Chapter 10: These Days, Even a Steamed Bun Recipe Has Thieves Eyeing It

With a thunderous punch, dust billowed and the ground cracked. Just as everyone thought the yellow dog was doomed to a gruesome end, a bark echoed from nearby.

"Woof! Woof!"

The yellow dog cast a look of disdain. As a "Dog of Pride," it had sensed that this human was a sore loser and had long since prepared its escape. As an advocate of the "Way of the Coward," its entire strength served the sole purpose of self-preservation.

"Woof!"

*Human, victory belongs to me, the future Dog Emperor. Let us battle another day!*

After delivering its declaration, the yellow dog flicked its tail like a true victor and sauntered nonchalantly into an alleyway, vanishing from sight. The clash between a proud genius and a dog of pride, ending in the crushing defeat of the genius, was a sight that left many sighing.

The crowd tacitly ignored the dark-faced Qin Zhan and burst into discussion.

"I don't think I'm wrong—that dog is a beast that has gained sentience."

"It is a beast, but it must have gained sentience only recently. Its cultivation is negligible, but its intelligence is high, and it likely possesses some racial talents."

Hearing this, Qin Zhan nodded in agreement. Even if the yellow dog was a magical beast, not just any beast could swipe a steamed bun from under his nose without a sound. He wasn't just trying to save face. After all, he was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

In the Qingyuan Realm, Qi Refining was merely the starting point of the path of cultivation. Beyond that lay the realms of Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Severing, Void Refinement, Great Ascension, and Tribulation Transcendence. Barely past thirty, he was already at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. With his talent, he could be called a top-tier genius in the Qingyuan Realm.

Rubbing his nose, Qin Zhan suppressed his aura. He wouldn't accept losing to a yellow dog today; he would reclaim his honor another day.

"Nom, nom!"

The girl who had sparked the battle with her bun was so frightened that she quickly shoved the other bun into her mouth to calm her nerves. The spicy, savory flavor tickled her taste buds. The minced pork kidney had a unique texture, soaked in chili oil with a slight chewiness that made it impossible to stop eating. Resisting the urge to gulp it down, she savored it in small bites, hoping to make the bun last longer. A smile bloomed on her face, her eyes hazy with pure contentment. She had eaten many buns, but she could guarantee that this was the most delicious one she had ever tasted in her life—bar none.

[Friends, come to Xiaohe Town immediately! I've discovered divine buns, they are incredibly good, hurry!]

As the girl, lost in the deliciousness, sent the message, she noticed the looks of envy and jealousy from the crowd. It was bad enough that a group of them couldn't outmaneuver a dog, but for her—the one who lost a bun—to be standing there eating the remaining one was like rubbing salt into their wounds. It was truly cruel.

Seeing those murderous glares, especially the mournful gaze of Qin Zhan, the girl shuddered.

"Don't snatch my bun!" she mumbled, covering her mouth.

A row of black lines slid down everyone's foreheads. It had already fallen on the ground—who would snatch a bun out of your mouth? They weren't that desperate.

"Heh!" The girl flashed an innocent smile. She hadn't meant to.

Behind the bun stall, Lu Wu, who had seen everything clearly thanks to a shred of cultivation, withdrew her gaze. Turning around, she met Old Man Li’s equally unsatisfied expression. The old and the young exchanged a smile. Truth be told, this drama was delicious and truly satisfying.

After winking at Lu Wu, Old Man Li started tapping on his "World-Link" device.

*“Genius Battles Yellow Dog, Shock! The Winner Is Actually…”*

Regardless of how Qin Zhan’s reputation would be tarnished after this, Lu Wu felt lighthearted now that her last steamer of buns was sold.

"See you tomorrow, Boss Lu."

"Boss Lu, prepare more tomorrow. I’ll die if I can’t eat your buns."

"My bun, why did it run out just before my turn? Waaaah..."

Lu Wu waved goodbye to the reluctant diners. Instead of heading home, she turned toward a commercial street. For cultivators, going without sleep for days was a trivial matter, and with no distinction between day and night, many places operated twenty-four hours a day. Now possessing a sliver of cultivation, Lu Wu could finally purchase the storage bag and the World-Link device she had been eyeing for a long time.

After making her purchases, Lu Wu tucked her bun stall into the storage bag and fiddled with the World-Link in her hand. Seeing the familiar "registration" process, she was certain that someone from her own world had been here before her. The conveniences that predecessor had brought to the Qingyuan Realm allowed Lu Wu to quickly familiarize herself with the device.

*“Cult suddenly appears in Xiaohe Town, targeting young boys and girls about to awaken. Is this a loss of morality or a distortion of human nature?”*

She scrolled past a post, but before she could read it closely, it vanished. Lu Wu pondered it for a moment, then let it go. The world of cultivation could never be peaceful; danger was everywhere, and there were plenty of strange sects and factions. But these things were far from her, and in any case, if the sky were to fall, the tall ones would hold it up. She was just a street vendor. Surely those cults wouldn't abandon their grand schemes of destruction just to steal her bun recipe.

Humming a tune, Lu Wu returned home.

After freshening up, she sat on her bed and opened the system. The first task was complete, but since seven days hadn't passed, no new tasks had been updated. Lu Wu clicked on the lucky draw.

"Spirits of heaven and earth, give me something big!"

After a moment of muttering prayers, she pressed the draw button. Instantly, fireworks exploded across the system interface.

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the spiritual artifact: Wish-Fulfilling Hairpin.]

A hairpin made of solid jade appeared in her hand. It felt cool to the touch, its warm, translucent jade color flawless. The Wish-Fulfilling Hairpin had no offensive capabilities; its only function was to conceal one's cultivation level. Lu Wu’s cultivation progressed differently from others, and to avoid exposing the existence of the system, this hairpin was a perfect find.

After playing with it for a while, Lu Wu fell asleep, feeling completely satisfied.

...

The night grew deeper. The area around the alley where Lu Wu lived was very quiet; at this hour, most families had locked their doors and drifted into dreams. As the moon hid behind the clouds, several shadows appeared near the alley. They approached Lu Wu's courtyard with clear intent. The group seemed to belong to the same organization, acting with caution; with her meager cultivation, Lu Wu naturally noticed nothing.

"Move in. We must make her hand over the recipe."

"Anyone who dares to oppose our Hidden Spirit Sect deserves to die."

The poison they had painstakingly researched could not have been neutralized by a mere red bean bun; there must be a unique antidote recipe. They were determined to have it.

The leader of the group waved a hand, and the others began to act. Just as they were about to push open the gate to Lu Wu's courtyard, a ripple of spiritual energy erupted, throwing them back instantly.

"Ah!"

Some of them slammed against the walls, their bodies wracked with pain. The shrill screams were isolated outside the courtyard. The remaining members looked around cautiously, searching for the enemy.

"Which senior is hiding here? Would you mind coming out to meet us?"

The leader asked, his sharp eyes trying to spot whoever was hiding in the darkness.

"Get lost!"

The response to the leader was a cold shout, followed by countless slashes of energy.