Chapter 36: The Gourmet

This world had many professions, and the gourmet was one of them. Such people were naturally sensitive to flavors and could distinguish tastes beyond the ordinary.

Although their cultivation might not be high, many restaurants and taverns would hire them at high salaries to test the flavor and quality of ingredients, earning them a handsome income.

However, this profession could only be considered low-class, not fit for the table.

There were thousands of professions in the world, and to better distinguish them, they were divided into upper nine classes, middle nine classes, and lower nine classes.

Alchemists, artifact refiners, and formation masters were upright and beneficial to martial cultivation, belonging to the orthodox upper nine classes, while gourmets were considered unorthodox and fell into the lower nine classes.

In Shen Biru's view, the young man before her could easily point out the flaws in those dishes and wines, and only a gourmet could do that.

"You can think that way!" Zhang Xuan said without explaining.

The Library of Heaven's Path could not only see through a person's cultivation; with these dishes, as long as he took a bite, their flaws would also be revealed. With these things, dealing with a minor steward like Wu was still very simple.

"Thank you for helping me out today..."

Seeing him admit it, Shen Biru said.

If not for the young man's ability to discern fine food, she would have been very embarrassed today.

"It's nothing!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"This meal was settled by you, so it doesn't count as my treat. Next time, I'll treat you again!" Shen Biru said.

"Treat me again?" Zhang Xuan thought for a moment and shook his head: "Forget it, I want to live a few more days!"

Although eating with a beautiful woman felt nice, he knew his own situation. With such a bad reputation, she certainly wouldn't like him!

If she didn't like him, he would still be envied by others and have to deal with those suitors. He had many things to do and didn't have that much free time.

"You..."

Just as she felt he might speak normally, hearing this, Shen Biru felt a tightness in her chest again, wanting to go crazy.

Many people wanted to invite her to dinner, and she never went. But this guy, when she invited him, it was like begging a grandparent.

Infuriating!

"Alright, the meal is done. Nothing else, I'll be going now. I'm very busy!" Not noticing her anger, Zhang Xuan waved his hand and turned to leave.

"Wait, I'm not finished!" Suppressing her anger, Shen Biru steadied her breath, her beautiful eyes looking over: "Although your gourmet identity played a big role in helping me out today, this is ultimately an unorthodox path. A martial artist should still focus on cultivation..."

Martial artists, once they reached a certain level, could basically achieve fasting, and fine food became useless. Even if it could earn some profit now, it was not the right path.

After half a day of contact, she had already seen that this Zhang Xuan was not the waste the rumors said. Perhaps because he had spent all his energy on fine food, his teacher qualification exam results were so poor.

Thinking of this, even though she was furious, she couldn't help but remind him.

"Alright!" Knowing she meant well, Zhang Xuan nodded. Just as he was about to leave, he heard footsteps behind him.

"Zhang Xuan, where do you think you're running? Don't even think about leaving today!"

Then a venomous voice sounded, and two people and a beast blocked his way.

They were Shang Bin and Cao Xiong.

At this moment, each of their faces bore a huge footprint with clear lines, half of their faces swollen and red, mouths full of blood, no longer looking as dashing as before.

Especially Shang Bin, whose injuries from the morning hadn't healed, and now he had taken another kick. His mouth was twisted to one side, like two sausages hanging, with no trace of handsomeness left.

He had planned well, intending to show off in front of the goddess, but instead he had been beaten like this, lost his connection with Hong Tianlou, and might even be scolded by his grandfather. How could he swallow this humiliation!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he charged straight over!

"Shang Bin, what are you trying to do?" Shen Biru didn't expect him to come after them and cause trouble, so she couldn't help but block Zhang Xuan.

"Teacher Shen, step aside. This is a personal grudge between Zhang Xuan and me!"

If he hadn't seen her, it might have been fine, but seeing her protect the academy's famous waste made Shang Bin even angrier, his eyes twisted and his mouth crooked, about to explode.

Intense jealousy drove him crazy. He stared coldly at the young man: "Zhang Xuan, are you even a man? If you're a man, don't hide behind a woman. Have the guts to fight me fair and square!"

