Chapter 380: Chen Tian, Are We Being Watched
Qin Hao, Chen Tian, Long Ao, Chen Bo, and Han Xin were all familiar faces. Only Qiu Su was a newcomer, having never visited before.
Her face wasn’t the typical sharp oval, but rather a softer, rounded shape. Slender, willow-leaf eyebrows arched slightly at the ends, framing brown eyes accented by a vermilion beauty mark at the corner of her right eye. Her long black hair flowed freely, held back only by a simple silver ribbon, while two delicate silver earrings dangled from her lobes. Her skin boasted a healthy, sun-kissed wheat tone.
She wore a Flowing Wind robe, its hem and cuffs embroidered with swirling gale patterns. The fabric was as light as smoke, bordered with translucent green gauze. Beneath it, she wore a light green tunic and matching trousers. A black cord encircled her waist, suspending three small trinkets: a Wind Spirit Pearl, half of a dried Wind Whisper Leaf, and a pair of miniature silver scissors. Light brown, soft-soled shoes adorned her feet, revealing slender ankles wrapped in red string.
Qin Hao introduced her with a smile. “This is my Junior Sister, Qiu Su!”
Jiang Chen nodded cheerfully. “Senior Sister Qiu!”
Qiu Su sized him up with a curious glance before responding, “Junior Brother Jiang!”
Long Ao chuckled, waving a hand. “Come on, everyone, we’re all friends here. No need to stand around the doorway like idiots.”
“Right, right!”
“I can already smell the food!”
“Little Jiang, let’s see if your cooking has improved!”The group quickly filed into the stone house.
Watching them enter, Jiang Chen breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Good thing I upgraded. If he still lived in that cramped wooden cabin, they never would have fit. Chen Tian and the others wouldn’t have cared—Han Xin probably would have just made herself comfortable on his bed—but it would have been incredibly awkward for first-time guests like Qin Hao and Qiu Su.
The moment they stepped inside, the rich aroma of the meal captivated them. Cultivators typically ignored mortal food, as it offered no tangible benefits to their bodies. But this spread was entirely crafted from spirit plants and Spirit Rice. Even a few bites would actively nourish their cultivation.
Qin Hao marveled, “We haven’t even taken a bite, yet the aroma and presentation are already Top Grade!”
Qiu Su subconsciously licked her lips, her eyes locked on the table. “Should we… eat first?”
Everyone turned to Jiang Chen, waiting for the host’s permission.
Jiang Chen offered a warm, welcoming smile. “Please, make yourselves at home. Eat as much as you want, however you want.”
With the pleasantries out of the way, the group eagerly took their seats. Jiang Chen quickly distributed bowls and chopsticks before moving around the table to pour the drinks.
“Senior Brother Qin, Senior Brother Chen Tian, Senior Sister Qiu,” he said, “this is a Spirit Wine I brewed myself. Please, give it a try.”
At first sniff, it carried the standard scent of fermented grain. Its clear hue looked no different from any common brew. But a closer look revealed a faint, pulsating spiritual light shimmering within the liquid. Without even tasting it, one could tell this was no ordinary Spirit Wine.
When Jiang Chen raised his cup, the others followed suit.
Long Ao, Chen Bo, and Han Xin didn’t hesitate, tossing the wine back in a single gulp.
Chen Tian took a measured sip. A refreshing coolness washed over his palate, immediately followed by a warm, mellow sweetness. It lacked the cloying heaviness of cane sugar; instead, it carried the crisp, natural sweetness of Spirit Rice, layered with a subtle, earthy fragrance.
His eyes lit up. He downed the rest of his cup in a flash, smacking his lips to savor the lingering aftertaste.
Noticing their reactions, Qin Hao took a tentative sip. His entire body stiffened. Disbelief washed over his features as he stared at Jiang Chen, as if seeing the man for the first time.
