"You're asking for a beating!" Jiang Liuchuan chided with a laugh. He pulled his shy new concubine down to her seat and, with a grand wave of his hand, announced, "Let the feast begin!"
A continuous stream of exquisite dishes was brought to the table by serving girls. The rare delicacies were a feast for the senses, their rich aroma filling the air.
The most eye-catching dish was, without a doubt, the platter of Ice Perch sashimi. The flesh was translucent, served atop a bed of crushed ice. You could even see the faint blue of its skeleton beneath the skin. A biting chill emanated from it, causing the temperature of the surrounding air to drop by several degrees.
There was also a platter of braised Flying Dragon Meat. Its color was a fiery crimson, and the firm meat exuded a rich, exotic aroma.
The Flying Dragon Meat didn't come from a true Flying Dragon, but from an avian Exotic Beast. Covered in brilliant, fire-red feathers, it was the size of a small lamb but possessed immense strength, capable of wrestling with tigers and leopards in the mountain forests.
"Jiang Liuchuan is really pulling out all the stops. He even managed to get his hands on a prized Ice Perch." Lin Wanzhu's beautiful eyes lit up. "It seems the Jiang Family's northern trade routes are open."
With that, she elegantly picked up a slice of the raw fish and placed it in her mouth. She then narrowed her eyes in satisfaction as a faint blush rose to her cheeks.
No longer standing on ceremony, everyone's chopsticks descended upon the Ice Perch. This prized fish was known to nourish one's Qi and Blood, making it highly beneficial for Martial Artists.
Su Yu didn't hesitate, immediately picking up a slice of the Ice Perch and putting it in his mouth.
HISS!
The moment the fish touched the tip of his tongue, an extreme cold exploded, as if he'd swallowed a mouthful of solid ice. But as the flesh slid down into his stomach, that chill instantly transformed into a torrent of pure heat. Like hot oil poured over charcoal, it explosively ignited the Qi and Blood within him!
'What a potent effect on my Qi and Blood!'
Su Yu immediately grabbed another piece and put it in his mouth.
...
In no time, the Ice Perch had been picked clean by the guests.
Su Yu joined the others in starting on the Flying Dragon Meat.
Soon, the Flying Dragon Meat was also gone. The other senior brothers suddenly stopped eating and began to chat among themselves.
Only Su Yu, Chen Fan, and Wang Hu were still eating.
Chen Fan glanced at the other senior brothers, hesitated for a moment, then put down his chopsticks with an air of restraint. Wang Hu immediately followed his lead.
Only Su Yu remained, completely unfazed, continuing to savor the Spirit Deer Meat, Crab Roe Soup Dumplings, and other dishes. These ingredients were by no means ordinary, they just couldn't compare to the Ice Perch and Flying Dragon.
'But as long as it can boost my Qi and Blood, it's a good thing!'
...
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the conversation turned to matters concerning the martial arts hall.
Su Yu knew his current status wasn't high enough to participate. 'After all, almost everyone here is a Martial Artist. I'm only here as Jiang Liuchuan's guest,' he thought, so he didn't casually chime in.
"First Senior Brother's injuries still haven't healed. If our White Ape Martial Arts Hall wants to get the better of the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall in the upcoming tournament, I'm afraid it's going to be difficult," Xu Feng said with a sigh.
"What is there to fear!" Senior Brother Zhao of the Inner Courtyard looked at Chen Fan, his gaze earnest. "We still have Junior Brother Chen! Junior Brother Chen, this is a great opportunity for you to make a name for yourself."
Chen Fan smiled, calm and confident. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. I've already sensed that I'm at Qi Blood Perfection. I'm just one final step away from breaking through to become a Martial Artist! When that time comes, I certainly won't tarnish our master's reputation!"
"Excellent! Well said!" the crowd cheered in approval.
Chen Fan immediately raised his wine cup as well. "Then I will offer another toast to all my senior brothers and sisters. In the future, concerning the affairs of our White Ape Martial Arts Hall, I will certainly lead my two junior brothers well!"
His gaze swept over Su Yu and Wang Hu with the air of a superior.
...
The banquet concluded, and a good time was had by all.
Su Yu and Wang Hu walked out together.
As they passed the opera stage in the front courtyard, a burst of high-pitched singing drifted over. The performance was still underway.
"...On that day, the Black Water Evil Flood Dragon stirred the waves, devouring men and beasts! For a hundred li, the marshlands echoed with earth-shattering cries!"
The two of them stopped instinctively to listen for a moment.
