Ate It All by Accident

The effects of Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat left Jiang Che somewhat stunned.

But when he picked up another dried worm, he hesitated.

On one hand, it was truly disgusting. On the other, his jaw muscles were sore beyond measure.

"I'm a Martial Artist, at least. If an ordinary person tried this, they probably wouldn't even be able to bite through it..."

Jiang Che shook his head and decided to try another way of eating it.

He had still hoped that Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat might taste better than Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat.

Who would have thought it would taste even worse!

Jiang Che found a stone mortar, grabbed a handful of dried worms, and pounded them into powder.

Then he brought over sesame oil, salt, chili powder, chopped scallions, minced garlic, cilantro, and other seasonings and ingredients, mixing them evenly with the ground dried worm powder.

"Smells alright. I wonder how it tastes..."

Jiang Che looked at the bowl of paste before him and muttered to himself.

He scooped up a spoonful and tried it.

"It's a little better, but the aftertaste is still disgusting..."

Jiang Che frowned and endured his nausea as he finished the entire bowl of dried worm paste.

"Ah... If only I could eat Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp every meal!"

After setting down his bowl, he could not help but sigh.

After eating Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp at the birthday banquet, Jiang Che had found himself unable to forget them.

Not only were Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp exceptionally delicious, their effects in replenishing Qi-Blood were also powerful.

Although they were inferior to Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat, they were far better than Low-Grade Exotic Beast Meat.

The key was that ordinary people would be poisoned if they ate Exotic Beast Meat.

But ordinary people could eat Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp as well!

The young masters and young ladies of certain wealthy households had eaten such Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp since childhood.

As a result, when they grew up, their constitutions were often exceptionally healthy.

If they practiced martial arts, then even with poor innate talent, it would be easy for them to sense Qi-Blood.

"If I have money, I can buy some for Linger to eat..."

Jiang Che thought to himself.

The family had been very poor these past few years.

Jiang Ling was at the age of growth and development, yet she was constantly unable to eat her fill.

Thus, although she was already thirteen,

she was still small and short, looking like a child.

"It would be bad if this affects her health in the future..."

Jiang Che made up his mind to buy some Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp for Linger later.

Though they were expensive, now that he had the Shao Estate's salary, he could barely afford to let her eat them a few times.

That very afternoon, servants from the Shao Estate delivered the dishes from the banquet.

Seeing the table piled full of food, Jiang Che felt somewhat moved.

He knew his senior brother would keep his word, but he had not expected the food to be sent so quickly!

He hurriedly called Jiang Ling over to eat.

Jiang Ling had been hanging laundry in the back courtyard. When she entered and saw the table full of dishes, her eyes immediately lit up.

She sampled every dish on the table.

When she tasted the Treasure Fish, her face was indeed full of shock, and she could not stop herself from taking one bite after another.

Only after she had finished did she come back to her senses.

"Ah, I... I ate it all by accident..."

Jiang Ling's face immediately turned red, and she looked somewhat embarrassed.

"It's fine. I'm already full. I brought this especially for you," Jiang Che said with a smile.

As he spoke, he placed some shrimp in her bowl.

"Try this shrimp too. It's delicious as well."

"Mm, thank you, Brother!"

By the end of the meal, aside from the Treasure Fish, every dish had only suffered superficial wounds. Jiang Ling's belly was already round and full, and she slumped in her chair to digest her food.

The delivered dishes were enough to feed at least ten strong men for one meal. How could Jiang Ling possibly finish them by herself?

It was not until the third day that the two of them finally finished all the food.

After eating so many nourishing meals and dried worm powder in succession, Jiang Che felt his Qi-Blood growing noticeably.

Vaguely, his Qi-Blood had nearly filled eighty percent of his dantian.

Very soon, he would reach the late stage of the Ox-Hide Realm.

Jiang Ling's complexion had also visibly become rosier, and even her steps had more strength than before.

