As Nina spoke, she picked up her chopsticks, took several more pastries from the plate, and began eating them.
Duoduo looked utterly astonished.
“Yunxiao, who exactly is she?”
Seeing the confusion and surprise on Duoduo’s face, Yunxiao braced himself and explained.
“Your Highness, didn’t the prince say that he had invited an expert who understands gu insects for you?”
Duoduo nodded.
It was true, though several days had already passed since then.
“The person the prince originally invited was Miss Nina’s master.”
“Just now, when the prince saw Miss Nina, he ordered me to send her back.”
“But halfway there, she followed the smell and came over.”
“I couldn’t stop her, even when I tried.”
In truth, Yunxiao was still shaken by the insects in Nina’s pouch.
He was afraid that Nina might toss one onto him at any moment. That would be absolutely terrifying!
It would be best to send her away properly.
That was why he hadn’t dared stop her.
As it turned out, the old saying was right:
It is easy to invite a deity in, but difficult to send one away!
Nina swallowed the pastry in her mouth.
“My master challenged me to a gu battle, but he lost and was struck back by the gu insects.”
“That’s why he sent me here!”
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come!” Nina said with an air of arrogance.
After hearing this, Lüdou immediately grabbed Duoduo and tried to pull her backward.
But Duoduo had become extremely interested in Nina.
“I only invited you to eat because I saw how much you liked Lüdou’s pastries. It was just a matter of courtesy.”
“I never agreed to become your disciple!”
Nina took another bite of pastry.
“Your father won’t let me take you as my disciple, so I’m determined to do it anyway!”
“You’re my very first disciple. I can’t go back empty-handed and let everyone at my sect laugh at me!”
Yunxiao grew anxious.
“Miss, please don’t make things difficult for me!”
“The prince invited your master, and he already paid you a fee for your trouble.”
“Once I take you back, I’ll explain everything to your master!”
Nina rolled her eyes.
“Hmph! Here, take your banknote back! As if I care!”
She pulled a banknote from her sleeve and tossed it to Yunxiao.
Yunxiao nearly burst into tears.
How was he supposed to explain this to the prince now?
Duoduo rolled her eyes thoughtfully.
“How good are you at raising gu insects? I’ve never seen it before.”
“Whether you’re really skilled or not, that’s only something you can claim for yourself.”
“Do you dare show us what you can do?”
Nina’s eyes lit up. “You’re not afraid?”
Duoduo shook her head. “No.”
Nina immediately became interested and set down the plate in her hands.
She untied the pouch at her waist and took out an insect.
Yingniang hurriedly jumped aside in fright.
Duoduo, however, leaned forward curiously.
The insect was golden.
But on its back were two tiny, transparent wings.
At first glance, it looked as though the wings hadn’t fully developed.
When Nina saw that Duoduo wasn’t afraid, surprise flashed through her eyes.
“You’re not afraid of it?”
Duoduo shook her head.
“Is it your gu insect?”
Master Zhang had told Duoduo about gu insects before.
However, this was her first time seeing someone who actually practiced gu arts.
Nina nodded.
“Everyone in my homeland gets to choose their own gu insect from a young age.”
“But this is only one of my gu insects.”
“If you like it, I’ll give it to you!”
“My master said that if I took a disciple, I had to prepare a gift for our first meeting.”
“This can be your gift!”
Nina held out her hand and offered the insect to Duoduo.
Lüdou’s legs trembled. She hurried forward and pulled Duoduo behind her.
“Your Highness, since the prince rejected her, he clearly doesn’t approve.”
“If you accept her gift, you’ll be going against the prince’s decision.”
Nina raised her eyebrows, then drew back her hand and tapped the insect lightly on the head.
“Fly!”
A flash of golden light streaked past, and the insect vanished from Nina’s hand.
Duoduo immediately began looking around curiously.
Yunxiao’s first reaction was to reach up and feel his own head.
“Ah! It’s eating the pastries!”
Yingniang was the first to spot where the insect had gone.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the pastries.
Nina slapped her forehead. “This is so embarrassing!”
“Little Gold, I just fed you before we left!”
Nina reached out to catch the insect, but it suddenly flew into the air.
It circled the kitchen once before finally landing on Duoduo’s shoulder.
Duoduo tilted her head and looked at the insect perched there.
“You like pastries too, just like your big sister?”
The insect actually nodded at Duoduo.
It looked unbelievably adorable!
“Ah! It can actually understand human speech?”
Lüdou was astonished.
She suddenly felt that this insect didn’t seem quite so frightening after all.
“Looks like Little Gold likes you!” Nina extended a finger and lifted the insect away.
The insect clung desperately to Duoduo’s clothes with its tiny legs and refused to let go.
“Let go!”
“Otherwise, I’ll starve you for several days and nights!” Nina threatened.
“Wuuu…”
The insect let out a whimper and reluctantly loosened several of its legs.
When Yingniang saw how cute it was, she was no longer afraid either.
Hiding behind Duoduo, she cautiously watched the insect in Nina’s hand.
“Duoduo, what is a gu insect?”
It was the first time Yingniang had heard the term.
“It’s a kind of pet. It can communicate with you telepathically.”
“It also listens to your commands,” Duoduo added.
Nina nodded in agreement.
“Little Gold is fated to be with you!”
“You should know that even the people in our sect can’t coax it with all kinds of delicious food!”
“What I said about taking you as my disciple was sincere!”
“I don’t need any payment, but I do have one condition.”
“What’s your condition?” Duoduo asked curiously.
Nina’s eyes shifted from side to side.
“My condition is that the pastries served every day must taste like these!”
Duoduo’s mouth fell open.
“Won’t you get tired of eating the same thing every day?”
“Lüdou can make pastries in all kinds of flavors, and they’re all delicious!”
“She only needs to taste something once to recreate it exactly!”
Duoduo pushed Lüdou toward Nina.
Lüdou managed to force out a smile.
“There’s no problem with making these pastries for you, but I hope you won’t harm Your Highness!”
Nina’s face was full of disdain.
“She’s just a child. Why would I harm her?”
“Besides, I already said I’m taking her as my disciple. Why would I hurt her?”
“Our people are extremely protective of our own.”
Duoduo raised her hand and stroked Little Gold. Its chubby little body was simply too adorable.
But unexpectedly, Little Gold lifted its head and bit her finger.
“Ow!”
Duoduo hadn’t been prepared and jumped in fright.
Seeing this, Lüdou hurriedly took Duoduo’s hand and anxiously examined her finger.
“Your Highness, are you all right? Are you feeling dizzy?”
“Hey! How could you fail to keep an eye on your own insect? How can you let it bite people whenever it wants?”
