Chapter 570 – The Prodigal Feng Zhen (Part 3)
“Ahahaha—what a scrub! It seems Zhang Ping is hurt, that statement from the host dealt a critical blow.”
“I want to laugh too, but Zhang Ping probably doesn’t understand what ‘scrub’ means, right?”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t. If he does, it’ll be sad. By the way, isn’t everyone a scrub in front of the host?”
“Hahaha, I’m slamming the table! That comment hurts too much, my old buddy up there.”
Zhang Ping forced a sheepish smile; it was true that his martial skills were lacking. He could handle common people, but against a fierce opponent, this dried fish could only lie on the ground shouting ‘666’ to his lord, watching as his lord single-handedly dealt with the opposition.
“Lord, why is that person following us?”
Zhang Ping had yet to notice the man trailing behind them, either too focused on his duties or unable to sense any malice from him.
Jiang Pengji replied, “I’m not sure, but he is indeed an interesting person.”
Zhang Ping was surprised; seeing his lord’s expression tinged with curiosity only made him more intrigued about the unseen “guest.”
After much coughing, the stranger finally settled down, but Jiang Pengji knew he was still next door, leisurely enjoying his lunch.
His appetite was larger than that of an average man, consuming several times more food than usual.
Zhang Ping was always baffled; how did his lord, who didn’t seem very robust, manage to eat so much?
After filling up, a conversation between the waiter and a stranger drifted in from outside.
Jiang Pengji instructed, “Let him in.”
A moment later, the food compartment curtain was lifted, and a man dressed in gray, worn-out clothes stepped in.
The man appeared to be in his late twenties, lean and gaunt, the oversized, aged garment only emphasized his frailty.
His cheeks were sunken, chin slightly pointed, and his thin lips had an unusual pale hue, his complexion paler than the average person.
If not for his clear features and cultured demeanor, one might mistake him for a debauched old rogue.
As the man entered, the viewers in the livestream heated up considerably.
“Ahhh—this guy’s appearance is really good; he radiates that sickly prodigal aura, a beauty in despair!”
“Host, are you about to summon a dazzling array of handsome men? Elegant housewife Wei Zixiao, gentle and refined Feng Huaiyu, naive contrast Li Hanmei, dim-witted foodie Yang Jingrong, virtuous chatterbox Xu Xiaoyu, mature and gloomy Qi Guanwen… awoo! Now we’ve got yet another decent-looking sickly vagabond… this livestream is full of beauties.”
“Hahaha, none of these descriptions are wrong, but what’s this about Yang Jingrong being a dim-witted foodie? Watch out, Yang Si might come to you for a heart-to-heart at midnight; his description near Wei Ci clearly shows he’s ‘calculating and adept with poisons.'”
“If Yang Si really comes knocking at midnight, remember to inform him to come to my bed; it’s all warmed up!”
Jiang Pengji glanced at the newcomer, who without any pretense, shamelessly found a spot near Jiang Pengji.
She suddenly said, “If you don’t want to die young and be left as an orphan with no one to care for you, you should really consider quitting the Cold Food Powder.”
The man looked at Jiang Pengji, while Zhang Ping also stared at the unfamiliar figure in astonishment.
“You’ve been taking the Cold Food Powder for at least four years; if you keep this up, you might as well be preparing to meet the King of Hell. Recently, you’ve been taking it with shorter intervals. If you don’t firmly decide to quit, you should start thinking about where to be buried after you pass. Have you ever experienced the cravings? If cravings hit and you can’t get the powder, do you think you’ll have the will to not beg for it?” She asked naturally, “I can see you’re quite proud; you probably don’t want people to see you at your most disgraceful.”
The youth was able to muster a disdainful smile at first, but as he listened, his expression grew increasingly displeased, his dark eyes flashing with hostility, leaving Zhang Ping utterly confused.
Jiang Pengji continued casually, “Forget it, I don’t think you’re suitable.”
The young man was bewildered; he hadn’t said anything, and his annoyance and anger were escalating.
“What do you mean by that?”
Jiang Pengji replied bluntly, “Even though you haven’t said a word, I know everything as soon as you walked in. You’ve been observing me and Xi Heng, thinking I wouldn’t notice? I assume you’re someone Zixiao brought to scout me out… however, a sage can choose their lord, and conversely, a lord can choose their sage. I thought you weren’t suitable the moment you entered.”
Zhang Ping was taken aback, wishing to rush over and cover his lord’s mouth.
If the youth was indeed referred by Wei Ci, he was certainly a talent.
His lord shouldn’t be playing with fire like this!
The young man noticed Zhang Ping’s conflicted expression, which made him feel a bit better, yet he still spoke harshly.
“Is a fool like you the bright lord that Wei Zixiao is keen on?”
His unmeasured insult angered him tremendously.
“There are plenty of talented individuals in the world; we’re not missing a troublemaker like you. With your condition, how many years can you serve me?” Jiang Pengji shot back with equal malice, “Think about it—the time gap between your two previous doses; how long do you think your brain can stay clear?”
A clear mind is essential for a strategist, and with the youth’s addiction to the powder, Jiang Pengji really couldn’t afford to use him casually.
A talent is a talent, but not every talent is usable.
The youth fell silent for a moment, reflecting on Jiang Pengji’s previous words, realizing she wasn’t shooting in the dark.
“Did Zixiao tell you?”
He had been taking the Cold Food Powder for several years now, but his social circle was small, and Liu Xi couldn’t possibly have known unless Wei Ci had blabbed.
Jiang Pengji replied honestly, “No, Zixiao didn’t say anything; he didn’t even tell me to whom he wrote a letter.”
The youth, intrigued, countered, “I consider myself capable of supporting the world; you say to go, and I go, aren’t you afraid I’ll bear a grudge? Although Fengyi County is one of the few bountiful lands in the north, its terrain is poor, making it easy to attack but hard to defend. If I’m dead set on revenge, I’m not without the capability.”
Jiang Pengji didn’t even lift her eyelids, mocking him, “Keep taking that powder; if you can survive to that age, count me defeated.”
The youth twitched at the corner of his mouth, nearly unable to hold back.
Is there really someone in this world with a mouth sharper than his?
Zhang Ping felt anxious the youth might walk out in anger, but he didn’t leave; instead, he and his lord engaged in a sharp-tongued war, trading barbs that were both cruel and clever.
It felt like a showdown between equals.
This era’s talents… he honestly couldn’t comprehend.
The audience in the livestream couldn’t make sense of it either.
From Yang Si to now Feng Zhen, did each one have a masochistic tendency?
If they were strategists and encountered a host with such a sharp tongue, anyone with a temper would have stormed out long ago.
The young man’s name was Feng Zhen, courtesy name Zishi, from Anshan County, Zhangzhou.
Feng Zhen frowned, still unconvinced, “…Is the Cold Food Powder really that harmful?”
