Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Li Nianfan and Daji sat down.
Soon, a plate full of Soup Dumplings and two bowls of Tofu Pudding were brought to the table. The fragrance washed over their faces and drifted into the air, making one feeling hungry.
“Yum!”
A bite of the Soup Dumpling with a mouthful of Tofu Pudding warmed one’s body up instantly while getting rid of the morning chill with immense relief.
Meanwhile, the owner brought a few more plates to the table. There were some cooked eggs and other light dishes. He smiled and said, “Mr. Li, my treat!”
Li Nianfan could not help smiling. “Boss, you’re too kind!”
The owner said instantly, “How could you say that? My business is doing so great all because of you! I hope you’ll come and visit me more so I can learn more from you. Perhaps my son could become a cultured man and bring glory to the family!”
“Ha-ha-ha! Surely!” Li Nianfan laughed. He asked with a curious tone, “Boss, I heard people talking about a thunderbolt. Did something happen?”
“Mr. Li, don’t you know?” the owner gasped. He then continued, “Last night, a thunderbolt struck the old tree by the gate of the Fallen Immortal Town, cutting it into half!”
Li Nianfan frowned.
The owner sighed and continued, “The old tree has been here for a few generations. I remember climbing up the trees when I was young. Who would’ve thought that a thunderbolt would cut the tree into half! People who witnessed it said that the thunderbolt was as thick as the opening of a bowl. How rare!”
Li Nianfan asked, “Is it the old tree by the east gate?”
The owner said, “Yeah! However, I find it strange how the old tree fell without crushing anyone even though its stem was so thick! It didn’t even crush any building at all! Some are saying that this old tree has spirits within it!”
“Boss, do you have any alcohol?” Li Nianfan asked out of the blue.
“Yes, Mr. Li. Just a moment.”
After a moment, the owner secretly took out a bottle of wine from the bottom of his stall. “My special wine. I take a sip or two every once in a while. Keep it. However, it’s not healthy to drink this in the morning.”
Li Nianfan smiled. “I know. Thanks for telling me.”
“It’s nothing.” The owner smiled.
Li Nianfan wiped his mouth. “Daji, are you full?”
Daji nodded. Li Nianfan placed some silvers on the table and stood up. “Let’s go.”
It was not long after that the owner called out after them. “Mr. Li, your silver.”
“No, your silver!” Li Nianfan replied cheekily. He was in a good mood. He held the bottle of wine in his hand as he walked toward the east gate.
Daji asked, “Mr. Li’s going to see the old tree?”
“Yeah.” Li Nianfan nodded.
“The tree’s quite old. I was impressed by it when I first saw it. Who could’ve seen this coming?”
They passed by the long street and crossed a bridge opposite a marketplace.
Soon, the two of them arrived at the east side of the town.
Although it happened yesterday, there were still many people gathering by the tree today. Everyone was filled with emotion and regret as they talked and sighed around the tree.
Most of them were elders and children.
“This tree’s over a thousand years old. It has been here since my great-grandfather’s era.”
“Sigh, what a pity. Out of so many places, the thunderbolt struck this old tree.”
“Do you know that there’s been so much thunder and lightning lately? My son travels for business and he said that there have been thunderbolt incidents in many other places recently, especially in the mountain area. Though there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, you could still hear the thunderclaps!”
Li Nianfan stood by the side, listening in on the conversation as he observed the gigantic old tree.
The roots of the old tree had grown out of the ground, growing along the uneven ground and forming a network-like path under the people’s feet. The trunk of the tree was extremely thick. It looked like it would require at least ten adults to carry it.
The most stunning part of all was how the thick trunk was split vertically. Both sides of the trunk fell in two different directions, blocking the pathway. There was also a burnt spot in the middle of the trunk.
One could tell from the remains how glorious the old tree was.
Li Nianfan could not help reaching out to touch the fallen trunk. It had a rough texture with detailed veins. It was as if he was tracing its old age.
He glanced around and his gaze fell on a spot. At the center of the burnt spot, a new seedling had sprouted. It was eye-catching against the burnt patch, hinting at the coexistence between destruction and rebirth.
Instantly, Li Nianfan smiled with delight.
“Old tree, if you have a spirit in you, let me make a toast to you! I hope you’ll get back on your feet and receive a new life!” Li Nianfan took a sip of the wine and then tilted the bottle, pouring the wine over its roots.
Being in the Immortal Realm, Li Nianfan did not find it strange for trees to develop spirits from cultivation. Regardless if it had a spirit inside it or not, it earned his respect for shielding the town from wind and rain for so many years, and that its death did not harm anyone!
Just as Li Nianfan was ready to leave, a familiar sound was heard. “Mr. Li?”
Li Nianfan halted. “Fish stall owner?”
The man was indeed the fishmonger from the fish stall!
Li Nianfan smiled. “Not selling fish at your stall today? I was thinking of buying two fishes from you!”
“I came here to have a look. If Mr. Li would like to buy some fish, follow me.” The fishmonger was in a good mood today. He smiled and said, “Now that the demon in the Clear Moon Lake has been killed, I have all kinds of fishes now. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied.”
“Huh?” Li Nianfan was surprised. “The Demon has been killed?”
“Yeah! Let me tell you something, I was almost eaten by the demon!” the fishmonger said, face flushed red with excitement. “The demon was so scary, way beyond your imagination! It was an abalone bigger than a man! It opened its mouth and almost sucked me in entirely. So terrifying! I was lucky to have come across some cultivators descending from above. They saved my life when I was a split second away from death! You’ve no idea how dangerous it was. I was zero point one centimetres away from the Abalone Demon!”
The fishmonger gestured widely with his hands as he described his experience.
Li Nianfan smiled without speaking.
Abalone Demon?
Was it not the abalone that Qin Manyun and Luo Shiyu brought over the other day?
He looked at the fishmonger strangely as he thought to himself, ‘You were almost eaten by an Abalone Demon. I ate the Abalone Demon! You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.’
