.

Xiao Wan shook her head in amusement. "How did you get so greedy?" She drew both his monkey hands toward her and carefully wiped the grease from them with the silk handkerchief, and Xiao Hui held perfectly still, letting her do as she pleased.

Strange to say, apart from his master Ming Li, the three-eyed spirit monkey seemed to feel some slight fondness only for a handful of other women; as for the likes of Zhou Yixuan and the Wild Dog, he had apparently never taken a liking to them at all.

When she had finished wiping, Xiao Wan laid the handkerchief aside, glanced at Ming Li slumped there reeking of wine, and said to Xiao Hui, "How did he end up like this?"

Xiao Hui scratched his head and began chirping "zhi zhi zhi zhi," waving his arms about, but to his evident frustration everyone present simply stared blankly at one another; clearly no one understood a word. Xiao Hui seemed to realize this and fell silent.

Suddenly the monkey thrust a finger at Xiao Wan, nearly jabbing her in the face. She started back in fright, and beside her the Wild Wolf Daoist made to move, thinking the monkey's wild nature had gotten the better of him—but Zhou Yixuan caught him by the arm.

The Wild Dog blinked and looked at Zhou Yixuan, who said in a low voice, "Let's watch a bit longer."

Xiao Hui pointed at Xiao Wan, then abruptly somersaulted on the table, leapt to its center, and began chirping wildly, gesturing at her, then traced a curving shape down his body with both hands from top to bottom.

Xiao Wan was bewildered, but beside her Zhou Yixuan frowned. "A woman?"

Xiao Hui nodded vigorously, then pointed at the prostrate Ming Li, clasped both hands over his heart, gave a few chirping cries, and suddenly toppled backward, his whole monkey body going over straight as a board.

Xiao Wan cried out, "Careful!"

Before the words were out, Xiao Hui—too caught up in his performance—had forgotten this was a table of no great size, and his hopping about had carried him unknowingly to the very edge. As he fell, there came a "plop," and he vanished beneath the table.