Chapter 125

Haotian looked at Maitreya Buddha like this and also had a great appetite, except their dishes were served last, which would show respect.

Even just the serving plates were much higher than those of the immortals below.

Grasping the chopsticks with golden dragon plate patterns, Haotian examined them back and forth, noticing a strangely shaped object in front of him.

His brow was tightly locked.

This thing... is it a pig's trotter?

In an instant, Haotian's face turned cold; he, the exalted Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, of supreme status, was actually served such a lowly thing as a pig's trotter as a dish.

His heart deserved punishment!

Yaochi this side came to their senses, seeing that the dishes were finally served, quickly threw aside their previous thoughts, and ate heartily!

Upon seeing the dishes served, there was one that looked somewhat strange but had an extremely enticing color.

It was braised pig's trotter!

Yaochi's heart leapt instantly; this thing, even until now, she remembered vividly—when she inspected it, she had nearly eaten an entire plate.

It was really too delicious.

She had been longing for it, never expecting it to be served as soon as she arrived, and she couldn't miss it.

Yaochi reached out and pinched a piece; Haotian, who had originally been emitting a low pressure, his face grim, planning how to deal with the Imperial Kitchen, suddenly saw the hand before him constantly reaching for the pig's trotter.

His expression was stunned, his aura vanished instantly—this was a lowly pig's trotter, after all! Who were they? The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother? Of supreme nobility!

How could they eat such a lowly thing!

His face showed a hint of urgency as he opened his mouth to say: "Ya... ochi..."

Before he could finish the first word, the pig's trotter had already entered Yaochi's mouth, her full red lips glistening with a sheen of oil.

"You actually ate it!" Haotian said in a low voice, incredulous.

Doubt flashed in his eyes; Yaochi's face showed a hint of intoxication as she chewed the pig's trotter carefully, then said: "What's wrong with eating it?"

"This is a pig's trotter, after all—it's a foot!" Haotian was extremely anxious, almost wanting Yaochi to spit it out.

He glanced downward again, seeing no immortals looking over, and only then breathed a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong with the pig's trotter? It's delicious!" Yaochi said, somewhat puzzled.

"How could such a lowly thing be worthy of our status!" Haotian was nearly frantic at this moment.

Yaochi rolled her eyes speechlessly, like dealing with a madman.

What high or low, noble or base, does this ingredient have? As long as it's delicious, it's high-grade.

Thinking this through, she stopped paying attention to Haotian and began to enjoy it herself, her brows slightly narrowed, savoring the taste of happiness.

A smile lingered at the corner of her mouth, utterly unlike the stern image rumored abroad.

Haotian was somewhat confused; he had said nothing wrong, so why was Yaochi like this?

Watching Yaochi's intoxicated expression, Haotian couldn't help but wonder in his heart—could it really be that delicious?

The more he watched, the more he couldn't restrain himself—well, who could see from afar anyway!

Haotian steeled himself, also pinched a piece of pig's trotter, though he still couldn't let go of his dignity, using his left dragon sleeve to cover and conceal as he brought the trotter to his mouth.

The next moment, the cultivation of a Prepared Saint completely dissipated, and he almost jumped up.

His eyes shone like a starving wolf that had finally seen fresh lamb carcass after many days—somewhat terrifying.

So... delicious!

Haotian's heart was shouting.

The meat was tender and flavorful, the skin springy and refreshing, and the sauce's taste lingered endlessly in memory.

Before Haotian could savor it slowly, his stomach growled loudly, urging his throat to move, swallowing the food down.

His heart suddenly felt a sense of unfinished longing and regret, so he took another piece.

One piece wasn't enough, then came three more—still not enough!

Haotian ate more and more beautifully, his heart and spirit swaying—damn the status, pig's trotter is the most noble and sacred ingredient under heaven!

Only it could match his exalted status as Heavenly Emperor,

Sun Wukong as Imperial Kitchen Head Chef is doing just fine.

