Walking around Shrek City

Xueqin was super excited as he walked all over the streets of Shrek City, his head quickly turning to each side not wanting to lose anything from that big City. In the end, Xueqin was a little boy, not matter how intensive and cruel training he had suffered, when he had the opportunity his childish side would surge. Especially, when he had the opportunity to made a little of tourism, even with money to spend.

Xueqin as an orphan while he had never been worried about having food to eat or a place to sleep, he had never experiment much luxury, that he remembered he only had left the orphanage to see the city one time.

The first thing that he wanted to try was the different food over there, his first objective was to find the restaurant area. He looked around, not knowing where to go. Finally, he decided to ask someone.

With his short 6 years, Xueqin had learned something, if he wanted something it was much better and easy to ask girls or old women, with something as simple as a smile, he could gain a lot of things.

Xueqin approached a girl who was walking alone. She was about 16 years old and had long black hair. She was wearing a white dress and she wasn't particularly beautiful, rather average.

Xueqin approached her and gripped her dress. The woman turned around with an angry face preparing to take out a gun "Who the fuck is touch-?!" She stopped as she saw Xueqin's big golden eyes. Xueqin blinking cutely his eyes at her

"Big sis" Xueqin said shyly.

Looking at him, the woman's heart melted, her anger disappearing looking at such a cute little boy. She warmly smiled at the boy "Hello, little brother, are you lost?" Xueqin nodded quickly.

"What's your name, little brother?" "I am Xueqin, big sis" Xueqin said timidly.

"I am Xu Mi'er. You have any idea where your parents are?" She asked worriedly for him

"We were going to the food stands area to eat, but I got distracted and lost in the crowd" He said a little frightened.

Xueqin didn't really want to lie, but he somewhat sensed that it would less of a problem to hide the truth that he was alone.

"Let it to big sister" She said puffing her chest "I will guide you there."

"Thanks, big sis Mi!" Xueqin smiled brighter at her, she receiving another critical attack. Unconsciously, she leaned over Xueqin's cheeks and pinched them (How could he be so cute?!)

Xueqin was used to this so he let it go with a big smile. Xu Mi'er took his hand for him to not get lost again and guided him.

During the walk, Xu Mi'er talked about special places at Shrek City, wanting to distract Xueqin for him to not think about his parents and worried moreIt didn't take more than 15 minutes to arrive at a crowded street with a lot of food stands at both sides.

Xueqin's eyes shined seeing so much different food, most of it seemed delicious, much more than the food at the orphanage and extremely superior to the bland cube food.

Xueqin turned "Thanks, big sis Mi!" Xueqin smiled at her with his cutest smile, stunning a little the girl. He took advantage of that stun, to release the hand from her "There's mum!" He shouted signaling a random place, he started running towards it. He turned one last time "Bye, big sis Mi. Thank you very much!" He ran away waving his hand, disappearing from Xu Mi'er's sigh, hiding over the crowd.

Xu Mi'er was a little shocked by the smooth movements of the boy, perfectly releasing from her grip. However, she put those thoughts aside, glad that the little boy had found again his parents "Bye, Xueqin. Be careful, don't get lost again!" She said waving her hand.

Once she found herself alone "When they are little are so cute. However..." She frowned "When they grow up, they became useless man" She sighed "When I will be able to meet a strong man?" She said before turning away and going towards Shrek Academy's direction.

Xueqin smiled mischievously, having obtained what he wanted.

Surrounded by so many foods, Xueqin's eyes shined brightly. He looked around undecided to where to start.

In his trance, someone approached from his back, patting his shoulder "You seem to be another fine searcher for the Gourmet Path!"

Xueqin quickly turning around finding a little boy about his age. He had short brown hair and was a little plumb with a round and cute face with lot of baby fat.

"Gourmet Path?" Xueqin asked confused.

"Of course, food is an art and I am its biggest fan. As such, I would eat as much as can!" The boy said proudly "I am Xu Lizhi, but people call me Little Glutton! What's your name?"

"I am Qian Xueqin" Xueqin answered.

"Seeing your look, I can sense that you are a good eater, brother Xueqin, but you are not from Shrek City" Xu Lizhi smiled "I would show the pleasures of the food here. Let me guide you!"

Xueqin was a little confused, but for what it seemed the little boy wanted to show him the best places to eat, exactly what he wanted. As he couldn't sense any ill intent or danger from the boy, Xueqin quickly accepted. Xu Lixhi quickly holding his arms and bringing towards one stand.

