Chapter 83: A Hearty Feast
Zhou Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed nervously.
The aroma of roasted meat filled the air, golden and enticing, yet he was too afraid to take a bite.
“Senior Sister Qu, do we really have to do this?” Zhou Chen’s dark face twisted in anguish as he eyed the beef shank Qu Yiqiu had just torn off. He swallowed hard, nearly drooling.
Qu Yiqiu, amused, handed him the beef leg, putting on a stern face as she said, “Eat. No one leaves until it’s finished!”
Frightened, Zhou Chen grabbed the leg. Glancing at the white-plumed brocade crane, now plucked bare, he shut his eyes in despair and took a big bite.
Hmm? The flavor was incredible… He had never tasted beef so rich in spiritual energy in his life!
From the corner of her eye, Qu Yiqiu saw Zhou Chen surrender his fear, gnawing at the beef with the resolve of a doomed man. She smiled inwardly, thinking to call Mu Yunjin over to join them.
Such a feast shouldn’t be enjoyed without her little junior brother!
Qu Yiqiu tossed a transmission talisman, which flew toward the mountainside of Little Ping Peak.
Moments later, Mu Yunjin hurried into the grove.
He gazed at Qu Yiqiu with delight, a thousand words welling up inside him.
Before he could speak, a succulent beef shank was shoved into his mouth, stifling all his thoughts.
Qu Yiqiu laughed, “Junior Brother, you’ve come just in time—there’s one beef leg left!”
Mu Yunjin blinked in confusion, chewing instinctively.
The meat was tender yet resilient, infused with spiritual energy and full of lingering flavor—a truly exceptional bite!
He joined the other two in devouring the meal, soon forgetting why he’d come in the first place.
The beautiful sunset shone brilliantly.
The three of them, rubbing their round bellies, ate to their hearts’ content.
Qu Yiqiu gathered the bones of the four spirit beasts and reassembled them into their original forms.
Mu Yunjin let out a satisfied burp, gazing at the ironwater ox skeleton with innocent curiosity. “What kind of beef is this? It’s enormous, and the meat is so tender and delicious!”
Zhou Chen’s bleary eyes suddenly snapped open, as if he could sense death looming. He leapt from the ground, pacing anxiously as he muttered, “We’re doomed, doomed! I’m the only one who ate all the spirit beasts! Yes, yes—Senior Sister Qu, Senior Brother Mu, please don’t tell anyone!”
Mu Yunjin looked at him in surprise. “Junior Brother Zhou, you must be confused. The three of us ate together—how could you finish so much by yourself?”
Qu Yiqiu, hand on her belly, suddenly remembered Qian’er, whom she’d left forgotten in her spirit beast pouch.
She’d yet to let the girl out—who knew how she was faring in there.
Zhou Chen’s face was still twisted with worry as he replied, “Senior Brother Mu, those were Peak Master Hong’s spirit beasts…”
He expected Mu Yunjin to be just as anxious, but Mu Yunjin asked with genuine curiosity, “How many spirit stones does Peak Master Hong sell these beasts for? Can we have more tomorrow?”
Zhou Chen stared in disbelief, thinking Mu Yunjin had lost his mind.
Qu Yiqiu finished assembling the spirit beast skeletons and smiled. “If you want to eat, Junior Brother, I’ll buy you some from outside. Peak Master Hong only has a few.”
Mu Yunjin licked his lips excitedly. “That’s wonderful! Senior Sister, you’re the best!”
Qu Yiqiu smiled, stowing the skeletons in her storage pouch. Then she said to Zhou Chen, who was about to go to Wanqing Peak to confess, “You needn’t concern yourself with today. I already have a plan.”
Zhou Chen paused. “Senior Sister, what do you intend to do?”
Qu Yiqiu didn’t answer, simply waving him off. “Go back. Say nothing, and don’t go to Wanqing Peak. If you run into Chen Chuangfu and Wu Zhongdao, send them to me.”
Seeing Qu Yiqiu’s resolute expression, Zhou Chen recalled how she’d handled Zhao Wen and the others when they ruined the spirit fields.
Perhaps Senior Sister truly had a plan!
He nodded firmly. “Alright!”
He resolved that if, in the end, Peak Master Hong still refused to let Qu Yiqiu go, he could always go to Wanqing Peak and confess. After all, it was all his fault to begin with!
After Zhou Chen left, Mu Yunjin stood up.
“Senior Sister, why have you returned so soon? Have you found your parents?”
Qu Yiqiu’s expression was calm. “No, I encountered some trouble on the way and came back early.”
“Trouble? What happened? Are you hurt?” Mu Yunjin immediately grew anxious, looking her over from head to toe.
Qu Yiqiu smiled. “I’m fine—very well, in fact. But how is your health, Junior Brother?”
Mu Yunjin paused, glancing at her spirit beast pouch before replying, “I’ve been soaking in the spirit spring and drinking spirit tea every day—I’m completely recovered now!”
To prove it, Mu Yunjin proudly shot a bolt of spiritual light at a stone nearby. The stone shattered soundlessly.
Qu Yiqiu nodded in satisfaction. “Not bad. You’ve reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment.”
“I’ve been training in seclusion every day, all to take first place in the sect competition!” Mu Yunjin declared, tilting his chin proudly.
Qu Yiqiu suddenly noticed he’d grown taller—almost catching up to her.
She ruffled his hair. “Well done. Other than Zhou Chen, have you seen anyone else on Little Ping Peak?”
Mu Yunjin looked down, his ears tinged red.
“No. Since you left, this is my first time seeing Zhou Chen…” And that man who always comes looking for Senior Sister…
Mu Yunjin’s eyes flickered with unease. For some reason, he instinctively kept that secret to himself.
Qu Yiqiu couldn’t see his expression, musing, “Good, then it’ll be easier to conceal your cultivation level.”
She wasn’t worried Zhou Chen would see through Mu Yunjin’s true strength—his abilities were too low for that.
All that remained was to hide his cultivation until the sect competition.
Mu Yunjin’s lashes fluttered as he enjoyed Qu Yiqiu’s hand ruffling his hair. “I’ll do whatever Senior Sister says…”
Night was falling.
Chen Chuangfu was lurking at the foot of Little Ping Peak, eyes fixed on the slope above.
Just then, Wu Zhongdao slid down the slope.
Chen Chuangfu glanced behind him and smacked his head. “Useless! You couldn’t even bring the spirit beast down?”
Wu Zhongdao, clutching his head, protested, “The formation seems to have changed—I couldn’t get in at all!”
Chen Chuangfu frowned. “What are they playing at? Locking the white-plumed brocade crane in Little Ping Peak—what good does that do them?”
Wu Zhongdao’s eyes darted slyly. “Maybe they think if the spirit beast goes missing, we’ll be punished by the Peak Master?”
Chen Chuangfu’s frown eased, his interest piqued. “If that’s the case, maybe we should strike first.”
Wu Zhongdao’s eyes spun as he probed, “You mean… report them to Peak Master Hong first?”
Chen Chuangfu’s lips curled into a crafty grin, his eyes glinting. “It happened so suddenly during the day—Qu Yiqiu caught us off guard. But since none of them have gone to Sect Leader Luo to complain, it means they know they have no leverage or evidence. They’re no match for Wanqing Peak.”
“With such a golden opportunity before us, why not seize the chance to retaliate?”