Chapter 85: A Conspiracy at the Restaurant?
In an antique-styled loft, an elder with a long beard held an invitation, his expression grave.
“Youxiang Restaurant…”
This elder was Rao Weiyi, the current leader of the Medicine Gang, and one of their three Core Formation cultivators.
Although the three major factions in Ghost Demon Pass were said to have Nascent Soul old monsters backing them, these old monsters rarely appeared.
Most of the time, they just took half of the faction’s resources and focused on cultivation, rarely intervening directly.
Even so, their presence was essential.
This situation meant that in most conflicts between the three gangs, Core Formation cultivators were the key.
The Ghost Demon Gang had five Core Formation cultivators, while the Medicine Gang and the Tianhai Gang only had three each.
After receiving the notification, the other two Core Formation elders of the Medicine Gang had rushed over.
There were also many Foundation Establishment protectors present. Almost all the key members of the Medicine Gang were here.
…All because of Elder Wu’s provocation yesterday, which meant that the Tianhai Gang was showing signs of starting a war.
“Is the Tianhai Gang really so impatient? Several Core Formation cultivators of the Ghost Demon Gang are nearing the end of their lifespans, with only a hundred years or so left.”
Rao Weiyi frowned, stroking his long, white beard. “It would be better to wait until after dividing the Ghost Demon Gang’s territory before settling the score…”
“Heh, Gang Leader, haven’t you realized? The Tianhai Gang is afraid of us.”
Another Core Formation cultivator, Elder Li, sneered. “Our Medicine Gang has many talented alchemists and is the most prosperous of the three gangs, with abundant resources.”
“If we continue like this for another hundred years, our gang will surely produce several more Core Formation cultivators. How could they possibly compete with us then?”
“Only by taking advantage of the current situation and annexing us can they have a chance. The longer they wait, the more unfavorable the situation will be for them.”
Rao Weiyi nodded slightly, agreeing with Elder Li.
“I agree with Elder Li. Yesterday, Wu Hai chased a figure into our territory, claiming to seek an explanation. Don’t forget how we and the Tianhai Gang seized our current territory from the Ghost Demon Gang seven hundred years ago.”
Elder Wang, the last Core Formation cultivator, said in a deep voice, “This banquet at the Youxiang Restaurant is definitely not out of goodwill.”
“Such methods… heh, they even deliberately spread rumors, saying it was a petty thief who robbed the alchemy shop—what a joke. Which petty thief could escape from a Core Formation cultivator? And someone capable of doing so, how could they rob a small, unknown alchemy shop?”
Elder Li scoffed. “They’re clearly targeting our Medicine Gang!”
“Our disciples have already searched the entire area yesterday, but found no unusual traces. The Tianhai Gang’s methods… are truly flawless.” Elder Wang sighed. “With such an excuse, we have no choice but to accept this banquet invitation.”
A blatant and overt scheme!
If they could find that so-called petty thief, it would be fine. But now, the Medicine Gang could only accept the Tianhai Gang’s challenge.
“Let’s attend the banquet,” Rao Weiyi lowered his eyelids and said softly, “The Tianhai Gang has ill intentions. Have our disciples… prepare for war.”
The two Core Formation elders nodded in agreement.
The Foundation Establishment protectors who were listening mostly had worried expressions.
Most of the cultivators who joined the Medicine Gang did so to focus on cultivation. Unless absolutely necessary, they didn’t want to get involved in the conflict between the Medicine Gang and the Tianhai Gang.
…
Beside a fiery furnace, the clang of hammering metal echoed continuously.
A muscular man, stripped to the waist, hammered a red-hot piece of iron, sparks flying.
The man had hammered countless times, but the iron remained unchanged.
However, his expression was one of unwavering focus, each strike filled with all his strength, repeating endlessly.
Beside the furnace, Wu Hai, who had failed to capture Nangong Mengxiang yesterday, knelt, his head slightly lowered.
“Wu Hai, do you know where you went wrong?”
The man’s voice boomed, his movements not stopping.
“This subordinate… knows his mistake. Please punish me, Gang Leader.”
Wu Hai said tremblingly. The rhythmic hammering beside him felt like it was striking his heart.
No one expected that Yu Haoqiang, the almost never-seen Gang Leader of the Tianhai Gang, would be forging weapons like a mortal blacksmith, day and night.
“Where did you go wrong?”
Yu Haoqiang glanced at Wu Hai and continued hammering.
“This subordinate was incompetent, allowing the petty thief who offended the Tianhai Gang to escape.”
“Heh,” Yu Haoqiang sneered, “And?”
