Outside the pavilion, snowflakes danced in the air, blanketing the world in white.
Surrounded by towering mountains, all dressed in silver, with frost clinging to branches, it was a crystalline wonderland.
Inside the pavilion, Lin Jichen and Leng Feiyan sat across from each other, brewing tea and wine, grilling fish over the fire, and admiring the breathtaking snowy landscape.
It felt as if the entire world had shrunk down to just the two of them.
They chatted and fished, occasionally catching a fish that would bring a bright smile to Leng Feiyan's face, her beauty as radiant as a thawing lake in spring.
Lin Jichen found himself captivated by her.
As dusk approached, they finally left the frozen lake.
"There's no way we can eat all these fish. How about we release them?" Leng Feiyan suggested, looking at the bucket full of fish.
Lin Jichen smiled wryly. He had originally planned to bring the fish back for Panda Xiong as a treat.
But since his master had spoken, it wouldn't hurt for Panda Xiong to miss a meal.
Lin Jichen promptly released the fish back into the lake.
They returned to Everwinter City, which was bustling with activity in the early evening.
Street vendors lined the streets, their shouts mingling with the aroma of food, making mouths water and stomachs growl.
"Come on, Master. Let me show you what the hustle and bustle of the mortal world is like," Lin Jichen said with a smile, leading the way, with Leng Feiyan following, clearly intrigued.
It had been many years since she had visited such a place.
It reminded her of her childhood, when her father had taken her to bustling markets a few times.
Back then, Leng Feiyan had been just a little girl. Now, her father was gone, and it was another man who brought her to the mortal world.
Leng Feiyan glanced at Lin Jichen, a smile playing on her lips.
Their footsteps crunched in the snow, echoing the shouts of vendors beneath the red lanterns.
Amidst the rising steam, Leng Feiyan felt an unparalleled sense of peace.
She murmured to herself, "My disciple is right. It's been too long since I've been to the mortal world. The path to immortality requires a clear mind, but one shouldn't be isolated from the world. The human experience is what soothes the heart. How can one achieve enlightenment if their Dao Heart is unsettled?"
"Master, this is red bean cake. Try it," Lin Jichen said, handing her a small bag of delicate pastries.
Leng Feiyan took a bite and nodded approvingly. "It's been a long time since I've had mortal food, but it still tastes just like I remember."
"Hehe, Master, you should eat to your heart's content today. It's a rare opportunity," Lin Jichen laughed.
"Then I won't hold back," Leng Feiyan said, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Don't hold back! Eat whatever you want, Master. I'll pay for everything!" Lin Jichen declared, patting his chest.
Leng Feiyan smiled and continued to explore the market.
"I want to try this," she said, pointing to a stall selling pine nut cookies.
Lin Jichen paid without hesitation. Leng Feiyan ate two pieces and handed the rest to Lin Jichen.
"I can't eat so much. You finish these for me," she said.
Lin Jichen was momentarily stunned but quickly agreed, finishing the cookies in a few bites.
"Disciple, I want to try these silver-threaded meatballs."
"I can't finish them. Here, you take the rest."
"Disciple, I want to try these snow hawthorn berries."
"I can't finish them. Here, you take the rest."
"Disciple, I want to try these plum blossom cakes."
"I can't finish them. Here, you take the rest."
"Disciple, I want to try these icefield rabbit buns."
"I can't finish them. Here, you take the rest."
And so, they wandered and ate their way through the market.
Lin Jichen's stomach visibly expanded with each bite.
He had eaten over thirty pieces of cake, seven or eight boxes of meatballs, and countless other foods.
By the end, Lin Jichen felt like his stomach was about to burst.
"Disciple, there's some water chestnut cake here. I want to try it," Leng Feiyan said, stopping at another stall, looking expectantly at Lin Jichen.
Lin Jichen forced a smile, "Master, how about we... stop eating?"
Leng Feiyan pouted, looking pitiful, "But I really want to try it... Water chestnut cake was my favorite as a child."
With that, Lin Jichen had no choice but to pay.
As expected, after a couple of bites, the rest of the water chestnut cake ended up in Lin Jichen's hands.
"I can't finish it. Here, you take it," Leng Feiyan said.
Lin Jichen was on the verge of tears, "Master... can we just throw this one away? It's just too much."
"That would be such a waste. Besides, water chestnut cake is my favorite. Can you really bear to throw it away?" Leng Feiyan asked, her eyes intense.
"Can I take it home and eat it tomorrow? I really can't eat anymore. Look at my stomach," Lin Jichen said, showing his bloated belly.
Leng Feiyan chuckled, teasing, "I didn't ask you to eat everything right away. You could save the rest for tomorrow. But this water chestnut cake is my recommendation. Can you really not eat it?"
Lin Jichen sighed, "Fine, I'll eat it."
Just as he was about to take a bite, Leng Feiyan laughed, "I'm just teasing you. Save it for later when you're hungry."
Lin Jichen felt a wave of relief and quickly stored the cake in his ring. He didn't want to see another pastry for at least six months.
Seeing Leng Feiyan about to continue exploring, Lin Jichen quickly suggested, "Master, we've been walking for a while. How about we do something else?"
Leng Feiyan thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright, I'm a bit tired of walking."
Lin Jichen sighed in relief and led her out of the market, fearing he might become the first player in Tale of Immortal to eat himself to death.
"Disciple, wait," Leng Feiyan suddenly stopped at another stall.
Lin Jichen's face fell, but when he turned, he saw it was a sugar figurine stall.
Seeing it was just sugar figurines, Lin Jichen relaxed. Sugar figurines wouldn't fill him up like pastries, buns, or meatballs.
"Master, do you want one? I'll buy it for you," he offered.
Leng Feiyan pointed to a fairy-shaped sugar figurine, "I'll take that one."
Lin Jichen bought it immediately. The vendor's craftsmanship was impressive, molding the sugar into a lifelike fairy.
"Master, this sugar figurine looks just like you, a fairy," Lin Jichen said, handing it to her with a compliment.
Leng Feiyan smiled, "Flatterer. I'm no fairy."
"Of course you are, Master. You're even more beautiful than a fairy!"
"Alright, alright, let's go," Leng Feiyan said, satisfied, as she left the market with her sugar figurine.