Her Immortal Love - Chapter 7

Qin Changsheng’s sharp eyes caught Jiang Zhongxue tossing the unopened pack of biscuits and the green box of essential balm he had just given her into a trash can near the bus stop after she got off the bus.

Her glance in his direction might have been unintentional, but witnessing this scene left Qin Changsheng utterly speechless.

He had never intended to develop a close relationship with this assistant Qin Shifeng had brought along. His only hope was to cooperate peacefully with her during their mission at Jishan. Out of courtesy, Qin Changsheng had tried to be amiable, but he never expected Jiang Zhongxue to be so tactless as to openly discard the biscuits and balm right in front of him.

What infuriated him even more was that when Jiang Zhongxue noticed Qin Changsheng watching, she showed not a hint of embarrassment. Instead, she raised her hand slightly, gave him a cold stare, and walked over to them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Qin Changsheng felt he had truly learned something new. Seeing Jiang Zhongxue’s indifferent expression, he swore to himself that if he spoke another word to her, he would slap himself.

Xu Jing, unaware of what Jiang Zhongxue had done, noticed Qin Changsheng’s troubled expression. Seeing his gloomy face, she asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Qin Changsheng shot a resentful glare at Jiang Zhongxue beside him. If it weren’t for the fact that she was a highly recommended assistant hired at great expense by Qin Shifeng, he would have stormed off immediately and even thrown a curse her way.

His face darkened as if it could drip water. Glaring at Jiang Zhongxue, who was staring at the sky as if nothing had happened, he gritted his teeth and said, “Nothing. I’m perfectly fine.”

Jiang Zhongxue, holding her black umbrella, acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing and continued gazing up at the sky.

After leaving the bus stop, the path gradually narrowed. The original cement road gave way to a bluestone-paved trail leading up to the mountain peak. Lush forests concealed scattered houses and stalls along the winding path, which was crowded with tourists visiting for sightseeing.

Jishan was quite expansive. Sichuan was known for its mountains, and Jishan stood out prominently, surrounded by smaller hills as if the stars were embracing the moon. From the halfway point, the Viewing Platform offered a distant view of undulating peaks shrouded in clouds and mist. Unlike the stifling heat at the foot of the mountain, sunlight filtered through the clouds, and a gentle breeze carried a refreshing chill and mist.

At the halfway point, more and more tourists lingered to take photos. The spacious Viewing Platform resembled an open-air photo spot, surrounded by railings and vendors enthusiastically hawking Jishan specialties to hikers and sightseers.

Qin Changsheng had no interest in these things, but Xu Jing was delighted. She suggested taking photos as mementos, and Qin Changsheng didn’t object. He obediently followed her lead, standing by the cliff’s edge to snap a few pictures.

Xu Jing retrieved her phone, happily reviewing the photos she had just taken. After editing one to give it a slightly hazy effect, she asked Qin Changsheng, “Shouldn’t she come take a photo too?”

Qin Changsheng shook his head decisively. Jiang Zhongxue taking photos with them? Absolutely impossible! The fact that she was patiently waiting for them to finish taking pictures and wasting time was already a huge concession.

After the photos, Xu Jing suggested having a meal there to rest. It was already 11 a.m., and excluding the time spent on transportation, they had been climbing the mountain for a full two hours. Their legs were feeling weak.

Jiang Zhongxue remained silent, but Qin Changsheng spoke up: “Didn’t you mention a restaurant that specializes in wild boar meat? Let’s go there to eat.”

Xu Jing was surprised. “You like game meat? Changsheng, I had no idea you were into that.”

Qin Changsheng replied seriously, “We’ve come all this way. We should make the most of the fun and enjoy the food to the fullest. Otherwise, it’d be such a waste.”

Hearing this, Xu Jing wholeheartedly agreed. She nodded and added, “But I’m not entirely sure if that wild boar restaurant actually uses real wild boar meat. Also, it’s not halfway up the mountain, it’s a bit higher. We might need to climb for another half hour to get there.”

Qin Changsheng made a decision immediately. “Then let’s push on a little further. Once we get to the game restaurant, it’s my treat. How about a good meal?”

Xu Jing felt a bit embarrassed and quickly said, “No, no, you treated me to dinner yesterday. It wouldn’t be right to have you spend again today.”

The group left the viewing platform and continued climbing up the stone steps. As noon approached, there were far fewer people going up or down the mountain compared to earlier. On one hand, the mountain was steep and dangerous, so fewer visitors came; on the other, it was midday, and most tourists had stopped to find nearby restaurants to grab a bite.