“This subordinate… shouldn’t have let this matter involve the Medicine Gang… shouldn’t have fallen for the Medicine Gang’s scheme…”
Elder Wu, usually seen as ruthless and decisive, now looked like he was walking on thin ice.
Because he knew that although the Gang Leader was at the same Core Formation Realm as him, killing him would only take an instant.
Yu Haoqiang… was a body cultivator, and the most extreme kind, cultivating only his physical body, not any divine abilities.
His body was his divine ability.
“Wrong, completely wrong,” Yu Haoqiang put down his hammer and looked at Wu Hai, roaring, “You’re wrong for not directly charging into the Medicine Gang’s territory! Why did you hesitate?”
“Do you think the Tianhai Gang can’t handle the Medicine Gang?” He looked down at Wu Hai. “Or do you think… I’m afraid of Rao Weiyi?”
“This subordinate wouldn’t dare!”
Wu Hai lowered his head even further.
“I’m leaving the Medicine Gang alone only because it’s not worth it to take them down now. I’ll let them grow a bit more.” Yu Haoqiang continued forging. “They really think the battle between Core Formation cultivators can be measured by numbers… Heh, those three old geezers, I can handle them alone.”
“Even if I give them a hundred, or even a thousand, years, they’ll only produce more useless trash.”
Wu Hai didn’t say anything more, just kept his head lowered.
“I understand. The Youxiang Restaurant… I will go.” Yu Haoqiang said impatiently. “Honestly, we should just attack directly. Why bother with a banquet?”
“We have to consider the Old Ancestor’s thoughts.”
Wu Hai stood up, relieved.
He knew the Gang Leader’s temper very well. He always disdained such roundabout methods.
Mentioning the Nascent Soul Old Ancestor above them, Yu Haoqiang narrowed his eyes, but didn’t comment.
“By the way, at the Ghost Demon Pass auction in a few days, keep an eye on a certain magical treasure for me.” Yu Haoqiang said.
“What is it?”
Wu Hai was slightly stunned. This was the first time the Gang Leader had made such a request.
As the most extreme type of body cultivator, Yu Haoqiang didn’t use any magical treasures or weapons. His body was his strongest weapon.
Forging iron was just his cultivation method.
“It’s called the ‘Evil Ghost Subduing Pestle,’ a magical treasure of the Silent Temple.” Yu Haoqiang said. “I remember, it should have been picked up by a scavenger slave on the battlefield.”
“Do you need me to retrieve it?” Wu Hai asked.
The Ghost Demon Pass auction was their own auction. If they wanted something, they could just take it. Why did they need to keep an eye on it?
“No, no, no need to retrieve it, just let the auction proceed normally.” Yu Haoqiang narrowed his eyes slightly. “I just… want to see who ends up with it.”
…
On the first floor of the inn.
This small inn wasn’t large. Besides the counter, the main hall could only accommodate four or five tables and chairs.
And business seemed bleak. When Nangong Mengxiang and Luo Xue came downstairs, the entire hall was empty.
The inn’s door was half-closed, but through the gap, one could see that the flow of people outside wasn’t sparse, just that no one entered.
Sensing carefully, the only guest in the entire inn… seemed to be Nangong Mengxiang.
“How can business be this bad? But why are they still open?” Luo Xue observed and thought to herself, “These sisters… are a bit strange.”
The possibility of them being spies for the Peerless Summit Sect couldn’t be ruled out.
Nangong Mengxiang walked familiarly to a table and sat down, waving to Luo Xue.
“Come, come, try their signature dish. A bowl of seafood porridge in the morning is quite comforting!”
As she spoke, Nangong Mengxiang scooped some porridge into a small bowl for Luo Xue, then started drinking directly from the large pot with a ladle.
There was only one portion of breakfast, and Luo Xue wasn’t very hungry, so she sat down and took small sips.
“It’s… actually seafood.”
Luo Xue was inwardly amazed.
How long had it been since she had eaten such food?
Not to mention the post-apocalyptic world, in her previous dream life… being treated as a fast-track cauldron, she had mostly eaten scraps of heavenly treasures or pill residue.
These things could indeed enhance her cultivation, but unprocessed heavenly treasures and pill residue contained both impurities and toxicity. After eating them, she didn’t know whether her cultivation would increase faster, or if she would die faster.
And they didn’t taste good either.
As for her time in the Peerless Summit Sect, Senior Sister had treated her very well, but her cooking skills were truly lacking. It could only be considered barely edible mortal food.
Nangong Mengxiang, halfway through her meal, saw Luo Xue suddenly freeze, tears welling up in her eyes, and panicked.
“Luo Xue, what’s wrong? Is the porridge not to your liking?”
