Chapter 39 Senior Brother 6 Gathering
Mmm~ This is delicious!
"Brother Xiang, you should try some too!"
A long, rectangular barbecue grill was set up in the open space, and various kinds of spirit beast meat were roasted on it, emitting a rich aroma. The stone table was covered with spirit fruits and spirit wine that had been bought early that morning.
Wen Yao and Zhao Linglan were preparing the spiritual vegetables to go with the grilled meat, while Zuo Qiuxu was tasting the flavors and rummaging through his storage bag for suitable meats to grill.
"Let's add some rabbit meat from the new moon rabbit and roast it!"
Xiang Yuquan shook his head, resignedly took the ingredients, and stood in front of the grill to continue grilling meat for his greedy junior brother.
In the small kitchen, Xu Xing prepared several other refreshing dishes. While Wang Lianhua assisted her, she secretly observed the tall man sitting behind the stove.
It just doesn't seem right that a dignified Golden Core cultivator like Elder Shen is now tending a fire behind the stove.
Back in Xiahe Village, her lazy and good-for-nothing husband never even stepped into the kitchen. Not only him, but in most men's eyes, cooking seemed to be something only women did. Yet, Chen Du, a cultivator, was here, tending the fire for Xu Xu...
"That's enough, senior brother, let's cease fire."
"Um."
"By the way, senior brother, could you bring in some of the Nine Palace Fruit from outside? I heard it's delicious when served cold, I'd like to try it."
"good."
As soon as Xu Xing turned around, he saw that Shen Du had already brought in the fruit and even cut it up.
Senior brother is always so meticulous. Xu Xing smiled at him, took the food naturally, sprinkled on the seasonings, mixed it, and today's meal was all ready.
"..."
Wang Lianhua, who had originally intended to come in and help, ended up doing nothing. Seeing that the two were talking and responding very smoothly, she showed a hesitant expression on her face.
"Aunt Lian, let's go out to eat. Everything's ready."
Xu Xing didn't notice anything unusual about her and joined the barbecue team with Shen Du.
"Xu Xu, what kind of seasoning is this? It tastes amazing! Do you have any more? Could I have some?"
Zuoqiu Xu ate with his mouth glistening with oil, praising the food incessantly.
Wen Yao also called out, "The rabbit meat that Senior Brother Zuoqiu brought is so tender! Xu Xu, come and have a taste!"
Tuanzi snuggled up to Xiang Yuquan by the grill, getting a couple of bites every now and then, and wagged its tail contentedly like a puppy.
All the people who came today are good friends, and they all know that Xu Xing has an iron-devouring beast named Tuanzi.
The previous cave was too small. Although the Iron-Eating Beast was not a lively and active monster, it was still very stifling to stay in such a small place for a long time. After moving to Xuanjian Peak, Xu Xing released it.
"Senior Brother Shen, you should eat too! Xu Xu's cooking is excellent!"
"We have wine! Come on! Let's drink!"
"Senior Brother Shen has successfully advanced to the Golden Core stage! No disciple from previous generations of the Immortal Dao Academy has been more powerful than Senior Brother Shen!"
"And welcome Junior Sister Linglan to Qingling Peak!"
"Xu Xu's cooking is really good! I always feel more energetic after eating this dish..."
Xu Xing also drank a few cups of spirit wine. At this moment, he was smiling and watching Zuo Qiuxu perform a "drunken sword dance" in front of everyone with hazy eyes.
Wen Yao, her face flushed, leaned against her, resting her chin gently on her shoulder, still holding a wine glass in her hand. "Xu Xu, please, please don't blame my mother..."
Xu Xing lowered her eyes. She knew that although Wen Lu was a Golden Core cultivator, there were quite a few Golden Core cultivators in the Jade Cloud Sect, and Wen Lu did not have any real power. She and Senior Feng Ling had already done their best to help convey the matter of Zhai Yuzhi to the head of the Punishment Hall, even though they were not sure whether the information they had received was true or false.
"Ah Yao, I have always been very grateful to Senior Wen."
Whether it was the spirit stone from back then or her leaping to save him on the arena, Xu Xing remembered it all.
Wen Yao swayed and slowly slid into Xu Xing's arms, already drunk, and it was unclear whether she had heard what he said...
High in the sky, amidst a sea of clouds, stand two figures.
The woman in white reached out and released a wisp of spiritual light, which quietly disappeared into the peach grove on the mountainside.
