Mortal Bones

Chapter 29: A Guest Arrives, Ninth Uncle Hosts a Feast for Liu Songshan

A moment later.

“Alright, the final dish: stir-fried yellow mutton is ready!”

Xu Taiping scooped the sizzling meat from the wok, carrying the platter into the main hall.

By now, the dining table was groaning under the weight of a full feast. Although the primary ingredient was yellow mutton, the culinary techniques were vastly different. The soups alone included Sheep Heart Soup, Sheep Kidney Soup, and Sheep Bone Broth. The meat dishes featured Stir-fried Yellow Mutton, Steamed Sheep Head, Roasted Yellow Mutton Leg, Baked Mutton, and Wine-Braised Mutton.

These were all recipes his grandfather had savored during his youthful travels across the mortal realm. Hearing the old man reminisce about them every day had made Xu Taiping’s mouth water, prompting him to memorize the cooking methods in preparation for a day when he could afford to buy meat.

He never expected they would actually be put to use today.

“Mmm… truly fragrant… these seven Merit Coins were exceptionally well spent.”

Old Nine tilted his head back, taking a deep sniff. His expression instantly brightened, and he couldn’t help but slap the table in delight.

“Had I known you possessed such culinary skills, Taiping, I would have shamelessly invited myself over much sooner!”

Staring at the decadent spread, Bai Hong also felt his appetite surge.

“Uncle Bai, if it suits your taste, you are welcome to dine here often.”

Xu Taiping answered with utmost sincerity.

“Hehe, I am merely jesting. How could I constantly intrude upon your cultivation?”

Bai Hong smiled, shaking his head.

Hearing Xu Taiping’s generous invitation, Old Nine was consumed by envy. After stealthily pinching a piece of meat and popping it into his mouth, he tentatively asked:

“Little friend Taiping, after sharing this meal, can the two of us be considered friends?”

“Of course not.”

Xu Taiping replied, his face a mask of deadpan seriousness.

“Little friend, you cannot play favorites like this. Look, I helped you tend the fire and wiped the tables. Surely, we can be considered friends too.”

Old Nine instantly slumped in exaggerated dejection.

Bai Hong, while sweating bullets for Xu Taiping’s audacity, also felt a secret swell of smugness. To think that I, Bai Hong, would see the day where I outrank the Martial Ancestor in someone’s eyes.

Thump, thump, thump!…

Just as the three were tearing into the feast, heavy knocks echoed from the courtyard gate.

“Bai Hong, why did you summon me here?”

An authoritative elder’s voice drifted in from beyond the walls.

“Taiping, besides Old Nine, I also invited another friend. Do you think you could spare an extra bowl and set of chopsticks?”

Bai Hong ignored the voice outside. Instead, he carefully set down his utensils and politely asked for Xu Taiping’s permission.

“Since he is also your friend, Uncle Bai, please invite him in.”

Xu Taiping nodded.

“Do not forget to make him pay! I handed over seven whole Merit Coins!”

Old Nine shot Bai Hong a fiercely jealous glare.

“That… that is only natural!”

Bai Hong nodded frantically, rising to open the gate.

“Bai Hong, what exactly is the meaning of this? I do not have the leisure to reminisce with you!”

Moments later, Xu Taiping and Old Nine—both currently gnawing on mutton ribs—watched as Bai Hong led an elder with opulent robes and meticulously groomed hair into the main hall.

“Brother Liu, there is no hidden agenda. Brother Nine, you, and I have not gathered in ages. I simply wished to share a meal.”

Stepping into the hall, Bai Hong smiled and gestured toward the elder chewing on the mutton rib at the table.

“Brother Nine? Who is this Brother Nine?”

The man addressed as Brother Liu shot an impatient scowl toward the table, his eyes locking directly onto Old Nine’s.

“You… how come you are…”

“Enough useless drivel! Sit down and eat!”

The instant their gazes met, absolute terror flashed through Elder Liu’s eyes, only to be immediately quashed by Old Nine’s vicious glare.

