Si Lian burst into laughter, not caring in the least about her image.
This little girl was just too cute—she hit all of Si Lian’s soft spots.
How wonderful it would be if she really were my own daughter.
At this thought, a hint of sorrow rippled through Si Lian’s heart, but it was quickly chased away.
Jiang Ke’er’s arrival seemed to fill an empty space inside her, opening up an old knot in her heart she’d never managed to untangle.
“All right, all right~ let’s eat fish, let’s eat fish~” Si Lian replied cheerfully.
Two hours later.
Si Lian carried Jiang Ke’er in her arms and knocked on the medical hall’s door in the middle of the night, registering her for the emergency ward.
“What happened to her?” The emergency Medical Cultivator was shocked at the sight of Jiang Ke’er, gasping for breath.
Si Lian recalled the events and said, “She said, ‘Only Wild River Pufferfish are poisonous, and they’re outrageously expensive. The pufferfish used in restaurants are all farmed, their toxin levels are almost negligible, so there’s nothing to worry about. For example, take this most poisonous liver, look, I ate it and nothing happened…’—and then she just collapsed—”
Si Lian massaged her forehead. “That’s everything that happened.”
Jiang Ke’er probably hadn’t expected that the master chef of Thousand Lantern Restaurant would be so straightforward, handing her several prime Wild River Pufferfish right off the bat.
In the Shenzhou culinary world, Wild River Pufferfish are prized delicacies despite their danger and cost, and the more potent their poison, the higher their quality.
They’re relentlessly sought after by Old Gluttons.
The master chef at Thousand Lantern Restaurant was an honest man; he brought out his best treasure for Jiang Ke’er, but he hadn’t expected Jiang Ke’er to be equally forthright—she truly swallowed down a piece of the deadliest pufferfish liver.
And thus, the very legend who had just shaken the Shenzhou food world nearly departed this world that very night.
Fortunately, the Cultivator Realm of Shenzhou is well-versed in handling all sorts of toxins; pufferfish poison is hardly a real problem here.
They swiftly and perfectly purged the toxin, drawing it out into a single drop of glossy, pitch-black Black Poison Pearl.
The Medical Cultivator in charge of detoxification tossed the Black Poison Pearl into the trash bin and then started to tidy up.
Whether by intention or coincidence, the first thing they took away was that very trash bin.
“Wait!” Jiang Ke’er had only just regained consciousness and hurriedly called out.
The Medical Cultivator handling the detox frowned.
“I’ll buy that poison,” Jiang Ke’er said. “Just name your price.”
Upon hearing this, the Medical Cultivator felt a headache coming on—so she’d noticed, how unfortunate.
Concentrated pufferfish toxin is a rare medicinal ingredient, valuable for making poisons or concocting certain unique pills.
Technically, the poison already belonged to Jiang Ke’er, but seeing as she’d just done them a huge favor, Jiang Ke’er was still willing to pay for it.
“Two… hundred Magic Crystals?” the Medical Cultivator offered tentatively.
It was his first time seeing so much pufferfish toxin as well. After being condensed, it formed a drop the size of a fingernail—only the finest pufferfish could store that much poison.
“I have no idea what it’s worth, so two hundred it is,” Jiang Ke’er agreed readily.
“Hey, you can’t just throw money around like that,” Si Lian exclaimed, her heart aching at the sight.
But before she could say more, Jiang Ke’er had already completed the deal, exchanging money for goods and receiving the tightly sealed clump of poison.
“Thanks,” Jiang Ke’er said, and after the pleasant transaction, pulled Si Lian out of the medical hall.
“With you spending money like this, who’ll dare marry you in the future?” Si Lian fretted, “Whoever does is doomed for sure!”
“What’s there to worry about? Real heroes know how to spend and earn!” Jiang Ke’er declared boldly.
“Actually, I’ve been poisoned so many times, I’ve already developed Cultivation Antibodies to most toxins. I never thought this pufferfish’s poison would break through my defenses and affect me… Just that alone makes it worth far more than two hundred Magic Crystals! Who knows, it might be of great use someday! Like… hehehe…”
She was already picturing Qiao Little Immortal begging for mercy in her mind.
