Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Flattering Someone to Ecstasy
Lü Rongyu was simply too young.
Being that young meant he hadn’t seen the world, so a chicken wing could easily capture his full attention.
Seeing the others staring at him, Lü Rongyu remembered what he’d just said and started to feel a little embarrassed. He coughed and said, "I... I’ve never had chicken wings this delicious before. They really are incredible. But I won’t eat them for free."
Lü Rongyu fumbled in his Jiezidai and pulled out a low-grade spirit stone. "For this mortal food, one Spirit Stone should be enough, right?"
It was common knowledge that mortal food wasn’t worth much, so there was nothing wrong with what Lü Rongyu offered.
Wu Dahu’s eyes lit up. A grin spread across his face as he reached out to take it. "Oh, Senior Brother, you’re too kind—"
Before he could finish, the Daoist slapped the back of his hand.
Wu Dahu immediately pulled back his hand and glared at the Daoist. "What are you doing?"
The Daoist’s face may have been unremarkable, but he wore a smile that was difficult to read. "Senior Brother, you’re far too kind. It’s just a few chicken wings. If you want more, we can prepare them for you anytime. We’re already incredibly grateful that you’re willing to lead us to First Mountain. A person of such kindness, integrity, and extraordinary character is destined to become a Great Power. Meeting you now is a stroke of fortune for us; the honor is all ours."
"If we took your money, it would make us look tactless."
"Besides, we were the ones who offered them to you. There’s no sense in inviting a guest to eat and then making them pay."
Ma Xiaoniao, Ma Xiaoben, and Wu Dahu: "..."
They couldn’t help but feel that the Daoist was full of wicked schemes.
But it had to be said, Lü Rongyu was quite pleased to hear these words.
After all, he was young and inexperienced.
The Daoist’s flattery left him feeling a bit giddy and embarrassed. "Well... I can’t just eat for free. It looks like you don’t have any left for yourselves."
Wu Dahu caught on. "Nonsense! We still have pig’s feet. The charcoal-grilled ones are delicious too. Would you like to try some, Senior Brother?"
After such incredible chicken wings, ’pig’s feet’ did sound a little unrefined.
But Lü Rongyu figured it wouldn’t hurt to give them a try.
It’s just that they were all out.
Even cultivators in the Early Stage of Qi Refining need to eat their fill.
Right on cue, the Daoist chimed in, "We’re planning to operate on First Mountain for a while, so we brought plenty of food and seasonings. Heh, we Sect Disciples don’t have many vices—we just really love to eat. That’s why we prepared a bit extra."
It wasn’t as if they would run out. With the Sect providing supplies from afar, they could just ask the system to issue a chicken wing acquisition quest, and the players back at the Sect would donate them.
The Daoist cupped his hands toward Lü Rongyu. "If you don’t mind, Senior Brother, you can join us. You won’t have to worry about us when it comes to training and hunting demon beasts. Just go about your own business and come back at mealtimes."
That was a clever proposition.
Lü Rongyu needed to train, but he also wanted to eat, which meant he certainly wouldn’t stray far.
That way, if the Daoist and his group ran into any trouble, Lü Rongyu would be able to spot it quickly.
It wasn’t that Lü Rongyu was a complete fool; he could clearly hear the opportunistic undertones in the Daoist’s offer.
He hesitated, though. Those chicken wings really had been delicious.
Just then, the Daoist added, "And it’s not just chicken wings. Our Sect specializes in many delicious dishes. I wonder if Lü has ever heard of Dongpo Pork? It’s braised in a rich, dark sauce until it’s fatty but not greasy, with a sheen like agate. One bite is a taste of heaven itself. We also have lamb skewers, roujiamo, osmanthus cakes, boiled cabbage in broth, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall... and countless other Sect delicacies. I’m certain you’ve never tried them, Senior Brother."
Wu Dahu: "..."
’Forget the others, but those last two? Could you get the players to make those for you right now, even with a knife to their throats?’
’Not to mention, Wang’an County isn’t even on the coast. The rivers only have common fish and shrimp. Where the hell would we get seafood!’
But as Lü Rongyu listened, his mouth truly began to water.
There were many mortal delicacies, but he had always found them too bland, their flavors just so-so.
Now, after eating the chicken wings, he felt he had experienced something new.
He wasn’t normally one to be greedy about food, but the Daoist’s words had sparked a longing for these culinary delights.
"Then... then I’ll give it a try?"
But after saying this, Lü Rongyu coughed again. "You’re here on First Mountain for training? How about this: I came for Second-stage Spiritual Grass. I’ll focus on gathering Spirit Grass. If I happen to slay some demon beasts along the way, I’ll give you the Demon Beast Materials as payment for my meals. Don’t even think about refusing, or I won’t eat."
In that instant, all four of their eyes lit up.
’Holy shit, how could a deal this good fall into our laps?!’
’The Daoist is a genius!’
Wu Dahu wished he could just pick up the Daoist and toss him into the sky.
Meanwhile, the Daoist gave Lü Rongyu an exaggerated bow, his hands cupped. "How could there be someone as kind-hearted as Lü in this world? Truly, our Sect Master was right! The Taohua Sect, saving lives and healing the wounded, serving as the backbone for countless Cultivators—is truly great! I believe every Sect on the Yunzhou Continent should learn from the Taohua Sect’s example."
Song Jiulai: ?
’I never said that!’
Cultivators didn’t usually engage in such pleasantries.
Lü Rongyu had never heard anything like it, either.
’Don’t Cultivators just sell medicine at clearly marked prices?’
’Where did all this talk about being ’great’ come from?’
But just because he’d never heard it before didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy it. Lü Rongyu was finally starting to feel genuinely embarrassed. "Not at all... We’re only doing our duty."
The Daoist said, "See? So humble! Lü, with a character like yours, what’s to stop you from reaching the Nascent Soul Realm and glimpsing the great path to Ascension?"
The other three: "..."
’Damn, that was smooth.’
The Daoist’s words were rather bombastic; in any other situation, one might assume he was being sarcastic.
But here, Lü Rongyu thought, ’Wow, he really has a way with words!’
He was flushed with pleasure.
Even though he was currently just in the Late-stage Qi Refining Realm, with no sense of Foundation Establishment in sight.
But once you stepped onto the path of Cultivation, who didn’t yearn for the legendary Ascension?
Normally, other Cultivators rarely flattered each other.
Because everyone was pragmatic. High Level cultivators didn’t need your praise, and flattering low-level ones felt meaningless. Why bother with such empty formalities?
Yet the Daoist had said it so earnestly, so unhesitatingly.
As if he truly believed it.
In the end, Lü Rongyu completely fell for the Daoist’s act.
Lü Rongyu couldn’t help but grab the Daoist’s hand. "Junior Brother, you’re exaggerating. How could I ever reach such a Realm?"
The Daoist replied with a grave expression, "If someone with a character like yours, Lü, can’t make it, then I think there’s no hope for us at all."
Praising others while putting oneself down.
Lü Rongyu was flushed red, at a loss for words. After a long moment, he managed, "You’re out here training... with so much food, you must be short on medicine. Do you need any?"
The four of them: "..."
’Yes! We’ve hooked ourselves a fat sheep!’
The system had watched the entire exchange.
"Badass."
Comments