Chapter 36: You’ve Got Some Nerve

  Transtor:Krukist

  “Lin Yu’s cooking is impressive, and this Braised Pork—I’ve never heard of it. If I’m right, he ied it himself,” Han Ya said, her tone loaded. “Otherwise, a First-Grade Spirit Feast with this impact would’ve made waves.”

  Situ g’s gut twisted. Wasn’t Lin Yu just a quaow he’s a Spirit Chef—and a creator? Still, he knew Han Ya was likely spot-on. A Spirit Feast from pork, the poorest folks’ meat, would’ve spread far, even if less potent.

  Crafting a Spirit Feast demanded a skilled Spirit Chef and choigredients. Situ Deng’s Vegetarian Chi looked like it used manor supplies, but Situ g knew better—its real materials, sourced by Situ Deng, cost over a hundred Spirit Stones.

  Sell it, and it could fetch five or six times that. But Lin Yu’s Braised Pork? No faras. The priciest bit might be half a bottle of liquor—uen Spirit Stones—yet its effect was monstrous. Situ g sucked in a cold breath, pieg it together. Shuitian and Han Ya were after Lin Yu’s recipe.

  He gred at Lin Yu, rage simmering, but with Shuitian and Han Ya present, he held back. “That seat’s not so easy to keep,” he growled. “Hope you st, Lin Yu—or it’ll be a disgrace.” With that, he stormed off.

  Situ Deng gnced around. His biggest backer was gohe match decided. Stayi more shame. As he moved to leave, he stole a look at Nan Ziyan, ag for her to notice him.

  But she was chewing Braised Pork, eyes sparkling, letting out a delighted, “Oh! Lin Yu, this pork’s unreal! Is it really pork, or did you s something in?”

  Lin Yu shook his head, calm. “Just pork. Even the good stuff at the market—a whole pig—costs less than one Red Jade Chi.”

  A regur chi ran sixty Spirit s, a Red Jade Chi five Spirit Stones—enough for a pig. Lin Yu found it odd. Pork here was dirt cheap—did people even raise pigs? Then it clicked: it’s low-value, easy to feed, but the stench orse thah’s. Probably a breed thing. Heavenly Sun ti pigs must be a ch to rear.

  “Ba Earth, pork prices soared before I crossed over. Here, it’s the lowliest food,” he mused, chug at the irony.

  Nan Ziyan thought he was ughing at her. What happeo her picky, anorexic persona? Twiow, she’d ged on Lin Yu’s food. Cheeks flushed, she dowwo big pieces. Her parents’ eager stares begged her to eat more, but she set her chopsticks down—too many eyes.

  She stuck her to at Lin Yu, pyful. Bme him—his food was too good. Uu Deng’s dishes, which killed her appetite and ed her gut.

  Situ Deng couldn’t hear her thoughts but saw her vibe. His heart cracked louder. Silent, he turo leave—doh her world. *When I’m gone, Nan Ziyan, you’ll see who mattered.* He vowed to make her regret this, like he did now.

  As he stepped away, Lin Yu, ever watchful, called out, “Situ Deng, hold up…”

  Situ Deng spun, bloodshot eyes fixed on Lin Yu. Teetering on aional cliff, he saw Lin Yu’s swagger and glimpsed his own past self. After a beat, brag for a taunt, he rasped, “I lost. I’m quitting the Spirit Chef path. Anything else?”

  Lin Yu blihen grinned awkwardly. “Not that. We agreed on a thousand Spirit Stones—you’re not bag out, right?”

  Situ Deng froze, thuruck, throat tight like it’d bleed. *That’s why he stopped me?* The thousand Spirit Storue humiliation. *Clever, Lin Yu. That’s the real sting.*

  “I’ll never fet this thousand—or this scar. Or you, Lin Yu.” His eyes bzed. Nan Ziyan didn’t matter now—not in this reckless moment—but Lin Yu was seared in his soul. “You’ve got some nerve,” he growled.

  With a flick of his sleeve, a pale red crystal card nded in Lin Yu’s hand. “Two thousand Spirit Stohe extra thousand’s for ime. I’ll beat you elsewhere. Heard you’re a healer?”

  Before Lin Yu could blink, Situ Deng vanished, leaving him baffled. *What’s this guy on about? Was he gonna stiff me, then got caught? And that st line—going into medie now? Medie won’t save Heavenly Cloud folks…*

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