Chapter 209: Chapter 1: The Rival Isn’t Really a Rival
 

Luo Yan always believed that if it weren’t for Shi Liuli’s existence, life here at Yuqing View would be much easier.

He could leisurely practice his breathing and Qi Refinement, freely study Formation knowledge, calmly work on raising his master’s favorability towards him, and surreptitiously inquire about the whereabouts of the Heaven-Mending Stone fragments—most likely held by the Immortal Cultivator in charge of Yuqing View. He had ample experience in this area.

Instead of frolicking with Miss Shi every single day!

“Little Junior Brother, hurry up and hand me the Spirit Grass!” Shi Liuli urged.

Luo Yan could only pick up the basket, grab a handful of Nine-sectioned Calamus from inside, and pass it over.

“Good boy, good boy,” Shi Liuli cooed as she fed it, caressing the Nine-colored Deer’s beautiful fur, her eyes filled with love for the fluffy creature.

The Nine-colored Deer chewed on the Spirit Grass silently, then slowly raised its head, casting Luo Yan a look of aged helplessness.

With just a glance, Luo Yan understood that this Nine-colored Deer was not enjoying Miss Shi’s petting.

It was being forced to put on an act.

“Senior Sister,” he tentatively said, “even though the Nine-colored Deer is a Spirit Beast raised by our sect, it still has its own pride. Treating it like a cat, stroking it this way, could this not make it feel humiliated…”

“Shut up, Little Junior Brother,” Shi Liuli said irritably, then grinned and asked, “But it likes me, doesn’t it, little deer?”

The Nine-colored Deer stared at the Spirit Grass in her hand, seeming to make an extremely difficult decision, before finally nodding its head.

Luo Yan also sighed inwardly.

Life is hard, let alone for a deer, huh?

After feeding the Nine-colored Deer, the two found an open space by the clear stream.

Luo Yan set up the grill and placed a three-legged cauldron underneath it.

This three-legged cauldron, originally a magical treasure used by Alchemists to generate flames, why use it for barbecue?

Because Miss Shi is rich.

Shi Liuli took out a large chunk of beef, carefully sliced it with her Flying Sword, then began to smear it with sea salt and other seasonings for a heavy marinade.

Since she shifted her primary cultivation from the Qi Refining Technique to the “Five Latitudes Heavenly Secret Record,” Miss Shi had recently changed her Flying Sword as well.

The new Flying Sword is called “Moonfall,” a Tenth Rank Wood System Flying Sword with Daoist Magic sealed within… not that Luo Yan knew, because as far as he could remember, every time it was used, it was utilized by Miss Shi to slice meat.

If Moonfall had a Sword Spirit, it probably would have burned with rage to death by now.

Although Shi Liuli was inexperienced in swordsmanship, her culinary skills had improved dramatically since returning from Gui Xu. In just a few swift motions, she sliced the marinated beef into countless thin pieces as delicate as cicada wings.

Then, she placed them skillfully on the grill to roast.

As the fragrance of the fat slowly wafted through the air, Luo Yan had to admit that Miss Shi wasn’t entirely without virtues.

At the very least, her barbecue skills were indeed exceptional.

However, choosing a picnic spot remained as bizarre as ever… While the scenery here was beautiful, it was, after all, the place within the sect where Spirit Grass was planted and Spirit Beasts were bred!

It could only be said that Miss Shi wielded enormous power, and I, Luo Yan, was just a minor follower, having no say in the matter.

Once the barbecue was complete, the two began their meal.

Shi Liuli devoured her food with relish, grease smearing her mouth. Luo Yan took a small skewer and ate slowly, quietly circulating the True Yuan in his Dantian to Refine away the impurities in his stomach.

Immortal Cultivator True Persons fast not to save on food expenses, but to avoid ingesting impurities.

Beasts and birds feed on grains, which absorb the earth’s impurities. The more one eats, the more impurities accumulate in the body, leading to aging and reduced lifespan.

Someone like Shi Liuli, who indulged in the pleasures of food and drink, willing to put in the effort to Refine away the impurities just to enjoy eating and drinking, was truly a rare oddity among Cultivators.

While I was happily enjoying the meal, I suddenly saw a sword light flash in the distance and a Daoist in a blue robe descended.

