Chapter 137: Chapter 131: I am starting to show off [Please vote monthly]_1
Sha Chen was both shocked and delighted. He hadn’t expected that within a single day, he would encounter two choices regarding Chang E. Alongside his excitement, he felt somewhat of a headache coming on. The choices given by the system were somewhat tricky. He didn’t want to let Chang E in, but the temptation of the system’s choices was too great. After all, if he got the Sky Shaking Bow, he couldn’t exactly practice archery with an axe technique manual, right?
Moreover, refusing Fairy Chang E didn’t seem to complete the first choice; he could only suppress her and then get the Star-Smashing Axe. In doing so, it would truly be a win-win situation. Refusing one would result in obtaining an axe, and then the next would surely bring the corresponding axe technique. If he agreed, he would get the Sky Shaking Bow, with the accompanying archery technique.
Sha Chen felt that the system was making him face the most difficult choice of his life. Previous choices he had made without hesitation, but now, he hesitated. Letting Fairy Chang E in could expose his secrets, but not letting her in would mean he was left to chop firewood with the axe. Sha Chen thought that chopping firewood wasn’t too bad either.
But then, Chang E said, "You demoted general, you never had the chance to speak to me in the past, and now you even dare to lead away my Jade Rabbit and leave me standing outside. If you don’t open the door, even if I cannot enter today, one of these days I’ll certainly request the Jade Emperor’s command to destroy your Flowing Sand River."
Sha Chen was very troubled. Chang E continued, "But perhaps there’s no need for another day. Maybe tomorrow, maybe even today, the Jade Emperor might decide to break through your dwelling place."
Sha Chen became anxious and set aside thoughts of any reward, saying, "Fairy, what do you mean by that?"
Chang E replied coldly, "Are you asking me?"
Sha Chen furrowed his brows, his gaze darkening. "Fairy, do you intend to enter the Flowing Sand River without fear that I might have ill intentions?"
Chang E laughed. "You don’t have the nerve or the ability to try."
Suddenly, Sha Chen cracked a smile and said, "Since the Fairy doesn’t mind my humble abode and insists on entering, then please, be my guest."
He couldn’t truly suppress Chang E, let alone be sure of a complete victory that would allow him to keep her there. Besides, if he killed Chang E outside the Flowing Sand River, regardless of whether she lived or died, he would surely be executed by the Jade Emperor’s decree. By then, the Apricot Yellow Flag of Wuji wouldn’t be able to protect him. Setting aside the matter of rewards, he also wanted to know the contents of the court deliberation.
After hesitating a moment, Sha Chen still allowed Chang E to enter his dwelling. He opened up the Flowing Sand River and the grand doors of the dwelling. Sha Chen vigilantly watched his surroundings, especially Fairy Chang E, inspecting her as if he could see through every inch of her skin. Not until she entered the Flowing Sand River did Sha Chen close the grand doors of the dwelling without any hesitation.
Fairy Chang E was slightly startled and not pleased. "Why are you in such a hurry to close the doors, General? I am a lady who has entered your dwelling, and now you seal the doors. Even if we are innocent, rumors might spread if this gets out."
Sha Chen chuckled. "Fairy, you jest. Who would dare gossip about the Fairy?"
You, a widow, are now worried about rumors? Insisting on entering the home of a bachelor, yet fearful of your reputation?
Fairy Chang E merely mentioned it in passing. After entering the dwelling, she was not worried about Sha Chen doing anything to her. Moreover, she still looked upon Sha Chen with the same eyes as in days past, seeing him as nothing more than a minor general aiding the heavenly chariot. Is it possible that he could outmaneuver the heavens and also her? Chang E felt disdain deep within and maintained her cold demeanor.
Then she set about inspecting Sha Chen’s dwelling, her face filled with shock. This place had court pavilions, closely spaced and well-ordered, majestic mountains and flowing waters, each meticulously placed. It was truly a paradise, with palaces reaching the clouds, glittering with gold and grandeur, surpassing even the Guanghan Palace in magnificence. Outside the palaces lay the countryside, with green hills and clear waters everywhere, and there, fields of Immortal Rice.
