Han Ji Shen casually extended his right hand and picked up an ordinary iron kitchen knife.
Grabbing several raw potatoes, he began to slice.
Before Lan Hai’s eyes could even follow the movement, Han Ji Shen’s hand became a complete blur.
The knife struck the wooden board at such incredible speed that it sounded like a machine gun, operating with the flawless precision of a high-speed factory machine.
Lan Hai’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Within a single second, the potatoes had been cut into perfectly even strips.
Without wasting another moment, he hurriedly pushed the remaining crates of vegetables toward the immortal.
Han Ji Shen simply smiled and continued working, effortlessly slicing through mountains of vegetables without even glancing at his fingers.
The two of them worked together in perfect harmony.
Since it was Saturday, the crowd was absolutely overwhelming.
Orders poured in like an endless tidal wave, leaving them without a single moment to rest, drink water, or even wipe the sweat from their faces.
As the afternoon wore on, the crowd only continued to grow.
Lan Hai’s body gradually began to give in to exhaustion.
His arms felt as heavy as lead from constantly lifting the massive iron woks.
Noticing the young man’s fading strength and labored breathing, Han Ji Shen quickly understood the entire cooking process after observing it for only a short while.
Stepping forward, he gently guided Lan Hai away from the blazing stoves.
Han Ji Shen: “Step back and rest, young man. Leave the remaining work to me. Go sit down.”
Leaning against a wooden pillar, Lan Hai wiped the sweat from his face.
Lan Hai: “Senior… are you certain you can handle such a massive crowd by yourself? Cooking is very different from simply chopping vegetables.”
A wave of absolute confidence radiated from Han Ji Shen as he grabbed the handles of two large woks simultaneously.
Han Ji Shen: “Foolish boy! I am a supreme Celestial Master! Managing a mere gathering of ordinary mortals is a task I could accomplish with one hand. Watch carefully and see how a true master commands fire.”
With a powerful motion, Han Ji Shen lifted one of the heavy iron woks and immediately began preparing an enormous batch of Chili Potatoes.
Towering flames erupted around the wok, yet every flicker remained perfectly under his control with nothing more than a slight movement of his wrist.
The breathtaking speed and flawless precision of his cooking left Lan Hai completely speechless.
Outside the stall, the customers erupted into loud cheers, believing they were witnessing a special cooking performance.
By the time the final rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the city’s horizon, every last portion of food, chicken, and ingredient inside the stall had been completely sold out.
The cash register was overflowing with money.
Lan Hai walked to the entrance, pulled down the heavy metal shutter, locked it securely, and let out a long, satisfied sigh.
Lan Hai: “Senior, today’s work is finally finished. We even broke our all-time sales record. Let’s head home.”
Han Ji Shen sat down on a small wooden stool in the corner and let out a weary sigh as he massaged his sore shoulders.
Even with half of his celestial power restored, honest physical labor was exhausting in an entirely different way.
Han Ji Shen: “Good heavens, young man… the amount of work you do every day is truly astonishing! I feel as though half of my immortal energy has been drained by those hungry mortals. How on earth do they consume such enormous amounts of food? They eat like starving beasts!”
Lan Hai let out a warm laugh and handed him a clean towel.
Lan Hai: “Senior, that’s simply the reality of the food business. Today is Saturday, so a rush like this was inevitable. But honestly, you handled it even better than the finest chefs in the city.”
Han Ji Shen stood up and placed a firm yet respectful hand on the young man’s shoulder.
His expression gradually became serious.
Han Ji Shen: “My boy… you have earned my respect. To stand here every single day, serving others while carrying such a heavy burden in your heart… you possess the soul of a truly strong man.”
Lan Hai smiled faintly.
Lan Hai: “Thank you, Senior. Your words mean more to me than you know. Tell me… would you care to celebrate today’s success with a little wine? I have a special bottle hidden away.”
Han Ji Shen’s eyes immediately lit up, and every trace of exhaustion vanished from his face.
