The stall was modest—just two iron cauldrons belching fragrant steam and a few low wooden tables scattered on the grass. Two groups of cultivators were already hunched over their bowls, slurping loudly.

Qin Lu led his group to an empty table, grinning as he spotted the young girl wiping down the surface.

“Shopkeeper! Four bowls of wontons!”

“Coming right up!”

Ning Ning answered instinctively, wiping sweat from her brow. When she turned and recognized the speaker, her professional mask dissolved into pure delight.

“Ah! Uncle Qin! Long time no see!”

“It has been a while, Xiao Ning.” Qin Lu smiled warmly.

“Please, sit! All of you, sit!” She bustled around them, clearing space and wiping the table again for good measure. Once they were settled, she turned toward the lean, honest-faced man manning the pots.

“Dad! Four bowls! Make them large!”

“Got it!” The man replied, his hands already moving to drop fresh dumplings into the boiling broth.

“So, Uncle,” Ning Ning asked, leaning against a support pole, “did you come to watch the tournament today?”

Before Qin Lu could answer, Cao Mo puffed out his chest. “Watch? Hah! Uncle Qin isn’t a spectator. He’s a competitor!”

Ning Ning’s eyes widened. “Really? Did you win?”

“Of course he won! He crushed both rounds!” Cao Mo waved his arms, describing the victories with such pride one might think he had fought them himself.

“That’s amazing!” Ning Ning beamed, looking at Qin Lu with newfound respect. “Sister Meng’er always said you were powerful—that your swordsmanship was incredible. I thought she was just bragging about you, but I guess…”

Her voice trailed off. Realization dawned on her face, and she snapped her mouth shut, looking stricken.

The air at the table froze. Cao Yunxi and his wife suddenly found the wood grain of the table fascinating.

Everyone in the market district knew the story. Xiao Ziyun had been discovered to have a Heavenly Spiritual Root and was whisked away by the famous Wang Shenzhi. That event had shattered Qin Lu’s relationship with Zhang Meng, leading to a public and messy breakup. Bringing up Zhang Meng now was like tossing salt into an open wound.

Sensing the girl’s panic, Qin Lu chuckled, waving a dismissive hand.

“Relax. It’s ancient history. No need to walk on eggshells.”

He meant it. He and Zhang Meng were on divergent paths now. He had his own life, his own ambitions. As a modern soul, he knew a breakup wasn’t the end of the world.

“So,” he continued, smoothly changing the subject, “I thought you worked at the Yueman Tower? Picking up extra shifts?”

Ning Ning exhaled, visibly relieved. “Oh, I’m on the day rotation now. Since the tournament drew such a huge crowd, I came here after my shift to help my dad.”

“I see. A dutiful daughter.”

“Well then,” she smiled, regaining her cheerfulness, “I’ll go help check on the food!” She darted away toward the cauldrons.

Qin Lu watched her go, a faint smile on his lips. Then, his gaze drifted up to the banner flapping above the stall.

Big River Wonton.

Big River… Dajiang…

Qin Lu frowned. Why does that name ring a bell?

His mind scrolled through recent memories until it landed on a vivid image: a face caked in heavy makeup, smelling of cheap powder.

Auntie Li!

The memory clicked into place. The matchmaker had visited him weeks ago, insisting on introducing him to a “nice girl” who ran a food stall with her father. The father’s name was Dajiang.

Wait a minute.

The girl Auntie Li tried to set me up with… was Ning Ning?

Qin Lu blinked, stunned by the coincidence.

That day, he was supposed to meet them. But on the way, he had stumbled upon Chen Er’gou harassing Zhang Meng. He had intervened, missed the appointment, and the rest was history.

Fate is a funny thing, he mused. We were destined to meet, but not destined to match.

He decided to keep this revelation to himself. Bringing it up now would only make things weird.

“Here we go! Four large bowls!”

Ning Dajiang and his daughter arrived with steaming porcelain bowls, the broth rich and golden, topped with chopped scallions.

“Please, enjoy!”

The group, famished after a day of fasting, dug in immediately.

The first bite sent a wave of warmth spreading through Qin Lu’s stomach. He paused, savoring the texture. The meat was tender, bursting with a subtle but distinct spiritual energy.

“Shopkeeper,” Qin Lu asked, pointing his spoon at the bowl. “What meat is this?”

“Ah, you have a sharp tongue!” Ning Dajiang beamed, wiping his hands on his apron. “That’s First Grade, Late-Stage [Green Ghost Pig]. I splurged at the market this morning. Pretty fresh, right?”

“It’s excellent,” Qin Lu complimented sincerely. “You have great skill.”

“Of course he does!” Ning Ning chimed in, proud as a peacock. “My grandfather was a famous chef in the mortal world! Dad learned from the best.”

“Hahaha.” The older man laughed, a humble, honest sound.

“It must be nice having a trade,” Cao Yunxi sighed, looking into his soup. “Stable income, no life-or-death risks. Most of us would kill for that kind of peace.”

“Oh, don’t envy us too much,” Ning Dajiang waved a hand. “Small business is hard work for copper scraps. I’m only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining. If I had your strength, I’d risk it all at East Head Ridge for a big score. Slaving over a stove barely keeps us fed.”

“Trust me,” Cao Yunxi shook his head. “Hunting isn’t easy money. It’s exchanging your life for coin. One mistake and you’re dead in a ditch.”

The table fell into a comfortable silence as the reality of their struggles settled over them. The Ning family excused themselves to serve a new wave of customers, leaving Qin Lu and his friends to finish their meal.

As he ate, Qin Lu’s mind drifted back to his earlier self-reflection.

He put down his spoon and looked at the Cao family.

“Hey. Honest question. Do you guys think… I’ve changed recently?”

The three of them stopped chewing. Cao Yunxi exchanged a glance with his wife before answering cautiously.

“Changed how, exactly?”

“You know… personality-wise.”

Cao Yunxi thought for a moment. “Well, yes. You’re more outgoing. You quit gambling. Your cultivation skyrocketed. So yeah, big changes.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.” Qin Lu rubbed the back of his neck, feeling awkward. “I mean… have I been acting… arrogant?”

“Arrogant?” Cao Yunxi and his wife looked at each other, genuinely confused.

“Brother Qin,” Cao Yunxi said slowly. “Haven’t you always been arrogant?”

“Huh?” Qin Lu’s jaw dropped. “What? That’s your impression of me?”

“Well, yeah,” the couple nodded in unison. “Obviously.”

Cao Mo swallowed a mouthful of wonton and piped up. “Uncle, to be fair, you used to be a bit of a coward. But ever since you got strong, you’ve just been… awesome. It makes us feel safe.”

Qin Lu stared at them, a storm of question marks raining down in his mind.

What the hell? I thought I was the king of keeping a low profile.

Have I been delusional this whole time?