IS Chapter 17
by Volare…What is this taste!
Why is it even more indescribable than badly-made pills?
Furthermore, he even saw the corners of that bastard’s eyes curve upwards!
Li Yuan felt like Ye Zhuo had angered him again, to the point that his heart didn’t even want to beat anymore.
Li Yuan stated directly, “You’re doing this on purpose.”
“I’m not,” Ye Zhuo said. “I just thought that dragons usually eat only the finest nectar and celestial delicacies, and might not be accustomed to human flavors.”
So he really did mean it!
Li Yuan stared intently as Ye Zhuo picked up another slice from the red broth and slowly ate it.
He scrutinized him repeatedly, but couldn’t see any discomfort on Ye Zhuo’s face.
Li Yuan: “Are you very used to it?”
Ye Zhuo: “If you can’t eat it, eat from the white broth.”
So the small white broth in the center was ordered for him.
What, was he afraid that he would master the fire element techniques without a teacher?
It would have been fine if he hadn’t said anything, but once he did, Li Yuan didn’t want to eat anything from the white broth at all.
He refused to believe that he couldn’t eat mere human food. There must be a secret to it, he just hadn’t discovered it yet.
Ye Zhuo quietly watched as Li Yuan focused on the bubbling red broth, accurately picking out a slice of meat.
His aim was indeed good, as expected of a water-dwelling species.
However, this time, it seemed he was only affected by the spiciness.
Of course, this was nothing to a cultivator. As their cultivation level increased, their senses would become sharper, but their tolerance would also increase.
After a few tries, he lost interest in the meat slices. Li Yuan began to try the other items in the pot one by one, and finally seemed to discern some flavor from a few slices of snow-white fish.
“Acceptable.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Zhuo tasted a slice himself and agreed that it was decent.
So he took another slice, further reducing the amount of food Li Yuan could eat. But Li Yuan didn’t mind, even pushing them all over to Ye Zhuo’s side.
Then, he continued to earnestly study the foods he couldn’t understand.
After a while, he even had the waiter add some more variety.
Ye Zhuo took the opportunity to have the waiter bring another plate of fish slices, placing them in the white broth, occasionally passing a slice to Li Yuan when he felt that the dragon really couldn’t take any more.
Finally, after tasting everything he could, Li Yuan said, “Perhaps I’ll understand next time.”
With such a studious attitude, Ye Zhuo thought it might be better if he used it for practicing his swordsmanship. But Li Yuan’s swordsmanship had indeed improved a lot in recent years, so he didn’t say much.
From beginning to end, the small white broth bubbled away forlornly. Aside from Ye Zhuo using it to poach fish slices for Li Yuan, no one else touched it.
Li Yuan looked at Ye Zhuo: “Don’t you really find this taste strange?”
Ye Zhuo: “I cultivate the path of detachment.”
“What does that have to do with the path of detachment?”
“The five senses and five flavors are no different.”
“I don’t believe it,” Li Yuan said. “If that’s the case, why do you only eat from the red broth?”
Ye Zhuo didn’t really want to talk to this dragon.
“It seems your mental cultivation hasn’t reached the level of mastery,” Li Yuan said.
Ye Zhuo ignored him.
“Also,” Li Yuan said, “Aren’t they here for us?”
Ye Zhuo glanced at the two constables outside the barrier, dressed in black round-collared robes, and said calmly, “Did you only just notice?”
Finally being noticed by the people at the table, the two constables almost showed expressions of grateful tears.
–They didn’t want to stand there listening to the two Immortal Rulers discuss whether the spicy pot was delicious or not, what was delicious about it, and whether or not someone cultivating the path of detachment could taste the spiciness!
Especially that Young Master in the black, ornate robe with subtly embroidered gold and silver, whose style seemed to be very out of bounds, and whose tastes seemed to come from the Min region. Would he be comfortable in their Sichuan?
Of course, since they were Immortal Rulers, there was no such thing as being out of bounds. Whether they wanted to wear dragon robes, phoenix robes, or Qilin robes, or even wear nothing at all, it was none of their mortal business.
