Cultivation Daddy

Chapter 196: Chapter 195: Hidden Threats

"I am only stating facts!" Xinyue shot back, stepping closer. "You’re a legendary cultivator, yet when it comes to women, you’re as clumsy as a three-legged bull! If it weren’t for my help, you wouldn’t have even gotten her to agree to tea last night!"

"That was... that was because of my own charm!"

"Charm? You call promising her three Grade-Nine soul-cleansing pills ’charm’? That’s called bribery, old man!"

Li Jain quietly took three steps backward, watching the two of them trade verbal blows. He sighed softly to himself. ’At least I’m not in the mix of that.’ he thought, feeling a sudden appreciation for Xinyue’s fiery temper.

The argument raged on for several minutes, with Li Shenzhou huffing and puffing, and Xinyue countering every single one of his defenses ruthlessly.

Eventually, the old ancestor’s shoulders slumped. He realized that Xinyue was right. The Third Master of the Nine Spirits would never listen to his explanations; she would just think he was making another excuse. But Xinyue was clever, and despite her sharp tongue, she actually knew how to talk to people when she wanted to.

"Alright! Alright! Enough!" Li Shenzhou raised his hands in defeat. He looked at Xinyue with a pleading expression: "My dear, sweet granddaughter... please. I beg you. You must help your old man. Go talk to her. Just... tell her it was an accident. I’ll do whatever you want!"

Xinyue crossed her arms, looking down at him with an amused smirk: "Oh? So now I’m your dear, sweet granddaughter? What happened to me having no refinement?"

"I was wrong! Don’t listen to this old man’s nonsense!" Li Shenzhou pleaded, practically pulling at her sleeve: "Please, Xinyue. If you fix this, I’ll protect Jain’s tavern myself. No thief will ever get within ten miles of this place!"

Xinyue let out a long sigh: "Well, since you put it that way... I suppose I can make a trip to the Nine Spirits Sect. But you owe me. Big time."

"Yes, yes! Anything!" the old ancestor agreed eagerly, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

This is why the old ancestor and Li Xinyue are close. None of his other grandchildren would dare talk to him like she does. Even when they saw him, they’re already terrified, which irritates him. On multiple occasions, he considers Xinyue more like a close friend. His own children and him don’t have that kind of close relationship.

After the situation was settled, Li Jain went back to his residence.

The dead bodies were dragged away by the guards, and Liu Xiong personally took charge of investigating the case. He wasn’t threatened by those low-level thieves, but the fact that they were willing to risk their lives by coming here, shows that there was more to it that met the eye.

Li Jain did not ask too many questions. Since Liu Xiong said he would investigate, he left the matter for him to handle.

As for the old ancestor, after arguing with Li Xinyue and successfully getting her to agree to speak with the Third Master of the Nine Spirits Sect, his anger finally dropped by half.

The other half was soothed only after Li Jain promised to cook for him later.

...

After breakfast, the family changed into suitable robes and prepared to leave. Since the tavern’s second business day was also on the weekend, the children were allowed to go again. Li Jain still reminded them not to run around or interfere with customers, which they all agree to.

The group headed toward District Seven together.

Because they left a bit later than normal, people were already on the streets. By the time they approached the tavern, the surroundings were already lively.

Just like the previous day, a line had already formed outside Spiritual Tavern. Actually, it was even longer than yesterday.

Some people stood with tired faces, clearly having arrived before dawn. Some carried cushions and tea leaves, prepared to wait for hours. A few had even brought servants to stand in line for them. When those servants saw Li Jain’s group approach, their eyes brightened at once.

"Owner Li is here!"

"The tavern owner arrived!"

"Move aside. Let Owner Li through."

This time, no one accused Li Jain of cutting the line. After yesterday’s embarrassment, most people already knew what he looked like. Those who did not know were quickly reminded by the people around them.

Li Jain walked through the side path with the children and staff. Zhou Lifen opened the gate from the outside, while Fu Seng helped keep the crowd from pressing too close.

A young cultivator in line cupped his hands and asked loudly: "Owner Li, are there still only four Instant Breakthrough dishes today?"

Li Jain turned back and nodded: "Yes."

The crowd immediately were excited:

"I arrived at dawn. I must get one today."

"Yes, I came prepared."

After setting up, Zhou Lifen returned to the gate. At eight o’clock sharp, the gate opened. The guests entered in order, but the atmosphere today was different.

Many people knew what they were here for and got straight to business.

Some wanted the Instant Breakthrough dish, and some wanted to test the other new dishes.

There were a few who came under family orders to observe.

The first wave of customers entered quickly. Before many could even sit down, a group wearing the Zhou family crest walked in.

But the moment people saw them, they kept their distance.

There were five of them. The leader was a stern middle-aged woman in a dark blue robe, and beside her were two late-stage Spiritual Sea cultivators. Behind them stood two guards whose auras were restrained but heavy.

Bai Lian looked up with his usual polite smile: "Welcome to Spiritual Tavern. Will you dine in or order privately?"

