Chapter 38

This player had no idea how to describe the overwhelming surge of excitement coursing through him!

This was the very first rare quest triggered since the internal test of Rivers and Lakes had begun. Out of ten thousand testers, he had just been standing casually next to Ruan Xuezong when he got picked! Holy crap, what kind of one-in-a-million odds were these? Was he ridiculously lucky today or what? What was the deal with this system’s mechanics? Did it have something to do with him stepping out left foot first? After logging off later, maybe he should hit up an interstellar lottery shop and try his luck.

A stampede of wild thoughts raced through the player’s mind. He took a pair of clean chopsticks from Ruan Xuezong’s hand, his face glowing red, utterly reverent as if accepting a mission of honor.

“I’m going viral, folks! Photographer, make sure you capture my heroic pose!” he declared in the tone of a fearless martyr.

The lavish banquet spread before them featured a dazzling array of hot and cold dishes, meats and vegetables, soups and more—a grand total of forty-eight courses. Every player was dying to know which one Zongzong would start with!

Ruan Xuezong thought for a moment and pointed to the dish closest to him, a plate of eggplant. “Let’s begin with this one.”

It was chicken-braised eggplant, deceptively simple in appearance but made with the freshest top-quality eggplant diced finely, simmered in chicken broth with bamboo shoots and stir-fried in sesame oil. The process was incredibly labor-intensive—something no ordinary household could afford.

The player’s breath hitched. His chopsticks trembled as he reached out, picked up a plump piece of eggplant, and placed it in his mouth. As he chewed and savored it under the watchful eyes of countless onlookers, time itself seemed to slow to a crawl…

“How is it?” Ruan Xuezong asked.

The player burst into tears. “Wahhh, it’s so good!” He wanted to bolt outside and run laps in sheer joy.

He had braced himself for instant death and respawn, but instead, this single, soul-melting bite nearly sent him to heaven. What kind of sacrificial rare quest was this? It was clearly a welfare handout from the devs!

And midway through the tasting, the system popped up a notification: 【Congratulations! You’ve obtained the Peacock Manor drop: Common Recipe – Eggplant Paste】

A golden glow streaked through the air, radiating brilliant light.

【Recipe collected. Common cuisine unlocked. Keep up the good work collecting more!】

“Wahhh, I’m dropping so fast.”

The other players exploded in envy, itching to strangle him on the spot. “Aaaah, I wanna kill that RNG god!”

Ruan Xuezong glanced at the player’s overhead status, confirming no weird debuffs were present, before digging in without worry. He couldn’t be blamed for his caution—Peacock Manor wasn’t some deadly lair, but better safe than sorry.

In his previous life, he had been poisoned here. His stomach had burned like fire, the toxin spreading viciously to lock down his breathing and every limb. Thick blood had sprayed from his mouth, nose, and ears. Already crippled in all four limbs, he couldn’t even cry for help, reduced to sitting helplessly in his wheelchair as Peacock Manor played out its drama.

Even in this life, he still didn’t know if the poison had come from the food or the water. Caution was key.

“Next, this one.” Ruan Xuezong’s expression remained neutral as he pointed to a pot of Fujianese Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

Lacking a game interface, it looked to him like just another regional dish. But to the players, his casual point summoned a golden masterpiece of abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, scallops, and tendon, slow-simmered in premium broth. The golden soup bubbled enticingly, its rich aroma making everyone’s mouths water uncontrollably.

They chimed in: “I don’t know if Buddha would jump the wall from the smell, but if we don’t get a bite, we’re jumping one!”

“Zongzong sure knows how to pick ’em—all gold and purple dishes. Chef players like us struggle just to snag a green recipe…”

“We wanna taste test too! We wanna sacrifice! Please, just one bite for the kids!”

The photographer player sneered, “Heh, what’s the big deal? Doesn’t smell that great to me! Shahahahaha!”

Live chat: “Streamer, wake up! Your drool’s cascading three thousand feet—it’s gonna flood the screen!”