Looking down at the lively scene below, Jin Chu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Since everyone has come in person to deliver congratulatory gifts, why don't we go down and mooch a meal?"
Fu Shuang did not answer, her expression calm beneath the white silk, and she glanced down into the distance.
Jin Chu knew, of course, that she wouldn't show herself; it was just a casual remark. Seeing Fu Shuang hidden in the sea of clouds, he shrugged. He had secretly done a lot for that little disciple, yet she never showed herself. At this rate, when would he ever be able to get a disciple?
Xu Xing paused while eating the spiritual fruit, then suddenly looked up at the sky. Strangely, she seemed to sense that familiar feeling of being watched again.
At the same time, Shen Du also glanced outside. The barrier had been activated; someone had arrived.
"Li Yuan? What brings you here?"
Xu Xing looked at the man walking behind Shen Du in surprise. Remembering how her provocative words had caused him to lose his fourth-tier magic weapon, she subconsciously softened her voice, "Are you feeling alright? Why don't you sit down and have something to eat with us?"
"I have something to tell you."
Under Shen Du's silent gaze, Xu Xing walked with Li Yuan to the edge of the peach grove. She felt a little uneasy. Could it be that Li Yuan was there to settle scores with her?
"You did that on purpose in the ring that day, didn't you?"
Under the peach tree, Li Yuan stood with his back to Xu Xing, his voice muffled, as if he were very uncomfortable.
Xu Xing carefully considered his words before speaking, "Fellow Daoist Li, I..."
"Forget it!" Li Yuan suddenly turned around and interrupted her. "You don't need to explain, I understand."
"No matter what you think, you did save me."
Li Yuan did not have demonic blood in his body. Because he had no shortage of spirit stones, he would give away the pills that the academy distributed to his underlings. However, the arena was equipped with the Boiling Blood Inducer. Staying on it for a long time damaged his mental state, which is why he was easily provoked by Xu Xing and used the fourth-order Thunderburst Bead, a magic weapon with great destructive power.
"I can't grant you what you're asking for." Li Yuan's expression was somewhat strange. He glanced at Xu Xing and then quickly looked away.
He was focused on cultivation, only thinking about learning weapon crafting from his father after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. He had no interest in romance, so Xu Xing's plans were destined to fail.
What is she thinking about? What is it? How come she doesn't know?
Xu Xing looked bewildered, not knowing what Li Yuan was talking about, but judging from his appearance, he wasn't there to settle accounts.
Staring intently at a peach tree, Li Yuan said stiffly, "But I, Li Yuan, always repay kindness. You can keep this."
Upon catching what Li Yuan threw at him, he discovered it was a fourth-tier Thunderburst Bead!
Xu Xing immediately felt his hand burning. Li Yuan had just thrown this thing at him like that, wasn't he afraid it would explode?!
"I can't accept it. What happened on the stage that day was just an accident. I didn't expect it either."
She refused to admit it, as expected.
Li Yuan became increasingly certain of his guess. He had found out that Wang Lianhua was originally supposed to fight her on the fifth arena that day, but Xu Xing took the initiative to suggest changing the venue.
I never expected that someone with such low cultivation would be willing to risk destroying the arena for him...
Li Yuan felt a little flustered, and his eyes secretly drifted over.
She wore her hair in two buns today, and her clothes were beautiful, even more suitable for her than the disciple robes of Yaoguang Academy.
But her cultivation level is too low, even if... even if she's very cute...
Seeing that Li Yuan was silent with his back to him, Xu Xing took two steps forward, intending to return the Thunder Explosion Bead to Li Yuan. However, as soon as he poked the other's arm, he saw Li Yuan jump up as if he had been electrocuted and dodge away.
Xu Xing still wants to touch him? No way! It's impossible for them; I can't give her hope!
"A mere fourth-tier Thunderburst Bead is nothing!"
"I've said everything I needed to say!"
Li Yuan stepped back and leaped onto the back of the roc he had come from. "From now on, we're even... Anyway, you should focus on your cultivation!"
"..."
Xu Xing held the Thunderburst Bead, staring dumbfounded at Li Yuan's departing figure, speechless for a long time.
Wait, what exactly is Li Yuan doing here? Just to give her a Thunderburst Bead?
"He did it to repay a debt of gratitude."
Seeing Li Yuan leave, Shen Du, who had been watching the scene closely, quickly came to Xu Xing's side. "That day you destroyed the arena and saved many disciples. It's not unreasonable for you to accept this reward."
