Night fell.
Hoshino Sora was giving Erina Nakiri a foot massage in the room.
His fingers massaged her feet with even pressure. Because she had been walking in the valley all day, her feet were covered in sweat, emitting a faint smell of sweat mixed with leather, which was somewhat intoxicating.
"You're still the same as before. Are you really so obsessed with feet? Looking at you, it's like you're about to put them in your mouth to savor them, even though the sweat smells so bad."
Looking at Hoshino Sora's obsessed posture, Erina Nakiri, sitting on the bed, couldn't help but complain, her eyes revealing a strange look. This guy really hadn't lost his charm!
"One man's poison is another man's honey."
Hoshino Sora said as he massaged her small feet, looking at them with eyes full of affection. This was his sincere and genuine love for beautiful feet!
"I can't stand you. Do you want it or not?"
Looking at the intoxicated Hoshino Sora, Erina Nakiri said with a mix of disdain and indulgence, then lifted her other unrestrained foot and brought it close to his face.
And then, a war provoked by Erina Nakiri began! In the end, Erina was utterly defeated, surrendering with continuous Scream.
However, Hoshino Sora clearly wasn't going to let her off so easily. He insisted that the God Tongue try his flavor. Erina Nakiri was helpless and couldn't resist, ultimately letting him have his way.
If outsiders knew that the God Tongue was being used in this way, they would surely sigh with regret, lamenting the waste of a heavenly treasure. Erina Nakiri was definitely the first person in history to do so!
At this moment, her cheeks were flushed, and her expression was subtle as she wiped her mouth. She had almost choked just now. Because she stopped in time, this rascal truly never let anyone rest easy!
---
The peaceful days continued for several days. Hoshino Sora would run to the bottom of the valley to see Merchant Xingchen every now and then. Also, curious about how the other party usually bathed, the other party led him to a natural lake.
After discovering the lake, Hoshino Sora immediately took off his clothes, ready to deepen his bond with this future disciple. However, the other party was bashful and wouldn't take off her clothes for a long time.
In the end, it was Hoshino Sora who took action, which finally revealed the truth about this tomboy. It turned out she wasn't a boy, but a girl, truly deceiving everyone!
"Gurgle~"
Bubbles emerged from the natural lake. Merchant Xingchen emerged from the water, looking at Hoshino Sora with a resentful expression, seemingly blaming him for his rudeness just now.
At this time, Hoshino Sora also showed an embarrassed expression. The other party's hair was so short... it indeed lacked some masculine vigor, but the other party was a child after all, so how could he think in that way?
"Bad master!"
She didn't know when she had scooped up a pile of water in her hand. Seeing Hoshino Sora look over, she immediately squeezed out the water. The stream of water sprayed on Hoshino Sora's face like a high-pressure water gun, and a smile also appeared on the girl's face.
"Ah, alright, stop talking."
Thinking of what he had just done to Merchant Xingchen, Hoshino Sora immediately felt so ashamed that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into. No wonder the other party resisted so fiercely just now. But since she was a girl, she should have just said it directly, why keep it to herself and make him embarrassed for so long?
"Hmph, since you've seen my body, then you must take me as your disciple! Otherwise, I'll go up there and tell everyone what you did to me!"
There was a hint of cunning deep in her eyes. She actually wanted to force him directly. She could also see that Hoshino Sora didn't really want to take a disciple, but he had a certain pity for her, so she wanted to seize this opportunity to rise to prominence!
"You and a child, who did you learn that from?"
Looking at the mischievous Merchant Xingchen, who was wet from the water, Hoshino Sora couldn't help but pinch her nose and complain, but he felt even more heartache and didn't feel dissatisfied with her actions.
After all, he was indeed at fault first.
"Hmph, just tell me if you agree or not. Be careful, your lifelong reputation might be ruined like this~"
It was clear that Merchant Xingchen was more teasing than threatening. Hoshino Sora clearly understood the longing and worry in her heart from her posture. If her future life was confined to the bottom of the valley, she would never be able to turn her life around.
"Alright, I'll take you as my disciple.
But I can't take you with me yet. Tomorrow is the day of my duel with the Deep Fried Skewer Tribe. After the competition, I'll secretly take you away. You can stay here for one more day for now."
"Mhm."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Merchant Xingchen looked into his eyes and nodded very seriously. After confirming that the other party wasn't joking, a bright smile immediately bloomed on her face.
Joy, probably this kind of emotion. Merchant Xingchen reached out and hugged Hoshino Sora's neck, almost kissing him.
In fact, she really wanted to do that, but she held back. She didn't want to leave a frivolous bad impression on her master.
"It's getting late. I have a competition tomorrow, so I'll head back now."
"Master, walk slowly. Do you want me to see you off?"
Looking at Hoshino Sora, who had turned his back to her and stood up, Merchant Xingchen's eyes seemed to shimmer with a strange light. In a trance, she saw her reflection in the water and couldn't help but be secretly surprised.
"No need. You should also rest early. I might take you away tomorrow night. This is my gift for your apprenticeship. It can provide a certain degree of protection, and you must carry it with you."
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora handed Merchant Xingchen the Guardian Pendant he had exchanged from the System Shop. The other party was young after all, and powerless, so leaving her alone here was somewhat worrying.
Although the other party had been here for so many years without incident, Hoshino Sora didn't think anything would happen to her if he left for one night.
But, he had seen too many melodramatic tragedies. This was just in case, and also to put his mind at ease so he wouldn't be distracted during the competition.
"Thank you, Master! Master, wait, I'll change my clothes."
Seeing Hoshino Sora not turn around, but hand her an unknown material jade pendant with his back, Merchant Xingchen's heart trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. This was the first time anyone had been so kind to her!
"Master above, please accept your disciple's bow!"
Two minutes later, Merchant Xingchen changed her clothes and came running to Hoshino Sora. Then, she knelt down respectfully on the muddy ground and kowtowed. Although it wasn't a formal apprenticeship ceremony, this was all she could think of.
Once a teacher, always a father. From now on, Hoshino Sora was her closest person! She entrusted everything to him.
"Alright, get up, good disciple."
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