CFSMS -Chapter 44 Is He Playing With My Young Heart?

Seeing that it was still early, Lu Wu made another trip to Butcher Lin’s place and came back with several fish.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

She was absolutely going to eat that fish.

Besides, it was the perfect chance to see whether the recipe the system had given her was actually reliable.

As soon as she reached the alley, she spotted a ragged figure squatting in front of her door. The person had their back to her, making it impossible to see their face.

Their graying hair hung messily behind them, resembling a bird’s nest.

From the back, they looked like a destitute beggar.

As for what they were doing in front of her house, she had no idea. The person kept muttering to themselves.

When Lu Wu got closer, she caught fragments of the rambling.

“Curse you to death. I’ll draw a circle and curse you to death.”

“For pulling my hair, kicking my butt, and punching my face.”

“Mami mami om!”

The nonsense didn’t sound remotely like a spell, but Lu Wu recognized the voice immediately.

When she noticed that the other person hadn’t reacted to her arrival, a look of understanding flashed through her eyes. Suppressing a laugh, she said,

“Old Man Li, are you counting ants?”

The missing Old Man Li had finally returned, though he looked rather miserable.

He appeared as though he had been thoroughly beaten up.

However, Lu Wu observed carefully. Aside from his pitiful appearance, he hadn’t suffered a single actual injury.

Hearing her voice, Old Man Li whipped around. He seemed about to say something, but the moment he saw the fish dangling from Lu Wu’s hand, a brilliant gleam erupted from his cloudy eyes.

“Are we eating fish tonight?”

Apparently, food was far more important than whatever grievances he had suffered.

As a result, Lu Wu’s words of concern took a sharp turn.

“Yep. Grilled fish!”

Smiling, she invited Old Man Li into the courtyard.

The large sea bass were tossed into a basin, where they splashed and flopped energetically. When Lu Wu approached, they smacked their tails against the water, soaking her shoes.

Their fish eyes were filled with pure, crystal-clear stupidity.

Kneel before us, insignificant human!

A gentle smile curved Lu Wu’s lips.

She wasn’t about to argue with fish that were already doomed.

Raising her fish-cleaver, she got to work.

She gutted them, scaled them, and sliced away with practiced motions.

With every cut, her smile grew brighter.

Let’s see you jump around now.

Ah, another day of helping the King of Hell meet his performance targets.

Nearby, Old Man Li squatted and watched, his eyes carrying a trace of sympathy.

He could tell that these fish had already developed a hint of spiritual intelligence and were on the verge of awakening completely into demon beasts.

Unfortunately, they had run into Boss Lu.

At the moment, grilled fish was all Lu Wu could think about.

After cleaning the fish, she scored the flesh with diagonal cuts to help the seasonings penetrate.

Into the basin went the fish carcasses along with an appropriate amount of white liquor to remove the fishy odor.

The alcohol of the Qingyuan Realm was wonderfully fragrant and mellow, without the strange smell of cooking wine. Lu Wu liked it a lot.

Over the past while, she had stored quite a collection. She had also found plenty of chili peppers around River Town, dried them, and ground them into chili powder.

The moment the spice appeared, Old Man Li sneezed.

The aroma was intensely spicy.

Mixing the chili powder with fine salt and adding scallions, ginger, and liquor, Lu Wu thoroughly massaged the sea bass before setting them aside to marinate.

Old Man Li casually cast a Cleansing Spell on himself.

Instantly, he looked completely refreshed.

Originally, he had planned to use a “suffering tactic” to earn some sympathy from Boss Lu.

But before he could put his plan into action, Boss Lu had launched a “food tactic” first.

As a result, he willingly fell for it.

“Oh right, girl. Have you run into any strange old men lately?”

Old Man Li asked cautiously.

His expression suggested he was worried about something.

That old geezer Tianfeng had failed to build goodwill before, and now he was trying to steal away the girl Old Man Li had his eye on.

Absolutely unforgivable.

Unable to stomach it, he had gone straight to Tianfeng’s door and started a one-sided fight.

