Arrival

Xu Ya and Shi Yuzhen couldn’t hold a conversation on the same wavelength, so the misunderstanding about them being cultivation partners had to be dropped.

The system, parched and frantic, kept urging Xu Ya to keep feeding Shi Yuzhen fried chicken without stopping. Xu Ya, eager to return home, had no choice but to comply.

Shi Yuzhen, on the other hand, remained constantly mindful of helping Xu Ya cultivate her physique. Gradually, Xu Ya’s aptitude and condition had changed from what they once were.

After all these years in the cultivation world, Xu Ya had finally, for the first time, learned formal cultivation techniques from Yunmeng Immortal Marsh.

Like a novice cultivator, Xu Ya was curious about everything. Shi Yuzhen, unusually patient, guided her along. If any cultivator from Yunmeng Immortal Marsh saw this, they’d be shocked speechless.

As Xu Ya advanced to the Qi Refining Stage, the fried chicken she made also gained new effects, in line with what the golden finger had promised.

During this time, Shi Yuzhen underwent two more breakthroughs in cultivation. Now, she was one of the most sought-after Deity Transformation Stage cultivators in Yunmeng Immortal Marsh.

It was said that on the day of her breakthrough, the heavens shifted dramatically—eerily similar to when Xu Ducang ascended to the Deity Transformation Stage in his twilight years.

Since being ambushed by Master Xu during her last breakthrough, Shi Yuzhen had ascended twice more in just a few short years. Such talent left the cultivation world in awe. Many began to speculate whether it had something to do with the fried chicken from A Ya Fried Chicken Shop.

They had long noticed that Xu Ya’s physique had already reached the level of a cultivator. As her cultivation progressed, the effects of her fried chicken had indeed become more potent.

Yet, A Ya Fried Chicken Shop didn’t raise its prices despite the enhanced effects, drawing attention from all factions to this humble shop in Yunmeng Immortal Village.

Many cultivator-run shops even adopted A Ya Fried Chicken’s takeout model, placing message talismans by the shop’s entrance. Business boomed, and the service even connected low-level cultivators to more opportunities. Word spread to other cultivation realms as well.

Adding to the buzz was the rumor that the thirty-something Deity Transformation Stage cultivator Shi Yuzhen had an ambiguous relationship with the shop’s owner.

For a time, A Ya Fried Chicken Shop became a household name, taking the cultivation world by storm.

Xu Ya, however, was at her wit’s end. With Shi Yuzhen’s recent breakthrough, the trumpet of victory and her return home was within reach. It should have been a joyous occasion. But lately, every cultivator who came to buy fried chicken would teasingly call her “Senior Sister.”

They had to be kidding. She had once been the lowest of mortals in Yunmeng Immortal Marsh. Since when did she deserve to be called Senior Sister?

The novel had described countless times how heaven-defying and beloved the male lead Shi Yuzhen was. Now they were calling her Senior Sister? Were they trying to roast her alive? She really couldn’t look at the lawless Shi Yuzhen the same way anymore.

But in truth, the male lead was being wronged.

Ever since Shi Yuzhen had declared in front of An Jiaze that she and Xu Ya were cultivation partners, An Jiaze had not left his cave residence for years. He’d even resigned from his duties as the sect’s adjudicator and stopped asking fellow alchemists to bring back fried chicken for him.

Such abnormal behavior naturally drew the attention of idle, gossip-hungry cultivators. After all, An Jiaze had already reached the Golden Core Stage. Unless he had freakish talent like Shi Yuzhen, there was no way he’d be advancing again anytime soon.

And once they started digging, the rumors just wouldn’t stop.

An anonymous cultivator claimed that before going into seclusion, An Jiaze had visited A Ya Fried Chicken Shop multiple times, but Xu Ya always avoided him.

That was… interesting.

At the same time, Shi Yuzhen was practically inseparable from Xu Ya at the shop.

So, was this another showdown between An Jiaze and Shi Yuzhen?

The anonymous cultivator coughed mysteriously and dropped an even bigger bombshell: Xu Ya and Shi Yuzhen were actually cultivation partners! They had already declared their relationship to An Jiaze! That’s why An Jiaze had been holed up in his cave ever since! But this information—understand it, don’t spread it.

The cultivators were stunned. They began to wonder if Xu Ya had added something to the fried chicken. How else could it be so irresistible? Two of Yunmeng Immortal Marsh’s most promising young cultivators had fought over her multiple times?

Was she some kind of succubus?

Quite a few cultivators made a point of visiting A Ya Fried Chicken Shop when Shi Yuzhen wasn’t around, just to observe Xu Ya.

Perhaps the rumors were too vivid, because suddenly, everyone started to feel that Xu Ya gave off the aura of a true powerhouse. They immediately treated her with newfound respect.

No one knew who started it, but one by one, cultivators who by all rights were far more advanced than Xu Ya began calling her “Senior Master Sister.”

Xu Ya could only rub her forehead helplessly.

A Xi hadn’t smiled in years. Even Xu Ya couldn’t guess what was on his mind. Hearing the teasing, he didn’t bother hiding his displeasure and nearly got into a fight with the cultivators—almost earning their complaints.

“Senior Master Sister, there’s another fried chicken shop that opened to the east called Aya Jia Fried Chicken Shop. Are they related to you? Family, maybe? I heard their business is doing pretty well too,” a cultivator asked, taking advantage of a quiet moment outside the shop.

Xu Ya couldn’t be bothered to correct his form of address—it was pointless. But that odd name caught her attention, and she couldn’t help but ask, “What?”

