Dao Of The Salted FishCh76 - Sending charcoal in the snow

Wen Zhihao leaned back against the window, his eyes growing heavy with the warmth of the sunlight on his back.

Senior Cultivator Lin Yijun’s head was bowed as he petted the dog. With his focus in the present, his qi aura was gentling out, which in turn made Wen Zhihao even more sleepy now that he wasn’t being prickled by prickly qi. C2j3gw

Perhaps it was due to the fact that Lin Yijun was one of those cultivators who kept a youthful appearance, or perhaps it was due to Wen Zhihao’s nature, but he didn’t hate Lin Yijun. Lin Yijun was just like Zhang Wu and Wang Li Wei—poor kids who had been raised poorly. Not to mention that Lin Yijun was allergic to cats. Truly sad.

Upon noticing that Lin Yijun was starting to ‘exit’ from the animal-therapy-relaxation-state, Wen Zhihao took out the food box and opened the lid. The food had been perfectly preserved inside his spatial ring. Now, faint steam rose from them, accompanied with rich and fragrant scents.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

The wolf raised her head, tongue lolling out. Lin Yijun’s hands also stilled as he inhaled.

Wen Zhihao placed the food box on the dog’s back. “Lin-shixiong, have a taste now. Zhou Sheng tried these dumplings first, he liked them. You can also feed some of that meat to her,” Wen Zhihao added, briefly scratching the dog under her chin. 9vd0yM

“Arff!” The wolf squirmed on Lin Yijun’s lap.

Lin Yijun fed the fidgety beast first. She calmed down after having some meat. Then, Lin Yijun picked up the accompanying pair of chopsticks and picked up a dumpling.

It was an unfamiliar food to Lin Yijun. He had long since achieved inedia and only consumed delicate spiritual teas for the last decade. Before that, he had eaten plain and simple foods. Nothing like the intricately rippled surface of the dumpling.

The surface of the dumpling itself was smooth and glossy with steam. Slightly translucent, there was a hint of the filling inside. Lin Yijun dipped the corner into the dipping sauce before placing the piece of mortal food into this mouth.

9xEYv

Flavours burst across Lin Yijun’s tongue. Salty, umami, sweetness, spice, and a touch of sourness from the dipping sauce. The dumpling skin was a little chewy and the inner filling was soft and flavourful.

Wen Zhihao took out another food box himself—it was too painful to watch someone else eat something so delicious.

“It tastes good, doesn’t it?” he said as he plopped a dumpling into his own mouth. His dumplings were a lot spicier, but he knew that all of Aunty Liu Jing’s dumplings were fantastic.

Lin Yijun swallowed. The morsel slid down his throat and warmed his stomach. One side of him told him: That was mortal food. Why did you eat some lowly mortal food? You have injured your cultivation, for what? That voice sounded like his parents. CAOXY8

Lin Yijun unconsciously reached out for a second dumpling, this time covering it with more of that dipping sauce. The flavour of the dumpling was even more enhanced.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Was this how Zhou Sheng felt when eating this? With a soft animal on his lap and that…calming qi from Wen Zhihao?

Of course, this is playing around, so it naturally feels better than hard work, Lin Yijun thought. I tell Zhou Sheng to cultivate harder, while Wen Zhihao tells Zhou Sheng to consume mortal food and relax. It is superficially easier to prefer Wen Zhihao’s company.

Qfc Itltjb rlqqfv rbwf mbbi jcv gfogfrtlcu kjafgwfibc pelmf. “Olc-rtlzlbcu, P tjv atf lwqgfrrlbc atja sbe jcv Itbe Vtfcu erfv ab yf oglfcvr ktfc tf kjr ralii lc atlr rfma.” zBCKhx

Olc Tlpec yglraifv. “Ktja lr cba sbeg yerlcfrr.”

Qfc Itltjb’r mjiwcfrr vlvc’a kjnfg. “P kjr meglber kts sbe vlvc’a tfiq bea klat Itbe Vtfcu’r qgbpfma. Vbwf meialnjabgr ktb vlv cba xcbk Itbe Vtfcu tfiqfv. Tfa sbe, ktb kjr tlr oglfcv, vlvc’a…”

Lin Yijun felt that like a stab in his heart. The revelation that followed came like a crushing blow to his chest. Zhou Sheng had been his friend and had been his only friend. Didn’t he know better how Zhou Sheng had been a victim of other slave traders?

