[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-immortal-food":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-immortal-food-lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-41":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Immortal Food",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2313164,4524,"Chapter 41: Chapter Forty-One: Forced Abduction","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-41",41,"\u003Cp>“【Twenty-Four】 wins; next group, 【Twenty-Five】 and 【Twenty-Six】.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye walked back and sat beside Zhang Siche, extending his hand: “Return it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, he understood: after killing an opponent, his internal reserves increased—indeed, he could “nine out, thirteen back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah~ Just joking.” Zhang Siche waved it off. “After the first round, you still have one more match—use it for now. Return it when I step in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added: “How about continuing the story?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pei Ye said: “What if… we face each other?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then you’ll have to return it,” Zhang Siche said seriously. “I won’t hold back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Pei Ye gripped his arm and whispered, “I mean, before we actually meet, we need a way to escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Siche looked at him; he looked back at Zhang Siche.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Siche said: “The black-robed men outside have true Qi—they can hear you speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice sounded directly in his ear, slightly distorted but still recognizable: “Have you seen the cliff collapse outside? The casualties? Do you know what happened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye turned in shock, staring at Zhang Siche.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mind-to-Mind Transmission?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was Zhu Gaoyang—surely you’ve heard of Zhu Gaoyang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Has Zhu Gaoyang found this place?!’ Pei Ye’s heart surged with shock and joy, then quickly with dread: ‘Then… where is he?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Siche seemed to hear his thoughts: “Unfortunately, there are three top-tier Masters here. Zhu Gaoyang was caught off guard—he killed one, suffered grave injuries, and barely escaped with his life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m treating you like family, so I’m telling you this,” Zhang Siche said seriously. “This is my escape plan: wait for Zhu Gaoyang to return, then flee in the chaos—don’t sleep too deeply tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Gaoyang was barely clinging to life—would he come back?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye cast him a questioning look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He will. You don’t understand Zhu Gaoyang. If he found this place, he won’t abandon it—not even if he’s on his last breath. We don’t know how he’ll return, but it’ll be before the final host is used. Stay ready at all times—run the moment you sense anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pei Ye nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s continue the story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the rain stopped. The scholar returned to town, exhausted but elated, and despite the darkening sky, rushed straight to Wanxiu’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he dismounted, he saw a crowd gathered at the door. He ran over and asked—only to hear a thunderclap of news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier that morning, Captain Gao had come to inspect the town and complained the hospitality was poor, calling the tea coarse and the meat foul. To please their superior, several subordinates took to the streets and spotted Wanxiu drying clothes in her courtyard. Two or three soldiers stormed in and abducted her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar felt the world collapse. His limbs trembled violently. It took him a long while to remember to check on his father-in-law’s safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, though beaten, his father-in-law was strong and unharmed. They wept together, then hatched a plan—this was clearly the act of lowly subordinates; Captain Gao hadn’t shown his face. If they gathered all their valuables and begged him, perhaps they could secure Wanxiu’s return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no time to waste. They seized every valuable item; the father-in-law even dug out the deed to his shop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his father-in-law injured, the scholar drove the donkey cart himself to Captain Gao’s lodging, his face pale and mind distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the gate, he explained his purpose. Two guards took two jade cups—half his valuables vanished at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar rushed to stop them, insisting these were gifts for Captain Gao, but one kicked him to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What trash do you think you’re bringing before Master Gao? For your own sake, get lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar, desperate and helpless, clung to their legs, pleading. Thinking of Wanxiu inside, tears poured uncontrollably as he begged to see Captain Gao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house was small—this commotion actually reached Captain Gao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man had long brows and a pale face, clad only in silk, chest and breasts exposed, cheeks flushed, reeking of alcohol. He leaned against the doorframe: “You came to trade for her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar knew he faced the master. He eagerly pleaded his case, shoving the cart’s contents toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man picked up two items, glanced at them: “Hmm. Somewhat sincere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar felt the invisible noose around his neck loosen—he opened his mouth to speak—when the man casually tossed the items back onto the cart and sneered: “Too poor and shabby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar dropped to his knees, frantic: “Anything! I’ll raise more money—I’ll buy something better!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he spoke, the man’s face turned cold. He smirked and turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar lunged to follow, but the guards blocked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me teach you something,” one guard hissed, gripping him. “You’re a fool who doesn’t know how to speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You come offering gifts voluntarily—that shows Master Gao’s prestige; whether much or little, he won’t blame you. But your words make it sound like Master Gao is chasing you for extortion—deeply humiliating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other added: “Don’t think we just took your two cups for nothing. You’ve saved face and dignity. Come back when you’ve got something worthy to offer Master Gao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if given two more brains, the scholar couldn’t fathom these subtleties—he only knew Captain Gao thought the gifts worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dazed, he suddenly remembered the pearl he’d pawned. Hope flared again. Panting, he pushed the cart toward the pawnshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner was asleep. The scholar pounded on the door until the man woke, then begged to redeem the pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the pearl remained. The owner, a longtime townsman, heard of Wanxiu’s plight and didn’t haggle over payment—he took the deed and a few gold and jade items, then returned the pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar hid the pearl in his chest and ran back to Captain Gao’s house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned, the moon hung high. The guards slumped, half-asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar woke them, asking them to announce his arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he suppressed his fear and urgency, standing neatly before the gate, determined not to repeat last time’s disgrace—yet unaware that his muddy clothes, tangled hair, sweat-soaked skin, and swollen eyes made him look nothing like a proper visitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the guards took a long while. Just as the scholar was about to enter himself, Captain Gao staggered out, bare-chested, with only a loose silk sash around his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at the scholar and frowned with impatience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar bowed and offered the pearl, reciting the flattery he’d rehearsed: “Master Gao, your humble servant… unexpectedly acquired a precious pearl. A treasure belongs to a hero—only on your person can this pearl shine brighter…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Gao picked it up, glanced at it. The pearl was smooth as fat, translucent, with intricate coral-like light swirling within. His brow relaxed: “Hmm… this is truly a fine thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar’s heart leapt. He knelt: “Master, then… Wanxiu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.” Captain Gao nodded, satisfied. “Return the corpse to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled, pointing to a bloodied cut on his lip: “See? Bit me. If not for this pearl, that bitch would’ve been fed to the dogs. Now, I’ll let you collect her whole body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scholar heard nothing after that. He stood frozen, the world spinning, everything receding into unreality—until the naked, blue-purple corpse was thrown at his feet.\u003C\u002Fp>",1215,"2026-06-20T13:17:09.438Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","010e7c684473c26c77cbb24fecb537436d324084ed123a54e7fece9a577e8a32","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-42","lord-of-the-immortal-food-chapter-40",771,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-immortal-food-cover.jpg"]