Gathering of Immortals, Blade Technique at Minor Accomplishment!

"Hmm? That really was possible?"

Liu Chu looked surprised.

After learning that Senior Sister Luo Qingyue was a Tendon Refining Realm martial artist, Liu Chu had already suspected he had imagined it.

He had never expected Chen He to claim that Senior Sister Luo might truly have been secretly watching him, and it stirred a powerful curiosity within him.

He truly could not understand it. He had only just broken through to the Skin Refining Realm today, and before that, he had merely been a lowly fisherman. How could he possibly have had any connection with a Tendon Refining Realm martial artist like Senior Sister Luo?

Nor was there any trace of Senior Sister Luo in his memories.

"Hehe!"

Chen He suddenly chuckled and lowered his voice. "Senior Sister Luo was once defeated by a Skin Refining Realm martial artist fighting above his rank during a spar with Flying Eagle Martial Hall disciples..."

Hearing this, surprise appeared in Liu Chu's eyes, and he could not help stealing a glance at the aloof figure in white training clothes.

"So that had happened?"

Liu Chu's heart stirred. Still frowning, he imitated Chen He and lowered his voice. "But what did that have to do with me?"

Chen He said, "You defeated Xu Liyuan in three moves. That combat strength, crushing someone of the same rank so completely, might have reminded Senior Sister Luo of the person from Flying Eagle Martial Hall who defeated her above his rank..."

"So that was it. What a disaster falling from the sky."

Liu Chu could not help laughing helplessly.

He suddenly recalled that when he had first entered the martial hall, Yang Wenhuai had deliberately emphasized that he and Xu Haoran must not neglect their Combat Technique training.

At the time, he had found it somewhat strange. Yang Wenhuai had seemed to be speaking with hidden meaning.

Now it seemed that Senior Sister Luo Qingyue's defeat at the hands of someone fighting above his rank during that exchange with Flying Eagle Martial Hall had caused Yang Wenhuai to lose face.

To the point that he had to stress the importance of Combat Technique even to newly admitted martial hall apprentices!

"Oh, right. You absolutely must not mention this before Senior Sister Luo."

Chen He suddenly reminded him sternly.

"Of course."

Liu Chu nodded. He naturally would not be so socially inept as to bring up something as offensive as Luo Qingyue being defeated by someone fighting above her rank.

"Come on, let's go to Zuiyue Pavilion. The Eight-Treasure Fish there is quite good. I'm sure you'll like it!"

With a hearty laugh, Chen He moved to pull Liu Chu toward Zuiyue Pavilion.

"Senior Brother, could we go somewhere else?"

Liu Chu suddenly requested.

"Huh? Why?"

Chen He froze.

"Did Senior Brother forget that I come from a fishing household?"

Liu Chu said helplessly.

Three years!

For three whole years, he had eaten fish until he was nearly sick of it!!

In this world, much like the ancient world of his previous life, oil, salt, and seasonings were all expensive. He simply could not afford sufficient oil, salt, and spices for every meal.

And without oil, salt, or aromatic spices to remove the fishy smell, fish tasted beyond description.

Several times worse than boiled chicken breast!

"Sorry, I overlooked that!"

Chen He slapped his forehead and quickly remedied it. "Then let's go to Qunxian Residence. Their Gathering of Immortals is quite good."

"Gathering of Immortals? It wouldn't be some kind of radish gathering, would it..."

Liu Chu could not help frowning.

"Radishes? There are no radishes in Gathering of Immortals. Junior Brother, do you want radishes?"

Chen He asked in puzzlement, then added, "If you want radishes, Qinghe Studio's Radish White Jade Soup is quite good. Shall we go to Qinghe Studio?"

"Let's just go to Qunxian Residence."

Liu Chu had no desire to eat radishes.

Following Chen He, the two arrived at Qunxian Residence.

It was a luxurious restaurant, where the minimum expense was one qian of silver. Delicacies from mountains and seas were all available, and everyone coming and going wore silks and brocades. They were clearly people of some standing.

Had it been a day earlier, Liu Chu would likely have felt somewhat restrained in a place like this. But now, although his clothes were rough and plain, his expression remained calm and composed.

Breaking through into the ranks was his confidence!

In this world, money might not be all-powerful, but martial artists were certainly enough to command respect wherever they went.

Even a high-end restaurant like Qunxian Residence surely had martial artists stationed there. As long as Liu Chu was not deliberately causing trouble, even if some minor conflict occurred, they would most likely choose harmony over hostility in consideration of his martial artist status.

After all, they were running a business. They would not be like gang thugs, shouting and killing at the slightest disagreement!

Qunxian Residence's waiter was also remarkably perceptive. He actually recognized Chen He, and naturally did not make things difficult for Liu Chu at Chen He's side.

Bowing and scraping, he courteously led the two into a private room.

