Climbing to immortality step by step

Chapter 94 Warmth

Shan Yunping is a young man with integrity and heroic spirit. He is about thirty years old. He is quite tall, a full half head taller than Liu Suiyun. Wearing a blue Taoist robe, he seems very easy-going. His voice is not loud, but it is very weighty. "Why ask me about this? Whoever gets the first place with real skills is the first!"
"But this is a small sect competition, not a martial arts competition for marriage!" An arbitrator replied. "This fellow Daoist Liu didn't use a single spell from beginning to end. Uncle Shan, you also saw it. If this gets out, there will be some criticism!"
Shan Yunping didn't think so. He replied, "What are you talking about! As long as you get the first place with real skills, no one can take it away. It's better than getting the first place by taking pills. Congratulations, Daoist Liu. In this small entrance competition, you got the first place!"
Although there was some criticism of Shan Yunping's decision, warm applause still rang out from all sides. Then Shan Yunping selected a few more winners and formed the top eight of this small competition. He was easy-going and didn't mind that everyone was just a Qi Refining cultivator. "Come to my house for a drink tonight. Since we are destined to meet, let's get together! I don't have much else at home. There are two glasses of wine and a bowl of rice. My wife's cooking is still good!"
He was really familiar with people and continued, "My wife's cooking is really at the national master level. Come then, everyone! It's considered as my celebration for all of you!"
As his name suggests, Liu Suiyun had heard that Shan Yunping had a wide range of friends. From Nascent Soul cultivators to ordinary people, countless people have received his kindness. Today's small competition is really insignificant, but since he wants to treat everyone to a meal, Liu Suiyun naturally won't refuse.
"That's good, that's good! We must taste sister-in-law's cooking!"
"If you don't mind, I can also make two side dishes."
"Come, come. I just happened to bring two jars of good wine. I'll let everyone taste it then."
Everyone's enthusiasm was quite high. Although not long ago everyone was still fighting fiercely, now they are on the same side. Although the victory in this small competition cannot be carried over to the major competition, everyone has formed a small circle because of this victory.
It's a pity that Shan Yunping only invited the winners of this small competition. Although Guo Huijun wanted to accompany them, she had to go back to the inn and rest now. Before leaving, she told Liu Suiyun, "Drink less and come back early!"
"Um!" Liu Suiyun agreed, but he also knew that it was impossible not to drink on such an occasion. "I will definitely come back early!"
Although Shan Yunping is a Foundation Establishment cultivator and now has the qualification to open his own cave abode, his home is not far from the market. It is a gathering area of mortals related to the disciples of the Shenxiao Sect. He is very popular here. Everyone greets him as if they are old friends when they see him. "Master Shan!"
"Senior Shan!"
"Brother Shan!"
Shan Yunping was also very enthusiastic. While responding, he said to everyone, "These are all my neighbors. Please take care of them in the future. That's my home!"
It was just an ordinary house. Although it was very simple and ancient, when the wind blew, there was a continuous ringing of bells from the eaves. There were fragrant herbs and flowers everywhere in front of the house, and behind the house, there were tall trees and clear lakes. Although the carved bricks and tiles were not ordinary mortal items, it was just a house of a wealthy family and didn't match Shan Yunping's status at all.
Among this group of people, those who were born into great wealth wanted to take this opportunity to say a few words to Shan Yunping. Just then, a silver bell-like voice came from the wind, complementing the ringing of bells from the roof. There was a feeling of an echo in an empty valley. "My husband, you are back! Just in time. I just ground some soy milk. Come and have a sip!"
"Thank you. Everyone come and have a sip!"
Everyone was also polite. They just took a few more glances at Mrs. Shan. Mrs. Shan is a beautiful young woman in her prime. Among the girls Liu Suiyun has met, she is the first woman he has encountered who is so gentle, virtuous, and good at managing a household.
Mrs. Shan is two or three years older than Liu Suiyun. She is petite and exquisite. Standing next to Shan Yunping, she is not even as tall as Shan Yunping's shoulder. Wearing a handkerchief on her head and a light yellow cross-collared jacket with a pleated white border skirt, all are the most ordinary secular clothes. Wearing simple clothes and a hairpin, she doesn't look like the wife of a Foundation Establishment immortal master but like an ordinary peasant woman.
Even Mrs. Shan's appearance doesn't have much immortal aura. Although she can already be called extremely beautiful, with a face like freshly fallen snow and eyes like bright pearls, she is completely an ordinary mortal woman and has never practiced Daoist techniques. She is also holding a three or four-year-old little girl by the hand and greeting Shan Yunping with concern as soon as they meet.
Although this child is young, she is a standard beauty. At a glance, Liu Suiyun felt that not only did she look somewhat similar to Mrs. Shan in appearance but also had similar manners. Not to mention that the dress she was wearing was vaguely similar to Mrs. Shan's. It was a standard mother-daughter summer outfit.
Liu Suiyun couldn't help but secretly compare her with his own pair of little loli. Of course, he was still a bit partial. "My little loli are cuter!"
"Come, come! Just ground hot soy milk!" Mrs. Shan is very good at managing the household. Although she is just an ordinary person and cannot use even a bit of spiritual power, she has arranged the entire Shan family in perfect order. "The beans were soaked yesterday afternoon. They are very fragrant. Everyone have a taste!"