HISSS!
Within the fields, there were even peach trees, her own osmanthus trees, and countless Immortal Herbs and Elixirs. The Immortal Rice occupying half of the field was growing splendidly, even surpassing that of the heavenly homes, which went without saying.
Chang E was stunned. She was indifferent to the rest but was extremely interested in the peach and osmanthus trees. She approached and carefully touched one of the osmanthus trees, the shock in her eyes intensifying. "To think it’s really an osmanthus tree. This is a congenital Spiritual Root. In days past, I discovered a patch of osmanthus Spiritual Roots on the Muyi Star and transplanted thirty-six trees to Guanghan Palace. But they were all of an inferior grade. This one is superior. Not even I could access the centerpiece of the osmanthus grove. How did you come by it?"
She turned to Sha Chen, her heart still in shock.
Of course, Sha Chen couldn’t exactly spill the beans, so he said, "They say treasures choose their own masters. Perhaps I am the chosen one, and it came looking for me, not the other way around."
Chang E regarded him with a skeptical face, clearly not believing him. She deemed it Sha Chen’s attempt at brushing her off, unwilling to reveal the truth. Yet, she thought, with Sha Chen’s abilities, he certainly couldn’t have managed to procure the osmanthus Spiritual Root from Muyi Star by himself, so it must have been a gift from someone else.
But still, who would be so generous to give him such a thing? The osmanthus Spiritual Root is comparable to the peach Spiritual Root, and both are extremely rare in the Three Realms. Moreover, this is a top-grade osmanthus Spiritual Root, one tree worth more than all thirty-six of hers. Who would be willing to part with an item so valuable!
Seeing her disbelief, Sha Chen swore, "I swear, it came to me by its own accord; it wasn’t me who sought it out."
Chang E, watching him swearing so solemnly, believed him at least seventy percent. Even so, she was still more shocked. What merit did Sha Chen have? She had used a special Magical Tool and been informed of the route. She had braved thorns and hazards, suffered endless hardships, and many of her followers had died for her to obtain thirty-six osmanthus Spiritual Roots. Yet Sha Chen merely stayed at home, and the Spiritual Root came knocking on his door!? She found it hard to believe.
Then she turned to look at the peach tree. "Don’t tell me this peach Spiritual Root also sought you out."
Sha Chen said, "Fairy, you are indeed pure-hearted and gentle; it is indeed so." Then, with a shy smile, he made Fairy Chang E roll her eyes.
Now, the aloof Fairy Chang E had already tagged Sha Chen in her heart with labels of "nonsensical," "gibberish," and "talking nonsense." Seeing her expression, Sha Chen knew she didn’t believe him. However, it didn’t matter whether she believed it or not; he didn’t care. All he needed was for Chang E to tell him about the contents of the court deliberation.
Sha Chen said, "Please tell me about the content and the outcome of the deliberation, Fairy. It’s very important to me."
"I’ve come from afar," Chang E said nonchalantly, as if she hadn’t heard him. "Aren’t you going to offer me tea or food?"
Sha Chen frowned but still went to prepare a meal. He had intended to make a simple meal, but Fairy Chang E stood at the kitchen entrance, not going in. She leaned against the doorframe and said indifferently, "Although I prefer light meals, don’t you think you can hoodwink me with just some plain tea and food? Quite impolite indeed."
Sha Chen had no choice but to put his heart into it and cook several elaborate dishes to give this woman a bit of an eye-opener. In less than an hour, he had made eighteen different dishes, none repeating. The food was so delectable that Fairy Chang E kept glancing at the dining table; if not for maintaining her fairy-like composure, she would have hardly resisted grabbing and eating with her hands. She then helped herself to the wine cellar and took several jars of fine wine. All were osmanthus wine, and there was even a jar of flat peach wine.
Seeing her so familiar with his place, Sha Chen couldn’t help but wince. One can’t catch a wolf without risking the child, and one can’t get these women drunk without sacrificing the fine wine, he thought. He suppressed his feelings, just waiting for Chang E to speak up so he could send her packing.