No.

He had to think of something.

If the girl got snatched away in the future, where would he find such delicious food again?

“A strange old man… probably not?”

Lu Wu’s gaze drifted lightly onto Old Man Li as she answered hesitantly.

Did the one in front of her count?

“Ahem!”

“As long as there hasn’t been one.”

After a moment’s thought, Old Man Li added,

“Girl, let me tell you. Some sects may look glorious on the surface, but who knows how filthy and rotten they are underneath.”

“And being a sect disciple isn’t exactly freedom.”

“With your cooking skills, you’d be an honored guest anywhere you go. So don’t pay attention to whatever benefits people offer you.”

His implication couldn’t have been more obvious.

Meanwhile, inside River Town’s inn, Daoist Tianfeng sat in a chair while Qin Zhan rubbed medicinal wine into his shoulders.

He had returned to his original appearance.

Bruises covered his body from head to toe.

Even his beard was shorter than before, with portions visibly singed.

“Achoo!”

Daoist Tianfeng sneezed and wore a bitter expression.

That fiend had been ruthless.

“Master…”

Qin Zhan wanted to ask questions but didn’t dare.

“Ahem. I merely exchanged pointers with a senior expert.”

Daoist Tianfeng waved his hand dismissively.

Qin Zhan hesitated.

Could a sparring match leave injuries that couldn’t be healed with spiritual power?

He strongly suspected that if the other party had hit any harder, his master might have ended up in pieces scattered all over the place.

“Xiao Zhan, the sect has sent word for me to return. You may continue your travels, but don’t forget our agreement.”

He had been beaten so badly that he couldn’t even go eat Boss Lu’s pork knuckles today.

Fortunately, his disciple had been filial enough to share one with him.

Suppressing a groan of pain, Daoist Tianfeng straightened his clothes and stood.

With that fiend nearby, he didn’t dare remain here any longer and risk provoking him again.

“This disciple remembers!”

Qin Zhan smiled.

Remembering was one thing.

Whether he would actually follow through was another matter.

After all, his master couldn’t watch him every second of every day.

“Xiao Zhan, your master believes in you.”

Chuckling, Daoist Tianfeng patted Qin Zhan on the head.

At that exact moment, a chilly breeze swept through the room.

Qin Zhan instinctively shrank his neck and suddenly sounded far more sincere.

Not good. Killing intent!

“This disciple absolutely won’t forget!”

He emphasized every word with genuine feeling.

Only after Daoist Tianfeng left did Qin Zhan wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

That shameless old geezer had no dignity at all.

For the sake of food, he had practically been ready to kill his own disciple.

Pouting, Qin Zhan suddenly noticed a message from Jiang Yunhe.

“Huh? This year, everyone awakening their talents in the cities under Hong’an City’s jurisdiction will be gathered directly in Hong’an City itself.”

“Did something happen?”

Every year, talent awakening season was also recruitment season for the major sects.

Great sects like the Sacred Sword Sect and Divine Physician Valley enjoyed enormous reputations throughout the Qingyuan Realm, so countless people naturally wished to join them.

Normally, however, children were tested in their hometowns before arrangements were made afterward.

The unusual change in Hong’an City piqued Qin Zhan’s curiosity.

“Want some grilled fish?”

Before he could figure out an answer, another message arrived from the Grand Elder of the Bun Cult.

“YES!!”

The symbols alone perfectly conveyed Qin Zhan’s excitement.

He nearly jumped to his feet.

That grilled fish had to be made by Boss Lu.

His master had only just left, and good fortune had already arrived.

Sure enough.

That old geezer was a walking jinx.

“Hehe, nope. Not giving you any.”

???

What was the Grand Elder trying to do?

Was he playing with Qin Zhan’s young heart?

Qin Zhan exploded.

After stomping angrily around the room several times, he suddenly grinned.

If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain!

Besides, he and Boss Lu were friends now.

Surely it wouldn’t hurt to mooch a meal, right?

Boss Lu, wait for me!