Book 13: Chapter 25
You could say that I had a taste of home at night, for the first time. It was no longer bland porridge and stale dried fish. I bought a fish on my way back from the port. We filled up a small table with food. Ying had to go battle the wyrm at night. A soldier couldn’t fight on an empty stomach, so I had to ensure she had enough to eat for the meal.
Ying claimed that she didn’t eat much, but I wasn’t convinced, because she ate bowl after bowl, albeit expressionlessly. Subsequently, we ended up eating virtually everything. I was done after two bowls, while Ying had half a chicken, half a fish, eggs and rice. Not to mention that she ate it all with a poker face. She didn’t give a reaction after she finished eating, either. She didn’t smile or show the satisfaction after a filling meal. I couldn’t tell if she was full or otherwise. However, we didn’t have anymore, so she must’ve been full, presumably.
“Thank you.” After finishing her meal, she stood up and gave me a small bow. She then went to one side.
I looked at Ying’s partially visible feet and asked, “Do you have to leave right away? Do you know the location for the battle? Also, I don’t think you should use those practically broken fishing boats to fight the wyrm.”
“I’ve always done this,” replied Ying, keeping it simple.
Ying went into the shrine and picked up a broadsword in front of the statue of god. She strapped it to her waist and then whipped her black hair. She took out a few hair rings from a drawer by her side. She did up her black hair that was akin to running water at the back, thereby revealing her white neck and small ears. She said, “I won’t be back tonight. I should be back by tomorrow morning. You’ll be at the shrine alone. Remember to close the doors so that you don’t catch a cold.”
“Do you really not need me to come?”
“Would there be any point in you coming?”
Ying left me speechless with her question. I stood up. In a serious tone, I responded, “All right. I shall wait for you here.”