Chapter 1904: It's quite deep

Junior Brother Ye, this Cooking King Immortal City is no ordinary place—the water here is deep. You've just arrived, unfamiliar with the terrain; many things might be hard to handle.

Wu Zhong spoke while wearing a smile that didn't reach his eyes, making it impossible to guess his true thoughts.

Hearing Wu Zhong's words, Ye Zhangqing kept a faint smile on his face and replied.

Oh? If so, then according to your view, Shī xiōng, what should I, your junior, do? I hope you won't grudge giving me instruction.

Wu Zhong, seeing this, secretly felt pleased, thinking Ye Zhangqing had taken the bait, and continued speaking.

Hah, junior brother, you ask well. Though I, Shī xiōng, don't have great talent, I entered this city a few years before you, so I know a bit about the situation. If you're clever and sensible, I, Shī xiōng, am willing to point you toward a clear path.

Actually, both are perceptive people; the meaning of Wu Zhong's words is obvious—if Ye Zhangqing from now on follows him, obeying Wu Zhong's every command, then Wu Zhong will protect Ye Zhangqing.

However, how could Ye Zhangqing be the type to willingly submit to others and live at their mercy?

You should know that Ye Zhangqing usually treats others gently and politely, without any arrogance.

Even when facing someone like the lowly menial disciple Huang Chong, he remains affable and approachable.

But this doesn't mean his character is weak and bullyable; on the contrary, Ye Zhangqing has never been someone who needs to rely on others to survive.

After all, Ye Zhangqing has experienced two lifetimes as a human.

In both this life and the previous one, he has never experienced living under someone else's roof.

That is why Ye Zhangqing resolutely chooses to wander the world alone, rather than depend on anyone.

What's more, we two are both legitimate Young City Lords now.

Let oneself obey Wu Zhong's every word and command, treat him as the boss, and follow his lead in everything.

Such a situation has probably never occurred in the long history of our Cooking King Immortal City.

Thus, just as Wu Zhong's words fell, Ye Zhangqing's warm, spring‑like smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling, cold expression.

Only saw the corner of his mouth lift slightly, revealing a sneering arc, as he spoke coldly.

"Shī xiōng Wu, could it be that you left in such a rush today that you forgot to bring your brain?"

Hearing those merciless words, Wu Zhong's formerly bright smile vanished as if swept away by a cold wind.

In the blink of an eye he put on an extremely cold expression, as if it could freeze the surrounding air.

He widened his eyes and coldly stared at Ye Zhangqing.

Ye Zhangqing was clearly tired of pretending to get along with Wu Zhong, so he stopped wasting words, ripped off the last layer of pretense, and openly broke with him.

His gaze was sharp as a sword, pointing straight at Wu Zhong, and he spoke in a chilling tone.

"As fellow Young City Lords, are you even worthy?"

Those words struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky in Wu Zhong's ears.

He never imagined Ye Zhangqing would be so arrogant and reckless.

You should know that I, too, am one of the Young City Lords who has long managed Cooking King Immortal City, with a solid position and wide connections.

Yet this green‑horn who just stepped out of his thatched hut, merely lucky to have earned the title of Fourth Young City Lord, dares to provoke me so brazenly.

Do you really think that merely becoming a Young City Lord lets you stand equal to me and oppose me?

Wu Zhong grew angrier the more he thought, secretly vowing to give this clueless brat a good lesson today, so he'd realize that even as fellow Young City Lords, they are worlds apart in status.

Wu Zhong's face was as still as water, seeming calm, yet he subtly gave a glance to Hei Lao at his side.

This Hei Lao is Wu Zhong's Protector of the Way, having followed him for years and knowing his thoughts inside out.

Thus, in that split second, Hei Lao understood Wu Zhong's intention.

Instantly, Hei Lao's body erupted with a terrifying aura that shook the heart, like a raging storm surge, sweeping toward Ye Zhangqing.

This aura was so strong it surpassed imagination; wherever it passed, even space seemed unable to bear the pressure, showing faint cracks.

At that moment, Ye Zhangqing felt as if he had suddenly been placed in a boundless ocean, surrounded by endless waves.

He himself was like a lone boat in a violent storm, swaying, ready to capsize and be swallowed by the towering waves at any moment.

Ma Qiankun, watching from the side, saw Ye Zhangqing in such peril and instantly flared with rage, shouting angrily.

"Wu Zhong, this is Cooking King Immortal City—how dare you run amok here? You actually dare…"

However, before Ma Qiankun could finish his words, he too was engulfed by Hei Lao's immense pressure.

In an instant, Ma Qiankun felt his breath catch, as if a mountain weighing ten thousand jin pressed down on him, leaving him unable to move.

Despite his all‑out struggle to break free, the disparity in strength was too great, and Hei Lao easily subdued him.

Meanwhile, Wu Zhong, facing Ma Qiankun's rebuke, showed no change in expression and didn't even glance at him.

His icy gaze remained fixed on Ye Zhangqing from start to finish, revealing undisguised contempt and disdain.

"Junior brother, it seems you still have much to learn about the city's rules; today I, Shī xiōng, will teach you one: respect your elders and love the young, and show respect to your senior."

Wu Zhong spoke with an arrogant, high‑and‑mighty attitude.

Under Hei Lao's pressure, Ye Zhangqing had no strength to resist; his legs felt as heavy as a thousand jin, and he gritted his teeth to endure.

But just then a cold snort sounded, and the pressure weighing on Ye Zhangqing vanished instantly.

"How many rules does this Cooking King Immortal City have? I didn't know that—hey, Hei Lao, why don't you explain it to me?"

"I also want to know just how deep the water in this Cooking King Immortal City is."

As the words fell, Hei Lao's face turned pale instantly, and the next second Huang Lao appeared beside Ye Zhangqing, clad in a white robe.

With Huang Lao's appearance, both Hei Lao and Wu Zhong showed looks of shock, gravity, and disbelief.

It seems that Huang Lao's appearance was extremely unexpected.