AZI Volume 2 Chapter 36

(Hmm shrimp, beef, chicken… So hard to pick just a single flavor. Maybe I should buy one of each?)

(This man, does he seriously intend to…?)

Having picked up Tian Cheng from the yacht, the two are currently in one of the many aisles of the supermarket.

"…Master, your contemplating expression—about how you want your meal to taste like for next month, tells me that instant ramen is the basis of your daily nutrition."

There was a subtle hint of dismay in Tian Cheng's tone, as she looks to Long Hua—who is staring intently at the boxes of instant ramen that are lined up in front of him.

"Instant ramen is nice. They're quick and easy to prepare, and their soup goes well with anything. Canned meat can just be tossed into them for additional flavoring if desired, what's there to not like about them? If you're even lazier with preparations, you can also just eat it as is out of the package."

There was something about this view on instant ramen—that gave off the impression that the individual is strict on practicality over all else.

(…I wouldn't care about the way he handles his meals normally—however, there is the saying that the best way to break down a man's defense is through his stomach. Well, it's not like I'm the one actually making the meals—I'll just have my vessel put in a bit more effort.)

With a frown, Tian Cheng goes on to say—

"Having them occasionally is fine, but having them all the time… It's not a very desirable diet. Master mentioned how you would toss canned meat into the soup, has the thought of cutting them up never crossed your mind?"

"They fit in the pot just fine as is, and you can easily pick up a block with a pair of chopsticks; hence I never saw the need to do so."

(…What is this feeling? This feeling of looking after a brat that isn't able to take care of himself?)

Towards Long Hua's reply, the Tian Cheng—that resides in the dreamscape, presses a hand to her head.

"Let us leave this aisle."

Without further ado, Tian Cheng drags Long Hua away from the spot, while pushing the shopping cart along.

"But I still haven't decided on which one to buy."

"We shall not be purchasing instant ramen today, and I suggest we come to the supermarket on a weekly basis henceforth."

"Feels like a pain…"

Inwardly, Tian Cheng thought the same as Long Hua, but for the sake of her plan—

"A good meal is well worth the hassle."

"Can't we just like…- Buy a whole year's worth of canned supplies, and never come back until a year later? I do have a storage pouch."

"Oh? Stacking an entire year's worth of food supplies at checkout? Is master preparing for a world ending event of some kind, or does master simply wish to draw unwanted attention—from all the housewives, who are here today?"

"…I'll pass."

Arriving at the frozen food section of the market, Tian Cheng asks—

"Is there anything in particular that master wishes to have?"

"Hmm."

"Or has all these years of instant ramen dulled master's tastebuds, and made it difficult for you to even recall what proper food tastes like?"

"…I had proper food last night, didn't I?"

"And how were they?"

"They were…- Uh…"

Thinking of the food from last night, Long Hua widens his eyes, while covering his mouth.

(No, no, no, I couldn't have really lost my tastebuds from eating instant ramen for all these years… It was just… Right, it was because the situation was tense—that I just simply forgot the taste. Right…?)

As Long Hua thought of that, Tian Cheng heaves a sigh on the inside, while thinking—

(At the Foundation Establishment realm, a practitioner can give up on food by absorbing the spirit Qi that is in the air—to sustain themselves. But in this world, such a thing is impossible due to how little spirit Qi there is. Come to think of it, even the weakest denizen of my home world had no need to eat either, so most of us consider the act a luxurious hobby. I wonder, just how many of them are still able to have a functioning tastebud—after not eating for over a thousand years?)

(Also… The stuff they served back at school was just utterly tasteless, so…?)

Seeing Long Hua's expression of uncertainty becoming more evident, with every excuse that he made in his head, Tian Cheng shakes her head, and says—

"I suppose, we will have to simply start with the basics."

Picking up an assortment of packaged raw meat, Tian Cheng tosses them into the cart. Continuing along, basic seasonings and traditional stables are added.

"What of seafood and desserts?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua replies—

"Surprise me, I guess?"

...…

Upon the conclusion of their shopping trip with three heavy-duty bags held in each hand, Long Hua already feels like calling it a day, as he walks through the parking lot with Tian Cheng, and that is also when an issue arises—

"How does master intend to store all these bags into the pouch in broad daylight?"

"…"

Being asked this, Long Hua abruptly halts his footsteps.

"Hmm…"

"I see, so master hadn't thought that far. While a bike is capable of maneuvering through tight traffic, I'd still suggest master to purchase a car for daily use."

"Ai, if I can use my cultivation base out in the open, I can just cast an illusion to hide my use of the storage pouch… Ah, whatever, whining about it doesn't change anything. Let's just find some place out of sight, and if there's any cameras around—deal with it for me."

