Stranger Danger

"I am Ye Qing, and she is Feng Qingyou. A pleasure to meet you all."

Ye Qing greeted the villagers first after they came close. "We did not know that someone was living here. We apologize for disturbing you and ask for your forgiveness."

"Please, you're not disturbing us at all..."

An old man who looked to be in his sixties responded with a salute. His hair and beard were completely white, but his complexion was rosy, and his spirit was strong. "It's been several years since this place has welcomed an outsider. We are only too happy to meet you."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Fang Shao. My fellow neighbors call me Old Fang since I'm the oldest. You may call me Old Fang as well if it is alright with you."

Old Fang pointed at the handsome man in his thirties standing next to him. "He is Li Xian. He was a scholar before he lived permanently in this place. For as long as I know him, he is a never-ending wellspring of knowledge and wisdom."

"You flatter me, Old Fang," Li Xian replied modestly before saluting Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou. "Greetings, Scion Ye, Miss Feng."

"Well met, Mister Lee." Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou returned the salute.

"He is Tian Wa, and she is Hu Xiaoyan. They are husband and wife."

Next, Old Fang introduced the forty plus years old man with dark skin and a humble appearance and the woman who cried out earlier.

"Greetings, Brother and Sister Tian."

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou saluted Tian Wa and Hu Xiaoyan next.

"G-Greetings to you as well, Scion Ye, Miss Feng."

Tian Wa and Hu Xiaoyan hurriedly returned the salute.

"May we know where you come from, and how did you come to this place, Scion Ye, Miss Feng?" Old Fang asked.

Before Ye Qing could answer, Li Xian said, "This is not a good place to speak, Old Fang. Let us take this to our home, shall we?"

"Right, right. Apologies for my mistake." Old Fang hurriedly said, "This way please, Scion Ye, Miss Feng!"

"Thank you, Old Fang."

And so Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou followed Old Fang and Li Xian to the rightmost wooden house.

The wooden house was simple and crude, but it was very clean and tidy. It was fully furnished, and it had vines that climbed up the walls and intermingled on the beams. It had green leaves and blooming flowers, and colorful butterflies were flying here and there. It was an interesting decor that added some curiosity and vibrance to the house.

"My house is simple and crude. I hope you don't mind."

Feng Qingyou replied smilingly, "Not at all. I think your house is simple, elegant, and made curious by flowers and butterflies. I believe it is better than any luxurious beams or painted walls."

"Hahaha..." Feng Qingyou's praise delighted Old Fang. "Please, take a seat."

"Scholar, please boil our guest a pot of tea. Xiaoyan, please prepare us some food. Tian Wa, please gather some of our local fruits for our guests."

"There's no need!"

Ye Qing tried to turn him down, but Old Fang said, "It is only right. You are travelers from distant lands. We cannot possibly mistreat you."

Li Xian, Tian Wa, and Hu Xiaoyan echoed in agreement and took their leave. Soon, only Old Fang, Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were—oh wait, the little girl was here too.

"When did you get here, Lil Yu?"

It was at this moment Old Fang spotted the young girl.

Lil Yu shot him an aggrieved look. "That's right, Grandpa Fang. You forgot to introduce me."

"Oh, sorry. I'm getting on in years."

Old Fang slapped himself in the forehead before drawing the girl closer. He then introduced her to Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou, "This is Lil Fang. She is Tian Wa and Xiaoyan's daughter."

"Hello, Lil Yu."

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou greeted Lil Yu cheerfully. Then, Feng Qingyou turned her wrist and summoned a tanghulu into her hand. She held it out to Lil Yu and said, "A gift for you, Lil Yu!"

"What... what's this?"

Lil Yu asked timidly while staring at the tanghulu.

"This is a tanghulu. It's sweet and sour and very delicious," explained Old Fang with a smile while his eyes flashed with reminiscence.

Lil Yu's eyes lit up, and she reached out to grab it. However, she paused halfway and subconsciously looked at Old Fang again.

"This is sister Qingyou's gift for you, so just take it," Old Fang said kindly.

"Thank you, big sis!"

It was only then Lil Yu accepted the tanghulu. After examining it for a moment, she carefully licked the fruit at the top. At first, she squinted when a sour taste assaulted her taste buds, but the sweetness that followed quickly diluted the sourness. The blend of sweet and sour would continue to blossom in her mouth and make her eyes pop wide open like she just discovered a new continent.

"This is delicious, grandpa!"

Lil Yu looked at Old Fang.

Old Fang smiled with eyes full of reminiscence and sorrow. "Yes, it is very delicious. I love tanghulu the most when I was a child like you, though I haven't had one for a very, very long time."

"Here, grandpa!" As if she could sense Old Fang's sadness, Lil Yu handed the tanghulu to Old Fang.

Old Fang rubbed her head and said kindly, "I've already eaten it before, so I'm fine. Just enjoy, Lil Yu."

"Yo! Is that a tanghulu?"

It was at this moment Li Xian returned with a pot of tea.

"It is! Big sis gave it to me as a gift!" Lil Yu happily showed off the tanghulu to Li Xian.

"Did you thank her for it?" Li Xian set down the tea pot and poured Ye Qing, Feng Qingyou, and Old Fang a cup each.

"I did," Lil Yu replied cutely.

"Good girl."

Li Xian gave her a head pat and a smile. "Now, go out and play."

Lil Yu responded affirmatively and left the house with a clear spring beneath her feet.

"Please forgive Lil Yu's ignorance, my guests. She grew up on Sunchasing Island and so has never eaten a tanghulu before, much less witnessed the world outside."

After Lil Yu was gone, Old Fang withdrew his gaze and sighed. "In that sense, she is a pitiful girl."

"Not necessarily. Since she has never seen the outside world, she has not experienced its pain and bitterness either. That is a happiness in itself, is it not?" Li Xian commented soulfully before reining in his emotions. "Ah, I allowed my emotions to take over. I apologize for making a fool of myself, guests."

"Not at all."

Ye Qing smiled and asked, "Is Sunchasing Island this island's name?"

"Yes, we came up with it ourselves," Li Xian answered. "The two of you do not look like ordinary people. You did not end up on this island by accident, did you?"

"You have a keen eye, mister." Ye Qing answered, "That is correct. Qingyou and I were out on the sea when we encountered this island by accident. We were intrigued about its unique structure and ecosystem and decided to indulge in our curiosity."

Li Xian smiled as if he had anticipated their answer. "In that case, I believe you are aware that this land exists on the back of the Sunchasing Dragon Whale, right?"

"This land is shaped like an island, and it is located on the back of the Sunchasing Dragon Whale. So, we name it the Sunchasing Island."

"I see."

Ye Qing nodded before asking another question, "But why is there a forest and even living creatures on the Sunchasing Dragon Whale's back?

"That, I do not know." Li Xian shook his head.

"Maybe it's because it's too lonely," Old Fang said.

"Lonely?" Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou exchanged a puzzled look with each other. "Why do you say that?"