Douluo Continent: My name is Yang Jian, and I achieved sainthood through my physical body

She snorted, snatched the chopsticks from Yang Jian's hand, picked up a piece of meat, and stuffed it into her mouth.

After chewing a couple of times, his expression changed, and his brows furrowed.

She tried to swallow it, but after chewing a few times, she couldn't hold it in and spit it into the empty bowl next to her.

She pursed her lips, a faint blush rising to her cheeks: "I... this is really my first time cooking, I'm not very skilled... I'll go redo it now, please wait a little longer!"

As she spoke, she reached for the plates on the table.

Yang Jian reached out and stopped her: "Never mind, I'll do it."

He stood up and went into the kitchen.

Used pots and pans and oil stains were scattered around the stove. Minced meat and a few charred vegetable leaves remained on the cutting board. There were water stains and sauce marks on the stove surface, making it look somewhat messy.

Yang Jian glanced at it and roughly figured out the problem.

He rolled up his sleeves to clean the stove, scrubbed the used pots clean, and then poured oil into the pots again.

Once the oil is hot, slide in the chopped meat pieces. The oil will create a fine white smoke. Then, add ginger slices, minced garlic, and sauce to taste. Stir-fry until the sauce thickens.

The movements were fluid and natural, as if they had been done a thousand times before.

In less than half an hour, several dishes that looked and smelled delicious were served.

The braised pork belly glistened with sauce, the tender and crisp stir-fried vegetables, and a bowl of egg drop soup with evenly distributed egg flowers and a clear broth.

Qian Renxue picked up a piece of roasted pork and put it in her mouth. After chewing a few times, her golden eyes widened instantly.

Then he picked up another piece, and then another.

She put down her chopsticks and looked at him, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief: "You can actually cook?"

Yang Jian had already picked up her bowl and started eating, without answering the obvious question.

He ate quickly, finishing a bowl of rice in no time, then having another half bowl added, and finishing all the dishes on the table.

Qian Renxue sat opposite her, slowly picking at the rice in her bowl, occasionally picking up a piece of meat or a bite of vegetables, her movements much quieter than usual.

She glanced at Yang Jian's profile as he ate, then quietly looked away.

After finishing her meal, Yang Jian put down her chopsticks and stood up, saying, "I'm leaving."

Qian Renxue stood up and escorted him to the entrance of the Crown Prince's residence.

She leaned against the door frame, watching his figure disappear around the corner of the corridor.

Her long, golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, swaying gently in the breeze.

Her gaze followed the figure until it was completely out of sight before she looked away.

She glanced down at her waist and abdomen, gently covered it with her palm, and ultimately didn't ask him to stay another day.

Chapter 217 Yu Xiaogang: Erlong! How can you be so heartless!

Yang Jian quietly left the palace, not returning directly to his courtyard, but instead wandering aimlessly through the streets of Tiandou City.

The afternoon sun shone directly down from above, casting bright and clear shadows on the stone path.

Pedestrians and vehicles moved through the light and shadow on the street, and the dust they raised turned into a pale golden mist in the sunlight.

He walked along the shadows cast by the eaves of the shops along the street, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of Yuexuan.

The signboard of Yuexuan is still the same, with black background and gold lettering, written in a vigorous and powerful style.

But the two red lanterns at the entrance had faded, their edges turning white, giving the place a less deserted feel than before.

He stepped inside.

The lobby was much emptier than when I last visited.

The counter that was originally filled with calligraphy, paintings and antiques has now been partially removed, and what remains looks sparse and scattered.

Two staff members dressed in plain-colored long dresses came forward. One of them bowed slightly and said in a soft and gentle voice, "Young master, how can I help you?"

Yang Jian casually glanced around the hall: "Is Tang Yuehua here?"

The two staff members exchanged a glance, and one of them shook his head: "Sigh, Miss Yuehua has been gone for several months now. We heard she went on a long trip to relax, but we don't know the specific reason. Yuexuan now has a new owner."

Yang Jian hummed in agreement, took out a few gold soul coins from his sleeve, placed them in the corner of the counter, and turned to walk out the door.

The two staff members watched his figure disappear into the afternoon light. One of them sighed softly, "Since Miss Yuehua left, Yuexuan's business has been getting worse every day, and there are fewer and fewer customers."

Another person shook their head: "Everyone used to come here because of Miss Yuehua. Now that she's gone, the customers have left too. I guess it won't be long before it closes down."

Their sighs echoed softly in the empty hall.

Yang Jian walked down the street in the afternoon sunlight, casting his shadow on the ground, making it very short.

A faint scent of perfume and ink wafted from Yuexuan in the air of Tiandou City, dissipating with a gust of wind.

……

When Yang Jian walked out of Yuexuan, the afternoon sun had already shifted to the west, no longer as scorching and dazzling as at noon, but only carrying a warm and lazy light, spreading obliquely across the street.

A cool breeze, carrying the scent of dust and dry leaves, blew from the depths of the streets and alleys, brushing against the hem of his clothes, causing it to flutter slightly before falling back to its original position.

He walked slowly and lightly, his shoes making a soft, grinding sound as they rolled over the flagstones.

There was no clear direction, no place I absolutely had to go; I was just walking.

