Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Accidentally Ate It All

Jiang Che was somewhat shocked by the effects of the Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat.

However, he hesitated when he picked up another piece of dried insect.

For one thing, it was truly awful to eat. For another, his jaw muscles were incredibly sore.

’I’m a Martial Artist, after all. A normal person probably couldn’t even bite through this...’

Jiang Che shook his head and decided to try a different way of eating it.

He had hoped the Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat would taste better than the Low-Grade version.

He never expected it to be even worse!

Jiang Che found a stone mortar, grabbed a handful of dried insects, and pounded them into a powder.

Then, he brought over sesame oil, salt, chili powder, chopped green onions, minced garlic, cilantro, and other seasonings and ingredients, mixing them evenly with the ground Insect Powder.

"It smells okay, but I wonder how it tastes..."

Jiang Che muttered to himself, looking at the bowl of paste before him.

He scooped up a spoonful and tasted it.

’It’s a little better, but the aftertaste is still disgusting...’

Jiang Che frowned, forcing himself to finish the bowl of insect paste despite the nausea.

"Sigh... If only I could eat Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp for every meal!"

He couldn’t help but sigh after putting down the bowl.

Ever since eating the Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp at the birthday banquet, Jiang Che couldn’t get them out of his mind.

Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp were not only extremely delicious, but their effect on replenishing Qi Blood was also very strong.

Although not as potent as Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat, they were much better than the Low-Grade variety.

The key was that ordinary people would be poisoned if they ate Exotic Beast Meat.

But Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp could be eaten by anyone!

The young masters and ladies of some wealthy families grew up eating this kind of Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp.

As a result, they often grew up with very healthy constitutions.

When it came to Martial Arts Training, even if their Root Bone was poor, they could easily begin Sensing their Qi Blood.

’If I get rich, I could buy some for Ling’er to eat...’

Jiang Che thought to himself.

His family had been very poor in recent years.

Jiang Ling was at the age for a growth spurt, but she never had enough to eat.

Therefore, even though she was already thirteen years old,

she was short and small, still looking like a child.

’It would be bad if this affects her health in the future...’

Jiang Che made up his mind. He decided he would buy some Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp for Ling’er to eat.

Although it was very expensive, with his salary from the Shao Mansion, he could barely afford it a few times.

That afternoon, a servant from the Shao Mansion delivered the dishes from the banquet.

Looking at the table filled to the brim with food, Jiang Che felt a little touched.

He knew his senior brother was a man of his word, but he hadn’t expected the delivery to be so fast!

He quickly called Jiang Ling over to eat.

Jiang Ling was hanging laundry in the backyard. When she came in and saw the table full of food, her eyes lit up.

She tasted each of the dishes on the table one by one.

After tasting the Treasure Fish, she wore a look of shock and couldn’t help but eat one bite after another.

She only snapped out of it after she had finished it all.

"Ah, I... I accidentally finished it all..."

Jiang Ling’s face instantly turned red with embarrassment.

"It’s fine. I’m already full. I brought this back especially for you," Jiang Che said with a smile.

After speaking, he picked up some shrimp for her.

"Try this shrimp, too. It’s delicious."

"Okay, thank you, Brother!"

By the end, aside from the Treasure Fish, the other dishes were barely touched. Jiang Ling’s belly was already bulging, and she was slumped in her chair, digesting.

The food that was delivered was enough to feed at least ten strong men. There was no way Jiang Ling could finish it all by herself.

It took them until the third day to finally finish all the dishes.

After continuously eating so many nourishing meals and so much Insect Powder, Jiang Che felt a very obvious increase in his Qi Blood.

He could vaguely feel that his Qi Blood was about to fill eighty percent of his Dantian.

Soon, he would reach the Late-stage Bull Skin Realm.

Jiang Ling’s complexion had also become noticeably rosier, and she walked with more energy.

Seeing such a big change in Jiang Ling, Jiang Che secretly resolved to buy more Treasure Fish and Treasure Shrimp in the future to completely nurse her body back to health.

