Young Master Bai — Chapter 23
Chapter 23: The Little Fox Loves Eating Shrimp
Jiangdu sits at the mouth of the Tailong River, the largest river in the region. Five hundred years ago, the port was mainly used for small-scale spice trade with the southern sea islands. In terms of prosperity, it was far inferior to the many fertile lands south of the Tailong River. However, after the Unknown Truth Sect and the Ghost Realm reached an agreement to excavate undersea spirit stones, this place became the only port for transporting spirit stones from the Ghost Realm. The Heaven's Way Alliance sent senior disciples here to rotate annually, giving the city the same strategic importance as the capital, Chang’an.
Wherever the Myriad Treasures Hall goes, wealth follows. As soon as those senior disciples arrived in Jiangdu, they scoured for business opportunities — hiring scholars and poets to write and paint about the seaside scenery, inviting master chefs to promote local cuisine, and even collaborating with disciples from the Unknown Truth Sect to develop ice chests that kept seafood fresh over long distances, transporting shrimp and crabs inland to sell at high prices… Thanks to them, today’s Jiangdu is bustling. Restaurants and inns are full, and without a reservation, it’s hard to find a place to rest.
The Ghost Tactician drove his soul-powered carriage from the Underworld, crossing the entire realm to reach Jiangdu in just three days. Bai Chen’s party hitched a ride on his spirit carriage, which saved them much time, though the yin aura of the dead still made the living uncomfortable. Only upon seeing the bustling streets did they gradually recover. The Ghost Tactician and Lu Ren Yi, as Demon Sect disciples, could only stay at the inns designated by the Heaven's Way Alliance. After entering the city the two parties parted ways, simply telling Bai Chen to seek them at the eastern inn if needed. Bai Chen, unfamiliar with the place and unable to act freely, took Chenzui and Li Wuming with him for a stroll to take in the sights — fulfilling his small duty as a Dao companion.
The sunlight in this seaside town was especially warm, and even the sea breeze blowing in was full of vitality. Bai Chen swept his gaze over the various seafood displayed by the vendors. Their bizarre appearances weren’t even recorded in books left behind by the Fox Immortal, making him sigh in amazement. “It’s said the Myriad Treasures Hall rates disciples not by cultivation but by their profits over three years. They really rack their brains for money.”
Only the strong humans would be bored enough to dive into the deep sea to catch crabs that were useless for cultivation. Chenzui, having spent his life in the mountains, had never seen deep-sea shrimp or crabs — he’d known only a few kinds of fish from mountain rivers. When he saw the strange, red crab, he couldn’t resist playing with its pincers and finally said curiously, “Ancestor, this crab is even bigger than my face. How come it hasn’t become a yao?”
“The yao tribe’s power comes entirely from bloodlines. Ordinary beasts, even if they live for a hundred years, cannot become yao. This is someone else’s merchandise — put it back and don’t play with it.”
Bai Chen was also quite curious about these novelties, but as an elder he couldn’t play with them like Chenzui did. Taking the chance while stopping him, he secretly touched it and thought to himself: its shell is pretty hard. I wonder what kind of sea beast could prey on this thing.
Chenzui obeyed his Ancestor, and although he wanted to snap off a pincer to taste it, he still put the crab — which was still shivering from his yao aura — back, even patting its claw sympathetically. “Poor thing, after you’re eaten, remember to reincarnate into something better in your next life.”
How could Bai Chen’s gaze escape Li Wuming? Seeing this, he suggested at the right moment: “You haven’t tried seafood yet, have you? Want to give it a taste?”
He pointed to the Heaven-Earth tavern ahead. Bai Chen hadn’t expected to see that familiar name everywhere he went. “Does the Myriad Treasures Hall really have a tavern in every city in the world?”
“As everyone knows, the best chefs are always in the Myriad Treasures Hall’s Heaven-Earth tavern.”
The fame of the Myriad Treasures Hall had long spread throughout the world, and naturally, the tavern was full of people. But Li Wuming didn’t panic at all. He simply took out a small golden abacus and waved it in front of the attendant. At once, all the waiters respectfully welcomed them. “Quick, tidy up the best private room for our honored guests!”
This golden abacus was the token of the Myriad Treasures Hall’s head. Lin Kaitian had given Li Wuming one when they parted ways, showing that the Myriad Treasures Hall sought to win over the Sword Immortal’s lineage. After that world-shaking sword strike of the Sword Immortal Bai, Li Wuming, as his sole heir, was destined to become the center of everyone’s attention. Watching this man order food so calmly, Bai Chen still didn’t understand why Li Wuming had chosen him as his Dao companion.
