What is wrong with you? How could it take so long? Wutong complained, sniffing the air as he saw the three-tier food box being carried. What did you buy? Huai Xiu smiled as he carried the box up the mountain path, stopping only when they reached an empty grove. Wutong followed closely, his nose already catching the fragrant aroma wafting from the box. Placing the food box on a flat boulder, Huai Xiu unstacked the compartments layer by layer and set them out on the stone slab. Braised lion’s head meatballs, crispy fragrant duck, glutinous rice steamed shark fin… Wutong joyfully rattled off the dish names one by one. These were the exact dishes he had ordered at Yixing Tower that morning but hadn’t managed to eat! Furthermore, each one was still steaming, clearly fresh out of the kitchen. You went to Yixing Tower? Wutong asked in disbelief. Although it was also by the lake, this spot was already halfway around the lake from Yixing Tower. Huai Xiu nodded, then took out a bowl of pearl rice and a pair of chopsticks from the bottom tier, handing them to Wutong. Why did you run all the way over there? Didn’t I tell you to just buy something casual? Wutong asked as he took them. These were the dishes you wanted this morning, so I figured they would suit your taste. However, the proprietor said several guests specifically ordered the same dishes today, causing the ingredients to run short, and it took a little while to wait. Coupled with the time required to prepare the food properly, it delayed things a bit. Although Huai Xiu’s actions seemed baffling to him, Wutong was already starving. He eagerly raised his chopsticks to pick up some food, but his hand froze mid-air. What is wrong? Huai Xiu asked with concern. I don’t eat scallions. Wutong looked at the dishes and frowned slightly. Huai Xiu glanced at him, took the chopsticks from his hand, and began meticulously picking out every single piece of scallion from the food. After picking through the food for a moment, Wutong felt a bit embarrassed to cause so much trouble, so he grabbed back the chopsticks and said, Never mind, I am starving, just leave it like this. He stopped worrying about the details and dug in with large bites. After swallowing several large mouthfuls, noticing that Huai Xiu was simply watching him with a smile, likely observing his ravenous eating habits, Wutong felt a bit self-conscious and slowed his pace. After a few more bites, he suddenly asked, Hey, you should eat too! Huai Xiu remained smiling and shook his head. You should eat as well. There is so much, I certainly cannot finish it all. Wutong looked into the now-emptied food box, let out an inquiring oh, and asked, Why did you only bring one bowl? You eat. I am not hungry. Wutong shot him a suspicious sideways glance before dropping the matter and continuing to eat. After taking a bite of the crispy fragrant duck, his eyes lit up; reaching out, he picked up a piece of duck meat and held it right in front of Huai Xiu. Taste this, it is delicious! The duck meat was already touching his lips. Facing Wutong’s expectant and enthusiastic gaze, Huai Xiu hesitated for a brief moment before opening his mouth, letting Wutong feed him the meat. He chewed slowly, his eyes fixed entirely on Wutong without leaving him for even a second. Delicious, right? Seeing that his feeding attempt had succeeded, Wutong said with unconcealed triumph, This crispy fragrant duck is the signature dish of Yixing Tower. They say the ducks are raised on spiritual energy, which is no easy feat since they only produce one per day. His expression suddenly shifted into doubt. But today’s single duck was already cooked for me this morning. You said other people ordered the exact same dishes, so where did they get the ducks to make more? If others don’t have it, I’ll go get it, Huai Xiu replied calmly. Wutong burst out laughing, looking at Huai Xiu with utter disbelief. Right, you went to the restaurant this morning, and they… did not recognize you? No. Figures, Wutong remarked. After my makeover, it would be a miracle if anyone recognized me. A little while later, Wutong put down his bowl and chopsticks. I am full. He rubbed his belly with complete contentment. Truly, good food is something one should never let down in life… Are you really not eating? There is still so much left. Huai Xiu shook his head and produced a small wine jar from his side, handing it to Wutong. Green Bamboo Brew! Wutong joyfully accepted it once more, taking a large gulp. He then offered the jar back to Huai Xiu. Have a sip! Huai Xiu shook his head firmly this time. Wutong smiled, pulled his hand back, and continued drinking on his own, occasionally glancing over at Huai Xiu. What is it? Huai Xiu asked. I was thinking, why don’t you just become my servant? No, not a servant, a friend. Drinking, eating, and traveling together, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Huai Xiu only smiled, giving a noncommittal response. The next morning, as dawn broke through the deep mountain forest and flocks of birds took flight, Wutong woke up. He had spent another night sleeping on a tree fork. Peering down from his perch, he saw Huai Xiu sitting cross-legged on a large boulder beneath the tree, exactly as he had the night before, presumably spending the whole night meditating and cultivating. Wutong shook his head. He had seen too many people