Mrs. Shan is somewhat different from the girls Liu Suiyun has come into contact with. Whether it's Yan Ruojiang, Gu Yinghua, or Guo Huijun, they all have astonishing skills and naturally bring such arrogance into their words and deeds. While Mrs. Shan is completely obedient to Shan Yunping, like an ordinary virtuous wife and good mother in the secular world. "Fellow Daoists, if my husband Shan Yunping has done anything wrong, please forgive him."
Bowl after bowl of hot soy milk was poured over. "Come and have a taste too!"
Liu Suiyun nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Shan. Is there sweet soy milk? I am longing for the supreme Dao."
"Dear Daoist friend, please forgive me. There is only original flavor." Mrs. Shan has already very meekly filled a bowl of soy milk. "Please taste the original flavor soy milk!"
"Thank you!"
Liu Suiyun didn't think much. Mrs. Shan continued to pour bowl after bowl of soy milk for the cultivators with lowered eyes. And Shan Yunping had already hugged his extremely cute daughter and swayed several times. For some reason, he suddenly burst out laughing.
What a warm scene!
Liu Suiyun took a sip of the hot soy milk. The temperature was just right, and the taste was also excellent. It would be better if there was sugar!
As Shan Yunping had boasted, Mrs. Shan's cooking was indeed excellent. But soon he thought of some past events. This soy milk really had the taste of home!
He remembered the figure who was always busy in the kitchen. It was because she was so capable in this regard that Liu Suiyun's cooking skills were completely lacking. Soon Liu Suiyun thought even further. Mrs. Shan had a daughter and had to grind so much soy milk by hand. That was really not easy!
"I'll go to the kitchen first and make some side dishes for a few fellow Daoists. You all rest for a while. I'll be back soon. At that time, you must give me face!"
The little girl had already ridden on Shan Yunping's neck and was treating this Foundation Establishment cultivator like a pony. And the atmosphere in the whole place became even more relaxed. A yellow-robed cultivator took a sip of soy milk and said, "Sister-in-law's soy milk is really excellent. I have never drunk such good soy milk. But Big Brother Shan invited us here not just for a sip of soy milk so simply, right?"
Shan Yunping also smiled. "Naturally. But don't worry. I, Shan Yunping, won't let everyone suffer. I invited everyone here this time because there is a great good thing."
"What good thing?" Liu Suiyun laughed. "I don't believe there is any good thing that can be better than sister-in-law cooking in person."
"I can't take this compliment!" Shan Yunping replied. "First of all, I want to congratulate all of you, the winners of this small entrance competition. Although the results won't be carried over to the major competition, in the entrance grand competition, you will all be treated as seeded players and have two rounds of byes!"
"Really?" Liu Suiyun was overjoyed. "That's great!"
"Great! Great!"
"Big Brother Shan, do you have wine? Let's have a drink!"
"Big Brother Shan, we remember your kindness. If there is anything in the future, just give us a call. Brothers will never hesitate!"
Having two rounds of byes in the sect grand competition is simply like a pie falling from the sky. Although theoretically, after each round of competition, there is a certain amount of time for treating injuries and restoring spiritual power, physical strength, and divine sense. But after all, people's energy is very limited. After two rounds of competition, cultivators are often exhausted and covered in wounds.
Although the grand competition is not single-elimination, it is extremely difficult to come back from the loser's bracket. After having two rounds of byes, even if one can't adjust to the best state, just the advantage of waiting leisurely is enough to save everyone how many spiritual pills, talismans, and trump cards.
Liu Suiyun also joined the group of people making a commotion. "Open the wine jars. Let's toast Master Shan once. Master Shan, we are sincerely toasting you!"
"Wait a moment! Wait a moment!" The little girl was still riding on Shan Yunping's shoulder. Shan Yunping finally managed to get this precious daughter down. "Go and play with your mother. I'll talk about serious matters with a few uncles first."
Shan Yunping had a good temper. He immediately asked Liu Suiyun to open the wine jars. "Fellow Daoist Liu, everyone shouldn't toast me but should toast you instead. Because everyone has two rounds of byes. According to the rules we set, as the first place, you have three rounds of byes!"
Three rounds of byes? Liu Suiyun felt that he had made the right bet! Having three rounds of byes directly in the grand competition is simply a good thing that one might not encounter in decades. Liu Suiyun only knew that there was a lucky person who had five consecutive byes. But that lucky person was the descendant of a sect cultivator of the Shenxiao Sect!
"Don't rush!" Seeing that he was about to be surrounded by everyone, Liu Suiyun quickly said, "Master Shan, Big Brother Shan, I respect you even more now. Thank you so much. If it weren't for your words, I don't know where this first place would go. So I still toast you first!"
But just as Liu Suiyun was about to speak, he heard a voice as beautiful as heavenly music say, "Nephew Shan, don't rush to drink. Finish the serious matter first. Stand up all of you!"
This voice was so captivating that it made Liu Suiyun feel as comfortable as eating a ginseng fruit. He completely gave up the idea of drinking. Because drinking and singing loudly or similar behaviors were simply a desecration of this voice.
He unconsciously stood up automatically.