“You come to the mortal world but once; you must see the sun, and with your beloved, together…” (Note)
Hua Ying spoke with ringing conviction: “Together, go and eat braised pork trotters!”
How could one come to the mortal world and not partake in its delicacies?
In the Liuyun Sect, only the outer disciples had a kitchen, primarily because they hadn’t yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage and thus could not practice Bigu (fasting from grain).
But sword cultivators… well, their money was all spent on maintaining their precious spirit swords. Who had the heart to care about the food of the lowest-level disciples?
The daily diet of watery porridge, side dishes, and big steamed buns was enough to make anyone who saw it weep and anyone who heard of it mourn.
Hua Ying felt she was fast becoming a “useless cat” from such a diet.
The System: Look at how little ambition you have.
Hua Ying: “Some Systems can’t eat anything at all and can only sulk inside the space. Blehhh.”
The System: Hmph!
The town was at its liveliest hour, with the cries of street vendors rising and falling in succession. Children chased each other with laughter and shouts, drawing a few lazy glances from the yellow dogs by the roadside.
Standing by the street, Yan Zhao frowned, looking quite unaccustomed to the scene.
The environment within the Liuyun Sect was secluded and elegant, and the disciples were all law-abiding and disciplined. She had never experienced a world so filled with the “smoke and fire” of mundane life.
Turning back, Hua Ying saw her upright and cold Senior Sister standing still, a rare look of bewilderment on her face.
Ah, so cute!
She ran over and naturally took Yan Zhao’s arm. “Senior Sister, what’s wrong?”
Yan Zhao pursed her lips and replied, “I don’t know what to do… this feeling is very foreign.”
Yet, it wasn’t unpleasant.
“It’s okay, Senior Sister, just follow me,” Hua Ying promised, patting her chest. “I’ll make sure Senior Sister has a great time!”
Yan Zhao tilted her head to look at her.
It was strange.
The little half-demon wasn’t a peerless beauty, but every inch of her felt perfectly comfortable. The streets were packed with people, noisy and bustling. And yet, with a single glance, Yan Zhao could only see this little cat.
Her brows were curved like crescents, a smile hung on the corners of her mouth, and two faint dimples appeared on her cheeks.
Yan Zhao’s heart suddenly went still. She nodded. “Alright.”
After asking around, Hua Ying led Yan Zhao toward the most famous restaurant in town.
The two possessed extraordinary looks and outstanding temperaments; wherever they went, crowds of people watched them secretly.
With a grand wave of her hand, Hua Ying ordered several dishes. She giggled and pointed toward the swarming heads outside, winking at Yan Zhao. “Senior Sister, they’re all here to see you.”
Yan Zhao’s expression remained unchanged; she was clearly used to this “national idol” lifestyle.
She reached out a slender, fair finger to grasp the wine pot on the table and poured herself a cup.
Immortal sects used spirit wine that was devoid of any impurities. It could cleanse the meridians and felt like nothing when drunk as tasteless as water.
She was curious about the taste of mortal wine.
Raising the cup, a crisp yet mellow fragrance assailed her nose. Yan Zhao tilted her head and took a light sip. As the strong liquor hit her throat, a spicy heat exploded at the base of her tongue, followed by a rich aroma that lingered between her lips and teeth.
“Is it good, Senior Sister?” Hua Ying asked.
Yan Zhao set down the cup. “Not bad.”
Hua Ying propped her chin up with her hands, watching expectantly from across the table. In the end, she waited for a long time but never saw Yan Zhao pour her a cup.
Seeing the eagerness written in the girl’s eyes, Yan Zhao paused, then directly placed the wine pot on her own side at a distance Hua Ying couldn’t reach.
Hua Ying: ?
She couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Senior Sister, why won’t you let me try a taste?”
Yan Zhao replied solemnly, “You’ll get drunk.”
With her cultivation, it was easy to dissolve the alcohol within her body using spiritual energy.
But Hua Ying hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment yet, and being a little glutton, she surely wouldn’t be able to stop once she started.
Yan Zhao was afraid she would turn back into a cat in front of everyone and cause a panic—and even more so, she didn’t want to take care of a “drunk kitty.”
The first time Hua Ying had turned into a cat, she had exhausted Yan Zhao.