Seeing such great changes in Jiang Ling, Jiang Che silently resolved to buy more Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp in the future and thoroughly nurse her body back to health.

Within the Gong Estate.

A tall, thin man in a fitted white outfit, with a pair of phoenix eyes, was walking toward the main hall.

He strode forward with his head held high, a faint trace of excitement on his face.

This man was none other than Gong Yulei.

After breaking through to Stone Skin, he had rushed home without stopping.

He wanted to report this good news to his father.

The Gong Family was a powerful clan in the Outer City. Though it could not compare to the prominent families of the Inner City, it still possessed considerable wealth.

However, none of that had anything to do with Gong Yulei in the past.

He had been born to his father and a maidservant within the estate, and he had never been favored since childhood.

Though he had not fallen so low as to become a servant, he could not compare at all with the other legitimate sons and daughters.

However, after displaying his talent for martial arts, his status had risen accordingly.

In order to make his father value him more, and in order to truly become a part of the Gong Estate,

Gong Yulei practiced diligently day and night. Now, he had finally broken through once more.

"Father said before that once I broke through to the Stone Skin Realm, he would give me a share of the Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat..."

Gong Yulei felt a faint sense of anticipation.

The Gong Family possessed many businesses in the city, so naturally, they also raised Exotic Beasts.

However, the production of Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat was low, and in the past, it had always been distributed to the other legitimate sons and daughters.

As an illegitimate child, he was not qualified to touch it.

Soon, he arrived at the Gong Estate's main hall.

At the seat of honor sat a middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy merchant. On the chairs to the side sat a charming woman whose beauty still remained, as well as a young master whose complexion was somewhat hollow.

At that moment, they seemed to be chatting, with laughter drifting out from time to time.

They were none other than the Gong Family's patriarch, Gong Taining; the first wife, Lady Liu; and the second young master, Gong Zining.

When they saw Gong Yulei arrive, they immediately stopped talking, and the smiles on their faces faded.

"Greetings, Father, First Mother, Second Brother!"

Gong Yulei bowed respectfully.

When Gong Taining saw Gong Yulei, he nodded slightly and said,

"Yulei, you're back. How have things been recently?"

"Reporting to Father, your son recently broke through to Stone Skin and came especially to bring you this good news!" Gong Yulei's voice carried excitement.

"Oh? Not bad! It seems our Gong Family will produce an expert!" Gong Taining said with a faint smile.

"Father flatters me!" Gong Yulei hurriedly replied.

"Alright, Father knows about it. Is there anything else?" Gong Taining took a sip of tea.

Gong Yulei hesitated for a moment, then said,

"Your son wishes to ask about the Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat. You said before that once your son advanced to the Stone Skin Realm, I would receive an allotment..."

Lady Liu frowned upon hearing this and shot Gong Taining a glare.

Gong Taining coughed lightly and said,

"Oh, about that. The estate has been somewhat short on Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat lately. Let's discuss it when the next batch comes back!"

Gong Yulei felt somewhat disappointed, but he still respectfully replied, "Yes, Father!"

"Alright, if there's nothing else, you may leave." Gong Taining waved his hand.

Gong Yulei bowed to each of the three, then turned and left the main hall.

He had not gone far when he vaguely heard the three of them begin talking again.

"Master, have you gone muddle-headed? You're giving Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat to that little bastard too?!"

"Madam, calm down, calm down!"

"I think you did it on purpose! Are you still unable to forget his mother?"

"Madam, I swear to heaven, absolutely not!"

"Master, remember this well—who is truly family with you? No matter how well that boy can fight, he's nothing more than a watchdog. What is he acting so proud for? Has he forgotten who he is?"

"Yes, yes, Madam, I understand!"

"Father, I only get ten jin of Mid-Grade Exotic Beast Meat each month. It's too little, not enough to eat! Otherwise, I would have reached Stone Skin too. Give me some more!"

"Fine, Father will give you another ten jin! You must practice properly, and stop running around getting into mischief!"

"Thank you, Father!"