In Chao Li County, people come and go, some starve, some die of illness, and the disappearance of a knight with no significant background went unnoticed.
Lin Xianxing, after realizing the knight had disappeared, thought he left because he saw no hope ahead, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
...
More than a month passed in the blink of an eye...
The backyard of the Li residence.
The door was locked, and Song Yan grabbed a pigskin, took out a skinning knife and carving knife, and began his old trade.
Even though it was a mundane place devoid of Profound Qi, once this meat shop's business got on track, Song Yan's lifespan would increase, adding several years every day or every other day.
Others may worry about "the fleeting passage of time" or fret about "no Profound Qi here, hindering cultivation time," but Song Yan didn't care at all.
Because his lifespan only increased over time.
This granted him an extraordinary patience.
Swipe, swipe, swipe...
"Phew, phew~"
Song Yan blew away the debris on the pigskin, then lifted and shook it off.
[You absorbed the remaining lifespan of a black pig: 14 years]
After doing this, Song Yan placed the black pigskin shadow puppet back on the chopping board and swiftly sliced it into strips with a knife.
These shadow puppets made from ordinary animal skins had long lost their appeal to him, so after extracting the lifespan, he used them for cooking, thereby concealing his true intent of hoarding pigskin.
He painstakingly practiced his culinary skills during this period, perfecting two signature dishes.
The first — Spicy Pigskin.
The second — Grilled Pig Neck Meat.
The first dish was to handle the shadow puppets by "destroying the evidence"; the second was to divert attention.
Even if no one watched or noticed, Song Yan made sure everything left no flaws.
He meticulously prepared the pigskin and took the pig neck meat, cut it into thick strips, and placed it on a fruitwood rack to roast...
After less than half an hour, the "pigskin shadow puppet" had turned into a plate of spicy pigskin, lustrous and transparent; the "grilled pig neck meat" was also ready, crispy outside, tender inside.
Song Yan looked at these two delicious dishes with some sentiment.
Back then, he couldn't even roast meat to be barely edible, it was an utter disaster.
Now, he actually had his special dishes.
He chuckled lightly, shook his head, opened the door, and carried the plates out.
After taking a few steps, a maid ran over and respectfully said, "Master, Protector Du is waiting for you in the front yard."
Song Yan said, "Got it, bring a jug of wine."
The maid said, "Madam... asked you to drink less."
Song Yan was speechless.
Lin Xianxing asked him to drink less not out of concern for his health, but because he had stored fine wine in the cellar, and drinking those was like consuming silver, which Lin Xianxing naturally felt reluctant about.
Lin Xianxing was cunning and quickly realized during this time that the Peach Garden Meat Shop, although profitable, didn't earn that much, most of it was money brought by Master Li from the Northern Land.
Master Li's money was her money, so how could she not feel distressed?
"Bring it!"
"Yes, Master." The maid hastily went down.
Song Yan then carried the two plates of food to the front yard.
In that courtyard, a fierce man was sitting beside a stone table; this was the same fierce man who had "interviewed" and "invited Song Yan to join the gang" that day.
The Flying Knife Gang was just a small local gang.
But although the gang was small, it had everything, including Protectors and Hall Masters.
"Fragrant, so fragrant!" Protector Du said while fanning himself and exclaiming strangely.
Song Yan placed the dishes on the table.
Protector Du picked up a pair of chopsticks and was about to start eating.
Song Yan, however, also grabbed a pair of chopsticks and blocked him.
The two pairs of chopsticks crossed in the air, entangling like a contest of skill, until with a "snap," they separated.
Protector Du laughed mischievously, "Good, good, good!"
Clearly, the two had performed this "pre-meal ritual" before.
Though fierce, Protector Du was still a man who enjoyed martial arts.
At this time, the maid came up with a wine jug.
Song Yan opened it, poured a bowl for each of them.
As the wine poured into the porcelain bowls, it shimmered with an amber hue, mingling with the descending light from the sky, turning into splintered gold, very tempting.
"Good wine!"
Protector Du couldn't wait to start eating; he took a piece of spicy pigskin, put it in his mouth, and while chewing, said, "Great dish!"
Song Yan also began to eat.
Before long, they had consumed more than half the jug of wine and almost finished the dishes.