Han Ji Shen: “Ha! Is that even worth asking? Bring out the wine at once, boy! A warrior never refuses fine wine after a hard-fought battle!”
After finishing the final cleanup, the two of them walked into a quiet alley behind the shop, far away from the bustling streets.
Sitting beneath the warm glow of old streetlamps on a pair of plastic crates, they uncorked the bottle and slowly poured the rich wine into small glasses.
After several drinks, the warmth of the alcohol gradually spread through their bodies.
Han Ji Shen’s cheerful expression slowly faded, replaced by a thoughtful seriousness.
Lowering his voice, he turned toward the young man beside him.
Han Ji Shen: “Tell me truthfully, Lan Hai… do you truly have romantic feelings for that young girl, Xia Qinue? I want an honest answer from your heart.”
PFFFTTT!
Lan Hai instantly choked on his wine.
A mouthful sprayed from his lips as he burst into a violent coughing fit, his face turning bright red.
Han Ji Shen threw back his head and laughed heartily, patting Lan Hai’s back with enough force to nearly knock the breath out of him.
Han Ji Shen: “Hahaha! There’s no need to be embarrassed, young man. Such a reaction is perfectly natural. But answer me honestly. If your heart truly belongs to her, then what is stopping you from accepting her feelings? Why do you keep pushing her toward that weakling?”
The smile vanished from Lan Hai’s face.
His shoulders slumped, and a deep sadness clouded his eyes as he stared silently into the reflection trembling inside his wine glass.
Lan Hai: “Senior… I love her more than my own life. She is the only light in my dark world. But an unbreakable wall stands between us—the divide of wealth and power. She is the daughter of a wealthy family worth billions, while I am nothing more than an ordinary street food vendor who spends his days surrounded by smoke and cooking oil. If I marry her, her family will abandon her, and society will ridicule her. That cruel reality is the only reason I keep rejecting her… because I want to protect her.”
Hearing Lan Hai’s heartfelt confession, Han Ji Shen offered neither pity nor words of comfort.
Instead, he threw back his head and let out a booming laugh that echoed through the quiet alley.
Lan Hai tightened his grip around his wine glass, confusion flashing across his face.
Lan Hai: (Confused and slightly hurt.) “Senior… why are you laughing? Is my pain amusing to you?”
Han Ji Shen shook his head with a faint smile.
Han Ji Shen: “Do not take offense, boy. Seeing you in your current state simply reminds me of my own youth. You look exactly like the fool I was thousands of years ago.”
Lan Hai: “How so, Senior? Did you also face such a divide?”
Han Ji Shen took a slow sip of wine before speaking.
Han Ji Shen: “When I was nothing more than a young cultivator of eighteen or nineteen years of age, I possessed neither rank nor status. During those years, I crossed paths with a remarkable maiden named Zhao Fei. Her unparalleled beauty was renowned throughout the entire Celestial Realm. She loved me deeply, yet I believed there was no future for us. In my eyes, I was nothing more than an insignificant cultivator carrying a rusted sword… while her family, the mighty Zhao Clan, stood as one of the greatest powers on the Azure Continent. They possessed immense wealth and commanded thousands of powerful warriors.”
The Sovereign fell silent for a moment, his gaze turning distant as old memories resurfaced.
After taking another sip of wine, he continued.
Han Ji Shen: “The day she finally gathered the courage to confess her feelings beneath the ancient cherry blossom trees, I possessed neither great wealth nor supreme authority. Overcome by fear and blinded by the gap between our worlds, I rejected her and told her to forget me.”
His eyes darkened slightly.
Han Ji Shen: “As expected, her furious family immediately arranged her marriage to the most powerful dynasty on the Azure Continent—the Lee Clan. It was nothing more than a political alliance.”
He slowly swirled the wine in his cup.