...

...

In the courtyard of the Gong Mansion.

A tall, thin man with phoenix eyes, dressed in white martial attire, was walking towards the main hall.

He strode confidently, a hint of excitement on his face.

This was none other than Gong Yulei.

After breaking through to the Stone Skin Realm, he had rushed home without stopping.

He wanted to report this good news to his father.

The Gong Family was a powerful clan in the Outer City. Although not as illustrious as an Inner City Noble Family, they still possessed considerable wealth.

However, none of this had anything to do with Gong Yulei in the past.

He was the son of his father and a maidservant in the mansion, and he had been looked down upon since childhood.

While he wasn’t reduced to the level of a servant, he couldn’t compare to the other legitimate sons and daughters at all.

But ever since he revealed his Talent for Martial Arts, his status had improved accordingly.

In order to make his father value him more, to truly become a part of the Gong Mansion,

Gong Yulei had trained diligently day and night, and now he had finally broken through again.

’Father previously said that once I broke through to the Stone Skin Realm, he would give me a share of the Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat...’

Gong Yulei felt a faint sense of anticipation.

The Gong Family had many businesses in the city and naturally raised Exotic Beasts as well.

However, the yield of Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat was low, and in the past, it was always distributed to the other legitimate sons and daughters.

As an illegitimate son, he had no right to even think about it.

Soon, he arrived at the main hall of the Gong Mansion.

At the head of the hall sat a middle-aged man dressed like a wealthy patriarch. On chairs to the side sat a still-charming woman and a Young Master with a somewhat pale and puffy face.

At this moment, they seemed to be chatting, with laughter ringing out from time to time.

These were the Gong Family Patriarch, Gong Tianing; the first wife, Mrs. Liu; and the second Young Master, Gong Zining.

Seeing Gong Yulei arrive, they immediately stopped talking, and the smiles on their faces faded.

"Greetings, Father, First Madam, Second Brother!"

Gong Yulei bowed respectfully.

When Gong Tianing saw Gong Yulei, he nodded slightly and said:

"Yulei, you’re back. How have you been?"

"Replying to Father, your son has recently broken through to Stone Skin. I came especially to report the good news!" Gong Yulei’s voice was filled with excitement.

"Oh? Excellent! It seems our Gong Family is about to produce an expert!" Gong Tianing said with a faint smile.

"Father, you flatter me!" Gong Yulei said hurriedly.

"Alright, I’m aware of the matter. Is there anything else?" Gong Tianing took a sip of tea.

Gong Yulei hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Your son wanted to ask about the Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat. You previously said that after I was promoted to the Stone Skin Realm, I would receive an allotment..."

Hearing this, Mrs. Liu frowned and shot Gong Tianing a glare.

Gong Tianing cleared his throat lightly and said:

"Oh, about that. The supply of Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat has been a bit tight in the mansion recently. Let’s talk about it next time you come back!"

Gong Yulei was disappointed to hear this, but he still said respectfully, "Yes, Father!"

"Alright, if there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed." Gong Tianing waved his hand.

Gong Yulei bowed to each of the three before turning and leaving the hall.

He hadn’t gone far when he faintly heard the three of them start talking again.

"Master, have you lost your mind? How could you even consider giving Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat to that little bastard?!"

"My lady, calm down! Please, calm down!"

"I think you did it on purpose! Are you still hung up on his mother?"

"My lady, I swear to the heavens, I’m really not!"

"Master, you had better remember who your real family is! No matter how good that boy is at fighting, he’s nothing more than a household guard. I don’t know what he’s so smug about, has he forgotten who he is!"

"Yes, yes, my lady, I understand!"

"Dad, I only get ten catties of Middle-Grade Exotic Beast Meat a month. It’s too little, not even enough to eat! Otherwise, I’d be at Stone Skin by now, too. Can you give me some more!"

"Fine, Dad will give you another ten catties! But you must train properly and stop messing around outside!"

"Thanks, Dad!"

...