"Understood."

Just as they begin to move again—

"Oh? This is quite surprising."

"Hm?"

Turning his head to the left, Long Hua sees—

"Zhou-laoye."

Dressed in a grey jacket over a white dress shirt, with a pair of dark trousers—is Zhou Chen, and by his side is a doll dressed in maid attire.

"I didn't take you to be into dolls as well, young man."

Greeting Long Hua with an amicable smile on his face, Zhou Chen looks to Tian Cheng with an appraising light in his eyes, and remarks—

"Quite a remarkable piece of work. Out of all the dolls that I've seen, she's the most humanlike by far."

(Oh? This surnamed Zhou has an impressive set of eyes to be able to see through my vessel's guise.)

Towards Zhou Chen's remark, Long Hua replies—

"I think the fact that you're able to tell she's a doll is what's more remarkable. Should I say—that it's as expected of a war hero?"

"You've heard?"

"Just a bit. In any case, were you just out to do some grocery shopping as well, or did you perhaps have something else in mind?"

As soon as Long Hua asked this question, the air between Zhou Chen and himself turns tense, as they look to one another with a hint of gunpowder.

"Young man… No, your kind tend to be rather deceiving with their physical appearance."

(So, he does know…)

Believing that Zhou Chen has already discovered his identity as a practitioner, Long Hua unconsciously widens his stance in case a fight breaks out, but rather quickly—

(Shit… Aren't I just confirming his words like this?)

He regrets it, to which, Tian Cheng thought—

(This poor display of reaction towards intimidation. I guess, he wasn't lying when he said that his memories are fragmented right now.)

"No need to be so on guard. I am not here for a fight, so long as you do not make the first move. In any case, I do wish to ask, what do you think of this world?"

"Hmm."

Thinking of Zhou Chen's question in detail, Long Hua answers—

"Hard to say. But I instinctively believe—it's different from what I'm used to."

"Instinctively?"

Not wanting to elaborate on the complicated matter, Long Hua simply shrugs his shoulders with a defeatist-like smile, to which, Zhou Chen remarks—

"It would seem like you have your own circumstances."

"Correct, and because of that—think of me as just a bystander in all of this. I don't care which side wins this war, since it doesn't benefit me in any way."

Narrowing his eyes, Zhou Chen asks—

"Bystander? Does that mean—your kind is divided on this world's treatment?"

"Sorry to say this, old man, but you're directing your questions at the wrong person. I'm not affiliated with the people you're thinking of."

Closing his eyes, Zhou Chen reopens them momentarily with a light of clarity.

"In other words, you do not know why they invade…"

"Exactly. Although… Hmm, should this world be destroyed, I would be lying if I said I wouldn't feel somewhat saddened."

"And why is that?"

Lowering all the bags in his right hand, Long Hua reaches into one of the bags—held in his left hand, and takes out a single cup of instant ramen, much to Tian Cheng's surprise.

"Master, when did you…-?"

Just as Tian Cheng is about to ask—when he had managed to sneak that cup of instant ramen into their purchases, Long Hua tosses it to Zhou Chen, who swipes it out of the air in one swift motion.

"I do appreciate some of the things that exist in this world—like that cup of instant ramen. Whoever invented it was quite a genius. Other than that, I also like things that have engines. And I do appreciate the fact that I can readily buy a cup of strawberry ice cream on a hot summer day—without having to expend the effort of making it myself by following a recipe. Smartphones that have access to the internet, and can allow me to read and watch manhua and donghua whenever I want—is also something that I've come to love. Losing all these things would be rather saddening, but it's not like I can't live without them."

Raising an eye, Zhou Chen asks—

"So, it's the commodities of our world that interest you?"

"One man's garbage is another man's treasure; why wouldn't the things that your own place of origin lacks—not be of interest to you?"

"I suppose that is true."

Shrugging a shoulder, Long Hua asks—

"What of you then, old man? What is it that the Immortals have—that draws upon your interest? Is it immortality? Or is it the supernatural powers that they command?"

"I've little interest in the things that the Immortals have. I simply do not understand—why they must invade our world."

"Unfortunately, that is a question that I cannot answer. Stuff of this nature can happen for any number of reasons—greed, being the most common."

Picking up his bags, Long Hua casually moves past Zhou Chen with Tian Cheng following him.

"…"

Looking down at the cup of ramen that is held in his right hand, Zhou Chen smiles with a hint of amusement.

"Prepare this for me when we get back."

"Will that be all you're having for tonight?"

"Yes."

Handing the ramen to the doll, Zhou Chen continues to move towards the supermarket's entrance.