Cultivation Daddy

Chapter 195: Chapter 194: Thieves in the Li Resident

The first opening day of South River Spiritual Tavern lasted from morning until evening. From the moment the gate opened at eight in the morning, the tavern had been very busy. Customers came in waves, some eating in the main hall, some reserving private rooms, and some leaving with takeout boxes. The first six floors remained busy throughout the day.

The wandering swordsman had successfully stabilized his breakthrough into the Soul Palace Realm.

Seeing Li Jain standing near the staircase, the swordsman stopped. Without a word, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head deeply: "My name is Han Feng. Today, Owner Li has granted me a second life. I will not forget this grace."

Li Jain smiled, waving a hand to raise him: "You don’t own me anything. I’m only doing business, cultivator Han. I’m glad that you benefited and your spirit stones weren’t wasted.

Han Feng stood up, bowed once more, and departed.

Below, on the main dining floors, the bells rang one last time as the clock struck eight in the evening. Bai Lian and Hou Mingyu began politely herding the remaining guests toward the exit:

"We are closing for the evening, honored guests," Bai Lian announced with a warm, apologetic smile. "Our business hours are strictly eight to eight. Please return tomorrow morning."

A chorus of disappointed groans echoed through the hall.

"Already? But we just got a table!" one customer lamented.

"I was waiting to see if there would be another Instant Breakthrough portion!" another chimed in.

"I waited for two hours and still didn’t get a table."

"I only came to ask about the Instant Breakthrough dish."

"Can’t you extend the hours just for today? It is the first opening day."

Bai Lian’s smile did not change: "No. Master Li said the tavern closes at eight."

A middle-aged cultivator sighed: "So strict?"

Hou Mingyu, who was guiding the last group of guests out from the second floor, smiled gently: "Spiritual Tavern will open again tomorrow morning at eight. Guests who wish to dine early may come earlier and line up."

Hearing their complaints, Li Jain walked to the railing of the second floor, looking down at the lingering crowd he announced: "There is no need to worry. Starting tomorrow, the Spiritual Tavern will offer exactly four portions of Instant Breakthrough daily. First come, first served. The price will remain fixed."

The announcement was like a spark dropped into dry tinder. Immediately, the eyes of several late-stage Spiritual Sea cultivators lit up with determination.

"Four portions a day!"

One old man clutched his cane and said fiercely, "Tomorrow, this old man will arrive before sunrise."

A younger cultivator beside him said: "Senior, with your legs, can you beat me here?"

The old man sneered: "Boy, I was crossing mountains before your father learned to walk."

Another person laughed: "Then I’ll come at midnight."

"I am going to camp outside the gate tonight!"

"Be careful of ghosts."

The person who wanted to camp was a little scared and had no choice but to leave.

As the doors were finally shut and barred by Zhou Lifen, many customers reluctantly departed, though their minds were already set on returning before dawn.

When everything was done, he brought the children and the staff home. After eating, the children washed up and returned to their rooms one by one.

...

Early the next morning, before the sky was fully bright, unusual noise spread through the Li residence. The first sound was a shocked cry from one of the servants, then came heavy footsteps.

Then someone shouted outside the courtyard, "Dead bodies! There are dead bodies near the old ancestor’s yard!"

For a moment, he thought he had heard wrong. The shouts came one after another. Li Jain opened his eyes, put on his robe and went outside.

Several guards were gathered near the path leading to the old ancestor’s courtyard. Their expressions were strange, and the servants stood far away, not daring to get close.

There were indeed several bodies near the courtyard wall. The bodies were dressed in dark night clothes. Their faces were covered.

A guard came forward and bowed: "Young Master Jain, these people sneaked in during the night. Judging from their tools, they were likely after something inside the residence. This is the first time we have encountered such a situation."

"Where is grandfather?"

Before the guard could answer, a furious voice came from the courtyard: "Where is that brat Li Jain?"

The old ancestor strode out in loose robes, his hair not fully tied, his face dark with anger. Behind him, two servants followed nervously, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Li Jain blinked, looking from the dead bodies to his grandfather: "Ancestor... what is the meaning of this?"

Killing a few thieves is not a big deal. But why leave them out in the open, scaring the servants?

"What is the meaning of this?!" Li Shenzhou roared, pointing a trembling, accusatory finger at the corpses: "The meaning of this is that your tavern is a magnet for trouble, Li Jain! These blind fools dared to sneak into the residence early this morning. And where did they go? They took a wrong turn and barged right into my private courtyard!"

