Immortality Cultivation: I Farm in the System Space

After the banquet, Lin Jing's life quieted down again. Before he knew it, the weather gradually cooled, and autumn passed day by day. The greenery in Lin Jing's courtyard turned from lush green to withered yellow, and even that flourishing willow tree lost its leaves day by day... Until over three months later, winter came again, dressing the earth in a silver garb and covering it with a white cotton blanket. This morning, Lin Jing had just finished refining Elixir Medicine and stepped out of the System Space, stretching his limbs outside the house. He looked at the snow-covered ground and the thin layer of ice on the fishpond. Inside, several small fish swam about nonchalantly. Just then, Lin Jing seemed to feel something and suddenly looked up towards the horizon. He saw a dark shadow flying towards him from afar, getting closer and closer. Eventually, the shadow landed not far away, in Huang Qingling's yard. That shadow was none other than Little Sparrow, but what puzzled Lin Jing was why Little Sparrow had gone out during the day. "Could it be there's something up? It shouldn't be that gluttonous, right?" Thinking about what had happened recently, Lin Jing couldn't help but murmur. During this time, Little Sparrow had been quite a nuisance to the taverns in Fang Market. Since the day after he had spoken to it, thefts began at Drunken Immortal Pavilion, though nothing of value was stolen, just some prepared ingredients. Since these weren't valuable items, at first, no one paid much attention. It was only later when things were stolen frequently that others became vigilant. After one night out, Little Sparrow came back very early and nobody knew what had happened at Drunken Immortal Pavilion that night. Since then, Little Sparrow had never visited Drunken Immortal Pavilion again. And since no one came looking for trouble, Lin Jing didn't pay further attention to the matter. Little Sparrow had been behaving for a while. However, before long, it began again. This time, it didn't return to Drunken Immortal Pavilion, but started targeting other taverns and restaurants within Fang Market. Soon, tales of a late-night hungry thief spread throughout Fang Market because Little Sparrow was so fast that even those who lay in wait could never catch it. Therefore, during this time, Little Sparrow visibly grew fatter. ....... As Lin Jing was thinking... "Thump, thump, thump" A series of knocks sounded. Lin Jing walked over and opened the courtyard door. He saw Huang Qingling standing at the doorway, fuming, without Little Sparrow on her shoulder. "Hmph..." "It's infuriating..." Huang Qingling, her face flushed with anger, held a shiny red apple in her hand and savagely took a bite. Then, as she ate, she walked into the courtyard, and upon reaching Lin Jing, she seemed to pull another equally bright red apple from nowhere and handed it to him. "What's wrong with Fellow Daoist Qing Ling?" "Who upset you today?" Lin Jing asked, puzzled. "It's all that Little Sparrow..." As Huang Qingling spoke, her pouting lips made her look quite adorable. However, Lin Jing felt uneasy inside and had no interest in observing. "Could it have been exposed?" Lin Jing couldn't help but think internally. Then, Lin Jing cautiously probed: "What about Little Sparrow, hasn't it been behaving just fine? Look how plump it has gotten recently, all thanks to you, Fellow Daoist Qing Ling." "Heh," Huang Qingling scoffed coldly. "How could it not have gotten fat?" "I only found out today that the infamous late-night hungry thief that has been talked about in Fang Market all this time is actually Little Sparrow." "No wonder no one could catch it. With its speed, unless a Golden Core Immortal made a move, who could catch it?" "Ah..." "Was Little Sparrow the midnight thief?" Lin Jing feigned surprise, his expression somewhat unnatural. Meanwhile, Huang Qingling was talking nonstop, completely oblivious to Lin Jing's expression. "Exactly, I was just talking to you about the midnight thief a few days ago." "Who would have thought the thief was right beside me..." Lin Jing looked at Huang Qingling and asked: "So, fellow Qingling..." "What will you do now, take Little Sparrow to apologize in person?" Upon hearing Lin Jing's words, Huang Qingling shuddered at the thought of that scene. "Forget it..." "Let's not do that, how about... I'll go find Old Man Bai this afternoon and let him handle it." Lin Jing thought for a moment and said: "That might be for the best." "By the way, where's Little Sparrow?" Lin Jing was curious as Little Sparrow hadn't shown up yet. Since Little Sparrow always stuck closely to Huang Qingling, as soon as Huang Qingling would arrive, it wouldn't be long before Little Sparrow would show up. "I've grounded it now. After such a big incident, how could I not punish it?" Huang Qingling took a vicious bite of an apple and said sternly. "Uh... okay..." Lin Jing felt a bit guilty. He thought to himself: "As long as no one finds out I instigated it, it's good. Fortunately, Little Sparrow can't speak, so it can't express much." "Otherwise, I would have been exposed." "Sorry, Little Sparrow..." Lin Jing could only silently pray for Little Sparrow in his heart. Just then, Huang Qingling suddenly turned his head, leaned in close to Lin Jing, and stared at him. Startled by this sudden move, Lin Jing jumped and looked up at the very close Huang Qingling, quickly asking: "Fellow Qingling, what's wrong? Did I do something incorrect?" Huang Qingling stared at Lin Jing and said: "Also, didn't I tell you last time to stop calling me fellow Qingling? It doesn't sound good at all." "I'm used to it, used to it..." Lin Jing sheepishly smiled and said. Huang Qingling sighed and said: "Forget it, call me whatever you want..." "By the way, Lin Jing, I haven't had your cooking in a long time. Little Sparrow aggravated me today and I'm in a bad mood, I feel like eating your cooking, how about it?" "Of course, no problem." Lin Jing agreed. "After all, her mood isn't great, and I also contributed to that, I definitely need to make it up to her." Lin Jing suggested, "Then shall we go out and buy some ingredients first? After all, I haven't prepared anything here." "Sure..." Huang Qingling instantly put the matter of Little Sparrow aside and agreed happily. ...... Afterward, the two left the house and headed towards the market in Inner Fang Market. After making a round in the market, it was almost noon when they returned. Lin Jing then started to get busy in the kitchen. During this time, Huang Qingling went back once to lift Little Sparrow's confinement. When coming out to deliver vegetables, Lin Jing saw Little Sparrow, who had grown fatter by two sizes, still hanging its head low. It was being scolded in the courtyard by Huang Qingling. Even as Lin Jing passed by it, it showed no reaction. Soon, the meal was ready. "Fellow Qingling, time to eat..." Lin Jing called out to Huang Qingling still in the courtyard.