The old things I repaired have become fine

Chapter 609 To enjoy the delicious food, let's make a hundred or eighty cuts first!
"At……"

"The garrison of Khotan..."

"General Mingwei... Li Chengyong... has been ordered to deliver military intelligence..."

Shen Le suddenly opened his eyes. The bright white light of the fluorescent lamp shone down on him, and he stared fixedly at the light, his mind momentarily blank.
who am I?
Where am i?

Am I... dead?

I am Shen Le... no, I am Ali, Ali who guarded Khotan for decades, crossed the desert twice, and gave his life for the Four Garrisons of Anxi... no, I am Shen Le...

"Shen Le? Shen Le?!"

Professor Zhang called cautiously from the doorway. Shen Le slowly turned her head, staring at him for a while before her focus gradually settled on him. She swayed slightly and uttered an "Oh."
Yes, I am Shen Le... I was repairing a Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), and I just experienced the memories that the Mo Dao instilled in me...

That Ah Li, wielding his long-handled sword, the memories of countless battles, the memory of his last journey across the desert to deliver a message…

They fought their way forward until only one person remained, until even the last camel was lost. Wounded and bleeding, they endured thirst, hunger, scorching sun, and biting winds, fighting their way onward. They walked when they could, and crawled when they couldn't...

Even now, the intense struggle still makes his muscles twitch, and the slightest lift of his leg sends waves of soreness crashing over him.

"I'm fine...I..."

"Put the knife down! Put it down!!!"

Professor Zhang darted behind the doorframe and shouted at the top of his lungs. Shen Le was still holding the knife!
Holding that long sword, which is more than two meters long including the hilt and weighs fifteen or sixteen kilograms!
Earlier, Shen Le picked up the knife and struck a pose, but suddenly stopped and stood still, his face contorted with rage, looking terrifying... He wanted to go up and help him, but as soon as he took a step closer, the long sword rang out with a sharp clang!

That's a Mo Dao (陌刀)!
Professor Zhang was genuinely worried that if he dared to take another step closer, the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) could carry Shen Le's hands and slash directly at him!
Could his physique withstand several blows from a long-handled broadsword?!
"Ah... oh..."

Shen Le slowly lowered his head, and seeing the long-handled broadsword in his hand, he was once again lost in thought. The long-handled broadsword… the one he had held in his hand on the battlefield, wielded countless times, and slain countless people with…

The sensation of that slash that tore man and horse apart, the overwhelming stench of blood, dust, and filth, the agonizing screams that lingered in my ears—it all seemed to still echo in my mind…

He quickly turned around, bent down, and placed the longsword on the sword rack. As he released his hand, he felt a slight suction force. The sword made two buzzing sounds, which grew louder and louder, causing the sword rack to vibrate as well.

Shen Le had no choice but to bend down, place his hands on the knife, and try to channel heat into it:
"Excuse me, can you wait here for a while? There's no fighting now, so take a break and don't be so tense, okay?"

After much coaxing and pleading, he finally managed to appease the temperamental Mo Dao. Shen Le gave a weary smile and staggered out. Professor Zhang greeted him outside, his face stern, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"What's wrong with you? You just picked up the knife and froze there, and now you're like this... Are you alright? You seem really off..."

"I'm fine." Shen Le forced a smile, trying her best to reassure him.
"That Mo Dao just showed me some footage... footage of it fighting... I'm a little tired... let me rest for a couple of days... just two days will do..."

"An immersive combat experience?" Professor Zhang was so envious he wished he could rush in himself, grab a longsword, and swivel it a couple of times. He'd even kowtow to the sword once! If I could experience ancient combat, I'd kowtow to it ten times!
One hundred will do!

Seeing Shen Le's current state, he could only quickly take his leave, letting Shen Le recover on her own. Shen Le lay on the sofa with her eyes closed for almost the entire afternoon before slowly getting up and going out to find something to eat.

As dusk settled, Nanhua Street teemed with people, filled with laughter and chatter. Shen Le instinctively headed towards Tianxiang Tower, but after only seven or eight steps, she bumped into a girl dressed in Hanfu.
"Ah! No—"

A scream. Shen Le was startled back to his senses and saw Xiao Yu fall to the ground, trembling with her eyes closed, using her hands to support herself and desperately crawling backward.

He reflexively reached out to help, but as soon as he took a step, Xiaoyu let out an even more piercing scream, desperately trying to squeeze herself against the stone railing. Shen Le stopped awkwardly, spreading his arms wide:

"Hey, hey, it's me!"

