She was completely unaware that Li Little Pillow had encountered the former Sword Champion of the Luofu—a monster-like existence—and despite giving it her all, hadn't managed to knock off a single drop of Jingliu's blood.
Moonscar and Li Sushang were currently out shopping and having a blast with their newly acquainted best friends, Guinaifen and Little Bailu.
When they got tired of playing, they chose a restaurant by the roadside that looked appealing and went in for a feast!
"North Rock Melon Spicy Chicken, Ray Shredded Pork, and Grandma Chen's Tofu... hmm. Shangshang, are you sure you're treating?"
The three of them sat in a relatively secluded spot. Guinaifen scanned the menu with a beaming smile, but after flipping through two pages, her eyes darted suspiciously toward her best friend.
"Of course! All expenses today are paid for by Miss Li. Order whatever you want!"
Moonscar waved her small hand, exuding the heroic spirit of a chivalrous warrior.
After the massive sum of 1.5 billion credits that Caelus earned from selling his "mother" arrived, he had transferred one hundred million to the mobile accounts of Bronya, Seele, and Li Sushang respectively, telling them to spend it however they liked.
"Ah, this..."
Hearing her best friend say this, Guinaifen didn't beam with joy. Instead, her original smile gradually faded.
Given her relationship with Shangshang, it was normal for them to treat each other to meals occasionally, but going to a proper restaurant was an exception.
Think about it: your best friend suddenly asks you to go shopping one day, treats you to snacks and milk tea along the way, and then treats you to a feast at a restaurant for the main meal.
What would be your first thought?
Even with Little Gui's cheerful optimism, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy at this moment.
Based on Sushang's clever little brain and her understanding of her best friend, Guinaifen didn't think she was at risk of being pranked.
Earlier, during the live performance of smashing a boulder on her chest, Guinaifen had faintly sensed something. Until now, she was completely sure: Shangshang was acting a bit strange... no, very strange!
Could it be that Shangshang had contracted some incurable terminal illness and didn't have long to live?
The thought struck her like a bolt from the blue!
Guinaifen immediately put down the menu, her eyes swimming with tears. Her fair, soft hand shot out and clasped Moonscar's palm tightly.
"Shangshang, don't give up! You definitely mustn't give up! With the Lady Dragon High Elder here, no matter what terminal illness it is, it can definitely be cured!"
Little Gui's sudden behavior startled Moonscar, and a question mark popped up over the small head of Bailu sitting next to her.
"Has Sister Sushang contracted some difficult or complicated disease?"
Bailu tilted her head, her face showing worry and suspicion.
She had been extremely happy these past two days!
Although she used to sneak out to play from time to time, she was always alone and would eventually be caught and dragged back.
But Sushang? This sister not only rescued her from the stinky guards arranged by those old fogies in the clan but also took her everywhere to play. Bailu already considered Sister Sushang a good friend!
Hearing Guinaifen say this, she naturally felt worried. However, she couldn't see any physical problems with Sister Sushang's body.
"No, what are you thinking? Did you understand the abstract method Caelus taught you and are now using me as an experiment? As expected of you, Little Gui, you learn quickly."
Moonscar felt quite gratified; her disciple had good perception.
"No, it has nothing to do with the Master... Then why are you suddenly treating us?"
Little Gui was stunned and let go of Moonscar's hand.
If she didn't figure out the reason behind her best friend's all-expenses-paid spree of eating, drinking, and playing, she wouldn't feel at ease eating this meal.
"What? Is it strange for me to treat you to a meal? If you don't want this one, you can treat me instead?"
Moonscar smiled beautifully.
Something was wrong. Shangshang's aura was too weird!
What the hell was this quirky, playful temperament!
Could Shangshang have been possessed by someone?
Thinking this, Guinaifen's expression became serious. She shouted loudly: "Boss! Bring a plate of Spiral-Tooth Algae Cold-Tossed Star-Speckled Shells!"
Forget it. If her best friend is treating, she'll eat first and ask questions later!
"I want a portion of Warm Soothing Goat Milk and a Momo Roll."
Bailu raised her small hand. Her two chubby little legs couldn't reach the ground, so they swung back and forth in the air.
Warm Soothing Goat Milk was her favorite beverage.
Seeing this, Moonscar chuckled lightly and asked internally.
[The other me, what do you want to eat?]
