Chapter 121: Beggar’s Chicken, Grandpa Hua

Sweat dripped from Yin Su’s face. She kept her eyes tightly shut, her brows furrowed, yet she endured it firmly, refusing to let out a sound! She feared that if one more wave of force were to hit, she would lose her resolve!

"Hold on! This is the final wave of power! As long as you can overcome it with your own strength, the toxin will become a complete part of your body, and its hidden, lethal properties will lose their effect on you! You must hold on!" Feng Yi reminded Yin Su once more; she did not want to see a failure.

"Mm." Yin Su gritted her teeth and nodded.

"Good!" Seeing Yin Su’s determination, Feng Yi did not linger. She moved her hands rapidly across Yin Su’s back, unblocking the meridians within her body. Her expression was solemn and meticulous.

Large beads of sweat continued to slide down Yin Su’s face. She could not help but let out broken, ragged sounds. A faint taste of blood filled her mouth; she had bitten through the tip of her tongue.

Feng Yi withdrew her hands and began to circulate her energy to restore her breath. Before closing her eyes, she cast a deep, searching look at Yin Su, her gaze filled with both worry and anticipation. Yin Su had to succeed! She had to conquer the poison within her using her own strength!

A faint white mist began to rise around Yin Su’s body, enveloping her completely, obscuring her figure from those outside.

A day and a night passed. Feng Yi awoke from her meditation and opened her eyes to see that the mist still lingered, meaning Yin Su had yet to conquer the toxin. It could only be said that the poison was rooted too deeply within her. There was no help for it; Yin Su had once been a "medicine human." Her entire body was permeated with poison, which had been draining her life force all this time. How could the toxicity not be profound?

Shaking her head, Feng Yi waved her hand toward the front, and the white mist slowly dispersed. Yin Su remained sitting cross-legged, but the painful, contorted expression from the day before was gone. It seemed that her awakening was now only a matter of time. She hoped this child would not let her down.

Feng Yi closed her eyes once again, entering a state of cultivation.

...

When Gu Xinyu woke up, he was lying on a pile of hay. Before he even opened his eyes, he was struck by an intoxicating, mouth-watering aroma. Having not eaten for a long time, Gu Xinyu couldn't help but swallow hard.

"Kid, you're awake!" The voice of an old man sounded, seemingly tinged with a hint of playfulness.

"You are...?" Gu Xinyu opened his eyes and saw the old man with his back to him. The aroma that made him salivate was coming from right in front of the man! It seemed the old man was roasting a chicken. Given the current situation, it appeared that after arriving in the Void Continent, he had been rescued by this very person.

"What's with the 'you' and 'your'? Just call me Grandpa Hua!" The old man held a roasted chicken in one hand and waved his other hand toward Gu Xinyu behind him, completely unconcerned with formalities.

Gu Xinyu’s forehead creased with dark lines. This Grandpa Hua was truly unreserved! They had only just met, and he was already insisting on being called "Grandpa"... He truly didn't know what to say.

"Ahem, then Grandpa Hua, did you save me?" Gu Xinyu coughed dryly, glanced at the old man, and asked, while simultaneously checking his own body.

Grandpa Hua squatted by the fire, roasting the chicken intently as he said nonchalantly, "You kid, are you blind? Who else is here besides me? If I didn't save you, did you save yourself?"

Finding that his body was fine and that he had successfully broken through to the mid-stage of the Void Sect rank, Gu Xinyu felt a wave of joy. However, hearing Grandpa Hua’s indifferent tone—which implied he was ungrateful—Gu Xinyu rubbed his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, Grandpa Hua, I was just asking."

"Hmph, I, an old man, won't hold it against a little brat like you. Come over! The 'beggar's chicken' your Grandpa Hua roasts is the best in this Void Continent! If you miss it, you'll never have it again! Hurry up and come over!" Grandpa Hua’s hands didn't stop, as he prepared the seasonings.

