Chapter 1972: Someone's got their eye on you, kid

Facing Huang Lao's teasing gaze, the three black-robed people didn't know what expression to make, their faces hidden by the masks.

However, from their silent reaction, their hearts were likely a jumble of feelings.

"Not speaking? Then I'll make a move."

After saying that, Huang Lao gave the three no chance, his form flashing and instantly appearing before them, while lightly waving his hand, he pushed the immortal vessel carrying Ye Zhangqing and the others far away.

To keep the battle's aftermath from reaching them.

The power of the Immortal Emperor Realm can absolutely be described as heaven-shattering and earth-destroying; with every gesture, they already wield the might to destroy the world.

Yet even so, the three still did not gain the upper hand before Huang Lao.

From the very beginning, they were completely suppressed by Huang Lao.

Huang Lao never told Ye Zhangqing his cultivation level, but from the situation at hand, the gap between them was not just a little.

The battle did not last long.

Because these three black-robed people never intended to fight Huang Lao to the death from the start; they were always looking for a chance to escape.

Finally, after losing one of their number, the remaining two actually managed to escape.

As for that, Huang Lao didn't care; with one hand he grabbed the corpse and removed the mask covering its face.

But as the mask fell away, it was clear that this person's face was already utterly disfigured.

"A special magic artifact."

He murmured softly, "This mask was specially forged; if not removed with the specific method, it will instantly destroy the wearer's face to conceal their identity."

Weapon refiners capable of forging such masks are rare in the Immortal Realm; indeed, they are extremely rare.

At least in Huang Lao's knowledge, the Cooking King Immortal City lacks such refining techniques; throughout the Immortal Realm, only that one place can do it.

He only hopes it isn't that place; otherwise it would be troublesome.

He casually obliterated the corpse, then Huang Lao returned to the immortal vessel.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing, Tang Xin and several girls waiting on the deck, he grinned happily.

"You brat, someone's got their eye on you."

Those words were addressed to Ye Zhangqing; in response, Ye Zhangqing said helplessly.

"What should we do? Should I hide? Stay indoors and not go out?"

"Do you want to?"

He responded with a counter-question, his face bearing an intrigued smile, wanting to hear Ye Zhangqing's choice.

Facing Huang Lao's gaze, Ye Zhangqing curled his lip and said.

"With you here, what more do I need? Besides, where could I hide?"

"Then what should we do?"

"When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth covers it."

"Haha."

Hearing that, Huang Lao laughed loudly; this answer resonated with his heart.

Some say that outstanding wood invites wind to destroy it; those with talent should know how to conceal themselves, otherwise excellence is easily broken.

That's correct; those with a bit of talent but lacking a strong background can indeed use such an approach.

But doing so will greatly prolong the time needed for progress.

After all, one must be cautious everywhere, paying attention to conceal oneself; during that time, some opportunities even have to be given up.

There are gains and losses, after all.

But Ye Zhangqing is not an ordinary genius; he is a Yāoniè.

Across the Immortal Realm, among the younger generation, only three can stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

A Yāoniè should have an unstoppable spirit and absolutely cannot be timid and shrinking.

The sharpness of a treasured sword comes from grinding; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold.

Being envied, being assassinated, dangers lurking everywhere—this is quite normal; if it's merely because of this, then hiding and being timid.

Putting it nicely, it's called concealing one's light and nurturing obscurity, but in Huang Lao's view, that's all nonsense.

How much time do you have to slowly develop? Moreover, if you can't even pass this tribulation, how can you hope to reach the summit later? Daydream.

So, Ye Zhangqing's answer made Huang Lao very relieved; that's exactly what he wanted.

After dealing with the three black-robed people, Ye Zhangqing's group set out again.

Afterwards, they encountered no further danger; as for the identities of those three, Huang Lao only said he didn't know, and then said nothing more.

Seeing that, Ye Zhangqing also did not press further.

All the way back safely to Cooking King Immortal City, as soon as the immortal vessel landed in the city, Ye Zhangqing saw Bai Hua Xianzi, Jue Ying and several girls, plus Yun Xiantai, Hong Zun, Qi Xiong, and the others waiting there early.

Even the Eternal Night Old Ancestor and the Nether Clan Old Ancestor were present.

As the immortal vessel slowly descended, Ye Zhangqing leapt off, and immediately a fragrant breeze blew over him.

Bai Hua Xianzi and the several girls without hesitation flung themselves into Ye Zhangqing's embrace.

At that moment, it seemed as if heartbreaking sounds echoed all around.

Many disciples of the Cooking King Immortal City, seeing Ye Zhangqing embracing numerous beauties, each felt their hearts break.

Although they had only just arrived at Cooking King Immortal City, Bai Hua Xianzi and the others instantly became the fairies of countless disciples there.

Not mentioning cultivation realms, their looks alone were enough to make countless disciples' souls sway.

But once they learned that those girls were Ye Zhangqing's dao companions, the disciples dared not act rashly.

Knowing is one thing, but when they actually saw those girls rush into Ye Zhangqing's embrace, the disciples still found it hard to accept for a moment.

Why is the fairy they've been longing for actually someone else's woman?

Ye Zhangqing naturally didn't know what the many disciples were thinking; after a tender moment with Bai Hua Xianzi and the several girls, he smiled and said.

So many people are watching; we'll talk tonight.

Okay.

Hearing that, several girls blushed and nodded.

Immediately, Ye Zhangqing also greeted Yun Xiantai, Hong Zun, and the others.

A group of people then returned to the Dong Fu.

Why are you following me?

Just on the road, seeing Tang Xin still following behind him, Ye Zhangqing asked suspiciously.

The Ancient Dragon Battlefield is over, the Ancient Dragon True Blood has been given to you, we've reached the Cooking King Immortal City, and you're still following behind me?

Hearing Ye Zhangqing's words, Tang Xin seemed to suddenly snap back to reality, her face flushed red, and she spoke somewhat flustered.

Oh oh, I'll head back now.

Saying that, without waiting for Ye Zhangqing's reply, she felt a sense of panic and fled, quickly disappearing from view.

Ye Zhangqing merely muttered something puzzling, while Bai Hua Xianzi and the other girls beside him covered their mouths and lightly laughed, saying nothing more.

After such a long time apart, everyone naturally had a lot of food to... no, a lot to say.

Ye Zhangqing was not stingy either; that very evening he prepared a banquet, everyone gathered together to have a good lively time, also counting as a celebration of their long-awaited reunion.

Likewise, he also had a lot to say to Yun Xiantai and the others.

How is the situation in the Zhu Tian Wan Jie now? How is the Dao Yi Shengdi? And how are my parents and the Ye Family doing?

These are all the questions lingering in Ye Zhangqing's heart.

The dishes at the banquet were very abundant; after such a long time apart, Ye Zhangqing naturally would not be stingy.

Not only did he want everyone to eat well, he also wanted them to eat their fill, to stuff them; today everyone ate freely, so there was no possibility of insufficient food.

Ye Zhangqing busied himself in the kitchen, dish after dish of delicious delicacies came out of the pot, the portions were ample, with absolutely no cutting corners.

There was also immortal brew; Ye Zhangqing also obtained some from the Cooking King Immortal City, enough for everyone to drink.