[Are there any local specialties here?]
Li Sushang didn't stand on ceremony with herself. While the cuisine of the Xianzhou certainly suited her tastes, since she had come to a different space-time, she wanted to try something different.
[Okay.]
Responding to Li Sushang in her heart, Moonscar asked casually:
"Boss, do you have any special dishes here that other restaurants don't have? Recommend something for me."
Hearing Moonscar's question, the Vidyadhara store manager named Yan Cui looked up and smiled enthusiastically.
"Hey, then you've come to the right place, guest!"
"Don't look down on the size of my shop. If we're talking about specialties, you won't find a more unique shop in the entire Xianzhou."
Seeing a customer who liked to pursue unique tastes, Yan Cui immediately began to share with enthusiasm.
"My biggest quirk when it comes to eating is that I absolutely will not eat animals that can't defeat me!"
"The Vidyadhara have always emphasized following the way of nature, where all things reinforce and counteract each other in an endless cycle of growth. Based on this principle, I only eat animals that are qualified to engage in a life-and-death duel with me. This is my Martial Dao!"
[???]
Listening to the proprietress's hot-blooded declaration, Li Sushang in the background of her body was a bit dazed, her mind full of question marks.
Was there any logical connection in those words?
As expected of an interstellar civilization. Although she didn't understand it, it sounded very impressive.
"I recommend you try the Nine-Eyed Octopus Tentacles!"
Yan Cui spoke passionately: "Back when I created this dish, I deliberately went to another ocean world called Thalassa to hunt for ingredients."
"I risked my life battling the Nine-Eyed Octopus on the open sea for over two hours. After I finally won, exhausted, I cut off its tentacles and took a bite. That taste... was simply superb!"
Yan Cui's words made both Guinaifen and Bailu reveal expressions that said, "Huh?"
"The Vidyadhara do indeed have such principles, but that's not how you interpret them, hey!" Bailu jumped up to retort.
"Lady Dragon High Elder can use this as a way of explaining it in the future."
Yan Cui was a Vidyadhara; how could she not recognize her own High Elder, the Healer Lady well-known across the Xianzhou Luofu?
Looking at her appearance, she had obviously sneaked out.
However, Yan Cui had no interest in reporting this to the clan elders of the Vidyadhara. Except for the cronies of those old fogies, most people within the Vidyadhara didn't like those old bastards themselves.
It was better for Bailu, this small, cute, and highly skilled Healer Lady, to be more loved by her clansmen.
Guinaifen, who had received the 'Great Way of Proving the Dao via Internet Streaming' taught by Caelus, was already considering whether she should come here often to film restaurant exploration videos.
Moonscar looked thoughtful and nodded in approval:
"Indeed. Only prey that has undergone fierce combat, burning its blood and flesh to the limit, can produce the most top-tier ingredients!"
She remembered that Toriko (Gourmet Hunter) seemed to have a similar theory.
"Right? Right!?"
Meeting a kindred spirit who could understand her for the first time, Yan Cui got excited.
Guinaifen and Bailu watched in stunned silence as the two chatted away, the topic jumping to whether various strange creatures in the universe were edible.
Moonscar learned that this Sister Yan Cui was a retired Cloud Knight. No wonder she was so fierce!
Things like Oil-Exploded Shoggoth and Deep One Shark Fin Stir-fried with Visual Meat made Guinaifen's face turn pale as she listened.
How did she not know her best friend had such a hobby?
Li Sushang, on the other hand, listened with gusto. She was also a genuine native of Shenzhou and a bit of a foodie. Regardless of how ugly it looked, as long as it was edible, it was fair game!
The main thing was that she didn't know what Shoggoths or Deep Ones were.
"By the way, Sister Yan Cui, what do you think the meat of a Borisin Beast Ship tastes like?"
Moonscar's single sentence made Bailu feel that her Sister Sushang might truly be sick.
A Borisin Beast Ship?
Can that thing be eaten?
Who would dare to eat that?
Moonscar had just been researching food for the past few days. After researching too much, she had a flash of inspiration.
"A Borisin Beast Ship..."
Yan Cui froze, just like Newton being hit by the apple.
A seed of curiosity rapidly sprouted and grew in her heart. What would the meat of a Beast Ship taste like?
"Thank you! Sushang! My next target ingredient has been decided!"