"No, no need, grrr." Gu Xinyu was about to refuse, thinking he shouldn't owe this old man too many favors, but his stomach betrayed him and let out a loud rumble.

"Hurry up and come over!" Grandpa Hua didn't mock him, merely urging him again.

Gu Xinyu smiled sheepishly and walked over to sit opposite the old man. Only then did he realize that Grandpa Hua had wrapped a chicken in mud to make the beggar's chicken. The fragrance leaked out from the cracks in the clay, making Gu Xinyu swallow again. Seeing his hypocrisy, Grandpa Hua simply flashed a cunning smile.

Cracking open the mud, a golden-yellow chicken was revealed, its rich aroma hitting them instantly. Grandpa Hua held the chicken in his left hand and used his right to sprinkle the prepared seasonings over it.

"Here, eat! Eat it while it's hot; it won't taste as good cold." Grandpa Hua split the chicken in two, handed half to Gu Xinyu, and began to eat his own portion leisurely.

"Thank you, thank you, Grandpa Hua!" Gu Xinyu took the chicken. Seeing how easily the old man held it, he assumed it wouldn't be that hot, but it was so scorching that he nearly threw it away.

"Kid, don't you drop my chicken on the ground!" Grandpa Hua didn't even look up, speaking slowly.

Gu Xinyu’s half of the chicken danced in his hands a few times before he finally stabilized it. He tore off a leg and took a huge bite. The piping hot meat entered his belly, and his entire body felt comforted. The flavor was so delicious it was impossible to stop!

Bite after bite, Gu Xinyu was so engrossed in eating that he completely ignored Grandpa Hua. The old man didn't mind; he simply glanced at Gu Xinyu from time to time, watching him eat with such fascination, and didn't disturb him, continuing to eat his own portion at a measured pace.

Grandpa Hua occasionally revealed a mysterious smile, but unfortunately, Gu Xinyu was too busy eating to notice. Had he seen it, he might have stopped.

After finishing the chicken, Gu Xinyu felt about forty percent full—not enough! And Grandpa Hua’s cooking was truly no joke; it was delicious! Raising his head, he looked at the old man, only to see that Grandpa Hua had eaten less than half of his portion. He ate slowly, as if tempting Gu Xinyu, causing him to swallow again.

Hearing the undisguised gulp, Grandpa Hua didn't know whether to laugh or feel helpless. He looked up at Gu Xinyu, then at the chicken in his own hand. "You want more?"

It would have been one thing for him to ask, but the aggravating part was that he waved the chicken in front of Gu Xinyu’s face—it was pure temptation!

Gu Xinyu swallowed, feeling ashamed, and nodded his head while looking down.

"Haha, I told you, the beggar's chicken your Grandpa Hua roasts is one of a kind," the old man laughed smugly.

"Yes, yes, Grandpa Hua’s beggar's chicken is the best," Gu Xinyu looked at the chicken and spoke from the heart. This wasn't flattery; it was the truth! The chicken was just too good.

"Kid, you still want some, don't you?" Grandpa Hua smiled cunningly.

Gu Xinyu nodded honestly.

"But you can't eat for free!" Grandpa Hua "elegantly" put a piece into his mouth and deliberately licked the chicken juices from his lips.

"Grandpa Hua, tell me what you need me to do. As long as I can do it, I promise!" Tempted by the food, Gu Xinyu was losing his sense of restraint.

"You said it yourself! How about this? Grandpa Hua won't make it hard for you—just stay and keep me company for a year. How about that?" Grandpa Hua watched as Gu Xinyu jumped into the trap he had set, laughing wildly in his heart while trying to maintain a straight face. If Gu Xinyu had any observational skills at that moment, he would have noticed the old man’s twitching face, which he couldn't keep under control!

"Mm-hmm." Gu Xinyu stared at the chicken, swallowing again... it was truly a pathetic sight.

"Haha, good!" Having secured the promise, Grandpa Hua laughed heartily.

