The red-eyed snakes were skinned, heads chopped off, tails cut off, and innards removed, leaving only the tenderest belly meat, deboned and sliced into strips.

Making do with what was available, large stones were carved into pots, and bamboo joints split into tubes.

Song Qian Ji rolled up his sleeves, using a dagger in place of a kitchen knife. With his hands immersed in the murky blood and flesh, he chatted casually with Li Ci Quan:

“I heard earlier that your chess skills were taught by Duke Wei?”

He rarely showed interest in matters beyond farming. Perhaps because it concerned the savior, he was mentally tracing a pattern.

Before Wei Zhen Yu came to Qian Qu, he had concealed his identity while moving through the cultivation world, guiding various people.

After establishing himself as a duke, these people broke away from their sects and joined him, becoming his trusted aides.

Was it an unintentional blessing, or had Wei Zhen Yu planned it all along, making strategic moves to build his strength?

“Does Daoist Friend Song also understand chess?” Li Ci Quan asked.

Song Qian Ji smiled: “A little.”

“Back then, I drifted from overseas with nothing, facing contempt everywhere. In my lowest moment, I fortunately met Duke Wei. He recognized my talent for formations and taught me chess. He encouraged me to compete in the chess championship at the Deng Wen Elegant Meeting, to become someone’s disciple on his behalf…”

“What happened then?”

Li Ci Quan: “Later, Duke Song’s ‘Hero Invitation’ appeared suddenly, so naturally I didn’t become that person’s disciple. However, because of this, I was admitted to Purple Cloud Observatory to study the most powerful formations. Duke Wei truly gave me a second life.”

Song Qian Ji: “Duke Wei is a good person.”

The timeline became clearer. Wei Zhen Yu likely first met the Chess Ghost, received his guidance but was unwilling to become his disciple.

Yet not wanting the Chess Ghost to die with regrets, he trained Li Ci Quan and sent him to the Deng Wen Meeting.

Li Ci Quan was about to nod when he felt something was off: “That sounds strange somehow…”

You could say Duke Wei was a ruler or a powerful figure, but how was a “good person” any sort of compliment?

Water boiled in the stone pot, the snake meat was blanched, and the fishy smell gradually dispersed.

Under cover of the steaming white mist, Song Qian Ji released vapor from the Immortality Spring at the mouth of his pure bottle, mixing it into the stone pot.

The Immortality Spring reluctantly trembled the bottle, as if protesting being used for such a mundane purpose.

As soon as the scallion segments and minced ginger went into the pot, a fragrant aroma burst forth, drifting with the wind. Song Qian Ji then produced pepper and salt.

Li Ci Quan watched in astonishment as he took one small bottle after another from his storage pouch:

“Daoist Friend, you’ve come very well-prepared.”

“I usually indulge in the pleasures of food,” Song Qian Ji said. “Forgive my frivolity.”

In his previous life, when encountering such nourishing substances in the secret realm, he would simply skin them and swallow them raw, chewing the bones and spitting them out. The cold, stinking blood and flesh were nauseating, but to quickly replenish spiritual energy and strength, he was accustomed to enduring it.

Living a second life, he had developed a habit of being particular about taste.

Soon the snake soup was ready. Served in bamboo tubes, its fragrance warmed the heart and lungs.

The silver-armored team gathered around, clicking their tongues in wonder, with occasional teasing remarks:

“Looks like we’ve hired a cook?”

“Since we have a cook, taking them along for a while isn’t such a loss.”

With cultivators’ keen hearing and sight, the independent cultivators by the campfire vaguely heard this and showed indignation:

“Tomorrow we’ll show them what we’re capable of.”

“I’m hungry, let me taste first!” A medical cultivator from the silver-armored team jumped forward, dipped his finger on the edge of a bamboo tube, put it in his mouth, and savored it.

Song Qian Ji lowered his gaze, noticing that the man’s other hand was tightly clenched, gripping something.

This person was testing for poison; in his hand must be a detoxification pill.

Although Li Ci Quan had “supervised” his preparation of the snake meat throughout, Song Qian Ji had brought his seasonings and aromatics, which still couldn’t put Duke Wei at ease.

As the medical cultivator tested for poison, the silver-armored team chatted and joked while tightly surrounding Song Qian Ji, cutting off his retreat.

Another group watched the independent cultivators, ready to act at any moment, while the latter remained oblivious, still chatting with the silver-armored team.

Song Qian Ji’s eyes turned slightly cold.

Judging by their practiced formation, similar situations must have occurred many times.

Putting on airs was one thing, but who had taught Wei Zhen Yu to be so suspicious?

If he didn’t trust an outsider like him, why bother letting him take charge of cooking, going through all that trouble?

If I meant to harm you, would I need to use poison? With just these few people, could you stop me?!

Song Qian Ji looked coldly through the gaps between figures toward Wei Zhen Yu.

He saw him sitting with a straight back, surrounded by falling leaves, completely alone.

His conspicuously flamboyant cape fluttered in the wind, impressive yet somewhat lonely.

After leaving Qian Qu, during countless long, nights, this was probably how he spent his time.

Song Qian Ji paused, thinking that over the years, Wei Zhen Yu had made enemies everywhere, inevitably encountering those with ill intentions. His current wariness was habitual, not specifically directed at him.

He also thought of himself in his previous life, sometimes even more cautious than Wei Zhen Yu.

He exhaled, shook his head, and took the bamboo tube from the medical cultivator’s hand, smiling: “Let me taste it first to check the saltiness.”

Song Qian Ji held the bamboo tube, blew on it, and hastily swallowed a large mouthful of the throat-scorching snake soup: “It’s just right.”

