Chapter 525: Bottomless Pit

The kitchen of the steamed bun shop was bustling with activity, continuously sending out basket after basket of freshly made lamb buns to the table where Han Li and his companions sat.

Jin Tong’s two small hands and her seemingly small mouth never stopped moving from the moment they started. Soon, basket after basket, she devoured all seventy baskets of buns like a whirlwind.

The crowd, which had stopped looking their way, was once again drawn to them. Seeing this, Han Li had Meng Qianqian settle the bill and pulled the still unsatisfied Jin Tong out of the shop, heading to the next one—a sesame cake shop.

The sesame cake shop was run by an old man nearly eighty years old, with his grandson helping out. Naturally, its output couldn’t match that of the steamed bun shop. Since the cakes took time to bake, Jin Tong soon ate them out of stock.

Though sesame cakes were the most ordinary of folk snacks, the old man had spent sixty years perfecting his craft, creating many unique varieties—crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, fragrant and delicious. Jin Tong was thrilled and kept calling for rewards.

So whenever Jin Tong called for a reward, Qianqian would tip generously, thoroughly enjoying her role as the senior senior sister.

The old man, likely experiencing the best business in all his years of operation, could tell that Jin Tong genuinely loved his cakes. Beaming with joy, he repeatedly praised the girl’s appetite to Han Li.

After settling the bill, Meng Qianqian took Jin Tong to eat fermented rice dumplings.

Fortunately, the shopkeeper had already prepared a large pot, with sesame filling, red bean paste filling, and osmanthus five-nut filling—all of which Han Li and his companions bought out entirely.

Soon, news of a big eater’s arrival spread throughout the entire street.

As a result, every shop on the street urged their kitchens to increase the production of their signature snacks and pastries.

Once ready, they set up tables by the street, displaying pea cakes, donkey rolls, ice-skin pastries, and more.

This only made Jin Tong even happier.

As she walked along the street, she was like a tornado, sweeping away all the delicacies from the roadside stalls, leaving Han Li and Meng Qianqian behind to pay the bills.

From dusk until the moon rose above the treetops, the shops on the street that Jin Tong had already visited had closed for the night, while the half of the street she hadn’t yet reached was still brightly lit, with many shopkeepers rubbing their hands in anticipation, waiting eagerly.

Because this big eater not only had a great appetite but was also extremely generous. Whenever she ate happily, she would give rewards—not silver, but spirit stones, and not low-grade ones, but mid-grade ones. Some shops even received high-grade spirit stones, something that would make even cultivators envious!

Meng Qianqian's already meager savings had long been drained clean by Jintong, but before she could even speak, Han Li casually tossed a pouch over. When the goddess swept her divine sense over it, she was stunned for a long moment.

The pouch was filled with top-grade spirit stones, tens of thousands of them.

These were naturally items Han Li had recently seized from some Golden Immortal in the Minghan Immortal Mansion. Now that he had a rare moment of leisure, he was happy to be generous with another's wealth, letting Jintong enjoy herself and truly savor the delicacies of the mortal world.

After much difficulty, the three finally arrived before Guangyue Tower.

The steward of Guangyue Tower, a short, stout man in brocade, spotted the trio at the entrance and immediately greeted them with a beaming smile, repeatedly calling out, "Honored guests have arrived, honored guests have arrived..."

With a brief glance, Han Li noticed that this man was actually a cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

"Are there any seats upstairs?" Han Li asked, glancing toward the staircase.

"Yes, yes, please go upstairs, honored guests," the fat steward said, leading the way while beckoning to the three.

Once upstairs, Han Li saw that although the floor was brightly lit, it was empty—whether because it was too late or the steward had arranged it so.

"We'll reserve all the tables up here. Just bring out every dish and drink you have and fill every table," Meng Qianqian said to the steward after the three had taken seats by a window, scanning the entire second floor.

"Very well, immortals, please wait a moment," the fat steward replied and went downstairs.

Meanwhile, Jintong was still clutching a large piece of hibiscus cut cake. For some reason, she was eating it in small bites, her little face full of contentment.

"Why are you here alone? Where is your brother?" Han Li withdrew his gaze, looked at Meng Qianqian, and suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Meng Qianqian's expression stiffened slightly, and she quickly said:

"Earlier, when I saw Lord Li return, I was so happy that I completely forgot about this matter. I was just about to report to you: my brother, Brother Sun, and a few others, including Meng Xiong, have returned to Mengchi Country."

Han Li found the name somewhat familiar and couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly, showing a hint of recollection.

Seeing his furrowed brow, Meng Qianqian's heart suddenly grew uneasy.

"Mengchi Country... that's your original homeland, isn't it?" Han Li said after recalling.