The middle-aged woman placed a jade token on the counter: "Zhou family. We want two Instant Breakthrough dishes."

Several customers behind them immediately frowned.

"Two?"

"There are only four today."

"The Zhou family wants half?"

Someone spoke softly: "Keep your voice down. That is the Zhou family."

The person who complained immediately closed his mouth.

The Zhou family was not an ordinary family in South River City. Although there were many powerful families in the city, only a few could make people swallow their dissatisfaction so quickly, and the Zhou family was one of them.

Li Jain frowned slightly. He was thinking whether he should increase the number of the Instant Breakthrough dish. Because right now, there’s only four and there’s no rule stating that a person can only order one.

The crowd became restless. Two dishes were taken just like that. A few customers were unhappy, but only a handful dared to speak.

A thin man in gray muttered: "Big families always take the best things."

The Zhou family guard turned his head and the thin man immediately looked away.

Another customer sighed: "They followed the rules. What can you say?"

"That they came early too. I think they were the first at the gate."

"Sigh, what a shame."

Although some were still dissatisfied, no one dared openly challenge the Zhou family.

Li Jain came out from the kitchen to meet them.

The middle-aged woman cupped her hands as soon as she saw him: "Owner Li, I am Zhou Yunhe. I came on behalf of the Zhou family. Yesterday, we heard of three successful breakthroughs in your tavern. Today, we wish to personally experience the effect."

Li Jain nodded: "As long as you come prepared. but you can’t order more than two of this dish. It’s very limited and everyone needs to have the chance."

Zhou Yunhe looked at him carefully. She had expected arrogance, or nervousness.

Instead, Li Jain’s expression was calm. He did not flatter them, nor did he refuse them to please the crowd. To him, the Zhou family seemed no different from other customers as long as they followed the rules.

Zhou Yunhe smiled faintly: "Owner Li is straightforward. Of course, we took the quantity into consideration. That’s why we’re buying only two orders."

"Thank you." Li Jain really appreciated how thoughtful they were.

Zhou Yunhe paused, then nodded: "Don’t mention it."

The two Zhou family cultivators were led to the fifth floor after paying as the crowd watched them go with mixed expressions.

At that moment, Li Jain felt several gazes fall on him. Something felt off about those gazes.

Some came from the private rooms on the third and fourth floors. Some came from guests seated quietly near the corners. A few were hidden behind spiritual tools that blocked the faces.

They were all formidable figures, at least in the Divine Power realm. Li Jain could sense that trouble was coming from miles away, but he didn’t think much of it. He already planned to make the Divine Power advancement pill in a few days to help with his breakthrough.

Ever since Spiritual Tavern opened in South River City, it was normal for powerful people to observe him. His food was unusual, his background had been revealed, and the Instant Breakthrough dish had already proven itself. If no one kept an eye on him, that would be stranger.

Li Jain only glanced around once more, then returned to the kitchen.

Liu Xiong frowned slightly but said nothing. He could kick those fools out right now if necessary, but he’s going to let Bai Jain have it his way.

The remaining two Instant Breakthrough dishes were claimed not long after by two other cultivators who had lined up since before dawn. Those who missed the chance were disappointed, but after seeing the Zhou family take two portions without breaking the rules, they could only accept it.

...

Li Xinyue left for the Nine Spirits Sect early, but the journey to the misty, secluded peaks of the Nine Spirits Sect took her half a day. As she walked up the stone steps winding through the cold, cloud-shrouded mountains, she couldn’t help but admire herself for being such a filial granddaughter.

The Nine Spirits Sect was known for its strict, traditional ways and its cultivation of ice-element spiritual arts. The air grew colder as Xinyue reached the Cold Moon Pavilion, the private residence of the Third Master.

She was able to come this far because of the Li family name. Although the Li family were by themselves, they still held power within the city. This is mainly because of Li Shenzhou, who has the potential to reach the Feudal Lord realm.

Two young female disciples stood guard at the entrance: "Stop," one of them said, her voice as cold as the surroundings; it seemed as if they expected her to come: "The Third Master is in secluded meditation. She is not receiving guests, especially not from the Li family."

Li Xinyue smiled, smoothing down her light green dress: "I am Li Xinyue from the Li family. Please tell your Third Master that I didn’t come to bring her grade-nine pills, nor did I come to make excuses for a clumsy old man. I came as a woman who understands how annoying it is to deal with the messes of foolish men."

The two disciples exchanged surprised looks. Before they could reply, a clear voice echoed from within the pavilion: "Let her enter."

The doors slowly opened, releasing a wave of chilling air. Xinyue walked in, her footsteps were echoing softly on the polished dark jade floor.

At the center of the room, sitting cross-legged on a block of white ice-shape pillow, was the Third Master. She wore flowing, snow-white robes, and her face was incredibly beautiful but devoid of any warmth, like a statue. Her silver-threaded hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes, when she opened them, were a piercing pale blue.

"You have a bold tongue, girl," the Third Master said, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight: "Just like your grandfather. I see you’re here to clean his mess again."

That’s right, it wasn’t their first meeting.

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