The first day’s feast passed amid these tastings.

From appetizers and hot dishes to Jinling City pastries, Ruan Xuezong called on players to sample every single one.

Though the players’ vibes were tense—the taster got dragged off afterward and didn’t return for the latter half of the night—Ruan Xuezong ate his fill, stuffed and satisfied.

With every glance he cast, a player eagerly tested for poison, as if ready to rip out their own heart just to get him to eat more.

Heart Washing Manor’s dining spectacle utterly floored the assembled jianghu heroes, leaving a profound impression. Only after Ruan Xuezong withdrew did they snap out of it, murmuring in awe: “Did I see that right?”

“You did. I’ve only heard of imperial tasters for the emperor, but who knew young Manor Lord Ruan had them too…”

“Just get used to it.” Shen Jiangling smiled faintly.

Ever since Clear Wind Fishing Ground, he had followed Heart Washing Manor’s caravan. He was already immune to Ruan Xuezong and his retainers’ capricious style.

Once the players confirmed it was poison-free, Shen Jiangling himself picked up a piece of pastry and savored it slowly. Mmm, sweet and crisp, lingering on the palate.

He ate his meal in peace.

Lan Cangfeng and Hua Bailian of Famous Sword Villa had sparred with Ruan Xuezong before, so their rapport was lukewarm. They exchanged glances, both detecting shock in the other’s eyes. Having corresponded with Ruan Xuezong a few times, Hua Bailian reflexively defended him: “Manor Lord Ruan must have his reasons for this…”

Lan Cangfeng twitched his lips. “Maybe.”

They were scions of prestigious sects, raised in luxury, yet even their meals lacked such fanfare. This was eye-opening.

The other wanderers at the table recovered and grumbled sourly: “This is over the top. Peacock Manor is a righteous martial clan—would they really poison the food? No need to sic retainers on it. This isn’t some deep meaning; it’s just pretentious nonsense!”

【Ding! Rare quest “Taste Test Dishes” completed. Rewards distributed.】

【Ding! Congratulations, young hero Fe3O4, on completing the rare quest! You’ve earned the special title “Fearless Eater”—the envy of all! Young hero Fe3O4 also gains 3000 EXP, some loose silver, and 10 Favorability with Ruan Xuezong—the envy of all…】

【Peacock Manor Exploration at 20% unlocked. Intelligence shared across all players. Press on and uncover the truth!】

The 007 System relentlessly doled out rewards, but Fe3O4 couldn’t collect them. He lay bruised and battered in Peacock Manor’s back mountain, clad only in his newbie underpants, as if he’d endured inhuman brutality.

The next morning, when Ruan Xuezong rose, he found his courtyard packed with players, eyes blazing with invisible sparks of rivalry.

“Zongzong, the copper basin’s filled with hot water—ready for your face wash!” “Zongzong, towel for you!” “Zongzong, today’s Bi Luo Chun is brewed!!!” They vaulted eaves and walls, lightfoot skills flashing.

Yet beneath the rivalry simmered an odd harmony.

“Don’t crowd! Don’t let rare taste quests cloud your judgment—this is pure RNG face-check. Everyone’s got a shot!” Sichuan Pepper Little Bunny and Salty Fish King worked to maintain order, ensuring Ruan Xuezong had a clear tile to step on when he emerged.

The strategy team also contributed.

Peacock Manor’s birthday banquet lasted three days and nights. Players roughly calculated: ancient Earthlings ate twice a day, but Ruan Xuezong scarfed three or four meals. Assuming tasters for each, this mainline arc would mint at least a dozen RNG gods.

Suddenly, everyone felt much better.

Fe3O4’s nonstop chopstick action from yesterday’s quest had dominated the forums. Everyone was howling to kill the lucky bastard, driving internal test account prices sky-high.

Ruan Xuezong had no clue what these players were scheming. He only felt nearly drowned by their enthusiasm.

