"My sister’s a total beast! In her twenties with a Fourth-Grade foundation, and she’ll hit Third Grade in two or three years, tops. She’s practically the next Martial King," Songg Baige said.
Li Qingxian listened to how enthusiastically Songg Baige kept calling her "sister." His shamelessness had a familiar, persistent ring to it. Gazing at Songg Baige with suspicion, he said, "I get the feeling you’re trying to show off."
"You’re just now figuring that out? Heh heh. Once my sister rises to Third Grade, with my father and great-uncle, the Songg Family will have three Upper Grades. Then I, Songg Baige, will be a scion of a great house," Songg Baige said, a wistful look on his face.
"So ambitious! I’m heading back. I still need to consolidate my Eighth-Grade Realm."
"Right, right. I have to go back and consolidate my Seventh-Grade Realm. All this feasting and carousing these past few days... it’s so draining..." Songg Baige said with a woeful expression.
"I really want to send you flying with a kick." Li Qingxian rolled his eyes at Songg Baige, put away the Sound Insulation Talisman, and stepped out of the carriage.
After he had taken a few steps, Songg Baige flung open the window curtain and shouted, "Don’t forget to bring two big pig’s trotters tomorrow!"
"Does Uncle Songg like them? Alright."
"I do."
"Then I’m not bringing them."
"..."
Back in Room A9, Li Qingxian saw that all was quiet at the Patrol Bureau. He spent his time consolidating his Cultivation and studying Daoist Skills and Fate Skills. Whenever he had a question about Daoist Skills, he would consult Jiangg Youfei, and for anything he didn’t understand about Fate Skills, he would ask Guo Xiang of the Black Lamp Department.
That evening, Li Qingxian received a reply from Jiangg Youfei. She was coming to the Divine Capital tomorrow and would stop by to visit Zhou Chunfeng around noon. That meant she would have time in the afternoon to teach him Daoist Skills.
"Sounds good. I’ll take you out for lamb soup at noon, and you can teach me after we eat."
"I’m not used to heavily flavored food," came Jiangg Youfei’s soft reply.
"It’s fine, just give it a try. If you don’t like it, we can find something else. Xile Street has tons of delicious food. You can’t just stay cooped up in the mountains all the time. Seeing the sights of the Human World and experiencing the bustle of city life will help you temper your heart."
"Being with you is certainly heart-tempering."
"..."
「A night of sweet dreams.」
Early the next morning, Li Qingxian made a point of going out to get his hair and beard trimmed, making sure he looked sharp.
Around noon, Li Qingxian and Jiangg Youfei walked side by side out of the Chunfeng Inn. "Old Zhangg’s lamb soup is in a class of its own," he said as they walked. "It’s heavily flavored, I know, but it has a unique charm. If you can’t get used to it, I’ll take you for something lighter. We Cultivators all have big appetites, so we can just try a little of everything. I’m sure you’ll find something you like."
"Mm," Jiangg Youfei replied. Dressed in white, she was as slender as a willow branch.
The passing Night Guards couldn’t help but stare, and even after they were a good distance away, they still couldn’t resist looking back.
After exiting through a side door, Jiangg Youfei took out a white, veiled Conical Hat and put it on. The white gauze draped from the brim, partially concealing her face.
The two wound their way through the alleys. When the fragrant aromas of Xile Street reached them from a distance, Li Qingxian asked, "Sister Youfei, what kind of street food do you like?"
Jiangg Youfei walked several more steps before she managed a difficult reply: "I’ve never had any."
"Huh?"
"I’ve lived in the mountains since I was a child. In the Capital City, I stayed at Qingxiao Temple and only ate simple vegetarian meals. When I traveled, I only ate the dried rations I keep in my bracelet. The only time I ate a lot of new things was when I visited the Empress Dowager," Jiangg Youfei explained.
"You don’t have any dietary restrictions, do you?"
"The Celestial Cloud Sect has no such rules."
"Perfect! I’ll take you to try everything on the food street," Li Qingxian said, full of excitement.
"Mm." Jiangg Youfei’s expression remained placid, but her eyes were fixed on the bustling crowds at the end of the alley.
When Li Qingxian appeared on Xile Street in his Senior Seventh Grade uniform—a green robe with a gold-threaded tiger patch—a wide space immediately cleared around him.
Even with her veiled Conical Hat, Jiangg Youfei still drew curious glances from time to time.
"Can you handle all the smells?" Li Qingxian asked as they walked.
"They’re... unique." Jiangg Youfei kept her slender neck straight, maintaining her poised posture, but her bright, sparkling eyes darted left and right.
"If you see anything you’re interested in, just point it out."
"Mm..."
The two walked up to Zhangg’s Lamb Soup and saw that every seat, both inside and out, was taken.
"Lord Li, you’re here! This must be your wife, right? A perfect match of talent and beauty!" Old Zhangg put down his work and rushed over, a wide grin splitting his face.