And yet, Lin Yijun hadn’t helped him. Why had he let his pride get in the way of helping his only friend? Wen Zhihao helped Zhou Sheng. And yet, Lin Yijun, who had known Zhou Sheng for years, had not. 1jgpNt

Heavy guilt grew from the stab in his heart, followed by aching loneliness. Lin Yijun moved the food box to the ground and buried his face in the wolf’s fur.

Sending charcoal in the snow is better than adding flowers to a brocade.

Lin Yijun had only approved of Zhou Sheng when he had been doing well. But in Zhou Sheng’s time of need, Lin Yijun did not give him assistance.

Read more BL at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

Lin Yijun’s eyes grew sour. Who did he have? Grudging respect from his peers, duty from his elders, and “friends” who only made nice to him because they wanted some kind benefit. Zhou Sheng had been his only true friend, and Lin Yijun had lost him.

Arooo?” the wolf whined softly. She tilted her head and wrapped her tail around Lin Yijun. APhjNX

A lump grew in Lin Yijun’s throat.

“Lin-shixiong, tell me what the problem is,” Wen Zhihao said softly.

“I…I didn’t trust him,” Lin Yijun choked out. He made a big mistake. He made it multiple times. He didn’t believe Zhou Sheng all those times he tried to talk to him. If Zhou Sheng had talked about his worries to Wen Zhihao, Wen Zhihao would have listened.

It was….no wonder Zhou Sheng preferred Wen Zhihao. xV0m1i

Wen Zhihao extended his qi aura over Lin Yijun, soothing the edges that were starting to poke out again.

“En, then you can apologise,” Wen Zhihao advised. “Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has the capacity to learn.”

Lin Yijun didn’t look up from the dark fur of the demonic wolf stretched over his lap.

Wen Zhihao almost thought that Lin Yijun had fallen asleep, when Lin Yijun spoke up in a tiny voice, “Is apologising enough?” IG5 Ug

“It depends on the person. Perhaps try talking to Zhou Sheng. Speak truthfully to him, and listen carefully to him. Don’t let things fester and become a heart demon.”

Lin Yijun didn’t reply beyond the slightest nod, but Wen Zhihao didn’t mind. He could already enjoy the more peaceful and stable atmosphere now that Lin Yijun had calmed down.

Taking out some bedding, Wen Zhihao stretched out to sleep.

Lin Yijun faintly stroked the wolf’s fur. gniJFD

It was quiet in the room, but for the sounds of breathing and the wolf’s occasional quiet aroo-like noise. It was peaceful like his courtyard, but it wasn’t lonely.


Meanwhile, elsewhere on the continent:

Li Fanghua made a face when her alarm system alerted her that someone was outside her workshop and that it wasn’t her cute and sword-happy girlfriend. She grudgingly activated her time-stop talisman on her experiment and took off her apron and went to see the visitor.

“Oh, Zhou Sheng,” she greeted. “Back so soon?” ZWeumL

Zhou Sheng was no-nonsense, handing over a piece of paper. “The other cultivator liked your craft, but had this in mind to enhance it.”

Li Fanghua took the piece of paper. Immediately, she knew what it was, without Zhou Sheng’s explanation.

Read more BL at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

It was a printer. A modern-Earth-day style printer adapted for this xianxia world.

A printer! t29MEq

Li Fanghua felt a headache. That meant the other person was a transmigrator. Was he also a protagonist?

“Don’t tell me he’s embroiled in a dog-blood romance too,” Li Fanghua muttered.

She had already helped a handful of dog blood BL couples and averted the tragic accidental deaths of multiple sisters/mothers/daughters.

Lucky for Li Fanghua’s mindset, she didn’t see the brief heavy look in Zhou Sheng’s eyes. BPb3L8

“No, he and his Dao Companion are very loving. They have already started to raise some children who do not have suitable parents.”

Li Fanghua gave a sigh of relief. She raised the paper in her hand. “I know what this cultivator wants. I’ll notify you when I’m done.”

“Thank you. He also wanted to give you these as payment…”

And so a confused Li Fanghua came into possession of some rocks and paper with messy scribbles on them. After Zhou Sheng left, Li Fanghua immediately put the items into her isolation box. Whatever these things were, she didn’t need their interference in her work, thanks! o0sxBO

 

 


Wen Zhihao: *achoo*

Sun Fuyu: !!! Someone is thinking something bad about Wen-ge???? *puts a hand on his sword* NSl7wM

Translator's Note

Helping someone in their time of need versus flattering someone when they’re doing well.

Leave a Comment

76 comments

  1. Li Fanghua felt a headache. That meant the other person was a transmigrator. Was he also a protagonist?

    Silently hides the 4th wall behind myself …

    Thanks for the update ~~

  2. Khhhh Jiayou Lin Yijun!!!!! Hope Zhou Sheng gives you a second chance now that you know your mistakes and are truly sorry!

