The Two of Us Swear to Serve You unto Death

Guang Ling Douluo's eyes gleamed, and he looked even more excited than when he saw a beautiful woman.

In short: the aroma had him completely dazed!

Guang Ling Douluo had abstained from food for many years, but after eating Jiang Qingyu's cooking for so long, his stomach had long since become Jiang Qingyu's stomach.

"Little Qingyu, are you eating? If not, Grandpa Guang Ling won't stand on ceremony."

Guang Ling Douluo licked his lips, practically drooling.

Jiang Qingyu rolled his eyes helplessly. "Go ahead. There's plenty more in the kitchen."

"Then I won't be polite." Guang Ling Douluo chuckled.

Guang Ling Douluo entered full-on eating mode.

Jiang Qingyu was about to head to the kitchen when he spotted two pairs of wolfish eyes fixed on the food on the table at the entrance.

"Elder Yue, Elder Ghost!"

Jiang Qingyu paused. Why did these two look like starving ghosts?

After Yue Guan and Ghost realized they had been discovered, they gave an awkward cough.

"Qingyu, it seems your cooking is quite good."

Counting their previous encounter at the Consecration Hall, this was Yue Guan's second time meeting him, while it was Ghost's first. He had long heard that the Consecration Hall had welcomed someone so stunning that he resembled a goddess descended from the Ninth Heaven.

Seeing him today truly gave Ghost a fright.

Was this really a man? Wasn't this the kind of beauty that could captivate men, women, young, and old alike?

"Qingyu, your cooking is so good. Could we mooch a meal off you?"

The moment he said that, Yue Guan's old face reddened. He did not even know how many years older he was than Jiang Qingyu, yet he had shamelessly said such a thing.

Jiang Qingyu spread his hands.

"Of course. There's still some left in the kitchen. It's for you and Elder Ghost."

It did not matter whether he ate or not. Besides, thanks to Yue Guan's Immortal Herb Record, he had learned quite a bit about immortal herbs.

He placed the remaining food on plates and brought them to the table as well.

When Yue Guan and Ghost sat down, they happened to meet Guang Ling Douluo's gaze.

Guang Ling Douluo smiled.

"Oh? You two are here too."

"Fifth Consecrator, what a coincidence." Yue Guan smiled, having nearly forgotten that the Fifth Consecrator was here.

The three said no more and began eating.

Yue Guan and Ghost had initially maintained the bearing of Titled Douluos, but the moment the first bite entered their mouths, both their expressions changed. Their hands began moving faster without them even realizing it.

The aroma of food spread through the backyard. The three ate without lifting their heads, and for a time, only the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks remained.

Jiang Qingyu watched from the side for a moment, then raised a hand and took something from his storage soul tool.

Golden light lit up in his palm, and an extraordinary flower, jade-like from stem to petals and layered with countless blossoms, slowly appeared.

Glowing light flowed across its petals. The moment its fragrance spread, it instantly overwhelmed the aroma of the food.

Yue Guan had just picked up a bite of food when his movement abruptly froze. He suddenly turned toward Jiang Qingyu's palm, his pupils shrinking as the chopsticks in his hand nearly fell onto the table.

"Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum?!"

Yue Guan had not even noticed that his voice was trembling.

He knew that his martial soul was the Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum. No one understood the value of this immortal herb better than he did. It was an immortal-grade treasure capable of transforming the very essence of one's martial soul. Across the entire continent, it would be difficult to find a second one.

Jiang Qingyu held the immortal herb in his palm and offered it to Yue Guan.

"Elder Yue, take this immortal herb."

Yue Guan suddenly snapped back to his senses and waved his hands repeatedly.

"You're really giving it to me? Qingyu, this Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum is a supreme treasure. It's far too precious!"

"I have no use for it." Jiang Qingyu's tone was calm. "The Immortal Herb Record helped me greatly before. Consider this my thanks to Elder Yue."

Yue Guan looked at the immortal herb before him, his chest rising and falling slightly. He took a deep breath, accepted it solemnly, and spoke with utter seriousness.

