ARLQLCC chapter 4

 

The market was not far from Linggu Mountain, and as Su Ji flew on his sword, he could not help but praise in his heart how wonderfully located Linggu Mountain was.

With major sects surrounding it on all sides, it could be said to be situated in the safest area. It was also very close to the market—one could arrive in less than a quarter of an hour by sword flight. It was truly a good place to open a restaurant.

Su Ji had a solid foundation. Although his sword flight was fast, it was extremely steady. He still kept Chu Zhaoye tucked inside the clothes over his chest, to prevent the kitten, whose body was weak, from getting sick from the wind.

Passing through layer upon layer of mountains, the green sword aura split apart the mist and clouds ahead. The surrounding mountains gradually grew lower, and the terrain opened up.

As they continued forward, the number of buildings increased as well. A bustling crowd appeared ahead, and a long street came into view.

Although the cultivation market carried the words “cultivation” in its name, it was actually a mixed place. Aside from the devil race, which had already been sealed away, mortals, cultivators, and the demon race lived together in harmony, each occupying three different areas of the market to buy and sell goods.

At the center of the market stood the largest auction house on the continent, occupying an enormous area. All kinds of jade, treasures, talismans, and weapons were available there. Three auctions were held every day—in the morning, afternoon, and evening—and every session was packed.

And this auction house had been jointly built by cultivators and the demon race.

That said, everyone knew very well that the true owner of this auction house, which raked in countless spirit stones, was actually that elusive Demon King of the demon race, who was rarely seen.

It was only to demonstrate friendly relations with the cultivation world that it was publicly declared to be a joint venture between the two races.

The auction house was located in the center of the market, which was also the area where the demon race set up stalls and shops.

As they drew closer and closer to the market, more and more cultivators appeared around them, either flying on swords or riding flying artifacts. Su Ji tightened his hold on the kitten in his arms and flew all the way to the entrance of the market.

The first section beyond the entrance was the area where mortals set up stalls and shops. Most of the things sold there were ordinary daily necessities. Even so, quite a few cultivators still came to browse the mortal market.

The reason was that treasures could often be found there. Whether weapons or artifacts, many mortals did not understand what they were selling and treated them as scrap metal. This benefited the cultivators who were either stingy or genuinely poor, allowing them to spend a small amount of money for a big return.

Su Ji belonged to both categories—stingy and poor.

In the past, the Chenxin Sect would issue the same amount of spirit stones to all disciples each month as an allowance. If they wanted more, they had to go to the Mission Hall to accept tasks, and upon completion, they could receive additional spirit stones or even cultivation techniques.

Su Ji had never liked going out much. Aside from the spirit stones he received each month, he rarely took on missions. When his master was still alive, he would occasionally help him out. But although the master and disciple possessed many artifacts and talismans, they were equally poor when it came to spirit stones.

As an elder, his master’s monthly stipend had been fairly considerable. After his master passed away, Su Ji returned to the state of being alone, with no one else to support.

Now that he had left the Chenxin Sect, he had very few spirit stones left. Before the backyard was fully developed, he would need to stockpile plenty of mature produce.

To cultivate spirit fields and raise spirit beasts, seeds and spirit beast cubs were essential. And spirit beasts also needed to be fed, which would add another considerable expense in the future.

Su Ji calculated the money he had left. After buying all the supplies this time, there would probably be very few spirit stones remaining.

Besides developing the backyard, he also needed to think of a way to earn spirit stones.

After all, he was no longer alone. There was also a very food-loving little cat ball waiting to be fed.

Thinking of this, Su Ji sighed and lowered his head to look at Chu Zhaoye, who was also looking at him.

“Ma Tuan,” he said gloomily, “I’m about to be unable to afford raising you.”

Chu Zhaoye pawed at the clothing over Su Ji’s chest, completely baffled.

Everything had been fine just now. Why did he suddenly say that?

By the time Su Ji put away his spirit sword and entered the market, Chu Zhaoye was still thinking about this question.

The half-grown kitten wore a serious expression. Suddenly, inspiration struck him.

Could it be that he thinks I eat too much? Was he implying that he can’t afford to raise me because I eat too much?!

Chu Zhaoye let out several angry meows.

Su Ji rubbed his head and asked in confusion, “Hungry?”

Chu Zhaoye shrank back into the clothes, refusing to let him pet him.

Su Ji smacked his lips. “Let’s eat first, Ma Tuan. I’m afraid you’ll faint from hunger.”

Chu Zhaoye: “…”

There were also restaurants and snack stalls run by cultivators in the mortal market. Such food shops took up a lot of space, and land in the cultivation market was worth its weight in gold. It was filled with artifacts and talismans, so food—something not especially important to cultivators—had been moved to the mortal side.

Su Ji found a shop that specialized in fish. After showing his status as a cultivator, the waiter led him upstairs.

The first floor was the dining area for mortals, where ordinary silver was used as currency and the dishes contained no spiritual energy.

Mortals’ spirit meridians had not been opened and could not absorb the spiritual energy within spirit plants. If they forcibly consumed them, they might even risk having their meridians burst from the energy having nowhere to go.

The second floor, however, was built specifically for cultivators, and payment was made with spirit stones.

There were not many diners at this time. The waiter swiftly brought over the menu and asked Su Ji to order.

Su Ji opened the menu, glanced through it, and ordered several vegetable dishes. Then he pulled out Chu Zhaoye, who was still sulking in his chest, and asked in confusion when he saw the kitten looking unwilling to communicate, “Weren’t you hungry? Why aren’t you enthusiastic when it comes to ordering?”