What Grandpa Hua didn't see was the flash of sharp wit that crossed Gu Xinyu’s eyes.

"Come, come, your Grandpa Hua will treat you very well!" The old man used a wooden stick to dig another mud mound out of the fire. Having watched how it was prepared, Gu Xinyu naturally understood that another chicken was inside.

Grandpa Hua skillfully processed the chicken and sprinkled it with seasoning. Gu Xinyu snatched it from his hands, leaving Grandpa Hua speechless. Was this kid from the desolate wasteland living so poorly? Why did he look like a starving ghost reborn?

However, he chuckled to himself—the more the kid loved the chicken, the more it favored him. He’d see if the brat could ever leave this delicious food behind! He didn't easily roast chicken for others; it was his favorite dish and his signature skill.

Grandpa Hua chuckled inwardly, lost in his pleasant fantasies, completely unaware of the calculation that had flashed through Gu Xinyu’s eyes.

"All right, *hiccup*, Grandpa Hua, thank you for the treat!" Gu Xinyu gave a satisfied burp. The chicken was truly excellent, and the old man’s skills were not to be underestimated.

"Hehe, you're welcome. Come along with me, old man; just stay with me for a year," Grandpa Hua reached out to pull Gu Xinyu.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xinyu jumped aside and dodged him, causing the old man to grow angry. "Kid, what is the meaning of this?! Are you planning to go back on your word?!"

"How could I! I did promise to keep you company for a year, but I didn't say when it would start, hehe. When I die in the future, I'll have my ashes buried next to you—isn't that also keeping you company?" Gu Xinyu brushed the dust off his clothes and smiled brilliantly. It seemed he had seen through the old man’s lack of good intentions long ago.

"You—you brat, get over here! Don't force me to take action!" Grandpa Hua was so angry his hands shook. This kid had been playing the fool the whole time! He had known all along and was just pretending to get the chicken!

Seeing the old man’s posture, Gu Xinyu’s intuition told him this Grandpa Hua was definitely no simple person. He couldn't act rashly!

"Grandpa Hua, how about this? I have things to finish first, and then I'll come back to find you, okay?" Gu Xinyu softened his attitude, trying to negotiate.

"Stay with me for a year starting now! Immediately!" Grandpa Hua ignored his playful tone and kept a straight face.

"Ugh, Grandpa Hua, that won't work! I really have things to do!" Gu Xinyu pulled a long face.

"There is no room for negotiation! Don't forget, you ate Grandpa Hua’s chicken!" Grandpa Hua put his hands on his hips, refusing to budge regardless of what Gu Xinyu said.

Gu Xinyu scratched his head, truly distressed. "Grandpa Hua, really no room for negotiation?"

"Hmph!" Grandpa Hua ignored the question and snorted at the sky.

"Then I'm sorry, I'll fulfill my promise when I return!" With that, Gu Xinyu ran toward the door of the shack.

*Bang!*

There was a barrier outside... Gu Xinyu slammed straight into it, and a stream of blood flowed from his nose. He looked back at Grandpa Hua, who was smiling slyly; he had clearly been prepared! Truly, ginger gets spicier the older it gets!

Gu Xinyu slumped his shoulders and walked back to the old man. "Grandpa Hua, half a year? Can we do that? I really have urgent matters!"

"What's your name?" Grandpa Hua asked casually.

"Does that mean you agree?!" Gu Xinyu was overjoyed.

"What is your name?!" Grandpa Hua wasn't about to admit he had compromised.

"Gu Xinyu! I thank you, Senior!" Gu Xinyu bowed excitedly.

Grandpa Hua didn't look at his ecstatic expression and turned away, but he couldn't help but chuckle secretly. Hmph, he had known all along the boy wouldn't stay with him for a year so easily!

"Grandpa Hua, is it because of the 'beggar's chicken' (jiao-hua-ji) that you are called Grandpa Hua?"

"Mm, ah?! How did you know that?!"

"Just guessed! Hehe!"