Free Web NovelChapter 276: Chapter 210: There’s a Wonton Shop by the Clouds (2)
The four new forms of his Spear Technique were, of course, moves specifically designed to integrate with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism Realm. Their power was nothing short of terrifying.
Even the power of the eight Spear Technique forms he had previously practiced, like Dragon Head-Raising and Zhaoqing Mountain, had increased considerably.
However, Chen Yi had a realistic understanding of his own strength.
His Martial Arts·Body, Fist, Step, Spear, and Saber had all reached the Great Success Realm. The corresponding martial techniques were Upper Grade Earth Tier, and he had trained most of them to Mastery. However, the shortcoming in his Cultivation was far too obvious.
He had only broken through to the Upper Sixth Grade last night.
All things considered, he could at best fight Liu Lang on equal footing, and perhaps even come out slightly ahead.
If he had to fight a duel or a life-and-death battle against a Martial Artist above the Fifth Grade Realm—someone at the Fourth or Third Grade Realm—he would have to resort to a few tricks.
Like Qingfeng Drunk and Immortal Drunk.
Not exactly honorable, but they would keep him alive.
’I have to raise at least one Dao to the Perfection Realm before I’ll have a decent ability to protect myself.’
’An epiphany, I need an epiphany... Fist Dao or Spear Dao would be fine.’
’Saber Dao or Step Technique would be good too.’
As midnight approached, the epiphany Chen Yi hoped for showed no signs of arriving, so he had no choice but to end his night’s Cultivation.
After tidying up the Purple Bamboo Forest, he returned to his room, wiped himself down, changed into clean clothes, and sat cross-legged on his bed.
However, he didn’t begin his Cultivation of the Four Symbols Skill. Instead, he cleared his mind and calmly gazed out the window.
He watched the distant starlight, the dancing fallen leaves nearby, and the large golden characters that floated before his eyes—
[Daily Intelligence · Profound-rank Lower Grade: At 6:30 AM, a Hidden Guard will retrieve a secret letter from the wonton shop on Kangning Street. A minuscule Opportunity is available.]
"Profound-rank Lower, huh."
Chen Yi pursed his lips. Having tasted far greater rewards, he couldn’t help but look down on a mere Profound-rank Opportunity. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
But after he carefully read the full message, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.
’Kangning Street... a wonton shop? How could I not know about a wonton shop on that street?’
’And it’s a drop point for a Hidden Guard to pick up a secret letter.’
Chen Yi had been in Shu State for a long time. He might not be familiar with other places, but he frequented Kangning Street and the West Market enough to remember which shops were on the street and which weren’t.
’Did the owner of the tailor shop change their business?’
After muttering to himself, Chen Yi decided not to dwell on it.
Coincidentally, he had to go to Guiyun Academy to teach the Calligraphy Dao tomorrow anyway, so it wouldn’t be any trouble to check out the wonton shop.
He then closed his eyes and began cultivating the Four Symbols Skill.
His mind gradually sank into the void.
In the depths of his meditation, a faint thought surfaced.
’It’d be great if Martial Arts·Body reached the Perfection Realm through an epiphany, too. I’m really not picky...’
...
Picky or not, Chen Yi concluded his cultivation session the next morning as he always did.
He stood up, stretched, and looked around. Smacking his lips, he said, "My wish didn’t come true. Guess I’ll have to go with plan B."
And what was plan B?
To slowly accumulate Opportunity, of course. Once he saved up a thousand points, he would choose a Dao and break through to the Perfection Realm.
After washing up and getting dressed, he went downstairs to the living room.
Chen Yi glanced at the breakfast on the table and remarked in surprise, "Are we having mooncakes already?"
Xiaodie nodded, her eyes glued to the mooncakes, clearly craving one.
"The kitchen made some special mooncakes. This morning, they just sent a few to each residence for a taste test. We’ll get more tomorrow evening, after the Eldest Miss leads the ladies of the estate in setting up the incense table to worship the moon."
"And it’s not just mooncakes! There will also be pressed duck, red-braised duck, and osmanthus wine."
Chen Yi nodded and said with a smile, "You certainly have all the details."
This time of year, they followed the ancient custom: men do not worship the moon, and women do not make offerings to the Kitchen God.
Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival moon worship was always performed by the women of the household, who would set up an incense table and pray for peace and good fortune.
As the legitimate daughter of the main branch of the family, Xiao Wan’er was the natural choice to lead the ceremony.
’The estate will probably be very lively tomorrow,’ he thought.
’For one, there will be many guests delivering festival gifts. For another, there are all the tedious formalities. I reckon we won’t be able to go out for moon-viewing until late afternoon.’
Xiaodie, however, wasn’t thinking about any of that. The only thing in her eyes was mooncakes.
Seeing this, Chen Yi gestured for Xiao Wuge and Xiaodie to sit down and eat.
He casually picked one up and took a bite, then froze.
He chewed a couple of times, then turned to Xiaodie, who was daintily nibbling her own mooncake. "What is this filling?" he asked.
"It’s salt-and-pepper sesame cake filling, Young Master! Go on, eat! It’s delicious!"
Delicious?
Chen Yi finished the mooncake in his hand, his expression stone-faced.
Even though he’d seen plenty of bizarre mooncake fillings in his past life, this was the first time he’d ever tasted one full of Sichuan peppercorn powder.
Salt-and-pepper sesame cake filling... ’Well,’ he thought, ’my mouth is certainly numb now.’
’Actually, I think I still prefer the five-nut filling.’
Remembering he had to investigate the Kangning Street wonton shop this morning, Chen Yi resolutely refused to touch a second mooncake.
After quickly downing a few mouthfuls of congee, he left Spring Lotus Garden with the festival gifts he’d prepared for Mr. Yue Ming and the others.
Glancing to the side, he saw Xiao Wan’er emerging from Jiaxing Garden with Shen Huatang and her attendants, carrying an assortment of bags, just like him.
Chen Yi gave a mock-formal bow and asked, "Eldest Sister, off to deliver festival gifts so early?"
Xiao Wan’er nodded. Seeing the bags in his hands and knowing he was heading to Guiyun Academy today, she said with a smile,
"It’ll be inconvenient for you to carry those gifts all by yourself, Brother-in-law. You should have the front courtyard prepare a carriage to take you."
Chen Yi naturally refused. "It’s not much. I’ll just treat it as exercise."
Xiao Wan’er hummed in agreement and didn’t press the matter, gesturing for him to walk with her as they talked.
She had been up since a quarter past three in the morning. In the hour and a half since, she had already finished delivering festival gifts to the residences in the rear courtyard.
After a bit of small talk, Xiao Wan’er’s expression turned a little strange. "The second branch of the family is leaving the estate today," she said.
Chen Yi paused, turning to look at her. He knew she felt a bit of pity for them, and after a moment’s thought, he said,
"The Old Master and Madam must have given this a great deal of thought before making their decision."
