Chapter 12: Is This Thing Something People Eat?

The street was bustling.

The air was filled with various aromas, mixed with the vendors' intermittent cries.

Such a scene bursting with vitality, contrasted sharply with the dead, stagnant alleys on either side, causing one to feel a strange illusion.

Is this really a world?

Jiang Cheng's stall was on the west side of the main street.

He, like the other vendors, shouted occasionally.

But most of his energy was still focused on the Short Staff in his right hand.

The Staff Flourish's Experience Value efficiency is naturally lower than using those three basic moves; a minute of spinning adds only 3 points.

Whereas a combo of moves yields 3 points in two or three seconds.

But it wins by allowing multitasking.

It also consumes less stamina, making it easier to sustain.

In half an hour, with intermittent spinning, the Short Staff's Experience Value rose by nearly 30 points.

By closing time, the Short Staff's level would certainly reach Proficient rank.

If he meets those two again, even if they wield knives, he need not fear.

Of course, if there are more than two opponents, it becomes difficult.

But not everything can go as wished; then he can only see whether he can use the terrain advantage to see it through.

"Jiang Cheng, what are you doing?"

Lu Zicheng, standing nearby, turned his head, glanced at Jiang Cheng, then at the Rolling Pin spinning in his hand, and said, "Since earlier I've only seen you twirl that thing; it's been over an hour now, still spinning—aren't you tired?"

Jiang Cheng heard this and gave him a slight smile.

"No customers either, so I'm just idling."

"That's what you say."

Lu Zicheng heard that and a murmur rose in his mind.

"But you're holding a Rolling Pin and twirling it there—doesn't that seem odd?" Jiang Cheng chuckled.

After all, he couldn't just say, "I can master Staff Method just by spinning a staff," could he?

Thus, while practicing Staff Flourish, he kept an eye on the iron bucket to see which Roasted Sweet Potato was nearly done and needed flipping.

At the same time, his gaze flicked to the Panel.

【Roasted Sweet Potato: Mastery (502/800)】

Over the past two days, the Roasted Sweet Potato's Experience Value has increased a lot; cooking a sweet potato yields about 10 points of Experience Value.

But Roasted Sweet Potato, unlike practicing the Short Staff, requires cost.

He only roasts as many as he can sell.

This makes the Experience Value gain a bit slow.

Fortunately, this isn't urgent.

Jiang Cheng flipped the two Roasted Sweet Potatoes, and suddenly a voice rang out before him.

"Your Staff Flourish is pretty good, looks polished—how about a spar?"

Jiang Cheng lifted his head at the words.

In front of the three-wheeled cart, several people appeared.

Unlike most people on the street, these were much more muscular, their white T‑shirts stretched tight, revealing bulging arms.

Especially the leader, who was so strong his size nearly matched two of him.

And he was the one who had spoken earlier.

The few glanced at Jiang Cheng with a strange look in their eyes.

They seemed a bit surprised, but mostly mocking and disdainful.

"Old brother, you're joking,"

Jiang Cheng quickly stopped spinning the staff, laughing, "I just practice alone for fun, no sparring here."

He noticed the T‑shirts they wore were all the same style.

Near the chest there was a logo that looked like a dragon.

He quickly realized they were from the nearby Dragon Walk Martial Arts Hall.

"Is that so?"

The leader smiled wryly and said.

"Third Senior Brother, he's just a roasted sweet‑potato seller—how could he be your opponent? If it were me, within three rounds I'd definitely knock him down," a youth behind laughed. "Three rounds? If it were me, one round would leave him flat on the ground."

"Hahaha."

The group burst into loud laughter.

People nearby, seeing the scene, showed fear in their eyes.

Some passing pedestrians kept their distance, steering clear.

The martial arts halls on this street aren't much better reputed than the Wild Wolf Gang.

These practitioners rarely intervene when they see injustice.

Most are bullies who take advantage, like dining and dashing.

Only a few follow rules and actually pay for food.

Vendors, faced with this, dare to be angry but not speak; even if seething inside, they must smile and say they're welcome back.

Beside the three-wheeled cart.

Jiang Cheng also realized this and inwardly hoped those people would scram quickly.

However, what is feared will come.

The laughter stopped, someone sniffed, lowered their gaze, looking at the roasted golden sweet potato, licked their lips, and said: "Kid, you roasted this sweet potato well, give us a few."

After he said that, the other few people also noticed, and they all showed signs of being tempted.

As for roasted sweet potato, eating it every meal makes it easy to get sick of.

But eating it occasionally once in a while, the taste is really good.

Lu Zicheng beside him looked at Jiang Cheng's eyes, filled with sympathy.

He was also a bit worried.

Will these people later smell the fried starch sausage and also come to try a few? "Sigh, I said, don't play tricks, you wouldn't listen, now it's fine—you've brought these plague gods over."

Lu Zicheng let out a sigh.

Jiang Cheng heard the words, startled, then pretended not to care and said: "Alright, roasted sweet potato is six dollars each, big brothers, one each?"

As the words fell, the atmosphere instantly fell silent.

Anyone with clear eyes could see that something was off.

"You want money from us?"

The youth who had earlier said he wanted roasted sweet potato laughed, "Do you know who we are? You're asking us for money?"

"We'll give you money, dare you take it?"

Several people's faces turned grim.

What a joke, aside from those few shops, when have they ever paid?

"Sorry, sorry."

Jiang Cheng hurriedly smiled along, "I had a high fever a couple days ago, my head was a bit dizzy, I didn't recognize you, big brothers, you want roasted sweet potato, right? Alright, I'll get them packed for you right away."

Speaking, he began to work, putting the roasted sweet potato into bags.

The Wild Wolf Gang, and those hooligans in the Poor District, know the principle of draining the pond to catch the fish, but these martial arts hall people are different—they really can make it impossible for him to set up his stall here.

Just now he brought up money, also harboring a slim hope, hoping these five people would have a bit of conscience, but…

Several people just watched Jiang Cheng finish packing.

"Big brothers, here."

Jiang Cheng handed over the packed roasted sweet potato one by one, and also reminded them that it was a bit hot.

The leader sized him up, then curled his lips, loosened his grip, and the roasted sweet potato fell to the ground, then with a slap, he stepped on it.

The whole roasted sweet potato burst open, its golden-yellow flesh scattering all over the ground.

"Is this something people eat?"

He gave a cold chuckle twice, tilted his head, and stared at Jiang Cheng.

The few people behind him, seeing this, also followed suit.

In an instant, the surroundings fell utterly silent.

Jiang Cheng's smile froze on his face, and he silently lowered his head.

Endure! At this moment, we must endure.

(End of chapter)