The constables bowed politely, “We didn’t mean to disturb you. Please, Immortal Rulers, be accommodating. May we ask what sects you are from, and what your names are? We need to record it for our superiors.”
Ye Zhuo took out a red carp jade talisman and gave it to them, with the words “Micro-Snow” secretly engraved on it.
“Micro-Snow Palace, Ye Zhuo.” After saying his own name, Ye Zhuo looked at Li Yuan.
Then, just as Li Yuan seemed about to announce “Dragon Realm, Li Yuan,” he spoke, “Micro-Snow Palace, Li Yuan.”
The constables examined the token, neither obsequious nor haughty, “So you are Immortal Rulers from the Micro-Snow Palace, no wonder you appear so extraordinary – may we ask what brings you here?”
“Nothing,” Ye Zhuo said, “Just a meal, we’re leaving today.”
“…” The constables were briefly speechless.
Then they said, “We understand. Then we won’t disturb Second Palace Master and Young Master Li any longer. By the way, the Autumn Festival is approaching, and there will be a lantern festival in the city at night. If the Immortal Rulers are interested, you may also take some time to visit.”
Ye Zhuo: “Thank you.”
After they left, Li Yuan said thoughtfully, “So you have to register with the government now.”
“It’s a new rule in recent years,” Ye Zhuo said.
After the new Emperor of the mortal realm ascended the throne, the government was clear and honest, and the immortal sects and the dynasty agreed to go their separate ways and not interfere with each other.
If mortals encounter strange events, they can seek help from nearby immortal sects. When people from immortal sects visit mortal cities, they also leave a record with the government to state their intentions, so that the people in the city can be at ease and to prevent rogue cultivators from causing trouble, which would be difficult to explain.
If they don’t take the initiative to explain, the constables will come to confirm.
“I previously entered the city directly, coming and going as I pleased, wasn’t that against the rules?”
“It was,” Ye Zhuo said, “But you’re not from this realm, so they can’t control you.”
Li Yuan: “Perhaps I should also get a token like yours.”
“That’s a lot of trouble,” Ye Zhuo said, thinking for a moment, then throwing his red carp token in Li Yuan’s direction. “If there’s an inspection, you can say you’re a Micro-Snow Palace cultivator.”
Li Yuan’s way of repaying his gratitude was absurd, so giving him a token could be considered repayment. Anyway, this dragon wouldn’t use it to bully men, oppress women, or cause trouble.
Li Yuan suspiciously took the jade talisman, which faintly glowed with flames and had the character “Zhuo” written on it, and asked, “What about you?”
Ye Zhuo: “I have many.”
Li Yuan: “Oh.”
In the blink of an eye, the sky outside had turned completely dark, and they had eaten almost everything in the pot. It was time to leave.
After going downstairs, they naturally left a gold ingot on the counter.
Its luster was brilliant, its quality perfect.
The shopkeeper’s eyes almost popped out.
Ye Zhuo finally asked the question, “You didn’t bring any silver?”
Li Yuan was momentarily speechless.
When he was young, he grew up under the care of the Dragon Ancestors of various clans. This time, he came to this human realm to settle his grudges. Before leaving, he told the Dragon Realm Ancestors, and for some reason, all the clan Ancestors knew about it. So, all the items he carried with him were things the elders had insisted he bring. Among them, the Old Ancestor alone had stuffed ten storage treasures with him, filled with magic tools, pills, travel equipment, and heavenly treasures, spiritual stones, and jade.
“I’ve brought you everything you can use, so you don’t have to worry about anything else. Although I don’t know what kind of grudges you have in the human world, you don’t have to take it too seriously. Just turn their ancestors and their eighteen generations into ashes.” Before leaving, the elders had instructed him like that.
After he came to the human world, the first time he wanted to spend money, he rummaged through the storage treasures, but unfortunately, he didn’t see any traces of silver or copper coins.
–Only the elders of the White Dragon clan, who were the most thoughtful and meticulous, had packed him a storage ring full of gold, which at least allowed him to travel in the mortal world.
