Chapter 106: Yuanhai City: Sister, Face Me and Love Me
Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Yuanhai City: Sister, Face Me and Love Me
The first impression upon arriving in Yuanhai City was the salty smell of the sea in the air.
Transportation in the Green Origin Realm was highly developed, so seafood wasn’t exactly a rarity inland. Still, the prices were several times higher than in the coastal cities.
On their very first day, Lou Xiaotian excitedly dragged Lu Wu out to sample some of Yuanhai City’s grand seafood feasts.
The quality of the seafood was excellent, and the chef’s culinary skills were superb.
It was a wide world full of talented people; Lu Wu never presumed to be the best.
Stuffed from the meal, Lu Wu finally had time to go check out the spot where she planned to set up her stall. Lou Xiaotian didn’t know the location; she had only found out about it by asking the locals in Yuanhai City. Most of the inhabitants of Little Sea Village were ordinary mortals. The village itself was remote and sparsely populated.
Furthermore, the village had a tragic history.
The sea was beautiful, but it was also merciless.
The occasional storms and waves swallowed everything in their path, leaving nothing behind.
Ten years ago, Little Sea Village had been struck by a massive wave. Many villagers lost their lives. The survivors spent several years recovering and, with great difficulty, managed to rebuild.
But then, five years ago, another storm swept through, shattering the village and leaving countless dead and wounded.
Some said the village was cursed, and that this curse flared up once every five years.
By that calculation, the next "five-year appointment" was due in the coming days.
Yuanhai City, of course, wouldn’t stand by and watch its residents die for nothing. They had tried to organize a relocation effort, but the villagers of Little Sea Village were devout followers of the Sea God. They believed that only by living as close to the sea as possible could they prove their piety, and so they refused to move.
The stubborn villagers were even hostile to outsiders, which was why Little Sea Village was not well-known in Yuanhai City.
When she finally arrived, Lu Wu saw for herself just how underdeveloped the place was.
Compared to the magnificent architecture of Yuanhai City, Little Sea Village was worse than a slum.
The houses were still thatched huts. Lu Wu could see the ruined structures left behind from the previous disaster. These broken-down walls, like scars running through the village, were regarded by the villagers as a testament to a miracle.
They believed the disasters were a result of their insufficient devotion to the Sea God.
In every household, children were taught to worship the Sea God from the moment they were born.
It was hard to imagine that in this Cultivation World—a world where a single person possessed the power to move mountains and part seas—there were still people who so devoutly believed in a god who may not even exist.
Lu Wu stood at the entrance to the village but didn’t go inside.
It was because a blind old man was crouched at the entrance, as if standing guard.
He stared with a pair of gray eyes. Though he was clearly blind, Lu Wu felt as if his gaze was locked directly on her.
The eerie sensation sent a chill down her spine. Lu Wu did not approach recklessly.
Lu Wu would bet this village had issues.
’System, what did I do wrong? Do you want to find a new host?’
Lu Wu protested internally.
[...]
The system’s reply, as always, was silent yet piercing.
’Life isn’t easy,’ Lu Wu sighed.
Fortunately, her task didn’t require her to enter the village proper. This was the eastern entrance, the exact spot where she was supposed to set up her stall.
The old man didn’t seem to welcome her, but he didn’t try to drive her away either.
Reconnaissance complete.
Lou Xiaotian, who had been with Lu Wu this whole time, turned his back to her and started tapping away on his One World Communication.
"I bet Boss Lu is going to do something big again this time."
His cultivation was higher than Lu Wu’s, so he had an even stronger sense of the village’s strangeness.
The reason he didn’t stop her was because he, too, believed the analyses posted by people on One World Communication.
Boss Lu was a god-tier figure.
Nowhere she went ever stayed quiet.
Any place she chose was "destined for disaster."
"Boss Lu is setting up a stall again? Where?"
"Quick, tell us, tell us."
A flood of inquiries spammed the Bun Sect’s discussion page.
