Little Huo Grilled Fish Opens for Business

"I was so stupid, really. I knew he was a Soul Elder, yet I still foolishly fought him—"

After waking up, Wu Feng leaned against Ning Tian with a lifeless expression, muttering to herself like Xianglin Sao.

Ning Tian had only provided support throughout and had not experienced the battle herself, so she had merely expended a bit too much Soul Power. By the time Wu Feng woke up, Ning Tian had already recovered her strength.

She supported Wu Feng, patting her shoulder as she comforted her softly. "It's okay, Feng. Look on the bright side. You took so many beatings, but you gained plenty from them too—"

"What did I gain?" Wu Feng glared at Ning Tian resentfully.

"For example, for example—"

After stalling for quite a while, Ning Tian could not make anything up. Throughout the entire ordeal, Lu Yuan had eaten and drunk well, enjoying a hearty meal. Ning Tian had discovered Lu Yuan's talent through Wu Feng, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had successfully made contact with a genius. Only Wu Feng had spent the whole time either getting beaten or on her way to getting beaten.

"It's okay, Feng. From now on, other than Lu Yuan's meals, I'll cover yours too!"

"Waaah, Young Mistress, you're so good to me!"

To be fair, Wu Feng had definitely gained something. This battle with Lu Yuan had allowed her to glimpse some of his more advanced combat methods and tactical thinking, giving her experience to learn from. At the same time, it had tempered her arrogant edge and helped her straighten out her mindset.

Still, getting to know a peerless genius like Lu Yuan through Wu Feng's battle had truly been an unexpected delight. Ning Tian used all her strength to suppress the upward curl of her lips and tried her best to comfort Wu Feng with an expression of shared sorrow.

It could only be said that people's joys and sorrows were never truly shared.

But it was fine. Let Feng suffer, and I'll bear the blame!

Meanwhile, having won freedom from food expenses for an entire school year, Lu Yuan hummed a tune as he left the Soul Arena and headed toward a snack street outside Shrek City's eastern gate, right beside Shrek Outer Court.

Today was Huo Yuhao's first day setting up Little Huo Grilled Fish. Lu Yuan had arranged to come support Huo Yuhao and draw some customers with Sister Nannan, Tang Ya, Beibei, and a few other familiar friends.

"Xiao Yuan! Xiao Yuan! Over here!"

Before he even arrived, Lu Yuan heard Tang Ya's enthusiastic voice. She stood at an intersection with her arm linked through Jiang Nannan's.

"We were just waiting for you, Xiaoyuan. Beibei and Yuhao already went ahead to save a spot on the snack street, so Nannan and I waited here!"

Having finally seen Lu Yuan, Tang Ya did not waste a word. In a rush, she dragged Lu Yuan and Jiang Nannan toward Huo Yuhao's stall.

After briefly introducing Jiang Nannan to Huo Yuhao, they chatted as they waited for the fish to finish grilling.

"This is strange. Yuhao's grilled fish smells so good, so why hasn't anyone come to buy it?" Tang Ya muttered quietly as she looked at the deserted stall.

"Don't worry, Xiaoya. It's probably Yuhao's first day setting up here, and people don't know him yet, so they're hesitant," Beibei said with a smile, soothing Tang Ya.

"Hey? Don't worry, I have an idea!" As the saying went, whenever three people gathered, an idea king would somehow emerge. This time, that idea king was Lu Yuan.

He pulled them into a corner and whispered his plan. Tang Ya could barely hold back her laughter, while Lu Yuan gave Jiang Nannan and Beibei encouraging pats on the shoulders. After giving a few instructions to Huo Yuhao, who was busy grilling fish, they scattered.

At that moment, quite a few Outer Court students had gathered around Huo Yuhao's stall, drawn by the aroma. However, since Huo Yuhao was an unfamiliar face no one had ever seen on the snack street, many of them hesitated over whether to try his grilled fish.

At that moment, a beautiful girl in purple stepped out of the crowd. She had long, wavy golden hair, a jade-like face, and sparkling eyes. What drew the most attention, however, were her pair of exceptionally long legs.

She then stopped in front of Huo Yuhao's stall, seemingly examining the grilled fish on the rack.

Then Lu Yuan suddenly shouted from within the crowd, "Look! It's Senior Jiang Nannan, the number one beauty of the Outer Court! Does she like grilled fish too?!"

Lu Yuan's shout caught the attention of many passersby. Since quite a few students had already been lingering in front of Huo Yuhao's stall, even more people turned their eyes in that direction.

Jiang Nannan's title as the number one beauty of Shrek Outer Court was famous throughout the Outer Court, especially among its many male students. Her exquisite features, combined with her aloof nature, had earned her the title of "number one beauty of the Outer Court" from countless gossiping students.

Normally, Jiang Nannan could remain calm whenever she heard that so-called title. But now, with Lu Yuan shouting it so clearly in the middle of the street before so many people, she felt so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.

However, recalling Lu Yuan's earlier instructions, she forced down her embarrassment, endured everyone's stares, and began reciting the lines she had prepared with Huo Yuhao.

"Ju... Junior, your grilled fish smells so good. How much is one skewer?"

Perhaps Lu Yuan's reassurance that if you weren't embarrassed, then the embarrassed one would be someone else had worked. Though Jiang Nannan stumbled a little at first, she managed to finish her lines smoothly. Still, the slight flush on her earlobes exposed how she truly felt.

"Se... Senior, my grilled fish is five Copper Soul Coins per skewer..." Honest Huo Yuhao was also experiencing a scene like this for the first time. But remembering Brother Yuan's instructions, he obediently delivered the sales pitch and lines Brother Yuan had taught him.

In simple terms, he lavishly praised his own grilled fish.

"Mm?! It's really delicious!"

After paying and taking the grilled fish Huo Yuhao handed her, Jiang Nannan opened her small mouth and gently bit into it. She had intended to continue reciting the lines Lu Yuan had given her, but she was utterly conquered by the grilled fish's own deliciousness—

The golden-brown herring still glistened with a faint layer of oil, while its rich aroma poured continuously from the fish's belly. When her teeth met the grilled fish, there was even a faint crunch. The fish skin had been grilled completely crisp, yet it was not burnt in the slightest. Beneath that crispy skin was tender, juicy fish meat that had absorbed every bit of flavor.

Her beautiful eyes widened as she gave the most direct and natural praise possible.

"Mm, the overall quality wasn't bad. There was a slight hint of acting, but it was already pretty good!" Watching Jiang Nannan, who had finished the script and begun enjoying the grilled fish, Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Then he looked toward Beibei and Tang Ya beside him. "Now it's time for Brother Beibei and Sister Xiaoya to perform."

"Okay, okay! Haha, Beibei, good luck!" Tang Ya, who had long been struggling not to laugh, hurriedly shoved Beibei forward, sending him out of the crowd.