I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 40

"Absolute." She had no intention of reclaiming these items.

Nodding, the shopkeeper noted the terms on the pawn ticket. "Both the artifact and pills are of superior quality. Deducting the Poison-Detecting Pearl, the total comes to 950 high-grade spirit stones. Does that suit you?"

Now comfortably wealthy again, Xu Shulou gave a dignified nod. "Acceptable. Please also exchange some mortal silver for me."

Pleased with the smooth transaction—and the absolute pawn—the shopkeeper had his attendant bring out a tray of silver. "Consider this 500 taels a gift, in hopes of your future patronage at Soaring Eagle Pawn."

Five hundred taels would last them quite a while in the mortal world. Xu Shulou thanked him and pocketed the silver, only to notice an invitation nestled in the tray—a month later, the Soaring Eagle Sect would host an auction in Fandu City, welcoming cultivators from all walks of life.

Bai Roushuang and Xuan Yang crowded around curiously. Xu Shulou patted her junior sister’s shoulder. "If we’re free then, I’ll take you for some fun."

Noticing Xuan Yang’s hopeful gaze, she reminded him dryly, "You’ll be in prison by then."

Xuan Yang shrugged. "No matter. Prison sounds fun too."

Bai Roushuang eyed the oddly cheerful creature. "Why didn’t you just seek out mortal prisons before? At least you wouldn’t have had to haul manure at night."

Xuan Yang sighed. "With this fearsome appearance, I worried mortal officials would order my execution on sight."

Recalling how he had to wear a thick-veiled hat in public, Bai Roushuang softened. "Well... you’re not that ugly once one gets used to you."

"Of course I’m not ugly! By Xuan Yang standards, I’m quite handsome," he retorted, tossing his head. "It’s mortals who lack taste."

"..."

Having never met another Xuan Yang, neither could refute him. Xu Shulou settled for a vague compliment: "You’re certainly... appetizing."

The naive creature missed her double entendre, simply brightening at the praise.

Since they were returning to Dustless Island, Xu Shulou decided to bring her master two roast chickens as a filial gesture.

As they wandered the city streets in search of a good roast chicken vendor, Xuan Yang—despite being a prisoner—showed no inclination to flee, happily trailing them in anticipation of feasting on fellow inmates’ misery in prison.

That night, passing through an alley, he led them toward a scent of fear, catching a burly bandit threatening a silk-clad youth for his coin purse.

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Impressed by a prisoner who not only didn’t escape but helped apprehend others, Xu Shulou briefly considered keeping him around.

As thanks, she had Bai Roushuang beat the bandit, whose howls of pain gave Xuan Yang a modest meal.

Eyes gleaming as if discovering a goldmine, Xuan Yang began patrolling shadowy corners for wrongdoers. Unfortunately, in this peaceful, prosperous city with excellent public order, he only found petty thieves or lecherous drunks—none substantial enough for a proper feast under Xu Shulou’s restrained punishments.

Grumbling about his poor timing, Xuan Yang lamented, "If only I’d been born alongside the divine beast Zhu Yan."

"Zhu Yan? The war-bringing legendary beast?" Bai Roushuang asked. "They say its appearance heralds chaos—is that true?"

"It’s the opposite," Xu Shulou corrected, releasing the bruised ruffian with a sigh. "War comes first, then Zhu Yan emerges."

Xuan Yang nodded. "Exactly. Zhu Yan doesn’t manipulate minds. Mortal greed and ambition cause wars—why blame the beast? I just envy their impeccable timing."

Bai Roushuang studied his gaunt frame. "...They do have better timing than you."

Pitying his plight, she suggested, "Can’t you try mortal or cultivator food instead?"

Xuan Yang shook his head: "When I was starving, I gnawed on greens from the fields. I didn’t like it, and it didn’t fill me up."

Bai Roushuang felt a pang of sympathy. "Let me take you somewhere nice to eat."

