Mankind finds its sustenance in food! Where there are people, naturally, there will be places to eat and drink!
The Gourmet Pavilion: Excellent quality, low prices, fair dealings, no cheating the young or old—whether this claim on the sign was truly accurate, at least that’s what it proclaimed!
Looking inside, it seemed quite crowded! To Qingshan’s understanding, more people meant booming business! And booming business naturally meant the Gourmet Pavilion’s cuisine must be quite good!
Evidently, Wushuang believed the same thing.
The ground floor was already packed!
Qingshan and Wushuang, along with their two companions, had no choice but to head upstairs to find a window seat!
However, when Wushuang opened the menu, she gasped in shock: “This is so expensive!”
“Expensive?” Qingshan was confused! He had no concept of the local price structure in this world!
“A braised roe deer roll costs one silver coin—and you call that not expensive?” Wushuang retorted, annoyed. “Elsewhere, it would cost twenty copper coins at most.”
He hadn't realized this girl was quite frugal! She had just completed a major transaction moments ago! Moreover, in Qingshan’s perception, someone like her, a figure from the Jianghu, should be accustomed to throwing money around, generous and unrestrained. Yet, this seemed to be quite a deviation!
“Could this establishment be overcharging?” Qingshan inquired.
“That’s not it! This is an establishment for dining, so it’s naturally a bit pricier!” Wushuang’s face flushed deeply. She then subtly pointed towards the small stalls and vendors downstairs. With a hint of embarrassment, she added, “I usually eat at places like those.”
“.....” Qingshan was speechless.
“Elder Sister,” Wushang looked utterly incredulous. Although this young man had been on a few missions, he had always accompanied adults during those times. In a sense, he was no different from Qingshan! As for Yunxia, she was simply a typical naive soul with zero concept of currency; it was clear the girl had lived a life where things were handed to her on a platter.
“Even though we have money in the family, expeditions like this rely on our own capabilities; the money we spend must be earned by ourselves,” Wushuang explained awkwardly. “So, thrift is the most important thing. Otherwise, how would we afford equipment, repairs, elixirs, and travel expenses? Don’t forget we need to hire a Master to teach Qingshan; we must earn enough money.”
In truth, there were two other sets of Sky Wolf Armor and three silver longswords in the storage bag that could fetch a good sum, but considering long-term development, Wushuang decided to keep these treasures for future needs. These were high-quality items money couldn't easily buy. Money could be earned through effort, but such rare treasures weren’t encountered often!
At last, Qingshan understood. It seemed the figures of the Jianghu weren't all so dashing and extravagant; they too faced many constraints and necessities.
“Don’t think that just because we earned a sum now, there won’t be plenty of future expenses,” Wushuang whispered by way of explanation. “Once you’ve been out here longer, you’ll realize money is never enough. Save whenever you can.”
“I see!” Qingshan adopted a look of someone who had learned a valuable lesson. “Perhaps we should change to another place?”
“That won’t do,” Wushuang replied. “Since we’ve come, let this be a one-time indulgence, a sort of compensation.”
Wushuang beckoned the waiter: “Four plates of house specialty, four pots of Huadiao wine.”
“Honored guests, please wait, it will be right out!” The waiter responded with a crisp assent and was about to leave!
The second floor was less crowded than the first, but even with fewer people, half the main hall was occupied!
Relatively close to Qingshan and Wushuang was a large table formed by joining together over a dozen people! The leader was a distinguished man in silver armor, radiating an uncommon bearing. Six small silver shields on his shoulders, along with three thin, gold-like bars, clearly indicated his strength and rank!
A Sixth-Tier Shield Warrior!
On the Continent, there was a clear demarcation of strength levels! If someone had joined a sect or a mercenary group, there would also be distinct sect or group markings! These were the so-called Rank Epaulets and Legion Medals!
Rank Epaulets were markers dividing strength levels, displayed on special patches on the shoulders—similar to modern military ranks! The Shield Warrior used a sword as their marker: one small shield represented the first tier, two shields represented the second, three shields the third, and so on! It was remarkably similar to modern military insignia!
The leading man’s six small shields indicated his strength level was Six-Tier—meaning he was a Sixth-Tier Shield Warrior! Such experts were rare!
Accompanying him were more than a dozen spirited young men, all clad in armor. Six of them bore epaulets marked uniformly with four crossed swords, signifying they were elite warriors from prestigious families or major legions!
However, what felt particularly noteworthy to Qingshan was another figure: a young man with an indifferent expression, seemingly unconcerned with anything around him. Though he too wore armor and carried a sword on his back, his armor lacked any conspicuous markings of strength or rank! This man was certainly no ordinary person; Qingshan himself couldn't discern his depth!
Among them was the only girl, appearing about the same age as Wushuang, possessing captivating beauty and charm! However, her epaulet showed two crossed swords—a Second-Tier Sword Warrior! While a Second-Tier Sword Warrior wasn't overwhelmingly powerful, achieving such cultivation at such a young age was quite remarkable!