Han Ji Shen: “By the time that fateful wedding day arrived, I had fought my way to the Sixth Realm through bloodshed and countless battles. I was already fifty years old. My youth had faded, but my strength had finally become real.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Han Ji Shen: “As the old saying goes… neither mortals nor immortals can ever foresee the true design of fate.”
Lan Hai had completely forgotten his own troubles.
Leaning forward on the wooden crate, he listened with unwavering attention.
Lan Hai: “Senior… did you truly bury your feelings forever? Did you really let her marry another man?”
The moment those words left his mouth, an overwhelming aura erupted from Han Ji Shen’s body.
The air around them instantly turned heavy.
His deep voice echoed through the alley with terrifying authority.
Han Ji Shen: “Never!”
“On the very dawn of her wedding day, while the entire continent was celebrating, I achieved a monumental breakthrough into the legendary Seventh Realm of cultivation! My name was finally inscribed among the ranks of the most powerful beings in the entire world.”
A fierce fire ignited within his ancient eyes.
Han Ji Shen: “That very afternoon, clad in black armor, I marched alone into her wedding pavilion.”
The Sovereign tightened his grip around his wine cup.
Han Ji Shen: “A catastrophic battle erupted. The Lee Clan and the Zhao Clan joined forces to eliminate me. Alone, I stood against the greatest aristocratic powers of the continent.”
His voice carried unwavering pride.
Han Ji Shen: “Yet not a single soul in that entire realm possessed the strength to stop me.”
“I owned no palace.”
“I ruled no vast territory.”
“I commanded no sovereign sect.”
“But I possessed something far greater…”
“My resolve.”
His eyes shone with absolute conviction.
Han Ji Shen: “That day, the entire wedding pavilion was stained crimson—not by its decorations, but by the blood of every elite warrior who dared stand in my way.”
“I walked through the battlefield, stepped onto the altar, and lifted my bride into my arms before the eyes of the entire world.”
A rare warmth appeared in his eyes.
Han Ji Shen: “Looking into her tear-filled eyes, I asked…”
“Will you stand beside me for the rest of eternity?”
A gentle smile spread across his face.
Han Ji Shen: “She wrapped her arms around my neck and wept.”
“I have spent my entire life waiting for this very day,” she said.
“I always believed you would come for me… even if it took fifty years.”
A gentle smile gradually replaced the cold dominance on Han Ji Shen’s face as he looked up at the crescent moon hanging quietly in the night sky.
Han Ji Shen: “After that day, we were married in a small cabin nestled deep within the mountains. Her presence brought colors to my once-chaotic life. Together, we conquered countless realms, and I eventually ascended to the very peak of the cultivation world as a Sovereign.”
A warmth filled his eyes.
Han Ji Shen: “She gave me two wonderful children.”
His smile slowly faded.
Han Ji Shen: “Alas… several centuries later, the cruel passage of time claimed her life, and she departed from this world.”
He fell silent for a brief moment.
Han Ji Shen: “Even today, my soul still cherishes every memory we created together.”
Taking another slow sip of wine, he continued in a calm voice.
Han Ji Shen: “After her passing, I swore a solemn vow. Never again would I initiate an unnecessary conflict. I would draw my sword only when it became absolutely necessary to protect the people I loved.”
Lan Hai remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking in a quiet voice.
Lan Hai: (Softly, deeply moved by the story.) “Master… her death must have shattered your heart. How did you survive that grief?”
Han Ji Shen looked at the wine in his cup.
A faint, bittersweet smile appeared on his face.
Han Ji Shen: “The grief was indeed unbearable, young man… There was a time when I wanted to destroy the entire world.”
His voice became unusually gentle.
Han Ji Shen: “But during her final moments, she made me promise something.”
“She told me never to shed a single tear after she was gone.”
“She said that if I cried for her, her soul would never find peace.”
A quiet silence filled the alley.
Han Ji Shen: “She wanted me to smile whenever I thought of her.”
He slowly looked up at the night sky.
