The youth casually produced a million taels in banknotes without even blinking!
This friend…
I, Jun Changxiao, am determined to make!
“Still hungry? How about another bowl of fried rice?”
“Just eating fried rice doesn’t provide much nutrition.”
“Zilin, go to the river and catch a few carp. Have Dudu make him a sweet and sour carp to nourish his body.”
Once Sect Master Jun got enthusiastic, it was truly hard to handle.
“Sweet and sour carp?”
The youth exclaimed, “Isn’t that the dish a girl named Liu Wanshi made at the Southwest Yang Province culinary competition?”
“You’ve heard of it?” Jun Changxiao was surprised.
“Of course!”
The youth said, “I don’t have many hobbies, but I love eating all the world’s delicacies!”
Great.
Someone with the same hobby as Zhen Dejun!
Unfortunately, his cultivation was weak, so there was no need to recruit him to the sect. But wait… if this fellow was very wealthy, he could reluctantly accept him.
“Ahem.”
Jun Changxiao cleared his throat, pointing at Liu Wanshi, “She is Liu Wanshi, and the sweet and sour carp was also made by her.”
“Ah!”
The youth’s eyes widened in disbelief, “You… you’re Liu Wanshi??”
“Mm.” Liu Wanshi replied.
“Heavens, heavens!”
The youth stood up, then fiercely pinched his face, “I’m not dreaming? Is it really her?”
Jun Changxiao clasped his hands behind his back and introduced himself, “This humble one is Jun Changxiao, Sect Master of the Myriad Ancient Sect.”
The youth obviously didn’t care about him, instead carefully examining Liu Wanshi, “No wonder the fried rice just now was so delicious—it was made by the culinary competition champion!”
“Little friend.”
Jun Changxiao said, “We still don’t know your identity.”
“Miss Liu.”
The youth said seriously, “If I could eat the sweet and sour carp you make, it would certainly be a blessing of three lifetimes!”
“…”
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.
As the master of a third-tier sect, he was actually being ignored like this. Or was it that in foodies’ eyes, the chef was most important?
“Zilin, what are you standing there for?” Jun Changxiao urged, “Hurry and catch the fish.”
“Yes!”
Demon King Zilin left briskly.
Logically, as the king of the beast race doing such things should be shameful, but thinking about soon being able to eat Liu Wanshi’s sweet and sour carp, he was quite diligent and excited.
“Little friend, my disciple still needs to participate in the Food God Competition. Personally cooking for you would delay our journey…” Jun Changxiao said.
The youth understood the implication and scratched his head, “I’m out of money.”
Out of money?
Disappointment appeared on Jun Changxiao’s face.
“However.”
The youth paused, “I have ten thousand natural spirit stones here. If Miss Liu doesn’t mind, I’d like to offer them as compensation for delaying your journey.”
“Don’t mind, don’t mind.” Jun Changxiao smiled.
Carrying a million taels in banknotes plus ten thousand natural spirit stones—truly a friend worth befriending deeply!
But how could he be traveling alone?
Wasn’t he afraid of being robbed?
Possibly his family watched him too strictly, didn’t let him go out, so he sneaked out himself. Having lived a pampered life with everything provided, that’s why he fainted from hunger on the road.
The world of the wealthy truly cannot be understood.
System: “…”
His own host had no other merits besides a vivid imagination.
The youth was truly generous, taking out ten thousand natural spirit stones without his brow furrowing even once, as if the items weren’t his.
“The fish are here!”
Demon King Zilin brought back several carp from the lake.
Jun Changxiao smiled, “Dudu, make this little friend a sweet and sour carp.”
“Alright.”
Liu Wanshi tied on her apron, selected the most suitable carp, then placed it on the cutting board and began skillfully removing scales and internal organs.
The youth exclaimed, “From your flowing movements, I can tell Miss Liu must be a culinary master!”
…
Two quarters of an hour later…
The U-shaped sweet and sour carp was served and placed on a makeshift table.
Since it involved recipes and techniques, the cooking process was omitted to prevent someone with ulterior motives from learning it and applying for intangible cultural heritage status.
