Chapter 597 - 596: Cannot Accept with a Clear Conscience

Chapter 597: Chapter 596: Cannot Accept with a Clear Conscience

Jiang Zuo followed behind, a little curious. ’Was the Holy Land struck by lightning?’

But everything seemed to be fine. The Array he had provided was still running smoothly, and as long as it was active, Su Qi would be safe inside.

Soon, Jiang Zuo followed them into the lobby.

Boss He and his family didn’t look back or linger in the lobby, so they didn’t notice Jiang Zuo’s arrival.

And Jiang Zuo certainly wasn’t going to call out to them.

He generally avoided doing anything unnecessary, unless the mood struck him.

After checking in, he finally had a place to stay for the night.

After seeing the room, Jiang Zuo left.

It wasn’t too late, so he planned to make a trip to the Tofu Boss’s place and grab a bite to eat.

’I don’t get to come here often. It would be a shame not to get something to eat.’

’I’ve been running all over the place lately without a single proper meal. Come to think of it, I haven’t been making any real money either.’

’It always feels like I’m wasting time.’

’The most frustrating part is that the more I learn, the more time I seem to waste.’

’I have to grind to level up, just so I can go on wasting more time.’

’Take Su Qi’s possible status as a Celestial Favor, for instance. It’s forcing me to make a trip to the Netherworld River.’

’If I can’t find answers there, I’ll have to go wherever they might be.’

’After all, this is directly related to my wife.’

Soon, Jiang Zuo arrived at the tofu shop.

The moment he stepped inside, Jiang Zuo noticed a young man in tattered clothes. The man had a few injuries and his hair was a complete mess.

He was in good spirits, however, and seemed to be enjoying his tofu immensely.

"Boss, could I have another serving?" the young man asked cautiously.

He looked a little embarrassed.

But when he heard the man’s voice, Jiang Zuo was taken aback. ’That’s the Ancient Language.’

’Someone’s actually using the Ancient Language to communicate these days?’

’Oh well.’ Jiang Zuo wasn’t concerned. It had nothing to do with him anyway.

The boss simply gave the young man another serving. Then he noticed Jiang Zuo and said in surprise, "Fellow Jiang? What can I get for you?"

Jiang Zuo said softly, "Yongxi."

"Alright, I’ll be right back." With that, the Tofu Boss went into the kitchen.

Jiang Zuo found a corner and sat down, placing Sweet Potato and Duan Qiao to one side.

To Jiang Zuo’s surprise, the moment he sat down, the young man stood up.

He then picked up the teapot and poured tea for Jiang Zuo.

Jiang Zuo was confused.

Seeing Jiang Zuo’s surprise, the young man explained, "My mother told me that if you receive a favor, you must repay it. The boss gave me food, so I’m helping him by pouring you tea.

The boss poured tea for me just now, too. He said he did it because I’m a guest."

Jiang Zuo gave the man another look and finally asked, "What’s your name?"

"Lu Zhen. That’s what my mother always called me. But she said she has passed away," Lu Zhen replied.

Jiang Zuo still didn’t understand.

’It feels like there’s a communication gap with this guy.’

He said nothing more and simply took a sip of his tea.

The moment he set the cup down, Lu Zhen refilled it for him.

Jiang Zuo said nothing and didn’t drink any more tea. Lu Zhen stood dutifully to the side, as if ready to pour for him again at any moment.

Jiang Zuo paid him no mind and simply took out an apple for Sweet Potato to gnaw on.

Lately, they had only been ordinary apples, but Sweet Potato wasn’t a picky eater.

Duan Qiao, however, had nothing to eat. With nothing better to do, it picked up a cup and said to Lu Zhen, "Pour me a cup of tea."

Lu Zhen readily agreed.

Duan Qiao then took out a fishing rod and started fishing. Fishing had become the main form of entertainment in its life—scratch that—its *bridge*-life.

’Might as well fish whenever I can. Who knows, maybe I’ll catch something incredible?’

