"I'm not leaving."
Liu Liying gently bit her red lips, her large, watery eyes filled with grievance. She said softly, "Young Master summoned me from the mural, making you Liying's master. Why do you not want me? Is it because Liying is ugly, or because Liying's cultivation is too low and holding Young Master back? If Young Master already has a wife, Liying would not mind. However Young Master arranges for Liying, she will accept it willingly."
Wherever the Fan Goddess went, a group of young, handsome men would naturally follow. After all, the most beautiful woman from the Hundred Beauties Painting of Lingze Mountain had stepped out of a mural. Who else would have such fortune? Moreover, many people looked at Lin Zhao and felt that this sword cultivator's cultivation was only average. Some were already plotting how to snatch Liu Liying from him.
However, the moment Liu Liying stepped out of the mural, she had already gained the cultivation of an eighth-realm Golden Core. Even if they disregarded Lin Zhao, they still had to consider Liu Liying. This Fan Goddess possessed formidable combat power and was not someone to be trifled with.
"Hey!"
A burly sixth-realm martial artist chuckled and said, "Brother swordsman, if you truly dislike this Fan Goddess, why not let me have her? Don't waste her..."
"What did you say?!"
Liu Liying turned her head to look. Her exceptionally beautiful face was shrouded in frost. Tendrils of golden spiritual energy swirled around her fan. Liu Liying's true identity was akin to a deity of heaven and earth, born as such.
"I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry..."
The sixth-realm martial artist's face turned ashen. He hurriedly cupped his fists and retreated, turning to leave.
Most of the other young handsome men were in the lower five realms. Not many dared to step forward anymore.
Liu Liying looked at Lin Zhao and said, "Young Master, if you do not want Liying, where should Liying go?"
"Understood."
Lin Zhao sighed. He knew that Liu Liying might be a chess piece, a plan set by Wu Yuanzi, but he still couldn't completely abandon her. Otherwise, Liu Liying would eventually be torn apart by the wolves outside. These lower-five-realm handsome youths might not be able to defeat him, but what about their respective sects? If those old ancestors hidden deep in the mountains caught wind that the Fan Goddess had emerged from the mural, they would surely come to seize her. However, this unintentionally thrust him into the spotlight.
He looked at Liu Liying and asked, "Want to eat hot pot?"
Liu Liying smiled gently, "Whatever Young Master eats, Liying will eat with you."
Lin Zhao's forehead twitched. He couldn't take it anymore. The destructive power of such a woman was too great. He handed his donkey to the waiter to be tethered with the other horses to graze. He then stepped into the hot pot restaurant called "Zui Tian Xia" before them. Liu Liying, with a gentle wave of her fan, transformed her tethered warhorse into a white embroidered pouch that hung at her waist, and then followed Lin Zhao into the restaurant.
...
On the second floor, by the window, the river view was excellent.
After Lin Zhao sat down, he familiarized himself with the menu and prepared to order. Liu Liying, on the other hand, held her fan with both hands and stood respectfully beside him, as if she were about to serve her master for a meal. The waiter beside them was dumbfounded, his gaze somewhat lost. If you're serving the guests, what am I supposed to do?
"Sit down."
Lin Zhao pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Don't stand there, it's too conspicuous."
Liu Liying pursed her red lips and smiled, "Yes, Young Master. Thank you, Young Master!"
Lin Zhao began ordering, "Waiter, bring us a Yuanyang hot pot. And, uh... Liu Liying, do you eat spicy food?"
"Ah?"
Liu Liying's delicate mouth slightly opened, and she smiled, "Whatever is fine."
"Alright, then a Yuanyang broth base."
Lin Zhao chuckled, "For the side dishes, add some tripe, Lingze river fresh shrimp, tender bamboo shoots, bean curd sheets, Dragon Boat snowflake beef, Jiangzhou fatty lamb, and also a pig brain. Oh, right, do you have canned meat?"
"Canned meat?"
The waiter was confused.
"Oh, you probably don't..." Lin Zhao patted his forehead and said with a smile, "Add a few more dishes, that should be enough. That's all."
"Certainly, honored guest."
The waiter smiled and left.
Lin Zhao put down the menu. In fact, there were several renowned dishes on the menu, but they were too expensive. Among them was a dish of Cangyuan fish slices, noted as being a rare fish found only in the depths of the great river. A Cangyuan fish weighing over three pounds would cost ten Flying Fish coins per pound. It was too expensive. Additionally, there was a dish called Dragon Fin Meat, which cost half a Golden Zi coin per serving. The ingredients were tender meat from the fin area of a dragon of at least sixth realm. Who could afford that?!
The best ingredients often came at a deadly price.
Lin Zhao resisted the urge to order, but he still glanced at the few rarely ordered signature side dishes. He actually wanted to try them. After all, he was out sightseeing. It wouldn't be right not to try the signature dishes when visiting a place. However, the thought of spending a Golden Zi coin for a meal made the intention to rip people off too obvious. This Zui Tian Xia Hot Pot City was ultimately a bit unscrupulous.
Liu Liying sat gracefully opposite Lin Zhao, her beautiful eyes gazing at the young sword cultivator before her. She liked her master more and more. He was refined and measured. Where could one find such a sword cultivator? Moreover, she could see that Lin Zhao actually wanted to order the expensive dishes but couldn't bring himself to. For a moment, Liu Liying bit her red lips. Should she reveal her innate divine ability before Young Master? If she did, there were too many people around, and it would be too astonishing. If she didn't, seeing Young Master's longing for the signature dishes made Liu Liying feel a pang of sympathy.
...