with mediocre talent who refused to give up. It was much better to be like him, having zero expectations and thus saving himself the trouble of painful cultivation. Hey, Brother Black, get up! Today is the Immortal Alliance Grand Ceremony, we are heading to the Tianchen Sect. Wutong rolled over and shouted downward. After growing familiar with Huai Xiu, he had started calling him Brother Black, just like a casual nickname, whatever rolled off the tongue easiest. Besides, wasn’t the title Brother Black something Huai Xiu had tacitly accepted himself? Huai Xiu looked up at him, nodded, and stood up. After a brief tidy-up, the two of them continued walking along the mountain path. Remember, once we enter the mountain gate later, just stay behind me and say nothing. Before long, the small path gradually merged into the main road. Along the mountain path, numerous sect guests could already be seen traveling in groups toward the mountain. Walking a few more steps, giant staircase-like steps appeared right before their eyes. At the top of the long stairs stood the towering and majestic main mountain gate of the Tianchen Sect. The Tianchen Sect possessed multiple mountain gates, but the verification of guests’ qualifications and identities took place exclusively at this second mountain gate. Wutong looked up, seeing an array faintly unfolding in the sky, with silver-threaded gleams flashing across the barrier from time to time. This must be the Tianchen Sect’s grand protective thunder array, activated only on significant occasions. Therefore, despite the overlapping peaks and vast expanse of the Tianchen Sect territory, there was no need to worry about malicious intruders slipping into the sect. Even so, when Wutong climbed up to the main mountain gate, he still saw ten high-ranking Tianchen Sect disciples guarding both sides of the entrance. Their attire differed slightly from Feng Yuanchi’s entourage yesterday; they looked somewhat older, each holding a sword with a solemn expression and surrounded by swirling spiritual energy, instantly projecting a commanding presence. There were already hundreds to thousands of viewing guests. On the stairs, a continuous stream of guests continued to arrive. The guests reaching the mountain gate naturally formed a long queue, moving forward slowly as each passed through the gate inspection. Suddenly, several roars of giant rocs echoed through the sky, drawing every guest in front of the mountain gate to look up. A luxurious, gold-adorned flying carriage pulled by four massive rocs soared across the mountain gate, casting a gigantic shadow that glided right over the crowd below. The Nanyan Ji family! Gasps immediately erupted from the crowd. Truly luxurious and magnificent! Someone praised. Naturally. The Ji family head is taking over as the Immortal Alliance Leader this time, and the Ji family is also the wealthiest clan in the cultivation world. Such a display is nothing out of the ordinary for them, someone analyzed knowingly, their tone filled with envy and admiration. Wutong shrugged indifferently. Naturally, he recognized his family’s flying carriage, having ridden in it numerous times; there was nothing rare about it. Still, phrased this way, his father and the others must have arrived ahead of him. As he was thinking this, a commotion broke out at the mountain gate inspection checkpoint. Demons! Someone shouted. The two Tianchen Sect guard disciples closest to the gate moved instantly, swiftly pulling an old man with white hair and beard out from the entrance checkpoint. If not for the black aura shrouding his face and his already disheveled hair, his attire would have easily passed for that of an immortal, bone-refined cultivator. As the Tianchen Sect disciples escorted the old man past Wutong, the old man, who had been keeping his head lowered, suddenly jerked his head up and glared directly at Wutong. With a mane of wild hair and bloodshot eyes, his terrifyingly feral expression seemed intent on piercing right through Wutong. Wutong was genuinely startled, his body instinctively leaning backward; if Huai Xiu hadn’t caught his shoulder in time, he might have tumbled straight down. Wutong’s heart pounded heavily as he breathed hard. By the time he regained his composure, the old man had already been led down the steps, his head drooping once more. Wutong turned to look at Huai Xiu, who lowered both hands upon seeing that Wutong was standing firmly. Not a trace of panic could be seen in Huai Xiu’s demeanor, which maintained its habitual calm and composure. Compared to the other’s unwavering composure, Wutong felt rather embarrassed, though he quickly recovered. He possessed no cultivation whatsoever, so for a demon to pull such a sudden stunt, it would be a miracle not to panic. But how on earth did they know that old man was a demon? At that moment, the conversation between two people standing right in front of him caught his attention. Did you see that smooth stone slab set up at the entrance? one of them said. It is called the Reflection Stone. Whether human, demon, beast, or monster, the moment anyone stands before it, their true form is instantly revealed within the stone. That powerful? The other replied. I understand the true forms of beasts and monsters, but how does a demon manifest? Was that old man just now not an example? The Reflection Stone exposed his