A Feast

"Water monster?"

Fang Zhixing and Skinny Dog exchanged a glance, both falling into thought.

After thinking it over, Skinny Dog transmitted, "A monster in the water that can overturn large ships? Could it be some kind of extraordinary creature?"

"Mm, that's possible."

Fang Zhixing replied, "You awakened the Maned Wolf Bloodline, which means bloodline creatures exist in this world. It might even be some primordial exotic species."

"Primordial exotic species!!"

The moment he heard that, Skinny Dog became excited.

The human race had flourishing martial arts, so what about extraordinary creatures?

Perhaps...

Skinny Dog's imagination immediately ran wild.

Fang Zhixing headed straight for Riverside Restaurant.

When he arrived, he saw a crowd gathered outside the restaurant. They were all refugees, each holding a bowl and begging outside the entrance.

"Good sir, please show some mercy and give us a bite to eat. My child hasn't eaten in three days."

"I'm starving, I'm about to starve to death. Please, have pity on me."

"Is that the smell of roast chicken? Sirs upstairs, please give me a chicken bone. I'll kowtow to you!"

The restaurant was filled with tantalizing aromas, while starving corpses lay everywhere outside.

The hungry people smelled the fragrant food, naturally making them even hungrier.

Though cries of grief rose outside, the people inside the restaurant remained unmoved. They ate and drank as they pleased, turning a deaf ear.

There were too many refugees, packed shoulder to shoulder.

Fang Zhixing and Skinny Dog stood outside the crowd, unsure how to enter the restaurant for a moment.

Just then, four burly men emerged from the restaurant. Each was powerfully built and vicious-looking, their bodies covered in blue tattoos.

They held wooden clubs as thick as arms. The moment they appeared, the faces of the refugees changed drastically. Terrified, they turned and fled.

Those who ran too slowly were caught by the burly men, who raised their clubs and beat them mercilessly.

Before long, more than a dozen refugees had been beaten bloody, their wails ringing through the air.

"Fuck, get the hell away from here!"

"Anyone who dares interfere with the restaurant's business again, I'll break your dog legs."

The four burly men were aggressive and ferocious.

They were clearly guards hired by the restaurant, maintaining order through violence. Anyone who displeased them would pay dearly.

The refugees dispersed.

Seeing this, Fang Zhixing simply walked toward the restaurant.

"Well, would you look at that—someone really isn't afraid of dying!"

One of the burly men spotted Fang Zhixing. So enraged that he laughed, he shook his club and strode forward.

Fang Zhixing was initially stunned, but then realized something was wrong.

Skinny Dog immediately stopped and chuckled. "Look at yourself. You're dressed in rags and wearing straw sandals. What's the difference between you and those refugees?"

Fang Zhixing also realized the problem and quickly said, "I'm not a refugee. I came here to eat."

"You?"

The burly man did not believe him at all. He raised his club and swung it at Fang Zhixing's head.

Fang Zhixing curled his lip and sidestepped the blow. Using a move from the Iron Mountain Art, he slid forward, twisted close to the burly man, clenched his five fingers into a fist, and drove it out.

This move was called Unexpected Disaster. It struck the enemy's flank, bursting his liver.

Bang!

The burly man let out a muffled grunt and instantly crumpled to the ground. Clutching his lower back, his face twisted in unbearable pain. He could not get up for a long while, sweat pouring down like rain.

"Huh?!"

The other three burly men were startled. They stared fixedly at Fang Zhixing, astonished beyond measure.

All four of them were powerfully built tough men. In all of Little Clear River Market Town, there were few people who could knock any one of them down with a single punch.

Fang Zhixing took a step back and calmly spread his hands. "I came here to eat, not cause trouble."

One burly man frowned and asked, "Do you have money?"

Fang Zhixing directly pulled out his money pouch and shook it, producing a clinking sound. "Is this enough?"

The burly man's pupils contracted. "Enough. Please come in."

Fang Zhixing calmly walked inside, with Skinny Dog eagerly trotting after him.

"Is this your dog?" the burly man asked.

Fang Zhixing nodded.

The burly man reminded him, "There are many distinguished guests inside. Keep your dog under control. If it bites someone, you'll have to compensate them in full. This establishment bears no responsibility."

"Mm, understood." Fang Zhixing answered, then suddenly asked, "Where in town can I buy clothes?"

The burly man replied, "You can buy fabric from a silk shop first, then find a tailor to make clothes for you."

Fang Zhixing shook his head. "That's too slow. Are there any ready-made outfits?"

The burly man answered, "There are, on South Street. But ready-made outfits aren't cheap."

Fang Zhixing understood and turned into the restaurant hall.

There were many round tables arranged throughout the hall, and more than half were occupied.

Fang Zhixing casually chose an empty table and sat down. Skinny Dog also jumped onto a bench and sat upright with his head held high.

A waiter soon came over, removed the rag from his shoulder, wiped down the table, and smiled. "What would you like to eat, sir?"

Fang Zhixing replied, "It's my first time here. What are your specialties?"

The waiter immediately said, "We have plenty of specialties: deboned meat, young chicken stir-fried with old ginger, stir-fried three river delicacies..."

He rattled off seven or eight dish names in one breath.

Fang Zhixing asked about the prices and ordered three meat dishes and a bowl of rice.

The waiter promptly said, "Sir, we require payment before serving the dishes."

Fang Zhixing readily paid. The total came to one hundred and eighty-two large coins.

After waiting a moment...

The waiter brought over the first dish: deboned meat!

Chunks of meat were piled on the plate, garnished with minced ginger and garlic, accompanied by a bowl of soy sauce. It smelled incredibly delicious.

Fang Zhixing could not help swallowing.

He had been in this world for over a month, and this was the first time he had enjoyed food prepared by a chef.

He picked up a piece of meat and put it into his mouth. The flavor bloomed across his tongue, bringing pleasure from the inside out.

Then he picked up another piece, dipped it in a little soy sauce, and put it in his mouth. The meat flavor wrapped around the rich aroma of the sauce. It was simply exquisite, impossible to stop eating.

"Woof, woof~"

Skinny Dog grew anxious. He could not use chopsticks and could only watch eagerly, drool streaming from his mouth.

Fang Zhixing rolled his eyes, divided half the meat into a small bowl, and placed it before Skinny Dog.

"Soy sauce! I want soy sauce!" Skinny Dog shouted seriously.

Soy sauce was the soul of this dish!

Fang Zhixing ignored him and continued eating heartily.

"Woof, woof woof!"

Skinny Dog cursed loudly. If Fang Zhixing would not give him soy sauce, he would make a scene.

Since coming to this world, other than chili peppers and salt, he had not tasted any other seasonings. He had been craving them to death.

The barking soon drew everyone's attention, and they all turned to look.

"Just look at this. These days, people can barely feed themselves, yet someone is feeding meat to a dog." An old man stroked his beard and shook his head with a sigh.

"Who is this? He's dressed in tatters, yet he has money to raise a dog?" A middle-aged man in a blue robe frowned.

The crowd began discussing among themselves.

Fang Zhixing heard them and shot Skinny Dog a fierce glare.

Skinny Dog refused to relent, holding out a paw. "Soy sauce!"

Fang Zhixing bared his teeth and gave him half a bowl of soy sauce.

Skinny Dog was overjoyed and finally quieted down, lowering his head to wolf down the food.