Qin Changsheng didn’t feel particularly tired, but Xu Jing looked utterly exhausted the entire way. By the time they reached the wild boar restaurant, Xu Jing could barely drag herself inside. She immediately collapsed onto a bench, legs giving out, panting heavily.

From the outside, the wild boar restaurant looked like an ordinary rural farmhouse. It had a thatched roof, a simple yellow wooden door that swung open and shut, and straw raincoats and hats hanging nearby, giving it a rustic, retro charm.

This kind of primitive, non-modern decor held an irresistible appeal for city tourists who occasionally sought liberation and a return to nature in the mountains.

Behind the restaurant stood a grove of rustling bamboo. When the wind blew, the fragrance of bamboo leaves filled the air. At an altitude of over 2,000 meters, this secluded, otherworldly spot felt like a hidden paradise. Qin Changsheng thought that even if the restaurant used farm-raised, water-injected pork and passed it off as wild boar, the tourists, who were there “to escape the material world, experience rural charm, and savor poetic simplicity”, would still taste the pure, natural, unprocessed flavor of wild boar in the humble dishes.

The interior of the restaurant was just as simple: a few greasy tables, some long-legged stools painted red, a counter at the front, and a kitchen behind it with a small serving window. A young woman with a tanned complexion sat at the counter, wearing a black apron. She glanced up as Qin Changsheng and the others entered but continued scrolling on her phone.

Xu Jing was so exhausted she could barely stay upright. Qin Changsheng stood up and went to the counter to ask about the local specialties. The dark-skinned girl didn’t even look up, freeing one hand to point at the large red menu pasted on the wall behind her. “Dry pot wild rabbit, dry pot wild vegetables, and braised wild boar, just these few options. All wild, all natural, our signature dishes.”

Qin Changsheng glanced at the prices and inwardly grumbled. A few customers were seated in the shop. From the kitchen behind the windowsill, a hand emerged holding a freshly cooked meat dish, spicy and fragrant, glistening with oil, its aroma wafting through the air, though the portion was rather meager. The dark-skinned girl called out, “Braised wild boar!” before lowering her head again to play on her phone.

A young man emerged from behind a nearby curtain, carrying dishes. Wiping his hands on his apron, he bustled about, serving food and cleaning up. Qin Changsheng looked up at the bright red menu, her gaze lingering on the price of 199 for the braised wild boar.

This place really knows how to rip people off.

But it’s exactly this kind of vibe that wealthy folks love.

Seeing that one serving of braised wild boar wouldn’t be enough for the three of them, Qin Changsheng stood at the counter, took out her wallet from her bag, and pulled out five pink banknotes. Though her heart ached at the expense, her expression remained neutral as she placed the money on the counter. “One order of each of these three signature dishes. Three bowls of rice for the three of us, thank you.”

The way she pulled out 500 yuan carried the air of a big spender. The dark-skinned girl finally looked up from her phone, giving Qin Changsheng a proper glance, a slight smile appearing on her face. “Are you here traveling?” she asked.

As she took the money and made change, she called out the order to the back, then turned back to Qin Changsheng with a smile. Although many came to the mountains to try wild game, and those with money didn’t mind the extra cost, most would still mutter about the restaurant’s exorbitant prices.

Everyone knew this place was openly overcharging. Plenty of customers got fleeced here, but it was rare to find someone who paid so smoothly and cheerfully.

Qin Changsheng gave a reserved nod. The dark-skinned girl handed her the change, smiling warmly as she asked, “How long are you traveling for?”

Qin Changsheng nodded again, seemingly eager to chat. “Yes, we’re all here traveling. It’s our first time in Sichuan. We originally planned to visit Mount Emei, but we heard Mount Ji is the tallest peak in Sichuan, so we came here instead.”

Hearing this, the dark-skinned girl’s eyes lit up. Qin Changsheng came across as a complete novice, a young tourist on her first trip, perhaps just out of college. Encountering such an impulsive, inexperienced traveler felt like a gift from the heavens.

The girl immediately set her phone aside and smiled at Qin Changsheng. “You’ve come to the right place! Sichuan has plenty of mountains, but few as tall as Mount Ji. If it weren’t for the Emei Sect on Mount Emei and the Qingcheng Sect on Mount Qingcheng, how could they possibly rank above Mount Ji? Actually, Mount Ji used to have its own sect too, but it just never became famous! If you’re traveling here, you should stay a few more days! I know a guesthouse with great conditions and cheap rates. I’ll give you the number. When you go, just say you ate here and that the boss’s wife sent you. With a familiar discount, it’ll be even cheaper!”

Qin Changsheng readily agreed, but inwardly he thought, “If I go, that innkeeper friend of yours will surely squeeze me dry!”