He coughed twice, inhaling no fresh air, and found an excuse to shoo them off. “Peacock Manor holds many secrets. Young heroes, go explore diligently instead of hovering around me.”

007 System: 【…】

“Right!” The players jolted. They still had infiltration mainline quests! Blame the tempting rare ones!

Perched on Yanghe Mountain’s slopes, Peacock Manor sprawled across vast terrain linked by sky ladders—front courtyards, rear gardens, pavilions, halls, martial fields, and more. With the banquet drawing all sorts from far and wide, players couldn’t map it fully in a day or two.

They split into teams for infiltration.

One group headed to the study and back mountain for intel. Another, stuck on kitchen duty, fished for gains while grinding cooking. The elite first-stringers strutted openly as bodyguards around Ruan Xuezong.

Jianghu folk weren’t bound by common routines; plenty slept till noon.

By the time Ruan Xuezong finished washing up, the sun was high. A player reported: Peacock Manor had set up a sword-fighting arena, inviting all swordsmen to compete.

Manor Lord Qu Tianwei sat in the seat of honor, flanked by his stunning daughter, the Righteous Path Fairy, lending her father company. The arena hadn’t seen a single bout yet, but the excitement was already boiling like hot oil. A beauty watching martial contests? Her allure could melt a man to his knees. Not competing made you look like a coward.

Ruan Xuezong latched onto one detail: “Swordsmen only?”

“Yeah.” The players were baffled too.

“Manor Lord Qu says he wielded a fine sword in his youth, but his daughter lacks martial prowess to appreciate it. He’s using his birthday to host this for his own solace…”

With the huge fallout from Heart Washing Manor’s broken engagement, the heroes read between the lines: Manor Lord Qu was subtly hosting a martial groom selection for his beautiful girl.

Marrying into Peacock Manor and claiming the martial world’s top beauty? It was every rootless wanderer’s dream. Old, young, single, or wed—swordsmen leaped onto the stage to show off.

Ruan Xuezong went to watch the fun and soon spotted a tall, lean swordsman of refined bearing amid the crowd around the arena.

He wore a plain iron sword at his waist, unassuming yet elegant. His sword-sharp brows and dashing profile at a glance sent players into screenshot frenzy. “Aaaah, a hunk who rocks the instant-noodle hairdo!!”

“Too damn handsome—the devs must’ve gone full god-mode in the character creator!”

It was none other than Hua Bailian.

An elder and a youth dueled on stage as the crowd whispered: “That’s Three Gorges Divine Sword, Clan Leader Xia. That old coot still chasing skirts? Shameless… Manor Lord Qu should’ve set an age limit. Look at these riffraff relying on fancy swords.”

“Hero Hua, why not compete?” Ruan Xuezong asked with hands clasped behind his back, feigning curiosity.

Hua Bailian, the original protagonist and martial pinnacle, boasted peerless swordsmanship, formidable power, and striking looks. Amid this motley crew, he shone like the sun—his entry would crush all hope.

“You don’t mind?” Hua Bailian paused, his heroic brows furrowing. “They dumped you first, breaking the pact. Now this… If it bothers you, I can confront Manor Lord Qu and the second miss for you.”

Ruan Xuezong inwardly sighed. Hero Hua was truly kind and righteous, genuinely empathizing with a villain like him.

“Ruan has no issue with it. As others say, the fairest claims the beauty.” He replied coolly without looking up.

He truly didn’t care, but Hero Hua’s gaze seemed indignant on his behalf.

After a silent moment, Hua Bailian spoke as if baring his soul: “If you won’t press it, then forget it. Manor Lord Qu treats me coolly—no intent to recruit a son-in-law. Nor do I harbor feelings for the Righteous Path Fairy. I won’t take the stage.”

Ruan Xuezong nodded. “I see.”

Since Hua Bailian lacked the will, Ruan Xuezong wouldn’t push. He pondered Manor Lord Qu’s attitude toward Hua Bailian, birthing new suspicions.

【Peacock Manor Exploration at 20% unlocked】