Chapter 4743: Appreciation “I… I’ve just never eaten dog meat before,” Yue’er said, a sudden frown creasing her brow. “I’ve eaten all kinds of spirit beast meat, but never dog meat. I didn’t know it tasted like this. Also…” She trailed off, instinctively lowering her head and tugging at her hands. “Also what?” the old beggar prompted. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂 Yue’er sighed dramatically, like a tiny adult. “It’s actually quite tasty, and the meat you stewed is really fragrant.” Yet, the thought of having eaten dog meat still made her feel a little uneasy. “This is a local breed of dog, perfect for stewing,” the old beggar remarked, stretching his waist. “I’ve eaten a lot of dog meat in my time, and I figured out this stewing method myself. No one else can replicate the taste. You’re lucky to have had this today, otherwise you wouldn’t have been able to eat the old beggar’s dog meat.” Yue’er glanced at the pot, noting there was still some left. It seemed a shame to waste it. “What about the rest?” she asked. “Don’t worry, there’s none for you. The old beggar will eat it in the middle of the night.” With that, he hugged his wine gourd, leaned against the tree, and promptly fell asleep. Early the next morning, as Yue’er emerged from the mountain path, ready to continue her journey, she spotted the old beggar slowly walking behind her. She stopped, a smile spreading across her face. “Old beggar, are you also going to the city? Then we’re going the same way! Let’s go together! We can talk and chat on the way.” Feeling that she wasn’t far from Yunxiao Mountain, she had relaxed her pace, no longer in such a hurry. “I’m used to being alone, so it doesn’t matter if there’s one more person,” he said, using a tree branch as a cane. Despite his age, he didn’t walk particularly slowly. The two walked together, Yue’er chattering non-stop like a little bird following her parent. The old beggar listened quietly, offering only occasional responses, and the journey proceeded peacefully, without incident. However, at noon, as Yue’er and the old beggar rested by the side of the mountain road, drinking water, they saw the group of cultivators who had been pursuing them riding their contract beasts directly towards them. Yue’er was so startled that she choked on her water, quickly scrambling to hide behind the old beggar. The old beggar observed this, casting an emotionless glance at the approaching group. He then slowly shifted his gaze away, resuming his quiet sip of wine. “That brat runs pretty fast. We didn’t see her the whole way here,” a man on a contract beast commented, scanning the surroundings. When his eyes briefly landed on the old man and child by the road, he didn’t linger, quickly looking away. “That little girl is cunning! She might have already returned to her family, but heh heh, once we get to the city, even if she hides in her family, I’ll still be able to find her,” Shen Shiqi said with a confident smile. His gaze also swept over the two beggars, an old man and a child, resting by the roadside. He merely glanced at them before dismissing them, not even considering that the little beggar could be the girl they were so relentlessly pursuing. In their eyes, that little girl must have come from a very privileged and doted-upon family. How could she possibly be associated with a dirty little beggar? “Little beggar, here’s some food for you.” Shen Shiqi waved his hand, and two large cakes flew through the air, landing in the little beggar’s arms. Yue’er kept her head down, desperate not to be recognized. When she heard Shen Shiqi’s voice and saw the two large cakes flying towards her, she couldn’t help but feel her lips twitch slightly.