Yan Cui held Moonscar's hands tightly in gratitude. Having been a chef for half her life, she couldn't possibly not be moved by such an ingredient challenge!
"Ah?"
Guinaifen and Bailu were bewildered once again.
"Boss, you aren't really planning to target a Borisin Beast Ship, are you? You'll die!"
"Relax, relax. I'm purely pursuing the culinary arts. I won't run off to a war zone to throw my life away... Hmm, I'll have to find a way to find a lone Beast Ship."
Subsequently, Yan Cui offered a fifty percent discount on the meal to thank Sushang for the inspiration, mainly to make friends with a fellow enthusiast like Sushang.
She also invited Sushang to go hunting exotic beasts on other planets for culinary training when she had time. Moonscar readily agreed.
Yan Cui turned and walked away under the horrified gazes of Guinaifen and Bailu.
A while later, Guinaifen looked at the specialty dish served up and felt troubled. That Nine-Eyed Octopus Tentacle seemed to still be moving!
"Shangshang, are you really okay?"
Although the carefree Guinaifen was happy to fleece her best friend for a meal, she couldn't stand the bizarre situation. She put down her chopsticks.
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Shangshang was ten out of ten parts not right!
"Hmm... well, some things have indeed happened recently."
Moonscar felt she could lay some groundwork for herself. After all, she wasn't truly 'Shangshang', but the First Disciple of the Peerless Freedom Sect!
"What is it?" Little Gui pressed.
"What if I said I got a boyfriend?"
Moonscar scratched her cheek shyly, laying the groundwork for her relationship with the main body.
"Pfft! Huh? A boyfriend!?"
Hearing Sushang say this, the originally nervous Little Gui immediately couldn't sit still. She stood straight up, crying out in shock.
"W-When did this happen!"
"My Shangshang was actually snatched away? Who is it? Who is it!"
Moonscar feigned shyness. It's your master.
If Li Sushang weren't in the background right now, she probably would have said it directly.
But since Li Sushang was there, she had to guide them systematically.
"Just kidding. Actually..."
Moonscar interlaced her fingers and rested her smooth chin on them, speaking with a serious expression: "I am currently executing a secret mission, and I have made some gains."
"Tch, so it was fake."
Little Gui instantly lost interest, then asked curiously, "What mission? Oh, wait. Since it's a secret mission, you probably can't tell us, right? Then you don't need to say it."
"I can tell you. It's a mission concerning the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus."
"...The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus!"
Guinaifen and Bailu both widened their eyes.
Ordinary Xianzhou people also knew about the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus; those elements attempting to bring chaos to the Xianzhou were all wanted criminals.
The news media would also report on the struggle between the Cloud Knights and the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus.
"Keep your voices down. Don't make a scene." Moonscar pressed her hand down, signaling them to sit.
"Oh, oh! Shangshang, you're investigating the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
Guinaifen lowered her voice and leaned in.
"I've investigated the identity of their Head."
"—!? For real?"
Guinaifen's eyes went wide, her face showing horror.
Moonscar smiled without speaking, looking at the little loli beside her.
"Bailu, how much do you know about the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
"I've read some scrolls regarding the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus in the Alchemy Commission. It's recorded that a long, long time ago, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus who worshipped the Plagues Author were pulled up by the roots by the Xianzhou..."
Bailu spoke with an old-fashioned air: "However, in reality, those people didn't disappear. They have been expanding in the dark all along, hmm..."
Speaking of this, Bailu puffed up her cheeks, clenching her small fists in anger.
"Although I've been seeing patients for many years and have saved countless lives and healed the wounded, and my temperament has been tempered quite a bit, whenever I think of what this organization has done to the people of the Xianzhou, I really want to teach them a lesson!"
Cheeks puffed out, Bailu let out a breath with a pfft. "Forget it, forget it. Those matters aren't under my jurisdiction. Anger harms the heart and isn't good for growing taller."
Saying this, she bounced twice in place, picked up her Warm Soothing Goat Milk, and started slurping it.
"No, you can handle it."
Amidst Bailu's bewildered expression, Moonscar smiled:
"The Head of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus is the current Head Alchemist of the Alchemy Commission, Dan Shu."
"Pfft!"
As soon as the words fell, Bailu violently sprayed the goat milk from her mouth, staining her ocean-blue clothes with wet, milky white traces.
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