This was undeniably the same type of Spirit Wine found everywhere in the Azure Realm, yet its taste, aroma, and spiritual density had been elevated to an unprecedented tier. It was leagues beyond the standard fare.
As for Qiu Su, a single sip left her completely dazed. She couldn’t tell if she was awake or dreaming. Is this… is this really what Spirit Wine is supposed to taste like?
Jiang Chen blinked innocently. “Senior Brother Qin, Senior Brother Chen Tian, Senior Sister Qiu… how is it?”
Chen Tian was the first to give a thumbs-up. “Junior Brother Jiang, I thought your talents were strictly limited to the Spirit Farm. I never imagined your brewing skills were just as extraordinary.”
Jiang Chen grinned. “You flatter me, Senior Brother.”
Qin Hao waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t be modest, Junior Brother Jiang. With a craft like this, you could carve out your own path in the cultivation world even without tending to spirit plants.”
Qiu Su smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “If you ask me, Junior Brother Jiang is the one truly living the dream. Feasting on Top Grade vegetables and sipping premium wine every day… it’s honestly enviable.”
Faced with this chorus of praise, Jiang Chen didn’t let a hint of arrogance show. Instead, his smile faded into an expression of solemn gratitude.
“If not for the protection of our immortal sect,” Jiang Chen said seriously, “and if not for all of you—my Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, and fellow disciples—risking your lives on the front lines, how could I ever enjoy a life like this?”
The room fell silent. Qin Hao evaluated him once more. This junior brother continually shattered his expectations. To possess such skill yet remain entirely free of arrogance, pride, or impatience—such a temperament was incredibly rare.
For a moment, Qiu Su, Long Ao, Chen Tian, Chen Bo, and Han Xin all looked at him with profound, newfound respect.
Jiang Chen sighed, a touch of perfectly feigned regret in his voice. “It’s a pity I have no talent for combat. All I can do is stay behind, tend to the Spirit Farm, cultivate these plants, and offer my support from the sidelines.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Junior Brother,” Qin Hao said, genuinely moved. “Knowing someone like you is managing the Spirit Farm actually gives me peace of mind. It lets us fight without looking back.”
“Exactly,” Qiu Su agreed wholeheartedly.
Seeing their cups empty, Jiang Chen seamlessly refilled them.
At that moment, Long Ao smoothly shifted the conversation. “By the way, as soon as we got out, we heard some crazy news. Mo Sha, Shui Wuhen, and some disciple named Zhao Qianyuan were ambushed by a group of mysterious attackers?”
Jiang Chen nodded. “That’s right.”
Long Ao frowned. “Don’t get me wrong, seeing Mo Sha take a beating feels great, but the fact that there were other people inside the Return to Ruins Secret Realm? That’s bizarre.”
Qin Hao raised an eyebrow. “It is strange. Master and the martial uncles never mentioned the presence of outsiders in the Return to Ruins Secret Realm.”
Jiang Chen looked around the table, feigning curiosity. “You guys didn’t run into anyone?”
Long Ao puffed out his chest. “With two Golden Core experts leading us, we carved a bloody path straight to the deepest part of the secret realm. No monster or demon could withstand a single strike from us.”
“I see,” Jiang Chen said, nodding in realization. “I heard Mo Sha’s group was ambushed at a place called the Yellow Spring Remnant Hall.”
“The Yellow Spring Remnant Hall?” Chen Tian and the others exchanged knowing glances. They had clearly heard of the location.
“That explains it,” Qin Hao realized. “The Yellow Spring Remnant Hall is on the complete opposite side of the realm. It wasn’t anywhere near our route.”
Chen Tian’s gaze swept across the group, his expression turning grave. “Actually… right as we were preparing to leave the Return to Ruins Secret Realm, I did sense someone watching us from the shadows.”
Chen Bo’s face paled slightly. “Chen Tian, are you saying we were being targeted?”
Chen Tian narrowed his eyes, a cold, dangerous glint flashing in his pupils. He gave a single, definitive nod. “Exactly.”