Gurgle, gurgle~
Steam rose from the pot, carrying a rich, tempting scent of meat that made mouths water.
Inside a ruined temple in the eastern part of the city, two adults and six children, including Qin Zheng, sat around the pot, waiting for the meal to begin.
A few breaths later, Qi Yan looked at the children, who kept swallowing their saliva, and said with a gentle smile, "All right, start eating."
As soon as she spoke, the children held their chopsticks but did not move. Instead, they turned to look at Qin Zheng.
Qin Zheng was somewhat baffled. Then he smiled and said, "What are you looking at me for? You can eat the meat now."
But even after he spoke, the children still shook their heads and did not lift their chopsticks.
"They want you to eat first."
Qi Yan understood what the children meant and immediately explained.
Having seen Qin Zheng fight, the children were a little frightened and did not dare speak to him directly.
Qin Zheng smiled at that. He picked up his chopsticks, placed a piece of beef in his mouth, and said, "All right, eat up."
Seeing Qin Zheng eat first, the children turned their gazes toward Qi Yan again.
Qi Yan smiled softly, picked up a small piece of meat as well, and said, "It's hot. Remember to eat slowly."
The children's eyes lit up at once. They all looked toward the steaming pot, where chunks of meat rolled in the bubbling broth, and began picking out meat.
For a time, the ruined temple was filled with the fragrance of meat and surging steam.
Qin Zheng had not expected Qi Yan's cooking to be so good.
Since crossing into this world, he had not eaten such a delicious meal, so he could not help eating a little more.
Fortunately, he had brought enough meat, and he restrained himself somewhat.
Otherwise, with the appetite he had developed after practicing martial arts, if he truly let himself go, no one else would get any meat.
The meat hotpot meal lasted a long while. Though the children's bellies were already round and full, they still licked their lips, wanting more.
Qin Zheng too put down his bowl and chopsticks in satisfaction.
No matter how much the children craved meat, their age and bodies were what they were. They could not eat much.
Qi Yan, being a woman, could not eat much either.
Thus, more than half the pot of meat ended up in his stomach.
After eating, he felt a wave of heat churning through his body, even quickening the flow of his blood.
Qin Zheng immediately stood and said to Qi Yan, "Clean up. I'll go practice for a bit and digest this."
With meat in his belly, it was the perfect time to circulate his qi and blood!
Qi Yan nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Brother Qin. I'll clean everything up."
Qin Zheng then turned and walked to the open ground before the ruined temple.
He straightened his posture, calmed his breath, and the thirteen forms of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill surfaced in his mind.
Qin Zheng moved at once. The sound of air splitting rang out as he began practicing the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill, circulating the qi and blood throughout his body.
He could feel that the qi and blood within him no longer flowed wholly into his skin, but had begun gradually seeping into his flesh.
In other words, he was about to overcome the first great barrier and step into the second, the Flesh-Refining Realm!
As for practicing martial arts and circulating his qi and blood in the open space before the ruined temple, he was not afraid of anyone learning it.
These were merely foundational movements, not the actual method of martial practice. Ordinary people would gain nothing from copying them, at most loosening their muscles and joints.
Thus, Qin Zheng circulated the qi and blood through his entire body in the clearing, slowly strengthening his inner body.
The children sat at the entrance of the ruined temple, watching Qin Zheng with curious expressions.
Inside the temple, Qi Yan and several of the older children were cleaning up the remains of the meal.
This was only lunch. They still had to prepare dinner later.
As Qi Yan cleaned, she kept looking toward the figure in the clearing.
It was as though she had returned to her former home. The man in the open space was like her brother, giving her a solid sense of safety.
But
Compared with her brother, he seemed somewhat different.
A trace of almost imperceptible tenderness flickered in Qi Yan's eyes.
Time slowly passed. Half an hour later, Qin Zheng felt that the qi and blood stimulated within his body had reached its limit.
So he stopped forcing it to circulate, slowly withdrew his skill, and allowed the qi and blood throughout his body to settle.
Huff!
He then let out a heavy breath of turbid air.
It was as if a light breeze had swept across the clearing.
In a few more days, he should be able to break through the Skin-Refining Realm and advance to the Flesh-Refining Realm.
Thinking this, Qin Zheng's mood improved somewhat.
Advancing into the Flesh-Refining Realm meant his inner body would become stronger, and the upper limit of the force he could withstand would rise.
Then he would be able to unleash even greater power.
"Brother Qin, have some water."
At that moment, a voice sounded beside him. Qi Yan had brought over a bowl of water.
Qin Zheng accepted the bowl and thanked her, then drained it in one gulp.
His body was burning hot at the moment, and after the cool water entered his stomach, he felt much more comfortable.
"Keep an eye on the children. I'm going out to see what's happening."
Qin Zheng handed the bowl back to Qi Yan as he spoke.
He had already told her about the bandits earlier.
After speaking, Qin Zheng slung the Ghost-Head Saber, wrapped in coarse cloth, across his shoulder and strode out of the ruined temple.
Once outside, a hint of hesitation appeared in his eyes.
But after a moment, Qin Zheng sighed and continued toward the south of the city.
He had only just arrived in this world. The times were perilous, and he had yet to witness the vastness of the martial path. This was not the time for romance.
He was only hesitating over how to make Qi Yan give up her feelings.
Qin Zheng had no experience in such matters, so he could only pretend not to know.
Pushing the matter aside, Qin Zheng refocused and began paying attention to the activity in the city.
He discovered that compared to the morning, there were more people on the streets now.
Some stalls had also been set up again along both sides of the road.
As he passed a teahouse, he saw small groups of people seated inside, discussing the bandits outside the city.
Qin Zheng entered without drawing attention, paid two copper coins, and found a seat.
At the same time, he began listening carefully to their discussion.
The main speaker in the teahouse was a fat man, who said smugly, "These are absolutely true reports!"
"The troops stationed outside the city have already set out for Tongguan Town to suppress the bandits, and the yamen has sent quite a few constables with them."
"With Captain Ji and Bailiff Xu, two great experts, leading them, those bandits won't be able to stir up any waves. Everyone can rest easy!"
Someone nearby asked, "Master Qiu, none of us knew about this. Where did you get the news?"
The fat man grew even smugger. He glanced around at the commoners and said loftily, "My youngest daughter entered the yamen last month and became a noble's woman."
"My daughter was the one who told me this news."
As soon as he said that, congratulations rang out all around him.
"Congratulations, Master Qiu! Your youngest daughter entered the yamen and flew onto a branch to become a phoenix. Your days ahead will be easy indeed."
"Congratulations, Master Qiu! Congratulations!"
"..."
Qin Zheng did not listen to the rest and left the teahouse directly.
It seemed Black Goose City was not sitting idle. They had taken the initiative to send troops against the bandits rather than passively waiting for them to attack the city.
That eased Qin Zheng's mind somewhat.
At that moment, he vaguely heard something about "Little Eighteen."
There will be another chapter tonight. Today's data is very important, please keep reading.
Before you continue