However, now that Chang E was aware of the situation in his cavern, it caused him some headaches. If outsiders came to know of it, he might inspire jealousy. A mere demoted general of the Flowing Sand River, with a cavern so uniquely blessed, the fairy mountain a land of fortune, and numerous treasures—could that not turn others green with envy?
Sha Chen had intended to keep his possessions hidden, but Chang E had already seen quite a bit. He noticed that within her aloofness, Chang E seemed to carry a hint of melancholy and still hadn’t spoken of the court deliberation. Seems like she’s quite tight-lipped, he thought. Maybe she won’t talk. Besides, I’m planning to change my strategy. Soft approaches won’t work with a widow; I have to intimidate her, make her fear spreading the word. Although Sha Chen might not go after Chang E to kill her when she left, he needed her to know that he had the ability to strike her down at any moment, even if she was in Guanghan Palace.
Therefore, Sha Chen planned to flex his muscles, showing off his strength to Chang E, to completely crush her spirit and intimidate her. So, he refrained from hiding his wealth and instead deliberately flaunted it.
Fairy Chang E opened a bottle of osmanthus brew, poured herself a cup, and downed it in one go, frowning slightly. She said expressionlessly, "Did the Jade Rabbit give you the brewing recipe?"
Sha Chen replied, "She doesn’t know. I figured it out myself."
Fairy Chang E remarked, "Not bad for a superior Spiritual Root. Your osmanthus brew even tastes better than the ones I make."
Sha Chen chuckled. "If the Fairy likes it, take a jar when you leave."
Chang E nodded, then swept two jars from the table into her long sleeves and began drinking from the open one.
Sha Chen saw this.
HISS.
This woman is quite ruthless. I offered one jar; why did she take two?
It was unclear if Chang E’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol or if the embarrassment of being caught grabbing the goods before all the dishes were served had reddened her face. Regardless, her blushing face was quite fetching. Seeing this, Sha Chen felt an urge to strangle her. It was usually him who was grabby and demanding—now, a woman was doing it to him! Sha Chen was not pleased.
Chang E asked, "Do you have a heater for warming wine, General?"
She didn’t realize that when she called him General again, her tone no longer carried the initial condescension and command. It seemed to have become somewhat amiable. She now saw Sha Chen as her equal. Having so many treasures and owning a domain like his cavern made him worthy of her equal treatment.
Sha Chen brought out the Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover, shrank it down to table size, and used it to directly heat the wine.
Chang E was shocked. "The Nine-dragon Divine Fire Cover? How do you have that?"
Sha Chen answered, "It found me."
Fairy Chang E looked skeptical, clearly not believing him. Sha Chen chuckled, using the Undefined Flying Rings to crack walnuts and pick out the meat to eat. Then he sat cross-legged on the Fengshui Futon, stretched lazily, and was about to use the God Needle of Usagi Day to pick up a piece of meat. Unfortunately, he had given it to the Spider Spirit, so he couldn’t use it. Instead, he summoned back the Giant Que Sword, shrunk it to the size of a dagger, grabbed the hand-held meat, and sliced it into pieces. He placed them on a plate and pushed it toward Chang E.
He smiled and said, "If the Fairy doesn’t mind, please enjoy your meal."
Then he fetched some Mysterious Heavenly Water, boiled it in the Panlong Alchemy Furnace, shrunk it, and placed it on the table. "Mortal kings have a saying of ’bell ringing and cauldron dining.’ I call this ’hot pot.’ Now, please, Fairy, enjoy the hot pot."
Curious, Chang E took slices of meat, swished them a few times in the Panlong Alchemy Furnace, dipped them in sauce, and her eyes lit up after tasting it. Indeed, it was delicious. Where did he get so many clever ideas? Moreover, precious items were scattered around, and yet he used them so casually. Could it really be that the treasures chose him, allowing him to handle them with such nonchalance?
Chang E was shocked and found herself deeply intrigued by Sha Chen. How can this man pose so effortlessly?
Actually, she wasn’t the only one with that thought; the Tongtian Hierarch at Zi Zhi Cliff was similarly dumbfounded. He muttered, "Even I cannot tell if this boy is showing off or truly indifferent."