Liu Yu Tong immediately reddened at her words, but a hint of delight flickered in her eyes. She turned to glance at Ling Han but when she saw that he looked extremely composed, she could not help but feel a little disappointed.
“I have not yet congratulated Big Brother Ling. When will you be getting married with Big Sister Yu Tong?” Yan Tian Zhao asked in a very innocent-looking manner.
This brat was indeed strange!
Or so Ling Han thought secretly. When Yan Tian Zhao fell asleep, he should have only been about 5-6 years old. Then, now that he was awake, he should only have the limited intelligence of a young child of 5-6 years old, and would need to recover for some time before his intelligence would catch up with others within the same age range as he.
But, just looking at the way he was speaking now, who would believe that this youth had been asleep for over ten years?
However, Lady Yan, Liu Yu Tong, and Yun Shuang Shuang all did not notice this discrepancy—even if they had noticed, they’d most likely think that this brat was a genius who could immediately adapt and get used to having a normal life.
Then he’d just have to see exactly how strange this brat was.
Ling Han smiled. This youth did not even have a sliver of cultivation on him, so why was there need for him to be afraid? He had already mentioned it before. He only sensed a very discomforting feeling from this Yan Tian Zhao, as if there was an incomparably evil soul hidden within the youth’s body that incited disgust from him.
“Lady Yan, it’s best to serve more food. This little girl is a true glutton,” Ling Han said with a laugh, pointing at Hu Niu who had already begun scarfing down the food.
Lady Yan and Yun Shuang Shuang were both astonished. How could such a tiny little child have such a terrifyingly huge appetite?
“It’s a good thing to be able to eat,” Lady Yan said with a smile.
“But, she can eat too well. I’m about to be driven into poverty by her humongous appetite,” Ling Han sighed.
Meanwhile, Liu Yu Tong rolled her eyes at his words. This guy earned over a hundred million in a few moments; no matter how big a glutton Hu Niu was, she would not be able to catch up to the rate he was earning money at. And he still dared to moan about being poor! What an actor!
With Lady Yan’s command, a large amount of food was served one after another. Hu Niu did not refuse any dish, and eventually decided not to use chopsticks anymore but rather her bare hands to grab the food. She moved at such a quick speed that Lady Yan and the others all looked shocked at the speed at which she could eat.
They had seen people who could eat a lot, but those who could eat so much … they had definitely never seen before.
Yan Tian Zhao stared at Hu Niu for a moment longer, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips—he was obviously very intrigued by her. However, Hu Niu was a very sensitive little girl, and she immediately raised her head to glare at him. Her gaze was filled with ferocity and killing intent, causing his already pale face to pale a few shades further.
Aside from Ling Han, no one else noticed this little episode.
Because, just like no one would think that Yan Tian Zhao possessed an evil soul, naturally no one would think that such a tiny, little girl like Hu Niu would have any ability to harm others. They would only think that she was a big eater.
Yan Tian Zhao very quickly discovered Ling Han’s gaze on him, and offered up a friendly smile. Meanwhile, Ling Han gave him a very meaningful look, causing the smile on Yan Tian Zhao’s face to slowly fade and hidden depths to appear in his eyes. This did not look anything like a youth of merely 15-16 years old, what more one that had been in a coma for over ten years and had just been awake for a few days.
“Please accept this Cherishing Flower Command, Mr Ling.” Lady Yan gifted him with an intricately-carved jade plaque that was carved into the shape of a flower. “The holder of this plaque would not only be able to enjoy a twenty percent discount in Cherishing Flower Pavilion, but can also come without any kind of reservations. There are a few side courtyards that have been set aside specifically for extremely honored customers like Mr Ling.”
Ling Han received the plaque, smiled and said, “Thank you, Lady Yan.”
Overall, both hosts and guests quite enjoyed this feast. Of course, the happiest person was definitely Hu Niu. She had eaten so much that her little tummy was slightly rounded. But, when one considered the fact that she had eaten so much food, and yet her tummy was only slightly rounded from the colossal amount she had consumed, it was a practically inconceivable concept.
