Master, Your Salted Fish Has Arrived - Chapter 15
Liao Tingyan couldn't figure out why Sima Jiao hadn't just gone on a killing spree the moment they left the Three Sacred Mountains. Instead, he’d allowed himself to be invited to a mansion, only to suddenly decide to take her on a detour. But then, she thought, how could an ordinary person like her understand the whims of a mentally unhinged ancestral master? So she dutifully put on a nice dress and followed him.
She felt a brief pang of relief that she hadn’t eaten much earlier. That way, if she saw something gruesome and vomited, he wouldn’t kill her for showing disrespect. But this relief quickly turned to unease. Her cultivation was still in the pitiful Qi Refinement stage, which meant she couldn't fast. She had been subsisting on spiritual plants and other meager snacks, and while those were better than nothing, she hadn’t had a proper meal in a long time.
As they rode on the back of the giant snake, Liao Tingyan’s stomach began to rumble. Hunger, she knew, was a sneaky beast. It lay dormant until you noticed it, then it tormented you. Her current state was the worst of all: she smelled food. As they descended White Deer Cliff and passed through a field of flowers, the scent of sizzling meat hit her. Her mouth, which had been as bland as a bird’s, immediately began to water.
She must have swallowed too loudly, because Sima Jiao glanced at her, watching as she tried to discreetly wipe the corner of her mouth. He tapped a finger on the snake’s head. “Go there,” he commanded, pointing in the direction of the delicious aroma.
Liao Tingyan ventured a question. “Ancestral Master, where are we going?”
“To kill people, of course,” Sima Jiao replied.
“Oh,” she said. “Are we just… going straight there to kill?”
“What else?” he answered flatly.
"You truly are an efficient murderer," she thought. They emerged from the flower thicket to find an elegant immortal gathering by a stone pool beneath a waterfall. Dozens of ethereal, handsome young people, clearly high-status disciples, were enjoying a banquet. The air was thick with spiritual energy, the scenery was beautiful, and exquisite food covered the tables. Female disciples played zithers, adding to the refined atmosphere.
The sudden appearance of a giant black snake, the notorious Sima Jiao, and Liao Tingyan completely shattered the tranquility.
Liao Tingyan had never crashed a banquet before, but the Ancestor, an expert in pillaging and slaughter, showed no sign of discomfort. The moment they arrived, a disciple at the end of a table frowned and shouted, “Which palace are you from? How dare you barge into Senior Brother Tian’s flower banquet? Get out!”
Liao Tingyan sucked in a sharp breath, almost wanting to cover her eyes. The Ancestor had come here to kill, and this fool was practically begging for it with his contemptuous tone. This was a classic case of an old longevity star hanging himself.
She expected a blood-splatter within three seconds, but nothing happened. Sima Jiao stepped down from the snake and looked around, completely ignoring the disciple’s words. He strolled onto the colorful silk rugs, picked up a wine pot from a nearby table, sniffed it, and, apparently displeased, tossed it aside, staining the beautiful fabric.
His movements were casual and arrogant, as if the party-goers were not even there. The disciple who had spoken stood up, furious. “You—”
He got no further. Sima Jiao appeared instantly before him, grabbed him by the neck, and dragged him to the edge of the pool. Then, in front of everyone, he shoved the man’s head into the water.
Several people stood up, enraged. But the handsome man at the head of the table looked terrified. He stumbled to his feet, a flicker of fear in his eyes. He had likely seen the Ancestor before and was now frozen in shock. Sima Jiao's reputation was so great that even the Sect Leader was subservient to him, let alone these young disciples.
The man, clearly a person of some status, hurried forward, but stopped about three meters from Sima Jiao, unable to move closer. He prostrated himself, head bowed, and called out, “Lord Cizang.”
The entire banquet went silent. After a stunned three seconds, everyone knelt. The disciple whose head was submerged was so paralyzed with fear that he stopped struggling. Cultivators could hold their breath for a long time, so he wasn't in danger of drowning—he was just terrified.
Seeing him go still, Sima Jiao said, “Keep struggling.”
The disciple stiffly began to struggle, moving like a giant turtle. Liao Tingyan couldn’t help it; a giggle escaped her. In the deathly silence, her laugh was painfully loud. Sima Jiao turned to look at her. Just as she tried to compose herself, she saw him smile as well. He released the disciple, letting him lie motionless in the water, and walked to the head table. He sat directly on top of it and gestured to Liao Tingyan.
“Come here.”
She approached, and the Ancestor, who had promised a killing spree, told her, “Eat whatever you want.”
"But didn’t you say we were here to kill people?"