The atmosphere suddenly relaxed. The formation surrounding the independent cultivator team also dispersed.

Li Ci Quan called out: “Everyone, enjoy it while it’s hot!”

Everyone eagerly rushed forward, feasting heartily.

“Duke Wei is over there.”

Li Ci Quan handed Song Qian Ji a bamboo tube, gesturing for him to personally deliver it to Wei Zhen Yu, his smile now more genuine and warm.

Song Qian Ji pretended not to understand the other’s kind hint: “Duke Wei’s presence is so imposing, one can’t help but feel intimidated. I’ll head back now.”

“Little Song, don’t you think you returned too quickly?” The chubby formation master looked at him helplessly. “Didn’t you at least talk to Duke Wei a bit?”

Song Qian Ji: “I haven’t finished drawing the talismans we’ll need tomorrow.”

He spread out paper and brush on a stone, sat cross-legged with closed eyes to circulate his energy, appearing as if he was preparing to draw talismans and didn’t want to be disturbed.

Team leader Lu Zhou was exasperated: “If you can’t finish them, then you can’t. Following Duke Wei would save you a lot of talismans. That was such a good opportunity. I’ve never seen such an honest fool as you.”

The sword cultivator coldly mocked: “You can’t prop up mud as a wall! Counting on Little Song to make an impression is like expecting red rain to fall from the sky…” Suddenly seeing the silver-armored team bringing snake soup, he quickly changed his tone to express gratitude.

Zhang Hou grumbled: “Little Song made this soup. Why don’t I see you thanking him?”

“Huh, you have a problem with that? You want to fight?!”

The independent cultivator team, energized after replenishing spiritual energy from the snake soup, argued noisily.

Song Qian Ji ignored them completely.

The tendency to admire the strong and despise the weak had long existed in the cultivation world. These teammates were already considered decent people.

While pretending to laboriously draw talismans, he carefully sensed his surroundings.

Deep into the night, insect calls and beast roars had been absent for a long time, the forest abnormally quiet.

The night wind carried a faint sweet fragrance. That spirit creature was still following them, like a cold venomous snake watching its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.

…

“Your Highness, how is the taste? Need more salt?” Li Ci Quan observed Wei Zhen Yu’s expression, trying to detect any change.

“Acceptable,” Wei Zhen Yu uttered these two words, then set the bamboo tube aside.

Surprisingly, he had only taken one sip, unwilling to eat more.

A normal, ordinary taste.

“What about that person?” Wei Zhen Yu asked.

Li Ci Quan looked toward the independent cultivator team: “Timid, good-tempered. An honest person who doesn’t talk back when scolded. He also praised you…”

“Praised me how?” Wei Zhen Yu raised his head slightly.

Dense leaves swayed, breaking the moonlight.

Light spots fell on his face, creating a flickering effect.

Li Ci Quan laughed: “Praised you as a good person.”

Wei Zhen Yu was slightly stunned. Was that even a compliment?

“Glib and ingratiating!” Someone suddenly jumped down from a tree, snorting: “With his level of cultivation, if he wasn’t good-tempered, what team would take him? I don’t understand why we’re also carrying a bunch of dead weight. Are we doing daily good deeds?”

Li Ci Quan gave him a disapproving look: “Zhu Sheng, Duke Wei has his reasons for bringing them along.”

The young man named Zhu Sheng became solemn: “Does Your Highness think that person is useful?”

Wei Zhen Yu lowered his head, returning to the shadows where the moonlight couldn’t reach: “Let’s wait and see.”

Li Ci Quan nodded: “We should indeed be cautious.”

Having eaten the little talisman master’s snake soup, he was rather hoping the man wouldn’t be used as a “stone” to test the road.

Wei Zhen Yu suddenly asked: “What did you discover?”

They certainly wouldn’t wait for Zhang Hou to scout and report back.

Zhu Sheng said: “Ten li away, we found traces of a formation, likely set up to trap beasts. Formation materials on the ground weren’t cleaned up thoroughly. Judging by the arrangement, it’s a triple-layered entrapment formation.”

Wei Zhen Yu raised an eyebrow: “Purple Cloud Observatory?”

Zhu Sheng shook his head: “If it were people from Purple Cloud Observatory, there should be purple auspicious cloud markings on the formation materials left behind.”

When traveling outside, each sect’s signature skills had distinct characteristics.

Major sects sometimes acted domineering, deliberately leaving marks as a way to greet passing cultivators—

“The unowned treasures ahead have already been targeted by our certain sect. Fearless Daoists are welcome to compete, but those who are afraid should quickly retreat.”

Li Ci Quan pondered: “Besides Purple Cloud Observatory, who else entering the secret realm this time can arrange a triple-layered entrapment formation and doesn’t like to leave marks?”

“You,” Zhu Sheng said.

Li Ci Quan: “…Of course, besides me!”

“Oh, there’s also that Editor Ji from Qian Qu.”

“Are you saying the team ahead might be from Qian Qu?”

Li Ci Quan was somewhat hesitant.

He looked toward a particular direction in the forest. Since entering the secret realm, they had followed Wei Zhen Yu’s arrangements, moving in one direction for a specific purpose.

Collecting spirit herbs and beast cores along the way was merely incidental.

Tomorrow they would accelerate their pace.

He didn’t want additional complications: “Duke Wei, the main task takes priority. Should we take another route and avoid them for now?”

There was silence for a while.

“Avoid?” Wei Zhen Yu slowly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, his gaze profound. “If anyone should avoid me, it should be them avoiding me.”

He stood up and walked away from the crowd alone, deeper into the forest.

Zhu Sheng was about to follow but saw Wei Zhen Yu raise his hand, indicating there was no need to accompany him.