American variety show world begins with subduing Jason

Chapter 142 Bonfire Party (Part 1)

Walking slowly along the beach by the lake, Zhu Mingyao gazed into the distance.

Over millions of years, the gray-white rock cliffs have been sculpted by nature into bizarre and rugged shapes, interspersed with patches of mudflats and low slopes, together forming a long lake shore that winds and stretches as far as the eye can see, all the way to the horizon.

In the distance, crowds of people in colorful swimsuits frolic in the water, while rented yachts and small boats come and go at the dock, reflecting the golden sun and blue water, gray stones and white sand, creating a picturesque scene.

Wow, there's even a private yacht. It's amazing that those rich people can afford to bring it here...

A double-decker white yacht circled halfway around the center of the lake, carefully avoiding the soon-to-be-completed floating stage, and moored beside the wooden pier.

Watching a black-haired man in a floral shirt and several glamorous women who looked like models flirting as they disembarked, Zhu Mingyao clicked his tongue in amazement.

Keep in mind that this is an inland lake with no rivers connecting it to the lake; there are only two artificial irrigation canals. Even though the boat appears to be only of medium size, it would take considerable time and money to navigate the narrow and cramped canals unscathed.

—If you don't find a way to 'persuade' the relevant management agencies, they won't raise the water level in the canal so you can come in.

I thought the witch lady who was traveling with me was already incredibly generous and extravagant, but little did I know there was someone even more powerful than me.

With these resources, why not go to the beach?

Zhu Mingyao said that the hobbies of the wealthy were really hard for him to understand.

……

"Huh? What's so hard to understand!"

At 7:00 PM sharp, a corner of the beach for a bonfire barbecue.

As Zhu Mingyao recounted what he had seen and heard that afternoon, the little witch Madison flicked her pigtails and gave him a disdainful look.

She stood in front of the grill that the hotel owner had kindly provided, picked up a skewer of dark, burnt meat, frowned, and sniffed the strong, bitter smell of her creation. In the end, she couldn't believe her own cooking skills, put on an indifferent expression, and threw the meat into the trash can.

Jack, the tour guide who had transformed into a loyal follower, popped out from the side and, quite perceptively, offered a tissue. The petite girl wiped her hands, put her hands on her hips, and said:

"Since the giant shark incident in Florida ten years ago, traces of supernatural creature activity have been appearing in the waters of various countries in recent years, and a considerable number of them are dangerous!"

Drifting alone on the high seas, it would be difficult to get timely rescue if something happened. The upper class, with their excellent information network, wouldn't want to take any unnecessary risks!

She confidently reached out her little hand, took a sausage that her companion Zoe had just grilled, and slurped up the fragrant meat juices that oozed out.

Completely unaware of how alluring her actions were, and under the intense gazes of the male tourists around her, the blonde witch continued:

"So nowadays, apart from the wealthy and famous who can afford to hire superhumans as bodyguards, many ordinary rich people choose to vacation inland, so that in case of trouble, the federal government can arrive quickly."

It turns out it's in another sense: ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring...

Lying lazily on the beach chair, Zhu Mingyao took a big bite of the grilled corn that Michelle fed him, lost in thought.

Are people who can afford luxury yachts just ordinary rich people in your eyes...?

He chewed and swallowed a mouthful of sweet corn kernels soaked in butter and cheese, stood up, interlaced his fingers, stretched his knuckles, and smiled brightly at the group.

"Come on, let me show you the charm of Eastern-style barbecue. Cheese and tomato sauce are all off-the-beaten-path. Only fatty lamb with cumin and chili is the real deal!"

……

Pull over the prepared fresh ingredients from the small wooden table next to the barbecue grill.

Zhu Mingyao recalled classic cooking methods.

Add a small piece of fat between each pair of marinated lamb pieces, and turn them nimbly over the charcoal fire. As the fat is rendered by the heat and seeps into the meat, sprinkle a generous amount of cumin and Mexican chili powder evenly on top. A fragrant skewer is then ready to be served!

With one bite, Zhu Mingyao felt an explosion of fresh, spicy, and hot flavors in his mouth, his eyes narrowing into slits with pleasure, as if he were back in the old night market stalls.

