Chapter 88: Finding Zhou [1]

Evening had settled over the town like a gentle veil, and the skies began to darken with a faint lavender hue.

After the emotional rollercoaster of writing Ban’s heartfelt letter and stuffing himself with overly sweet choco-chip cookies — Yu Xuan decided to keep things simple for the rest of the day.

He’d have an early dinner, rest well, and deliver the letter to "Zhou" tomorrow. After that, only one mission would remain: beast hunting.

That one, at least, felt more straightforward.

With that plan in mind, he strolled casually through the middle district. The streets were still lively with cultivators, the glow of spiritual lanterns beginning to light up in succession as the sun dipped lower. Eventually, he made his way toward the inner district, where the vibe shifted from residential calm to full-blown commercial chaos.

There were no houses here, just rows and rows of specialized shops and vendor stalls. Tailors offered enchanted robes that never wrinkled. Alchemists sold pills that could suppress hunger for days — or promised great stamina. Talisman makers hawked defensive slips with loud promises like "Block a sword with a sticker!"

And of course, the mission hall too was in the inner district.

Yu Xuan’s accommodations were conveniently located between the middle and inner districts, so the walk wasn’t far. He wandered aimlessly at first, letting the lights and smells guide him. That’s when a curious red-and-white sign caught his eye.

UFC – Ultra Fried Chicken.

The logo showed a young woman in pristine white robes, smiling while holding a tray of golden-brown chicken wings.

[A/N: Pizza is a gift option but not Chicken. I demand a Chicken.]



Yu Xuan narrowed his eyes. ’Is this... plagiarism? No way that’s not that old man’

Still, curiosity and hunger now, He stepped inside and found the place surprisingly packed. Disciples in uniforms and caps written UFC on them, bustled around behind the counter — some with two stripes on their sleeves, meaning they were at least in the Foundation Establishment realm. He raised an eyebrow.

’They’ve got cultivators working fast food shifts now? Tough economy.’ He thought as there were no servant disciples here and everything was needed to be done by disciples.

He got in line, and within a few minutes, it was his turn.

"One three-piece combo," Yu Xuan said, selecting a middle-tier meal option from the glowing talisman menu.

There were several options — some outrageously expensive, promising dishes fried in expensive oil or having special seasoning, but Yu Xuan wasn’t in the mood to spend much. Still, when he tapped his medallion and saw 300 sect points disappear, he winced slightly.

’That better be some heavenly chicken.’ he thought.

Within a minute, he received his order: three crispy golden pieces of fried chicken, a portion of spirit grain rice, and a small container of deep red sauce that smelled dangerously spicy.

He scanned the room and found a single unoccupied chair tucked away in the corner.

Sitting down, he sighed and muttered, "Apparently you and I are both single," addressing the lonely chair across from him.

The weight of the day, not just the letter, but the quiet realization of how much emotion he’d poured into someone else’s love story — had left him oddly introspective.

He took a bite of the chicken. To his surprise, it was unbelievably crisp on the outside and soft, tender, and juicy on the inside. The dark red sauce added just the right amount of heat and flavor, with a hint of spiritual herbs beneath the spice.



His eyes widened. ’Better than any chicken I had in my past life.’

Cultivation world cuisine really hits different.

As he ate in silence, the noise of the crowded shop faded slightly into the background. For just a moment, everything was warm, simple, and peaceful.

A meal alone. A quiet evening. A letter sealed and ready. And tomorrow — a new mission.

Like that after finishing his food, he mad his way to his temporary rescidence and then slept soundly.

***

The next day, Yu Xuan woke early.

After completing his morning routine and a brief round of breathing exercises, he bathed, changed into his usual Yu Clan robes, and prepared himself for the next task: "Finding Zhou."

As the first rays of sunlight spilled across the horizon, gilding the rooftops in soft gold, Yu Xuan stepped out, medallion already glowing faintly as it guided him toward the teleportation formation connecting this town to surrounding towns.

The transfer point were located in the inner district, a circular platform engraved with runes that shimmered with residual energy. Despite the early hour, a few disciples were already there — some chatting, others silently waiting for their turns.

Yu Xuan walked calmly through the area, his long robes rustling faintly with each step. He moved with ease, unhurried and assured.

Most disciples glanced at him and quickly looked away, some ignoring him outright, while others, upon recognizing the robes of not of the sect, narrowed their eyes subtly.

A few saw his casual approach as bold. Very few disciples dared to walk with such nonchalance around the teleportation platform.



He approached a disciple stationed near the formation, a young man who looked irritated and tired, his expression tight as if he’d already dealt with one too many requests in the morning itself.

Before the man could speak, Yu Xuan calmly raised his hand, revealing his glowing golden medallion.

"Town EH-JJK10," he said simply.

The disciple stiffened slightly. The golden medallion in Yu Xuan’s palm marked him as an inner disciple — someone with elevated privileges. Though the man’s initial annoyance was clear, he immediately swallowed it, shifting his tone with practiced neutrality.

"Please wait a moment," he said.

Yu Xuan gave a polite nod and stepped aside, folding his hands behind his back as he waited. The disciple busied himself with the formation, likely adjusting the formation’s coordinates.

If Yu Xuan had been an ordinary disciple, he might have been charged spirit stones or sect points for the teleportation. Some gatekeepers even preferred spirit stones over points — they could pocket a few extra on the side that way.

But inner disciples were allowed free use of the formation within a certain monthly limit, a privilege that ensured smooth movement for those with higher status.

Moments later, the disciple called him forward.

***

(Author’s Request)

[A/R: If possible purchase privilege Chapters, we are nearing the Tier 1 for WIN-WIN MISSION, though I don’t know if we can complete it by the end of the month. So to all my readers, support this work, it means a lot.]