“Miss Shi,” the person greeted, “and Brother Luo, what a refined pleasure to be tasting the mortal life here?”

Luo Yan looked carefully and recognized that the Daoist was the son of the Sect Leader of Xuandu from Yuqing View, his surname Tian, with a single name, Zhang.

While he bowed in greeting, Shi Liuli seemed somewhat unhappy and just kept her head down eating meat.

Seeing that Shi Liuli was unwilling to engage with him, Tian Zhang started to chat with Luo Yan:

“I’ve heard that Brother Luo has inherited Elder Shi Ding’s formation methods. Even the other heavenly grottoes in the East Sea have been praising Brother Luo’s expertise. People have even given you the nickname ‘Little Ding True Person.’ It seems that Heavenly Craft Workshop has a successor.”

Hearing this, Luo Yan felt somewhat embarrassed. What is this “Little Ding True Person”? I’m not Elder Shi Ding’s son!

“Brother Tian is too kind,” he said with clasped hands and humbly responded, “I have only a superficial understanding of formations, far from reaching my master’s level. The praise from other Daoists is really more than I deserve.”

“Not at all. I believe that there will certainly be a place for Brother Luo in Yuqing View in the future…” Tian Zhang continued to talk with a smile, noticing that Shi Liuli was completely uninterested, he covertly gestured to Luo Yan with his eyes, meaning “Let’s go over there and talk.”

Luo Yan immediately pretended not to see. I would have to be foolish to go with you. What if you pull out a ‘Rival-Killing Sword’ move on me when we’re alone? Who would I call for help then?

Seeing that he seemed not to understand, Tian Zhang started to speak at great length, discussing the various factions within Yuqing View, the traditional friendship between the Sect Leader’s lineage and the Heavenly Craft Workshop… Shi Liuli rolled her eyes at that and simply picked up a skewer of meat and said to Luo Yan:

“You guys take your time, I’ll excuse myself first.”

As soon as Miss Shi left, Tian Zhang immediately revealed his true intentions, clutching Luo Yan’s arm earnestly and pleading:

“Good brother, save me!”

Luo Yan calmly withdrew his arm and said:

“Brother Tian is joking. How could I possibly be able to save you…?”

“All you need to do is become Daoist companions with Shi Liuli,” Tian Zhang blurted out quickly.

Luo Yan: ???

“Our Sect Leader’s lineage has always been friendly with all the major factions within the View,” Tian Zhang sighed helplessly, “and now that the Heavenly Craft Workshop is thriving, my father has the intention of having me form a good relationship with your sister, ideally to become in-laws with the Heavenly Craft Workshop.”

After a long silence, Luo Yan asked:

“Is Brother Tian reluctant?”

“Brother Luo,” Tian Zhang then showed a bitter smile, “if it were you, would you be willing to become Daoist companions with a female cultivator who you can’t scold or hit, who spends money like water, lords over others, causes trouble everywhere, sneaks out of Yuqing View every few days to disrupt peaceful cultivation and bring chaos?”

Luo Yan: ……

Every word…every single word Brother Tian said! It hit right at the core of my heart!

I, Luo Yan, have been a junior brother for so many years, thinking that the sorrow in my heart was known to no one. I never imagined that Brother Tian would understand me so well!

“Ahem.” He cleared his throat and said with difficulty, “Actually, sister is not like what you imagine. Most of the time, she is gentle and considerate, virtuous and dutiful…”

“Brother Luo, would you dare to swear on your Daoist Heart?” Tian Zhang pressed relentlessly.

Luo Yan was immediately at a loss for words.

“If you become Daoist companions with your sister, my father will not force me to seek out Shi Liuli,” Tian Zhang paced back and forth, excitedly saying, “For you, Brother Luo, it would mean going from being Elder Shi Ding’s beloved disciple to his son-in-law, adding kinship upon kinship, and naturally taking over the Heavenly Craft Workshop in the future. Moreover, it would also be helping me out once, owing you a favor. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Luo Yan gave a forced smile, thinking to himself that you would rather give up the position of successor to Heavenly Craft Workshop than become Daoist companions with Shi Liuli. Doesn’t that say enough?

Having been her junior brother for so many years, no matter how splendidly you paint the picture of becoming kin with her, you can’t fool me.

That’s just preposterous!