Chapter 20: A Lavish Meal

The Azure Dragon War Chariot roared to life, its exterior dazzlingly ornate and sleek, massive like an ancient everlasting azure dragon. It possessed unparalleled speed in the world. As it sped past, a dragon’s roar seemed to echo, yet it required no prior notice to the city gates or guard posts. Thanks to its privileged license plate, it effortlessly pierced through the city's protective barrier without hindrance, galloping through with undeniable splendor.

On the ground, many people caught sight of this magnificent Azure Dragon War Chariot. Some youths even shrieked with excitement. There was only one such chariot in the entire imperial capital—it was General Xing Haotian’s exclusive war vehicle. Even the puppet beast mounted on the chariot bore genuine azure dragon scales that Xing Haotian had retrieved from the forbidden zone, driving people wild with envy.

The war chariot surged forward at top speed and arrived beside the icy cave within just two minutes. Due to the effects of the fiery poison’s roasting, the ice cave had lost its chill, turning muddy and disordered. Xing Haotian unleashed a blazing charge, swiftly reaching the innermost frozen pool.

At this moment, the cold pool was half dry, and the ground bore chaotic traces that reminded Xing Haotian of all that had transpired before. He felt a scorching heat coursing through his body, his nostrils bleeding.

Though the fiery poison robbed him of reason, his memories remained intact. He could recall everything he had done with remarkable clarity—far more vivid than usual. Those exquisitely sensual scenes left him craving more, unable to stop.

Alas, Wei Zi’s attitude toward him was hardly warm. He could only strive to the utmost to satisfy her, hoping to win the beauty’s heart.

Thinking of the times ahead when he could hold Wei Zi as he wished, Xing Haotian felt his body temperature rise uncontrollably.

As a young man who had just embraced passion, he felt his vigor was boundless, longing to continue indulging!

Wei Zi’s bag lay by the poolside. Fortunately, it had not been lost. Xing Haotian hurriedly picked it up and sped back.

Meanwhile, inside a single-occupancy hospital room, a nurse wheeled in a meal trolley, presenting Wei Zi with what true luxury dining meant.

Following Xing Haotian’s instructions, Zhao Liang had prepared the highest-grade nutritious meal. Since Wei Zi had just regained consciousness, and soldiers abided by the principle of no waste, before her was only a bowl of lotus seed porridge, a boiled egg, and a small dish of crisp shredded radish.

“Gulp!” Wei Zi swallowed hard, staring at the fragrant lotus seed porridge. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was made from century-old snow lotus seeds. Within the porridge floated profound mystical runes, which upon consumption, could spontaneously enhance one’s mystical power.

The rice grains were also a rare spiritual plant cultivated by the royal family of Huantian Kingdom, known as Silver Thread Fragrant Snow—extremely precious.

The seemingly ordinary boiled egg, when peeled, revealed silky egg whites like fine silk, and the yolk exuded golden liquid shimmering with a rosy glow. It was the egg of the famed Jin Zhen chicken, one of only five such chickens in the entire Huantian Kingdom, producing merely five eggs daily—no one could easily taste such a delicacy.

As for the slightly salty shredded radish, it was no ordinary radish but slices of millennium-old snow ginseng, where even a small piece could be lethal.

---

“Did I eat all this back then? I think I tipped it all over!” Wei Zi fell into confusion. In truth, she had no memory of how she had survived to escape from Xing Haotian’s territory, as she had been delirious at the time. If those provisions had been prepared for her then and she had indeed knocked them over, she must have been a real troublemaker!

Such a meal was beyond the value of ordinary mystical currency; it would require the exchange of vast quantities of rare mystical crystals traded among mystics.

Wei Zi scooped a spoonful of lotus seed porridge and swallowed it. The flavor was so delicious she nearly bit her own tongue. A refreshing mystical force flowed through her body, expanding her meridians with remarkable effect.

No longer concerned with maintaining a ladylike demeanor, Wei Zi ate heartily, leaving not a single grain behind. The Jin Zhen egg and the millennium snow ginseng all vanished down her throat.

She sat cross-legged, quickly forming hand seals, spinning her mystical core to digest the high-grade energy, feeling as if her pores had opened wide.

These gently cooked ingredients were the easiest to absorb, free from the harshness of wild mystical fruits. Not only delicious, they were treasures rare both in heaven and on earth.

Wei Zi felt a coolness throughout her body. After fully absorbing the meal, a sheen of sweat broke out on her skin, expelling some impurities. She felt her body had become more transparent and clear.

“If such treasures were consumed regularly, one’s physical body would surely far surpass other mystics!” Wei Zi murmured. No wonder the offspring of officials and wealthy families were so powerful—their hidden resources were incomparable to common folk.

Rising from the hospital bed, Wei Zi found the single room truly lavish. The bathroom even had a shower and a bathtub. Sweating profusely and feeling uncomfortable, her thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened in the cave. Her face grew dark with despair. Unable to bear her condition, she turned on the water and began to wash herself.

Unbeknownst to her, she had already been cleaned once when she was brought back to the fortress.

After washing, Wei Zi donned the bathrobe and opened the bathroom door, only to almost collide with Xing Haotian, who had just burst into the room.

His eyes burned with intensity as he took in the sight of Wei Zi, fresh from the water like a lotus blossom. Her fair cheeks bloomed with pink, her damp hair framing her face, emanating an ethereal beauty. To Xing Haotian, she was like a goddess through the eyes of a lover—no matter her posture, she quickened his heartbeat, deepened his breathing, and set his entire body ablaze.

Of course, this heat was unlike the fiery poison’s burning fever; it was a gentle intoxication that captivated him utterly.

In contrast, Wei Zi’s expression was grim.

Her hatred for Xing Haotian would not waver just because of a few good gestures.

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“Did no one teach you to knock before entering a room?” Wei Zi said icily.

“Sorry!” Xing Haotian turned and stepped out, closing the door. Then, a knock resounded sharply.

“Miss Wei Zi, may I come in?”

Wei Zi: “...”

“Miss Wei Zi?”

She felt a headache coming on, then snorted coldly, “Come in.”

Xing Haotian sighed in relief and was about to push the door open when he noticed Zhao Liang standing by the door with a stunned expression, as if seeing a ghost.

“Ahem!” Xing Haotian immediately straightened his back, towering and stern. His eyes blazed like scorching rays, locking onto Zhao Liang with overwhelming presence. The sudden intimidation made Zhao Liang straighten his chest and lift his head, staring straight ahead without daring to meet Xing Haotian’s gaze again.

At the same moment, Zhao Liang felt a weight lift off his heart. This was the General Xing he knew—his idol. The flustered and timid man he had seen moments ago could never be the true General Xing.

“Xiao Zhao, you’ve worked hard. You don’t need to stay here tonight. You may go back,” Xing Haotian said.

“Yes, sir!” Zhao Liang saluted without question. As a guard, he obeyed all orders from the General. Moreover, a strange feeling told him it was best not to ask or speak about the person inside the room—best not to get involved at all—lest his own position become precarious.

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Thanks to reader Hou, Se, for the generous reward of 1888 book coins. That heartfelt plea melted me—here’s an extra chapter!