Only then did Protector Du say, "Brother Li, actually, I'm here today to bid farewell."
"Farewell?"
Song Yan laughed, "Where to?"
With a fierce look in his triangular eyes, Protector Du scanned around the surrounding archways and windows; seeing no one, he leaned in closely and said in a low voice: "Just to let you know, chaos is rampant outside, many righteous sects from the Jianghu are fleeing from north to south, and the Demon Dao is pursuing them, people are dying almost every day.
To exaggerate a bit, Jianghu skills, Divine Weapon Secret Manuals, those things can be picked up with just a hand.
Our Flying Knife Gang is planning to join forces with the surrounding gangs, especially with the eldest brother from Hanlin City's Iron Bear Gang, to go and try our luck.
I'm representing our Flying Knife Gang to go over there."
Song Yan sighed, "When I fled last year, the Northern Land was already in chaos, I didn't expect the Jianghu to be so turbulent."
Protector Du said, "It's not just the Wei Kingdom, even the Shu Kingdom is in chaos."
"The Shu Kingdom is in chaos too?"
Song Yan was stunned, "What does this have to do with the Shu Kingdom?"
Protector Du said, "Have you heard of the Heavenly Cloud Queen?"
"Heavenly Cloud Queen?"
Song Yan thought and shook his head.
Protector Du gave a thumbs up and said, "That woman is someone, can be considered the big sister of the Shu Kingdom's Jianghu."
Then, he lowered his voice and said, "Last year, she actually accepted an invitation from an Immortal from the Wu Kingdom, to visit the Wu Kingdom. But somehow she suddenly disappeared, and it's said even the Immortal is looking for her.
In the Shu Kingdom, without the Heavenly Cloud Queen keeping things in check, Jianghu became chaotic immediately, and hearing that Immortals went there made it even more tumultuous."
Song Yan understood.
The Heavenly Cloud Queen was Hua Linglong.
"Being invited by an Immortal from the Wu Kingdom" was probably because "Hua Rong died in battle and helped the Nanwu Sword Sect before dying," so the Nanwu Sword Sect wanted to compensate, hence inviting her to Wu.
"Disappearance" probably means that the Nanwu Sword Sect and the Puppet Sect suspect "Hua Rong" might also be one of Song Yan's tricks. Unable to find him, they started looking for Hua Linglong. However, Hua Linglong is quite slippery and disappeared quickly.
"The Immortal running to Western Shu" likely refers to someone from the Puppet Sect going there for a Soul Search.
The Demon Sect entered the scene, initiating a Dimensional Reduction Strike, naturally causing chaos in the Western Shu Jianghu.
Who would have thought that stealing a single drop of Changwang Tiger Blood would cause such a massive upheaval...
...
...
Very soon, another four months passed.
Song Yan's lifespan increased by 1254 years, making it overall "[Lifespan: 29/8776]".
This absurd yet safe enhancement was quite thrilling.
Song Yan also found it rather delightful.
On a spring night, cats cried outside.
Bamboo leaves rustled in the midnight breeze, producing a "susu" sound.
But in the master bedroom of the Li Mansion, separated by only an oil-paper window, two beauties snuggled in Song Yan's arms, vying for favor and acting coy...
Why two women?
Because last month, Master Li took another concubine.
This concubine was young and beautiful, with a voluptuous figure, and literate. Upon seeing Master Li's wealth and status, she pretended to be a "talented woman of elegance" hoping to ensnare Master Li and discuss serious emotions while pocketing "unimportant money" for herself.
However, Master Li, uninterested in romance, directly made her his concubine, throwing her onto the bed...
Seeing her intentions exposed, the concubine stopped pretending.
Then, Lin Xianxing faced her "life-long rival."
The two women quarreled and bickered day and night, and no one dared question where Master Li spent his money anymore.
Now, the two women lay on the same bed, jointly serving Song Yan, striving earnestly in their competition.
Both showed their divine powers, their means so enticing that Song Yan was a bit stunned.
Even though it was midnight, peace had yet to be restored.
Not until the fourth watch sounded, accompanied by the night watchman's cry of "Dry weather, beware of fire" passing by outside, did the women finally collapse with fatigue. Their long legs entwined with Song Yan's in a crisscross fashion, then they fell asleep amidst the languid aura and the scent of red candles and incense.