Chu Zhaoye glanced at the menu, whose edges were already frayed, with a bit of disdain.

He had eaten at every restaurant on this street. None of them were particularly special.

Besides, wasn’t Su Ji saying he ate too much and was too expensive to raise? Then he simply would not eat!

The kitten turned his head away.

Su Ji looked at the menu, then at the kitten, and hurriedly ordered braised fish with tofu before ending the order.

The waiter went downstairs to relay the dishes. Su Ji placed the kitten on the table and raised a hand to rub Chu Zhaoye’s stomach, which had already gone flat from hunger.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re getting sick from hunger.”

Chu Zhaoye’s fur puffed up from being touched, and he meowed as he retreated.

Seeing the little ball suddenly resisting him, Su Ji’s fatherly heart shattered into pieces. Somewhat hurt, he withdrew his hand and asked softly, “What’s wrong, Ma Tuan? Are you unhappy?”

Chu Zhaoye crouched in the middle of the table. Looking at Su Ji’s gradually dejected expression, he thought that perhaps he had overreacted.

He had eaten the man’s dinner the very first time they met. Although Su Ji did not know it, his mysterious ability had indeed healed Chu Zhaoye’s injuries. Even at breakfast that morning, he had eaten the most…

Thinking of this, Chu Zhaoye felt extremely guilty.

Looking at the disappointment in Su Ji’s eyes, he felt that after turning into a cub, even his intelligence had regressed. He was the king of an entire race, yet he was throwing a tantrum over something so trivial. If word got out, it would disgrace the demon race.

The more Chu Zhaoye thought about it, the more excessive he felt he had been. Half guilty and half embarrassed, he shuffled toward Su Ji in tiny steps.

Su Ji watched as the black fluff ball kept moving closer and closer until it nudged its way to his hand, rubbing first against the back of his hand, then against his palm in an extremely ingratiating manner.

He found it amusing, and the slight disappointment in his heart vanished. Reaching out one finger, he poked the round little cat head.

“Not angry anymore?”

Chu “Bootlicker” Zhaoye: “Meow~”

Su Ji picked him up and placed him in front of himself. “Next time, don’t throw a tantrum for no reason, alright?”

Chu Zhaoye felt guilty. “…Meow!”

The kitten’s expression was far too vivid. Su Ji was struck by his cuteness. He buried his face in the kitten’s soft little belly and rubbed against it, then satisfied, set the kitten back on the table and let him play by himself.

Chu Zhaoye was stunned by Su Ji’s sudden action.

The other party’s handsome and elegant face enlarged before him, carrying the faint fresh scent of soapberries as it drew closer and closer. Chu Zhaoye remained dumbfounded and did not resist. In his ears, the sound of his own heartbeat grew clearer and clearer.

His cat face turned bright red, and he sprawled on the table, pretending to be dead.

After putting the kitten down, Su Ji thought the little fellow would wander around and play by himself. In reality, after landing, the kitten remained motionless, staring straight ahead. It was impossible to tell whether he was daydreaming or simply too hungry to move.

As dish after dish was brought to the table, the kitten still maintained the same posture without moving. Su Ji thought strangely to himself: Why is Ma Tuan so strange today?

…

The meal ended quickly. After paying the bill, Su Ji tucked the kitten back into the clothes over his chest and prepared to begin today’s shopping spree.

Ma Tuan had not eaten much at lunch, and Su Ji guessed that the food at this restaurant simply did not suit his taste.

Most food shops in the cultivation world were mediocre in flavor. To cook spiritual food, the chef had to be a cultivator with spiritual power. However, most cultivators devoted their entire lives to pursuing the Great Dao of ascension, and very few chose to become chefs.

On this continent, where chefs were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, there were far too few cultivators willing to wholeheartedly cook delicious food.

Although Chu Zhaoye was no longer as dazed after the meal, his mind was still somewhat absent. Su Ji attributed this to him having been too hungry and not yet full, and said affectionately, “Ma Tuan didn’t eat enough, did he? I’ll take you to pick out ingredients first, and tonight I’ll make you a good meal.”

Chu Zhaoye moved as soon as he heard this, poking half his head out from Su Ji’s clothes.

Su Ji shot him a look that said, “I knew you hadn’t eaten enough.”

Giving up on resisting, Chu Zhaoye let out a justified meow.

A growing cub needed more food. Eating more was perfectly normal!

There was a stall selling spirit plants right beside the restaurant. Su Ji swept his eyes over it and walked to the stall where the spiritual energy was the purest.

The owner of the vegetable stall was a simple young woman dressed in coarse linen. Seeing that Su Ji’s bearing was worlds apart from that of ordinary mortals, with refined clothing and a handsome face, she knew this was an immortal of high status. She nervously clenched the corner of her clothes.

“Th-this immortal… immortal, are you here to buy my vegetables?”

Hearing the nervousness in her voice, Su Ji curved his lips into a gentle smile and said softly, “It’s not me buying vegetables.”

As he spoke, he pulled Chu Zhaoye out from his chest and placed him in his hand.

“He’s the one buying vegetables.”

Looking at the round little kitten before her, the stall owner was somewhat surprised. Her nervousness gradually calmed under Su Ji’s smile.

She herself was a young girl and liked cute things. In the past, she had only seen spirit pets from afar in the arms of immortals, and this was the first time she had made eye contact with one at such close range.

Looking at the kitten’s bright watery eyes, the girl’s voice became gentle, as if coaxing a child.

“Th-then, what vegetables would this guest like to buy?”

 

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