Rabbit Must Die
Chapter 161 - 160 Birds Chirping and Flowers Fragrant, Peaceful and Serene_1

Chapter 161: Chapter 160 Birds Chirping and Flowers Fragrant, Peaceful and Serene_1

Qin Shou started at this, jolted by a shock of fear, and asked, "A mountain? Is a mountain just this small size? Local God of Land, have you skimped on me?"

The Land God jumped up and threw a fierce nudge on Qin Shou’s head saying, "Skimp on what? If I were skimping, would there be anything left for you?"

Qin Shou didn’t take it to heart, seeing that the Land God truly cared for him. He never got angry with those who were good to him, and scratching his head he said, "This can’t be blamed on me though. When you said ’mountain,’ I thought it would be as big as an actual mountain—got all excited for nothing."

The Land God gave him a disdainful look, "So, do you want it or not? If not, then forget it!"

Qin Shou hurriedly changed the subject, "Want it! Of course, I want it! By the way, why is it that all the food made by the Kitchen God is leftover? Is it poisonous?"

Upon hearing this, the Land God leapt up and gave Qin Shou another fierce nudge on the head, exclaiming, "What are you talking about? There are countless immortals in Heavenly Court longing for his cuisine. Unfortunately, the Kitchen God is so proud that he won’t give it to anyone who doesn’t suit his fancy. To taste the Kitchen God’s cooking, it’s only at some special festivals, when the Jade Emperor commissions him, that he cooks and everyone gets to eat. Normally, the food prepared by the Kitchen God is distributed to all the gods of land, Mountain Gods, servants, and disciples below.

The Kitchen God seldom cooks, but the places where the ingredients are reared are immensely vast. That’s why there has been an increasing number of wild beasts, ferocious beasts, and spirit beasts over the years...

As a result, to keep their numbers under control, sometimes we have to deal with them ourselves.

I’ve eaten who knows how many of these ferocious beasts and spirit beasts.

That’s why, when I had the meat bun you brought last time, I knew right away something was off."

At this point, the Land God tilted his head back with a sense of pride.

When Qin Shou heard this, without further thought, he quickly picked it up and sniffed it, commenting, "It doesn’t really smell like anything."

"The greaseproof paper on the outside is a special paper from the Kitchen God; it can keep food fresh without changing its taste for a hundred years, just as if it were fresh out of the pan. Of course, that’s how we perceive it; the Kitchen God himself would never eat food that’s a hundred years old. He only eats food that’s freshly made..." As the Land God said this, he started to act proudly again, as if he, not the Kitchen God, was the one who turned his nose up at expired food.

Qin Shou didn’t want to deflate his pride, and with gratitude, he said, "Thanks, Local God of Land. Hehe, I’ll savor it slowly when I get back."

"Go on. Come by and sit with me more often when you’ve got nothing else going on. I’ll save some tasty morsels for you," the Land God said.

Upon hearing this, a surge of nostalgia suddenly washed over Qin Shou. He remembered how every time he returned from working away from home, Old Master Qin would always pack the finest cured meat into his luggage and say the same words, "Come back more often when you’ve got the time. We can have a good chat, just the two of us... I’ll keep the good meat saved up for you!"

Back then, Qin Shou didn’t think much of it, but now with a wave of his hand, that closest of kin was beneath the yellow soil, and wanting to taste that family flavor again was harder than becoming an immortal ancestor...

With these thoughts, Qin Shou couldn’t help but feel a twinge of melancholy. Looking at the Land God he said, "Mhm, rest assured, I’ll come by when I have time. And you take care of yourself too, stay healthy. When I master my craft, I’ll make you a nice walking stick. This one you’ve got is too ugly."

The Land God was stunned for a moment, looking at his own walking stick, then cursed, "Get lost! My walking stick is just fine!"

Qin Shou burst into hearty laughter, saying, "Haha... anyway, I’m getting you a new one!"

Having said that, Qin Shou ran off at full speed.

The Land God shook his head as he watched Qin Shou’s departing figure, with a chuckle saying, "This bear of a kid, hehe..."

Artisan Valley was to the south of Shushan. Heading southward, Qin Shou didn’t know how far he had run; all he knew was that he had scaled a series of mountains, crossed several vast prairies, traversed a forest, and finally saw... a range of volcanoes!

Indeed, it was a volcanic region. On the exterior of the volcanoes, steel, stone, and wood were bundled together to erect an immensely tall signpost with three huge characters hammered and carved as if by a chisel: "Artisan Valley!"

To the west of the signpost stood a man in deep blue attire, his sleeves different from the loose style of Shushan, they were tucked into his sleeves and pant legs, giving him a look of neatness and efficiency. The man’s hair was peppered with white, yet each strand was methodically combed atop his head. His face showed the marks of time, but it bore not a single extraneous whisker. His limbs were thick and strong without appearing brutish, and he had gentle eyes that seemed amiable.

"Rabbit, are you Qin Shou?" The middle-aged man asked as soon as they met, but even after asking, he felt there was something awkward about the question.

Qin Shou didn’t mind at all, looking up to say, "Ah, how may I address this uncle?"

Uncle...

Subconsciously, the man touched his own face and said, "Call me ’brother’ next time."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shou was instantly speechless. What the heck, doesn’t match the look at all! Looking so old and still wants to be called ’brother’?

The man said, "I’m your master here in Artisan Valley. You can call me Master Lu or Mr. Lu."

Qin Shou felt an instant warmth, yet he couldn’t help but mutter in his heart, "Master Lu, my foot... why don’t you just call yourself Tencent butler?"

However, outwardly, Qin Shou earnestly said, "Well, Master Lu, Wenqu Star Monarch said masters are addressed as ’teacher’..."

"A big man’s business, what ’teacher’? That’s women’s business! Don’t you dare call me teacher; it’s too effeminate. From now on call me Master Lu or just master," Lu Ban dismissed with a shake of his head. He bent forward to pull out a mirror, straightened two stray hairs, and added: "There are several Craftsmen Gods in Artisan Valley. I am the Carpenter God. Follow me, study diligently, and keep your head down. Getting a bite to eat won’t be a problem."

Qin Shou looked at the Craftsman God in front of him, who seemed a bit germaphobic, exceedingly narcissistic, and carrying a vanity attribute. He suddenly felt... awkward. Is this really a Craftsman God? This couldn’t be some swindler from somewhere, could it?

"Let’s go, Rabbit. Follow me into the valley," Lu Ban said, grabbing Qin Shou and walking towards the valley outside...

Indeed, he had no intention of turning back to enter the great canyon in the middle of the volcanoes but went straight towards the woods on the opposite side.

Qin Shou called out, "Master Lu, isn’t the route a bit off?"

"What’s wrong with it? I am the Carpenter God, not the Ironsmith God. That’s the ironsmith’s turf, clang and bang all day, drives me nuts. This side is much better—beautiful mountains and clear waters, birds chirping and flowers fragrant, serene and tranquil..." Master Lu explained matter-of-factly.

No sooner had he spoken than from ahead came thumping sounds of chopping wood and the creaking of sawing timber intermingling with shouts of "Timber!"

Then Qin Shou saw a host of birds miserably take to the sky, scattering feathers everywhere, and there was either natural excrement or fear-induced droppings raining down...

At the same time, a towering tree crashed down in front of them, flattening an unfortunate soul who, not to be bothered by pain, quickly crawled out, cheerfully dragging the tree behind him as he ran off.

PS: Rabbit has been selected! Brothers and sisters, let’s give some hearts and surge to the top, then we all can share the spoils, enough to read many books!