They couldn’t care less about some major event. Didn’t everyone join the Bun Sect for Boss Lu’s delicious food?
Now that someone was providing an early scoop, they absolutely had to seize the opportunity.
Others started sending private messages to Lou Xiaotian.
His One World Communication chimed as messages exploded on his screen. Lu Wu shot him a questioning look.
Lou Xiaotian shook his head, indicating it was nothing, and with a flick of his hand, switched it to silent mode.
’I’ll definitely tell them,’ he thought. ’I’m not that selfish.’
’But I’ll wait until after I’ve had my fill for, oh, one, two, three, four, five, or six days. Then I’ll let everyone else know.’
...
「Yuanhai City, City Lord Mansion.」
The City Lord, Dan Ji, had just received a report about someone approaching Little Sea Village. She read the intel on Lu Wu and Lou Xiaotian, her expression souring.
Her finger tapped against the table as she considered whether she should eliminate them preemptively.
But just as a flicker of her killing intent was exposed, a large hand pressed down on her shoulder.
"Now, now, a young lady like yourself shouldn’t be thinking about killing all day."
"Here, follow me. Inhale... exhale..."
"Feeling a little calmer?"
An old, wizened voice spoke from behind her, his words tinged with a hint of teasing.
She couldn’t see the newcomer’s face, but a single hand on her shoulder was enough to pin her in place, rendering her immobile.
Horror flashed in her eyes.
Dan Ji was by no means invincible, but there were very few people in the world who could suppress her so effortlessly.
’So why would someone like that be here?’
"Tsk, don’t overthink it. I have no ill intent. I just wanted to tell you that the little conspiracies brewing in that head of yours have nothing to do with this lass."
Uncle Li chuckled as he stepped out from behind Dan Ji, not at all concerned about revealing himself.
He pointed to Lu Wu’s file, his wrinkled face filled with a doting fondness.
"This is my little granddaughter. She’s just here to have some fun and do a little business. The matter of Little Sea Village has nothing to do with her."
It had nothing to do with her before, but as for what came next... well, even Uncle Li couldn’t be sure.
After all, this little lass had a few tricks up her sleeve.
A person born unable to practice cultivation, yet blessed by immense fortune and now walking a different path entirely.
Things could never stay calm wherever such a person went.
But... no matter how convoluted the journey, the outcome was destined to be good.
"Senior, you..."
Upon getting a clear look at Uncle Li’s face, Dan Ji immediately shot up to perform a formal bow, but Uncle Li stopped her.
"Shh, no need for compliments. I came here to protect my little granddaughter."
He, Uncle Li, was Boss Lu’s guardian angel. That title wasn’t just for show.
Dan Ji said nothing. Hesitation was written on her face. After a long moment of contemplation, she finally nodded.
"Very well. Since you’ve spoken, Senior, I will of course trust you."
’Otherwise,’ she thought, ’with his level of power, he would have had no need to come and give me a warning.’
"Alright, then I’m off."
"Oh, right. When my little granddaughter sets up her stall, you should go give her some business. The little lass’s cooking is top-notch."
His voice faded, his figure grew faint.
Only when Uncle Li had completely vanished from the room did the tension finally leave Dan Ji’s shoulders.
’The pressure of facing that big shot is just too much.’
However, Dan Ji looked back at the file. The portrait of Lu Wu was crystal clear—a young woman with a faint smile who looked lovely, charming, and utterly endearing.
"The mysterious stallholder, Boss Lu... Heh. I’m looking forward to it."
’Who isn’t a foodie, after all?’
’Would she ever admit that she’d been hearing about the legendary Boss Lu on One World Communication for ages?’
’My duty as City Lord is done. Now begins my duty as one of Boss Lu’s devoted customers.’
’Boss Lu, just you wait. I’ll use all my resources to drum up some customers for you.’
’I’ll use my utmost enthusiasm to convince you to stay, to make you never want to leave.’
Yuanhai City: Ms. Lu, love me properly!