After putting on their masks, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou completely transformed. Their appearances and auras changed, allowing them to blend in seamlessly with the crowd.

“Give us two bowls of paste.”

Lu Yang was intrigued by the novel sight. The street cook tended to a large pot of something thick and bubbling. Judging by the number of similar shops lining the street, it seemed to be a local specialty of the Buddhist Kingdom.

“Aight.”

The cook ladled two scoops of paste onto rice. It looked utterly unappetizing.

Lu Yang tasted it and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The flavor also left much to be desired.

Having eaten only the vegetarian meals at Kaihuang Temple and the feast at Samaritan Cui’s home, which were quite delicious, he had assumed that the Buddhist Kingdom’s cuisine was of high quality.

“No wonder I don’t see anyone selling this in Great Xia. Who would eat this?” Meng Jingzhou couldn’t help but remark after taking a couple of bites.

If the Buddhist Kingdom’s paste were truly tasty, someone would have brought it to the Great Xia long ago. The fact that it hadn’t spread in three hundred thousand years spoke volumes about how mediocre it was.

At the very least, it didn’t suit the Great Xia palate.

Their outdoor adventure had hit a snag. They ate their paste slowly.

If they didn’t eat it, it would be a waste of food; after eating it, they felt it would have been better to waste the food.

“Old Meng, do you have any spell that blocks taste?”

“If I did, I would have used it long ago.”

“Great masters?” A somewhat familiar voice sounded, seemingly calling to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

The two looked up instinctively and recognized the person. “Miss Cui?”

With their disguises, no one should have recognized them, except the Cui Family. This was the disguise they had used when they visited Samaritan Cui’s home.

“So it really is the two great masters.” Cui Que’er hadn’t expected to run into Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou at such a humble street stall. She thought she had been mistaken. After all, few cultivators would willingly come to a place like this.

“What brings you here, Miss Cui?”

Cui Que’er pointed to a line of people holding bowls not far away. “On the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days of each month, my dad comes here to give out free porridge. It’s the fifth day of the fifth month today.”

Lu Yang immediately pieced things together. No wonder he is called Samaritan Cui. I had assumed it was just because of his generous incense donations to Kaihuang Temple, but it turns out he genuinely does good deeds.

“By the way, Miss Cui, do you have any plans later? We’re unfamiliar with this place. Could you show us around Kaihuang City?” Lu Yang asked awkwardly.

Initially, he had thought the two of them could simply wander on their own without troubling the monks of Kaihuang Temple. Who would have guessed our first meal would be so unreliable? If we continue wandering aimlessly, who knows what other oddities we may encounter?

Cui Que’er readily agreed. “Sure! But I was planning to visit a friend. Would you two great masters mind if I bring her along? She really enjoys lively company.”

Lu Yang raised his hand with a smile. “That works out perfectly. The two of us enjoy lively company as well.”

“Then I’ll go help out first. See you later!” Noticing the porridge distribution area was getting busy, Cui Que’er felt guilty loafing around and hurried off to assist her father.

After about an hour, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou finally finished their arduous meal. Cui Que’er had also finished her work.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, great masters.”

“The timing is perfect. Let’s go. Let us get to know your friend.”

“Let’s go.”

Cui Que’er strode ahead of them with palpable energy. Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had assumed her friend would be some young miss from an eminent family, but they were surprised to find themselves walking deeper and deeper into the slums.

Sensing their confusion, Cui Que’er turned back and explained sheepishly, “She’s a friend I made when I sneaked out as a child.”

A peculiar expression crossed Lu Yang’s face. Why does this route seem so familiar?

Finally, Cui Que’er knocked on the door. “Qiaoqiao, I’m here. Open up.”

“Que’er-jiejie, you’re here.”

The door opened. It was Tang Qiaoqiao, the same girl who had visited Kaihuang Temple previously.

“Who are these two?” Tang Qiaoqiao opened the door excitedly, but was somewhat surprised to see Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. She didn’t recall Cui Que’er ever bringing strangers over.

“Let me introduce them to you. This is Master Lu, and this is Master Meng.” Noticing their disguises, Cui Que’er surmised that they preferred to keep a low profile and omitted their full names.

When Tang Qiaoqiao heard their surnames, her eyes widened with astonishment.

Connecting this to what happened at Cui Que’er’s home and the widespread publicity, it wasn’t hard to guess their identities. Her face flushed with excitement.

“Please, come in.

“Brother, we have guests.”

“You said Que’er was coming; what guests... Oh, you really have guests.”

Tang Qiaoqiao discreetly elbowed Tang Chuanwu twice. “These two are true great masters. One is Master Lu, and the other is Master Meng. Be respectful.”

Tang Chuanwu’s pupils constricted. He could roughly guess the two’s identities.

“Hello.” Lu Yang pretended it was his first time meeting Tang Chuanwu.

“Hello, I’m Tang Chuanwu.” For some reason, Tang Chuanwu felt nervous around Lu Yang, as if the secret he prided himself on would be seen through.

Impossible, impossible! Even a legendary figure can’t see through my secret. Only I know about my time reversal ability, and only I can retain my memories through the loops.

“You’re studying herbology?” Meng Jingzhou noticed an open book on the table that listed various common herbs. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

“Mmhm, my elder brother is an apprentice at a medicine shop,” Tang Qiaoqiao stated proudly.

“You can read?” Meng Jingzhou was slightly surprised. Literacy rates among children from the slums were generally low.

“Que’er taught me.”

Cui Que’er rapped Tang Chuanwu on the back of the head. “How many times have I told you? Call me ‘jiejie.’”

Tang Chuanwu made a face of disgust but refused to comply.

A knowing smile crept onto Lu Yang’s visage. It looks like this boy has a crush on Cui Que’er.

That makes sense. They’ve known each other since childhood, and Cui Que’er is pretty and kind-hearted. It’s only natural for him to have a crush on her.

Just as Lu Yang was about to tease them a little, they heard a crash. The wooden door shattered, and several mysterious figures in black robes barged into Tang Qiaoqiao’s home.

The brims of their hoods were painted with the symbol of a pink skeleton.

Tang Chuanwu recognized the emblem. His expression shifted dramatically. “The Skeleton Divine Creed!”

The leader let out a laugh that didn’t sound human and threw back his hood, revealing a swollen face that looked like it had been soaked in water.

“Kid, I am Protector Jue, one of the divine creed’s Twenty-Eight Constellations. You took something from us. Did you think hiding here would prevent us from finding you?”

Protector Jue licked his lips, scanning Lu Yang and the others. Mere frail mortals.

“Tell me, will you hand it over yourself and let us leave your corpse intact, or shall I slaughter them all before you hand it over?”

Tang Chuanwu inwardly cursed. Despite being so cautious, the Skeleton Divine Creed still found me.

Cultivators truly possess all manner of unfathomable divine abilities!

Lu Yang’s head was flooded with question marks.

What is the Skeleton Divine Creed? Why have I never heard of it? And since when could a Great Perfection Qi Training cultivator serve as a protector?