"Signature dishes: Gathering of Immortals, Dragon Fighting Tiger, Jade Pool Immortal Scoop, Auspicious Energy at the Door..."

Chen He smoothly listed several dish names, leaving Liu Chu staring in amazement.

"Truly elegant. Even the dish names sounded so lofty..."

Liu Chu secretly marveled, Rich people really knew how to enjoy themselves. This country bumpkin from the water had never even heard of these.

Before long, the wine and dishes were served.

Gathering of Immortals truly was not a radish gathering. It was a dish braised from several kinds of rare mountain delicacies.

"This Gathering of Immortals is a delicacy made from eight rare ingredients, including tiger heart, leopard gallbladder, deer eyes, elephant trunk, and so on..."

Chen He smiled as he introduced it to Liu Chu. "But only a small amount of each ingredient is used, so the portions are not large and the price is not too high. It only costs five qian of silver, mainly for a taste of freshness."

"Five qian of silver still isn't expensive?!"

Liu Chu could not help clicking his tongue in amazement. He picked up a mouthful with his chopsticks and tasted it.

It truly was delicious, so good that one could not stop praising it.

"Come, Junior Brother. You broke through into the ranks today, so it calls for celebration. Drain this cup!"

Chen He rose, poured Liu Chu a cup of wine, and raised his own cup.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Liu Chu also raised his cup and drank deeply.

"Our inner court has only two Tendon Refining Realm disciples. One is Senior Brother Lin Bei, and the other is Senior Sister Luo Qingyue. Both have a chance to break through Bone Refining Realm and reach the limit of the Lower Three Grades."

After three rounds of wine, Chen He took the initiative to explain the inner court's situation to Liu Chu. "Our master is at the Bone Refining Realm. One step further lies the Neizhuang Realm of the Middle Three Grades. Master is already old, and his chances of breaking through to Neizhuang Realm are exceedingly slim."

"Senior Sister Luo and Senior Brother Lin, however, are still young. If they can break through Tendon Refining Realm before turning thirty, they may have a chance to glimpse the Middle Three Grades!"

"What about you, Senior Brother?"

Liu Chu suddenly asked.

"Me?"

Chen He gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "I know my own talent. Besides, I'm not made of the stuff that works diligently. If I can enter the Eighth-Rank Tendon Refining Realm before fifty, I'll already be content."

After saying that, he looked at Liu Chu again, anticipation appearing on his face. "But you, Junior Brother, might have a chance to break through to the Eighth-Rank Tendon Refining Realm before thirty and contend with Senior Brother Lin and Senior Sister Luo."

Liu Chu said in surprise, "Senior Brother thinks so highly of me?"

Chen He filled his own cup again and laughed. "Haha, it's only a feeling. Junior Brother, just take it as drunken nonsense. Don't put any pressure on yourself."

By the time they left Qunxian Residence, night had already fallen.

Liu Chu returned to Heilu Bay. Passing through the dark, cramped alleyways again, he discovered that there were unexpectedly no sounds of fighting today.

It seemed the conflict between the Green Tiger Gang and the Golden Fish Gang might be about to draw to a close.

Liu Chu secretly thought this as he returned home and immediately knocked on Han Qi's door, wanting to share the good news of his breakthrough.

Yet he discovered that Han Qi was not home.

It looked like Han Qi was keeping watch at the gang tonight.

Liu Chu frowned and secretly thought, Perhaps the Green Tiger Gang and Golden Fish Gang are not about to make peace at all. Perhaps this is the stillness before a mountain storm.

Han Qi spending the night at the Golden Fish Gang headquarters was most likely to guard the gang against a nighttime raid by the Green Tiger Gang.

Over the next few days, Liu Chu did see Han Qi, but only briefly. The other man hurried away again soon after.

Liu Chu had not even had the chance to tell him about his breakthrough.

"Blade Technique at Minor Accomplishment!"

That day, the long blade in Liu Chu's hand suddenly slashed out. In an instant, cold light shone like the moon, chilling enough to shake the soul. The blade raised a howling gale, swift as lightning, yet abruptly stopped before a wooden post.

"Junior Brother, this blade technique is truly exquisite!"

Chen He watched from the side, astonishment on his face. "Such a swift slash, yet you can retract and release it at will. Could you have already reached Minor Accomplishment?!"

Liu Chu sheathed his blade and stood tall, smiling. "I just broke through. Senior Brother, would you like to spar with me?"

Chen He shook his head and hastily waved his hands. "I'm not proficient in blade techniques."

"That truly is a pity."

Liu Chu had only said it casually.

"Combat Technique is about to reach completion too!"

Liu Chu began focusing on training his Combat Technique again. His fists were like flood dragons, his claws like fierce tigers, ever-changing and unfathomable. Every punch and claw carried threads of force, inspiring awe.