Han Ji Shen: “So whenever the weight of her absence becomes too heavy for me to bear… I simply visit her grave.”
A warm smile appeared on his face. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Han Ji Shen: “I pour two cups of wine.”
“I place one before her.”
“And I spend hours talking to her… just as I did when she was still by my side.”
The Sovereign slowly turned and placed a warm, fatherly hand on Lan Hai’s shoulder.
His ancient eyes met the young man’s with absolute sincerity.
Han Ji Shen: “Lan Hai… engrave my words into your soul.”
“It is a complete lie to believe that a man must first possess immense wealth or overwhelming power before he deserves to stand beside the one he loves.”
“Those are nothing more than rules created by people.”
His voice echoed calmly through the silent alley.
Han Ji Shen: “To protect and fight for the person your heart cherishes… that achievement surpasses all the wealth, authority, and glory this world can offer.”
He looked directly into Lan Hai’s eyes.
Han Ji Shen: “If you let her go tomorrow…” “You will regret it for the next thousand years.”
Han Ji Shen’s words struck Lan Hai like a bolt of lightning.
His entire mind went blank.
The Sovereign’s voice echoed endlessly within his soul, awakening a long-buried memory of his late mother, Lan Xiuan.
He remembered her gentle voice from his childhood.
“Wealth and status mean nothing, Hai’er. As long as two people truly love one another, nothing else matters.”
At the same time, Xia Qinue’s heartbreaking plea from the previous night echoed through his mind once again.
“Just say the word, Lan Hai… Just one sentence, and I will gladly abandon my family, my wealth, my status… everything… to walk beside you, even into the abyss.”
At that moment, Lan Hai finally realized the truth.
The coward had never been Xia Qinue…
It had been him.
He had spent all this time hiding behind his identity as nothing more than a street food vendor.
By the time Lan Hai and Han Ji Shen finally returned to the apartment that evening, both of them were feeling the effects of the wine.
The bottles had long been emptied, and their footsteps were slightly unsteady.
The moment they stepped into the living room, they found Mu Chen asleep at the dining table, his head resting on his folded arms.
A delicious spread of dishes had already been prepared.
Hearing the front door open, Mu Chen slowly lifted his head and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
Without saying a word, he silently walked into the kitchen before returning with two bowls of steaming hot rice.
The three of them quietly sat around the dining table and began eating.
After a few moments of silence, Lan Hai finally spoke.
Lan Hai: “Tell me, Chen… are you attending Qinue’s engagement ceremony tomorrow morning at the luxury hotel?”
Mu Chen looked up and met his friend’s gaze before setting down his chopsticks.
Mu Chen: “Yes. My family received a golden invitation. I’ll be attending with my father.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Mu Chen: “Are you coming as well? We can go together.”
Lan Hai nodded calmly.
Lan Hai: “Yes… I’ll be there.”
“I promised her that I would come.”
“However…”
“My arrival will be a little late.”
“There are a few things I need to prepare first.”
An eerie calm filled Lan Hai’s voice.
It was a frightening silence—one that instantly caused Mu Chen’s expression to stiffen.
He recognized that tone.
Years ago, right before Lan Hai had beaten five senior bullies at the academy by himself…
…he had spoken with that exact same calmness.
Sensing that something significant was about to happen, Mu Chen chose not to ask another question.
He simply nodded and continued eating.
After finishing dinner in silence, the three of them returned to their respective rooms.
That night, sleep refused to visit Lan Hai.
He lay on his bed, staring blankly at the shifting shadows across the ceiling.
Inside his mind, a relentless storm raged.
On one side stood the gentle, smiling face of his late mother, blessing his love.
On the other echoed the earth-shaking words of Sovereign Han Ji Shen…
“Fight for the one you love.”
Outside, the first light of dawn slowly began to creep across the horizon.
A new day was about to begin.
A day that not a single soul in the entire city could have foreseen.
The cage was breaking..
And the monster was about to step out.