"Oh, it's not Little Glutton" An old grandma of a stand smiled seeing Xu Lizhi approaching. She looked at Xueqin "Who is the cute little boy following you today?"

"Hello, old Ya!" Xu Lizhi said smiled, sitting over a chair in front of the stand and guiding Xueqin to sit next to him "He is a new boy accepting the food trial! Prepare the same as always."

"Right now!" Old Ya smiled, opening the fire, starting to prepare a myriad of dishes, from pasta to meat and fish, finally presenting over 5 dishes to every boy.

Looking at the dishes, Xueqin's wanted to eat them, all of them seemed delicious. Starting eating some kind of noddles, Xueqin's eyes shined brightly "It's delicious!"

"I'm glad that you like it, little boy!" Old Ya smiled as she looked at both little boys, finishing the 5 dishes like if it was nothing.

"I knew that my eyes didn't lie to me!" Xu Lizhi said turning to Xueqin who was fine after eating so much "You are another Little Glutton!"

"Bye, Old Ya. Thanks for the food" Xu Lizhi took Xueqin away, directing to another stand.

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A beautiful pink-haired woman, that seemed to have around 30 years, sat over a beautiful chair, next to a little table. She had her legs crossed as she elegantly drank a cup of tea. Over the table there were some tea pastes, a teapot and another tea set with another chair, prepared for another person.

She was calmly sipping her tea as she looked at her surroundings. Around the table, a beautiful garden extended over it, full of greenery with beautiful flowers, a shiny sun illuminating over them, as insects could be heart over, making a peaceful song.

It seemed to an exterior garden, but the truth was that the woman was indoor, inside the Spirit Pagoda, inside her private garden that emulated the exterior.

The woman placed her teacup on the table and calmly turned around, seeing a tall man over 2 meters tall clad in black clothes approaching her.

The woman smiled "Oh? What a surprise. Is not brother Mucheng?"

"Don't joke, old witch" The man bluntly said "You don't lie anyone. With so little vigilance around you, if this isn't your invitation, I don't know what it would be."

"Oh? You offend me, brother Mucheng" The woman giggled "Old witch? How many years since anyone told me that? 60?" She said with a nostalgic smile.

"Even at the age of 13, you were always an old witch, Xiaoran" The man answered. "It seems that life went well for you" he said looking at the surroundings "Vice Master."

The tall man effectively was Xueqin's master, Shi Mucheng, while the beautiful woman was no other than Ning Xiaoran, the head of the Ning Clan and the Vice Master of the Spirit Pagoda.

Mucheng walked over the table, sitting over the already prepared seat, lifting an eyebrow towards Xiaoran. Xiaoran smiled serving him a tea.

"Why my dear brother Mucheng had dignified himself to make me a visit after 60 years?" she said as she finished serving.

"Cut the crap, Xiaoran." Mucheng said glancing at Xiaoran "You know why I am here."

"Little Xueqin, eh?" Xiaoran smiled "I was truly surprised when I saw that you had finally used my favor, requesting a Myriad Colored Being from me. After all the war, I thought that you had run away from the spirit masters' world, quietly hiding away, helping the poor. I never thought that you will take a disciple" Xiaoran sipped a little of her tea "Please, tell me, what had made change your mind?" She asked with curiosity.

"This is no important" Mucheng shook his head, wanting to forget what happened 60 years ago "I knew that you would be interested in him. That eyes of yours wouldn't be able to ignore him" Mucheng glanced at her.

"Effectively, Xueqin shines like no other, he is really talented. Are you going to ask me to ignore him, letting him alone? I don't know if I can acce-" "No." Mucheng interrupted Xiaoran with a serious tone "I am here for the contrary."

Xiaoran's gaze fixed over Mucheng with suspicious "Contrary?"

"I don't mind giving him to you" Mucheng said.

Xiaoran opened her eyes surprised, but quickly recovered her professional look "What are your conditions?"

"Always so cold and calculative, old witch" Mucheng grinned at Xiaoron "But I certainly have three conditions. First, you would treat him accordingly, not like a simple worker. You must protect him."

"Of course" Xiaoran nodded "I was already thinking of making him my granddaughter's guardian."

Listening the guardian's part, Mucheng nodded. Guardians were considered family, if Xueqin becomes a guardian, they would protect him.

"Two. Hide my relation with him" Mucheng requested "You have the power to erase any document that describes our relationship. I don't know anyone to know that I am his master."

