Chapter 22: There is Something Wrong With This Meat

Page 1/3

Faced with Zhao Yu’s muttering, the guards were even more bewildered. Honestly, if it weren’t for Zhao Yu daring to wander alone in the mountains, they might have considered arresting him! Just as they were about to say something, a breeze swept by, and Tieshi appeared.

“Leader,” the guards quickly saluted.

Seeing Zhao Yu, Tieshi was extremely surprised. “Is that you?”

He had originally thought that the outsiders who came must have some kind of scheme or hidden agenda, but he never expected it to be Zhao Yu.

What was Zhao Yu doing here?

Could it be related to the outsiders’ plans?

Zhao Yu immediately became warm and friendly. “Brother Tieshi.”

Tieshi pointed to the inside of the tribe. “Friend, this isn’t a place to talk. Let’s go inside and discuss.”

If not for Zhao Yu’s timely arrival, he and Ling Xuzi might still have been blocked by the paper figures on that low hill, or worse, dragged into the abyss by the black wind.

Entering the tribe,

Zhao Yu kept observing as they walked.

The more he looked, the more disappointed he became.

According to the books, in large human settlements, there should be various vendors hawking goods along the streets, and butchers selling all kinds of meats.

But at this moment, he saw nothing of the sort.

However, his sharp eyes caught sight through windows that many households had dried cured meats hanging inside.

Zhao Yu swallowed instinctively... no wonder people from big places have so much meat, they can’t even finish it all.

Just as Tieshi was about to directly ask Zhao Yu’s purpose, he hesitated and cautiously asked, “Brother Zhao, are you... hungry?”

That obvious swallowing gesture... was it a hint he was hungry? Or did it mean something else?

Zhao Yu immediately snapped back, annoyed. “Brother Tieshi, what you said—I’m not here just to eat and drink for free!”

“I didn’t mean that...” Tieshi hurriedly shook his head.

Zhao Yu changed tone again. “But if Brother Tieshi insists on treating me to a meal, then even if I’m not hungry, for the sake of our friendship, I will eat.”

Tieshi froze for a moment, a twitch forming at the corner of his mouth.

Still, he tried to maintain a normal expression. “Brother Zhao, you jest... my home is over there. Let’s head that way.”

As they walked, he secretly transmitted a message to the tribe to prepare food.

Tieshi’s Home

No sooner had Zhao Yu and Tieshi arrived than the main hall’s table was already laden with an array of fine dishes and wines.

There were chicken, duck, fish, and meat, all cooked to perfection, rich in color, aroma, and taste.

Looking at the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside meats, Zhao Yu’s eyes lit up.

Page 2/3

So this was the chicken, duck, fish, and meat he had never seen before? He had broadened his horizons.

Today, he would feast well!

Tieshi sighed softly. “Brother Zhao, I rushed here in haste, so the food isn’t very lavish. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

Zhao Yu blinked, filled with envy.

Not lavish?

This was the home of a wealthy family?

This friend was a keeper! He would definitely drop by whenever he had time in the future!

Tieshi poured a cup of wine. “Brother Zhao, I toast to you.”

Though curious about the taste, Zhao Yu shook his head. “The books say that people who like to drink often beat their wives afterward. I won’t drink.”

He and his family loved each other dearly. He simply couldn’t drink; what if he ended up hitting his wife after drinking?

Tieshi was not offended. Taking out a teacup, he smiled. “My fault, Brother Zhao. Please forgive me... we’ll drink tea.”

“Tea is fine,” Zhao Yu smiled back.

He drank tea at home too.

Unfortunately, the amount of tea leaves his family had each year was limited, so he had to ration it.

He took the cup and sipped.

Zhao Yu immediately fell into thought. “This flavor...”

A little bit astringent.

Then, nothing.

This tea was no good! He suspected it was just useless leaves!

Because, based on his experience drinking tea at home, there were two possibilities after drinking tea.

When hot, tea cooled the whole body.

When cold, tea warmed the body, like basking in the sun.

His friend hadn’t even brought real tea leaves?

It seemed that while he regarded Tieshi as a good friend, Tieshi did not feel the same... Oh well. Even if the tea was bad, at least Tieshi had prepared such a grand feast for him.

In that case, even if they weren’t soulmates, they were at least comrades in wine and meat.

Tieshi spoke again. “Brother Zhao?”

Zhao Yu silently put down the cup. “Let’s eat... Brother Tieshi, don’t be polite with me. Treat it like your own home. Let’s start.”

As he spoke, Zhao Yu quickly grabbed a chicken drumstick with his chopsticks.

Happily, he bit into it.

Yes, this was the taste of meat... hmm? Wait, was something off about this meat?

Page 3/3

Zhao Yu didn’t believe it and took two more bites.

In the end, he stared blankly at the drumstick.

This looked like meat, tasted like meat.

But why, after swallowing, did it feel somewhat off... Oh, right—according to the books, it lacked nutrition.

How could perfectly good meat have no nutrition?

Without nutrition, how could his younger brother and sister-in-law recover their health?

Tieshi spoke again. “Brother Zhao?”

Being honest, Zhao Yu immediately said the truth. “Brother Tieshi, I feel like this chicken drumstick isn’t very nutritious.”

Tieshi was stunned.

A cultivator whose power he couldn’t gauge was discussing the nutritional value of chicken drumsticks with him?

Ordinary chicken, duck, and fish meats having any real nourishing effect on someone like Zhao Yu would be ridiculous.

He had no choice but to reply, “Brother Zhao, if you want to speak of nourishment, only wild game from the mountains is truly nutritious. Be it wolves, tigers, or wild pheasants, they run constantly in the wild, so their meat is the most robust... though these days are different.”

After speaking, Tieshi smiled wryly. “If it weren’t for the raging Despair Wind now, I would have gone hunting a fierce tiger to stew in your honor, Brother Zhao.”

“I see,” Zhao Yu nodded in understanding.

He had learned something new today.

No wonder the rabbits he caught were nutritious—it was because those rabbits ran a lot.

Oh well, if it lacked nutrition, at least it tasted like meat and could satisfy cravings.

The two continued their meal.

Outside, in a nearby pavilion,

The High Priest and tribal elders squinted at the two dining inside, exchanging glances.

Someone couldn’t help but wonder, “Is that guy really the one the leader spoke of, who scared off those strange paper figures?”

“Though unbelievable, according to the leader’s report upon returning, only he was there at the time,” the High Priest’s voice was hoarse.

Many hesitated. “Could it be a coincidence? Maybe some other strong cultivator passed by.”

The High Priest spoke again. “He arrived alone at our Youxiong Tribe from who knows where. He cannot be an ordinary person! If not an ordinary person, we cannot see through his cultivation... everything is but a façade.”

The crowd opened their mouths but had no rebuttal.

Indeed, with the Despair Wind now raging outside and countless evils crawling out of the abyss, even they, with their level of skill, would be torn to pieces if they ventured out carelessly.

Zhao Yu appearing unscathed at the tribe’s entrance proved he was extraordinary.

In other words, everything now was merely Zhao Yu’s disguise.