"Kunling, since you call Master, does that an you’ll follow my every command?" Tian Sangsang asked.
"Yes." Guan Kunling’s expression was respectful as she bowed: "I am willing to go through fire and water for my Master, without the slightest hesitation."
Tian Sangsang waved her hand dismissively: "Alright, alright. Talking big is easy, but doing real things is the hard part."
Guan Kunling’s gaze imdiately filled with guilt as she lowered her head and clasped her hands together: "I humbly accept the Master’s teachings." She was so overjoyed that both of them were alive that she had been talking more than usual. This ti, it truly was her lack of protection that caused the trouble, and she resolved to practice her martial arts harder to protect her Master.
Looking at how serious Kunling was, Tian Sangsang felt exasperated. Why do ancient people have no sense of humor at all?
But... a beauty is really a beauty, her goddess no less. Especially that cold yet curvaceous figure—Tian Sangsang envied it to the core. Plus, though injured, she stood straight and strong while listening to her speak. What amazing resilience. She truly was like an ice lotus blooming on a mountaintop, deserving of gentle care.
Alas, why must won make life harder for other won?
Tian Sangsang’s tone softened instinctively, "From now on, don’t call Master anymore. Call Sangsang—Sang as in ’sands of ti’. My current na is Tian Sangsang, not Tian Sijin."
Though she did not grasp why her Master had changed their na, Kunling refrained from asking. She furrowed her brow slightly and shook her head, replying gravely, "I cannot. I dare not directly address my Master by na." That would be a grave act of disrespect.
Tian Sangsang put on a stern face, adopting the posture of a superior: "Kunling, do you dare disobey ?"
"Never." Guan Kunling suddenly dropped to her knees with a loud thud: "I shall obey. Sangsang."
Tian Sangsang smirked in satisfaction. Sotis, wielding authority really did work. At last, that awkward title had been changed.
"Get up." Tian Sangsang motioned with her hand. "Oh, and from now on, not only are you to call Sangsang, but you’ll also refer to yourself as ’I.’ I don’t want to hear you address yourself as ’subordinate’ anymore, nor do I want to see you kneeling to at every turn. You’re a person, no different from anyone else. Understand this: tis have changed, and sticking with these outdated rituals shows a lack of respect for human rights."
Guan Kunling stood up, her heart touched, and nodded in agreent.
"Let show you sothing," Tian Sangsang said as she picked up a remote control. "You’ve probably realized it by now—we’ve arrived in a different ti and space. We were here before, in this: ’Ancient to Modern Crossing: The Foodie Actress Is Too Alluring.’"
She pressed the remote. A black, unresponsive screen hung in midair.
As usual, Guan Kunling’s face showed no expression, though her eyes stayed fixed on Tian Sangsang’s actions. Where?
Why was the screen still black, like it was frozen? Tian Sangsang, frustrated, coughed lightly. "Okay, let’s try this. Stretch your hand out, into the air."
Guan Kunling raised her right hand slowly.
Ti seed to freeze, yet Guan Kunling remained unmoving!
Tian Sangsang was shocked. How could this be? Whenever she stretched her hand out, she could always enter the space. But why was Guan Kunling still stuck in place?!
"Don’t move your hand just yet. Close your eyes and silently recite these four words in your mind: ’I want to enter.’"
Guan Kunling obediently complied. After finishing, she looked expectantly at Tian Sangsang.
"Oh, for crying out loud..." Tian Sangsang exclaid in frustration. Why wasn’t it working?! How was Kunling supposed to return? She couldn’t leave her stuck in this space forever!
"Stand where you are for now. I’ll be right back." Tian Sangsang rushed off toward the study. Half an hour later, she returned, dejected like a defeated rooster, her head drooping low. The Space User Manual didn’t account for such unexpected scenarios at all.
When she raised her eyes, Guan Kunling was still standing there. Beads of sweat ford on her pale forehead, and her lips were bloodless.
"Are you okay?" Tian Sangsang hurried over to support her. She silently kicked herself. Asking her to stand there, and she really stood there. Why didn’t she think to grab a chair and sit down to rest?
"I am... fine," Guan Kunling said weakly, forcing her eyelids to stay open, "Sangsang, please, don’t worry."
Like she’d believe that! Tian Sangsang bent down and gave her a princess carry. No wonder people said ancient won were as light as feathers—it wasn’t an exaggeration. This assassin wasn’t so extraordinary after all; she was way too light.
"Eat more in the future, will you? I can barely feel any weight while carrying you." Carrying her steadily, Tian Sangsang entered the room.
In her arms, Guan Kunling was stiff with embarrassnt, her cheeks turning a rosy red as she gazed at Tian Sangsang’s profile in a daze. Both of them loved to eat, no doubt about it. She loved eating because, before her Master took her in, she had gone hungry for too long, and eating had beco second nature. Her Master loved to eat because she wanted to gain weight to earn the Emperor’s and others’ favor. In the Master’s residence, food was never a worry. Despite their efforts, neither of them ever managed to put on weight and had eventually given up, though their passion for food lingered.
By the ti everything was settled, Guan Kunling had fainted on the bed.
Her clothes were already beyond help—wrinkled and bloodstained. After dressing her wounds, Tian Sangsang used a towel to clean her up before changing her into modern clothing: a simple white won’s blouse and a pair of black cropped polyester pants.
Tian Sangsang adjusted her clothes and, recalling the scars that adorned her fair body, felt a pang of heartache. Those scars were all too familiar; she had seen similar ones on Jiang Jinghuai. But Kunling... she was just a woman. According to the original story’s descriptions, every one of those scars on her body was left behind in the process of protecting Tian Sijin.
Such a loyal subordinate.
But... she wasn’t her Master.
Tian Sangsang picked up Guan Kunling and attempted to leave the space. It actually worked—she exited successfully. The space didn’t seem to object to Kunling leaving. Surely she wouldn’t have figured out her secret, right?
At this ti, it was still midday. Chen Ying was working at the post office.
"Mom, who’s that?" ng Shuyan asked, staring at the woman lying on the bed with curious black eyes. Even Little Milk Tea wagged its tail and looked up curiously.
"Her? Her last na is Guan. Call her Auntie." Tian Sangsang replied softly.
"Huh?" ng Shuyan scratched his head in confusion, his eyes blank. "Mom, that’s so strange. Soone really has the na ’Auntie Guan’?"
Tian Sangsang froze for a mont, then chuckled, "You misunderstood. Not ’Auntie Guan.’ Her na is Guan Kunling. But you call her Auntie."
Realizing his mistake, ng Shuyan’s small face flushed. Embarrassed, he nodded bashfully.
"Co on, Yanyan. Let’s go outside with Mommy. Auntie is still unconscious, and we don’t want to disturb her." Outwardly, Tian Sangsang used this as an excuse, but in truth, she still wasn’t confident about trusting Guan Kunling. Leaving her precious son alone in a room with an assassin? Just thinking about it was terrifying.
Though puzzled, ng Shuyan obediently followed Tian Sangsang outside. This Auntie seed to have popped up in their ho suddenly. But... Auntie was sooooo pretty~~~~~~
Seeing that there were no custors in the shop at the mont, Tian Sangsang boiled so congee with preserved egg and lean at and prepared a few light side dishes.
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