"I can pull some strings" Xiaoran accepted the second condition "And the third one?"

"Wait until I finish his training" Mucheng answered and sipped his tea.

"I'll need to know what do you want to teach him and how much time will take?" Xiaoran requested.

"At most three years and I will bring him to the Sword Valley." Mucheng said seriously.

"Hahahah" Xiaoran burst in laughing "Really?" She looked at the serious face of Mucheng and cleaned her tears "Even in my wildest dreams, I didn't expect you to return there. He must be truly important" Xiaoran grinned "Truly interesting, I want him even more."

"I will let him go with you," Mucheng said "But in the end, it would be his decision to accept your offer or not."

"That would be enough" She smiled. She looked directly at Mucheng's eyes "Okay, I accept your conditions as long as you make sure that he doesn't deal with anyone from the Dawn Church or Federation before me." Mucheng nodded

"I would protect him, hiding your relation with him." Xiaoran said "I trust in your words that you will give him to me."

"Of course" Mucheng stood up and walked outside giving his back to Xiaoran.

"Bye, brother Mucheng" Xiaoran grinned "Give my regards to brother Shi and sister Aria." she giggled a little evilly gaining a growl from Mucheng before he left the building.

Xiaoran lifted her cup, looking at her attentively "The worst generation is starting to move again" She grinned "This would be interesting."

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Xueqin and Lizhi went from stand to stand, eating different foods. Xueqin found all of it extremely delicious, it was evident that Xu Lizhi knew a lot about it. He was known by all the people working at the stands, all of the eagerly greeting him. Of course, who wouldn't like someone spending a great deal of money in their restaurant?

Xueqin discovered what an eater Xu Lizhi was, he truly deserves the name of Little Glutton. Xueqin was able to eat a lot, but Xu Lizhi had far surpassed him. Once he was full, unable to eat more, Lizhi had the strength to eat the other 5 rations!

In the end, the sat down over some bench in a beautiful park near the stands' area, trying to digest the food, both of them completely full. They had passed a long time eating, the sun almost going down.

"You are a great eater, brother Xueqin" Xu Lizhi said happily. Most people weren't able to follow his pace and Xueqin lasted the longest. Moreover, it was a good change, Xueqin was truly a fan of the food and happily followed him over all the stands. Usually, people would look at him with a little of disgust at having so much appetite.

"Thanks for the guide, Lizhi!" Xueqin thanked him.

"You didn't see anything" Xu Lizhi said proudly "This is only the stars, tomorrow I will bring you to even better places!"

Xueqin made a little sad face "Sorry, Lizhi. But I will leave the city tomorrow at dawn" He looked at the sun hiding over the sky "I'll need to return shortly or master will be angry at me"

"Oh? Okay" Xu Lizhi said with a downcast expression. He finally had found a Glutton brother, he really would have liked to pass more time with him.

"Don't be so sad!" Xueqin stood up trying to cheer up "Let's be friends!" He offered his hand over Lizhi "We might not see again in a long time, but we will continue being food buddies."

Lizhi smiled and held Xueqin's hands "Of course, let's be friends, food buddy. If you came again to Shrek City don't doubt to call me, he will have another eating spree. I will give you my communicator number!"

"I don't have a communicator" Xueqin said scratching his head.

Lizhi at that moment made looked at Xueqin and realized something. It wasn't normal to 6 years old kids to go alone. He was a special case being part of Shrek Academy, but it wasn't the normal. Moreover, Xueqin's surname was Qian, meaning that the most probable was that he was an orphan, how could an orphan have a communicator.

Lizhi shook his head "It doesn't matter. If you come again to Shrek City, go to Shrek Academy and ask for the Little Glutton Xu Lizhi! I would be sure to answer you."

Xueqin nodded quickly with a smile "It's a promise!" Both of them shaking their hands.

Then, they broke the handshake and Xueqin said goodbye "Bye, brother Lizhi! Let's meet again n the future!" He waved his hand towards Lizhi.

"Bye, brother Xue!" Lizhi also waved his hand.

Xueqin ran directly towards the hotel, not wanting to arrive too late. He hadn't known how to reach the food stands, but if Xueqin was proud of something was of his memory, never forgetting people or places seen before. Completely remembering the way to the hotel, he quickly reached there, just before the night. He found his master there waiting for him and quickly went to his bed to sleep, preparing to leave tomorrow morning.