Seeing that this guy had lost his mind, Zhang Xuan raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong with hiding behind a woman? That's called skill. If you have the ability, find one to hide behind too!"

"You..."

Shang Bin almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Shouldn't any man, when called a coward and accused of relying on a woman's protection, feel humiliated and ashamed, and fight back in anger?

Why didn't this guy play by the rules?

What others saw as utterly disgraceful, he took for granted and even said with such confidence?

Damn, how thick-skinned could he be?

"Teacher Shen, I'll leave these two to you. I have things to do, so I'm off!"

As a transmigrator, what scenes hadn't he seen? Shamelessness?

Joking—in that information-rich past life... who the hell ever cared about face?

If someone else could handle it, he couldn't be bothered.

It wasn't fear, but his current cultivation wasn't convenient to reveal. Besides, the other party's grandfather was an elder. If they were cornered, he didn't have that much time to waste. Since someone was blocking the way, he was happy to save the trouble.

"..."

Seeing the young man so shameless, Shen Biru was also speechless.

She had been afraid that he would be provoked by Shang Bin and actually duel him, but now it seemed she had overthought it...

If this guy could be provoked into a duel, pigs would probably fly!

"Zhang Xuan, stop right there! If I don't kill you today, my name isn't Shang Bin!"

Seeing the young man's attitude, Shang Bin grew even more agitated, veins bulging on his forehead, his face turning green. Seeing Shen Biru blocking the way with no intention of moving aside, he roared: "Explosive Sky Lion, kill him! If you do, I'll take you to eat fine food every day! Also, I'll give you the [Moisture Acupuncture Pill] my grandfather just gave me!"

The Explosive Sky Lion, as a sixth-level savage beast tamed by humans, could understand normal human speech.

As his grandfather's pet, it only protected him from harm and basically ignored his commands. To make it act, he promised all these benefits at once.

"Roar!"

Sure enough, hearing his promise, the Explosive Sky Lion's eyes lit up.

Savage beasts that had reached the Acupuncture Opening realm opened acupoints less efficiently than humans. They could only rely on physical changes to gradually increase their strength as true qi flowed and opened acupoints. If they had the help of a Moisture Acupuncture Pill now, their strength would surely skyrocket!

The Moisture Acupuncture Pill was a medicine specially prepared for martial artists at the sixth level. It could moisturize acupoints, allowing one to go further in the Acupuncture Opening realm.

Shang Bin's strength had reached the peak of the fifth level, the Peak Strength realm, and he was only one step away from opening acupoints. So Elder Shang Chen had spent a large sum to obtain this pill, hoping to give him a boost.

Originally, Shang Bin was reluctant to part with it, but thinking of how he had been humiliated by a waste, he couldn't hold back anymore!

If he didn't kill this Zhang Xuan today, he would probably have no face left to stay in the academy!

Especially in front of this goddess—she would probably never look at him again!

How could he endure this!

"Shang Bin, what are you doing? Killing a colleague within the academy is a serious crime..."

Not expecting Shang Bin to be so crazy as to order the Explosive Sky Lion to attack, Shen Biru's pupils contracted. She wanted to rush over to protect Zhang Xuan but was blocked by the former, and she couldn't help but shout in panic.

Within the academy, teachers were not allowed to kill each other; otherwise, it was a violation of the rules and a serious crime.

"Zhang Xuan tried to kill me. The Explosive Sky Lion counterattacked to protect me. I was acting in self-defense. Who can say anything?" Shang Bin's eyes were bloodshot, and he was completely mad: "Explosive Sky Lion, what are you waiting for? Move!"

"You..."

Shen Biru's heart turned cold.

Too shameless!

If he said that, with Elder Shang Chen's help, this matter might indeed be smoothed over, and he might not even be punished!

And Zhang Xuan would likely die!

After all, that was a sixth-level savage beast. Even ordinary Acupuncture Opening realm experts were no match for it. How could a guy who ranked last in the teacher qualification exam withstand it?

"Roar!"

Just as she was panicking, the Explosive Sky Lion roared and charged at the young man. Before it even reached him, its powerful aura formed a gale, pressing down the surrounding grass and leaves.