Turn when you want, stop when you want, your gaze occasionally sweeps over the shops and pedestrians on the side of the road, but nothing stays in your sight.

He walked through the most bustling main street in the middle of Tiandou City, crossed several stone bridges spanning the river, and stopped in front of a hot noodle shop.

White steam rose from the edge of the pot, carrying the aroma of scallions and bone broth that slowly drifted towards him.

He took a breath, his face remained unchanged, and then stepped forward again.

After walking for a while, he turned into an alley that was much narrower than the main street, and arrived at an area that he vaguely remembered.

Before they knew it, they had arrived near Blue Tyrant Academy.

This street is much quieter than the main street.

The road is lined with ancient sycamore trees with thick trunks and bark covered with dark brown cracks and scars. Their lush branches and leaves intertwine, forming a natural arched corridor overhead.

Afternoon sunlight filters through layers of leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground. When the wind blows, these patterns of light seem to move, change shape, gather, and disperse slowly, as if they were alive.

There were few pedestrians on the road. Occasionally, a woman carrying a bamboo basket returning from buying vegetables would brush past you, or an old man wearing a straw hat would slowly push a creaking cart past.

The faint sounds of laughter and conversation from the students of Blue Tyrant Academy, along with the muffled vibrations of soul power colliding during cultivation, could be heard from within the courtyard walls, but they all became blurry and distant.

Just as Yang Jian was about to continue walking forward, a loud shout suddenly came from ahead.

The voice was rough and hoarse, as if someone was shouting at a closed door with all their might. The force was so great that the last note was broken and panting.

"Erlong! Come out and see me! Erlong!"

Her voice was filled with anxiety and almost pleading, "I've come so many times, but you never see me. Why? We've been together for so many years..."

He was interrupted by his own cough halfway through his sentence. After catching his breath, he continued, "Can you come out and see me? I have so much to tell you."

"Even if you don't want to hear it, can't you at least come out and let me see you?"

The shouts echoed far across the quiet street, but the vermilion gate of Blue Tyrant Academy remained tightly shut, showing no sign of opening.

Yang Jian stopped and his gaze fell on that figure.

Yu Xiaogang wore a faded gray robe, the hem stained with mud and dust, the cuffs frayed. His hair was disheveled, as if it hadn't been combed for days; his cheeks were sunken, his cheekbones high, his eye sockets darkened into shadows, and he looked noticeably thinner.

He was completely different from the "master" of yesteryear who wore gold-rimmed glasses, was impeccably dressed, and calmly expounded his theories.

He was standing in front of the tightly closed door, one hand on the door frame, the other clenched into a fist, pounding on the door panel, making a dull "thump thump" sound.

His lips were chapped, with white dry marks at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were bloodshot, but deep in his pupils was a stubborn determination that refused to give up.

"Erlong! How can you be so heartless! I've been standing here all morning, and you won't even open the door a crack!"

After shouting, he stood on tiptoe and peered through the crack in the door, as if hoping the door would open a crack from the inside and reveal that familiar face.

Yang Jian stood a few steps away, watching quietly, expressionless, his heart undisturbed.

He watched as this former theoretical master, whose cultivation he had long since crippled, paced around the door, banging on it and shouting, as if watching a silent play that had nothing to do with him. He felt neither amused nor pitiful.

Yu Xiaogang's dantian had long been completely crushed by him, and he could no longer cultivate in this life, and could only live as an ordinary person.

But this person didn't seem to have let go of his obsession, stubbornly knocking on a door that would never be opened for him.

After watching for a few moments, Yang Jian found it boring and was about to turn around and leave when Yu Xiaogang seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head back.

Two pairs of eyes met, separated by a few steps.

Yu Xiaogang saw Yang Jian.

In that instant, the expression on his face changed so quickly it was as if it had been fast-forwarded: from anxiety to confusion, from confusion to recognition, and then from recognition to deep-seated fear, all in the blink of an eye.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his deep-set eyes seemed to be gripped tightly by a hand, and his back slammed against the vermilion gate with a dull thud.

He staggered and lost his balance, his hands instinctively gripping the edge of the door panel, his fingernails scraping against the paint, making a faint, sharp sound.

Chapter 218 Wedding Candy

Yu Xiaogang's mouth was open, his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he could only squeeze out a few broken and indistinct breaths.

It's as if they want to speak, but can't find the words.

It's like those words, which were crushed to pieces by fear the moment they reached the lips.

The next second, he turned around abruptly, staggered back two steps, and glanced back at Yang Jian as if to confirm whether the other party would chase after him.

After confirming it, he seemed to have lost the last bit of strength to stand, or as if he had been injected with the brute force to escape, and he turned around and scrambled towards the other end of the street.

The old gray robe fluttered behind him, covered in mud and fallen leaves, like a startled bird, and quickly disappeared around the street corner.

Yang Jian stood still, neither chasing nor speaking, and didn't even change his posture.

He watched Yu Xiaogang's disheveled figure disappear behind the wall before turning away and slowly walking towards the other end of the street. His eyes were calm as ever, as if nothing had happened.

After Yu Xiaogang escaped, the area in front of Lanba Academy remained quiet for a long time, as if the air inside and outside the gate had frozen.

A moment later, slow footsteps came from inside the door.

Hesitantly, heavily, he approached the door panel step by step.