I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 836: Chapter 837: I Want to Eat Human Flesh, 30% Mature
 

The high-ranking members of the Sword Sect followed the elder up the stairs, leaving behind a crowd of younger generations looking at each other in confusion.

“Fellow senior brothers and sisters, please follow me. There have been quite a few new shops and scenic spots outside recently. Qinghe will take you all for a tour,” a young female cultivator slowly walked down the stairs, graceful and poised, in a light yellow dress, her voluminous hair cascading down to her waist, a beauty mark between her brows, and a demeanor that exuded the elegance of a lady from a noble family.

“So it’s Junior Sister Qinghe. It has been a while since I’ve seen you. Our last farewell was a bit hurried, so this time I’ll be the host. How about we take a short break at Xiuchun Residence? This can also serve as compensation for my previous regret,” Situ Baoqi said with a brightened look and a smile upon seeing the newcomer.

“That would be wonderful. Xiuchun Residence has beautiful scenery and overlooks a good portion of the Little Ghost Secret Realm. It is indeed a nice place to go. However, my master has instructed me to entertain everyone this time, so I cannot allow senior brothers to spend unnecessarily,” Shen Qinghe replied with a smile.

A bustling group left the inn. The disciples of the Sword Sect seemed to have a favorable impression of Shen Qinghe, with laughter and jokes exchanged, and everybody vying to show their eagerness in a cheerful atmosphere.

Li Xiaobai lingered at the back and quietly asked Wu Chengjue, “Senior, do you know who that Shen Qinghe is?”

“I don’t know.”

Wu Chengjue replied indifferently.

“Alas, what’s with the youth nowadays? A beauty like the senior is unappreciated, yet everyone seems enraptured by a young girl. Could it be that young people these days all have this preference?” Li Xiaobai sighed dramatically, trying to provoke a reaction from the icy beauty, and to draw some information out of her.

Unfortunately, the woman remained as cold as frost, her whole being enveloped in Frost Qi, as if she was isolated from the world.

“Senior, how do you think you look?” Li Xiaobai prodded on, aimlessly trying to strike up a conversation, hoping to indirectly open up a dialogue and gain some information about their mission.

“I am the most beautiful,” said Wu Chengjue, sparing her words like they were gold.

“Uh, how beautiful is that?” Li Xiaobai queried.

Wu Chengjue gave him a glance and said, “Do you know the meaning of ‘the most’?”

Li Xiaobai: “…”

An ice queen, beyond reach, abandon treatment – better to get information from these sect disciples instead.

Xiuchun Residence was located to the southeast of the Little Ghost Secret Realm and was the tallest building in the area; no wonder Shen Qinghe had said from there you could get a view of a good part of the Secret Realm.

Xiuchun Residence was divided into seven floors, and the higher you went, the more exquisite the dishes became, and naturally, the more expensive they were. It was said that the seventh floor was a place only accessible to very important people.

Ouyang Baoqi led everyone to the fourth floor, his movements showing the familiarity of a regular, very much at ease.

The fourth floor was spacious, with very few dining tables, roughly only seven or eight in total. The cultivators coming and going were enjoying tea and the view. From the tower, one could look down and truly see the mountains in miniature, feeling as if their own heart and mind were broadened by being there.

Li Xiaobai and the others took a seat near the window, looking out at the scenery while listening to the chatter of the surrounding crowd.

“Ah, Young Master Baoqi, and Miss Qinghe. What are we having today? We’ve recently borrowed a master chef from the Blade Sect. His knife skills are amazing. Why don’t you give it a try?” an attendant greeted them with a beaming smile. The middle-aged man was slightly plump, his eyes shining with shrewdness. Only those with Earth Immortal Realm cultivation could work as attendants here, each of them exuding an extraordinary presence.

Their daily interactions with guests resembled casual conversations between old friends, recounting the various recently witnessed events.

“Oh? Brought in from the Blade Sect? Is it possible he is one of the Blade Sect disciples here to challenge in the arena?” Ouyang Baoqi asked with narrowed eyes.

“The young master is indeed perceptive. Recently, the major sects have joined forces, intending to let their disciples compete against each other. As the number one inn in the Secret Realm, Xiuchun Residence naturally has to keep up with the hot topics and ride the wave of popularity,” the middle-aged man chuckled.

