After Returning from a Faked Death, My Crazed, Rebellious Disciple Forced His Love Upon Me - Chapter 16

Ji Chen was on the verge of collapsing from hunger. In this situation, even if the food were truly poisoned, he would have to eat it. Otherwise, he would starve to death before the poison even had a chance to kill him.

So, in the end, he could only accept that piece of toxic beast meat. Upon taking it, he noticed the meat had a marbled texture of fat and lean. It smelled somewhat like beef. Touching the texture and feel of the meat, he estimated it was a cut from near the loin. The reason Ji Chen was so practiced was that he had been a chef before transmigrating into this book.

He had been a Western cuisine chef, specifically.

This toxic beast meat was perfect for making a grilled steak. Fortunately, he had the Spirit Liquefaction Bottle, which could spray a miniature flame and serve as a gas stove. Furthermore, the Gilded Sword could be used not only to slice the meat but also to skewer the steaks and hold them over the fire.

As for seasoning, he truly had none. However, Western cuisine emphasizes refinement and cooking ingredients in their original state. Therefore, the challenge was not in the seasoning but in the extreme mastery of the heat. In less than fifteen minutes, a rich aroma of meat wafted from Ji Chen’s hands, drawing the intense focus of the two men watching. Both of them were swallowing hard, staring at the grilling meat with expectant faces.

Kui Mu asked anxiously, “How much longer? I cannot wait any longer.”

Even Yuan Yi stared at the meat without blinking. “Brother Ji, this meat smells so fragrant. Could you spare me a little?”

Ji Chen burst out laughing. It was truly hilarious to see two people who had long ago attained Inedia, the state of not needing food, staring longingly at a piece of meat. However, attaining Inedia did not mean one could not eat. Everyone has worldly desires; just because it is not a necessity does not mean it is not craved.

“Almost. Just wait a little longer.”

Finally, the meat was ready and plated. The two sat at the table, one devouring it ravenously while the other ate slowly. Kui Mu was no longer being sharp tongued. He even praised Ji Chen while eating, “You have quite the skill, kid. No wonder you could enter a sect without a spiritual root. So this is where your advantage lies.”

Yuan Yi chewed the meat carefully, savoring it for a long while before asking, “This fragrance, how exactly did you create it?”

Ji Chen was also eating his grilled steak, explaining casually, “The aroma is herbal. I added some Immortal Slaying Grass.”

Upon hearing this, Kui Mu’s face was immediately filled with shock. “You kid are truly extravagant! A single stalk of Immortal Slaying Grass is worth five spirit stones, and you just wasted it on a single meal?”

Ji Chen did not know the item was precious; back in his time, that stuff was everywhere. He simply thought the Immortal Slaying Grass smelled very fragrant, and its juices had a salty flavor, making it a perfect spice for grilling meat.

But he did not add it randomly. He added it just as the meat began to undergo the Maillard reaction. If he had a pan, searing a steak to trigger the Maillard reaction would be easy, but trying to achieve it purely by grilling was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

The meal left the three of them very satisfied. After they were full, all three leaned back in their chairs and began to doze off. The latter half of the night was fading, and the darkness was about to welcome the dawn. Ji Chen dozed for a while before suddenly bolting upright. He had suddenly remembered Guitong’s words: “If you bring him back before tomorrow morning, you live. If you do not, both of you die.”

Now that the three of them had bonded over a meal, how could he have the face to hand Yuan Yi over? Ji Chen fell into deep thought. Beside him, Yuan Yi quickly noticed that something was wrong and took the initiative to ask, “Brother Ji, what is the matter?”

Ji Chen looked troubled. After struggling internally for a long time, he finally told Yuan Yi the truth.

“Actually, my going to Black Cloud Ridge to find you was on the Demon Venerable’s orders. He told me to bring you back, or else I would die.”

Yuan Yi fell silent after hearing this. Kui Mu was clearly on Yuan Yi’s side and tried to persuade him, “Brother Yuan, you cannot take the initiative to go back and walk into a trap. I know your character; you are simply too soft hearted.”

Yuan Yi replied, “If I do not return, it will implicate this little brother.”

“But if you go back, you will certainly face death! That bloodthirsty Asura who kills without blinking will not let you off easily!”

Yuan Yi fell into hesitation. Ji Chen observed Yuan Yi’s expression and knew he was mainly concerned for him. Originally, Ji Chen wanted to suggest finding another way. But Yuan Yi beat him to it. He had already made up his mind. “I am going back.”

“But!” Kui Mu wanted to argue further, but Yuan Yi interrupted him.

“It is not just for Brother Ji, it is also because,” Yuan Yi’s gaze dimmed, his voice trailing off with a sense of helplessness, “I do not want to leave His Honor.”

Yuan Yi still clearly remembered the state of Nine Slaughter City in the Demon Realm before Guitong arrived. It was a living hell. Because the territory was filled with the ghostly qi left by the Ghost Tribe, it was the most suitable place for demon cultivators to train. This attracted demon cultivators from all walks of life to occupy it by any means necessary.

He had been one of them. Back then, countless demon cultivators died miserable deaths every day in Nine Slaughter City. Some even had their skins flayed and were hung at the city gates. Later, Guitong appeared. With his strength alone, he forced thousands of demon cultivators to submit and brought a rare sense of peace and order to the fragmented Demon Realm. Nine Slaughter City finally ceased to be a place where blood flowed like a river.

It was then that Yuan Yi decided he must follow this man faithfully. He did not want to see Nine Slaughter City turn back into a living hell.

Nine Slaughter City, Seclusion Stone Chamber.

This stone chamber consisted of many rooms, and not all were used for seclusion. Guitong stood alone upon the empty stone steps. The surrounding light was dim, with only a skylight above allowing a faint sliver of morning light to pass through. The dawn light was not yet bright, only vaguely outlining his tall, straight silhouette, which was as upright as a green pine.

His deep red eyes were focused on a massive bronze mirror before him. On the mirror’s surface, three people were clearly visible. They were gathered around a table, eating meat and laughing merrily. The meat was made by Ji Chen. Made with his own hands.

Guitong’s crimson eyes looked as though they were filled with blood, the red so bright it was piercing. From the voice transmission jade held in his palm came the voice of the Left Protector: “Your Honor, the Right Protector has appeared in the city.”

Before the sentence could finish, a loud crack sounded. The dark red transmission jade was suddenly covered in a dense web of cracks. The Left Protector’s voice was cut off right at that crisp snapping sound. The shattered transmission jade broke into countless tiny fragments as sharp as blades, each one piercing into Guitong’s palm. The entire hand gripping the jade was sliced open by the shards.

Blood gushed out like a flood through a broken dam, flowing down his fingers and forming scarlet lines that dripped onto the floor, slowly gathering into a pool of blood. Guitong’s eyes reflected this pool of blood. He whispered in a voice so faint that even he could barely hear it.

“Is everyone worthy of eating the food you made with your own hands? Only I am,” he paused, and a long, desolate, and miserable laugh echoed through the stone chamber.

“Hehehehe.”

The jade fragments fell to the ground. Mingling with the pool of blood on the floor, the scene was one of bone deep desolation.

“Unworthy.”

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