Li Yuan: “I didn’t bring any.”
Ye Zhuo: “Suit yourself.”
The gold was left behind, and Li Yuan left amidst the shopkeeper’s tearful gaze.
Downstairs was a long street. Just as the constables had said, there would be a lantern festival tonight. Looking around, lanterns were hung high, the streets were crowded with people, and the sounds of laughter, cheers, and flower vendors could be heard everywhere. The faint fragrance of osmanthus flowers lingered in the air, faint and lingering.
Counting the days, it was indeed almost the fifteenth of August, the time for human reunions.
The crowd spontaneously fell silent and parted to make way. Ye Zhuo walked to the end of the long street amidst the light of the lanterns, and turned around, but did not see Li Yuan’s figure.
After a while, he saw him emerge from the crowd carrying a lotus lantern and holding some colorful trinkets. In the middle of the crowd, a child held his parents’ hands and looked into his arms. Li Yuan stuffed one into his hands, and when he looked up again, his eyes still had a faint smile, like a clear breeze and a bright moon.
“Do you want one?” Li Yuan came over and showed him the things he had bought.
Ye Zhuo shook his head.
“Then where are you going next?”
“Back to the Micro-Snow Palace,” Ye Zhuo said.
He looked at Li Yuan as he spoke, and Li Yuan read the meaning of asking him where he was going.
“Don’t worry, I’m not always following you,” Li Yuan said. “I’ve been asked to go to a place called ‘Illusory Cloud Cliff,’ do you know where it is?”
Ye Zhuo said, “I don’t know.”
“Then I’ll go myself according to the map,” Li Yuan said. “Your cultivation hasn’t recovered yet, what if someone ambushes you on the road?”
“They won’t,” Ye Zhuo said. “If they failed this time, they will make thorough preparations before acting next time.”
Li Yuan: “Then let’s part ways here. I’ll find you for a duel next time.”
Ye Zhuo turned and walked forward, “Alright.”
Putting away the odd and exquisite trinkets, Li Yuan was about to find a direction to leave when he suddenly heard a voice, “Li Yuan.”
“Hmm?” He looked over there and saw Ye Zhuo turn around under a four-season flower lantern. In the midst of the shimmering light, that person was quietly looking at him, his snowy, cold eyes seeming to be lost in thought.
“What is it?”
“I’ve obtained all the things I needed,” Ye Zhuo said. “I won’t use any more underhanded methods against you.”
Li Yuan: “Should I believe that?”
“Feel free to use whatever means you have, I’ll just take it as a lesson to be careful of the dangers of the world,” he glared at Ye Zhuo, unmoved. “I see that you immortals seem to use both open and hidden weapons as common practice.”
For some reason, he felt that the person wasn’t angry after hearing such sharp words. On the contrary, in the shifting and intersecting light of the lanterns, it seemed like there was a faint, shallow smile.
It was as if the light of the glass had turned in an instant, winter had passed and spring had come.
“Anyway, I won’t use them anymore, be careful of the rest yourself,” Ye Zhuo said, then his red figure rose and fell, disappearing into the night.
After he couldn’t see him anymore, Li Yuan bought a pot of osmanthus wine on the street and found a rooftop where he could see the moon.
He didn’t do anything else, just poured himself a few drinks, looked down at the scenery of the human world, and thought about human affairs.
After a while, a family living under the rooftop returned from the street hand in hand. A pair of parents held their child’s hand, and after a burst of laughter, they settled down.
Li Yuan stayed behind the shadow of the tree on the roof, not letting them see him.
The Milky Way in the sky gradually faded, and the city returned to peace, as if a night of prosperity had dissipated. But he knew that tomorrow, this family would go out again, and the lanterns would light up again.
He suddenly wondered, did Ye Zhuo also grow up in such a human world?
With a pair of parents, a house, going out for fun, and returning with joy?
Li Yuan shook his head.
He couldn’t connect that person with such a picture at all.
The autumn moon was setting in the west. It was a nearly full moon, and the moonlight was like water.
After drinking the last cup of wine, Li Yuan counted the days and went to the southwest.