    Ty for the chapter!💜💜💜

  3. Yayyy Lin Yijun is opening up. Both Wen-ge and Li Fanghua have it hard with these super strung protagonists. I vote to establish a transmigrator support group in order to exchange tips on how to rehabilitate aggressive and emotionally stunted cultivators

  4. It was quiet in the room, but for the sounds of breathing and the wolf’s occasional throaty purr-like noise.

    well, I think dogs can’t make ‘throaty purr-like noises’. It mostly will sound like quiet ‘aroo’

    oh yes, and when you stop petting them they will be like: “what? why are you stop? continue”

    thanks for the chapter~

  5. “Don’t tell me he’s embroiled in a dog-blood romance too,” Li Fanghua muttered.

    She had already helped a handful of dog blood BL couples and averted the tragic accidental deaths of multiple sisters/mothers/daughters.

    She’s doing God’s work right there, helping out the local heartbreakers and dog blood tragedies. Hmm, What a weird world, at least two transmigrator and a regressor to boot, but I just more interested now.

    Thanks for the Chapter.

  6. Damnit. Me, a dumpling fanatic who isn’t supposed to have dumplings right now for health reasons and has been resisting the urge all day to get dumplings: reads chapter QAQ

  7. Hehehe I’m always relaxed after reading a new chapter, wow this other transmigrator took me by surprise! Now I want to know about her adventures (?) Thanks for the chapter author-sama 💕 this is another day loving your work 💕

  8. Lin Yijun, now you know why Zhou Sheng prefers Wen Zhihao, so fix your relationship with him. Let this ship sail. Fighting!

    Also Li Fanghua is awesome. She is the light in the dark. Be like her (lmao)

    Thanks for the wonderful chapter~

  9. jajaja una ¿fujoshi transmigradora?

    Jajajaaj Web-Gen nuevamente… el triunfo del… Qi calmante y terapia de animales (gatos) del pescado salado… jajaja parece un Buda

  10. thanks for the update~! wen zhihao just gave himself away 😂, guess the zhou sheng x Lin-allergic to cats-yijun is finally having some progress 😂

  11. Those stones a gold! Gold, you hear????

    Come on, Li Fanghua, you guys will be great transmigrator friends!!! 😁

    Our poor Lin Yijun, he really has zero social skills. Saying sorry and meaning it is really strong! I can only hope that Zhou Sheng is still open to talk to him, and that Lin Yijun won’t aggravate it all even more when he tries to have this conversation. Better to have Wen Zhihao intermediate this conversation.

    They will need a lot of pets and calming stones to have this conversation otherwise 😣!

    Author-san, thanks for the chapter! ❤

    • 🙈🙈🙈🙈 to cultivators that have problems with their aura, yes 🙈 I guess Li Fanghua is well adjusted and not angsty like the others 🤣

      Lin Yijun is pretty lucky that he has Wen Zhihao around this time!

      Thank you for reading!

  12. Totally missed that last line. Can’t wait until Li Fanghua figures out the “rocks and messy scribbles” are worth more than a couple of villages! Her girlfriend will probably be appalled at the lack of appreciation.

    OTOH, the girlfriend, like Sun Fuyu, will probably be amazed at how spiritual and un-materialistic Li Fanghua is. Too bad the girlfriend and Xiao Yu have no idea that Li Fanghua’s and Wen Zhihao’s values are so very different that they simply don’t care.

    A house without a toilet is only for the very poor. So what if the walls are gold; where are you going to poop? Pearwood beds are nice, but without pillows and blankies they might as well be made of nails.

    Two advanges the Sun Sect has over the modern era: delicious food, magical powers, and giant kittens.

    • 🤭🤭🤭 but out of all people, Li Fanghua doesn’t need them 🤭 She can make actual crafts and she’s not angsty 🤣🤣🤣

      Partner support group? 🤣🤣🤣

      giant kittens are very important!

  13. Thanks for the chapter! That conversation went really well, hope Mr Awkward can apologize soon. & we now have a craftswoman who can follow our fish’s adaptations, lol.

  14. Nawww dang it I don’t wanna forgive this protagonist- but I guess I have to. Also this is just sand in my eye. Maybe a beach. And then I was laughing oh gosh I love her and really want her story.

  15. “Don’t tell me he’s embroiled in a dog-blood romance too,” Li Fanghua muttered.

    🤣🤣🤣🤣… I should go to bed but… one more chapter! (This is the third time I have said this today 🙈)