Regrettably, this girl seemed rather haughty and sharp-tongued. Though Wushuang and Qingshan had been speaking softly, she had overheard their previous conversation!
“A bunch of bumpkins.”
Having secretly overheard this, Wushuang and Qingshan flushed deeply! Wushang and Yunxia, however, bristled slightly, especially the hot-tempered Yunxia, who was on the verge of exploding right then and there!
“Don’t stir up trouble,” Wushuang quickly restrained the about-to-erupt Yunxia! To navigate the Continent, self-control was paramount; constantly seeking fights would sooner or later lead to ruin! This was one lesson Wushuang had learned during her two years of travel, and also one of the golden rules she had been instilling in Qingshan and the others—the Jianghu rookies—over the past few days!
Since Wushuang was the leader, everything followed her arrangement. So, despite her reluctance, Yunxia suppressed her anger and sat down, deeply indignant.
“I wonder where these bumpkins crawled out from,” several other young disciples sneered with similar expressions.
“Look at them, lacking even epaulets, yet daring to wear armor and carry swords. It’s laughable,” said a youth with long, golden hair tied in a ponytail, seated near the girl. His challenging gaze subtly swept over the four people including Qingshan and Wushuang. It wasn't entirely their fault for being so arrogant; having been born into prominent families, they naturally felt superior. Encountering these four country youths who looked rather unsophisticated, they couldn't resist showing off a bit.
The leading man, burly and ruggedly handsome, with sharp, intense eyes, was clearly a seasoned and fierce warrior. He looked towards Qingshan and Wushuang with an apologetic expression. He was quite vexed by the tendency of these younger members to show off—perhaps it was an inherent flaw in the scions of noble families and renowned sects!
However, Qingshan, with his soldier’s temperament, was calm and reserved, while Wushuang, an experienced veteran of the Jianghu, understood the meaning of forbearance. They ignored the petty provocations! As for Wushang and Yunxia, although they were unwilling, authority dictated that they obey the leader, as Wushuang had been established as the ultimate decision-maker.
The dozen or so young disciples from prestigious families interpreted the four’s restraint and yielding as weakness, becoming even more brazen and laughing unrestrainedly.
This distinctly disharmonious scene naturally drew the attention of others in the pavilion!
Across the room, near another window, sat another group of a dozen or so sturdy men clad in armor. Their gear bore no symbols indicating status, sect, or rank. However, their striking, uniformly black armor and bodies far larger and more robust than ordinary men easily drew Qingshan’s gaze! On the Wanluo Continent, not all wandering warriors or heroes preferred to broadcast their strength, sect, or rank; in fact, a significant portion preferred concealment! Sometimes, hiding one's strength was a vital means of self-protection!
Due to the distance and angle, Qingshan couldn't clearly see their faces, but he could feel the invisible pressure radiating from them. These people were absolutely not simple! Accompanying them was a young man with a dignified manner and a huge fellow covered in a thick beard, whose build resembled a bear. This large man gave the impression of a dormant volcano, ready to erupt at any moment.
This prompted Qingshan to be secretly wary. Years spent struggling on the edge of life and death had conditioned Qingshan to subconsciously assess his surroundings under any circumstances! The human world, at times, was far more dangerous and terrifying than the savage, beast-infested Primordial Forest!
Besides them, Qingshan sensed another, even stronger, invisible force enveloping the entire pavilion! Strangely, Qingshan couldn't trace the source of this awareness. To be suppressed by an unseen power while remaining utterly unaware of its origin was the most terrifying thing.
Qingshan felt his heart tremble. He was not unfamiliar with this sensation! His long year spent battling for survival in the Mammoth Forest had honed his sensitivity to killing intent to a degree unimaginable to ordinary men! This feeling was precisely the same as that emanating from the giant tiger that once stalked the forest! Perhaps it wasn't intentional, but that inherent, terrifying aura caused weaker creatures to instinctively feel unease and dread—just like Qingshan felt now!
How was this possible? Could someone possess such overwhelming aura?
Cold sweat poured uncontrollably down Qingshan’s face, his complexion instantly turning pale and ghastly!
Who was it? Qingshan subconsciously scanned the surroundings! Most patrons were merchants of various kinds, vendors, wealthy young masters, young ladies, and innocent children, as well as many other "Jianghu figures" bearing weapons. Qingshan filtered them out one by one! Looking at his companions, he noted nothing unusual either. Wushang and Yunxia were still puffing their cheeks, clearly dwelling on the earlier insult. Wushuang was sipping her wine with a composed expression! It seemed he was the only one who had noticed this anomaly.
Should they leave this place immediately? The brutal law of the jungle had made avoiding danger Qingshan’s instinctual response!
But before he could act!
The entire area suddenly fell silent. Wushuang, Wushang, Yunxia—even those dozen or so disciples from prestigious families who had been mocking Qingshan and Wushuang—now stared towards the entrance, their faces slack with shock!
“What’s happening?” Qingshan asked.
“Beautiful! So beautiful!” Wushuang stammered.