Jiangg Youfei froze on the spot.
Li Qingxian shot him a thumbs-up. "Uncle Zhangg, you’ve got a sharp eye! She’s my senior sister, but she could also be—"
A wisp of murderous aura assaulted him from the side, and Li Qingxian quickly changed his tune, "—two bowls of lamb offal soup, two chopped white flour buns, and two salted duck eggs, please."
"Please wait a moment, I’ll clear a table for you."
"No need, my sister and I can just squeeze in somewhere." ’She really can’t take a compliment, can she?’ Li Qingxian thought.
"I can’t have that! Please, wait a moment."
Old Zhangg found a table of regulars and, with an apologetic smile, asked them to squeeze together. He cleared a small table for them and wiped it clean three times over.
"Please, have a seat, you two."
"Have a seat, Senior Sister. The place might be a little grimy, but the people are good," Li Qingxian said, going to fetch bowls, chopsticks, and seasonings.
Jiangg Youfei looked around curiously before slowly taking her seat. She slid her hands down her skirt, and just as she was about to sit, she tapped a finger lightly. A pulse of Magical Power swept over the stool, instantly clearing away all dust and grime.
This was the first time she had ever eaten at a restaurant.
After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, Li Qingxian sat down and asked with a smile, "How about that? The aroma is nice, isn’t it?"
Jiangg Youfei gave a delicate twitch of her nose. Steam billowed from the boiling lamb soup, its meaty aroma permeating every inch of the air.
"It’s a little strange, but... acceptable," Jiangg Youfei said with a nod.
Before long, two heaping bowls of lamb offal soup—piled just as high as Li Qingxian always got—were placed on the table, along with a large bowl of chopped white flour buns and two salted duck eggs.
"Ever had a salted duck egg?" Li Qingxian asked.
"I’ve had a boiled chicken egg."
Li Qingxian couldn’t help but laugh. "Here, let me show you. First, take an egg, and tap the wide end gently on the table to crack it, then..."
Jiangg Youfei picked up her egg and mimicked Li Qingxian, tapping it all around to crack the shell before peeling it away.
"Now, watch closely. You have to break it open. Hold it over the bowl of buns to catch any oil that might drip out. Like this... break it open slowly... see? Golden and fragrant..."
Jiangg Youfei copied him, breaking her egg open. "I don’t like yolks," she whispered. "They’re too chalky."
"A salted duck egg yolk is different from a boiled chicken yolk. Here, just pop it in your mouth. Let it melt a little, then chew gently. It’s totally different. Go on, try it if you don’t believe me." Li Qingxian blissfully popped his own salted yolk into his mouth.
After a moment’s hesitation, Jiangg Youfei used her chopsticks to pick up a tiny piece of the yolk and place it in her mouth. She savored it for a moment before lowering her head, taking a much larger bite, and chewing delicately. A slight, pleased curve appeared in her eyes.
Li Qingxian smiled. "Next is the lamb offal soup. You season it to your own taste."
"I don’t know what my taste is," Jiangg Youfei said, staring at the soup, a hint of awkward helplessness in her eyes.
"Then how about we season it my way?"
After a brief hesitation, Jiangg Youfei gave a slight nod.
Li Qingxian seasoned her soup according to his own preferences, then picked up her chopsticks and gave it a gentle stir.
"You can eat it now. Try a few bites. If you can’t finish it, I’ll take it."
Jiangg Youfei picked up her chopsticks, and a flicker of Magical Power swept over the bamboo. Then, she carefully picked up a strip of white tripe—one of the less strange-looking pieces—and placed it in her mouth, chewing slowly.
Her brows furrowed slightly. After a few more bites, she was about to put her chopsticks down when Li Qingxian said, "Try some of the broth first. Drink some broth and then decide."
Jiangg Youfei saw Li Qingxian pick up his big bowl. After a moment’s hesitation, she also lifted hers and took a small sip. Her face immediately scrunched up, and she set the bowl down.
"Well?" Li Qingxian was amused by her expression.
Jiangg Youfei smacked her lips softly. "It’s a little strange," she said. "A bit gamey, but then there’s a fragrant aftertaste. It’s very odd."
"A few more sips and you’ll get used to it."
Jiangg Youfei hesitated for another moment, then began to eat like Li Qingxian, alternating between the meat, the broth, and the chopped bun.
Before long, both of them had finished all the soup and buns before them.
"Not bad," Li Qingxian said, surprised that Jiangg Youfei had actually managed to finish everything.
"One shouldn’t waste food," Jiangg Youfei said with a serious expression.
"Come on, let’s go try something else. If you feel too full, you can just use some Magical Power to help with digestion. It’s no big deal," Li Qingxian said.
Jiangg Youfei glanced at her enthusiastic little junior brother, recalled all the various snacks and delicacies she had seen on their way here, and nodded.