Ling Han now was not so curious about where the food she had consumed had gone. In comparison, the Spirit Base in the little girl’s body was something even more shocking.
Lady Yan sent out a carriage to deliver the three of them back to the Academy. Yun Shuang Shuang did not accompany them this time; only Lady Yan and Yan Tian Zhao escorted them to the door and saw them off.
On the carriage, Hu Niu, being a very good eater and a very good sleeper, had already found a comfortable spot in Ling Han’s arms and gone to sleep peacefully. In a few moments, a long snoring sound could be heard from her.
“Lady Yan is really too pitiful. She had to support the business of the Cherishing Flower Pavilion all by herself and still take care of her comatose child. If I were her, I would most probably have broken down long ago,” Liu Yu Tong said ruefully.
Ling Han thought for a moment, then asked, “Have you ever thought about why Yan Tian Zhao had fallen into a coma in the first place?”
“It should have been some kind of inborn illness, right? Something like my Three Yin Vanishing Veins,” Liu Yu Tong said. And it was exactly this fact that caused her to empathize with Yan Tian Zhao and dote on him like a little brother.
“Then, when he fell into a coma, he should have only been about 5-6 years old. He has just barely woken up and yet can completely behave like a normal person. Isn’t that strange?” Ling Han asked.
“Maybe he’s a natural-born genius?” Liu Yu Tong paused, then said, “Yi, you seem to be a bit unfond of Tian Zhao?”
“I don’t like this person.” Ling Han did not hide anything.
“Niu doesn’t like too!” Hu Niu suddenly awoke, and sat upright on Ling Han’s lap, looking extremely serious.
“Why?” Liu Yu Tong felt a bit curious.
Ling Han shook his head, and said, “I can’t describe why. I keep feeling that this brat is extremely evil, making me have the urge to thrash him. Therefore, it’s best if this brat does not appear before me again, or I will definitely have fun thrashing him.”
How willful.
“Thrash him! Hit him!” Hu Niu waved her little hands too.
“You guys!” Liu Yu Tong was completely speechless. ‘Why would Ling Han dislike Yan Tian Zhao? Ah, could it be because I doted on him too much, so this guy is jealous?’ When she thought of this, Liu Yu Tong’s heart could not help beating wildly.
“Since you don’t like it, then I won’t see him again,” she said, tugging at her sleeve. A beautiful blush rose up on her face, giving her a very tempting look.
Was this girl misunderstanding something?
But never mind; as long as she did not come into contact with Yan Tian Zhao again, that would be fine. Though this brat did not have a single bit of power in him, Ling Han still felt he was really too strange. And if his deductions were not wrong and Yan Tian Zhao had fallen into a coma because of something someone else did, then perhaps it was because someone had discovered his evil nature, yet could not bear to kill a young child of 5-6 years old, and so merely caused him to fall into a coma.
Chapter 163
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
After returning to the Hu Yang Academy, Ling Han and Liu Yu Tong both went their own way. He had just stepped into his own courtyard when he immediately heard Liu Ru Er’s nagging voice.
“As a landlord, you are really a failure. You did not even prepare food for us!” she seethed.
Ling Han could not help a strange expression appearing on his face as he asked, “Don’t tell me you two don’t know how to cook?”
Instantly, Liu Ru Er’s almond-shaped eyes widened, and she blurted out, “How did you know?”
“I can easily tell from looks of your incompetence,” Ling Han sighed. This pair of assassin sisters were really failures. They failed at assassination and did not even know how to cook. They really were the rookies of all rookies.
“Heng, who are you calling incompetent!?” Liu Ru Er asked with a defiant expression. “When I have recovered all my abilities, I will definitely give you a good thrashing!”
Ling Han could not help but laugh, and said, “Then why should I still continue to care for two enemies like you two! Ai, I’ve been short of money recently, and if I take advantage of the chance to provide information on two criminals, I should be able to get quite a considerable sum of money.”
Liu Ru Er instantly paled and gasped in fear. “You’re just scaring me!”
“Am I?” Ling Han crossed one leg over the other, an unfathomable expression on his face.