The man was indifferent to beauty, and by his own temperament Bai Chen admitted he wasn’t particularly gentle or charming. People said the key to securing a Dao companion was to cater to their preferences, but he couldn’t figure out what Li Wuming was really thinking. What could he do to make this man love him enough to be utterly captivated?
As Bai Chen pondered over his Dao companion’s every word and action, he didn’t touch his chopsticks. Even though Chenzui was already drooling, seeing that his Ancestor hadn’t moved, he didn’t dare to move either. He could only pick the largest crab claw and place it in Bai Chen’s bowl with a hopeful tone. “Ancestor, please eat.”
This gesture made Bai Chen laugh, and he stopped overthinking. “If you like it, eat more. The Great Snow Mountain is far from the sea. Once we return, you won’t see these again anytime soon.”
“Thank you, Ancestor!” Chenzui was delighted, and mindful of his image as a seductive beauty, he lightly used his fox claws to peel the crab and shrimp shells elegantly, picking out the meat with chopsticks.
Bai Chen hadn’t expected he had such a skill and was marveling at the younger generation when a peeled shrimp was already placed in his bowl by Li Wuming. Looking up, he saw the man ask with concern: “What were you thinking about just now?”
How to seduce my Dao companion into being obsessed and peeling shrimp for me every day…
Of course, Bai Chen didn’t say this. He only averted his gaze and said, “I promised you not to talk about yao affairs today. I wasn’t thinking of anything.”
Hearing this, Li Wuming simply assumed the little fox was mulling over great matters of his race. As a man intent on becoming a treacherous consort, he immediately held another shrimp to his lips. “I don’t want an empty-headed pretty boy accompanying me on my travels. Here, have some shrimp to nourish your brain.”
The simply-boiled shrimp tail was full of fresh flavor, perfect for the yao tribe who disliked spices. Bai Chen took a bite, his eyes lighting up. Li Wuming chuckled at the sight. “Delicious, right?”
Though Bai Chen didn’t want to lose face, he couldn’t deny how good the shrimp tasted. Under the table, he lightly tapped the man’s foot and whispered, “Peel me another.”
Li Wuming, having successfully coaxed the little fox to act coquettish with delicious food, was very pleased. His sword aura swept over the shells, stripping out shrimp and crab meat to place before Bai Chen. While feeding him, he gently advised: “Even cultivators who can live without food still travel the land seeking delicacies. Because this desire itself is a kind of joy. Eat good food, see good sights, and when your mood is good, your outlook clears.”
As a child, Bai Chen hated the monotonous Great Snow Mountain the most. Every day, he found ways to sneak out past the guards. Back then, his favorite thing was lying on a mountaintop, gazing at the glittering lights of Yinrong below, quietly imagining what kind of bustle lay under those lights. But as the Nine-tailed White Fox, the hope of the yao tribe’s future, even his parents couldn’t belong to him — how could he speak of freedom? Every time he hadn’t even reached the foot of the mountain before being dragged back. When he grew up, he stopped running and gradually forgot what he had once longed for.
The yao tribe always urged him to focus, not to dwell on worldly pleasures. Only Li Wuming kept bringing him tasty and fun things. Even though those
actions always impeded the great cause of the yao, Bai Chen still liked this man the most.
The strange tales he’d read only taught him how to seduce men, but he didn't know how to show it when he was truly moved. Now he could only clumsily peel a shrimp and place it in front of Li Wuming. Comparing its bumpy appearance to the perfect shrimp meat Li Wuming had given him, the stubborn and perfectionist Nine-tailed White Fox grew annoyed and quietly said: “If your hands are hurt, let me feed you. Sit still, and I will peel you a beautiful one.”
Bai Chen loved cleanliness and cared about appearances. Li Wuming never expected this gesture. Seeing that earnest face, he could only sigh inwardly — well, this little fox’s seductive tricks were improving.
Chenzui’s heart was fully on the crab. Bai Chen, having found a new goal in peeling shrimp, temporarily forgot about the yao’s great cause. Li Wuming, being fed by the little fox, enjoyed himself thoroughly. Just as the three of them were happily dining, a commotion arose outside. It sounded like the attendants were blocking someone from approaching the private room.
Fox yao had the keenest hearing. Bai Chen and Chenzui immediately looked toward the door. Before seeing anyone, they heard an angry shout: “Let me in, this old minister must see General Li!”
~ Chapter End ~
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