Chapter 77: Jiang Nannan Joins
Huo Yuhao gently set the last meticulously prepared dish onto the long table draped with a simple, elegant cloth. It was a steamed bass, its flesh as pure and white as snow, adorned with delicate slivers of pale green scallion and vibrant red chili rings. The broth beneath was crystal-clear, releasing a faint, refined fragrance. Next, he brought out a platter of golden, crispy roast rabbit. The skin had been roasted to perfection, its glistening fat shimmering with an irresistible luster beneath the sunlight.
Tang Ya's nostrils flared faintly. Her bright eyes fixed intently on the feast before her, the fingers gripping her chopsticks unconsciously tightening and loosening in cycles. She forcibly suppressed the urge to dive in immediately, sneaking a glance at the gracefully poised Jiang Nannan beside her and doing her utmost to maintain a ladylike demeanor. Yet the subtle, near-constant swallowing motion in her throat still betrayed the depth of her longing.
Jiang Nannan's gaze lingered over the exquisite dishes, a flash of stunned admiration passing through her eyes. The emerald-green stir-fried seasonal vegetables had been arranged in the shape of a lotus blossom, accompanied by carrots carved into the likeness of jade rabbits. The grilled fish bore delicate, perfectly executed scoring across its surface, every knife-cut bearing witness to the chef's devotion. She couldn't help marveling inwardly: Such refined, exquisite cuisine—one would be hard-pressed to find even at the banquets of royalty and high nobility.
"Hello to you both," Jiang Nannan inclined her head slightly, her voice soft and pleasing. "You two must be Furina and Huo Yuhao? Xiao Ya mentioned you on the way here." Her gaze lingered on Furina for a moment, drawn by the other woman's uniquely striking presence—an aura that was simultaneously noble yet approachable, distant yet warm.
Furina inclined her head gently, a warm smile rippling across her lips. "That's right. I imagine Xiao Ya has also mentioned that we'd like to invite you to join the Church of the Water God." As she spoke, her fingers traced lightly along the rim of her teacup, the gesture elegant and effortless.
Jiang Nannan looked slightly surprised. "She didn't go into detail about that, actually. Though when she came to find me, she did say there was something important to discuss—something she called a tremendously good thing."
Tang Ya stuck out her tongue sheepishly and pressed her palms together in apology. "Sorry! I was in such a rush, and I figured it'd be better to wait until everyone was here." Her gaze drifted unconsciously back toward that platter of aromatic roast rabbit, her eyes brimming with undisguised longing.
Furina gestured gracefully toward the table. "No matter. Why don't we discuss this while we enjoy the meal?" She took her seat first, her skirts spreading around her like flowing water.
"Finally!" Tang Ya responded instantly, her chopsticks already poised and eager. "Yuhao's cooking is simply incredible. Just the smell alone is unbearable. Such exquisite dishes—I doubt even the great nobles get to eat like this very often."
Huo Yuhao smiled modestly. "It's really not that extraordinary. At our Church of the Water God, everyone can learn these culinary skills." As he spoke, he carefully served food onto each person's plate.
"Really?!" Tang Ya's eyes flew wide with delighted surprise.
Furina picked up the thread, her voice tinged with pride. "We have our little culinary prodigy here and his dedicated guidance to thank for that. Though what others make may not quite match what Yuhao can produce with his own hands, the quality is absolutely first-rate." She picked up a delicate piece of fish with her chopsticks and brought it to her lips with refined grace, a look of approval flickering in her eyes.
"So you're saying—if I join the Church of the Water God, I'll get to eat food like this all the time?" Tang Ya pressed eagerly, her chopsticks practically trembling with anticipation.
Bei Bei shook his head in fond exasperation, his voice laced with indulgence. "My dear Tang Sect Master, Teacher Xiao Ya—did you join the Church of the Water God purely for the food?" As he spoke, he considerately placed a piece of the rabbit meat she'd been eyeing onto her plate.
Tang Ya answered with perfect, righteous confidence. "That's only one of the reasons! Besides, what's wrong with enjoying food like this? The joy of life ought to come from good food!" She could hold back no longer. She took a careful bite of the rabbit meat and immediately closed her eyes in pure bliss.
Bei Bei laughed helplessly and turned to Jiang Nannan, only to find that she, too, had been amused into a smile by Tang Ya's antics.
"Alright—let's get back to the matter at hand." Jiang Nannan reined in her smile and composed herself. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Jiang Nannan. My martial soul is the Soft-Boned Rabbit. Its quality isn't particularly outstanding. I come from a poor family—no noble blood whatsoever. Even if I were to join the Church of the Water God or the Tang Sect, I'm afraid the help I could offer would be very limited." As she spoke, her fingers unconsciously traced the hem of her clothing, betraying a quiet, inner unease.
