The red-eyed snake was skinned, beheaded, tail chopped off, and innards discarded, leaving only the tender belly meat, which was deboned and sliced into shreds.
Making do with what was available, a large stone was carved into a pot, and bamboo sections were split into containers.
Song Qianji rolled up his sleeves, using a dagger in place of a kitchen knife, his hands immersed in the bloody mess as he chatted casually with Li Ciquan:
"I heard earlier that your chess skills were taught by Wei Wang?"
He rarely took an interest in anything outside of farming. Perhaps because it concerned the savior, he vaguely sensed a thread of connection in his mind.
Before Wei Zhenyu came to Thousand Canals, he had traveled incognito through the Cultivation World, offering guidance to some individuals.
After he established himself as a king, these people abandoned their former sects one after another, switching to his side and becoming his trusted aides.
Was it a case of "unintentional actions bearing fruit," or had Wei Zhenyu planned it all along, laying the groundwork step by step?
"Does Fellow Daoist Song also understand chess?" Li Ciquan asked.
Song Qianji smiled faintly: "I know a little."
"Back then, I drifted here from overseas, possessing nothing and facing disdain everywhere. In my downfall, I happened to meet Wei Wang. He recognized my talent for formations, taught me the way of chess, and sent me to the Grand Assembly of Distinguished Appraisals to compete for the top position in chess, so I could become a disciple of someone on his behalf..."
"What happened next?"
Li Ciquan: "Later, Song Wang's 'Hero Summons' emerged out of nowhere, and I naturally didn’t become that person’s disciple. However, because of this, I joined the Purple Cloud Temple and studied the most powerful formations. Wei Wang truly has a great favor for me."
Song Qianji: "Wei Wang is a good person."
The timeline became clearer. Wei Zhenyu had likely encountered the Chess Devil first, received his guidance but was unwilling to become his disciple.
Unwilling to let the other die with regrets, he taught Li Ciquan and sent him to the Grand Audience Assembly.
Just as Li Ciquan was about to nod, he felt something was off: "Why does that sound strange..."
You could say Wei Wang was a king, a powerhouse, but "good person"—what kind of praise was that?
The river water boiled in the stone pot. The snake meat was blanched, its fishy smell gradually dissipating.
Amid the steaming white mist, Song Qianji drew wisps of mist from the Fountain of Immortality at the mouth of the Pure Bottle and mixed it into the pot.
The Fountain of Immortality shook the bottle unhappily, as if protesting such a trivial use of its power.
As scallions and minced ginger hit the pot, their aroma burst forth, carried far by the wind. Song Qianji then pulled out pepper and salt.
Li Ciquan watched him take out one small bottle after another from his Storage Bag, stunned:
"Fellow Daoist, you’ve brought quite a comprehensive set of supplies."
"I’m rather indulgent when it comes to food," Song Qianji said. "Please don’t laugh."
In his previous life, when he encountered such nourishing treasures in secret realms, he would always skin and swallow them raw, chewing the bones before spitting them out. The cold, foul-smelling flesh was nauseating, but to quickly replenish Spirit Qi and stamina, he had grown accustomed to enduring it.
In this new life, he had developed a habit of being particular about taste.
Before long, the snake stew was ready, ladled into bamboo containers, its fragrance warming the heart and lungs.
The Silver Armor Squad gathered around, clicking their tongues in amazement, with a few teasing remarks:
"Did we hire a cook?"
"If we have a cook, giving them a ride isn’t a loss after all."
Cultivators have sharp ears and eyes. The Rogue Cultivators by the bonfire overheard faintly, their expressions showing indignation:
"Tomorrow, we’ll definitely show them what we’re made of."
"I’m craving a taste—let me try first!" A medical cultivator from the Silver Armor Squad jumped out, dipped his finger into the edge of the bamboo container, and put it in his mouth, savoring it.
Song Qianji’s gaze dropped, noticing the man’s other hand clenched tightly into a fist, gripping something in his palm.
This person was testing for poison. He was likely holding a detoxification pill.Despite Li Ciquan supervising him throughout the entire process of preparing the snake meat, Song Qianji had brought his own seasonings, garlic, and scallions, which still failed to set Wei Wang’s mind at ease.
While the medical cultivator tested the food for poison, the Silver Armor Squad chatted and joked, all the while tightening their encirclement around Song Qianji, blocking any possible escape route.
Another group kept a close watch on the rogue cultivators, ready to strike at any moment, while the latter remained completely unaware and even attempted to strike up conversations with the Silver Armor Squad.
Song Qianji’s gaze turned cold.
Judging by how practiced this formation was, he wondered how many times similar situations had occurred before.
Putting on airs was one thing, but where had Wei Zhenyu picked up this habit of excessive suspicion?
If they didn’t trust an outsider like him, why bother having him take charge of the cooking, putting in all that effort?
If I truly intended to harm you, would I need to resort to poison? With just these few people of yours, do you really think you could stop me?!
Song Qianji glanced coldly through the gaps between the figures in Wei Zhenyu’s direction.
He saw the man sitting upright, his back straight, surrounded by falling leaves and empty space.
The eye-catching, flamboyant cloak billowed in the wind, imposing yet somehow lonely.
After leaving Thousand Canals, he must have spent countless long, dark nights like this.
Song Qianji paused for a moment, thinking that Wei Zhenyu had made enemies on all sides over the years, inevitably encountering those with ill intentions. His current vigilance was likely just a habitual defense mechanism, not specifically directed at him.
He also recalled his past self, who had at times been even more cautious than Wei Zhenyu.
Letting out a soft sigh, he shook his head, took the bamboo container from the medical cultivator, and smiled. "Let me taste it first to check the seasoning."