“Try it.” Liu Wanshi said.
“Mm.”
The youth sat down, then gently opened the bundle on the table.
Inside were neatly arranged plates, spoons, and a pair of chopsticks—from their color, they appeared to be made of gold!
“Holy crap.”
Jun Changxiao exclaimed, “A wealthy person indeed!”
He himself always used bamboo chopsticks and porcelain bowls. Occasionally he’d use disposable multi-function hot-cold plastic cups refreshed from the shop. He’d never even thought about dining utensils made from precious minerals!
A trace of surprise appeared in Liu Wanshi’s bright eyes.
What she cared about wasn’t the expensive tableware, but the other party’s methodical, deliberate movements.
The youth arranged the tableware properly, gently picked up the chopsticks—the entire process was orderly, especially with a very serious light shining in his eyes.
Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “This is an expert in the way of eating!”
The youth picked up a piece of fish meat and placed it in his mouth.
He didn’t chew, but used his tongue’s taste buds to fully experience the food.
Gradually…
His brow furrowed, relaxed, then furrowed again…
The youth’s facial expressions kept changing, as fierce as a battlefield slaughter.
Brother!
Just eat already!
Jun Changxiao was getting anxious watching, almost wanting to rush over and snatch the food from his mouth to help him eat it.
After carefully tasting, the youth began to chew.
With each closing of his teeth, as the meat juices gradually spread in his mouth, he closed his eyes, his soul seemingly having already flown beyond the nine heavens.
“Drip!”
“Drip!”
Tears flowed from the corners of his eyes, running down his cheeks and dripping onto the table.
The youth swallowed the food, then put down his chopsticks, raised his arm to wipe his tears, choking up, “To eat such delicious food, this life has no regrets!”
“…” Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.
Though this fellow wasn’t old, his words and actions seemed quite mature.
“Snap!”
The youth placed a spatial ring on the table, “Human delicacies—how can they be measured by ten thousand spirit stones? Here are another ten thousand. Please take them!”
Jun Changxiao collected them, cupping his fists, “From little friend’s dining details, this seat can tell you’re definitely a great expert in the way of eating!”
The youth was quite ashamed, “Though I’m lazy, I have some knowledge only in eating matters. Generally mediocre food can’t enter my mouth.”
“Starving yourself unconscious rather than eating food you don’t like—this seat can see that!” Jun Changxiao said.
The youth smiled and put away his tableware, “I’m full.”
“Full from one bite?” Jun Changxiao was surprised.
The youth said, “I don’t eat to satisfy hunger, but to savor carefully. Moreover, I just ate a bowl of fried rice.”
“…”
Such a peculiar person—no wonder he fainted from hunger.
“That…”
Demon King Zilin said, “Can I have a bite?”
Seeing the youth cry while eating, his stomach had long been churning.
“Eat.”
Swish!
Demon King Zilin walked over. Without the youth’s professionalism, he directly opened his mouth and took a big bite, then began crying tears streaming down his face.
…
“What’s little friend’s surname?”
“My humble surname is Qian. Just call me Qian Buduo.”
“Good name!”
“I heard Sect Master Jun mention earlier that you’re taking Miss Liu to participate in the Food God Competition?”
“Correct.”
“I happen to be going to the Grand Honor Imperial City as well. Would it be possible to travel together?”
“No problem. But Brother Qian, what brings you to the imperial city?”
“Thanks to the organizers’ kindness, they’ve asked Qian to serve as a judge for this Food God Competition.”
“Oh.”
Screech—
Jun Changxiao suddenly stopped, his face blank with shock, “You… you’re a Food God Competition judge?”
“This is my judging token.”
Qian Buduo produced a gold-edged token with the words “Forty-Ninth Food God Competition Chief Judge” written on it.
My goodness!
And he’s the chief judge!
“Brother Qian, you and I hit it off at first sight, meeting too late in life. This seat absolutely cannot accept these banknotes and twenty thousand spirit stones. Please take them back quickly.”
—