Furina set down her chopsticks and fixed Jiang Nannan with a warm, steady gaze. "The guiding principle of the Church of the Water God is to serve the broad masses—we are especially dedicated to aiding commoners. Besides, being unable to help now doesn't mean you won't be able to in the future." Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable, persuasive power. "I am willing to offer you aid. In return, you need only join the Church of the Water God, be assigned to the subordinate Tang Sect division, and assist Tang Ya in reviving the Tang Sect. So long as you do nothing that violates morality and justice, I will not restrict your personal freedom in any way."
She paused briefly, allowing Jiang Nannan to absorb her words, then continued. "I have faith in your talent. You are exactly the kind of person we need. Given time, you will surely become a Titled Douluo, and when that day comes, I hope you will lend me your strength. You may study all of the Tang Sect's secret arts—I trust Tang Ya will not refuse. You may even choose suitable techniques from the Church of the Water God's own collection to cultivate. Though the Soft-Boned Rabbit may seem to possess no special attribute, its characteristic of overcoming hardness with softness means there will always be techniques well-suited to it."
Tang Ya immediately nodded in vigorous agreement. "Exactly, exactly! Nannan, there's truly no downside for you in this. I swear on my honor and my position as Tang Sect Master—I will absolutely never constrain your freedom."
She took Jiang Nannan's hand, her voice brimming with sincerity. "Besides—once you become stronger, won't you be able to shake off that annoying Xu Sanshi? You clearly don't like him, yet he's always pestering you. Since that's the case, why not become stronger than him? Surpass him. Next time you see him, just give him a good beating!"
At the mention of the name "Xu Sanshi," Jiang Nannan's face paled slightly. The fingers gripping her chopsticks tightened unconsciously.
Furina caught this detail with razor-sharp perception. A ripple of emotion stirred in her heart. She recalled this deeply lamentable entanglement from the original story—this fate that had been forcibly thrust upon someone—and felt an even deeper surge of sympathy for Jiang Nannan.
Then, a thought suddenly struck Furina. This seems like... one of that Sugar-Adds-Three-Spoons's twisted little amusements. He'd written himself into the story as the male character—Xu Sanshi—and then taken the author of Dragon Clan, Jiang Nan, and turned him into a female character: Jiang Nannan. And what was more, in the story Xu Sanshi had already taken her virtue, and she ultimately became his wife. In contrast, in Dragon Clan 2, that same author had given Sugar-Adds-Three-Spoons a cameo as a bounty hunter who ran a security company and trafficked in stolen artifacts—and who ultimately washed his hands clean, walked away unscathed, and fled abroad. Was this... what passed for brotherhood between them?
Bei Bei chose this moment to speak, his voice gentle. "Though I don't wish to overly influence your decision, Furina truly can offer you a great deal of help. Even Tang Ya has already benefited immensely."
He glanced meaningfully at the sumptuous spread on the table. "You've surely heard of the Church of the Water God's reputation. It's an organization that genuinely and wholeheartedly devotes itself to the welfare of the common people."
Just then, a soft breeze swept past, stirring the strands of Jiang Nannan's pink hair. She lowered her head to look at the exquisite dishes before her, then lifted it again to gaze around at everyone present—the lively, sincere Tang Ya; the gentle, refined Bei Bei; the culinarily brilliant Huo Yuhao; and the uniquely charismatic Furina. In every pair of eyes, she saw sincerity and hope.
"May I ask," Jiang Nannan spoke softly, her voice trembling faintly, "if I were to join the Church of the Water God... what would I need to do? And what would I receive in return?"
Furina smiled. She knew Jiang Nannan was now seriously considering the proposal.
She lifted her teacup, took a delicate sip, and began to explain in detail the principles and rules of the Church of the Water God, as well as the various forms of support it could offer its members. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves above, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across her, making it seem as if she herself were softly glowing.
Huo Yuhao, with perfect timing, refilled everyone's cups with his specially blended floral tea. The crisp, refreshing fragrance of the tea mingled with the aromas of the dishes, weaving a warm, intimate atmosphere. Tang Ya, though still savoring the food, had quieted down and was now listening intently to every word Furina spoke.
As Furina's explanation unfolded, the hesitation in Jiang Nannan's eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a steadily growing interest and anticipation. When Furina mentioned that the Church of the Water God possessed cultivation techniques suited to the Soft-Boned Rabbit martial soul, Jiang Nannan was visibly stirred. When Furina spoke of how members could spar and train together, advancing side by side, Jiang Nannan's eyes lit up.
"...And most importantly," Furina concluded, "here, you can live according to your own will. You can pursue what you truly desire—not be swept along by a fate you never chose."
She cast Jiang Nannan a deeply meaningful glance, as if seeing straight through to the struggle buried deep within her heart.
Jiang Nannan fell silent for a long moment. Her gaze swept once more across each face before her, finally coming to rest upon Furina. She set down her chopsticks gently and drew a deep breath, as if steeling herself for a final, unshakable resolution.
"I think..." She began slowly. Her voice, though soft, carried a firmness unlike anything she had shown before.