Chapter 214: Overcast and Sunny Days

As the founders of the "One More Time" barbecue restaurant, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou naturally possessed excellent culinary skills. This was already evident during their time in Yanjiang County, and now that Lu Yang had mastered the Samadhi True Flame, his abilities had ascended to a new level. Within the Foundation Establishment stage, Lu Yang was confident that he had no rivals when it came to grilling techniques.

Lu Yang shook the skewers, making the cumin and chili powder tumble over the meat. The heat from the fire thoroughly awakened the flavors, causing even Qin Yanyan, who preferred light food, to involuntarily swallow.

"Come, come, it's ready!" Lu Yang placed two large handfuls of skewers onto the grilling tray with a thud, sounding impressively substantial.

Meng Jingzhou was also busy, expertly grilling potato slices, chives, and tofu, their enticing aromas no less appealing than Lu Yang's.

"Delicious!" Li Hao's parents ate two skewers each, exclaiming with genuine appreciation. They thought, "As expected of good students! Not only are their cultivation levels high, but their cooking skills are also excellent—Li Haoran simply can't compare."

"I'll have one too!" Li Haoran had long heard legends about Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Meng's skewers but had never had the chance to try them. These were the skewers rumored to be so delicious they had once led to the downfall of the entire Immortal Cult.

"Delicious!" Li Haoran's eyes lit up. These were the best skewers he had ever tasted.

Qin Yanyan and Su Yiren ate delicately at first, but gradually, as the atmosphere became livelier, they relaxed and enjoyed themselves more freely.

Everyone ate to their heart's content, looking utterly satisfied. Seeing them enjoy the meal so much, the Immortal Fairy, in her soul state, was practically drooling, despite having no taste buds and being unable to eat.

"Lu Yang, let me use your body. I want to eat two skewers," the Immortal Fairy discussed with Lu Yang.

Lu Yang didn't mind and generously handed control of his body over to the Fairy.

The Immortal Fairy happily took over Lu Yang's body and began to feast without any restraint.

"Haha, Senior Brother Lu, you've really let loose!" Li Haoran laughed. Previously, Senior Brother Lu had eaten quite elegantly, but now it was as if he were a different person, devouring skewers and drinking bamboo juice heartily. The mountains and forests near Luofeng County were home to many red-leaved bamboo groves. The bamboo juice was clear, sweet, and delicious, a treat many tourists enjoyed.

Lu Yang sighed. "She's an immortal, after all. Can't she be a bit more reserved?"

"Yingtian Immortal and the others also advised me to speak less in front of outsiders," she said. "They told me the four of them worked hard to improve the public's impression of immortals, and I shouldn't mess it up. But there are no outsiders here, are there?" The Immortal Fairy didn't consider Lu Yang an outsider.

"But the problem is you're using *my* body!" Lu Yang retorted angrily.

"Oh, come on, why are we distinguishing between yours and mine?" The Immortal Fairy said, sounding very generous. "When I find my legacy, I'll give you half."

Lu Yang recalled the Immortal Fairy mentioning, when they first met, that she had buried an immortal treasure—all her cherished valuables—on Polaris.

Based on Lu Yang's understanding of the Immortal Fairy, there was an eighty percent chance there wouldn't be anything good in it.

"If it really comes to that," the Immortal Fairy said, "I'll teach you a few immortal-level cooking techniques." She considered Lu Yang, the second-in-command of the Immortal lineage, to be her true disciple.

Lu Yang rolled his eyes and said nothing.

Putting aside this little anecdote known only to the two of them, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Li Hao's parents arranged rooms for Lu Yang and their other guests.

After washing up, Lu Yang took out a half-human-sized pillow from his identification jade token. This was Lu Yang's bolster; he liked to hug something while sleeping.

Lu Yang had over a decade of sleeping experience and could sleep soundly anywhere, never being particular about his surroundings.

The next morning, Lu Yang woke up to find his bolster kicked to the foot of the bed, looking rather pathetic.

"That little girl, Su Yiren, has a thoughtful heart," the Immortal Fairy suddenly remarked.

"What do you mean?"

"While you were sleeping," she explained, "she set up a formation in the courtyard. It's not useful for you, but it will allow Li Haoran's parents to cultivate unconsciously, absorbing spiritual energy and increasing their cultivation. However, this will take a very long time, won't be noticeable now, and Li Haoran's parents won't realize it."

Lu Yang walked out of his room and stretched. The weather was pleasant, overcast and cool. He preferred cloudy days over sunny ones.

He saw Li Haoran practicing martial arts and meditating in the courtyard.

"Even at home, Junior Brother Li is so diligent?" Lu Yang was surprised; he thought he had woken up early enough, but Li Haoran was up even earlier and already cultivating. He didn't remember him being this diligent when he was at the Dao Inquiry Sect.

Li Haoran, with a serious expression, transmitted a message to Lu Yang: "Senior Brother Lu, you don't know this, but even though my parents were happy to see me home yesterday and welcomed me back, based on my experience, once they've slept on it and it's the next day, their novelty will wear off. They'll start scolding me, saying I do nothing but eat and sleep at home, living too decadently. Rather than waiting for their scolding, it's better if I act first, pretending to be diligent. It's just for a bit in the morning anyway; they can't control me when I go out to play during the day."

Lu Yang suddenly understood, realizing there was such a strategic approach involved.

What Li Haoran didn't mention was that if Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou hadn't come, his parents might have indulged him for another two days. But with Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou's arrival, the period of indulgence would be significantly shortened!

"Haoran is up so early?" Li Hao's mother asked, smiling broadly as she saw Li Haoran cultivating so early in the morning with Lu Yang standing beside him. She was sure Lu Yang was guiding Li Haoran in his cultivation.

Li Haoran: "..." He really wanted to say, "Mom, my fifth-place ranking among my peers at the Dao Inquiry Sect genuinely holds significant value."

This was true. With Li Haoran's talent, he would undoubtedly be first among his peers in any first-rate or even top-tier sect. Even among the previous few graduating classes of the Dao Inquiry Sect, he could have ranked in the top three. Unfortunately, this generation had too many extraordinary talents.

During breakfast, Su Yiren ate quietly, not mentioning the formation she had set up in the courtyard the previous night. It seemed she didn't want anyone to know about it.

If it hadn't been for the Immortal Fairy, Lu Yang wouldn't have known either.

"Come on, I'll take you for a stroll around the county!" Li Haoran called out to Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, then, after a moment's thought, invited Qin Yanyan and Su Yiren as well.

"I'm only inviting you because you're guests; don't read too much into it," Li Haoran told Su Yiren.

Despite this, Su Yiren smiled happily.

As the group got ready to leave, the already gloomy weather became even more somber. The clouds thickened, and faint rumblings of thunder could be heard.

"It's going to rain heavily," Li Haoran said, looking up at the sky with regret. Luofeng County was known for its rain, and judging by the darkness of the sky, a heavy downpour was inevitable. "Looks like we can't go today."

Hearing this, Su Yiren struck the sky with her palm. The dark clouds, which had been pressing down like a city under siege, immediately dispersed, replaced by a clear sky.

Su Yiren smiled gently as if nothing had happened, saying, "It's sunny now. Let's go out."

Li Haoran: "..."

The second update might be a bit late.(End of chapter)