Song Qianji lifted the bamboo container, blew on it, and hastily swallowed a large mouthful of the scalding snake stew. "It’s just right."
The tension in the air instantly dissipated. The formation surrounding the rogue cultivators also broke up.
Li Ciquan called out, "Everyone, eat while it’s hot!"
The group eagerly swarmed forward, devouring the meal with gusto.
"The Wei King is over there."
Li Ciquan handed a bamboo container to Song Qianji, signaling for him to personally deliver it to Wei Zhenyu, his smile now carrying a hint of genuine warmth.
Song Qianji pretended not to understand the implied suggestion. "The Wei King’s imposing presence is truly awe-inspiring. I’ll head back first."
"Xiao Song, don’t you think you came back a bit too quickly?" the plump formation master asked, exasperated. "Didn’t you even exchange a few words with the Wei King?"
Song Qianji replied, "I haven’t finished drawing the talismans we’ll need tomorrow."
He spread out paper and brushes on a rock, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began circulating his energy, clearly preparing to draw talismans and not wanting to be disturbed.
Team leader Lu Zhou sighed in frustration. "If you can’t finish, then so be it. Staying close to the Wei King would save you a lot of talismans. That was such a good opportunity just now, but you’re just too honest and foolish."
A sword cultivator sneered, "You can’t polish mud into a wall! Expecting Xiao Song to make a good impression is like expecting red rain to fall from the sky..." He abruptly cut himself off when he saw the Silver Armor Squad bringing over the snake stew and hurriedly expressed his thanks.
Zhang Hou muttered, "Xiao Song was the one who cooked this stew. I didn’t hear you thank him."
"What, you have a problem with that? Want to fight?!"
After drinking the snake stew and replenishing their spirit qi, the rogue cultivators grew even more energetic and rowdy.
Song Qianji paid them no mind.
The cultivation world had long revered the strong and scorned the weak. Compared to others, his current teammates were relatively decent.
While pretending to struggle with drawing talismans, he carefully attuned his senses to his surroundings.
For a long time that night, no insect chirps or beast roars could be heard. The forest was unusually quiet.
A faint, elusive sweet fragrance drifted on the night breeze. That sprite was still following them, like a cold, venomous snake watching its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.
...
"Your Majesty, how does it taste? Should we add more salt?" Li Ciquan studied Wei Zhenyu’s expression, hoping to detect some change."Passable." Wei Zhenyu uttered two words and set the bamboo tube aside.
He had only taken one sip before refusing to drink more.
Normal, ordinary flavor.
"What about that person?" Wei Zhenyu asked.
Li Ciquan glanced toward the Rogue Cultivator team: "Timid and good-tempered. An honest fellow who doesn't talk back when scolded. He even praised you..."
"Praised me how?" Wei Zhenyu slightly raised his head.
Dense leaves swayed, shattering the moonlight.
Flecks of light fell upon his face, casting mottled shadows.
Li Ciquan chuckled: "Said you're a good person."
Wei Zhenyu paused briefly. Was that praise?
"Smooth-tongued flatterer!" A person suddenly jumped down from a tree, scoffing lightly, "With his level of cultivation, if he weren't good-tempered, which team would bring him along? I don't understand why we must also carry a bunch of deadweights. Practicing daily charity?"
Li Ciquan gave him a disapproving look: "Zhu Sheng, Wei Wang has other uses for them."
The youth named Zhu Sheng grew slightly solemn: "Does Your Highness find that person useful?"
Wei Zhenyu lowered his head, returning to shadows untouched by moonlight: "Let's observe further."
Li Ciquan nodded: "Caution is warranted."
Having eaten the snake stew made by that young Talismaster, he wasn't keen on the other becoming a "stone" used to test the waters.
Wei Zhenyu suddenly asked: "What did you scout out?"
They naturally wouldn't wait for Zhang Hou to scout and report.
Zhu Sheng said: "Traces of formations were found ten li away, likely set to trap demon beasts. Formation materials weren't fully cleared from the ground. Judging by the arrangement, it's a triple-layer Entrapment Formation."
Wei Zhenyu raised an eyebrow: "Purple Cloud Temple?"
Zhu Sheng shook his head: "If it were Purple Cloud Temple members, the leftover formation materials should bear purple auspicious cloud markings."
When traveling abroad, each sect's signature techniques have distinct characteristics.
Major sects sometimes act domineeringly, deliberately leaving marks to signal passing cultivators—
"The unclaimed treasures ahead are already targeted by such-and-such sect. Fellow practitioners unafraid of contention are welcome to compete; those wary should retreat quickly."
Li Ciquan pondered: "Besides Purple Cloud Temple, who else entering this secret realm can set triple-layer Entrapment Formations and prefers leaving no markings?"
"You," Zhu Sheng said.
Li Ciquan: "...Obviously besides me!"
"Oh, and that Ji Bianxiu from Thousand Canals."
"You're saying it's likely Thousand Canals' team ahead?"
Li Ciquan hesitated slightly.
He looked toward a certain direction in the forest. Since entering the secret realm, they had consistently followed Wei Zhenyu's arrangements, moving in one direction for a specific purpose.
Collecting Spirit Herbs and demon cores along the way were merely incidental.
Tomorrow they would accelerate their pace.
He didn't want complications: "Wei Wang, with our major mission taking priority, should we change routes to avoid them for now?"
A long silence ensued.
"Avoid?" Wei Zhenyu slowly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, gaze profound, "If anyone should avoid, it's them avoiding me."
He stood up and walked alone away from the group, deeper into the woods.
Zhu Sheng moved to follow, but saw Wei Zhenyu raise a hand, signaling no need.
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