“Don’t say we didn’t give you face. With a Blade Sect disciple cooking, surely you can discern some clues, right?”

“Haha, Uncle Youfu, you’ve really gone through the trouble. Since that’s the case, let that Blade Sect chef bring out his signature dishes. We’ll cover the cost with plenty of Immortal Stones!” Situ Baoqi said with a light laugh.

“Junior Brother Li, Sister Wu, order whatever you would like to eat, don’t be polite with this elder brother.”

Elder Ouyang Baoqi changed his tone and looked towards Li Xiaobai and the two with a smile. Xiuchun Residence didn’t have a menu; all who were here were regulars. Today, he just wanted to see this fellow make a fool of himself!

“Really?”

“We can order whatever we want?”

Li Xiaobai looked at Wu Chengjue and, seeing no particular reaction from her, took over the conversation and asked.

“Of course, I’m the host today, so don’t worry about anything. Order whatever you like,” he said.

Elder Ouyang Baoqi wore a gentle smile on his face, but there was a sinister glint in his eyes.

“Come on, Brother Baoqi, don’t make it difficult for them. Junior Brother Li doesn’t have the opportunity to come here on regular days; how would he know about the dishes at Xiuchun Residence?”

“That’s right, Junior Brother Li, you should eat to your heart’s content today and have no regrets.”

“Understandable for someone from the countryside…”

The other disciples also spoke with veiled sarcasm, their words laced with barbs.

Uncle Youfu, a cunning fellow, saw right through the key point at a glance and said with a smile: “Please feel free to order, gentlemen; our signature at Xiuchun Residence is to make anything as long as you dare to order it.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Compared to two disciples he had never met, he naturally wanted to build a good relationship with Elder Ouyang’s Great Disciple. Moreover, judging by Situ Baoqi’s attitude, the other party was not someone with a significant background worth cultivating.

“Hmm, I want to eat dragon meat, the kind with pure bloodlines. Do you have that?”

Li Xiaobai widened his eyes innocently and asked.

Cough cough, we really don’t have that… Young brother, be careful of what you say. If the Dragon Race hears it, it will bring disaster!”

Uncle Youfu choked on his words and hurriedly made a shushing gesture.

“Then I’ll have phoenix blood, boss, don’t hide your skills. My elder brother said he would pick up the tab. As a Great Disciple of Elder Ouyang from the Sword Sect, you don’t need to worry about his financial power!”

Li Xiaobai waved his hand seriously.

“I’ll be damned…”

The onlookers widened their eyes in shock. To speak so recklessly in public, was he not afraid to die?

If someone with an agenda heard this, they might say that the Sword Sect did not take the Dragon Race seriously. If the cultivators from Ice Dragon Island found out, they’d be in trouble they can’t walk away from!

And to not worry about financial power?

Angering the powerhouses would dig up even their ancestral graves!

“Junior Brother Li, don’t spout nonsense. Don’t you understand even the slightest bit of decorum when you are out in public?”

Situ Baoqi said in a serious tone, he had really seen the rascal nature of this fellow today; it was infuriating.

Asking for dragon meat and phoenix blood as soon as he arrived, who did he think he was, the Emperor of Heaven?

“Uncle Youfu, please bring this brother a plate of pastries. The pastries here are quite good, sweet but not greasy, and I believe brother will like them,” Shen Qinghe spoke up at the right moment. She noticed the tension among them and took the initiative to relieve the awkwardness.

“Fine then, just some pastries, I guess they’re barely acceptable to eat,” Li Xiaobai said with a nod.

“Sister Wu, what would you like to eat? The mountain delicacies and bear paws here are quite good, and they even have beauty and health benefits. Would you like to try?”

Situ Baoqi, not wanting to deal with Li Xiaobai, turned his head to look at Wu Chengjue, restoring his suave demeanor once again.

Wu Chengjue’s eternally unchanging ice-cold face showed a change for the first time, a sickly smile appeared, and her fair cheeks turned slightly pink; her voice a bit hoarse, she said, “I would like to eat human flesh, medium-rare will do!”

Li Xiaobai: “???”

Situ Baoqi: “???”

Uncle Youfu: “???”

The other disciples: “???”