“You know how to use poison too?”
“A bit, since I used to be a disciple of Lingyin Valley.”
“Lingyin Valley? Isn’t that where Medical Cultivators are trained? But you’re amazing in a fight…”
“Unfortunately, I’m a notorious rule-breaker~” Jiang Ke’er laughed.
“You sure are brazen about it.”
“Naturally~”
The two women looked at each other and burst out laughing.
They strolled side by side down the bustling Temple Festival Street, chatting idly.
The new moon looked like a bean sprout—Jiang Ke’er found herself wanting to pick it up with chopsticks.
Si Lian twisted open her wine gourd, took a swig, and then wiped her lips with her sleeve, a silly smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
“Didn’t you say you were giving up drinking?” Jiang Ke’er protested.
“This is different.” Si Lian shook her head.
“It’s festival wine. I’ve saved it for decades and never dared drink it until now. It won’t get you drunk.”
“Then let me try.”
Jiang Ke’er stretched out her hands, looking longingly at Si Lian.
Unable to refuse her, Si Lian handed over the gourd, giving her a mischievous look.
Jiang Ke’er hugged the gourd, imitating the heroes in martial arts films, tipped her head back, and gulped down a large mouthful.
Her eyes widened, her face turned bright red, and her whole body began to tremble.
“Cough—pfft—ahh, that’s spicy! It’s killing me!”
Unable to help herself, Jiang Ke’er spat out the entire mouthful of wine. “Auntie Si Lian, you’re tricking me again! How could something this spicy possibly not get you drunk? I just licked the tip and I’m already dizzy!”
This is basically industrial alcohol! Jiang Ke’er thought to herself.
“I didn’t lie,” Si Lian blinked innocently.
“Nonsense, this is clearly your usual wine. My nose is sharp, you can’t fool me!” Jiang Ke’er huffed.
Si Lian only chuckled, patted Jiang Ke’er on the head, and didn’t explain further.
Ever since their parting with Jiang Ke’er, most of the master chefs from the restaurants hadn’t chosen to eat the Smashed Cucumbers right away.
They all returned together to Thousand Lantern Restaurant, each deep in thought.
The head chef of Thousand Lantern Restaurant took out the Heavenly Cataclysm Braised Fish he hadn’t yet tasted. The fish was still piping hot, steam curling up from its body.
Just as he was preparing to light incense and bathe—giving this tasting the utmost sense of ceremony—someone called out to stop him.
The one who stopped him was named Tiandeng, his senior brother.
Tiandeng’s expression was grave as he immediately covered the dish with its lid, sealing the braised fish tight, and said, “Such a delicacy—we are not worthy to taste it.”
Qiandeng was baffled. “Then what do you propose?”
“We hand it over to the nation!” Tiandeng declared, firm and resolute.
All the master chefs gasped in shock.
Tiandeng bowed in the southwestern direction and announced, “Only the present Supreme Lord is worthy to enjoy such a dish! Neither you nor I deserve it!”
Qiandeng was horrified. “Tiandeng, no! We promised that senior we’d keep this a secret! And you know the Supreme Emperor’s temperament—ambitious and wise, yes, but domineering and ruthless, intent on bringing the entire Nine Provinces under his rule… If the Supreme Emperor learns of that senior’s skills, then…”
“Forgive me, Qiandeng. This is simply a subject’s duty.” Tiandeng lifted the food box.
“As Imperial Dining Officer of the Shangshi Bureau, I must always put the Supreme Lord’s meals first! That senior may be a reclusive expert, but under heaven, all land belongs to the king, all people are his subjects. That senior is no exception—he too must serve the nation and the Supreme Lord!”
“You’re betraying your word!” Qiandeng shouted angrily.
“Let it be betrayal, then.”
Tiandeng clutched the food box tightly, waved over a squad of palace guards, and, surrounded by their escort, strode resolutely out of the restaurant.
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