Martial Dao: Starting from the Village Fungus God

Chapter 280: Chapter 278: Fresh Pot Rabbit

"Even if I broke through to the Third Realm, I might not be able to defeat you," Zhu Ge frankly admitted once again.

He never thought it was shameful to admit he was weaker. The path to true strength begins with the discontent and awe one feels while still weak.

Besides, someone like Lin Zhi was beyond being described as merely "strong." She was the kind of person so far beyond others that they couldn’t even muster the energy for jealousy.

Lin Zhi glanced at him and suddenly smiled. "You’re very honest. Most people, when they’re in front of me, try to act tough even when they know they can’t win."

"What’s the point of acting tough?" Zhu Ge shook his head. "It’s not like you’re going to fight me."

"How do you know I won’t fight you?" Lin Zhi raised an eyebrow.

"If you wanted to fight me, you wouldn’t have pulled your punch just now." Zhu Ge shook his head with a smile. "Your control is incredible. You could have thrown that punch to only injure me, not kill me. But you retracted it, which means you don’t want to fight."

Lin Zhi looked at him, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes. "Hahaha, you’re very clever. Clever, honest, and powerful. People like you are a rare find."

With that, she took a jade token from her sleeve and casually tossed it to Zhu Ge. "This is my personal token for Yanjiang. When you reach the Third Realm, come find me there. We’ll fight then."

Zhu Ge caught the jade token. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, and the two words "Lin Zhi" were carved on it. "Alright."

"I’ll be on my way, then." Lin Zhi’s figure flickered and vanished into thin air.

’So decisive,’ Zhu Ge marveled. He glanced at the jade token in his hand before tucking it into his sleeve.

Liu Jianjian sidled up to him, her eyes sparkling. "Master, Lin Zhi is so incredible! I couldn’t even see her punch!"

"I couldn’t see it either," Zhu Sisi chimed in, a rare occurrence. She chewed on a mulberry leaf, her face devoid of expression. "But she’s very beautiful."

Zhu Ge smiled. "Alright, let’s go."

...

「In Zigong City, lanterns burned as bright as day.」

Zhu Ge led Liu Jianjian and Zhu Sisi through the city gates. Mazhu, having shrunk down to the size of an ordinary colt, trotted along behind them.

Lin Fu hadn’t come with them.

After Lin Zhi knocked her out with a single palm strike, she had woken up only to declare that she was returning to the mountains to continue her training. She would come looking for Zhu Ge for another fight once she was stronger.

She had ridden her giant centipede and disappeared into the forest without a single look back, her parting words, "I’ll be back," echoing in the night wind.

"So Lin Fu just left like that," Liu Jianjian said, sounding a little down.

Zhu Ge nodded. "She’ll be back. She’s a woman of her word."

Liu Jianjian nodded, but her attention was quickly captured by the bustling city scene.

The streets were thronged with people. Vendors sold lanterns and snacks, street performers plied their trade, and the air was a jubilant sea of hawkers’ cries, laughter, and the beat of gongs and drums.

"Master, look at that lantern! It’s so pretty!" Liu Jianjian pointed at a rabbit-shaped lantern by the roadside, her eyes lighting up.

"Buy it." Zhu Ge took a few silver coins from his sleeve and handed them to the vendor.

Liu Jianjian held her new rabbit lantern, her smiling eyes curving into crescents.

Zhu Sisi, perched on her shoulder, chewed a mulberry leaf and watched her blankly, as if observing a toddler.

"I’m hungry," Zhu Sisi suddenly announced.

"I’m hungry too." Liu Jianjian rubbed her stomach. "Master, let’s go get something to eat."

"What are you in the mood for?" Zhu Ge asked.

"Bunny!" Liu Jianjian held up her rabbit lantern with a giggle. "Lin Fu told me that when you come to Zigong City, you have to eat bunny!"

"Rabbit? I suppose so." Zhu Ge glanced around the street. "Let’s find a place."

Before long, the group arrived at a restaurant. A wooden plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with the three large words: "Salt Gang Cuisine."

