Beggar's "Chicken"

The last group of talisman masters left as dusk fell, marking the end of the first round of competition for the day.

The following day was the time for the senior talisman masters of the Talisman Master Assembly to evaluate the ten basic talismans drawn by the participating talisman masters.

Therefore, there will be no competition.

However, in the areas where the talisman masters reside, they hold internal discussion and exchange meetings.

After all, it's a rare opportunity for so many talisman masters from all over the country to gather together, and this exchange meeting will also have powerful talisman masters in attendance to share their insights with the other talisman masters.

While they certainly won't be sharing their deepest secrets, some basic guidance that might seem insignificant to powerful individuals can be extremely beneficial to ordinary talisman masters.

Moreover, because of the different regions, these exchange meetings are actually quite useful, as everyone can learn more about the various situations in different places and the different styles and intricacies of talisman making.

Although there are 50,000 people here now, in a few days, perhaps even half of them will be gone.

However, the current number of people and the bits of information each person is willing to reveal are enough to benefit everyone involved greatly.

The first few rounds of the Talisman Master Assembly were all about eliminating half the participants.

The ranking process only begins when there are 500 participants remaining.

It was already late at night when Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu returned to their cave abode.

Yuan Qing was already soaking his feet in the cave abode, waiting for them.

Upon entering the cave abode, the two sat down on the couch next to Yuan Qing, and expertly took out a foot bath bucket to soak their feet. Then they took out several still-warm clods of earth from their Storage Bag.

Jiang Youfu handed one of them to Yuan Qing.

Yuan Qing, puzzled, reached out and took the clod of earth, which was bigger than his head, and examined it in his hand. He asked in confusion:

What is this?

As Jiang Youfu placed his clod of earth on the table, he explained to him:

"This is the beggar's chicken we just made! You should try it, it's delicious!"

Recently, they discovered some smaller Demon Beast among the Demon Beast, resembling chickens, said to be called Spotted Sparrow Bird, whose meat is delicious.

Having watched all the excitement of the day, on the way home we thought we should make some hot and fragrant late-night snacks, so the two of us found a secluded spot in the countryside and made this beggar's 'chicken'.

That's why I got home so late.

Yuan Qing looked at the large clod of earth in his hand, unsure how to begin eating it.

Then he saw Jiang Youfu and Lin Xiao beside him raise their hands in perfect unison and gently tap to break the outer layer of soil, revealing a large, warm, and damp mass wrapped in lotus leaves.

Then the two of them tore open the layers of lotus leaves that were wrapped around the outside, and a rich fragrance immediately wafted out from the opening. Yuan Qing couldn't help but take two deep breaths.

It smells so good!

Upon seeing the golden meat revealed from the torn lotus leaf, glistening with oil rendered from the meat broth, Yuan Qing swallowed several times. He then imitated them, peeling open his own beggar's 'chicken' and tearing off a leg.

The meat, already completely deboned, was easily torn off along with the leg bone and tendons he was holding. Some of the meat clung loosely to the bone, threatening to fall off, and a few drops of juice had already been shaken out.

Yuan Qing couldn't wait and took a bite.

!

The moment the meat entered his mouth, he felt his taste buds were completely conquered!

His mouth immediately began to chew rapidly, wanting to savor the wonderful taste while also wanting to swallow it all at once for a second bite.

Jiang Youfu and Lin Xiao, standing to the side, were eating just as enthusiastically.

For a time, the only sounds in the cave abode were the three people constantly enjoying their food.

Only Liao Pantu, inside the Soul-Nourishing Pendant, was tormented by the sound. He desperately wanted to rush out, knock all three of them unconscious, and then snatch their flesh to enjoy along with his own.

Unfortunately, he's probably no match for Lin Xiao right now.

well.

So he could only wait until they finished eating before Lin Xiao, with a sudden burst of kindness, remembered that he was still waiting anxiously in the Soul-Nourishing Pendant. He then led him into the inner room so that he could finally enjoy the delicious food.

Fortunately, Lin Xiao still cared about Liao Pantu.

Before he could finish eating, after only eating half, he remembered that there was a soul in his arms waiting to eat.

So Lin Xiao immediately pretended to eat well and strolled around. He went to the inner room, set up Isolation Formation, took out the Soul-Nourishing Pendant, and then pretended that nothing had happened as he strolled out to continue gnawing on the remaining half of the Spotted Sparrow Bird meat.

Liao Pantu, inside the room, muttered to himself:

"At least you still have a conscience."

He immediately took out the beggar's chicken that Jiang Youfu had given him when they were outside, and started eating right away, not even bothering with the foot bath tub.

Once the three outside had eaten and drunk their fill, they lazily sprawled on the tatami mat, soaking their feet and chatting about their experiences of the day.

After Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu chatted animatedly about the day's Talisman Master Assembly for a while, seeing that Yuan Qing mostly listened and didn't say much about the Talisman Master Assembly, they asked:

Didn't you read it today?

Yuan Qing went with them early this morning. After all, Yuan Qing had volunteered to be their guide, and it was impossible for them to go alone when the Talisman Master Assembly officially started.

But after successfully getting them both to a good spot in the front row, Yuan Qing left.

Yuan Qing shook his head and said:

"It just so happens that one of my close fellow disciples is on leave today, and since the Talisman Master Assembly is being held, most people have gone there. This is a good opportunity to avoid the crowds and avoid being seen, so we found a place to meet."

Lin Xiao tilted his head and asked:

"So, how's your business going? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Yuan Qing smiled and said:

"It's alright. I've already troubled you two so much, how could I ask for your help again? Don't worry, this matter isn't difficult to resolve. I just don't know if I'll be able to return to the Heavenly Profound Sect after it's resolved."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Youfu was somewhat puzzled:

"Why is that? You were framed. If you can truly clear your name, shouldn't you be given justice and allowed to return to the sect?"

Yuan Qing sighed:

"If only that were true, but it was my master who expelled me from the sect. Even if this matter is resolved and my enemy is brought to justice and punished by the sect, my master will definitely not accept me back."

My master is a very proud man. The reason he punished me so indiscriminately was because he felt I had embarrassed him. If he were to accept me as a disciple, it would be like slapping himself in the face, so he would never do that.