’I just don’t know what the Mistress likes... Hmm, no, that’s not right. The Mistress likes the Great Demon.’

Duan Qiao was instantly frustrated. ’I can’t just fish up the Great Demon, can I?’

’He’d beat me to death in an instant.’

While Duan Qiao was still agonizing over this, the Tofu Boss came out of the kitchen.

He saw Lu Zhen standing to one side pouring tea and paused, surprised. He couldn’t help but ask, "What are you doing?"

Lu Zhen said, "Helping the boss pour tea."

The Tofu Boss looked completely baffled. Finally, he said, "That’s not necessary. Go on back and eat."

Only then did Lu Zhen sit back down, but he still said, "Boss, just let me know if there’s anything I can help with. My mother said you can’t just accept help from others without giving something in return."

The Tofu Boss was surprised by this. He then said, "I understand. Go on and eat."

Only then did Lu Zhen resume eating, as if he were starving.

The Tofu Boss brought over Jiang Zuo’s dish. This time, it was a meat stew.

After serving the food, the Tofu Boss didn’t walk away. Instead, he sat down nearby and asked, "That young fellow didn’t cause you any trouble, did he, Fellow Jiang?"

Jiang Zuo took a bite. The stew, made with potatoes, was exceptionally good.

’A bowl of rice would go perfectly with this, wouldn’t it?’

’But this is a tofu shop. They probably don’t have any.’

"No," Jiang Zuo replied.

"I found that young fellow while I was out. I saw him scrounging for food and got curious." There were no beggars in Chuanhe Town.

So how could one not be curious when a beggar suddenly appeared out of nowhere?

It was probably out of kindness that he had brought him back to give him something to eat.

After all, the man was at Tier Three. As long as he had a full stomach, he wouldn’t have much trouble getting by anywhere.

So, in reality, whether he had been brought back and helped or not didn’t make much of a difference.

The Tofu Boss naturally didn’t consider it a great favor, either.

However, the fellow’s behavior just now had indeed surprised the Tofu Boss.

Jiang Zuo said, "His disposition is decent. He won’t last long if he wanders around, but if he stays put, Entering Dao should be simple for him."

The Tofu Boss smiled. He knew not to interpret Jiang Zuo’s use of "simple" the way a normal person would. After all, a single casual pointer from Jiang Zuo had allowed him to touch the threshold of Entering Dao.

To Jiang Zuo, that was probably simple, too. But could anyone else have given such guidance?

Just then, Jiang Zuo suddenly asked, "I heard a Celestial Tribulation struck the Holy Land yesterday?"

PFFT!

Before the Tofu Boss could speak, they heard a strange noise from behind them.

Jiang Zuo and the Tofu Boss glanced back and saw Lu Zhen staring at them with a terrified expression.

The Tofu Boss asked, "Was that you?"

The man was exactly Tier Three, and he knew the Celestial Tribulation back then was for the advancement from Tier Two to Tier Three. It was a perfect match.

Lu Zhen shook his head, then nodded, and then stood up, saying, "I didn’t do it on purpose! I... I don’t have any money to pay for the damages."

Jiang Zuo didn’t say much. He was just curious that this person could actually understand the modern tongue.

After all, they had been using the Ancient Language to communicate with Lu Zhen just moments before.

The Tofu Boss and Jiang Zuo, however, were speaking the modern language.

Jiang Zuo didn’t comment further on it, instead asking the Tofu Boss, "What happened back then?"

The Tofu Boss calmed Lu Zhen down and told him to continue eating.

’If he’d done something like this on purpose, the young man would already be dead.’

’Did he really think people like Jian Shisan were pushovers?’

"The Celestial Tribulation at that time was outside the Holy Land. Theoretically, it should have been impossible for it to have any effect."

Jiang Zuo’s brow furrowed when he heard what the Tofu Boss said.

’How to put this...’ he thought. ’By my calculations, the time should be up.’

’But could it really be that dramatic?’

Jiang Zuo had no way of knowing, but a Celestial Tribulation striking out of nowhere was indeed bizarre.