Chen Qiu's aunt finally brought out the food and placed it on Ye Chen's table. The rich aroma of grilled meat hit his nose, making his stomach growl with anticipation. Without wasting a second, he picked up a skewer and bit into the juicy meat, savoring its smoky flavor.
After becoming a cultivator, Ye Chen found that his appetite had grown significantly. Although he could go without food for days by relying on his spiritual energy, whenever he ate proper food—especially after a long time of consuming only dry rations or bitter fruits during training—it was like tasting heaven. This mundane food was more delicious than the rare spiritual delicacies he had tried during his secluded cultivation.
In just a matter of minutes, Ye Chen had devoured the entire platter of goat satay. He licked his fingers and called out, "Auntie, please bring me thirty more skewers!"
Chen Qiu, who was sitting nearby, was utterly stunned. He had never seen anyone eat that quickly before—let alone someone who still looked like they hadn't eaten enough after finishing thirty skewers of grilled goat meat!
His aunt chuckled in disbelief but said nothing as she turned to prepare another round for Ye Chen. Just then, the cheerful mood at the stall was disrupted. Several rough-looking men swaggered into the small street-side stall, their presence radiating hostility.
"Hey, old woman! Where's today's protection money?" barked one of the gang members, slapping the table hard.
Chen Qiu's aunt, clearly startled, tried to explain. "We just opened for the day. We haven't made enough yet. Please give us a little more time."
"That's none of our concern," the gang leader snarled. "We came for money, not excuses."
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes as he recognized some of the men. They were members of the Red Wolf Gang—the same thugs who had caused trouble at the antique goods exhibition the day before. The blond guy who led them then was still recovering from the beating he got last night, so he wasn't present today.
Although Ye Chen had let these guys go last time, seeing them extort Chen Qiu's aunt now sparked his anger. He slowly stood up from his seat and walked toward the gang without saying a word.
One of the thugs noticed him and burst into laughter. "Look at this! Another wannabe hero."
"Kid, you clearly don't know who we are," sneered another, pointing at his dirty boots. "If you kneel down and lick my feet, I might consider sparing you."
Ye Chen's expression remained calm. "This is your last chance. Leave now."
The thug scowled and shouted, "Looking for death!"
Before he could even throw a punch, Ye Chen moved. With a swift strike, he sent the man flying across the street, crashing into a trash can with a loud bang.
The other gang members froze in disbelief. "What the—?"
But Ye Chen didn't give them a chance to react. Bang! Bang! Bang! In a flurry of movement, he struck them down one by one. Within seconds, all of them were rolling on the ground, groaning in pain and clutching their bruised bodies.
Chen Qiu and his aunt were completely shocked. They had no idea Ye Chen possessed such overwhelming strength. He had dispatched a gang of trained fighters as easily as swatting flies.
Ye Chen looked down at the remaining thugs and coldly warned, "If you dare to come here again, I'll make sure none of you ever leave your beds again."
The gang members, now terrified, scrambled to their feet and fled without looking back.
"Ye Chen, thank you! Thank you for helping me and my aunt!" Chen Qiu said with genuine gratitude.
Ye Chen waved it off. "It's nothing, Auntie. If they ever come back, just let me know."
"But Ye Chen… what if they target you next time?" Aunt Chen Qiu asked, worried for his safety.
"If they want to keep breathing, they won't dare come after me," Ye Chen said confidently.
Hearing his calm and fearless tone, Aunt Chen Qiu laughed softly and said, "Ah, I guess I'm just worrying too much. The next batch of skewers will be ready soon!"
After finishing every last skewer of goat satay available, Ye Chen paid the bill and left the food stall, his appetite finally satisfied.
---
There were still a few hours left before nightfall. Ye Chen decided to make use of the time and find a place rich in spiritual energy where he could cultivate. Fortunately, he remembered that the city still had several natural parks with clean, unpolluted energy.
With a thought, Ye Chen soared into the sky, flying above the buildings to avoid being seen. After a short flight, he landed in a quiet park. Since it wasn't a weekend or a holiday, the place was nearly empty—just as he hoped.
He sat down on a large stone beneath a tree, closed his eyes, and began to meditate. Slowly, he drew in the surrounding spiritual energy, letting it circulate through his meridians.
Three hours passed in silence.
Ye Chen eventually opened his eyes, slightly disappointed. The spiritual energy on Earth was far too thin compared to the place where he used to train. Progress here was slow—painfully so. He could barely feel a rise in his cultivation level. At this rate, it would be faster to absorb Yin Qi from Zhao Yanyan or Teacher Lin Rouxi than to waste time cultivating here.
As night approached, Ye Chen remembered his plan to visit Teacher Lin Rouxi. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the note she had given him earlier. On it was the address of her residence.
Lin Rouxi lived in the women's dormitory provided by the school. Although the school also had dorms for male students, Ye Chen had chosen to rent a small apartment outside the campus—it was cheaper and gave him more freedom. The rent for a standard apartment was around $400–$500 a month, while VIP dorms cost nearly double. For Ye Chen, $500 was the equivalent of working a full month, so he had to be smart about spending.
Deciding not to waste time, Ye Chen flew toward the dormitory building, careful not to be seen as he descended. He landed quietly on the fourth floor and approached Room 409, where Teacher Lin lived. After ringing the doorbell, he waited patiently.
Moments later, the door opened.
Standing there was Lin Rouxi, but she was no longer dressed in the formal teacher's outfit she wore earlier. Instead, she now wore a casual top and comfortable shorts, which suited her youthful yet mature appearance.
At 25 years old, Lin Rouxi was in her prime—her beauty was radiant, her features delicate, and her presence elegant. It was no exaggeration to say she was at the peak of a woman's charm.
"Come in," she said softly.
Ye Chen followed her inside. The moment he stepped in, he was hit by a gentle, pleasant fragrance that filled the apartment. He sat on a plush sofa, feeling the warmth and comfort of the space.
Lin Rouxi walked into the kitchen and started preparing a drink for him.
As Ye Chen relaxed, he couldn't help but wonder—was this delightful scent coming from the room... or purely from her?
---