paranoianovel Chapter 14 Ghosts and Demons in the Cave, Drinking and Eating Meat
Chapter 14 Ghosts and Demons in the Cave, Drinking and Eating Meat
Kong Ci's words struck Bu Che like a thunderclap.
What is the foundation of becoming a ceramic artist?!
Porcelain masters... they are the elite of this world!
Every porcelain master holds an extremely high status and can become a guest of honor in aristocratic families. If they wish, they can join a prestigious family and become a skilled porcelain master in charge of the family's porcelain kilns, where they can enjoy endless wealth and honor!
The method of refining the spirit is the foundation for becoming a porcelain refiner, and it is of utmost importance!
"Senior Brother Kong! Elder Zhou possesses a method of refining spirit, so... is Elder Zhou a porcelain refiner?"
Bu Che felt a sense of doubt and couldn't help but ask.
Kong Ci glanced at Bu Che, nodded, but then gently shook her head.
He continued in a low voice, "It used to be, but not anymore."
"I can't tell you the specific reasons, but... Elder Zhou's long-held wish is to train another porcelain master who can become his disciple and become an inner court student. There is a chance for them."
"Ah Che, if you can survive the seven-day ordeal caused by the evil thoughts of the ghosts and gods, Elder Zhou might still accept you as his disciple! So, you have to keep going, keep trying, and live a good life."
Kong Ci patted Bu Che on the shoulder and said nothing more.
"By the way, martial artists need to eat more meat; it nourishes their qi and blood. Don't save or skimp on the peace money I give you; spend it when necessary!"
"The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts; learning martial arts... it all costs money!"
After reminding him once more, Kong Ci turned and left, disappearing into the heavy snowfall.
As Bu Che watched, he saw that the snowflakes had not yet landed on Kong Ci's body, but were melted into droplets by the powerful and scorching blood and qi under her skin, and he was shocked.
He didn't continue his training. After finishing his work, he returned to the apprentice's courtyard and walked on the snow-covered ground of Seli Street. His feet made a "crunching" sound as he stepped on it.
Bu Che clutched the money bag in his hand, which contained the twenty peace coins he had received that day, plus the ones he already had, totaling more than sixty coins.
Recalling Kong Ci's words, Bu Che, who was originally heading back to the apprentice courtyard, turned a corner and went to a restaurant on Seli Street.
The restaurant was bustling with activity. The kitchen faced the long street, and the steam rising from it was very eye-catching, swirling and billowing in the cold wind. The aroma wafting from it was even more tempting.
"Sir, are you here for a night or just for a meal?"
The waiter, with a greasy white towel draped over his shoulder, immediately brightened up when he saw Bu Che and the Xue family apprentice uniform Bu Che was wearing, and greeted him with a big smile.
"Is there meat?" Bu Che asked.
"Hey, of course we have it! Chicken, duck, fish, and meat—we have it all! Judging by your appearance, sir, you're a martial artist, aren't you? Many martial arts masters from the official porcelain kilns come to our restaurant for a treat! But for martial artists, beef is the best choice!"
The waiter greeted us warmly.
Bu Che was taken aback: "There's beef too?"
"Yes, sir, we even have the meat of those demons and monsters from the Ghost and God Porcelain Cave. If you're lucky, you might even find some for sale!"
"The waiter said in a low voice."
"As long as the customer can afford the price! Hehe."
The waiter looked at Bu Che with a smile.
Demon beast meat?
The Ghost and God Porcelain Cave... contains such things?
"Ghosts and demons are extremely ferocious. Mountain spirits and wild monsters corrupted by ghostly thoughts become vessels for those thoughts. In order to bear these thoughts, these spirits and wild monsters instinctively temper their bodies, resulting in extremely strong qi and blood, making them excellent for replenishing qi and blood!"
The waiter chuckled, seemingly noticing Bu Che's confusion, and offered a helpful explanation.
He knew that Bu Che was just a kiln apprentice, but as a fellow apprentice, what right did he have to laugh at an apprentice in a porcelain kiln?
After all, apprentices in porcelain kilns are qualified to practice martial arts, but he, a mere waiter, is just an ordinary person doing odd jobs in a restaurant and doesn't even have the qualifications to learn martial arts.
Bu Che suppressed his surprise and nodded.
"How much is the beef?"
"Thirty coins for half a catty!" the waiter said.
So expensive!
Bu Che took a deep breath. All his savings were only enough to buy one pound of beef!
Of course, this is his current situation. If he can establish himself in the Broken Porcelain Workshop and receive twenty coins of peace every day, he will naturally be able to afford beef.
While the best would naturally be "Boiling Blood Porcelain Powder," that stuff is made of porcelain and is too expensive for most people to afford.
"I'll eat right here at the restaurant. Just cut me half a pound first."
"Alright, please come in, sir. Please have a seat. I'll tell the kitchen to get things ready right away!" the waiter greeted Bu Che warmly.
The restaurant was bustling with activity. The main hall was filled with square tables, all occupied, and there were even private rooms.
Bu Che was sitting in a simple private room separated by wooden boards.
While waiting for the beef, Bu Che was preparing to study the Xue Family Qi and Blood Technique when suddenly, his ears twitched slightly.
Because of his mastery of Qi and Blood Gong, Bu Che's eyesight, hearing, breathing, and other abilities have all been enhanced.
He vaguely heard a familiar voice coming from the private room.