Liu Ru Er wavered. She had always been living under the protection of her elder sister and never needed to worry about the bad intentions of others. Now that she was facing Ling Han who was in his second lifetime on her own, she was naturally easily played by him.
“Come, sing a little song for me. If you sing well enough, then I’ll let you off,” Ling Han said, smiling.
Liu Ru Er finally understood that Ling Han was just trying to scare her and could not help patting her breasts as she said, “You’re so mean!” But, she immediately raised her head and added, “All right, then I’ll sing a song. But, don’t think that I’m afraid of you. It’s just been too long since I last sang, and I feel an itch in my throat!”
She opened her mouth and began singing. The song she sang was mellow, and would easily touch the hearts of listeners.
Ling Han nodded internally. This little girl was a bit of a ditz, but she was indeed quite a talented singer. Looks like she went into the wrong business.
“Noisy! Noisy!” Hu Niu was awakened by the song and glared in displeasure at Liu Ru Er, her ferocious nature fully out in the open.
Liu Ru Er was not very happy with her critique and said, “I have such a beautiful voice, and you actually say it’s noisy! There is indeed no hint of elegance in you!”
“Heng!” Hu Niu glared at her in defiance.
The two girls glared furiously at one another, neither willing to back down. From the looks of it, they were prepared to glare at each other until the end of time.
Ling Han yawned, stood up and walked to his bedroom, intending to go to bed.
Xiu , Hu Niu immediately took a great leap and clung onto Ling Han. Then, she turned and made a silly face at Liu Ru Er.
Such a failure. She couldn’t even handle a little kid.
Liu Ru Er clutched her hair in frustration. As an assassin, she couldn’t even win in a staring competition with a little girl. Was she really suited to become an assassin?
***
When he awoke, there was a shade of pale white in the eastern sky. Ling Han sat up in a cross-legged position and began to cultivate.
He was deliberately waking up earlier now to cultivate at a different time from Hu Niu. This way, he would not need to run all over the place to cultivate elsewhere.
‘Not bad. I’ll be able to break through to the eighth layer of Element Gathering Tier in three days.’ Ling Han smiled. What he wanted the most now was to break through to Gushing Spring Tier and peer into the secrets of the Black Tower.
By now, the sun had already risen and Ling Han woke Hu Niu up. Though the little girl looked very reluctant, she still adhered to Ling Han’s request and began to cultivate. Hu Niu had such a terrifying potential—who knows, her future achievements may not be one bit beneath his.
Ling Han prepared breakfast. He was extremely depressed at this. It was fine when he had Hu Niu staying with him, but now that there were two bigger girls living with him, it was still up to him to cook. This was really unfair.
Tong, tong, tong. A knock sounded on the main door.
Who could it be?
Ling Han walked over, opened the door and discovered that his visitor was Jin Wuji.
‘Yi, why did this guy come over?’
“Brother Jin, why are you here so early?” Ling Han asked, smiling.
Jin Wuji smiled bitterly, and said, “Brother Ling, I would like to ask for your help.”
“With what?” Ling Han asked, in no rush to agree to anything yet.
Jin Wuji hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Is Brother Ling able to make a reservation at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion?”
‘Yi?’
Ling Han could not help but look at Jin Wuji strangely. Had this guy struck some deal with Lady Yan? Ling Han had just received the Cherishing Flower Command yesterday and there was already someone here today to ask for his help to make a reservation at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion.
“Brother Ling, I don’t know what else to do! You know a lot of people, and I’m desperate. That’s why I am here to shamelessly ask for your help,” Jin Wuji sighed.
Ling Han smiled, and asked, “What’s going on? Why would you need a table at Cherishing Flower Pavilion?”
“If I tell you, promise me you won’t laugh at me!” Jin Wuji actually blushed.
Ling Han put on a serious face, and said, “I promise I won’t laugh.”
Jin Wuji gathered his thoughts for a moment, then began to speak. Apparently, he met a daughter of a minor clan from the Imperial City a year ago. Her name was Jiang Fei Yan, and the two of them had fallen in love with each other. Their relationship had even reached the point that they were beginning to discuss marriage.
