Obtaining Top Art on Family's Extermination Night

"Big Brother, look!"

"There’s a weird guy over there fighting a donkey!!"

"Oh, Master, did you see that?

"He just got beaten up by the donkey! That was a hard kick!"

"He went flying! He’s getting up again! He’s so stubborn!!"

"He’s got a knife! He’s got a knife! He’s going to kill the donkey!"

"He failed. Is the donkey’s hide that thick? The knife couldn’t even pierce it?"

"Is the donkey making him cry?"

"Oh my gosh, he really is crying!!"

Hearing the two girls’ running commentary, Chen Yan, who wasn’t far away, couldn’t help but turn his head and snap:

"Who said I was crying? This beast just swatted me in the no—"

Just as he said this, he saw Fang Shuwen.

"What are you doing..."

THUD!!

Taking advantage of Chen Yan’s distraction, the donkey rammed its head into his waist, nearly sending him flying.

Fortunately, Chen Yan’s reflexes were quick. He grabbed the donkey’s reins, saving himself from an embarrassing fall, but he still grimaced in pain. He couldn’t help but grab the donkey’s ear and roar:

"Can’t you see I’m catching up with an old friend? Couldn’t you have waited a minute?"

The donkey’s eyes darted around, and it too spotted Fang Shuwen. It immediately bounded over to him with glee.

This gave Fang Lingxin and Shui Qianrou a fright.

"Oh no, is it coming to attack us?"

Fang Shuwen shot the two timid girls a look. The donkey suddenly stopped just short of him, perfectly positioning its head right in front of him.

"Brother Donkey, long time no see."

Fang Shuwen patted the donkey’s head.

The little donkey was very enthusiastic to see Fang Shuwen. The last time Chen Yan had been injured, it was Fang Shuwen who had saved him.

It was a special breed, not an ordinary donkey. Coupled with the unique rearing methods of the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion, this donkey was remarkably intelligent and understood people well.

’I don’t remember it being this friendly before,’ Fang Shuwen thought. ’Could it be grateful because I saved Chen Yan that one time?’

Chen Yan, however, watched this, grinding his teeth.

"You damn beast! So fawning and servile to others, but always trying to fight your own master! Sooner or later, I’m going to chop you up and make you into donkey burgers!"

The donkey snorted in disdain.

Fang Shuwen had seen Chen Yan fight his donkey many times before and thought nothing of it. He gave Chen Yan a slight fist-and-palm salute.

"Brother Chen, we meet again."

With a dark expression, Chen Yan returned the salute, then glanced at Fang Lingxin and Shui Qianrou.

"Are these two your younger sisters?"

Fang Lingxin quickly waved her hands.

"Don’t say such things, sir. I am my master’s apprentice."

"Oh... you two look a bit alike,"

Chen Yan said,

"I thought you were his sister."

"We do?"

His words took Fang Lingxin by surprise. She couldn’t help but look at Fang Shuwen.

"Do we?"

She herself couldn’t see the resemblance.

Fang Shuwen gently tapped her on the forehead.

"You believe everything you hear? This is a man who can’t even win a fight against a donkey. You’re going to trust his word?"

Chen Yan was so angry he was practically fuming.

"Brother Fang! Even if we are old acquaintances, for you to say something like that, I..."

"What are you going to do about it, Brother Chen?"

Fang Shuwen said with a half-smile.

Chen Yan took a deep breath, reminding himself... ’I can’t beat him. I can’t beat him. I really, truly can’t beat him!’

Finally, he forced a twitch of his lips into a semblance of a smile.

"Brother Fang, you gave up the Seven-String Ancient Chapter before. Are you in Pojun City now because you regret it?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Fang Shuwen smiled.

"I took on a job that required me to escort this young lady to Pojun City... I didn’t expect to see Brother Chen getting thrashed by Brother Donkey the moment I walked through the gates."

"...Let’s not talk about that."

Chen Yan felt that Fang Shuwen was suddenly, and for no apparent reason, being very aggressive.

But Fang Shuwen just laughed.

"Alright, enough idle chatter. Shall we find a place to catch up? As it happens, we haven’t found a place to stay yet. Where are you lodging, Brother Chen?"

Chen Yan felt the fellow’s mood changed far too quickly. But at the mention of lodging, he couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.

"I’m staying at the City God Temple for now."

"The City God Temple?"

Fang Shuwen was taken aback for a moment. He glanced at the donkey and sighed softly.

"You must be suffering."

The donkey responded with a look of great solemnity.

Then it was promptly smacked hard on the head by Chen Yan. ’So this beast is the one suffering, not me, is that it?’

"Pojun City is overflowing with people right now. All the inns are full, so there’s nowhere else to go."

Chen Yan said to Fang Shuwen,

"You can have silver, but you can’t get a room. I reckon it’ll be the same for you, Brother Fang. If you can’t find anything, you can stay with me at the City God Temple for the night."

"..."

That was indeed a predicament.

However, he glanced at the sky and said to Chen Yan,

"It’s still early. Finding lodging isn’t urgent. Let’s find a place to eat first.

"Brother Chen, you’re well-connected. Do you know of any good food worth trying here in Pojun City?"

Chen Yan thought for a moment and said,

"In Pojun City, you have to go to the Langhuan Restaurant.

"Their Three Treasures Jade Chicken, Langhuan Tofu, and Celestial Fragrance Lion’s Head are all masterpieces.

"I’ve heard they also have two jars of fifty-year-old Bamboo Leaf Green in their cellar. The Shopkeeper practically treats them like family heirlooms."

Fang Shuwen wasn’t particularly moved, but Fang Lingxin and Shui Qianrou were practically drooling.

Seeing their expressions, Fang Shuwen chuckled.

"Then we’ll trouble you to lead the way, Brother Chen. Let’s go and sample the delicacies of this Langhuan Restaurant."

Chen Yan nodded, then tugged the donkey’s ear again.

"Are you coming or not? When we get there, I’ll send you to the back kitchen and have the chef slice you up into pieces for donkey burgers!"

The donkey snorted contemptuously, all but saying the four words, "Like you would dare."