The person has run away, and it's impossible to return it to them now.
Xu Xing carefully put the Thunderburst Bead into his storage bag and sighed, "Li Yuan really has a lot of resources. He can produce a fourth-tier magic weapon right off the bat."
Shen Du, with his keen senses, naturally overheard the conversation between the two. He vaguely sensed something amiss in Li Yuan's words; it seemed his motives weren't entirely about repaying a debt of gratitude...
Seeing that Xu Xing looked completely unaware and acted as if nothing was wrong, Chen Du lowered his eyes and changed the subject, "I will be going into seclusion."
Xu Xing was somewhat surprised, "Senior Brother, how long do you plan to go into seclusion this time?"
As expected of a sword cultivator, he just emerged from a tribulation of lightning and is already going into seclusion again.
"I don't know either, maybe three to five years, maybe longer."
Shen Du said in a low voice, "However, if you have something important to do, you can activate the restriction to wake me up."
"It's been so long..."
That being said, seclusion is an important way of cultivation, and unless a life-or-death matter occurs, Xu Xing naturally will not disturb him.
She felt somewhat disappointed. Although she knew that a few years of seclusion was not a long time compared to the long lifespan of a cultivator, she had only been on the path of cultivation for five years.
Now that her close friends are going into seclusion for so long, she suddenly understands what it means to transcend time in cultivation...
When will Senior Brother go into seclusion?
"After your shop is completed."
Xu Xing felt a warmth in her heart, and suddenly thought of something. She quickly said, "Senior brother, since the Xuan Yue Sword is damaged, why don't you leave it with me? Perhaps I can try to repair it."
Without hesitation, Shen Du took out the Xuan Yue Sword and handed it to Xu Xing.
Xu Xing took the sword and gently stroked its blade. The Xuan Yue Sword was entirely black and had a slightly cool feel to the touch; it was indeed a fine sword.
She couldn't help but smile as she recalled their first meeting, when Shen Du "roughly" wiped the river water clean for Xuan Yue Sword, which displeased Xuan Yue.
The past is still vivid in his mind, yet it has been eight years. Now that Chen Du is about to go into seclusion again, he doesn't know when they will meet again. Xu Xing can't help but feel a little reluctant.
Shen Du had been watching Xu Xing and noticed a hint of sadness in her eyes. He said, "It's alright if it can't be repaired. After I leave seclusion, I will go down the mountain to gain experience and find an opportunity to repair it."
Go down the mountain?
Xu Xing suddenly hugged his sword tightly. "Senior brother, can you take me with you then?"
Seeing the expectation in her eyes, Chen Du's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, and he promised, "If you can learn that 'Thrust' move, I will take you with me."
"..."
Thinking of the soreness all over her body after practicing swordsmanship that day, Xu Xing hissed softly, but her desire to go down the mountain overcame her physical exhaustion. Without hesitating for long, she said earnestly, "I will continue to practice. Senior brother must take me with you."
It's just one move; she'll definitely learn it!
After a satisfying meal, everyone left Xuanjian Peak one after another.
When Xu Xing was counting the remaining ingredients, he found two congratulatory gifts hidden among them. They carried Wen Lu's scent and indicated that one was a graduation gift for Xu Xing and the other was a promotion gift for Shen Du.
"Senior brother, this..."
She instinctively called out to Chen Du, but saw him standing outside the peach grove, looking at something.
Xu walked over and asked in confusion, "Senior brother, what are you looking at?"
Chen Du frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "There are spiritual energy fluctuations inside. You go back to your cave first, I'll go take a look."
Xu Xing's heart skipped a beat when he noticed the treasure compass was moving. Was there some treasure?
At this moment, a wind spirit deer emerged from the forest, riding on auspicious seven-colored clouds. Just as Shen Du was protecting Xu Xing as they slowly retreated, it dispersed its spiritual energy, appearing docile and harmless. It strolled around to Xu Xing, knelt on its two front legs, and let out a clear deer cry.
"Master, please accept me."
"roar--"
Before Xu Xing could react, the Iron-Eating Beast, its belly round and full from eating, suddenly rushed over, knocking aside the Wind Spirit Deer, and rubbing against Xu Xing's leg while whimpering.
"Don't touch my master!"
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Author's Note: Thank you to Xixi and Chenchen for the nutrient solution! [Heart]
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