Following the line of sight of his companions, Qingshan saw that, without anyone noticing when, a maiden in a purple dress, who seemed like a celestial being descended to earth, had appeared at the doorway! Ethereal and intangible, she was clearly close yet imparted a sense of unreal, dreamlike illusion!
“Liu Mengli.” Qingshan almost leaped up. This girl looked exactly like Liu Mengli from Legend of Sword and Fairy! Same purple hair, same purple eyes, same purple skirt! The only difference was that instead of a zither, she held a sword—a long, delicate blade!
“Liu Mengli?” Wushuang was greatly surprised by Qingshan’s stupefied expression. “Do you know her?”
“No,” Qingshan quickly realized his lapse and felt awkward. “She strongly resembles someone I once met.”
“What a little beauty,” even though she was a girl and also beautiful, Yunxia currently looked utterly captivated.
“If only she could be my wife!” Wushang’s drool had already formed a long strand! It wasn't just him; every male and sentient being nearby showed a foolish grin! As the saying goes, the love of beauty is universal! Or perhaps, beauty is a curse that brings disaster! In short, women are trouble-making machines, especially beautiful ones!
It was as if a tiny drop of water had suddenly splashed into a boiling oil pan. In an instant, the entire pavilion erupted! A dozen handsome young disciples from the prestigious families clenched their fists, eager to move! Even Wushang looked impatient!
But before these younger generations could make a move! A towering, iron-tower-like figure stepped forward and approached her.
“Little sister, care to join us for a meal?”
Only then did everyone clearly see that the man’s appearance was truly abstract and unique. His massive, bushy beard covered his entire face; one could barely make out his nose and eyes, but his mouth was completely hidden! This man was the bearded fellow Qingshan had noted earlier!
“Tch, so cliché, such a weak opening line,” Wushang remarked dismissively.
“What a brave, big bear,” Wushuang muttered to herself.
“He’s going to be unlucky,” Yunxia showed a rare expression of amused observation.
“The first one to try is admirable,” Qingshan nodded thoughtfully.
On the other side, the big bear adopted a casual, gentle demeanor, patiently awaiting the young girl’s reply!
“I’m sorry, I’m looking for someone!” The young girl stood on her tiptoes, stretching her neck, trying to peer inside. The big bear was simply too tall and bulky, and he was blocking the doorway, preventing the girl from entering, so she had to find a way to gain height, hoping to get a better look inside! Unfortunately, the disparity in stature couldn't be overcome just by standing on her toes, much to the girl’s frustration!
“It’s alright, I’ll help you look.” The big bear, still firmly blocking the entrance, continued, “Tell me, who are you looking for?”
“Um! Uncle, could you step aside? I can’t see,” the girl seemed a little anxious!
“....................” The big bear stammered: “You! You called me Uncle.”
“Hahahaha!” A dozen young men couldn't help but burst out laughing! Meanwhile, the big bear’s tablemates wore strange expressions: “Boss Xiong, you know he hates being called Uncle the most.”
“This little girl is in trouble.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“I am so sorry, Big Brother,” the little girl, realizing she had said something wrong, apologized profusely, her cheeks turning as red as ripe apples—a sight that made one want to pinch and take a bite!
Thump! A wave of noise swept the area, and people couldn't help spitting out their food!
“See? This is the trouble caused by being too beautiful,” Wushuang said smugly.
“Great insight, Boss,” Yunxia offered rare praise. No wonder the Boss knew disguise; it was to avoid this kind of trouble!
Wushang looked worried: “That big bear doesn’t seem like a good person.”
“Indeed, he doesn’t,” Yunxia mused.
“Then should we be heroes saving the damsel?” Wushang’s eyes lit up.
“About that,” Qingshan hesitated. “There must be quite a few people thinking of playing the hero now.” Operating in the Jianghu, maintaining a low profile was most important—this was the wisdom Qingshan had gleaned from reading countless martial arts and fantasy novels. Therefore, if possible, he wanted to avoid trouble!
“Exactly,” Wushuang agreed. “We should keep out of it.”
“Big! Big Brother!” The big bear on the floor had a dark expression, his breathing growing heavy. “I, I’m only twenty-five!”
Thud! Everyone was stunned! The clumsy bear was clearly trying every means to coax away this innocent girl who seemed to have emerged from nowhere, but it appeared to be difficult! Although the little girl seemed naive, the big bear’s tactics weren't exactly subtle!
“I’m very sorry, Big Big Brother,” the little girl finally understood the crux of the issue! She bowed and apologized repeatedly. Her already rosy face was now crimson like a big apple, evoking an urge to squeeze and devour her!
“Heh heh heh, it’s fine,” the big bear reached out his thick, bear-like paw to take hold of the little girl’s arm!
This absolutely could not be allowed! Even if the young girl agreed, the others couldn't permit it! The eyes of the crowd were sharp, and thus!
Instantly, a group of disciples from the prestigious families jumped up, blocking the big bear, exposing his clumsy scheme!