The cultivator replied, “Aya Jia. They split the ‘Ya’ character from your shop’s name into two, made it into ‘Aya’ and ‘Jia.’ From a distance, I thought it was your branch store!”

Fried chicken wasn’t Xu Ya’s exclusive domain. In fact, it was a recipe even Culinary Cultivators had abandoned due to its poor cost-efficiency.

Still, given the success of A Ya Fried Chicken Shop, Xu Ya wasn’t surprised that others had tried to copy it. After all, it wasn’t her patent. But… this “knockoff” was just too funny!

Aya Jia? Who came up with that? If she hadn’t triple-checked with the system that she was the only one who transmigrated into this novel, she’d have suspected it was a fellow victim trying to reconnect.

How was this any different from those bootleg shops like “Mi Bing Xue City” copying “Mixue Ice City”?

Xu Ya laughed and explained that it was probably opened by a cultivator she didn’t know. She didn’t take it to heart.

A few peaceful days passed before another cultivator mentioned that a second Aya Jia Fried Chicken Shop had opened to the west.

Xu Ya still didn’t think much of it, but Shi Yuzhen clearly did. Her face showed just how much she minded. She even suggested they travel together to investigate.

Xu Ya knew full well that Shi Yuzhen was just using this as an excuse to spend time alone with her, so she didn’t respond.

She couldn’t leave the shop unattended, and she couldn’t leave A Xi behind.

More importantly, the system had suddenly reported something unusual a few days ago.

【Host, the mission progress for “Male Lead becomes the number one cultivator in the world” has reached 98%! Please keep up the good work!】

Ninety-eight percent! That meant her wish to go home was about to come true?!

Staring at that percentage, the beacon of victory, Xu Ya was overwhelmed with emotion.

After all these years, enduring the rumors of being a “eunuch” and quietly feeding the male lead day after day, was she finally about to succeed?

To ensure the mission’s completion, Xu Ya decided to stay in the shop and protect the male lead during his final breakthrough—just in case anything went wrong.

Now that Shi Yuzhen had reached the Deity Transformation Stage, it meant she was due for one final major advancement. Xu Ya figured it was safest not to wander.

But her bubbling excitement didn’t escape Shi Yuzhen’s notice.

Over the years, Shi Yuzhen’s cultivation had soared, and her sensitivity to the world around her had sharpened. More importantly, aside from cultivating, she spent every day and night watching Xu Ya.

Every small change in Xu Ya was significant and rare to Shi Yuzhen. Even though Zhan Zhengzhen often reminded him that his behavior was impolite, he couldn’t help but want to know more about Xu Ya.

But this time, he sensed something different. His strong sixth sense told him that Xu Ya was planning to leave without saying goodbye.

Everything appeared normal, just like always.

That thought kept circling in Shi Yuzhen’s mind, to the point where he couldn’t even focus on cultivating.

So Shi Yuzhen simply gave up on cultivation and spent nearly every moment watching Xu Ya.

Seeing him like this made Xu Ya panic. Shi Yuzhen not cultivating was unacceptable—if he didn’t continue, his progress would remain stuck at 98% with no advancement.

Holding a box of freshly fried chicken, Xu Ya rarely took the initiative to come to Shi Yuzhen’s residence, hoping to lift his spirits.

Shi Yuzhen looked at Xu Ya’s chubby, smiling face, reached out to pat her head, and pulled her into his arms.

Xu Ya wasn’t used to being so close to him, but Shi Yuzhen didn’t mind. To him, Xu Ya had long been his chosen dao companion. That would never change.

Shi Yuzhen was willing to accommodate her little quirks, as long as she stayed by his side.

But that absurd thought kept flashing through his mind, disturbing his heart.

Suddenly, he cupped the back of Xu Ya’s head, lowered himself, and pressed his lips to hers.

This time, it wasn’t a tentative touch. His breath crashed down like a storm—fierce and overwhelming.

The long-lost intimacy made Xu Ya instinctively press her hands against his chest, but Shi Yuzhen quickly caught them and pulled her back into his embrace. Her chest was tightly pressed against his.

Xu Ya couldn’t breathe properly, unable to withstand the stormy onslaught, and finally let out a few soft sobs.

Shi Yuzhen abruptly pulled away from her lips and looked at her deeply.

“Great Senior Brother… you…” Xu Ya’s cheeks flushed red. She lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his burning gaze. “What are you doing…”

“Don’t… push me away, little sister…” Shi Yuzhen murmured, then cupped her flushed face and leaned in again.

That form of address made it even more embarrassing. Shi Yuzhen always said things Xu Ya found hard to accept, perhaps just to tease her reactions. Xu Ya turned her face away, and Shi Yuzhen kissed her neck instead.

Damn it… not cultivating… and still doing this kind of thing…!

Flames. An explosion.

A massive blast suddenly erupted in Yunmeng Immortal Village.

Out of the corner of her eye, Xu Ya caught sight of something she had only ever seen in the modern world—a mushroom cloud rising behind them.

She didn’t know where the strength came from, but she shoved away Shi Yuzhen, whose cultivation far surpassed hers.

She turned and looked toward the source of the fire.

A wave of danger surged through her. That direction—it looked like the fried chicken shop!

For the first time, she left Shi Yuzhen behind, running down the mountain without looking back.

Shi Yuzhen was suddenly gripped by panic. He watched Xu Ya’s figure grow smaller and smaller, slipping out of his reach, just as he had feared.

A sharp pain struck him in the chest, as if a wild surge of true qi had slammed into his dantian. Even as a Spirit Transformation cultivator, Shi Yuzhen couldn’t withstand it—he clutched his chest and dropped to his knees, his whole body going numb. It was…

“Don’t go…”