By chance, they passed by a noodle shop called "All Under Heaven." The owner of this establishment had once boasted that there was no noodle dish a customer could name that his team of master chefs couldn’t prepare.

They paused at the entrance. Though it wasn’t mealtime, the first-floor hall was packed with diners, a testament to the shop’s popularity.

Xu Shulou patted the half-empty food containers in her Qiankun Bracelet and cheerfully stepped inside. Determined to learn from her experience in Seven Bamboo Village and ensure she could enjoy hotpot anytime, she had already stored a copper pot in the bracelet, along with boxes of thinly sliced beef and lamb, fresh fish balls, black chicken rolls, lamb tripe, duck intestines, and other raw ingredients. Now, she intended to stock up on cooked dishes.

The three of them settled by the window in a private room on the second floor. Bai Roushuang ordered a fish broth noodle, which, according to the waiter, was simmered with crucian carp, eel, perch, and pork bone broth, resulting in a rich, thick, and fragrant soup base.

Xu Shulou chose crab roe noodles. Xuan Yang hesitated for a moment before ordering a mixed vegetarian noodle, specifically requesting no animal fat.

Bai Roushuang asked curiously, "Can you only eat vegetarian food?"

"Not exactly," Xuan Yang shook his head. "I just don’t like meat. Besides, natural-born demons like me should avoid it. There have been cases where demon elders started with meat and eventually progressed to eating humans."

"That’s an extreme example," Bai Roushuang stuck out her tongue. "I don’t think you need to worry about that."

"What if I get so hungry that I rush out and devour someone at random?" Xuan Yang sighed. "After all, when you eat humans, you also consume their despair and suffering in that moment."

What a principled demon. Bai Roushuang comforted him, "What I mean is, you’re different from other demons. You’re so thin and weak, with barely any magic. When villagers charged at you with pitchforks, you hid behind my senior sister. You probably won’t even get the chance to eat humans in the future."

"..." The attempted reassurance only made Xuan Yang slump further in dejection.

The waiter soon brought the noodles. Xuan Yang’s simple dish arrived first, but he hesitated, unwilling to take a bite.

Across from him, Xu Shoulo ate with refined manners but astonishing speed. It was autumn, the perfect season for crab. The crab roe noodles were kneaded with crab yolk, topped with a sauce of crab meat and fresh shrimp, and finished with a dash of vinegar to enhance the flavor—utterly delicious, without a hint of fishiness.

One perk of being a cultivator was immunity to the "cold nature" of mortal food, allowing her to indulge without restraint.

After finishing her bowl, Xu Shulou ordered twenty more to go.

By the time Xuan Yang finally picked up his chopsticks, Xu Shulou had already packed twenty servings of crab roe noodles and added ten bowls of beef-thickened noodles to her order. After all, once they returned to Dustless Island, it might be a long time before she could enjoy mortal cuisine again.

Just then, a spirit bird flew in through the window, fluttering to a stop before them. Bai Roushuang recognized it as a Wind Chime Bird, trained by Dustless Island to deliver messages. Xu Shulou untied the letter from its leg and fed it a small fish from the shop before it would agree to leave.

Standing by the window, Xu Shulou read the letter in silence.

The other two didn’t disturb her. Xuan Yang turned to Bai Roushuang and critiqued his vegetarian noodles: "The flavor is passable, but it doesn’t satisfy. I suppose I’ll have to keep finding ways to feed on suffering."

Thinking of the future, he propped his chin on his hand and asked hopefully, "When we get to your sect, will they like me?"

"Do you remember you’re going there to serve a sentence?" Bai Roushuang gave him a sidelong glance. "You’re acting like you’re starting a new life."

Noticing that Xu Shulou had finished reading and stood by the window, lost in thought, Bai Roushuang asked with slight concern, "Senior Sister, what news from the sect?"

Without turning, Xu Shulou replied softly, "Senior Uncle Zhang has regained his senses."