However, though the Jin Clan was a Great Clan in Da Yuan City, it was only considered a minor clan in the Imperial City. Moreover, those who were living in an area under the direct jurisdiction of the Emperor all had an inborn arrogance and felt a sense of superiority towards others. The Jiang Clan was thus not very satisfied with a future son-in-law like Jin Wuji and kept trying to separate the couple.
Thus, Jin Wuji kept trying to rack his brains, hoping to find some way to change the opinion the Jiang Clan had of him.
The requirements to enter the Cherishing Flower Pavilion were very high and anyone who wanted to reserve a table at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion had to at least be from a middle-class clan. Thus, displaying his ability through treating the important members of the Jiang Clan to a meal at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion was undoubtedly a very good idea.
But the problem now was that even if he had broken through to Gushing Spring Tier, the Cherishing Flower Pavilion would still ignore his request, what more now that he was still only in Element Gathering Tier.
Recently, the Jiang Clan appeared to plan on marrying Jiang Fei Yan off to the Seventh Young Master of a middle-class clan. Thus, Jin Wuji really had no idea what else he could do and so came to try his luck with Ling Han.
After all, Ling Han had just arrived at the Imperial City for a few days and had already gotten to know a disciple of Wu Song Ling, and could even possibly be an honoured guest of Grandmaster Wu. Therefore, even if Ling Han had no way to make a reservation at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion by himself, he could still go through Wu Song Lin to make the reservation.
When he heard the full story, Ling Han could not help but laugh loudly as he said, “I had never imagined that Brother Jin would actually be a romantic.”
“Brother Ling, you promised you wouldn’t laugh.” Meanwhile, Jin Wuji was continuously sighing, distress all over his face.
Ling Han still continued to laugh. He patted Jin Wuji on his shoulder and said, “Brother Jin, I am not able to reserve a table at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion, but…”
When Jin Wuji heard his words, he looked disappointed at first. But then, he suddenly heard that meaningful pause, so his heart involuntarily start
ed to beat wildly in excitement. “Does Brother Ling have some other way?”
“I can’t reserve a regular table, but would a side courtyard be alright?” Ling Han asked, smiling.
“Pu!”
Jin Wuji instantly choked.
If one wanted to reserve a table at Cherishing Flower Pavilion, then one definitely had to have the cultivation level of Spiritual Ocean Tier and above, or be backed by a Spiritual Ocean Tier elite. For example, the members of the main branch of middle-class clans were able to make a reservation. However, they still needed to make the reservation in advance, because the business of the Cherishing Flower Pavilion was really too good. If they did not make the reservation well in advance, they would not be able to get a table.
And in the case of side courtyards, one would at least require the cultivation level of Spiritual Pedestal Tier or the backing of a Spiritual Pedestal Tier elite to be able to make a reservation for a side courtyard.
“Brother Ling, you’re not joking with me, are you?” This surprise was huge, leaving Jin Wuji stuttering in his words.
Chapter 164
Translator: _Dark_Angel_ Editor: Kurisu
“Don’t worry!” Ling Han laughed and asked, “When do you intend to treat Miss Jiang’s family members?”
“When is the earliest possible time you can get a reservation, Brother Ling?” Jin Wuji asked in return. He naturally wanted it to be done as soon as possible.
Ling Han spread his hands, and answered, “Whichever day is fine for me. If you’re in a rush, I can get one even tonight.”
Even tonight?
Jin Wuji’s heartbeat sped up a bit more. What kind of concept was that?
Members of the Eight Great Clans as well as the Imperial Family of course had the ability to reserve a side courtyard at the Cherishing Flower Pavilion, but, even they would not be able to go there at the drop of a hat. Even these extremely important people had to make reservations well in advance. Only a very rare few had the special privilege to make use of a side courtyard of the Cherishing Flower Pavilion without making any reservations in advance. The Cherishing Flower Pavilion had the practice of setting apart a few side courtyards that were specifically for such emergencies and could be used without any reservations at all.
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 96