Yes, beach, barbecue, cold drinks, and beautiful girls—it has everything you need, a truly satisfying experience!

Zhu Mingyao generously shared the fruits of his labor, even the tour guide got two skewers. He then took out the vegetables, fish, and shrimp that he had washed and skewered beforehand, and laid them out on the metal rack and portable barbecue grill.

Self-reliance leads to abundance. The Shangqing Huangting Neijing Jing is a method of cultivating both internal and external aspects. After advancing in his cultivation, his control over his body reached a new level, allowing him to handle the cooking process with ease, in no way inferior to a professional chef.

Now, she was giving it a try. The spatula swirled up and down like a silver lightning bolt, and the thick, juicy steak and fried vegetable slices seemed to be tap dancing on the hot plate. One delicious dish after another was served, and the three girls ate with beaming smiles.

Using the food as a starting point, Zhu Mingyao naturally joined their conversation, discussing recent rumors within the Federation that seemed to involve the supernatural.

He handed the remaining food to the vigilant agents and invited them to take turns eating. The boy took the lead and prompted the two little witches to reveal some exclusive secrets.

"That newly appointed Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Bureau, Frank Wood, is a very annoying guy. Last time, because of his command error, our Sorority lost two Level 3 witch mentors, and President Fiona let him off so easily!" Madison patted her slightly bulging belly and put down the plate with great willpower.

Zoe, standing nearby, handed him a bottle of juice and said mysteriously:

“I once overheard Principal Coria of the witch school talking to the instructors. It seemed that Frank had won over a hidden powerful figure in the government and sided with him. When President Fiona went to New York to investigate him, she suffered a little loss…”

She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice, "It's said that the powerful figure wasn't human..."

……

As time passed, the bonfire party gradually reached its climax. The people, who were in high spirits, sang and danced around the bonfires burning brightly in the center of the beach, led by several singers who came to participate in the concert.

Alcohol stimulates strong hormones, and with the constant whispering and cuddling, young men and women who catch each other's eye occasionally leave hand in hand, heading towards a secluded spot.

As the atmosphere in the venue gradually became ambiguous, a few tourists who had brought their children began to leave one after another.

Just then, a sharp and shrill electronic sound pierced the night sky, and the noisy and playful crowd in the venue immediately fell silent, turning their heads to look.

It's a police siren!

A police car sped by, rushing past the path next to the bonfire party without stopping. After a few breaths, it disappeared into the darkness ahead, leaving only a red and blue police light flashing in the distance.

Zhu Mingyao and his group were not far from the road, and even a fleeting glance was enough to see the serious and anxious expressions on the faces of the police officers in the car.

A soft gasp of surprise and uncertainty suddenly came from beside me.

"Mother?"

Chapter 143 Bonfire Party (Part 2)

"Mother?"

Seeing that several wealthy business owners were all looking over, Jack, the tour guide who had long been tamed by Mr. Franklin, quickly explained.

"The policewoman in the car is my mother, Julie, the town's deputy sheriff, and the big guy in the driver's seat is her colleague, Uncle Rhames."

He craned his neck to look in the direction the police car had disappeared, making an uncertain guess.

"Perhaps there's been some urgent case? Maybe someone drank too much and fell into the water again?"

"Huh? Do people often drown here? I think your town's drinking water comes from the lake, right?"

Michelle's face turned pale. She clutched her chest, smacked her lips, and suddenly felt a little nauseous in her throat.

We were drinking water in the hotel that had been used to soak corpses?

"Oh, no, no!" The tour guide, fearing he had scared away his customers, regretted his loose tongue and hurriedly tried to cover it up.

"Not that many, not that many! Ladies and gentlemen, please rest assured, Victoria is a very peaceful place. On average, only one person drowns every two or three years... Well, there weren't that many before, it was only after the tourism industry started to flourish..."

Good heavens, what am I saying?

Jack clutched his hair in frustration, as if he could see adorable little green creatures with large faces sprouting white wings, flying out of his arms, and disappearing without a trace.

Seeing the tour guide stammering in a panic, Madison grabbed a tissue, wiped her mouth, and proudly raised her delicate chin, saying:

"Don't worry, everyone. To prevent similar situations, I made preparations in advance. Before we set off, I asked the housekeeper to fill the RV with enough purified water. So far, we have been drinking the clean water we brought ourselves!"

