My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 722 - 463: Pig Face Again (Two in One)_2

...…

Beneath the rugged and powerful plaque of Taihua Mountain stood a female crown dressed in snow-white robes, watching the two figures leave.

The distant silhouettes grew smaller and smaller, turning from two beams into two specks.

The long staircase of the mountain gate extended outward into the vast expanse, as the two figures descended step by step. Amid the swaying shadows of the trees, the female crown gazed from afar. Standing alone, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of solitude, yet she thought that the one truly lonely was not herself, but Chen Yi.

The autumn wind swept against her robes, blowing eastward as if to carry Yin Weiyin toward his chosen path.

Yin Weiyin's face bore melancholy. With no one nearby, even the lighthearted breeze seemed to have been forgotten.

Ultimately, he remained too dull, failing to notice that his own heart had grown cold…

The female crown pondered, exhaling softly, her mood heavy.

Had she hidden herself too deeply? She thought this while continuing to watch him.

The sea of trees swayed with the wind, stirring ripples, and rustling softly. A peculiar outline emerged amidst the foliage, causing Yin Weiyin's previously sorrowful gaze to suddenly spark with brightness.

Was that a pig-face mask…?

She did not see it wrong, nor could she be mistaken.

This pig-face…

It was clearly meant for her!

The earlier gloom vanished, and Yin Weiyin's mood suddenly lightened. So, this was it—he too was hiding. He had secretly bought a new pig-face mask and wore it only now.

So that's how it is; it had always been this way. She had initially thought that after parting ways, there might remain traces of bitterness. But she had overlooked her mortal husband's temperance and tenderness, his pride and restraint.

If not for her sharp eyes, she would never have noticed this pig-face mask,

"Such thin skin."

Yin Weiyin paused momentarily, muttering to himself above the scene,

"So dishonest. Aren't you worried that this might leave a lingering discord between us as husband and wife? Time wears all things down; one day I may just abandon you."

Someday she might ascend freely to immortality, leaving behind an empty house while the mountain flowers bloomed as always. From then on, separated by the heavens, would he regret having been so prideful, unwilling to express his true feelings?

Yin Weiyin tilted her nose slightly, breaking into a sly smile,

Luckily, she was an Immortal, able to perceive the subtleties and see through everything…

...

"Waiter, simmer a pot of beef!"

A voice called out at a forked road on Yaojin Mountain, where an aged inn stood. The inside was brimming with guests, and the heavy stench of meat floated about, heat rising into rowdy fervor. The waiter hurriedly carried a steaming pot of beef; as soon as the pot touched the table, pairs of chopsticks erupted like arrows, crowding the pot's contents.

A long torn cloth hung from the pillar at the inn's entrance, bearing four faded words—"Tongfu Inn."

The waiter's surname was Hu, and he was called Hu San. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

As the beef left one table, another table asked for more. Hu San didn't even have time to wipe his sweat as he rushed back to the kitchen. Fresh beef, streaked with golden fat, rolled into bubbling broth, transforming from red to yellow, as sizzling clusters of oil surfaced in droves. Even without a chef's instructions, he deftly carried the pot out with practiced ease. By the time he reached the main hall, he could already see impatient patrons savoring the beef, jaws closing with a burst of oil and rich, flavorful broth.

Hu San placed the beef at the main table. Among the three largest tables sat two distinct groups: one made up of traveling scholars seeking lodging, and the other composed of the most prominent landed gentry for ten miles around—Master Niu.

Today was Master Niu's fiftieth birthday. As owner of this Tongfu Inn, he hosted his banquet here and had warmly invited the local elders and villagers to join.

The inn buzzed with activity, a boiling cauldron of merriment. The feast had been ongoing for three days, and today marked the third day. The first two days were packed to the brim, leaving no one able to keep up with the demand. Only now did Hu San finally find a moment to wipe his sweat and glance at the few remaining open tables.

"May your fortune be as vast as the eastern seas, and your lifespan rival the southern mountains. Master Niu, we toast you!"

"Oh, I merely run a small business. How could I deserve such praise? Allow me to toast Mr. Li twice over instead."

"You are too courteous, Master Niu!"

… At the main table, Master Niu's face glowed with joy, the birthday star in triumphant spirits. Around the table, the gathered guests were equally merry, exchanging cups and compliments amidst laughter—a scene of exuberance. Pairing the cheerful revelry with a bite of Tongfu Inn's signature fresh beef was nothing short of heavenly delight.

