Chapter 08: The Southwestern Marquis Manor!

Translator: Krukist

Different worlds, different continents, and naturally, different tastes and appetites.

When the girl froze after taking a bite, Lin Yu’s heart sank.

100 Spirit Stones… That would cover his food for a month and leave enough for his sister’s allowance. But now, it seemed the girl didn’t like the food, and his hopes for the Spirit Stones were dashed.

Sigh…

Lin Yu sighed inwardly. Beside him, Qing Luan remained calm.

Suddenly, the veiled girl’s shoulders trembled slightly. Qing Luan’s expression darkened, and she grabbed Lin Yu by the neck, shouting, “What did you put in the food? Did you poison it?”

Lin Yu, choked and unable to speak, struggled in her grip.

As a Third-Grade Arcane Martialist, Qing Luan’s physical strength far surpassed that of an ordinary person. She lifted Lin Yu off the ground, his toes barely touching the floor. He gasped for air, on the verge of passing out.

“Qing Luan, stop.”

The veiled girl spoke, her voice trembling. “There’s no poison in the food. It’s just… it’s just… sob…”

Tears streamed down her face, and a single teardrop fell onto the stone floor of the courtyard.

Plop.

“Miss, you…” Qing Luan released Lin Yu and rushed to the girl’s side.

“It’s…”

The girl’s voice quivered. “It’s so delicious. I’ve never tasted chicken like this before. No one has ever cooked such a dish for me… sob…”

Delicious!

So delicious it moved her to tears!

Lin Yu sat on the ground, gasping for air. His neck felt like it had been nearly crushed. He couldn’t help but lament the violence of cultivators in this world.

I must become a cultivator myself someday, he thought. If only for self-defense. Otherwise, I might die without even knowing how.

One chicken, three dishes.

The veiled girl’s appetite was astonishing. Lin Yu’s heart raced as he watched her devour everything. Despite her delicate appearance, she finished all the food—and even had three bowls of rice!

Even Lin Yu couldn’t eat that much.

Is her family starving her or something?

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“500 Spirit Stones.”

The girl patted her slightly rounded belly, her expression one of pure satisfaction. She looked at Lin Yu with a newfound softness in her eyes.

“Huh?” Lin Yu was confused.

"Your cooking is amazing. I’ll give you 500 Spirit Stones, but on one condition,” the girl said sweetly. “I’ll come here often to eat.”

“Sure, you’re welcome anytime!”

Lin Yu’s mind raced. 100 Spirit Stones just became 500! Maybe I should switch from running a medicine hall to a restaurant. With just this rich young lady as a regular customer, I’d be set for life.

“However…”

The girl’s tone shifted, and a hint of embarrassment crossed her face. She didn’t finish her sentence, leaving it to Qing Luan to explain.

Qing Luan looked at Lin Yu directly for the first time, her voice calm. “We didn’t bring any Spirit Stones with us this time. We’ll return to our manor and have someone deliver the 500 Spirit Stones to you later.”

Lin Yu’s excitement faded, replaced by a frown. Are they trying to skip out on the bill? Though unhappy, he didn’t dare voice his concerns. A Third-Grade Arcane Martialist could easily obliterate him with a single spell.

The two women left the courtyard, and Lin Yu slumped onto a stone bench. His last chicken was gone, and the only one left in the coop was reserved for his sister’s favorite chicken soup tomorrow.

Not only had he lost the 100 Spirit Stones, but he also had to make do with roasted sweet potatoes for dinner. Blacky, asleep by the wall, seemed oblivious. Lin Yu muttered, “Sorry, Blacky.”

As he ate the sweet potatoes, his thoughts returned to the computer in his Sea of Consciousness…

---

The Southwestern Marquis Manor.

The setting sun bathed the grand Southwestern Marquis Manor in a golden glow. Located in the heart of Heavenly Cloud City, the manor was second only to the imperial palace in scale and grandeur.

The Heavenly Cloud Kingdom had four great marquises, each guarding a cardinal direction. Among them, the Southwestern Marquis, Nalan Zhan, was the kingdom’s only Sixth-Grade Arcane Martialist besides the emperor himself. A legendary war hero, Nalan Zhan had once led a thousand cavalry to defeat an enemy army of ten thousand, earning his fame. Over the years, he had expanded the kingdom’s western borders, driving back the barbarian tribes.

Now, resting in the capital, Nalan Zhan sat at a large dining table laden with sumptuous dishes. Beside him was his wife, Qin Caiyun, a beautiful woman in her forties whose flawless skin made her appear much younger.

Despite the lavish spread, the maids and servants standing nearby could only watch and silently swallow their envy. The feast had been prepared by the renowned chef Situ Deng, Heavenly Cloud City’s newest Culinary King. At just twenty-five, Situ Deng’s dishes were said to be infused with spiritual essence.

Nalan Zhan and Qin Caiyun admired the table with satisfaction, but their faces betrayed worry.

Their daughter, Nalan Ziyan, suffered from anorexia. Over the past three months, she had grown alarmingly thin and had become increasingly withdrawn. Hoping to lift her spirits, Nalan Zhan had arranged for her to join a royal hunting excursion with young princes and princesses. He hoped the fresh air and wild game might stimulate her appetite, as relying solely on spiritual medicines was unsustainable.

Nalan Zhan had three sons and one daughter, but it was his youngest daughter whom he and his wife cherished the most.

They had consulted countless physicians and chefs to cure her anorexia, but their hopes dwindled with each failed attempt.

Creak...

The courtyard gate opened softly, and a graceful figure slipped in, followed by a woman in a green robe. If Lin Yu had been there, he would have immediately recognized her as the veiled girl who had devoured his chicken.

Nalan Ziyan froze upon entering the courtyard. In the center stood a large dining table, her parents seated at it, surrounded by servants. The scene was so quiet she hadn’t noticed it earlier.

“Father, Mother, you’re here…” Nalan Ziyan forced a smile. Before her parents could question her, she quickly explained, “I felt out of place with the princes and princesses, so I sneaked back. Why are you eating in my courtyard? It’s fine, you can use it.”

She tried to slip away to her room, but her mother, Qin Caiyun, stood up with a warm smile.

“Yan’er, wait.”

Her voice was gentle. “We know you sneaked back. It’s fine if you don’t enjoy their company. We prepared this feast especially for you…”

Before her mother could finish, Nalan Ziyan caught a whiff of the food and immediately vomited…

query: [email protected]