At the time, Yan Zhao claimed she was worried about something happening to Hua Ying alone in her room, which is why she took her to sleep with her.
In reality, “Cat Hua Ying” was incredibly clingy and insisted on sleeping right against her.
If Yan Zhao left for even a moment, the cat would start meowing piteously and inconsolably.
One moment she was hungry, the next she was thirsty. That night, Yan Zhao didn’t sleep at all; she spent the entire night meditating.
And yet, the kitten kept watching her with wet, innocent eyes, so blameless and lovely that one couldn’t possibly get angry.
Yan Zhao suddenly remembered that a long time ago, her Master had told her that her skeletal structure was one in a million and her path of cultivation would be smooth sailing, without any “fated nemesis” to speak of.
She lifted her eyes to look at the girl across from her, who was currently struggling with a large bone, and let out a low, soft laugh.
Master spoke too soon.
The nemesis… hasn’t she arrived?
After devouring several hearty dishes that were perfect in color, aroma, and taste, Hua Ying leaned back against her chair contentedly.
Uuuu, so happy!
Couldn’t the Liuyun Sect expand its business and recruit a few “Chef Cultivators”?
By contrast, Yan Zhao, who had reached Bigu a long, long time ago, clearly had no worldly desires. She had only tasted a few bites before setting down her chopsticks to watch Hua Ying eat.
“Are you full?” Seeing that she was nearly finished, Yan Zhao stood up. “Where to next?”
“Wait,” Hua Ying rubbed her round little belly and smiled with curved eyes. “Senior Sister, let me pay the bill first.”
To spend this happy “quality time” with her Senior Sister in this mortal town, she had specifically done her homework and exchanged some minor cultivation trinkets for mortal currency in advance.
When they left the restaurant, Hua Ying was still a bit reluctant to part.
Once they returned to Liuyun Sect, it would be back to eating cabbage and gnawing on buns again. QAQ
The System: Is there a possibility that if you immediately promoted to Foundation Establishment, you could practice Bigu?
Hua Ying: “Yes, but I refuse.”
The System: 【?】
Hua Ying had become very familiar with the first move of the Heavenly Dust Nine Rotations. Her internal spiritual energy had also shown signs of a breakthrough over the past few days.
Reaching the Foundation Establishment realm was a sure thing.
But she had forcibly suppressed it.
The System didn’t understand: Why? Weren’t you clamoring about wanting to become stronger before?
Hua Ying gave a humph and a smile. “Because the Sect Competition is about to start.”
As long as an outer disciple successfully reached Foundation Establishment, they could skip the competition and gain the qualification to enter the inner sect.
But Hua Ying didn’t want that.
She had planned it all along: she was going to use this competition to settle every grudge and take revenge for every slight!
There were plenty of disciples who had ganged up to mock and bully her, specifically choosing times when Yan Zhao wasn’t around. They played petty tricks like soaking her bedding with water, intentionally dirtying her clothes, or wantonly destroying her things.
If she didn’t take this chance to retaliate, her name wasn’t Hua Ying!
The System: Tsk tsk, I thought you were actually so magnanimous that you didn’t care and wanted to influence them with love.
“Bah, do they deserve it?” Hua Ying wrinkled her nose and said seriously, “As everyone knows, I am a very devoted person; I only want to influence my beautiful Senior Sister with love.”
The System: 【…】 I’m speechless at you, you old troll.
The sky gradually darkened, and one flower lantern after another was lit, looking like a sky full of stars falling into the mortal realm.
The riverside was the liveliest spot, filled with men and women, white-haired elders, and children with their hair tied in knots.
Hua Ying and Yan Zhao walked slowly along the willow-lined bank.
“It’s so late, why are there still so many people?” Yan Zhao was puzzled.
Hua Ying replied, “Because they’re going to set off fireworks in a bit.”
She reached out her hands to gesture, her eyes filled with radiant joy. “Great big fireworks, this big!”
Yan Zhao nodded. “I see.”
She then asked, “Is this why you wanted to come?”
Hua Ying looked up, her picturesque features shrouded in the faint yellow glow of the surrounding candlelight.
“Yes.” She nodded, staring at Yan Zhao without blinking.
Her voice was as light as the wind, lingering in the air until it drifted into Yan Zhao’s ear.
A slight itch.
“All the beautiful scenery in this world… I only wish to share it with you, Senior Sister.”