Free Web NovelChapter 109: Chapter 87: The Living Buddha Immortal on Earth
Xu Lei saw a teahouse open on the mountain path.
Of course, the teahouse didn’t just sell tea; it also had noodles, wine, and meat.
It specialized in serving passing travelers.
Feeling a bit hungry and thirsty, Xu Lei immediately headed toward it.
He strode inside.
Xu Lei found that many passing travelers were dining at the numerous outdoor tables.
He glanced around.
Xu Lei didn’t dawdle.
He walked directly toward an empty table.
Just then, Xu Lei noticed four burly men at an adjacent table.
Seeing him approach, they immediately placed their hands warily on the hilts of their swords.
And surrounded by the four of them were two young masters with rosy lips and fair complexions.
These two young masters also shot Xu Lei a wary glance.
’Fraternal twins?’
Xu Lei glanced over, marveling to himself, ’Quite rare.’
That’s right, the two fair-faced young masters looked extremely similar—definitely twins.
Moreover, Xu Lei could tell with a single glance that one of them was a woman, merely disguised as a man.
But compared to the disguise of Wei Qingning, whom Xu Lei had met in his previous life, this woman’s disguise was rather poor.
It was a bit like how a female protagonist on an Earth television show would dress as a man—utterly unconvincing.
’But why are they so tense in this era of peace and prosperity?’
Then Xu Lei frowned slightly and thought, ’Is it because I have two masked Human Puppets dressed all in black with me? Do I not look like a good person?’
As he thought this,
Xu Lei paid no mind to their reactions.
He sat right down on the long bench at the table next to them.
The two Human Puppets also sat down, one to his left and one to his right.
"Waiter, bring me three pounds of beef, three roast chickens, and three bowls of Yangchun noodles!"
After sitting down, Xu Lei ordered loudly, "A jug of your best wine! And a plate of peanuts!"
After all, this was the only restaurant nearby, and this was the only table with an open spot.
Xu Lei wasn’t about to find another place just because they were a bit wary and strange.
"Coming right up, you three!"
A young waiter with a white towel draped around his neck replied, "Please wait a moment!"
"COUGH, COUGH." At that moment, one of the young masters at the next table coughed.
His skin was very pale, but it was an unhealthy pallor; he looked extremely frail.
Xu Lei noticed.
But he couldn’t tell if the coughs were a signal to his men.
Or if he had simply coughed because he was in poor health.
But after he coughed, Xu Lei saw the girl disguised as a man next to him—the one with a healthy, fair complexion and delicate features—immediately look over with concern.
Her four burly subordinates also looked very concerned.
"Eat up. We’ll continue on our way once we’re full," the frail young master said with a faint smile and a soft voice.
It seemed the food on their table had also just been served.
"Wait," one of the guards said, stopping everyone. He then took out a silver needle and inserted it into each dish, one by one, to check for poison.
"I’ll taste everything first." Still not reassured, the burly man took a bite of every single dish, intending to test for poison with his own body!
After he ate, the others didn’t touch their food, just sat there watching him.
They were probably waiting to see that nothing happened to him before they would actually pick up their chopsticks!
’What kind of life is this? Are they really that precious?’
Sitting so close, Xu Lei couldn’t help but notice their situation and grumbled to himself, ’It seems these fraternal twins have an extraordinary background.
’Are they caught up in some feud?
’This doesn’t look good.
’I’d better eat quickly and get out of here!’
Although he was now on his guard,
Xu Lei still didn’t leave.
It was the same reason as before: this was the only place around!
Fortunately, after just a short wait, the beef, wine, and peanuts arrived.
He was told the roast chicken would take a little longer.
Unlike the table next to him, Xu Lei didn’t just stare foolishly at the delicious food.
He immediately picked up a piece of beef, dipped it in sauce, and stuffed a large mouthful into his mouth.
"So good!" he exclaimed, chewing vigorously on the beef.
He then poured himself a large cup of wine, picked it up, and drained it in one gulp.
The slightly spicy white liquor sent a pleasant warmth through his mouth and chest.
"This is the life!" Xu Lei couldn’t help but exclaim again.
In this life, he had become a monk and entered a monastery at the age of nine. He ate some meat that year, but never again after that.
He hadn’t drunk any alcohol either.
Twelve years had passed since then!
Twelve years without eating meat or drinking alcohol!
And now, he could finally eat and drink again!
The long-lost sensation filled Xu Lei’s heart with happiness.
"This, damn it, is being human! This is the life a person should live!" Xu Lei almost wanted to cry.
In this bullshit Dharma-ending Cultivation Era, Cultivation required becoming a monk, being vegetarian, and abstaining from alcohol and sex. His basic human instincts had been severely repressed!
This was also why some common folk, upon meeting an accomplished master from the Daoist or Buddhist Families, always felt that they possessed an extraordinary, transcendent aura.
It couldn’t be helped. After abstaining from this and that for so long, a person’s psyche really did get a little twisted!
But this was what the Cultivators of this era called a ’resolute heart for the Dao.’
"Phoenix True Flame, burn!"
Of course, as soon as the food entered his body, Xu Lei immediately mobilized the Magical Power in his Dantian.
The Magical Power, carrying a trace of Phoenix True Flame, circulated through the meridians in Xu Lei’s body, completing a minor circulation cycle!
As expected, the impure Qi from the food, which would normally affect a Cultivator, was incinerated by the Phoenix True Flame.
Furthermore, the flame instantly digested the food, turning it into energy that nourished Xu Lei’s physical body.