demonic aura, leaving him nowhere to hide. Demon folk are truly hateful. Clearly driven back to their wasteland nests twenty years ago and forbidden from crossing the scorched earth boundary, yet some daredevil still sneaks over and attempts to sneak into the Immortal Alliance Grand Ceremony. With the Immortal Alliance around, they naturally will not succeed. The former spoke with absolute confidence, then suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer to the other. However, it is said that a few years ago, the demon race produced a new Demon Lord, fierce and ruthless, with magical power surpassing past Demon Lords. Word is that he has been casting greedy eyes toward our immortal realm and stirring up quite a bit of trouble along the immortal-demon border over the past two years. The latter immediately displayed a shocked expression. Then the Immortal Alliance must take immediate action, or else future trouble will be endless. Indeed! That is why this Immortal Alliance Leader and sacred artifact handover ceremony has been made on such a grand scale, likely to build momentum for dealing with the demon race. Do you think the Demon Lord himself might personally come to the Tianchen Sect? He wouldn’t dare! The Immortal Alliance gathering brings together the top practitioners and masters of major sects and families. If he dared to come, I guarantee they’d make him cry for his mother and leave him with no way back! The two laughed heartily and shifted to other topics, their voices gradually fading. Demons? From childhood to adulthood, Wutong’s understanding of demons came solely from books and street gossip. In his mind, demons were cruelly minded, hideously shaped monsters akin to feral beasts. This was his very first time coming this close to actual demon folk. Looking at that old man, had his identity not been exposed, his outward appearance would have seemed benevolent and kind; who could ever have imagined he was a demon spy! Demons were indeed treacherous, insidious, and impossible to guard against completely. He turned to ask Huai Xiu, Have you ever encountered demon folk before? Earlier, Huai Xiu had mentioned seeing many beasts since childhood, so perhaps he had also dealt with the demon race. Huai Xiu looked at him, seemingly about to answer, when someone behind the queue urged, Move forward! They had already reached the entrance of the mountain gate. Consequently, Wutong pushed the question aside. Two Tianchen Sect disciples also guarded the mountain gate checkpoint, where one took the visitors’ invitation passes to check them before granting passage. The other stared closely at those passing through. Right beside him stood the Reflection Stone he had heard about earlier. The stone was oblong and did not look significantly different from ordinary mountain rock, except that its front surface appeared polished, flat and mirror-like. Wutong curiously watched the reflections of people passing by on the stone, noticing that some appeared as themselves while others revealed true forms. For instance, when a cultivator with a long neck walked past, the collar of his clothes in the stone reflection transformed into the head of a crowned crane, while others displayed various flowers, plants, and greenery. Naturally, Wutong knew that besides the immortal and demon races, the cultivation world also included the demon-beast clan, spirits, flora, and various other lineages. Different factions diverged among these groups, and those holding invitations to participate in the Immortal Alliance Grand Ceremony evidently stood on the side of the Immortal Alliance as allies. Therefore, the disciples standing beside the Reflection Stone still politely invited them inside. This Reflection Stone was truly extraordinary; it seemed no spirits or monsters could escape exposure before it. As Wutong marveled at this, he realized it was finally his turn. Seeing the inspection disciple seemingly waiting for him to produce his invitation, Wutong let out an ‘oh’, pulled out his fire-lipid jade token, and handed it to the disciple. The inspecting disciple was initially startled, then looked at the jade token in his hand with a slightly unusual expression. He carefully looked at Wutong again, and a look of sudden realization dawned on his face. Exchanging a glance with his companion nearby, he cupped his fists in a salute and said, Young Master Ji of the Ji family. Eldest Senior Brother has already passed down word, the young master may enter the mountain directly. With that, he presented the jade token with both hands. The neighboring disciple also smiled and made a welcoming gesture. Wutong returned the salute, took back the jade token, tucked it away, and proudly tossed his head back toward Huai Xiu to signal him to follow as he strode forward. However, the gate guard stretched out an arm to block Huai Xiu. Seeing this, Wutong immediately stated, He is with me. He is my… servant. The disciple hesitated briefly before lowering his arm. Huai Xiu nodded slightly and followed inside. As they passed the Reflection Stone, Wutong purposely checked his own reflection, thinking to himself that he still wasn’t tall enough. When Huai Xiu walked past, however, the surface of the stone underwent a violent transformation!
Chapter 5 - If Others Don't Have It, I'll Go Get It
After The Demon Lord Became A Beautiful, Useless Accessory