“Yes… yes!”

Elder Liu scrambled to take a seat.

“Wait, aren’t you Pavilion Master Liu of the West Wind Pavilion?”

Xu Taiping finally recognized the newcomer.

If his memory served, this was the exact same West Wind Pavilion Master, Liu Songshan, whom Senior Sister Linglong had taken him to see when he first ascended the mountain.

“I am conversing with my Martial… with my two Senior Brothers! Who gave a junior like you the right to interrupt?”

Infuriated by Xu Taiping’s interjection, Pavilion Master Liu’s face darkened, and he leveled a vicious glare at the boy.

“Liu Songshan, your cultivation base is pitiful, yet your arrogant airs are quite grand, aren’t they?”

Before Xu Taiping could even blink, Old Nine slammed his chopsticks down, sneering coldly at Liu Songshan.

“Martial… Ninth Uncle… I…”

“Hey, hey, hey! Brother Liu, mind your manners. Ninth Uncle is merely reminding you to speak politely. After all, every dish on this table today was personally prepared by little brother Taiping.”

All color instantly drained from Liu Songshan’s face. His body convulsed, and he nearly melted out of his chair in pure dread. Fortunately, Bai Hong was there to quickly prop him back up.

“Indeed. The only reason we old bones can gather today is thanks to little brother Taiping. Yet you barge in here and immediately start barking at him like a rabid dog. How utterly devoid of manners.”

Old Nine stuffed another piece of meat into his mouth, his tone softening just a fraction.

“Yes, yes, absolutely! What Ninth Uncle says is undeniably true…”

Hearing Ninth Uncle’s tone ease, Liu Songshan felt as if he had been granted an imperial pardon, nodding his head so fast it nearly snapped off.

“Brother Liu, have a taste of little brother Taiping’s craftsmanship. Ninth Uncle was just singing its praises.”

Bai Hong smoothly produced an extra bowl and chopsticks, placing them in front of the trembling Pavilion Master.

“If Ninth Uncle praises it so highly, it must be an exquisite delicacy.”

Liu Songshan accepted the utensils with a painfully strained, sycophantic smile, trying desperately to flatter Old Nine.

“Wait!”

Just as Liu Songshan eagerly extended his chopsticks toward a dish, Old Nine’s own chopsticks snapped out, clamping down on Liu’s like a vice. He shot the official a venomous sidelong glance.

“Pay up!”

Xu Taiping, who had been quietly watching this absurd theater unfold, quickly caught on. He extended a palm straight toward Liu Songshan.

“Pavilion Master Liu, same rate as Ninth Uncle. This meal will cost you seven Merit Coins.”

He obviously recognized that Ninth Uncle was a monstrous hidden expert, and that this gathering was far from a simple dinner. However, he had no intention of leaving easy Merit Coins on the table. Whatever terrifying political schemes these grand figures were weaving, it was none of his business, and he didn’t care to know.

Maybe they really were just passing by. Whatever, I’ll just treat it as dinner theater.

Xu Taiping rationalized in his mind.

Seeing Xu Taiping collect the funds without a shred of hesitation, Ninth Uncle nodded in profound satisfaction. Then, while casually shoveling rice into his mouth, he tossed out an offhand question.

“Who sits as the Hall Master of the Fierce Wind Hall under your jurisdiction these days?”

“Currently, the Fierce Wind Hall Master is Xu Youzhi, a Qing-generation disciple from the Second Peak.”

Liu Songshan instantly dropped his chopsticks and answered with rigid, terrifyingly earnest respect.

“Ah, Xu Youzhi. His master brought him to pay respects to me years ago. I suppose we are acquainted. Why not summon him here to share a meal with us?”

Ninth Uncle ladled himself a bowl of rich broth, sipping it with immense pleasure, not even bothering to glance at Liu Songshan.

“Ninth Uncle… wouldn’t… wouldn’t that be inappropriate? The Fierce Wind Hall is… quite a distance from here.”

Cold sweat cascaded down Liu Songshan’s forehead.