Zhu Mingyao glanced at her with some surprise. He hadn't realized that this spoiled rich girl, besides being willful, capricious, and extravagant, also had a meticulous side. Indeed, people's personalities are multifaceted...

"The true upper class would never put such low-class, shoddy food in their mouths. Even the ingredients we're eating today are ones I brought from home!"

Okay, I take back my praise of you.

Seeing her eager expression as if she wanted to praise me, Zhu Mingyao chuckled twice and clapped stiffly a few times, finally satisfying the little girl's vanity.

Time flew by and it was already past nine o'clock. Having eaten and drunk their fill, and considering that they would be attending a music festival the next day, the group decided to head back to their hotel to rest early.

As the only male in the four-person vacation group, Zhu Mingyao had just helped the security agents carry the barbecue equipment onto the RV when he turned around and saw Madison magically pull out three small ice creams.

"Sorry, we're out!" Madison, with her two best friends each holding an ice cream cone and licking it, smiled and swayed her golden twin ponytails.

Despite saying that, there was not a trace of apology in his tone.

Zhu Mingyao was too lazy to play any childish tricks with her. He picked up the drink he had just half-finished and, with his fingers like those of a pipa player, gently stroked it.

A faint glow suddenly appeared on the plastic cup, and the half-cup of orange-yellow juice inside expanded and arched upwards with a soft whoosh, with a few pieces of fruit floating on top. A wisp of cool air swirled and dissipated, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a fluffy fruit sundae.

When this move was revealed, Michelle only let out a low gasp of surprise, but the two little witches' expressions changed drastically.

Unlike the fortune teller who only started out a little over a year ago, the twin witches have received a considerable amount of formal spiritual education in the sorority, making them much more discerning.

They immediately recognized the difficulty involved!

Turning water into ice in an instant is something even these two geniuses can do with a snap of their fingers; the difficulty lies in precise control, freezing the juice extremely quickly without damaging the cup in the slightest.

If that were all, they could probably achieve it by concentrating their energy and focusing on casting spells.

But the ice cube that should have been solidified into a block of ice suddenly turned into incredibly fine snow powder, with a few pieces of fruit floating up on the surface as if by magic, just like cherries on a sundae.

Such complex and ingenious methods were far beyond their comprehension.

“Come on, Michelle, try the ice cream I made for you.” Calling his girlfriend by her nickname affectionately, Zhu Mingyao took her hand and led her back along the path, past the stunned Madison and Zoe.

……

Talent [Five Elements in Harmony (Red)]: The five elements generate and restrain each other, flow and harmonize, contain all things, and are infinitely changeable, increasing your affinity with the five elements.

Compared to the improvement in his Immortal Sorcerer level and the three elemental attributes, this new talent is Zhu Mingyao's biggest gain after advancing to the Innate level.

Just as he had predicted, when he activated [Kidney Spirit Profound Darkness] to complete the Five Elements and step into the Innate Realm, his original four Five Elements talents, such as [Gold Spirit Affinity (White)] and [Fire Spirit Affinity (White)], merged with the newly appeared [Water Spirit Affinity] and advanced to become a new red-level talent.

Don't be fooled by the simple description following the name; in actual use, its amplification of the five elements' power is extremely significant.

Just like the move he made earlier, Zhu Mingyao didn't use any magic at all. He simply froze the Xuan Shui cold air, cut and pulverized the Geng metal sword energy, and manipulated the fruit pulp to float up with the Yi wood spiritual power. He completed the three effects in one breath, and they were all exquisite and subtle.

"To become an immortal... to ride a crane to heaven, to turn stones into gold, it's beyond words!"

Seeing that the twin-tailed pseudo-loli's arrogance had completely vanished, clearly shaken by this move, Zhu Mingyao secretly chuckled, humming a uniquely comical little tune, and strolled into the darkness.

……

……

In the darkness, the lake water lapped against the mudflats, generously leaving behind fine white foam and wisps of dark green water plants on the shore before turning away.

"I applied to the higher authorities last year to install streetlights along the lake, but nothing has been done yet!"

The burly Black police officer, nearly 1.9 meters tall, grumbled and slammed the car door shut with a loud "bang."