What kind of weird fetish is this?
Moving on to the next spot?
How much does Jiangnan love riling people up?
Tang Qianya feels like these past five days have been spent under the resentful glares of everyone around!
Wu Liang says, “South Bro! If we keep this up, our chances of getting first place are looking shaky!”
Jiangnan replies, “No worries, I’ve got it under control! It’s just spirit pearls, isn’t it?”
The live stream chat goes wild!
“They’re fighting, and he’s taking photos? When will I ever be as awesome as my idol?”
“Why do I really want to go beat him up?”
“Haha, too slick! What kind of move is this?”
“Not hunting spirit beasts anymore? Just showing off? Is he throwing the game?”
…
By now, it’s the fifth day since everyone entered the Spirit Ruin!
They’ve reached the fifth, and final, safe zone!
Beyond this, there are no more safe zones!
Most teams choose to base themselves at the safe zone, hunting spirit beasts during the day and returning to rest at night!
Very few teams venture deeper, as safety at night can’t be guaranteed, and the danger level spikes!
Over the past two days, Jiangnan has wandered almost everywhere nearby!
He’s got a rough idea of the lay of the land!
This day, he’s back at the safe zone early, setting up camp.
When the exhausted teams drag themselves back to the safe zone, a mouthwatering aroma fills the entire clearing!
In front of the three-bedroom, one-living-room luxury tent, a massive barbecue grill is set up!
Meat skewers are sizzling on the charcoal fire!
Seven or eight small tables are scattered across the open ground!
A big fan is blowing like crazy, spreading the aroma throughout the camp!
Over a megaphone, Jiangnan’s voice loops repeatedly, “Come on, come on! Tianchi specialty giant meat skewers!”
“So tasty! Absolutely amazing!”
“Who wants to buy meat skewers?”
“Mummy! I want to eat meat skewers!”
“Eat! Eat the big ones! Ten skewers enough?”
“Enough! Thank you, Mummy! Mummy’s the best!”
…
Tang Qianya covers her face in embarrassment!
She never imagined she’d be selling meat skewers in a Spirit Ruin!
And those ad lines are just too cringeworthy, aren’t they?
All voiced by Jiangnan himself, even mimicking a little girl’s voice perfectly!
…
The teams are stunned!
What’s going on?
They’ve just returned to the safe zone, and it feels like they’ve stepped into a night market?
Running a food stall in a Spirit Ruin?
Are you serious?
So this is what he’s been up to these past two days?
But, damn, it smells so good!
After five or six days of compressed biscuits and instant noodles, the aroma has them drooling!
Someone immediately asks, “How much for the skewers?”
Jiangnan waves grandly, “One Black Iron spirit pearl per person! Eat as many skewers as you want!”
“Four-person team gets a discount! Three Black Iron spirit pearls, and you’re set!”
The teams: ???
So he’s after our spirit pearls?
No wonder he stopped hunting spirit beasts these past two days!
He was waiting to pull this off?
Have you no shame?
This is blatant profiteering!
We’re out here working our butts off for spirit pearls?
And you’re here to fleece us?
No way! Absolutely not!
But…
Those skewers smell so good!
What do they taste like?
They must be amazing!
Someone wipes their drool, “Screw it! Just three pearls, right? Fine! We’ll work harder tomorrow!”
“Bring the skewers! Pile them on!”
Teams with decent hauls don’t even hesitate!
Five days of nothing but instant noodles, their mouths are desperate for flavour!
Soon, all eight tables are packed!
Some teams, with no tables left, sit on the ground chomping skewers!
They’re like starving wolves, practically sparking the skewer sticks!
The other teams watch, green with envy!
Seeing the moment’s right, Jiangnan drops another bombshell!
“Come on, check it out! Ice-cold big green bottles! Skewers and beer, the more you drink, the better it gets!”
“One Bronze spirit pearl for a case of beer!”
Someone’s shocked, “What? That expensive?”
Jiangnan retorts, “These are ice-cold! Still think it’s pricey? Go find me another one in this Tianchi Spirit Ruin!”
At first, no one’s willing to buy!
But those skewers are so salty!
Insanely salty!
Jiangnan told Wu Liang to pile on the salt like there’s no tomorrow!
Thirsty as hell, they eye the frosty green bottles!
“Screw it! Give me a case!”
“Boss, these skewers are way too bloody salty! Can you ease up on the salt?”
Jiangnan replies, “Can’t help it! That’s just how generous my business is!”
“More! Pile on the cumin and chilli powder!”
[Resentment points from Li Guang +666!]
[Resentment points from Han Jiaxuan +885!]
[Resentment points from…]
Wu Liang’s sweating buckets! Tang Qianya, wearing a little apron, takes up the role of waitress!
The spirit pearls are rolling in!
They were worried about not getting first place!
But with this Tianchi food stall?
It’s in the bag!
No one can compete, it’s like the entire middle route is working for Jiangnan!
Blatant profiteering!
But so what?
People starving for five days can’t resist the aroma of skewers!
Jiangnan’s even wandering the camp with skewers in hand!
“Hey, mate! Want a bite?”
The guy’s face darkens, teeth itching with anger!
[Resentment points from…]
“Oh, so tasty! One bite and it’s dripping with oil!”
[Resentment points from…]
He wanders over to Li Xiang’s side!
“Fancy a bite? Your team’s got a decent haul, three pearls are nothing, right?”
Li Xiang sneers, “Nothing to you either! Why not give them out for free?”
Jiangnan scoffs, “Free? Kid, are you dreaming?”
Li Xiang narrows his eyes, “Don’t get too cocky! Keep this up, and the school will come for you!”
Jiangnan shrugs, “Come for me? Have I broken any rules? I’m just meeting demand! They’re giving me pearls willingly!”
Liu Quanwu points at Jiangnan’s nose, cursing, “I, Liu Quanwu, would rather starve! Die out here! Jump off a cliff! I won’t eat a single thing from you!”
Li Xiang and Ling Feng give Liu Quanwu a thumbs-up! Spot on, mate, that’s the spirit!
Jiangnan smirks, “Don’t eat then!”
He turns and shouts, “Limited-time offer! Anyone who buys from me gets a free shower!”
At that, Li Muyan can’t sit still!
A shower?
After five days, she’s filthy!
And covered in mud since day one!
For a girl, that’s a death sentence!
“Why not? Let’s grab some food? Three Bronze pearls, we can afford it!”
Li Xiang frowns, “Wouldn’t that just let Jiangnan profit? His pearl count will only grow!”
Ling Feng whispers, “Even if we don’t, they’ve already secured first place…”
Li Xiang: …
This is infuriating! But Li Xiang can’t swallow his pride!
“Go if you want!”
Li Muyan doesn’t care, she grabs three pearls and heads for a shower!
Ling Feng and Liu Quanwu exchange a look.
The money’s spent, not eating would just benefit Jiangnan!
Hmph! Watch us eat you out of business, you jerk!
So Liu Quanwu and Ling Feng squat on the ground, chomping down giant skewers!
“Oh, so good! Wow!”
“How’s it this tasty?”
“Skewers are the best! Let’s eat more!”
Jiangnan: …
Guess Liu Quanwu’s earlier words were just hot air!
Nothing escapes the law of true fragrance!