"Just then, General Wang happened to pass by! In a towering rage, the Divine Spear in his hand became a roaming dragon! With a single thrust, he parted the river and slew the evil flood dragon at the foot of Black Stone Cliff!"
On stage, the martial actor somersaulted and spun, his spear striking like a dragon, drawing continuous cheers from the audience below.
Su Yu listened with great interest. 'This must be an opera about the history of Black Stone City.'
"Parting a river with one spear strike... Was this General Wang a real person?"
In response to Su Yu's question, Wang Hu scratched his head. "Senior Brother Su, I heard my father mention this General Wang. I think he was a real person. The Wang Family, one of the three great families in the Inner City now, are supposedly his descendants."
'Oh? The Wang Family, one of the three great families?' Su Yu was startled. They were an ancient, powerful clan that had been in Black Stone City for hundreds of years.
The Wang, Zhao, and Li Families—these three great clans held the true power in Black Stone City. In recent years, their influence had long since eclipsed that of the Black Stone Army.
'Since this opera is so widespread, it might really have something to do with the Wang Family. But for them to be praised so openly, don't the other two families mind?'
Su Yu didn't dwell on it, however. The three great families were still too far removed from his world.
After the scene from the opera finished, the two were about to leave when Su Yu's gaze suddenly froze.
On the other side of the opera stage, a man and a woman were walking over hand in hand.
The young man was dressed in a white robe, with a fair complexion. It was none other than his cousin, Su Can, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
The girl beside him was dressed in rich clothes, and her expression held a hint of shrewdness. She was affectionately holding Su Can's hand. Su Can's face was as red as an apple, but he didn't pull away.
"Third Brother!"
Su Yu called out.
Su Can jolted and frantically pulled his hand back. When he saw Su Yu, a flicker of surprise and embarrassment crossed his face.
"Se... Second Brother? What are you doing here?"
"Jiang Liuchuan is a senior brother from my hall. I came for the banquet," Su Yu explained briefly, his gaze landing on the girl. "And who is this?"
Su Can's face instantly turned bright red, and he stammered, unable to get a word out.
The girl, on the other hand, stepped forward gracefully. "A pleasure to meet you, Second Brother. My name is Mo Yuhuan. I'm a disciple at Hongshan Martial Arts Hall, and also Ah Can's senior sister."
...
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Yu asked before leaving, "Third Brother, have you been home recently?"
Su Can shook his head. His face held a hint of apology, but it was overshadowed by his youthful, high-spirited ambition.
"I haven't been back in half a year. Grandmaster told me to focus all my energy on becoming a Martial Artist, so I can't afford any distractions! But my dad found a job in the city recently, so I see him all the time. They said everything at home is fine and told me not to worry."
'Everything is fine...'
Su Yu sighed inwardly. It seemed his aunt and uncle hadn't told their son a thing.
But since they hadn't told him, Su Yu didn't want to be the one to speak out of turn.
He just nodded and added a word of advice. "In that case, train hard. Break through as soon as you can. Don't disappoint... the family's expectations."
...
By the time he returned to the martial arts hall, night had fallen.
Su Yu didn't return to his room, instead heading straight for the Martial Arts Arena.
His Qi and Blood was surging within him. 'Looks like all that good food today really paid off.'
So, under the cover of night, he began practicing the walking stances of the Six Changes of the White Ape.
As he completed the Pile Skill stances over and over, the energy accumulated from the Ice Perch, Flying Dragon Meat, and other delicacies he'd eaten was finally put to full effect.
[Six Changes of the White Ape Skill Level +3]
[Six Changes of the White Ape Skill Level +3]
...
[Martial Arts]: Six Changes of the White Ape (Major Achievement 150/3000)
[Martial Arts]: Bibo Fishbone Skill (Entry-level 60/100)
[Martial Arts]: Coin Toss (Minor Achievement 100/500)
[Technique]: Casting Net (Limit Broken 3 times) (Traits: Listening Wave Positioning...)
[Breakthrough Points]: 0 (Progress: 11%)
'The nourishing effect of this meal is even more potent than Bone-Strengthening Soup! My skill level increased by a full one hundred fifty points today, and my Breakthrough Point progress reached 11%!'
'If I could eat delicacies on the level of that Ice Perch every day, couldn't I train the Six Changes of the White Ape to the Perfection realm in less than a month?'
'Prized fish are truly amazing! With my Casting Net technique having broken its limit three times, maybe I can go to the Black Water River and try to catch one for myself!'