v6c54: Off Again

Once more, we lined up to say goodbye. I could tell neither Tigu nor Yin wanted to leave in the morning. Both of them were dragging their feet, and Yin looked to be seriously considering staying at least one more day.

Noodle had shown her the plans he was still keeping secret from us, and Yin wanted to drop everything to help him.

‘You have a duty, my disssciple. Go, and carry it out… I do not mind waiting, if you truly wisssh to help,” Noodle chastised her, thwapping her lightly with his tail. Yin grumbled and then sighed, reaching down to hug the snake.

“No, do what you want to! I know how long you’ve been waiting for your back to be fixed, go full ahead!” Yin commanded.

She rose to her feet and rubbed at her eyes for a moment. Tigu, meanwhile, was going down the line, giving everyone goodbye hugs. First Gramps, then Chunky and Peppa, and then Yun Ren, and Spooks—

“Ugh! Spooks, your fur is all sticky!” Tigu complained. The Thunderhoof looked sheepish. And I could see what was around his lips and on his “beard” that hung down from his chin, it was quite sticky looking indeed.

‘I can’t stop myself. It’s so good! Master is going to be so happy!’ the Thunderhoof said. Spooks hadn’t been able to stop smiling ever since the syrup boiling had started.

“Ah, I need to go wash—” Tigu started, and then took a snowball to the face, courtesy of Washy, the dragon cheerfully pressing the snow directly onto her head and scrubbing.

“Got you covered,” the dragon declared, a bright smile on his face.

Tigu, for a brief moment, looked absolutely furious… and then she started laughing. She reached up and dragged the dragon into a headlock, ruffling his mane.

“You bastard, why do you always gotta be like this, huh?!” she demanded. “But I guess it’s part of your charm!”

Washy grinned. Tigu let him go and hopped over to Big D and Rizzo, grabbing them both… and sneakily wiping her wet face on their clothes.

Then, she came to us. Her eyes went all soft as she looked at Zhuye in Mei’s arms. “Big Sis will be home soon, okay?” she asked.

“Ji!” Zhuye agreed, and Tigu showered kisses on his face, much to his giggling delight. Behind her, I saw Yin also starting to go down the line, giving out hugs as well… though dodging Spooks and sticking her tongue out at him, which the Thunderhoof could only nod at.

After Zhuye, Tigu hugged Mei and then she came to me. I opened my arms. She wasted no time.

“Make sure everyone is well-fed,” I said to her.

“I will! My teams shall feast upon our bounty!” she replied, her face buried in my chest.

“Make sure you take proper breaks yourself, or I’ll march down to Xiulan and tell her to stop working my daughter so hard.”

Tigu giggled.

“Oh, and make sure to wash your undies.”

Tigu recoiled and glared up at me. “They’re always clean!” she said, glaring at me.

I planted a kiss on her forehead.

“I’ll see you again soon, Tigu’er.”

“Mmmn. We will see each other soon!” She hugged me tight, one last time, let go, and stepped back.

Yin paused in front of me. She knew me by now, so she didn’t resist when she got hugged too.

She was really nice to hug. So warm and comforting, like a blanket fresh from beside the hearth.

She got a forehead kiss too.

“If there’s any bad guys, kick their asses,” I said seriously. Yin beamed at me.

“Hell yeah!” She pumped her fist.

“‘Ell yah!” Zhuye cheered from Mei’s arms.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Yin instantly paled. Meiling raised one dangerous brow.

“I love you all we gottagobye!” Yin yelped and raced out of the gates, not for a moment looking back.

Tigu raced after her. “See you all later!” she shouted.

My wife just sighed and shook her head with amusement.

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The rest of the day was nice. Though Tigu and Yin had left, there were still a few days left of the syrup harvest; more and more people arrived from Hong Yaowu when they heard that the harvest was still going strong… and that there were plenty of maple candies.

They were served by Washy and Spooks… or rather Washy was serving everyone. The Thunderhoof had a big, dopey smile on his face.

Technically they were also here to pay their respects to Zhuye for his birthday, but that took about five minutes.

I went and got another load of sap, and when I returned I was rather surprised that we had two new guests.

“Senior Brother, Senior Sister!” I greeted, waving. Both of them waved back. They were standing with Pops, who was looking at a jar of syrup with a considering look on his face. “You finished what you needed to and are back?” I asked Lu Ri.

“I have completed everything I needed to in the south, and have relieved Young Mistress Su Ge of her duties in the village,” Lu Ri replied. “Things are progressing well.”