"Qingyu, great kindness needs no words of thanks. From this day onward, I, Yue Guan, will swear to follow you unto death, with no second thoughts!"

Ghost glanced at him from the side and snorted.

"Look at you. You don't have the slightest bearing of a Titled Douluo."

"Mind your own business!"

Yue Guan carefully put away the immortal herb and snapped back irritably.

Jiang Qingyu then took out another item.

A jet-black blade of grass lay quietly in his palm. Several wisps of transparent ghostfire burned along its edges, while a few pitch-black nether crystals had condensed around its roots.

"Nine Netherworld Darkmystic Grass."

"Elder Ghost, this is for you."

The smile on Ghost's face instantly froze. He stared fixedly at the black immortal herb, clearly sensing the extreme yin and deathly aura contained within it. It perfectly matched his martial soul and could even trigger a transformation of its origin.

He suddenly rose to his feet, disregarding everyone else's gazes. He stepped forward in a few strides, dropped to one knee, and solemnly accepted the immortal herb with both hands, his voice low and firm.

"Qingyu, I, Ghost, will swear to serve you unto death for the rest of my life!"

"Oh, oh, oh. Who was it that just said someone else had no bearing?"

Yue Guan raised a brow and teased him from the side.

Ghost gave a light snort and carefully put away the Nine Netherworld Darkmystic Grass. He did not bother responding to Yue Guan at all, merely looking up at Jiang Qingyu with eyes full of loyalty.

Pride?

How much was pride worth?

Immortal herbs were things one could only encounter by chance, never seek out. Yue Guan had explained that to him no fewer than dozens of times before.

Guang Ling Douluo gnawed on his food and watched the scene with a cheerful grin, not surprised in the slightest. No one could resist the things Little Qingyu brought out.

He himself had relied on an immortal herb to break through to rank ninety-seven.

Soon after, Yue Guan and Ghost finished eating.

Rather than leaving, they came before Jiang Qingyu.

"Qingyu, in theory, you will soon become the future Holy Son. A few days ago, His Holiness the Pope told us that he intended to appoint you as the Holy Son.

"Although we have not met many times, I believe that in the days ahead, we will certainly become your capable assistants and help you shoulder your burdens!"

Yue Guan and Ghost both declared their stance.

Jiang Qingyu nodded slightly. "I'm very pleased to have the recognition of the two elders. And your martial soul fusion skill will naturally have its uses. You can return now and absorb the immortal herbs."

Yue Guan and Ghost nodded in turn.

They immediately returned to their residences and began absorbing the immortal herbs.

Only after the two had left did Guang Ling Douluo speak.

"Little Qingyu, how did you know those two immortal herbs suited Yue Guan and Ghost?"

"With my brain, of course. Didn't Grandpa Guang Ling also break through after taking the immortal herb I gave you?" Jiang Qingyu spread his hands, shot Guang Ling an eye roll, and left the kitchen.

"Little Qingyu, where are you going?" Guang Ling Douluo had just risen to chase after him.

"I'm going to look around. Also, remember to wash the bowls and chopsticks on the table. Sorry to trouble you, Grandpa Guang Ling."

Jiang Qingyu waved and left the kitchen.

Guang Ling Douluo smiled helplessly. "This child."

Before three minutes had passed, Qingluan Douluo arrived. He had searched everywhere else without finding Jiang Qingyu, and the only place he could think of was the kitchen—and Guang Ling Douluo, that starving ghost.

When he arrived at the kitchen, it was just as he expected. Guang Ling Douluo had eaten his fill and washed the dishes.

"Third Brother, why are you here?" Guang Ling Douluo smiled. "Too bad you came late."

"Fifth Brother, I'm not here to eat. I'm here to find Qingyu."

Qingluan Douluo asked anxiously.

Guang Ling Douluo sat in his chair, sipping tea.

"Wait for him. Little Qingyu has gone somewhere else for a stroll. He won't be back anytime soon."