“No, no, I just… remembered some things.” Luo Xue gently wiped away her tears and sighed. “The porridge is delicious, I like it very much.”
“That’s good,” Nangong Mengxiang smiled, then scooped a large spoonful of porridge into Luo Xue’s bowl. “Here’s some more, don’t cry, hee hee.”
“I’m not crying.”
Luo Xue turned her head slightly.
“You’re still saying you’re not crying, your tears are about to fall into the porridge.”
Nangong Mengxiang patted Luo Xue’s hair, then couldn’t resist rubbing it.
She hadn’t expected Luo Xue’s hair, which looked rough, to be so soft to the touch…
This familiar gesture brought back some memories for Luo Xue, and she quickly lowered her head and started drinking the porridge.
“Don’t touch, let’s eat…”
Just then, the twin sisters came downstairs, shoulder to shoulder. The expressions of the two innkeepers looked a bit strange, as if they had something on their minds.
And they kept glancing at Luo Xue, but whenever their eyes met hers, they would quickly look away, blushing slightly.
If not for the current situation, it would look like shy girls encountering their crush.
Luo Xue observed their behavior, recalling her earlier guess, and frowned slightly.
Could they really be spies for the sect?
Wait, could sect spies be this… stupid?
Thinking about it carefully, as one of the Nine Sects of the Immortal Domain, the Peerless Summit Sect’s spies shouldn’t be this incompetent…
Right?
After nudging each other at the counter for a while, the younger sister, Sha Keke, hesitantly walked over to Nangong Mengxiang and Luo Xue’s table.
Luo Xue’s right hand dropped to her side, holding the dagger hidden against her thigh.
“Um, Nangong…”
Sha Keke bit her lip, her voice hesitant, like a girl about to confess her feelings.
“My sister and I… would like to invite you… to the Youxiang… Restaurant… for lunch… at noon…”
“What did you say?” Nangong Mengxiang looked up, her face blank. “I didn’t hear clearly, did you say lunch?”
Sha Keke nodded slightly, then continued,
“At noon… at the Youxiang Restaurant…”
She didn’t dare to look at Luo Xue.
Sha Keke was thinking about what to do if Nangong Mengxiang asked why, what to do if she refused, and why her sister insisted that she be the one to do this…
Ugh, she always lost at rock-paper-scissors.
“Lunch? Yay!” Nangong Mengxiang immediately agreed, looking delighted, and patted her pouch. “I just earned a lot of money yesterday, it’s on me!”
Earned money…
Luo Xue almost choked.
Not only had she not earned much, but she had almost lost her life.
Moreover, to save Nangong Mengxiang, Luo Xue had used a precious Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Pill.
Comparing the value, she didn’t know if she had made a profit or a loss…
However… what were these sisters up to?
Although the invitation was for Nangong Mengxiang, Luo Xue had a feeling that they were actually targeting her.
Youxiang Restaurant… could it be a base for the Peerless Summit Sect?
Just as Luo Xue was pondering, Nangong Mengxiang, as expected, invited her.
“Luo Xue, want to go to a big restaurant for lunch?”
Nangong Mengxiang patted her chest. “Don’t worry, I’ll pay. I’ll give you your share later! I roughly calculated, it’s worth at least two Mystic-rank Qi Condensation Pills!”
“The pill I used to save you was worth much more than that…”
Luo Xue touched her nose. She only went to the alchemy shop to exchange money because she lacked currency. Actually, she was quite wealthy.
Senior Sister’s collection was truly vast…
“Eh, really?” Nangong Mengxiang was stunned. “No wonder you recovered so quickly, and your cultivation even improved a bit…”
Improved cultivation?
Oh right, she had also fed Nangong Mengxiang her convenient mother’s immortal wine.
Nangong Mengxiang’s excitement instantly waned.
“Ah, I can’t afford it now. I have to compensate Luo Xue… I’m not going, I’m not going.”
Sha Keke, who had finally completed her mission, was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
Luo Xue smiled wryly. “It’s fine, we’ll talk about it later. I don’t lack these things—just remember to give me the Qi Condensation Pills, I don’t have much currency on hand.”
“Really?” Nangong Mengxiang blinked. “Then… lunch?”
“Of course, no problem.”
Luo Xue nodded and glanced at Sha Keke, whose expression gradually brightened, a cold glint flashing through her eyes.
She wanted to see what they were up to…
“However, before going to the restaurant, I need to make some preparations.”
Luo Xue said with a smile, her gaze fixed on Sha Yiyi at the counter.
Sha Yiyi shivered instantly, a feeling of being seen through rising from within her.
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