He said a wrong turn, because he knew no one in their right mind would voluntarily go into his courtyard for anything, not to mention stealing.

Li Jain walked over, crouching to inspect one of the bodies: "Thieves? What were they after?"

"What else?" Li Shenzhou spat, crossing his arms: "I think they’re here for your recipes. But because they are brainless, they mistook my yard for yours."

Li Jain rubbed his temples: "I see. I apologize for the disturbance, Ancestor. But with your cultivation, dealing with a few thieves should have been as easy as crushing ants. Why are you so furious?"

"You think I’m angry because of the robbery?!" Li Shenzhou’s face flushed red, and he stamped his foot, cracking a cobblestone: "I couldn’t care less about these thieves! It’s their timing! Their wretched, miserable timing!"

Li Jain raised an eyebrow: "You had a guest over?"

Li Shenzhou said angrily: "Do you have any idea how much effort it took me? How many rare treasures I had to offer? I finally, finally, got her to agree to come over to my courtyard last night! The atmosphere was perfect. We were just beginning to talk about the old days. And then, boom! These three idiots crash through the roof, ruining the entire mood!"

Li Jain stared at his grandfather, suddenly feeling a headache coming on. "So... they ruined your date..."

"It wasn’t just a date! It was a delicate negotiation of the heart!" Li Shenzhou corrected: "She was furious at the interruption, thought I had set a trap or was being sloppy, and she flew off immediately! Years of preparation, gone in an instant! Li Jain, this is entirely your fault. Your recipes drew them here. You must compensate me!"

Li Jain was at a loss. How was he supposed to compensate this powerful, centuries-old cultivator? He doesn’t know much about romance himself: "Ancestor, how can I possibly compensate you for that? I can’t force her to come back."

"I don’t care! Figure it out! If you don’t fix this, I won’t let you off!" Li Shenzhou said angrily.

"Now, now, Ancestor. There’s no need to take your romantic frustrations out on Jain’s business." Li Xinyue stepped into the courtyard, dressed in a light green dress. Her hair was neatly tied, and she held a small cup of tea.

She looked at the dead bodies before turning her sharp eyes to the old ancestor.

Li Jain said, feeling a wave of relief: "Xinyue, you’re awake."

"Who wouldn’t be awake with all this shouting?" Xinyue sighed, taking a sip of her tea. She walked over to Li Shenzhou, with a reassuring smile on her face: "Calm down, old man. Getting angry will only give you more wrinkles, and heaven knows you can’t afford any more of those if you’re trying to woo someone."

Li Shenzhou glared at her: "Watch your tongue, girl!"

"I’m only trying to help," Xinyue said smoothly: "Tell me, who is this woman who has you so thoroughly whipped? Perhaps I can help smooth things over."

Li Shenzhou hesitated, looking slightly embarrassed. He stroked his beard, muttering under his breath before speaking aloud: "She... she is the Third Master of the Nine Spirits sect."

Li Xinyue’s eyes widened slightly, and she let out a low whistle: "The Third Master of the Nine Spirits? So she did come after all. She’s famous for her cold temperament and her absolute hatred of disruptions. You really outdid yourself this time, Ancestor. After all that effort..."

She set her teacup down on a nearby stone table and patted her chest confidently: "Fine. Since it’s Jain’s recipes that caused the mess, I’ll take responsibility. I will go and talk to the Third Master myself. Women understand women. I’ll smooth things over, explain the misunderstanding, and get her to give you another chance."

Li Shenzhou looked at her, but instead of being grateful, he snorted derisively: "You? Go talk to her? Don’t make me laugh."

Xinyue’s smile stiffened: "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Li Shenzhou waved his hand dismissively: "You speak too bluntly, you have no refinement, and you wouldn’t know the first thing about diplomacy with someone of her standing. If you go, you’ll probably end up insulting her, and she’ll never speak to me again!"

Li Xinyue frowned: "I lack refinement? I’m blunt?" She let out a mocking laugh: "Ancestor, let’s be honest for a moment. I am not the one who has been chasing the same woman for eighty years without success! I am not the one she constantly runs away from! If anyone lacks tact and refinement, it’s the old man who can’t seem to keep a woman in his yard for more than ten minutes before she flies off!"

"You... you audacious girl!" Li Shenzhou’s face turned red: "How dare you speak to your ancestor like this!"

Li Xinyue snorted and said nothing.

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