Liao Tingyan was confused. Did he hear her stomach grumbling and bring her here just to eat? No… that didn’t fit his cruel personality at all.
Sima Jiao didn’t seem to care what she thought. He picked up a string of bright red spiritual fruits from the table, and one by one, he expressionlessly crushed them in his hand, the red juice staining his fingers. It was strange, but she couldn’t help but think he was crushing them the same way he might crush a person’s head.
The other disciples knelt, soaked in a cold sweat. Liao Tingyan, meanwhile, sat down and began to gnaw on a piece of meat. She didn't know what it was, but it was incredibly delicious. The flavor exploded in her mouth, calming her nerves. She had never tasted anything so good and almost regretted that there was no rice to go with it.
As she ate, the giant black snake nudged her hand with its head. She remembered how the three of them had survived together when they were stranded. She took a plate and a few pots, letting the snake sniff and choose. The drinks here were certainly better than the bamboo juice she usually drank. Since the boss had brought his two companions for a meal, they might as well eat well.
The snake chose a pot, and Liao Tingyan poured it a large bowl.
Sima Jiao watched her for a moment. She couldn’t read his expression, so she simply pretended not to notice and went back to her meal, treating it like a much-needed buffet. The snake seemed happy too, wagging its tail back and forth. Its tail wagging must have annoyed the Ancestor, because Sima Jiao threw a fruit at it, making the snake’s tail immediately straighten.
Liao Tingyan thought to herself that it was a good thing she hadn’t made any smacking sounds while eating.
She finished with some meat, vegetables, juice, and a few after-dinner fruits. Sima Jiao crushed the last fruit, washed his hands in a pot of cloud tea, and stood up. The snake happily carried them away from the scene and toward their original destination.
The disciples remained frozen long after they left. Finally, the senior brother at the head of the table, Tian Wuyun, jumped up, his face a mix of fear and confusion. The others slowly rose, looking at each other.
“Was that… Lord Cizang?” someone whispered.
“He didn’t kill anyone. The rumors say…”
“Enough. Don’t talk about it. Is Junior Brother Wu alright?”
Junior Brother Wu, who had just crawled out of the pool, was trembling. “Senior Brother Tian, the Ancestor…”
Tian Wuyun didn't say another word. He needed to see his grandfather immediately to report what had happened. These other disciples were no longer his concern.
Meanwhile, the Sect Leader also received news that Sima Jiao had left White Deer Cliff and immediately went on high alert. Sima Jiao was unpredictable; no one knew what he would do. The Sect Leader wanted to follow him, but Sima Jiao wouldn’t tolerate anyone’s prying. He could only rely on delayed reports.
On his way to Lingyan Mountain Platform, the Sect Leader heard about Sima Jiao's sudden appearance at the banquet.
“Lord Cizang clearly favored that female disciple,” Tian Wuyun said. “He ignored all of us and only left after she finished eating. I heard from my grandfather that he has a great deal of resentment toward the Eight Great Palaces, and that the elders who set foot on the Three Sacred Mountains all perished. But this time, he didn't seem so bloodthirsty. The one who spoke disrespectfully was unharmed.”
The Sect Leader smiled faintly. “No one understands the last of the Sima clan, not even me. His thoughts are his own.”
Sima Jiao arrived at Lingyan Mountain Platform, the largest combat arena in the Gengchen Immortal Mansion. This was where the elite disciples from the Eight Great Palaces and various sects competed. When Sima Jiao appeared, the lively crowd fell into a terrified silence.
Liao Tingyan noticed a pattern: wherever the Ancestor went, silence followed. His infamy had spread so far that it frightened disciples into a pale terror. She realized what he must be planning: to harvest the vital energy of the next generation all at once. It was a cruel thought. She almost regretted eating so much.
Sima Jiao sat on the highest steps and pointed to two disciples. “You two, which branches?”
The two disciples stepped forward. They seemed to have some strength, as they had regained their composure and maintained a dignified, respectful demeanor. They gave their names and sects.
“Get on the platform,” Sima Jiao commanded. “And engage in a death duel.”
The two looked at each other, clearly uncomfortable. They were from different palaces, but their sects had a good relationship. If one of them died, it would be a diplomatic disaster. But they couldn’t defy the Ancestor. He was simply too powerful.
They ascended the platform, hoping to stall for time until a senior could arrive to handle the situation. They fought without using their true abilities, but Sima Jiao saw through it. Without a hint of anger, he added, “The victor will be decided within the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. If it’s a draw, both of you will die.”
Liao Tingyan thought to herself that he wasn't here to kill people at all. He was here to be entertained.