Song Yan gazed at the hanging bed canopy above, murmuring to himself: 'These days truly pass in obscurity...
However, now I am entirely Master Li of Chao Li County; even if someone comes looking, they won't find the slightest flaw.
Where there is Profound Qi, disputes are endless, and dangers abound; such a worthless, mortal border town really is a foolproof hiding place...'
...
A few days later, Protector Du returned from outside, bringing back some news and carrying an unknown swordsmanship manual, treasuring it dearly. Only members at the Hall Master level and above in the gang are qualified to cultivate it.
Song Yan casually practiced along with them, mainly to "accompany everyone" while getting some outside information.
...
Another two months passed.
Protector Du took a team out again.
Half a year later, they returned.
In this manner... two years slipped by lightly. Updates are released by novel-fire.net
...
...
During these two years, around Song Yan's mansion, peach blossoms withered and bloomed again, time over time.
Now in deep spring, the blossoms once again danced in the wind, brilliantly captivating.
And across from the Peach Garden Butcher Shop, "Peach Garden Restaurant" opened.
Of course, this restaurant was also opened by Song Yan.
Initially, the restaurant was nothing special, but because Protector Du of the Flying Knife Gang frequently went out and brought Jianghu people back to the county, bragging "My brother Li's craft is fantastic, his spicy pigskin and roasted pig neck are simply unparalleled in this world."
Just like that...
The Peach Garden Restaurant initially caught fire within a small circle.
And when the Second Gang Leader of the Iron Hero Gang in Hanlin City made a special trip to secretly taste Master Li's craft, then went back to spread the word, Peach Garden Restaurant became completely famous.
Song Yan had to showcase some martial arts, then... when small fries showed up, he wouldn't cook anymore.
Later, finding it bothersome, he set a rule of "only cooking once a day, the destined ones shall obtain it."
However, many people in the Jianghu continued to come, and tasting Master Li's "spicy pig skin and roasted pig neck" became a bragging right.
And that's not without reason.
What realm is Song Yan in, and how great is his knife skill?
When truly focusing on making two dishes, it's simply perfect.
Through these Jianghu people, Song Yan became more and more aware of the external situation.
Although there's not much information on the Cultivator Realm, the Jianghu is the lower layer of the Cultivator Realm. Any event in the Cultivator Realm ripples significantly through the Jianghu.
Over the years, Song Yan learned a lot.
First, the Wei Kingdom ceased to exist, turning into the Jin Kingdom.
The Jin Kingdom used "the Puppet Sect's search of Celestial Cloud City" to aggressively annex Western Shu, mostly accomplishing it now.
Meanwhile, Southern Wu seemed heavily wounded, holding the south defensively, no longer taking the initiative to attack.
Secondly, the Demon Dao forces in the Jianghu held an unprecedented "tribute event," each bringing their most precious gifts to the Puppet Sect, standing at the center of the Three Kingdoms, ostensibly to attend an extremely important grand wedding.
The groom of the wedding is said to be the offspring of a Peak Master from the Puppet Sect.
And the bride was addressed as "Lady Wang."
People in the Jianghu called her "Lady Wang," yet their expressions and demeanor... were no different than addressing the exalted Immortal Empress.
...
...
On this day, after Song Yan finished making his daily shadow puppets, he was watching guests come and go in the restaurant when suddenly a galloping horse approached from afar, the "dadada" sound coming swiftly yet steadily.
Protector Du dismounted and ran to Song Yan's side, whispering, "Brother Li, get ready, show us your skills."
Song Yan said, "Brother Du, you know I only make one a day."
Protector Du, looking pleased, whispered, "There's a cultivator, a loose cultivator; they heard about your craft and want to try it."
Song Yan was taken aback.
A cultivator wants to try a mortal's craft?
Is this an excuse?
He suddenly became wary.
Protector Du lowered his voice and said, "It's Lady Ling's little gathering."
Song Yan asked in astonishment, "Who is Lady Ling?"
Protector Du replied, "Lady Ling is Lady Ling. She's gathered several loose cultivators. Besides coming to taste your dish, they also want to do something else. Hurry, Brother Li, hurry, they're almost here."