As host and guest reveled together, the atmosphere grew dense with satisfaction. Hu San noted that these scholars had arrived last night seeking a place to stay, coincidentally encountering the final day of Master Niu's birthday feast. A celebration demands festivity from all sides, and since they were guests, Master Niu had graciously invited the group of ten or so scholars to the banquet. Hu San noticed their astonished gratitude; they even carried their book crates downstairs, feeling somewhat ill at ease. But Master Niu, skilled at winning hearts and minds, with just a few words managed to draw them into cheerful conversation.

Hu San leaned against the wall, catching his breath. He hadn't rested long before spotting two figures approaching the inn's entrance in the distance.

Spitting secretly into the wall's corner, he cursed under his breath about being overworked, yet pasted on a smile as he stepped forward to greet them.

"Dear sirs, we're hosting a birthday feast here…"

Hu San trailed off mid-sentence, inwardly scheming ways to turn them away.

The pair stopped in place, appearing to deliberate briefly.

"A guest is a guest; come in, come in, warm yourselves!"

Master Niu, ever-watchful, spotted them from afar and urged their entry.

Left with no choice, Hu San led the pair to an empty table, forcing a smile on his face.

"What's your specialty here?"

Chen Yi, seated deeper into the space, surveyed the inn with a keen glance.

"Beef hotpot. Our bestselling dish is fresh beef, followed by pork and lamb,"

Hu San, sweating profusely, rattled off quickly.

"Fresh beef?"

Hu San cast a casual look, not surprised, replying indifferently, "Only from cows that died of exhaustion."

"What's the price?"

"Thirty wen per jin, fresh beef guaranteed. Pork and lamb are pricier, fifty wen per jin. One pot uses a half jin—rest assured, no skimping."

Beef prices were inherently lower than pork and lamb, commonly around twenty wen per jin at the market—half the price of the latter. The reason was no mystery; successive governments instituted cattle-protection laws, banning unauthorized slaughter of work cattle while deliberately keeping beef prices suppressed. This left butchers and merchants with little profit to reap. Since the Song Dynasty, beef availability was uncertain, and its prices consistent.

Aside from fixed rates, selling dead work cattle involved extensive bureaucratic filings with the government. Often, by the time weather permitted sale, the beef had already spoiled. Thus, butchers commonly purchased cattle at rates beneath market value, perpetuating stark contrasts between the price of live versus dead cattle.

Yet for Hu San to state all the beef was fresh seemed oddly intriguing.

"Bring a pot of beef," Chen Yi said.

Hu San responded, "Coming right up."

He turned away, only then noticing the male guest seated beside a female Daoist. His right eyelid wouldn't stop twitching as he quickened his pace, vanishing into the kitchen in a flash.

Moments later, Hu San returned carrying charcoal, an iron pot, and a plate of fresh beef, red with streaks of golden fat.

Chen Yi slightly raised one brow.

Hu San quickly apologized profusely, "Pardon us, dear guests! With Master Niu's birthday feast today, the kitchen's overwhelmed, so you'll have to prepare this yourselves. We'll waive the fee for your trouble."

The beef slices lay neatly on the plate, the golden fat nestled within the tender redness—an image that whetted any appetite.

Chen Yi remained expressionless, picking up a slice only to put it down again.

He spoke slowly, "Bring lamb instead. Take your time; we're in no rush."

Hu San's breath caught; his eyes flitted nervously before responding hurriedly, "There's no lamb available—I just checked, we don't have any."

"Then prepare a bowl of vegetarian soup," Chen Yi said, unmoved.

This time, Hu San had no excuse to refuse. Cursing internally, he hurriedly stormed back to the kitchen, returning with two bowls of broth containing floating vegetable leaves.

The vegetarian soup was placed down. Against the backdrop of the meaty feast, it seemed outright desolate and meager.

Hu San turned away, taking with him the untouched plate of vibrantly fresh beef.

Chen Yi looked around the bustling inn, then at the plate of beef—the redness bordered with golden fat, its aroma practically begging indulgence.

In truth, butchered human meat wasn't all that visually different. Human fat was golden, just the same.

The vegetarian soup reflected the lively scene of the inn.

But as Chen Yi sat silent, extending a single finger to lightly tap the surface three times,

The gentle ripples revealed a hidden truth—

The bustling inn, filled with laughter and warmth, was but an illusion. Chen Yi stared into the soup, barren and sparse, amidst tables occupied by creatures of the abyss.