Yang San Mu's interaction with Jian Long was somewhat surprising.
The impression Jian Long had formed of him during their few previous encounters was that he was a practical and straightforward man who left little room for amusement and did not seem like someone who wasted his time on casual conversations. Perhaps Yang San Mu's stern, masculine features had reinforced this impression in his mind.
But was Yang San Mu different from what he had imagined, or was he trying to win him over and get closer to him for some reason?
Jian Long could not be certain, so he decided to handle the situation cautiously while maintaining whatever courtesy he could manage.
"I'm glad to have left such an impression on you, and—"
"Cough! Cough!"
Jian Long tried to finish his sentence, but the spices still burning his mouth and throat forced him to cough. He stopped speaking, picked up another cup of milk, and drank from it, trying to soothe the burning sensation.
Yang San Mu watched him with amusement, then asked, ignoring the courtesies Jian Long had tried to offer:
"I hope you like the Wrap Dish?"
Then he continued without waiting for an answer:
"It's a famous dish in the Northern Plains, although this isn't its original version. The original version is simpler and more modest, and no spices are used in it apart from salt. Nevertheless, I prefer this particular version because it reminds me of my first visit to the Northern Plains."
As soon as Jian Long realized that Yang San Mu was about to recount another tale from his past adventures, he decided to remain silent and focus on the food. This time, however, he was more cautious. He began eating slowly, avoiding a repeat of the mistake that had nearly brought tears to his eyes moments earlier.
As for Yang San Mu, he seemed to be enjoying his recollections.
"Back then, I wasn't used to the cold of the Northern Plains, and I don't think I would have gotten used to it no matter how long I stayed there. Hahaha! That place is truly crazy! Can you believe that a blizzard strikes the entire Northern Plains?"
Jian Long raised his eyebrows, looking unconvinced.
"Really? I thought that was just a myth!"
Yang San Mu reached for one of the roasted goat ribs, pulled it from the carcass, and devoured all the meat clinging to it in a single bite, without drinking a single drop of milk.Jian Long watched him from the corner of his eye and felt somewhat displeased.
Yang San Mu turned toward him and spoke in a confident tone:
"I assure you, it's true. It's a blizzard that strikes the Northern Plains once every ten years, and I was unlucky enough to arrive there at the very time it struck."
This time, Yang San Mu picked up one of the roasted goat legs and continued speaking as he recalled his memories.
"The cold had begun to intensify, but the blizzard hadn't started yet. Even so, it caused the deaths of three of the five companions I had met in the Eastern Sea. We were on the verge of losing our lives when one of the nomadic tribes of the Northern Plains happened to come across us and rescued us. They welcomed us and provided us with shelter and food. The first thing we ate there was this spicy version of the Wrap Dish. As soon as we ate that spicy dish, we began to feel warm, and the cold gradually left us."
Jian Long continued eating, gradually becoming accustomed to the spicy taste. At the same time, he listened to Yang San Mu with interest.
He wasn't particularly interested in the ridiculous story about the Wrap Dish, but the alleged adventure in the Northern Plains was an entirely different matter.
Regardless of whether Yang San Mu's story was true, the Northern Plains was an incredibly distant place, a mysterious land about which Jian Long knew very little. As for people who claimed to have reached it and returned, they were exceedingly rare. Therefore, he was happy to hear anything that might give him a glimpse of that distant place.
"In any case," Yang San Mu continued, "misfortunes always bring some benefits. It was there that we learned the Imperial Court competition was held during that period."
Jian Long raised his head and looked at him in surprise.
"The Imperial Court competition? What is that?"
"It is an event held in the Northern Plains once every ten years, coinciding with the arrival of the blizzard I told you about. During this grand event, the Huang Jin tribes, who possess noble blood, lead the rest of the people of the Northern Plains into fighting among themselves, all in pursuit of entering the Imperial Court competition.
As for the Imperial Court itself, it is a mysterious space separated from our world, yet vast beyond imagination. It is said that Giant Sun Immortal Venerable created it himself. Feeling sorrow for the suffering of the people of the Northern Plains due to the blizzard, he established this isolated space to protect the winners from its ravages."
Jian Long nodded to indicate that he understood what Yang San Mu was saying, but he showed no surprise whatsoever.
Legends concerning the deeds of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable had spread throughout the world to such an extent that it had become difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. One only had to visit the caravan street in the city to hear dozens of similar stories, such as the tale of a bronze city in the Western Desert that appeared only once every thousand years and contained one of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable's palaces, filled with treasures, or the story of the labyrinth in the Azure Sea, where the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Sea was imprisoned after rejecting Giant Sun Immortal Venerable dozens of times. He had locked her inside her crystal coffin, leaving her asleep to this day, waiting for someone to come and rescue her.
These were merely a few examples among countless stories and legends, and the tale of the Imperial Court did not seem particularly different from them.
Nevertheless, Jian Long showed no doubt regarding Yang San Mu's account and simply continued listening in silence.
"If only you could see that place for yourself! Even stories and songs fail to describe its beauty, let alone the legendary palace of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable that stands there.
"But of course, beauty isn't what Gu Masters seek. It's wealth! That place contains countless inheritances left behind by extraordinary figures, figures who deserve nothing less than to be called great. I personally obtained some of these inheritances, but one of them was of little use to me. It contained a Rank 3 Gu worm, along with a recipe for a Rank 4 Gu worm.
"This Gu worm is called Heaven's Protection, and it serves a specific purpose: protecting the apertures of those who possess the Ten Extreme Physiques from exploding."
At that moment, Jian Long stopped eating.