Just then, the night sky outside suddenly lit up, followed by rumbling thunderous sounds of the sword path in the sky. A sword light streaked from the east, illuminating the river. It was a ninth-realm sword cultivator traveling on his sword. He was not being discreet at all, but perhaps there was no need to be. The peak of cultivation in Baihua Tianxia was Nascent Soul. A Nascent Soul sword cultivator could basically walk sideways in Baihua Tianxia.
The sword light paused briefly over the river. After whispering a few words with a grey-robed cultivator in the Void Comprehension realm, it then landed on the ground in front of the Zui Tian Xia Hot Pot City in Lingze Cave. It was a young man in a blue long robe, extremely handsome, the kind of true handsome man. His demeanor was also very amiable, and his manners were courteous. He even cupped his fists in greeting to the shop waiter before heading upstairs.
"Alas..."
Liu Liying sighed.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Zhao, who was ordering, smiled slightly. "Why the sigh?"
"Young Master."
Liu Liying said softly, "If I were to show a little impatience or impoliteness when someone bothers me, please forgive me..."
"???"
Lin Zhao was utterly bewildered but didn't ask further, waiting to watch the show.
On the second floor, Chi Zhongyu, clad in a blue long robe, walked directly to Lin Zhao's table and respectfully cupped his fists. "Lingnan Sword Sect, Chi Zhongyu, greets Young Hero."
Lin Zhao also stood up and returned the greeting with a cupped fist. "We don't seem to know each other?"
"Indeed."
Chi Zhongyu pointed to a stool and said, "May I have the honor of dining with Young Hero and Miss Liying?"
"You may."
Lin Zhao didn't mind. Eating with more people was more enjoyable, and this Chi Zhongyu didn't seem like a bad person.
"Shopkeeper, add dishes."
Chi Zhongyu waved his hand, and the plump shopkeeper scurried over, smiling. "Young Master Chi, what dishes would you like to add?"
"All of your restaurant's signature dishes, one of each."
Chi Zhongyu waved his hand grandly, ordering the Cangyuan fish slices and Dragon Fin Meat that Lin Zhao had hesitated to order, along with some rare fruits and vegetables. He then smiled and whispered a few words to a Golden Core cultivator from the Chi family who was following him. Shortly after, the Golden Core cultivator returned, cupped his fists, and said with a smile, "Young Master, Young Hero Lin, Miss Liying, you may add any dishes you wish to your meal today without hesitation. This Zui Tian Xia Hot Pot restaurant has already been purchased by our Lingnan Chi family!"
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded. In fact, he had realized early on that Chi Zhongyu was definitely not here for him, but for the Fan Goddess Liu Liying. Such a lavish expenditure, directly buying this expensive restaurant, this young man was truly willing to go to great lengths for romance!
...
"Liying, it's been a long time, twenty-three years."
Chi Zhongyu looked at Liu Liying, his eyes filled with deep affection. Such a gaze could not be feigned.
"Young Master Chi, why bring up those past matters?"
Liu Liying didn't even look at him. She only cast her gaze at Lin Zhao and said softly, "Now, I have followed Young Master. If Young Master wishes me to be his wife, I will be his wife. If Young Master wishes me to be his concubine, I will be his concubine. If Young Master takes neither and wishes me to be a slave, I will be his slave. The moment Liu Liying stepped out of the mural, this life already belonged to my Young Master Lin Zhao."
"Alas..."
Lin Zhao held his forehead. He couldn't bear to watch this scene. He could even hear the sound of Chi Zhongyu's heart breaking.
Chi Zhongyu gripped his chopsticks, his eyes welling up with tears. But a man of honor does not shed tears lightly. He turned his gaze to the river outside and murmured, "Is it truly like this..."
"Yes."
Liu Liying said, "My following Young Master is ordained by the Heavenly Dao, and it is also what Liying's heart desires. Liying admires Young Master and is willing to follow him, with no connection to anyone else."
At this moment, the dishes were served. The first dish was tripe.
Lin Zhao picked up the tripe, swished it around, and then placed it on the plate in front of Chi Zhongyu. He smiled and said, "Young Master Chi, let's chat after eating. Liu Liying isn't going to fly away. Don't be sad yet. Sadness can affect one's appetite. Let's eat and drink our fill first, and then be sad when we have the energy. Do you drink? I have good wine here."
Chi Zhongyu looked at the young sword cultivator before him. He was clearly not as handsome as himself, and his sword path cultivation seemed inferior to his. Yet, he had somehow become Liu Liying's master. Originally, he could have let jealousy turn to hatred and secretly killed him with a single sword strike. But Lin Zhao was as courteous as himself, so clearly he couldn't do that.
What a cruel twist of fate!
His heart was filled with bitterness. Only when he drank a cup of Dongting Green Bamboo wine did the young master of the Lingnan Sword Sect's eyes light up. Damn it, this wine was truly good, and the person was also a good person. He glanced at Liu Liying and felt as if he were living in a dream. She was still the woman he deeply loved, but she was too heartless when she chose to be.
Forget it. Enjoy today's wine today, and worry not about tomorrow.
I, Chi Zhongyu, a great sword immortal of this generation, must be able to let go and be carefree!
He looked up and saw Lin Zhao swallow a piece of snowflake beef, then drink a cup of wine, gazing at the scene of the great river flowing east in the distance. His eyes held a sense of freedom, completely disregarding Liu Liying before him. At this moment, Chi Zhongyu suddenly realized that Lin Zhao was the one who truly possessed the demeanor of a sword immortal.
As for himself, he was merely a pathetic wretch, heartbroken by love and with a shattered sword heart.