"Zhao Laizi?!"
Bu Che frowned.
The diagram of the missing parts once revealed many of Bu Che's shortcomings, one of which was that he was "petty".
Although Bu Che didn't think he was petty, he was just not as magnanimous as people imagined.
Therefore, Zhao Laizi repeatedly caused trouble for him and even tried to rob him of his money. If it weren't for Zhang Hengyuan protecting him, Bu Che might have already met a terrible end.
After all, he is still far inferior to Zhao Laizi, who has reached the pinnacle of the Blood Boiling Realm.
"Zhao Laizi... he can actually afford a private room?!"
Bu Che frowned, carefully tilting his body to the side, his ear almost touching the wall.
But all that could be faintly heard were a few curse words such as "Tiger Lord," "Entering the fray," "Arrogant," and "Lesson to be taught."
These words, when put together, made Bu Che's mind wander.
"Sir, your beef is here! Our shop is especially pleased to offer you a complimentary cup of rice wine. Beef goes perfectly with the wine; the more you eat, the better it becomes. We wish you a speedy success in your martial arts journey!"
The waiter brought over steaming hot braised beef and also gave us rice wine in a porcelain bottle.
"Thank you," Bu Che said.
"Of course, of course." The waiter seemed flattered, having never encountered anyone who would thank him before. He quickly responded with a smile, then happily went off to work, his heart filled with joy.
The beef was steaming hot and reddish-brown, seemingly cooked with some medicinal herbs. A small dagger was placed next to it for Bu Che to cut and eat, a simple and straightforward approach.
Pour out a glass of rice wine; it's a deep pink color, with a strong aroma of wine mixed with the fragrance of rice.
Bu Che had a great appetite. He had been practicing martial arts all day and was starving, so he began to eat heartily.
Beef can be a bit boring on its own, but it's incredibly delicious when paired with rice wine.
A moment later, Bu Che finished eating the beef. His stomach was full and warm, like a small stove.
The power exhausted from practicing the Battle Body Fist and Hammer technique slowly recovered.
Leaning back in his chair, Bu Che squinted, a thought suddenly forming in his mind.
[Xue Family Qi and Blood Technique (Rank 9) Minor Success (0/4)]
After circulating the Xue Family Qi and Blood Technique for a while, my stomach felt like a furnace, digesting the beef and strengthening my Qi and blood, which significantly improved the effectiveness of my Qi and Blood Technique practice.
However, it did not accelerate the enhancement of diligence as much as taking "Boiling Blood Powder".
Bu Che felt a pang of regret.
"We still need porcelain medicine... but that stuff is even more expensive!"
Bu Che gently shook his head.
He desperately needs money!
Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the tightly closed door of the private room was kicked open.
A strong smell of alcohol wafted out of the private room.
The waiter had already greeted them warmly, and seven or eight figures, a dark mass, staggered out of the private room.
Zhao Laizi and several familiar apprentices from the Seventeenth Chamber were gathered around a short but incredibly strong man in the center. Even from a distance, one could feel his scalding hot blood. Perhaps this was the "Tiger Lord"?
A group of people, slightly drunk and with blurred vision, were making a lot of noise.
In particular, Zhao Laizi slapped a waiter who came over with a smile and shoved him far away, causing the waiter to slam his back against the table, making the waiter grimace in pain.
"You motherfucker, you think you can stop me?! You think you can stop Tiger... Tiger Lord's path?!" Zhao Laizi cursed, staggering as he walked.
"Give me back my money...money...would Tiger...would he owe you money?"
Bu Che leaned against the wall of the private room, frowned, and leaned back a little so that Zhao Laizi and his group could not see him.
To avoid getting into trouble.
Drunkards, especially those who are completely drunk, are most likely to put on that "what are you looking at?" act.
Bu Che was already being targeted by Zhao Laizi, and if he were blocked here, Brother Zhang might not be able to come to his rescue at any time.
After Zhao Laizi and his group, surrounding the "Tiger Lord," noisily smashed through the snow curtain and left.
Bu Che calmly got up and went to the waiter who was clutching his waist and grimacing.
"Are you alright?" Bu Che patted the guy on the shoulder.
"It's alright, sir, it's nothing, I'm used to it."
The waiter smiled and waved his hand, but the smile seemed somewhat forced.
Bu Che didn't say much, just patted the waiter lightly, and then inquired about Zhao Laizi and the others.
"They've come several times, each time to host a banquet for that Tiger Lord."
"I heard that Tiger is a member of the 'Black Tiger Gang' and is very skilled in martial arts. Zhao Laizi and his group hosted a banquet for him and flattered him, as if they were going to deal with someone."
The waiter had a good impression of Bu Che and didn't hide it.
Bu Che took out three coins and handed them to the shopkeeper: "Thank you for letting me know. It's not much, but take it and buy some medicine to apply."
Before the waiter could refuse, Bu Che pushed off with his feet, and with a surge of blood and qi, he burst out of the restaurant.
They plunged into the snowstorm and cautiously headed in the direction Zhao Laizi and the others had left.
The waiter chased after him to the door, clutching three coins in his hand, watching the figure disappear into the wind and snow.
"Thank you... thank you, sir."
"The waiter said softly."
His smile, which he had been maintaining, suddenly crumbled, and his eyes reddened slightly. A stranger's small act of kindness was enough to shatter his strong mask.
……