Compared to this, the things the Food and Stove Gods made earlier were like pig feed, hard to swallow.

Haotian's hands and mouth never stopped, but his thoughts drifted—according to the Buddhist Sect's plan, today was the day of the Great Peach Banquet disturbance, and not long after, the Buddhist Sect would suppress the monkey.

Although the current trajectory had changed, the Peach Banquet proceeded, but Haotian was certain the Buddhist Sect would absolutely not let the monkey go unchecked.

Because his future fate of being suppressed and undergoing the pilgrimage was inevitable.

Thinking this, Haotian couldn't help but feel sorrow for Sun Wukong; he empathized, for until reaching the Saint realm, one is ultimately just a pawn on the chessboard.

Only differing in scale.

But even if unavoidable, he would still strive to resist, at least not let the Buddhist Sect take the monkey so easily.

After all, they neither neglected duty nor committed excesses like the Great Havoc in Heavenly Palace, and their culinary skill remains excellent—the position of Imperial Kitchen Head Chef suits them perfectly.

Demotion? Expulsion from the Heavenly Court?

Sorry, he, the Jade Emperor, is one who enforces the law impartially; he will not sacrifice public duty for private interest, nor pervert justice for personal gain.

Anyway, these heavenly laws were permitted by the Dao Ancestor Old Master; if you want to change them, go ahead—just don't come to him.

This time he won't take a piece of the Buddhist Sect's flesh—Haotian, acting recklessly as Heavenly Court Sovereign!

Thinking this, his mood was beautiful, and with Sun Wukong's delicious food, he felt light as if about to ascend.

Yaochi reached out wanting to eat another piece, but pinched only air.

Hmm?

Yaochi came back from her immersion, seeing only some soup left in the plate, her expression showed a hint of shock, her inner self more so collapsing.

How is it already gone?

She... she hasn't eaten much yet!

Although she was a bit distracted just now, she shouldn't have eaten so quickly herself.

While she was puzzled, Yaochi heard the sound of someone smacking their lips beside her, loud and utterly deserving of a beating.

Turning her head, she saw Haotian with a blissful expression, his face greasy from eating; the culprit was obvious at a glance.

Yaochi's veins bulged as she suppressed the urge to punch Haotian to death; if it were the past, when they were innocent boys and girls, she would have acted without hesitation.

But now, one of them is the Jade Emperor and the other is the Queen Mother, and everything they do requires careful consideration.

With so many immortals present now, she cannot afford to offend Haotian.

But...

Yaochi's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible cold smile; she couldn't act openly, but could she not deal with him in secret?

Her left hand slipped quietly beneath the table, aiming for Haotian's thigh and delivering a blow!

Even though Yaochi's cultivation may be lower than Haotian's, she is still a Preparatory Saint; the power of her surprise strike is easily imaginable.

"Ah!" Haotian's eyes bulged, nearly spitting out the pig's trotter from his mouth.

But he couldn't bear to waste it; he gritted his teeth, his face flushed red, and continued chewing the tender, flavorful pig's trotter.

Turning his head to look at Yaochi, he saw her murderous gaze and the chopsticks resting in the plate beside the remnants of the braised pig's trotter.

He unconsciously swallowed his saliva—truly fragrant.

A radiant smile spread across his face; he wanted to apologize, but couldn't bring himself to lower his dignity.

Seeing another Immortal Attendant approach, he quickly sat upright, straightened his robes, assumed the full dignity of the Jade Emperor, gave a slight nod, and offered Yaochi a insincere compliment: "Don't say it—this braised pig's trotter you recommended is truly delicious."

Yaochi: "???"

Who the hell recommended this to you!

Seeing the fleeting killing intent in Yaochi's eyes, Haotian inexplicably shivered, shrank his neck, and said: "I'll try something else."

Having said that, he again extended his chopsticks toward the braised pork just brought up by the Immortal Attendant.