The restaurant was a cacophony of voices, and fragrant aromas wafted out from within.

Peeking through the window, they could see the main hall was packed with customers. On every table sat a pot of glistening, red-hot rabbit meat.

"This is the place," Zhu Ge said, leading Liu Jianjian inside.

There were no food bloggers or paid shills in this world, so any restaurant packed with willing customers was almost guaranteed to be good.

Case in point: there were no empty tables in the restaurant.

Zhu Ge was just about to leave when a waiter eagerly approached them. "How many in your party, esteemed guests?"

"Three," Zhu Ge said.

"What luck!" The waiter’s eyes lit up. "A party just left one of the private rooms upstairs. It’s free now. Esteemed guests, right this way!"

Zhu Ge followed the waiter to the second floor and took a seat in the private room.

The room wasn’t large, but it was elegantly decorated with a few works of calligraphy and painting on the walls. The window offered a breathtaking view of Zigong City by night, its brilliant lanterns a magnificent sight.

"What can I get for you, esteemed guests?" the waiter asked, handing them a menu.

"What’s your house specialty?"

"The Fresh Pot Rabbit!" The waiter gave a thumbs-up. "Our Zigong-style Fresh Pot Rabbit is the best in all of Shujiang! Shall I get you an order, esteemed guest?"

"We’ll have one," Zhu Ge said, scanning the menu. "And an order of Water-Boiled Beef, a Mapo Tofu, some stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a jar of Nu’er Hong wine."

"Right away!" The waiter jotted down the order and departed.

Liu Jianjian leaned against the window, gazing at the lanterns outside and muttering to herself.

Zhu Sisi, draped over her shoulder, had already fallen asleep with a mulberry leaf still in her mouth, unswallowed.

Zhu Ge sat at the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly.

The tea was slightly bitter on the tongue, but left a sweet aftertaste.

He closed his eyes, replaying Lin Zhi’s punch in his mind. That punch had no discernible technique, no profound intent, only "Presence."

Pure, unadulterated Presence.

"When will I be able to reach that state?" Zhu Ge muttered to himself.

"Esteemed guests, your food has arrived!"

The waiter entered carrying a tray and placed a large bowl of glistening red Fresh Pot Rabbit on the table.

The rabbit meat was cut into uniform chunks, soaking in a red chili oil and sprinkled with Sichuan peppercorns, chili flakes, shredded ginger, and minced garlic. The aroma was intoxicating.

The moment she caught the scent, Liu Jianjian scurried back from the window, her eyes fixed hungrily on the bowl of rabbit meat. "Master, can we eat now?"

"Go ahead." Zhu Ge picked up a piece of rabbit meat with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

The meat was tender and succulent, a perfect combination of numbing, spicy, and savory flavors that melted in his mouth.

He couldn’t help but nod. "Delicious."

Liu Jianjian was already too busy eating to speak. Her chopsticks were a blur as she stuffed piece after piece of rabbit meat into her mouth.

The commotion woke Zhu Sisi. She glanced at the rabbit on the table, then at Liu Jianjian, before closing her eyes to go back to sleep.

Just then, a commotion erupted downstairs.

"Why the hell can’t we go in? Do you have any idea who I am?"

"Sir, there really are no tables left..."

"No tables? Then what about that private room upstairs? I clearly saw someone go in there!"

’Don’t tell me it’s another one of those spoiled princelings. What a pain...’ Zhu Ge frowned and set down his chopsticks.

He was just considering whether he should release a bit of his Second Realm aura to avoid being disturbed.

But the next moment, the door to their private room was shoved open, and a lavishly dressed young man barged in with two attendants in tow.

The young man was in his early twenties, with a fair complexion and an arrogant air about him.

He glanced at Zhu Ge, then at Liu Jianjian. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he let out a cold snort. "Out-of-towners?"

"Just passing through," Zhu Ge said flatly.

"Passing through?" The young man sneered. "Do you have any idea whose territory this is?"