"It is precisely our homeland. After Brother Sun broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, he wanted to go back and seek justice for their Sun clan's imperial family. My brother tried to dissuade him but was uneasy, so he went along as well." Meng Qianqian nodded and said.

As the two were speaking, the food and wine from Guangyue Tower were brought up one after another. The waiter briskly announced the names of the dishes, and soon a dazzling array of colorful and aromatic delicacies filled seven or eight tables.

Han Li and Meng Qianqian did not touch their chopsticks; only Jintong started eating directly, devouring the food with great relish.

Seeing that Han Li remained silent, Meng Qianqian felt uneasy and tried to defend the two men:

"Lord Li, they did not disobey your orders; it's just that... they didn't know how to contact you... Please do not blame them for this. Brother Sun usually seems fine, but in fact, he has never let this matter go. Otherwise, given his temperament, he would not have cultivated so diligently."

"It's fine. I never forbade you from seeking revenge, but you must wait until you have sufficient strength. Actually, my return to Tianyun City this time is merely to entrust you with some matters." Han Li waved his hand and said.

"I will follow your instructions, Lord." Meng Qianqian's expression relaxed, and she immediately bowed.

"It's nothing major. I am about to depart from the Northern Cold Immortal Domain, and I don't know when I will return. Since we have a bond of fate, I came to make some arrangements for your future." Han Li said.

"Lord Li is leaving? Why not take us with you? Though we are not of much use, we can at least attend to your needs and handle some chores." Upon hearing this, Meng Qianqian's expression changed slightly, and she quickly said.

"This journey is perilous, and I cannot take you along. I have prepared elixirs and magic treasures for you, along with some other cultivation techniques, all placed in this storage bracelet. Since they are not here, you can distribute them to them later." Han Li waved his hand and said.

After he said this, Meng Qianqian's expression dimmed a little, but she did not say anything more.

"Additionally, there are thirty beast-head masks in this storage bracelet, all of excellent quality for concealing aura. They have been specially treated, and some of the restrictions have been adjusted. Instructions for their use are recorded in the jade slip inside. In the future, when you travel through the Immortal Domain, if you encounter unforeseen circumstances, you can use them to change your appearance and hide your traces." Han Li continued.

With that, he turned his wrist and produced a white storage bracelet, handing it over.

"Thank you, Lord Li, for considering everything so thoroughly for us." Meng Qianqian took it and thanked him.

"After some time, the major powers in the entire Northern Cold Immortal Domain may undergo a reshuffle, and an unimaginable storm may sweep through. When Yungui and the others return, you should set off immediately for Wumeng Island in the Black Wind Sea. I have made arrangements there, and someone will receive you upon arrival." Han Li paused and then said.

"As you command." Meng Qianqian's heart stirred slightly, and she immediately replied.

When the two paused their conversation and looked around, the food on several nearby tables had been completely devoured by Jintong.

Han Li smiled, flicked his wrist, and produced a flask of fine wine he had obtained from Huyan Daoist before parting. He poured a cup for himself and Meng Qianqian each, then raised his cup and drank slowly.

Meng Qianqian, flattered, quickly took the cup with both hands, lowered her head to sniff the aroma of the wine, and looked at Han Li, who had turned his gaze out the window, but she did not drink for a long time.

Outside the window, the night grew darker, and the thin moonlight flowed like water over the distant rooftops, appearing somewhat cold and clear.

Han Li gazed at the waning moon in the sky, pondering his next journey.

Just then, his brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes narrowed as he saw a blurry shadow falling from the high sky toward the city in the west.

Immediately after, Meng Qianqian also sensed something, and her expression changed abruptly.

"Let's go." Han Li said at once.

Meng Qianqian quickly nodded, took out a spirit stone, and placed it on the table.

Han Li then grabbed Jintong, who still had two pig trotters in his hands, and with his other hand seized Meng Qianqian's shoulder. The three figures instantly vanished from the second floor of Guangyue Tower.

In almost an instant, the three appeared in Guanyue Garden in the western part of the city.

There were many restrictions throughout the garden, but none reacted at all, unable to capture the traces of the three.

After entering a courtyard in the Jia sector, Han Li immediately saw the figure that had fallen from the sky—a large cyan bird covered in wounds.

The large bird seemed to notice Han Li and the others, a glimmer of light flashing in its eyes, and it let out a series of hoarse cries.

"Nianyu..." Meng Qianqian's face turned pale, and she quickly flew toward the large bird.

Han Li put down the Jintong he was holding and followed over.

Jintong had been eating when he was suddenly dragged here, and he was quite unhappy. Just as he was about to complain, he saw the battered large cyan bird.

His eyes rolled around, and he quickly finished the greasy pig trotters in his hands, rubbed his little hands together, and a mischievous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

The large cyan bird seemed to sense his gaze, immediately shrank its neck, and quickly pressed closer into Meng Qianqian's arms in terror.