"Ah... Mr. Shen..."

Xiaoyu trembled for a while before she came to her senses and opened her eyes. A large crowd had already gathered around her, with elderly people craning their necks and pointing.
"what's the situation?"

"This man hit a woman?!"

"To scream like that, the domestic violence must be extremely severe, right?"

"What domestic violence? Intentional injury is intentional injury! Now, by labeling it 'domestic violence,' it seems like you can downplay the issue and make it disappear. Bah! Intentional injury to loved ones should be punished more severely!"

Some people even took photos and videos with their phones, while others made phone calls.

"Hello, is this 110? I'm on Nanhua Street, here..."

Shen Le was in a complete mess. Fortunately, Xiao Yu had regained her senses, stood up shakily, and managed a weak smile at those around her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I just watched a horror movie, and this guy suddenly scared me again... Sorry! I'm sorry for causing everyone trouble!!!"

She bowed repeatedly to those around her. A fragrant breeze wafted by, and the onlookers relaxed, smiles appearing on their faces as they dispersed in all directions. Only then did Xiaoyu dare to speak to Shen Le, but she still didn't dare to approach, standing five or six steps away.
"Mr. Shen, I'm so sorry to have troubled you... What's wrong with you? You suddenly look so scary!"

"I...I'm fine. I just went through something and I'm a little dazed." Shen Le forced a smile and waved to her.

After this ordeal, he dared not go to Tianxianglou anymore, fearing that he would scare all the waiters and cause the restaurant to be intimidated.

Fortunately, I wasn't too hungry, so I changed direction and walked to a riverside pavilion on the other side, where I sat down and slowly watched the street scene:
Watching a father carry his little daughter on his shoulders, a mother holds up a string of candied hawthorns to feed her little girl;

Watching a young couple walk hand in hand towards the bridge, the girl leaned against the stone railing and asked the boy to take a picture for her. After looking at the photo on her phone, she immediately made an exaggerated expression of surprise and playfully slapped the boy.

Watching a string of children with schoolbags running past, chasing each other;
There were even two foreigners holding selfie sticks, talking incoherently, it was unclear whether they were live-streaming on TikTok or YouTube...

"so good……"

Shen Le was still somewhat dazed, but at this moment she unconsciously became focused, leaning against the pillar and gazing at the swaying reflection of the lights in the middle of the river, slowly relaxing.

The lamplight flickered in the heart of the river, and as the wooden boat that crossed the river broke apart, rippled, and then reassembled, it also lingered in his eyes and heart, creating a hazy and dreamlike scene.

For a long, long time, the lights of Khotan, the lights of Chang'an, and the lights of Nanhua Street before him separated and merged again, merged and separated again, before he slowly rose:
I'm starving!
Let's go on a shopping spree! Let's go on a shopping spree!

Let's eat along the street!
Walk past a barbecue stall, order a big skewer of grilled squid, take a big bite, and your mouth is filled with freshness and aroma, the oil and sauce bursting together in your mouth;

After passing another braised food stall, I ordered a piece of braised pork wrapped in straw and a skewer of braised quail eggs. I held them in my hands and ate them slowly, but I accidentally choked on the yolk. So I quickly went to buy a cup of milk tea.
After passing another zongzi shop, I ordered a large pork and salted egg yolk zongzi. The meat juices soaked into every grain of rice. With one bite, the carbohydrates and fats exploded at the same time, making me sigh with satisfaction.

After passing another sugar figurine stall, I simply joined the queue and patiently waited for five minutes before finally getting a sugar figurine shaped like Pikachu…

Continuing on, we even found a shop selling Wan San's braised pork knuckle! I don't know when this shop came here; it wasn't there when he went shopping last time!
One after another, enormous Wan San pork knuckles were piled on the counter. The skin was reddish-brown and steaming hot; you could pull a bone directly from the knuckle and slice open the tender, flaky skin.

To make it easier for tourists, these pork knuckles can be sold whole, in half, or even by weight.

Shen Le ordered half a jin (250 grams). The aunt behind the counter swiftly chopped off a large piece of meat with her knife, then minced it into smaller pieces, and poured a large spoonful of broth over it.

The collagen-rich pork knuckle skin trembled precariously, mixed with the broth. As soon as Shen Le received the lunchbox, she couldn't wait to take a big bite:

Fragrant!
sweet!
soft!
full!

The sensation of all the tastes, aromas, and textures exploding at once is simply wonderful...

With each bite of food he ate, he felt a little better and a little less stressed.

so good……

The world is so wonderful right now...

