Chapter 20: Even Dumber Than a Pig!

"I want grilled fish, two servings," Mu Wanqing said hurriedly.

Suddenly she realized everyone was staring at her in astonishment. She snapped back to her senses, and her pretty face flushed crimson. "Ah, I—I’m not just thirsty, but a little hungry as well."

Bai Li Song nearly let his eyes pop out. Mu Wanqing had always been a proper, well-mannered young lady; how was she acting so unrestrained now? Eight cups of water was excessive enough, but two servings of grilled fish as well? Even if you’re now the top expert of the Sky Cloud Sect, you can’t be so reckless.

"Sect Master, how many servings of grilled fish would you like? Young Master Chen’s grilled fish is exceptionally delicious," Mu Wanqing said to Bai Li Song, blinking vigorously to signal him.

What kind of hint is that? I won’t be as unruly as you! Bai Li Song shot Mu Wanqing a covert glare and said to Chen Changsheng, "Young Master Chen, I’ll just have one serving of grilled fish."

"Alas!" Mu Wanqing sighed inwardly. She couldn’t believe he still didn’t grasp her blatant hint. How foolish—he would surely regret it!

"Very well, two servings for Miss Mu, one for Elder Bai Li," Chen Changsheng replied with a gentle smile and went off to prepare the grilled fish.

Soon, Chen Die’er brought over nine cups of water, eight for Mu Wanqing and one for Bai Li Song. "Sister Mu, Elder Bai Li, please drink," she said.

Eight cups of water were arrayed before Mu Wanqing, creating a comical spectacle. Chen Die’er glanced at the eight cups, her eyes twinkling. She sighed silently, thinking: it’s certain now—this Sister Mu truly grew up drinking water.

"Thank you!" Mu Wanqing expressed her gratitude and began to drink. She picked up a cup and, with a loud slurp, emptied it in one gulp.

Violent spiritual energy instantly surged within her, spreading rapidly through her body until she felt as though she were floating among clouds, utterly blissful.

How wonderful! Mu Wanqing was overjoyed, every pore in her body relaxing and stretching, the sensation euphoric.

She impatiently reached for the second cup.

Then the third.

Then the fourth...

Slurp~

Slurp~

Slurp...

In the blink of an eye, all eight cups were gone.

Inside her, a storm of spiritual energy had formed—a roaring tide so immense her meridians could barely endure it.

"It feels like... I’m about to break through!" Mu Wanqing was ecstatic. The sword character Chen Changsheng had gifted her previously had propelled her from the Initiate Realm directly to the second stage of the Transforming Realm. By traditional cultivation, advancing further would take at least fifty years. Yet now, after gulping eight cups of water, she was on the verge of another breakthrough.

Eight cups of water equaled decades of cultivation.

"Hic..." Her belly was round and full, and she let out an exaggerated burp.

"Ah!" She cried out, coming back to herself from her rapture, only to see Chen Die’er and Bai Li Song utterly petrified, sitting there slack-jawed as if they'd seen a dinosaur.

My ladylike image—how utterly embarrassing! Mu Wanqing silently lamented, her cheeks aflame. "I—I was just really thirsty..."

Chen Die’er finally managed to close her mouth, blinking as she said, "It’s fine, just a few cups of water. Sister Mu, don’t be shy, drink as much as you like."

Bai Li Song, beside them, was nearly about to spit blood. She’d drained eight cups in one go—completely unladylike. She had thoroughly disgraced the Sky Cloud Sect!

As sect master, Bai Li Song felt obliged to preserve his dignity and not embarrass the sect as Mu Wanqing had. He picked up his cup, glanced at Mu Wanqing with a look that said, Watch how a proper person drinks, then took a refined sip.

But—

It was as if he’d been struck by lightning; he sat frozen, unable to move.

A vast spiritual energy flooded his body at once.

Ah, so this was liquid spiritual energy!

Bai Li Song nearly went mad. The water in this master’s home was liquid spiritual energy.

He suddenly understood why Mu Wanqing had gulped eight cups—she already knew, and had desperately hinted at him; he simply hadn’t realized.

Stupider than a pig!

Slurp~

To hell with decorum! To hell with dignity! Bai Li Song drained his cup in one gulp, joy surging within him, though regret gnawed at him—if only he’d asked for eight cups like Mu Wanqing.

Chen Die’er’s mouth fell open again; Elder Bai Li’s way of drinking was peculiar, as if someone were competing with him—didn’t he fear choking?

At that moment, Chen Changsheng arrived with a plate of grilled fish—five in total: one each for father and daughter, two for Mu Wanqing, one for Bai Li Song.

"Thank you for waiting," Chen Changsheng said, placing the five grilled fish on the table with a gentle smile.

"Young Master Chen, thank you for the water!" Bai Li Song quickly stood up, addressing Chen Changsheng with respect.

Chen Changsheng paused, then shook his head carelessly. "Elder Bai Li, you are much too polite—it was only a cup of water."

"Sect Master, Young Master Chen is just a mortal and dislikes excessive courtesy," Mu Wanqing reminded from the side.

"A mortal?" Bai Li Song was taken aback, then instantly understood. Chen Changsheng had secluded himself here, returning to simplicity, not wishing others to know he was a reclusive master. If they were overly polite, it would be as if they’d discovered his true identity.

Such elegance! This was a realm far beyond ordinary mortals.

Bai Li Song was now utterly in awe of Chen Changsheng, laughing heartily. "Ah, so that’s how it is!"

"Please, enjoy the fish," Chen Changsheng said, picking up a fish and peeling off the charred skin, removing all the bones before handing it to Chen Die’er.

Chen Die’er took the fish, bit off a small piece, and closed her eyes in bliss. "Dad, your grilled fish is even tastier than last time."

"Is it?" Chen Changsheng took another fish, peeled and tasted it, nodding. "Yes, the heat was just right this time."

Mu Wanqing buried herself in eating, ignoring everything else. The Dao essence in the fish made her feel as if she were floating, supremely comfortable.

She finished one fish and immediately began the second.

Bai Li Song glanced at her and sighed inwardly; Mu Wanqing’s way of eating was rather unsightly, nothing ladylike at all.

How utterly disgraceful! If Mu Wanqing weren’t now the Sky Cloud Sect’s foremost expert, he would have spoken up long ago.

Suddenly, he recalled Mu Wanqing’s hints and his eyes brightened—could it be that this dark grilled fish held mysteries as well?

Just then, Mu Wanqing, having finished her second fish, suddenly paused, her cheeks flushing crimson.

Her gaze grew hazy, and waves of unusual heat radiated from her body.