Seeing so much delicious food and so many smiling faces always makes one feel that all the bloodshed and sacrifice were worthwhile.

As long as it brings a new era and allows most people to live a good life, Ah Li stepped up, the first owner of the little oil lamp stepped up, the brother of the doll cabinet owner stepped up, and many others stepped up without complaint or regret.

As for him, even if he had only seen the memories of the Mo Dao and experienced it immersively, so what if he had personally stepped in?

After wandering around for a long time, until late at night, with lanterns hanging at all the entrances of Nanhua Street, emitting a light that signaled that ordinary people were not allowed to enter and that cultivators and demons were invited to enter, Shen Le smiled and turned to go home.

As they approached the gate of the mansion, the red-lacquered wooden door creaked open, and Xiaoling held a heavy wooden box high before him:

[Shen Le! Dinner! The landlady brought it over!]

Shen Le: "..."

what?
what? !

But I've already eaten dinner!
This three-tiered wooden box is overflowing with food; there must be at least five or six bowls of dishes inside. Am I going to stuff myself to death tonight?!

Not eating was impossible, absolutely impossible. The food in the wooden box emitted an irresistible aroma, and even the little ones who didn't need to eat were staring intently at the food box, circling around it.
The food in this food box is made entirely with spirit rice, spirit vegetables, spirit fruits, and chickens, ducks, pigs, and fish raised in a special secret realm!
Even though they can't eat it, the little guys instinctively know that this spiritual energy is good for them!

"Okay, okay, I'll take care of you all later, be good." Shen Le had no choice but to touch them one by one, straighten the control wires of Xiao Ling, adjust the serrated ball on the little inkwell, and then lift and lower the handle of the little oil lamp...

After everyone had received their share of the food, he was finally able to sit down at the table and open the food box:

"what……"

He couldn't help but take a deep breath. Perhaps it was because he had seen Shen Le wandering around the market all night, buying countless kinds of food;

Or perhaps it's because the weather is getting warmer and people's appetites are gradually decreasing, so they need to make some refreshing and palatable food;
In short, all the dishes in this food box looked incredibly appetizing.

On the first floor, there is a bowl of crystal-clear soup and a bowl of bright green and white lotus pond moonlight, which are particularly eye-catching. The lotus root slices, water chestnuts, snow peas and wood ear mushrooms are stir-fried over high heat. The dishes are clean and there is not a drop of oil on them.
On the second tier, a plate of boiled mutton is laid out on a fan-shaped shell plate. The chilled lamb and broth are frozen together and cut into thin rectangular slices. Although it is a meat dish, it looks refreshing and not greasy.
A plate of river shrimp sat nearby, each one only an inch long, yet topped with deep red roe or brimming with bright red and deep purple eggs. Their vitality was at its peak; these were clearly the best time to eat river shrimp!
Even the porridge on the third tier was perfectly cooked, each grain just beginning to boil, with a thick layer of milky white broth on top. Shen Le carefully lifted it out, afraid that the slightest movement would ruin such a perfect surface…

Bowl after bowl was brought out and arranged, and Shen Le rubbed his stomach, looking miserable in front of the table. They all looked delicious, and he wanted to eat them all…

But he really couldn't eat anymore!
not reconciled...

Shen Le looked around at the little ones who were staring at him expectantly, but he still couldn't bring himself to say, "Come and eat with us"—after they finished eating, he would still have to clean up after them.

He took a few steps back, silently sat cross-legged, and began to channel the heat within his body. The Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian, the Foot Shaoyang Gallbladder Meridian, the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian…

All the meridians related to digestion, get them working at full speed!

Aids digestion!

Aid digestion!!!

Within his dantian, a golden sphere spun rapidly, urging his body to begin its work. It wriggled, ground, digested, and absorbed… quickly converting the energy from food and integrating it into the body…

Perhaps a quarter of an hour had passed, perhaps an hour, when Shen Le suddenly jumped up. She touched her stomach; it felt empty, ready to be filled with plenty of food.

But when I got to the table and looked down, I still felt something was off, something was missing, and I couldn't enjoy the food.

Oh, and remember to exercise!

You need to sweat!
After a workout, you'll stretch your muscles and bones, and then you can enjoy a delicious meal!
Shen Le rushed out of the room, practiced a set of Five Animal Frolics, then a set of military boxing, but still felt it wasn't enough. After thinking for a moment, he finally went to the studio and reached for the helmet on the shelf:

Don your armor!

Swing the knife!

After a hundred or eighty slashes, everything tastes delicious!
(End of this chapter)